America’s Best Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurants

The Michelin Guide and the restaurants it recommends with Michelin stars are synonymous with being expensive. Or so most people think. There are affordable one-star restaurants, and the guide also has a section for delicious, accessible restaurants called the Bib Gourmand. 

The Bib Gourmand “recognizes friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices.” These restaurants do not have a star, but culinary experts love them. The United States has Bib Gourmand restaurants in Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago and California.

Ready for some amazing meals? These are the best Bib Gourmand restaurants in America. 

*Note: Restaurant ratings are based on Tripadvisor reviews. We took the number of five-star reviews and divided them by the total number of reviews. 

Location: New York City, New York

Type of cuisine: Chinese

Rating: 47.2

Bottom line: There are a million good Chinese food places in New York City, so when a restaurant is highlighted, you know it has to have something special.

Dumplings are the house specialty here, and you get to see the chefs as they magically make the perfect dumplings to enjoy in soup. The pork soup dumpling, and crispy duck is particularly delicious.

Visit Pinch Chinese.

Location: Berkeley, California

Type of cuisine: Japanese

Rating: 50

Bottom line: You’ll be transported to Japan as soon as you step into this intimate restaurant, whose low light and wooden decor make for an ideal late-night eatery.

You’ll be able to get most of your Japanese favorites, from korokke to yakitori and soba. Come with friends and make it a point to take advantage of the establishment’s generous assortment of sakes.

Visit Ippuku.

Location: Garden Grove, California

Type of cuisine: Vietnamese

Rating: 50

Bottom line: Opened since the 1980s, Pho 79 is a legend in Orange County. This unassuming place is simple and straightforward. They won’t bring you in with promises of things that have never been done before — as so many Southern California restaurants do.

Instead, you can come here for a really great bowl of pho. It’s as simple as that.

Visit Pho 79.

Location: New York City, New York

Type of cuisine: Pizza

Rating: 50

Bottom line: Going to Roberta’s is like getting married: a commitment that you can’t get out of, even when things get rough and you go into your second hour of waiting in line.

Stick through the rough part, and you’ll be rewarded with pizza so amazingly good you’ll want to renew your vows with the restaurant.

Visit Roberta’s.