A QUICK GUIDE TO MICHELIN STAR RESTAURANTS IN SINGAPORE 

 4 Mar 2022

The word “MICHELIN” has two meanings to people – one, a respected tyre company and two, the definitive source for exceptional culinary experiences across the globe with its ‘MICHELIN Guide.’ 

In this article, we cover the mechanics of the MICHELIN rating system, along with some of the best MICHELIN Star restaurants in Singapore.

The MICHELIN Guide

The MICHELIN Guide was first published in the early 1900s to boost tyre sales by encouraging riders and drivers to be on the road for longer periods of time. This guide, originally given away for free, included useful information for travellers, such as fuel stations, maps, tyre-changing tips, and a list of places to sleep or eat at during their journey.

The founding Michelin brothers realised the rising significance of the restaurants’ section within their guide, and decided to employ diners to visit and review places anonymously. This unique guide now lists ratings for over 30,000 establishments in 30+ territories across three continents. More than 30 million MICHELIN Guides have been sold worldwide to date.

The MICHELIN STAR Rating System

The STAR system was first introduced by MICHELIN in 1926. For 7 years, eligible restaurants could earn 1 STAR for being “a very good restaurant.” It was only in 1933 that MICHELIN introduced the 2 STAR award to denote "excellent cooking that is worth a detour," and the 3 STAR award for restaurants that offered an "exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey."

One Star

According to the MICHELIN Guide, restaurants with One Star are worth a stop and have a high-quality cooking standard. Though it is the lowest of the awards, earning even a single MICHELIN Star is a worthy accolade. The best way to earn a star is by crafting a quality menu and preparing great dishes consistently.

Two Star

Rarer than ‘One Star’ dining establishments, there are only about 450 restaurants in the entire world that have been honoured with Two Stars by MICHELIN inspectors.

Owned by some of the best chefs in the world, two MICHELIN star restaurants consistently deliver top-quality food and are likely to be well-known in the world of fine dining. The cuisine on offer at two-star dining places is so delightful that the MICHELIN Guide deems it worthy of a detour.

Three Star

The MICHELIN Guide lists Three Star fine dining places as those with exceptional cuisine that are worth a special journey. Only about 135 restaurants worldwide have been awarded with Three Stars.

The crème de la crème of restaurants worldwide, Three-Star establishments are at the pinnacle of fine dining and offer once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences. These restaurants are managed by world-renowned chefs with exceptional culinary expertise. Such restaurants are always in high demand, boasting month-long table reservation schedules.

MICHELIN Star Restaurants are subject to rigorous assessment and inspection processes before being awarded their coveted Stars.

MICHELIN Star Inspection & Assessment Process

To ensure the integrity of opinions and the credibility of the Guide, MICHELIN’s restaurant inspectors need to maintain anonymity throughout their service period. They visit the shortlisted restaurants as normal diners without any prior invitation and pay for their own meals to avoid preferential treatment. Food experts wanting to become restaurant inspectors are trained at the official MICHELIN Guide training in France.

MICHELIN’s inspectors use 5-point criteria to award Stars to deserving dining places. The criterion includes the quality of the ingredients used, mastery of flavour and cooking techniques, personality of the chef in his cuisine, its overall value for money, and the consistency between visits.

Since the assessment criteria is based solely on the quality and taste of the food, MICHELIN’s inspectors never consider the décor or the service quality of the restaurant before awarding them a Star.

To ensure the integrity of opinions and the credibility of the Guide, MICHELIN’s restaurant inspectors need to maintain anonymity throughout their service period. They visit the shortlisted restaurants as normal diners without any prior invitation and pay for their own meals to avoid preferential treatment.

MICHELIN’s inspectors use 5-point criteria to award Stars to deserving dining places. The criterion includes the quality of the ingredients used, mastery of flavour and cooking techniques, personality of the chef in his cuisine, its overall value for money, and the consistency between visits. Since the assessment criteria is based solely on the quality and taste of the food, MICHELIN’s inspectors never consider the décor or the service quality of the restaurant before awarding them a Star.

Dining establishments, however, can get a ‘fork and spoon’ symbol from MICHELIN inspectors based on their unique ambience, and/or their outstanding customer service. Some other MICHELIN awards include the Bib Gourmand and The Plate. The MICHELIN Guide also acknowledges restaurants based on regional and local variances. For example, UK/Ireland based pubs are recognised by beer mug symbols, whereas tapas bars in Spain can be distinguished by a ‘wine and toothpick’ symbol.

MICHELIN Star winning restaurants are often reinspected to ensure that their high standards are maintained. Restaurants can lose their Star status if the food quality dips during subsequent visits. Unlike dining establishments, individual chefs cannot win MICHELIN Stars. Chefs who run multiple restaurants (in different cities or countries) can then technically hold more than three stars.

Singapore’s Best MICHELIN Star Restaurants

Fun fact: In 2016, a hawker stall in Singapore - Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle, became the world's very first street food stall to win a MICHELIN Star.

On the official MICHELIN Guide website, Singapore has over 250 dining establishments that include restaurants, street stalls, and hawker stalls. Marina Bay Sands houses two of these: Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda and CUT by Wolfgang Puck.

Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda (Two MICHELIN Stars)

Established and run by celebrity chef Tetsuya Wakuda, the Two MICHELIN-starred Waku Ghin is one of Singapore’s favourite Japanese restaurants. Their much-loved, highly celebrated dining experience is a pleasing amalgamation of freshly sourced ingredients and Japanese culinary craftsmanship.

For a more intimate dining experience with your loved ones, you can book a private room in advance. Diners seeking an exhilarating gustatory experience can explore the exclusive 10-seater Chef’s Table, loaded with seafood, seasonal specials, and premium beef cuts. Dishes worth trying out include: Kagoshima White Pork and Vegetable Gyoza, WG Grilled Wagyu Beef set on Rice, and Sashimi of Octopus with Mizuna and Japanese Citrus Soya Sauce.

Savour a drink at the best wine bar in Singapore by choosing from their extensive range of handcrafted Japanese-style cocktails, meticulously sourced wines, or premium sake collections to complement your meal. 

Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda is located at L2-03, The Shoppes.

CUT by Wolfgang Puck (One MICHELIN Star) 

True steak connoisseurs of Singapore laud the highly acclaimed, One MICHELIN Star restaurant CUT, situated in Marina Bay Sands. CUT has won numerous awards such as the TripAdvisor Best of the Best 2021 Award and the Forbes Four Star Restaurant 2015 – 2021 Award, making it one of the best steakhouses in Singapore.

Run by superstar chef Wolfgang Puck, CUT offers the finest range of beef selections grilled over charcoal and apple wood, including the Australian Angus, Wagyu from Japan/US, and true Japanese A5 Wagyu from Sendai Prefecture. 

The in-house sauces and appetising sides are created with fresh produce flown in from Southern California. These gourmet sauces enhance the flavours of CUT’s offerings to give you a steak diner experience like no other. As one of the best steakhouses in Singapore, CUT’s list of must-try dishes includes the Bone Marrow Flan, the New York Sirloin, and the Rib Eye Steak. 

CUT is located at B1-71, The Shoppes.

Visit Marina Bay Sands to indulge in some of the best restaurants in Singapore and various memorable tourist attractions. Immerse yourself in one-of-a-kind travel experiences and seize our attractive room offers. 

Earn instant Resort Dollars when you dine at Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda or CUT by Wolfgang Puck with your Sands LifeStyle membership. Enjoy valuable member privileges when you sign up for a Sands Lifestyle membership.