The Michelin Guide, the prestigious series of guidebooks that rate restaurants around the world, is finally coming to sweet home Alabama. 

Last month, the Michelin Guide publishers announced that they would move beyond larger urban centers and venture into other territories to better uncover the authentic food culture of the American South: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and the pre-existing Atlanta Guide.

“We are excited to embark on this new journey for The MICHELIN Guide as this will be the first time since the Guide’s North American debut in 2005 that we are launching a regional selection,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides. “The cuisine of the American South is a unique product of diverse influences creating an iconic array of specialties prepared by proud and impressive culinary talent.”

Michelin inspectors follow a set of five key criteria when evaluating a restaurant: the quality of ingredients, mastery of cooking techniques and flavors, the personality of the chef as expressed through the cuisine, value for money, and consistency across visits. 

Restaurants may be awarded one, two, or three Michelin stars; one star denotes a very good restaurant in its category, two stars signify excellent cooking that is worth a detour, and three stars represent exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey. In addition to its star system, the Michelin Guide also includes a special award, the Bib Gourmand, to recognize those restaurants that offer “a simpler style of cooking, which is recognizable and easy-to-eat.”

Which restaurants in Birmingham might earn a coveted star in the newest American South guide? We’ve collected our top predictions below.

Hot and Hot Fish Club

Hot and Hot is where Birmingham fine dining found its voice. Chefs Chris and Idie Hastings craft a menu rooted in Southern ingredients, elevated by refined technique and global influence. The menu doesn’t shout for attention, but it doesn’t need to, as there’s subtle brilliance in the details—like the quiet perfection of a seasonal tomato salad that somehow tastes like summer distilled. Other standouts include seared scallops, house-made pastas, and inventive game dishes that reflect the changing seasons. 

Helen

They say that food is closely tied to memory, and the notion is certainly true at Helen, where James Beard-nominated chef Rob McDaniel brings memories to life with dishes inspired by his grandmother’s Southern cooking. McDaniel’s cooking philosophy centers on respecting the land and celebrating its bounty through simple, yet elegant dishes. Prime meats and fresh seafood are the stars of the show, including an oak-fired Kansas City strip, a smoked Joyce Farms half-chicken, and a whole Gulf snapper a la plancha. Don’t forget the angel biscuits with whipped cane syrup butter.

Chez Fonfon

Stepping into Chez Fonfon feels like slipping into a Parisian daydream, right in the heart of Five Points. Chef Frank Stitt’s influence helped shape the city’s culinary identity, bringing fine dining to the South long before it was trendy, and inspiring a generation of local talent along the way. The brasserie-style restaurant isn’t flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. With dishes like trout amandine, moules-frites, and their classic hamburger with melted comté, it’s easy to see why Chez Fonfon is a beloved Birmingham institution. If Michelin is looking for charm, consistency, and classic technique—along with a perfect French 75–they’ll find it here.

Current Charcoal Grill

Current Charcoal Grill is a culinary collaboration between James Beard Award-winning Chef Adam Evans and Chef Luke Joseph, paying homage to the vast range of flavors, ingredients, and techniques of Asian cuisine and the bounty of the Pacific. The restaurant’s name alludes to the centuries-old Japanese tradition of using slow-burning Binchotan charcoal–a central element of their cooking approach. The menu emphasizes sustainably sourced Gulf seafood, complemented by quality produce and proteins from local farmers and purveyors. Guests can expect a vibrant atmosphere and an ever-changing menu that showcases the chefs’ commitment to flavor, technique, and sustainability.

OvenBird

At OvenBird, fire is more than a cooking method–it’s the heart of the experience. Chef Chris Hastings draws inspiration from the live-fire traditions of Spain, Portugal, and the American South, creating bold, flavor-packed small plates designed for sharing. The beef tallow candle, which melts tableside into a rich dipping oil, sets the tone for a menu full of smoky surprises—like grilled octopus, wood-roasted oysters, and ember-roasted vegetables. The lively, communal space where rustic technique meets thoughtful execution, and it just might be one of the city’s most distinctive dining experiences.

La Fête

La Fête feels like a secret dinner party–just a few tables, a tasting menu, and a story unfolding course by course. Chef Kristen Hall has a keen eye for detail, from the plating to the choice of ingredients. The dishes change often, but expect refined, French-inspired cooking such as steak frites, seared snapper, and beef Wellington, and classic French pastry for dessert, such as profiteroles and a lemon meringue tart. With just a handful of tables and a seasonal tasting menu that shifts frequently, each meal feels like a carefully composed narrative.

Automatic Seafood & Oysters

Automatic Seafood is the kind of place that reminds you how simple, fresh ingredients can shine when they’re in the right hands. Chef Adam Evans treats seafood with respect and detail–with fish primarily sourced from the Gulf of Mexico, and an oyster selection from the waters along the Southern and Eastern coastlines. Every dish feels intentional inside the welcoming, modern space, which has been labeled “an ode to Americana,” drawing inspiration from shorelines across the country. The restaurant will show Michelin how simple, fresh ingredients can shine when they’re in the right hands.

Lé Fresca

Lé Fresca is what happens when old-school Italian cooking meets Southern hospitality. Under the direction of Chef Duaine Clements, who was handed the reins from Chef Marco Butturini in 2024, the restaurant represents the best of North Italian cuisine, with house-made pastas, beautiful seafood, and rich braises that feel like Sunday dinner in the best way. The food is unfussy but thoughtful, with a true sense of heart behind every plate. It may fly under the radar now, but Michelin tends to love places like this–where tradition is honored and execution is flawless.

Bay Leaf Modern Indian Cuisine & Bar

In the heart of Five Points South, Bay Leaf is doing something different–and it’s doing it really well. The menu blends traditional Indian flavors with creative twists, like truffle butter naan and incredible specialty cocktails. You can tell the kitchen is having fun, but there’s a clear respect for tradition and balance, and servers always take pride in explaining every dish and menu item. For Birmingham, it’s a refreshing change of pace–and for Michelin, it could be the kind of modern Indian cooking that turns heads.

 

Bib Gourmand—Birmingham

Saw’s Soul Kitchen

Barbecue opinions run deep in the South, and everyone has a favorite, but most everyone can agree that Saw’s is truly something special. Saw’s Soul Kitchen, the cozy Avondale outpost of the local empire, is loud, tight on space, and absolutely worth the wait. The pulled pork and greens over cheese grits is a dish that borders on iconic, and the smoked chicken with Alabama white sauce has earned a loyal following–unfussy, flavor-packed cooking with heart. It might be a longshot for a star, but it’s a strong contender for a Bib Gourmand–affordable, unforgettable, and so very Birmingham.