Michelin Guide

Michelin Guide (미쉐린 가이드) is an annual restaurant, gastronomy, and travel guidebook published by the French tire company Michelin.

In French, it is called the “Guide Michelin,” and its restaurant guide is known as the “Red Guide.” Michelin also publishes the “Green Guide,” which covers tourist information.

The guide has anonymous inspectors visit restaurants and assess them based on factors such as food quality. It is widely known for its star (★) rating system.

In English-speaking regions and many other language communities, its name tends to be pronounced “Michelin” following the French pronunciation. In Korea, however, the local subsidiary adopted “Miswelin” as the Korean pronunciation of the company name, and the guide consequently came to be called the “Miswelin Guide.”

History

The guide originated as a promotional booklet distributed at the 1900 Paris Exposition by Michelin, the tire manufacturer founded in 1889 by the brothers André Michelin and Édouard Michelin.

The early guide was a booklet for motorists that provided information on French roads, accommodations, gas stations, and other travel resources. It began gaining considerable popularity in 1926, when it started awarding stars to hotels that served excellent meals. In 1933, it took on the form of today’s “Red Guide” by awarding stars to restaurants serving excellent food.

This marked the beginning of the Michelin Guide’s anonymous inspection method, in which inspectors visit as customers without revealing their identities. The practice has been maintained for more than 100 years. Meanwhile, in 2016, Korea became the fourth Asian country to publish the “Michelin Guide Seoul (미쉐린 가이드 서울) [article],” and in 2024, Busan was selected as the second Korean city covered by the guide after Seoul.

Michelin Guide Rating System and Distinctions

• 3 Stars★★★
  A restaurant offering exceptional cuisine with special value. Worth a journey solely to visit this restaurant. (Exceptional cuisine, worthy of a special journey)

• 2 Stars★★
  A restaurant offering excellent cuisine that is worth traveling a long distance for. Worth making a detour from the original route. (Excellent cooking, worth a detour)

• 1 Star★
  A restaurant offering very good cuisine. Worth visiting when traveling in the area. (Very good cooking in its category)

• Bib Gourmand

  A restaurant that offers excellent food at a reasonable price. In Seoul, it applies to restaurants priced at 45,000 won or less.

• Michelin Green Star

  Awarded to restaurants that practice sustainable gastronomy; a restaurant may receive it alongside a star rating or Bib Gourmand distinction.

• Michelin Selected

  A list of recommended restaurants whose quality has been recognized by the guide.

Five Assessment Criteria

Inspectors apply the same five criteria worldwide.

1. Quality of the ingredients

2. Mastery of cooking techniques and flavors

3. The chef’s personality and creativity expressed in the cuisine

4. Value for money

5. Consistency across the menu and maintenance of quality between visits

Operating Principles and Features

• Decision-making: Stars are awarded unanimously at a joint meeting after multiple inspectors have made repeat visits.

• Inspector anonymity: Inspectors conceal their identities, make reservations and dine in the same manner as ordinary customers, and pay the full bill themselves.

• Annual updates: Every restaurant is reassessed annually. Stars may be withdrawn or ratings adjusted if a restaurant fails to meet the criteria.

• Other symbols: The level of service and comfort is separately indicated by a “fork and knife” symbol, while an excellent wine list is marked with a “bunch of grapes” symbol.