Bib Gourmand: The Michelin Guide’s Most Affordable Restaurants
NEWS
By ELIAS NASH
While the Michelin Guide is widely considered to be the preeminent source for restaurant recommendations, they have also been giving out the Bib Gourmand award since 1997.
Named after Michelin’s iconic mascot, Bibendum, the award recognizes restaurants offering great food at an affordable price, dubbed “best value for money” by the Michelin Guide.
Although the quality of the food is important, Michelin only awards the Bib Gourmand title to restaurants where diners can purchase three courses within a specific price range.
The set price cap varies from country to country based on the cost of living. The limit for American restaurants, for instance, is $49 — excluding the taxes and tips — as of 2023.
As of the writing of this article, the Michelin Guide lists 371 Bib Gourmand restaurants in the U.S., with the most affordable options being taquerias and East Asian eateries.
Highlights include the historic La Azteca Tortilleria in Los Angeles, the dim sum institution Yank Sing in San Francisco, and the legendary Katz’s Delicatessen in New York City.
Worldwide, there are over 3,000 Bib Gourmand-winning restaurants. While France boasts the most Bib winners, the most affordable city for Michelin Dining is Tokyo.