KEY TAKEAWAYS: Dakar NOLA, chef Serigne Mbaye’s Senegalese restaurant, earned its first Michelin star. It was one of only three new starred restaurants across the American South. Emeril’s kept its two stars, and Saint-Germain and Zasu each kept one star. New Orleans has 37 restaurants in t he 2026 guide: four starred, 12 Bib Gourmand and 21 Recommended. Nine of them are new this year. The guide’s second American South edition now lists 265 restaurants covering 44 types of cuisine.   Dakar NOLA, the Senegalese restaurant from chef Serigne Mbaye, has earned its first Michelin star. It is one of three restaurants across the South to receive the honor in this year’s Michelin Guide American South. Michelin announced the 2026 selection Wednesday night at a ceremony at The Pinnacle in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. New Orleans finished with 37 restaurants in the guide. Four hold stars, 12 have the Bib Gourmand designation for good food at a good value and 21 are listed as Recommended. Nine of the New Orleans restaurants are new to the guide this year. Emeril’s kept its two Michelin stars. Saint-Germain and Zasu each kept one star. Dakar NOLA was the only new starred restaurant in Louisiana. The other two new one-star restaurants are So. Fox in Atlanta and Uberto Restaurant in Gay, Georgia. Michelin’s anonymous inspectors praised Dakar NOLA for blending the cooking traditions of Senegal and New Orleans in a tasting menu built on local produce and seafood. The inspectors called out dishes such as Gulf crab with black-eyed peas and cassava, a shrimp and okra soup, and jollof rice with habanero served with grilled fish in tamarind broth. “Original and exceptional, the restaurant offers a transportive experience,” the inspectors wrote. This is the second year of the American South guide. It now includes 265 restaurants covering 44 types of cuisine. Inspectors added 14 Bib Gourmand restaurants across the region, for a total of 59, and 31 new Recommended restaurants. “In its second year, the MICHELIN Guide American South continues to reveal the remarkable talent and diversity of the region’s culinary landscape,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide. “As our anonymous Inspectors continued to explore the South, they found not only exciting momentum in established dining destinations, but also exceptional restaurants in smaller communities and unexpected corners of the region.” In New Orleans, Safta’s Table was the only newcomer to the Bib Gourmand list. Five restaurants joined the Recommended list: Casimiro, Evviva, Jewel of the South, Saint Claire and The Crustacean Club. Michelin also highlighted New Orleans in its hotel selection. The guide pointed to Maison Metier in the Warehouse District, which holds one Michelin Key, as one of the region’s standout hotels. Walt Leger III, president and CEO of New Orleans Co., said in a news release that the recognition goes beyond individual kitchens. “That visibility creates opportunities for our restaurants, supports jobs across our hospitality industry, and introduces new audiences to the people and traditions that define New Orleans,” Leger wrote. The city’s tourism marketing organization said promoting New Orleans’ food scene around the world is central to its work. It pointed to its role hosting North America’s 50 Best Restaurants awards and the Americas selections of the Bocuse d’Or and the Pastry World Cup. New Orleans Co. also noted that Yelp and Lyft ranked New Orleans the No. 1 food destination in the U.S. for 2026. Michelin published its first North American guide in New York in 2005. The company says its inspectors pay for their own meals and judge restaurants on five criteria: the quality of the ingredients, mastery of cooking techniques, harmony of flavors, the chef’s personality as reflected in the food, and consistency across visits and the whole menu. New Orleans’ 2026 Michelin Guide honorees Two stars: Emeril’s One star: Dakar NOLA (new), Saint-Germain, Zasu Bib Gourmand: Acamaya, Cochon, Cochon Butcher, Domilise’s Po-Boy Bar, Dooky Chase, Hungry Eyes, Lufu NOLA, Mister Mao, Parkway Bakery Tavern, Saba, Safta’s Table (new), Turkey and the Wolf Recommended: Addis Nola, Atchafalaya, Casimiro (new), Clancy’s Restaurant, Compère Lapin, Evviva (new), Galatoire’s, Herbsaint, Jewel of the South (new), Killer Poboys, La Petite Grocery, Molly’s Rise Shine, Osteria Lupo, Patois, Pêche, Restaurant August, Saffron NOLA, Saint Claire (new), The Crustacean Club (new), The Kingsway, Willie Mae’s Nola ...read more read less