The term “Michelin Star” is a hallmark of fine dining quality and restaurants around the world proudly promote their Michelin Star status. Michelin has a long history of reviewing restaurants and started sending out anonymous restaurant reviewers to try restaurants in 1926. To this day, Michelin relies entirely on its full-time staff of anonymous restaurant reviewers. The anonymous reviewers generally are very passionate about food and have a good eye for detail. There are some very unusual Michelin-Star restaurants around the world.
Tsuta
A tiny Tokyo noodle shop became the first ramen bar to join the ranks of the world’s top restaurants. The nine-set Tsuta serves up the soup and noodle concoction in the north Tokyo district of Sugamo. You can find gourmet offerings such as rosemary flavored barbecued pork and soy sauce ramen with a hint of porcini mushroom. This just adds to the world class dining in Tokyo which has the most Michelin starred restaurants of any city in the world.
Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle
The cheapest Michelin starred restaurant in the world is Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle located in Singapore. There are no reservations and a meal costs about $1.50. Cheap, casual restaurants don’t often receive Michelin stars, but this counter service food stand makes an amazing plate of soya sauce chicken and rice.
De Kas
The atmosphere of a Michelin Star restaurant can also make it unusual. De Kas in Amsterdam resides in an old converted greenhouse. Eating in the twenty six foot high glass building is an adventure of itself. The freshest possible ingredients are what makes the food worthy of the starred honor however. The ingredients are harvested in the field at sunrise and served in the same day making this one delightful and fresh meal.
Takazawa
With only four tables in the dining area, every diner feels like the guest of honor at Takazawa. The restaurant’s simple interior look similar to the settings of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, during which the host prepares tea for just a few guests. Chef Takazawa works in the kitchen while his wife, Akiko, serves dishes and entertains diners. Takazawa is famous for his innovative presentation, including a vegetable dish served in a flowerpot-like bowl with delicate seasoning mimicking the soil.
DiverXO
Finally, DiverXO, a restaurant in Madrid, is known for its radical flavors and textures, fusing Mediterranean and Asian cuisine in mind-blowing ways. Dining at DiverXO is not just about eating. It is also about tempting everyone of your senses.
If you have other restaurants that you think should be on this list of the most unusual Michelin star restaurants, be sure to leave them in the comments below. We are always looking for new dining experiences!
