Gastronomic diversity shines: Thailand gains 2 new 2-star and 6 one-star restaurants in the 2024 Michelin Guide

Of the 35 Michelin-starred restaurants, Thailand has welcomed two new two-star and six additional one-star restaurants in the 2024 Michelin Guide Thailand edition, which consists of 447 food establishments: seven with two Michelin Stars, 28 with one Michelin star, 196 Bib Gourmand, and 216 Michelin Selected venues.

The 2024 Michelin Guide Thailand edition adds two Michelin stars listings – Baan Tepa, serving a contemporary Thai tasting menu, and the contemporary Indian restaurant GAA. The new entries have been promoted from their one-star rating in the previous list.

It is noteworthy that GAA is only the second Indian restaurant in the world to currently hold two Michelin stars. It is also remarkable that both new two-star restaurants are run by female chefs: Chef Chudaree “Tam” Debhakam (Baan Tepa) and Chef Garima Arora (GAA).

“I just want to say thank you to the Michelin guide and staff. We’ve been so focused this year working on our missions to be better in every way, to be more sustainable, and to deliver the best service we can. So to be recognised is amazing,” said Chef Chudaree.

Reaching out further to the South

The 2024 Michelin Guide Thailand is evidence that the country continues to pursue its culinary journey to excellence with the coverage extended this year to include Ko Samui and Surat Thani after the earlier expansion to the Northeast.

The newly released guide features 447 establishments – with 7 two MICHELIN Stars (2 promoted from one Michelin star ), 28 one Star (3 newcomers, and 3 promoted from Michelin Selected), 196 Bib Gourmand (28 newcomers, and 4 moved from Michelin Selected), and 216 MICHELIN Selected entries (37 newcomers).

Among new additions to the Guide, 23 are from Ko Samui (4 Bib Gourmand, and 7 Michelin Selected entries) and Surat Thani mainland (8 Bib Gourmand, and 4 Michelin Selected entries), the newly covered territories in this seventh local edition.

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides, said that Ko Samui and the mainland city of Surat Thani – the two additions in the Gulf of Thailand – boast a vibrant and varied culinary scene that further contributes to the Michelin Guide Thailand’s existing restaurant selection.

“Our inspectors have experienced the true diversity that Thailand has to offer, from modern restaurants pushing culinary boundaries to simple street food stalls – continuously reinforcing Thailand’s rich gastronomic culture and heritage. The 2024 edition of the Michelin Guide Thailand highlights not only these exceptional culinary experiences but also the latest trends in the country’s culinary world,” Poullennec said.

Vibrant culinary scene underlined

Having travelled the length of the country, Michelin Guide inspectors noted the continued growth of a new breed of modern Thai restaurants helmed by a new generation of young and passionate Thai chefs, who are pushing the boundaries of what is perceived as modern Thai cooking. In addition, there has been a growth of reservation-only, counter dining operations – serving modern and innovative tasting menus.

Thailand’s upscale restaurants embrace the trend for healthy and vegetarian cuisine, with a rising demand for plant-based and organic foods. The use of locally produced, home-grown ingredients and sustainable practices is becoming more prominent. Notably, the 2-star Baan Tepa exemplifies this trend with its farm-to-table philosophy, crafting a detailed contemporary Thai tasting menu using seasonal ingredients from sustainability-minded producers

Particularly notable is the growing number of female chefs and entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry, who play significant roles in developing and shaping the culinary scene across the entire country, among them Jay Fai, Chef Garima Arora (GAA), Chef Pichaya “Pam” Soontornyanakij (Potong) and Chef Chudaree “Tam” Debhakam (Baan Tepa) who is also recognised with the 2024 Michelin Young Chef Award.

6 new one-Michelin Star restaurants

Of the 6 new one-Michelin Star entries, 3 are newcomers making it into the Guide for the first time, and the other 3 are promoted from Michelin Selected.

The 3 newcomers awarded one Michelin Star are: INDDEE, a modern Indian restaurant that takes diners on a journey around the different regions of India with its set menu using the charcoal grill extensively throughout; NAWA, a Thai contemporary restaurant that embraces the innovation concept, using modern techniques to produce central Thai cuisine with authentic yet bold flavors, and a seasonal tasting menu of finger food, small bites and modified versions of main courses; and Samrub Samrub Thai, a Thai restaurant offering a truly original tasting menu (changed bi-monthly) featuring ancient Thai recipes reproduced to trace the ages and craft a complex amalgamation of aromas.

The 3 one Michelin Star laureates promoted from the Michelin Selected are: Mia, a restaurant offering modern European cuisine with Asian influences through the seasonal “Taste of Mia” menu that shows off dishes with complex, well-balanced flavors in a 5- or 8-course feast – with vegan and vegetarian options, as well as with cocktail, mocktail and wine pairings available; Resonance, a restaurant offering a seasonal tasting menu that features dishes inspired by the chef’s past experience working around the world, with a tea pairing option upon advance request; and Wana Yook, a restaurant offering an innovative seasonal tasting menu inspired by khao gaeng, rice topped with curry, where every course features flavorsome Thai contemporary dishes with rice from different regions of Thailand.

Sustainable approach

Joining PRU, Haoma and Jampa, who all hold Michelin Green Stars highlighting their commitment to sustainability, is a creative French restaurant, J’AIME by Jean-Michel Lorain. The chef and the team have made great advances in developing their sustainable approach by building close relationships with Thai producers, examining in detail their kitchen practices – including monitoring their waste, abiding by strict recycling systems and many other smaller initiatives – all contributing towards their goal of striving towards a more sustainable future.