These 5 Florida Restaurants Just Received Michelin Stars—Here’s What You Need to Know

• Five restaurants across Florida were just awarded Michelin Stars.
• Sorekara, located in Orlando, got a boost from one star to two.
• Other Michelin-starred restaurants in Florida include Konro, Chef’s Counter at MAASS, Itamae AO, and Ômo by Jônt.

Florida’s thriving culinary scene just got another round of well-deserved applause with this year’s Michelin Guide Florida selection. Five Florida restaurants were awarded new stars—including one rare upgrade to two-star status—and the guide added three destinations to its map: Greater Fort Lauderdale, The Palm Beaches, and St. Pete-Clearwater.​

In total, 31 restaurants were awarded stars by Michelin’s anonymous inspectors, with Sorekara in Orlando, topping the list as the newest double-starred restaurant in Florida. The only other Florida restaurant that has two stars is L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Miami.

And it’s little wonder why Sorekara is getting more recognition: chef and founder William Shen’s tasting menu highlights the 72 micro-seasons of Japan. A meal at Sorekara can take several hours and span several rooms—there’s even a course that mimics what it’s like to visit a Japanese convenience store. But if you hope to experience it for yourself, good luck: Sorekara is open for a single seating only a few nights a week.

In addition to the Sorekara’s notch up, four restaurants across Florida received their first Michelin star:

• Konro (West Palm Beach): Chef Jacob Bickelhaupt and sommelier Nadia Bickelhaupt offer a 10-seat, omakase-style chef’s counter with a 10 to 14-course tasting menu.
• Chef’s Counter at MAASS (Fort Lauderdale): Tucked inside the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale, chef Ryan Ratino’s tasting menu combines contemporary cooking, French techniques, Japanese ingredients, and Florida flair.
• Itamae AO (Miami): Chef Nando Chang’s 10-seat counter is a restaurant within a restaurant serving super-fresh Peruvian-Japanese.
• Ômo by Jônt (Winter Park): This offshoot of chef Ryan Ratino’s acclaimed D.C. eatery is an eight-seat counter where Japanese seafood and ingredients are prepared using French techniques.

Stubborn Seed and EntreNos, both in Miami, both receieved Michelin Green Stars for their standout efforts in sustainable gastronomy.

As a local, I’m particularly proud of Palm Beach County’s strong showing in its debut year: Buccan (my favorite local restaurant and the place I recommend every visitor try), Coolinary and The Parched Pig, Moody Tongue Sushi, Nicholson Muir, Stäge Kitchen & Bar, and The Butcher’s Club all cinched Michelin Recommended status, while Aioli (where I get my weekly sourdough and treat myself to their famous sea-salt chocolate-chip cookies when I’ve been very good) and Palm Beach Meats both earned a Bib Gourmand distinction.

“We never set out to be a Michelin-recognized restaurant, so to receive a Bib Gourmand is honestly surreal,” says Meghan San Pedro, owner and founder of Palm Beach Meats, along with her husband, Eric. “We just really loved Wagyu and were crazy enough to build a business around it.”

For the full list of starred, Bib Gourmand, and recommended restaurants, visit guide.michelin.com.