Small plates at Emeril's.
Photo courtesy of Emeril's

Legacy Meets Prestige: Louisiana’s MICHELIN Star Restaurants

Everyone knows Louisiana’s culture is inextricable from its cuisine — so when the MICHELIN Guide turns its gaze down South, all eyes are on us.

By ExploreLouisiana.com Editorial Team

At a Glance:

  • Louisiana has four MICHELIN-starred restaurants, all in New Orleans: Emeril’s, Saint-Germain, Zasu and Dakar.
  • MICHELIN’s first-ever American South guide in 2025 awarded stars to three New Orleans restaurants.
  • Emeril’s, in the Warehouse District, holds two MICHELIN stars and is the only restaurant in the South with that distinction.
  • Saint-Germain, a 12-seat tasting counter in Bywater, and Zasu, a Mid-City cottage led by Chef Sue Zemanick, each hold one MICHELIN star.
  • Beyond the stars, Louisiana has 12 Bib Gourmand restaurants and many other MICHELIN Recommended restaurants statewide.

Louisiana's 2026 MICHELIN Guide wins reflect what anyone who has dined in Louisiana knows: Our culinary scene stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s greatest gastronomic hubs. 

We're celebrated for our gumbo and po’boys, our étouffées and beignets — and our chefs have always told stories that matter, whether that's hauling in seafood at dawn, honoring Indigenous traditions through tamales or serving as a sanctuary for civil rights activists.

Learn more about our winning restaurants below.

2026 MICHELIN Star Recipients 

Emeril’s

In the Warehouse District is Emeril’s, the restaurant that launched Lagasse’s New Orleans empire in 1990 — and though it’s evolved through the decades, it’s never lost its charm. 

Following a sweeping redesign in 2023, Emeril’s feels a bit like a basilica. Its soaring ceilings and warm woods contrast against a glowing, open-concept kitchen, and inside, chefs prepare upscale, contemporary Louisiana favorites. Diners can thank Executive Chef E.J. Lagasse, son of Emeril, for menus that have included items like boudin, sweetbread and duck with whiskey sauce. Reserve cocktails elevate classics like the martini, hurricane and Sazerac.

Saint-Germain

Find Saint-Germain, a 12-seat tasting counter helmed by Chefs Trey Smith and Blake Aguillard, tucked into the eclectic Bywater district.

By design, the wine bar feels less like an institution and more like a supper club, with soft lighting, an evolving tasting menu and a curated wine list that feels personal and unpretentious.

Marked by its curiosity, the tasting menu has featured delicacies like vanilla bean panna cotta dotted with lemon, praline and smoked maple, and wagyu served over shiso-studded rice. Best of all, a seat at the counter offers a look into the chefs’ kitchen choreography.

Zasu

With James Beard Award-winning Chef Sue Zemanick at the helm, Zasu's Mid-City cottage is intimate but not intimidating, with muted green walls and wood floors that let the dishes take center stage. 

With dishes like American red snapper and marinated crab claws, the menu reflects the chef's preference for light seafood and seasonal produce but has several vegetarian-friendly options as well, like beet and potato pierogies. 

Dakar

Chef Serigne Mbaye of Dakar is no stranger to New Orleans. The James Beard Award winner got his start at legendary New Orleans institutions, like Commander's Palace. But Dakar is different, personal. The seasonal, seven-course pescatarian tasting menu highlights Senegalese cuisine — its rich aromas, slow-simmered sauces and hearty grains — and reflects Senegal's connection to Creole culture.
The menu changes often, but guests can expect welcome tea, a bread course, fish courses, dessert and more.
duck and mortadella tortellini

Duck and mortadella tortellini, Zasu

Emeril's New Orleans

Emeril's

2025: MICHELIN's First American South Edition

In 2025, the MICHELIN Guide released its first-ever American South edition, and three New Orleans restaurants earned MICHELIN stars. 

Emeril’s, the flagship restaurant of celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, received two MICHELIN stars — and to this day, it's the only restaurant in the entire South to have achieved that honor. Meanwhile, Saint-Germain and Zasu each earned a one-star distinction, joining an elite culinary circle that celebrates creativity, expertise and technique.

Beyond the Stars: Louisiana’s Enduring Food Story

While four of our restaurants may have MICHELIN stars, be sure to explore the 12 Louisiana eateries with Bib Gourmand distinctions, another MICHELIN designation given to restaurants with unique concepts and excellent food. Try Turkey and the Wolf — an ultra-hip counter-service sandwich joint with a collard-green melt on the menu; Cochon Butcher, which butchers, smokes and cures all its meats in-house; or Saba for modern Israeli cuisine like duck matzoh ball soup and a spicy lamb ragu hummus.

Find 24 of the state's eateries on MICHELIN’s Recommended list, including The Saint Restaurant at St. Francisville Inn in St. Francisville, with a Sunday brunch that includes redfish topped with briny sun-dried tomatoes and citrus butter; Elsie’s Plate & Pie in Baton Rouge, where pies savory and sweet are the primary food group; or Feliciana Bistrôt and Bar, known for its delicate apple tarte tatin.

From white-linen tables to renovated gas stations, our restaurants embody Louisiana’s blend of cultivated taste and hospitality.

Learn more about Louisiana’s food culture.

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