Deliciously Cheap Michelin Star Restaurants in the U.S.

At these restaurants, you can get one of the best meals of your life for less than $80.

A Michelin star meal is something most of us only dream of having — until now. It turns out, you can actually get an award-worthy dinner for less than $80.

In the U.S., there are four incredibly affordable Michelin restaurants. They have all been lauded for the quality of their ingredients and the innovation of their dishes. The least expensive will set you back just $45 and is pretty famous in its city.

Here is everything you need to know about the cheapest Michelin star restaurants in America, listed from least to most affordable. Bon appetit!

4. Tail Up Goat

tailupgoat / Instagram

Location: Washington, D.C.

Type of cuisine: Contemporary

Price: $79.00

Find it: Online

*Note: Data is based on Top Dollar’s “The Cheapest Michelin Meals in the World Report.”

Bottom Line: Tail Up Goat

tailupgoat / Instagram

A Mediterranean breeze has blown through D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood ever since Tail Up Goat opened its doors. The result of a collaboration between three long-time residents of the neighborhood, the restaurant is the perfect combination of elevated yet casual. The space is elegant without being stuffy or overly formal, and the food is excellent without trying too hard to be groundbreaking.

The bar area allows for an even more casual experience or even for people watching and catching up with friends without eating a full-course meal. However, we suggest skipping the full dining experience only if you come here regularly. The cool ambiance of the restaurant is just an added bonus to the real reason for visiting: the heavenly dishes made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

What Tripadvisor Reviewers Say About Tail Up Goat

nir_wess / Instagram

“Everything was superb. From the first greeting at the door to the last crumb of olive oil birthday cake. We sat at the bar to ‘people watch’ and were taken care of by an amazingly knowledgeable (dinner and drinks) bartender. The menu is creative without trying too hard and not over the top. I want to fly back to D.C. just for their sourdoughs.” — TRivers142

Meet Tail Up Goat’s Head Chef

happymouthpodcast / Instagram

Chef Jon Sybert worked at Komi before venturing out on his own. This is where he got experience for preparing Mediterranean-American dishes the way D.C. likes them.

His partner and wife is Jill Tyler, who is the service director of the restaurant. As for beverages, Bill Jensen overlooks and directs the operation, making sure that the cocktails are innovative and that the wines and ciders on the menu pair well with the dishes.

Sample Meal at Tail Up Goat

tailupgoat / Instagram

To keep their promise of freshness, menus change slightly on an everyday basis and more drastically from season to season. However, here’s an example of the kind of meal you can expect at the restaurant.

Start with one or two mezes, or Mediterranean-style appetizers. The carrot and chickpea Panisse and the crispy salt cod are good choices. Then, order the baby honeynut squash topped with yogurt and black garlic for an encounter of tastes that is incredibly satisfying. And make sure you get sourdough on the side with it.

As a main dish, we recommend the seared tilefish with crispy sunchokes. Finally, the concord grape panna cotta makes for the perfect dessert.

Things to Do Before or After Dinner

Adams Morgan Washington D.C. Neighborhood

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If you want to spend time in Adams Morgan before dinner, we suggest simply walking around the neighborhood. The historic enclave is filled with gorgeous houses as well as local shops and restaurants that make it a particularly pleasant stroll. You can also rest at Walter Pierce Park or get some vintage clothes at Meeps.

After dinner, you can head to Madam’s Organ, a blues bar that is a neighborhood institution. Dancing until the establishment closes is highly recommended.

Where to Stay Near Tail Up Goat

The LINE Hotel DC / Facebook

The LINE DC is easily the coolest hotel in Adams Morgan. Housed within a former church that is more than 100-years old, the chic accommodation has sharp design touches that set it apart. A purposefully crooked mirror stands at the corner of the staircase, visually enlarging the space and making you look twice.

Sharp geometric shapes in metal and wood encase light bulbs, adorn the bed headrest and work to modernize the historic building — without disrespecting its original structure.

3. Claro

Claro Restaurant / Facebook

Location: New York, New York

Type of cuisine: Mexican

Price: $72.00

Find it: Online

Bottom Line: Claro

Claro Restaurant / Facebook

An authentic Mexican restaurant in the heart of Gowanus in Brooklyn, Claro brings Oaxacan flavors to New York. The restaurant has been decorated with elements designed by artists from the Mexican region. The dinnerware, prints and logos were also made by chef T.J. Steele’s friends. These touches, plus the deeply traditional — though innovative — menu, have positioned Claro as one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city.

The restaurant also stands out for its commitment to making everything by hand. The tortillas are made fresh in front of customers, who can see them being freshly pressed. A comal in the spacious backyard is constantly fed tlayudas and tostadas that need toasting by firewood. Then, there’s the extensive mezcal and tequila list. Don’t expect watered-down tequila made from anywhere that’s not the state of Jalisco (after all, tequila isn’t really tequila unless it’s from this region). As for mezcal, the menu has a curated mezcal flight recommendation for every single dish.

What Tripadvisor Reviewers Say About Claro

my.new.york.city / Instagram

“The place is very eclectic, with lovely décor and unique dishware. The food was outstanding, as it was made with ingredients that gave wonderful Oaxacan flavors to each dish. The options for our four-course dinners were excellent. Fantastic desserts, not to forget the wonderful mezcal margaritas and a few other unique cocktails (hibiscus). Dinner was as good as fine dining in Mexico.” — SeDeGar

Meet Claro’s Head Chef

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New Jersey-born chef T.J. Steele lived many years in Oaxaca part-time. His purpose was to learn the culinary tradition of Mexico’s most famous food region and develop an authentic connection to it. While here, he became friends with many of the artists and artisans who now supply materials, decorations and ingredients to Claro.

The chef graduated from The Culinary Institute of America and worked in restaurants like Union Square Cafe and Tia Pol, both in New York. He also started his own mezcal line, El Buho Mezcal.

Sample Meal at Claro

Claro Restaurant / Facebook

Claro offers a four-course meal that provides four options per course. We recommend starting with a tostada de pulpo, a hard shell tortilla with octopus that will be enough to pique your appetite. Then, move on to tacos de barbacoa. This tender goat meat is one of the restaurant’s specialties, so it would be a mistake not to give them a try. Your main dish could be mole rojo, which contains pork cheek and apples with spices that will perfectly complement the barbacoa. Needles to say, the meal should be accompanied by a mezcal.

For dessert, arroz con leche, rice pudding with cinnamon cloves and raisins will be the perfect end of the meal.

Things to Do Before or After Dinner

Stefan Tomic / Getty Images

Gowanus is near several points of interest in Brooklyn that are usually not lost to hordes of tourists. If you want to spend the day in the area, you can head to the beautiful Prospect Park or walk around Green-Wood Cemetery. You can also do some shopping at L Train Vintage, which is a short walk from Claro.

After dinner, we recommend catching a show at the Bell House or ShapeShifter Lab. These experimental spaces offer a variety of shows and entertainment options including concerts, art performances and plays.

Where to Stay Near Claro

The Williamsburg Hotel / Facebook

For a place to rest your head while in the city, we recommend the Williamsburg Hotel. It is a bit north of where the restaurant is located, but it will give you easy access to both Brooklyn and Manhattan, making it perfect for travelers.

The hotel offers views of both sides of the East River. It has custom-designed furniture, handmade toiletries and large ceilings that brighten your room with natural light. At this hotel, you definitely won’t have the stereotypical claustrophobic experience of most New York hotels.

2. Tuome

Tuome / Facebook

Location: New York, New York

Type of cuisine: Fusion

Price: $51.00

Find it: Online

Bottom Line: Tuome

Tuome / Facebook

An Asian-inspired fusion restaurant in the East Village sounds like anything but original. And, let’s be honest, it isn’t. Yet Tuome has managed to stand out in a city filled with Asian fusion restaurants and carve a name for itself. It’s done this by providing outstanding quality in both flavors and presentation.

The restaurant’s menu is simple and somewhat limited, but everything looks so good you’ll still spend a while pondering over what to get. Not that that’s a bad thing, as the ambiance is pleasant and laid back enough to warrant spending a while here.

What Tripadvisor Reviewers Say About Tuome

tuomenyc / Instagram

“The dinner we had here last Saturday night was the best meal during our first four-day foodie trip to NYC in 16 months. Our outdoor seating was airy and comfortable. The food was meticulously prepared, beautifully plated and amazingly tasty. The attentive wait staff provided excellent service. Starting with the eye-pleasing Fire in the Sky cocktail and playful complementary snacks, we were enthralled.” — LnS2004

Meet Tuome’s Head Chef

tuomenyc / Instagram

Tuome’s chef Thomas Chen had an interesting trajectory. The first-generation Chinese American was originally an accountant. After four years of doing a job he hated, he decided to start over and study at the International Culinary Center.

From there, he went to Eleven Madison Park, where he became recognized in the restaurant scene and opened Tuome in the very city he was born and raised in. His non-traditional path may explain how he was able to bring new ideas to his fusion restaurant. Whatever he’s doing, it definitely seems to be working.

Sample Meal at Tuome

Tuome / Facebook

For a starter, we cannot recommend the octopus enough. The coiling grilled tentacle is served on a white plate that almost makes it pop up. Take a bite, and let its buttery taste melt in your mouth.

As a main dish, the absolute crowd favorite is the Pig Out. The dish is meant to be shared between two and consists of pork belly on spicy sesame noodles. If you don’t want to share, we suggest going for the Wagyu beef. Sides include rice, mushrooms or broccoli, which you can choose according to taste.

The Chinese beignets are the house’s best dessert. These imaginative deep-fried buns are filled with apple jam and topped with vanilla ice cream with red bean paste — a true fusion of flavors.

Things to Do Before or After Dinner

AnnaLauraWolff / Getty Images

Is it even possible to get bored in the East Village? We have yet to see that happen. Walking around aimlessly will always lead you to some cool independent shop, cinema or collective, typically saved for secretive word-of-mouth. While it’s no longer the place where New York’s bohemians and hippies gather, there is still an alternative, almost irreverent air to the whole neighborhood.

If you aren’t convinced that getting lost is the best way to see the village, we recommend relaxing at Tompkins Square Park or paying a visit to the Museum of the American Gangster. Once you leave the restaurant, you can catch a standup comedy show or a poetry reading at Nuyorican Poets Cafe. You can also dance into the night at Drom bar and lounge. Feeling restless? A walk to Washington Square Park at night is almost a New York rite of passage.

Where to Stay Near Tuome

Management / Tripadvisor

Many people fantasize about living in the East Village, but few people can actually afford to do so. In comes East Village Hotel.

The boutique establishment is almost more like an apartment complex than a hotel. Except, of course, you rent by the day, and you do have amenities. Each room is a studio with a kitchenette that gives you a taste of New York living.

1. State Bird Provisions

State Bird Provisions / Facebook

Location: San Francisco, California

Type of cuisine: American

Price: $45.00

Find it: Online

Bottom Line: State Bird Provisions

State Bird Provisions / Facebook

State Bird Provisions has managed to achieve the impossible: take a strange concept, use flavors from all over the world and actually stand out in San Francisco where every other restaurant attempts to do this.

The restaurant’s innovation comes from having a dim sum style structure, in which carts are wheeled around waiting to be stopped by diners wishing to try the foods being displayed. Except instead of just dim sum, you can find pancakes, corn on the cob, salads, chicken and anything that the chefs feel like cooking up on a given day. (Though given the restaurant’s commitment to locally sourced ingredients, it also depends on what’s available.) This is why State Bird Provisions calls itself “a restaurant without any programmed elements.” We can’t think of anything more California than that.

To top it all off, the restaurant is within the top 20 cheapest Michelin-Star restaurants in the entire world. We can’t think of anything less California than that.

What Tripadvisor Reviewers Say About State Bird Provisions

State Bird Provisions / Facebook

“This is a truly outstanding restaurant. Everything is so delicious, creative and uses great local products. The concept is so much fun — you get to see the dishes and pick what looks best. Tapas style allows you to try a lot of different things at once, without committing to just one. I love to sit at the counter where you can watch the magic as the chefs are cooking right in front of you. Highly recommend this restaurant.” — AlyonaSF

Meet State Bird Provisions’ Head Chefs

State Bird Provisions / Facebook

State Bird Provisions is the love child of a husband-and-wife chef duo. Stuart Brioza is the head chef while Nicole Krasinski is the pastry chef. Both are proud co-owners of this restaurant as well as The Progress, which they opened literally next door.

The team has had a fairly similar career trajectory, though they have focused on different areas. They both got their first big break working at Tapawingo, a now-closed restaurant that was very well regarded in Chicago. It was after the restaurant closed that the couple moved back to California, eventually deciding to open their own place.

Sample Meal at State Bird Provisions

State Bird Provisions / Facebook

As we’ve explained, it’s impossible to know what’s going to be served at State Bird Provisions from day to day. In fact, the restaurant’s website doesn’t even have a menu on it.

But we can tell you the kinds of things you might find and what you really don’t want to miss out on if it’s available. Definitely go for anything with shiitake mushrooms. Surprisingly, the toasts are also amazing and are topped with strong ingredients like goat cheese and figs. The duck is always good, as are the poppy seed pancakes and the lemon cheesecake with hazelnuts.

But really, we suggest giving into the experience and simply going by what your eyes and nose draw you towards.

Things to Do Before or After Dinner

Painted Ladies at Alamo Square, San Francisco

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State Bird Provisions is right in San Francisco’s Fillmore District, bordering Japantown — both of which offer very cool yet different vibes. You can stop at the Japantown Peace Plaza or catch an event at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California. You can also go shopping, with several markets and shops selling antiques, clothes and more.

We also highly recommend taking a longer walk to see the city’s famous Painted Ladies. This row of Victorian houses has appeared in many films and is almost the face of the Bay Area. You can also hang out at the pretty Alamo Square Park.

Where to Stay Near State Bird Provisions

hotelemblem / Instagram

Why go to San Francisco if you’re not going to indulge the hipster within? Hotel Emblem San Francisco feels no shame in its appeal to millennials who like feeling like they’re effortlessly cool. You’ll find typewriters in the rooms, a bar decorated with Beat Generation-inspired design and a nook filled with books and tables you can write at.

The design trend continues in the rooms, where stark color contrasts and silhouettes rule. The decoration, walls and even floors often look like they were made by Jackson Pollock himself. Of course, there’s live jazz every night and a weekly poetry performance within the hotel premises.