Louisiana’s culinary scene has earned a fresh round of national recognition, as the MICHELIN Guide honoured 40 of the state’s restaurants for a second year at a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee, on 21 October 2026. New Orleans once again leads the list, with Emeril’s holding two stars and Dakar NOLA earning its first star.
The ceremony marked the release of the second regional MICHELIN Guide for the American South, which now contains 265 restaurants across the region. Inspectors praised both established dining destinations and exceptional restaurants in smaller communities and unexpected corners of the South.
FAKTA
- 40 Louisiana restaurants were recognised by the MICHELIN Guide at a ceremony in Nashville on 21 October 2026.
- Emeril’s, New Orleans, holds Two MICHELIN Stars, the only two-star restaurant in the American South guide.
- Dakar NOLA, New Orleans, earned its first star, joining Saint-Germain and Zasu as Louisiana’s one-star restaurants.
- 12 restaurants earned Bib Gourmand status, including new entry Safta’s Table.
- The American South guide, in its second year, now contains 265 restaurants.
- Emeril’s opened in 1990 and is now helmed by Chef E.J. Lagasse.
Michelin Louisiana stars 2026: the starred restaurants
One star means high-quality cooking worth a stop, two stars mean excellent cuisine worth a detour, and three stars mean exceptional cuisine worth a special journey. Louisiana’s starred restaurants for 2026 are:
| Restaurant | Stars | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Emeril’s, New Orleans | Two | The flagship of Chef Emeril Lagasse, opened in 1990 |
| Dakar NOLA, New Orleans | One | New star; Senegalese-inspired tasting menus |
| Saint-Germain, New Orleans | One | Reservation-only tasting menu in Bywater |
| Zasu, New Orleans | One | Southern ingredients with European refinement |
Dakar NOLA: the new star
Helmed by Chef Serigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA serves inventive tasting menus inspired by the coastal cuisine of both Senegal and Southern Louisiana. Its first star makes it one of only three new starred restaurants across the American South this year, alongside So. Fox in Atlanta and Uberto Restaurant in Gay, Georgia.
Beyond the stars: Bib Gourmand and Recommended
The Bib Gourmand distinction highlights restaurants providing great food at good value. Louisiana’s 12 Bib Gourmand restaurants include 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) and Turkey and the Wolf.
Recommended restaurants, recognised for outstanding quality and consistency, include Addis NOLA, Atchafalaya, Casimiro (new), Clancy’s, Compère Lapin, Elsie’s Plate & Pie in Baton Rouge, Evviva (new), Feliciana Bistrôt and Bar in Covington (new), Galatoire’s, Herbsaint and Jewel of the South (new).
What the inspectors said
Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the MICHELIN Guide, said inspectors found not only exciting momentum in established dining destinations, but also exceptional restaurants in smaller communities and unexpected corners of the region, and celebrated the talented restaurant teams recognised in this year’s selection.
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Michelin Louisiana stars 2026 (this story on Watan News)
Conclusion
Louisiana’s second year in the MICHELIN Guide confirms what New Orleans diners have long known: the state’s cooking, from Creole classics to Senegalese-inspired tasting menus, belongs on any serious food lover’s map. Dakar NOLA’s first star is the headline, but the depth of the Bib Gourmand and Recommended lists is the real story.
