ARIZONA EARNS 19 MICHELIN GUIDE SELECTIONS IN INAUGURAL SOUTHWEST GUIDE

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Arizona’s culinary industry received well-earned recognition today as 19 restaurants were selected for the first-ever MICHELIN Guide Southwest. The honours highlight Arizona as a premier dining destination defined by rich cultural roots, regional ingredients and world-class talent.

Arizona shined in the highly-competitive Bib Gourmand category by securing 7 of the 18 total designations – the most for any individual state – for high-quality, high-value dining. Grand Canyon State chefs also stood out with multiple individual recognitions for rising culinary talent, sustainable leadership and wine programme curation.

 

“This recognition by the MICHELIN Guide validates what travelers and locals have known for years: Arizona is home to one of the most vibrant, diverse and elevated culinary scenes in the nation. From sophisticated desert dining to authentic regional dishes, our chefs and restaurant staff craft experiences that define our state’s culture. We congratulate every chef honoured tonight.”

— Alix Skelpsa Ridgway, Director, Arizona Office of Tourism

MICHELIN Individual honours Special Awards

  • MICHELIN Young Chef Award: René Andrade – Bacanora & Huarachis Taqueria, Phoenix
    Celebrated for standout talent, fire-grilled Sonoran flavours, and dynamic leadership shaping the future of regional gastronomy.
  • MICHELIN Mindful Voices Award: Charleen Badman – FnB, Scottsdale
    Spotlighted for pioneering local farm-to-table supply chains, seasonal vegetable-forward menus and community food advocacy.
  • MICHELIN Sommelier Award: John Germain – RESERVE, Scottsdale
    Honoured for exceptional wine curation, pairing expertise and world-class table-side hospitality.

2026 MICHELIN Guide Southwest Honours – Arizona

Bib Gourmand (7): Recognises exceptional quality cuisine served at an approachable, high-value price point.

  • FnB – Scottsdale
  • Huarachis Taqueria – Phoenix in
  • kid sister – Phoenix
  • Little Miss BBQ – Phoenix
  • Lom Wong – Phoenix
  • Pizzeria Bianco – Phoenix
  • Valentine – Phoenix

“Having advocated for our local dining scene for decades and watching this industry grow into a world-class culinary force has been a great privilege. MICHELIN Guide recognition isn’t just a badge of honour for our kitchens; it’s international validation of the blood, sweat, and artistry our chefs and hospitality teams pour into their craft every single day. These ratings are extraordinarily well-deserved and this momentum will fuel our industry’s continued growth on the world stage.”

— Steve Chucri, President & CEO, Arizona Restaurant Association

MICHELIN Guide Recommended / Selected (12): Recognises verified quality and culinary mastery that meets the strict global standards of Michelin inspectors.

  • Atria – Flagstaff
  • Bacanora – Phoenix
  • Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion – Phoenix
  • Fry Bread House – Phoenix
  • Glai Baan – Phoenix
  • Hush Public House – Scottsdale
  • INDIBAR – Paradise Valley
  • Latha – Phoenix
  • Pretty Penny – Phoenix
  • RESERVE – Scottsdale
  • Shinbay – Scottsdale
  • Tratto – Phoenix

By the Numbers: 2026 MICHELIN Guide Southwest 

  • 4 states: Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico
  • 64 total selections
  • 5 starred restaurants (0) 3-star; (1) 2-star, (4) 1-star
  • 18 Bib Gourmands
  • 41 Recommended / Selected

A Regional Benchmark for Culinary Excellence

The inclusion of Arizona in the MICHELIN Guide’s new regional guide – encompassing Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico – connects the state’s hospitality community directly to a global, dining experience-driven audience. As an international authority on dining, MICHELIN Guide distinction provides unprecedented visibility to culinary travelers who build entire travel itineraries around world-rated destinations.

The MICHELIN Guide’s anonymous inspectors evaluated establishments across the four-state Southwest region using five universal criteria: quality of ingredients, mastery of flavour and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in the cuisine, harmony of flavours and consistency across menu items and visits.

Click here to find out more about visiting Arizona.