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Michelin has a new crush list—and it’s all New York. The tire company-slash-restaurant arbiter just dropped 12 fresh additions to its 2025 Michelin Guide New York and this batch covers everything from moody kaiseki counters to buzzy Tex-Mex hangouts. These spots aren’t yet starred, but they’re officially “recommended,” which means inspectors were impressed enough to put them on the map—and maybe in line for a shiny Bib or star later this year.
In Manhattan, the additions read like a culinary passport. There’s Muku, an intimate 10-seat spot where each course follows Japan’s “goho” rule of five techniques, and Yamada, a serene kaiseki restaurant where chef Isao Yamada crafts seasonal showpieces like King crab dumplings and lobster rice with maitake mushrooms. Chef Nikki Zheng, a Masa and Sushi Nakazawa alum, earns a nod for her Upper East Side omakase at Sushi Akira. And at Gui Steakhouse in Times Square, premium wagyu and USDA Prime cuts are seared to perfection with a Korean twist—proving not all Theater District dinners are tourist traps.
The city’s global pulse beats on at Bánh Anh Em, where lines form early for brisket-and-tripe pho and bánh mì built on perfect baguettes, and Bartolo, a dimly lit West Village enclave for anchovy-topped cristal bread and slow-braised oxtails. In Chinatown, Lei serves clever, wine-friendly Chinese plates like celtuce with red wine vinegar and scallops with ginger and lily buds, while Markette in Chelsea blends Caribbean and European influences into dishes like salt cod fritters and oxtail with cheddar polenta.
Brooklyn’s scene got plenty of love, too. Williamsburg’s Rose Marie, the Tex-Mex-inspired sister of Yellow Rose, mixes playful Southern charm with comfort favorites like patty melts and saltine-crusted fish. Over in Fort Greene, Sal Tang’s reinvents Chinese American classics in a space glowing with red lanterns, while Olmo channels Mexico City flavors through dishes like carne asada with chipotle béarnaise and flan paleta.
Beyond the five boroughs, North Salem’s Cenadou brings a Provençal touch to Westchester, with French bistro favorites like rack of lamb over smoked eggplant purée.
“Inspectors spend all year uncovering the best restaurants to recommend—and what they’ve found is too good to keep a secret,” the guide teased in its announcement. The 2025 Michelin Guide Ceremony for the Northeast, honoring restaurants in New York and beyond, will take place on November 18.