Most Affordable Michelin-Approved Restaurants
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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.
30. Pinch Chinese
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*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.
27. Ippuku (Tie)
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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.
27. Pho 79 (Tie)
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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.
27. Roberta’s (Tie)
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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.
26. Katz’s Delicatessen
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Location: New York City, New York
Type of cuisine: Deli
Rating: 50.9
Bottom line: A true institution of NYC, Katz's is one of the last standing original delis of the city. The restaurant is always busy with regulars and tourists eager for a classic taste of New York.
Think we're exaggerating? Just know that to get your first-rate matzo soup and Reubens, you'll need to get a ticket and wait for your number to be called out.
Visit Katz’s Deli.
25. Millennium
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Location: Oakland, California
Type of cuisine: Vegan, American
Rating: 51.4
Bottom line: If you have a friend who ignorantly thinks vegan food is flavorless and bland, bring them to Millennium. The rustic, chill joint is a complete Bay Area stereotype, but the food is so good even meat eaters willingly come here for lunch.
Try the pumpkin seed "pastor" tamales for a taste of what vegan Mexican could taste like.
Visit Millenium.
24. Das Ethiopian Cuisine
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Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of cuisine: Ethiopian
Rating: 51.9
Bottom line: This is the best Ethiopian restaurant in D.C. And that's saying a lot. Missing out on Das is a mistake.
Don't let the minimalist, white interior fool you. This Georgetown spot has traditional dishes that mix and match ingredients and condiments of all colors.
One of the best dishes is the beef awaze fitfit, which has beef and injera flatbread soaked in spiced red pepper sauce.
Visit Das Ethiopian Cuisine.
23. Jaleo
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Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of cuisine: Spanish
Rating: 52.8
Bottom line: Spanish Chef José Andrés has proven successful with his Mexican and Peruvian restaurant, but he shines best when making the food of his native country.
Jaleo offers patrons the perfect tapas experience, with hams, cheeses and wines complementing the numerous small dishes that will take you on an entire culinary journey.
Visit Jaleo.
22. Chavela’s
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Location: New York City, New York
Type of cuisine: Mexican
Rating: 53.1
Bottom line: We'll tell you a secret residents of Crown Heights don't want you to know —Chavela's is one of NYC's best Mexican restaurants.
Its chef, Arturo Leonar, hails from Mexico City, and his roots are apparent in the obvious authenticity of the decor and the items on the menu.
Expect less Tex-Mex and more actual Mexican food that offers ingredients often ignored by Americans, like a fungus-ridden corn called huitlacoche. Trust us, it's delicious.
Visit Chavela’s.
21. Convivium Osteria
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Location: New York City, New York
Type of cuisine: Italian
Rating: 53.7
Bottom line: Sardinian roots run deep in this slow-paced Italian restaurant that refuses to get caught up in the hurry of the city.
Wood, cooper and clay provide a grounded antidote to the industrial chic that has become all too common in the city.
Every visit is an opportunity to stop and smell the lamb slow-cooked in wine.
Visit Convivium Osteria.
20. Longman & Eagle
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
Type of cuisine: Modern
Rating: 54.6
Bottom line: Longman & Eagle does things how it wants, when it wants. Giving off strong saloon vibes, getting lunch here is sort of like being in the Old West, in the sense that you'll have to be quick and sharp in order to beat the inevitable afternoon rush.
You'll find a mix of flavors that follows no rules, offering items like cured salmon, green apples with burrata, and crispy pig ears as entrees. Definitely try one of their inventive cocktails, like the Faked & Nameless.
Visit Longman & Eagle.
19. Canon
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Location: Sacramento, California
Type of cuisine: Modern
Rating: 56.1
Bottom line: This modern cuisine restaurant represents the kind of fusion we've come to expect from California. It's fun and creative without compromising taste.
A dinner at Canon may include pickles to start with an American flavor, sweet potato bravas for a Spanish-inspired small plate with a twist, and grilled tombo tuna with kimchi salad and Korean red pepper sauce as an entree.
Visit Canon.
18. Ottoman Taverna
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Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of cuisine: Turkish
Rating: 57.7
Bottom line: A sleek interior with gold, white and copper accents creates a refined yet welcoming ambience at Ottoman Taverna.
Patrons enjoy favorite Turkish and Mediterranean dishes like moussaka, kebabs and red lentil soups.
Appetizers include well-known dishes like hummus and falafel, but we encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and eat some items like dolma or the feta-cheese-based sigara boregi.
Visit Ottoman Taverna.
17. Primrose
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Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of cuisine: French
Rating: 57.8
Bottom line: Effortlessly elegant in the way only French restaurants can be, Primrose brings both traditional French flavors and some interesting fusions.
You'll find the usual suspects like coc au vin and French onion soup, but you'll also be able to enjoy gambas al ajillo and mac and cheese.
If you're not in the mood for a full dinner, you can enjoy a glass of wine at the restaurant's agreeable patio.
Visit Primrose.
16. Gregory’s 26 Corner Taverna
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Location: New York City, New York
Type of cuisine: Greek
Rating: 58.3
Bottom line: The no-frills appearance of this restaurant is how you know it'll give you that old Greek restaurant experience.
The taverna is welcoming and feels almost like eating at a family friend's house. Wine flows freely, the eggplant and the fried calamari are crisp and freshm and the souvlaki is grilled to juicy perfection.
Visit Gregory’s 26 Corner Taverna.
15. GT Fish & Oyster
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
Type of cuisine: Seafood
Rating: 58.5
Bottom line: GT Fish & Oyster is a perfect conglomeration of seafood from around the world. And the food is always fresh and always good.
You'll find ceviches, fresh oysters, fried fish, shrimp bruschetta and clam chowder. Like any respectable seafood restaurant, the menu is seasonal.
Oh, and you can get steak if you want, though we don't see why you would.
Visit GT Fish & Oyster.
14. The Red Hen
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Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of cuisine: Italian
Rating: 6.0
Bottom line: The crowd never disperses in this excellent Italian restaurant where you can get Italian and Italian-American cuisine.
You can never go wrong with the pastas, which go great accompanied by some wine. But you can also enjoy plates like braised duck ragu and crispy pork chop.
Visit the Red Hen.
13. Mi Tocaya Antojeria
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
Type of cuisine: Mexican
Rating: 60.5
Bottom line: With an entire Mexican neighborhood, Chicago is a city where the competition for authenticity is fierce. And yet Mi Tocaya blows the competition out of the water with an attitude that says it won't change for anything or anyone.
The website features plenty of Spanglish, and the menu proudly offers Aztec cuisine, a side of Mexican gastronomy that has not yet made a big splash in the States.
Visit Mi Tocaya Antojeria.
12. HanGawi
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Location: New York City, New York
Type of cuisine: Korean vegetarian
Rating: 60.7
Bottom line: K-Town is filled with traditional Korean restaurants, and HanGawi often gets overlooked. This is good news for those in the know and bad news for everyone else.
The restaurant has a setup that is considered traditional even in Korean, with low tables and a place to leave your shoes before entering. But there is something very different about it.
Instead of juicy pork bellies, you'll find a vegetarian-only menu that finally lets non-meat eaters enjoy the wonders of Korean cuisine.
Visit Hangawi.
11. Coda di Volpe
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
Type of cuisine: Italian
Rating: 61.3
Bottom line: You are basically obligated to eat some deep dish pizza while in Chicago, but once you're done with that, come to Coda di Volpe.
Specializing in the flavors of Southern Italy, this restaurant offers wood-oven pizzas, pastas and other delicious Italian staples.
Originality isn't necessary when you do tradition as well as this restaurant does.
Visit Coda di Volpe.
10. Lapis
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Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of cuisine: Afghan
Rating: 61.4
Bottom line: Afghan food has been too often ignored in the U.S., but Lapis may just begin to change that. The restaurant is decorated with Afghan rugs, which create the perfect contrast to the otherwise whitewashed and discreet decoration.
Go with the tasting menus, which are meant to be shared and which provide two options. One is focused on meat, and one is vegetarian-friendly.
Visit Lapis.
9. Range Life
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Location: Livermore, California
Type of cuisine: Modern
Rating: 61.5
Bottom line: You've probably guessed from the name that Range Life is a millennial paradise. Set in a renovated brick house that is whitewashed with strong accents of teal, gray and pink, the restaurant brings a bit of the Bay Area to Livermore.
Food is inspired by a fusion of world cuisines, and rules aren't followed when it comes to mixing ingredients. The rules that are followed pertain to using local and seasonal ingredients as much as possible, while maintaining a menu that always satisfies customers.
Visit Range Life.
8. Hometown Bar-B-Que
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Location: New York City, New York
Type of cuisine: Barbecue
Rating: 62.1
Bottom line: The Bib Gourmand may not go to the Midwest, but the Midwest comes to Bib Gourmand via this New York City restaurant.
Meat lovers gather at the entrance, lured in by the smell of tender brisket and beef ribs. The sides won't disappoint either, with collard greens, mac and cheese and cornbread.
There are also great additions like Oaxacan chicken, Korean baby backs and even a veggie banh mi.
Visit Hometown Bar-B-Que.
7. Stockhome (Tie)
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Location: Petaluma, California
Type of cuisine: Scandinavian
Rating: 69.2
Bottom line: Scandinavian food tends to get a bad rap, but Stockhome (get it?) has managed to almost single-handedly change Petaluma's mind about it.
Owned by a couple who are indeed from Stockholm, the restaurant brings you pickled herring, meatballs and gravy, and skagen.
It also offers Middle Eastern dishes, which have become part of Swedish gastronomy thanks to a robust community from the region.
Visit Stockhome.
6. Yafa (Tie)
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Location: Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Type of cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Rating: 69.2
Bottom line: Beef, lamb and tzatziki are the name of the game in this Mediterranean-Middle Eastern restaurant. Other gems include skewered chicken and every kebab you can imagine.
Informal, light and friendly, the restaurant is a whole experience in itself, having the power to make you feel as if you've left California altogether.
Visit Yafa.
5. Llama Inn
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Location: New York City, New York
Type of cuisine: Peruvian
Rating: 69.8
Bottom line: Sleek and chic, this Peruvian restaurant brings you the country's strong, distinct flavors. But this isn't the kind of food you'll find in any other Peruvian restaurant.
It is an elevated version meant to be innovative, changing the dishes just enough to call them the restaurant's own, while still being unequivocally Peruvian.
Visit Llama Inn.
4. Giant
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
Type of cuisine: Modern American
Rating: 75.5
Bottom line: This space may be small, but it's guaranteed to fill you to the brim. Proudly American but with its own spin, you'll find Japanese eggplant and rigatoni alongside onion rings and jalapeno biscuits.
We recommend accompanying whatever you have with the deep flavor or the smoke and berries cocktail.
Visit Giant.
3. Birrieria Zaragoza
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
Type of Cuisine: Mexican
Rating: 77.1
Bottom line: Dedicated solely to birria, a stew from the Mexican state of Jalisco that is cooked with goat meat and tomatoes, Birrieria Zaragoza will have you drooling as you wait to be served.
To make the wait even tougher, the chefs will prepare the meal right in front of you, almost as if taunting you. The Barca-style birria is the most popular one, though anything you eat will be amazing, which is what happens when you master one thing rather than tackle them all.
The food here is so good that Birrieria Zaragoza also earned the third spot for best Mexican restaurants in the U.S.
Visit Birrieria Zaragoza.
2. Karma Modern Indian
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Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of cuisine: Indian
Rating: 76.8
Bottom line: When it comes to Indian food, we usually prefer traditional rather than modern. And yet there's a reason why Bib Gourmand highlighted Karma Modern India and why diners can't help but rave about the restaurant.
With spices ground in-house, you'll be happy to know that you'll still find regular menu items like paneer jawab, but also look for small twists like tandoor octopus.
Presentation is part of the brand, and you'll definitely feel a little guilty dispersing the carefully curated dish with your first bite. Don't worry, the guilt will be very short-lived.
Visit Karma Modern Indian.
1. HiroNori Craft Ramen
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Location: Irvine, California
Type of cuisine: Japanese
Rating: 84
Bottom line: Hiro Nori Ramen claims to be the best ramen in the entire state of California. Given the ridiculous amount of five-star reviews it receives, we're tempted to think it's not just tooting its own horn.
You can get rice bowls, which are definitely good, but we recommend coming for the ramen. We particularly favor the tonkotsu, with its rich, dense soup and its impossibly tender pork slices.
Visit Hiro Nori Ramen.