Will South Florida restaurants earn Michelin stars this year? Here’s who should

The Michelin Guide returns its internationally famous gaze to Florida next week — and this time its open to every single part of Florida.

Tallahassee and Pensacola. Key West and Jacksonville. Sarasota and Sopchoppy. They’re all open to consideration in 2026.

This is not to say restaurants in those cities will win (though we are rooting hard for Sopchoppy). But the dining guide, which arrived in Florida 2022 and included only Miami, Orlando and Tampa restaurants at that time, added Broward, the Palm Beaches and the Clearwater and St. Petersburg area in 2025, then announced all of Florida is eligible this year.

The real question is this: Will 2026 be as chaotic as 2025? Last year in Fort Lauderdale, the Chef’s Counter at MAASS at the Four Seasons was the lone Broward spot to earn a star, but the main restaurant didn’t. In West Palm Beach, the Japanese omakase spot Konro got a star, but after its chef was arrested on domestic violence charges, it was stripped of its star and closed.

In Miami, local hero Nando Chang earned a star for his spectacular omakase spot Itamae Ao, only to have to shut it down when his sister Val’s Peruvian restaurant Maty’s closed (Itamae Ao was located inside Maty’s). The spot was eventually taken over by the Mediterranean restaurant Motek and its Sesame Bakery.

There are currently 13 Michelin-starred restaurants in Miami-Dade: Ariete; Boia De; Cote; Elcielo; Hiden; Le Jardinier; Los Felix; Ogawa; Shingo; Stubborn Seed; Tambourine Room by Tristan Brandt; The Surf Club Restaurant; and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, the city’s only two-star restaurant.

What will 2026 bring? We’ll find out after 2 p.m. on May 28, when the guide announces its winners via livestream (if there are any — the Michelin Guide has an interest in adding to its list but is not required to add restaurants to any previously honored city).

Here are a few restaurants we think have a shot at securing a Michelin star this time around.

Miami

Cotoa: This Ecuadorian restaurant from chef Alejandra Espinoza that began life in a downtown Miami food hall expanded to North Miami last year highlights fresh seafood prepared with French techniques.

Daniel’s: The Coral Gables steakhouse from restaurateur Tom Angelo, his daughter Kassidy and culinary director Daniel Ganem, which opened last summer in the former space of Fiola, has already earned plenty of praise and accolades, including being named one of the best steakhouses in the world by World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants.

Karyu: This luxury wagyu restaurant from Tokyo only opened in February, but its Japanese counterpart has a star, and if we know anything, we know that previous experience counts for something with the Michelin Guide.

Palma: We’re still ringing the bell for chef Juan Camilo Liscano and his small restaurant and tasting menu near Little Havana, which made the Michelin recommended list earlier this year.

Recoveco: Yes, we also had hopes South Miami’s Recoveco, from husband-and-wife team Nicolas Martinez and Maria Teresa Gallina, would earn a star last year (it was named one of the best new restaurants of 2025 by Bon Appétit). Maybe this time? We’ll carry around a chicken’s foot for luck (iykyk).

Sunny’s Steakhouse: One of Miami’s most popular restaurants and named one of the best restaurants of 2025 by Esquire, this Little River spot is still drawing crowds and for many good reasons, most of them steak-related (but also the sweet corn agnolotti and general vibe).

Yasu: This new omakase counter in the Design District stands out in a crowded field with traditional hospitality and startling creativity (the “peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” which is really uni and monk fish liver, is one of the most creative omakase dishes we’ve ever tried).

Broward

Daniel’s Fort Lauderdale: Yes, we’re going there. The first Daniel’s is every bit as perfect as the second and, though Michelin probably doesn’t care about this addition, we love little sister spot D’s Sports Bar next door.

Evelyn’s: With the spectacularly talented chef Brandon Salomon, this spectacular Mediterranean restaurant at the Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale deserved a star last year. We’re hoping 2026 provides a better outcome for Salomon and his team.

The Katherine: We’re always going to cheerlead for chef Timon Balloo’s friendly and eclectic Fort Lauderdale spot (as long as he doesn’t take the clam chowder fries off the menu).

Palm Beach

Buccan: This contemporary American restaurant from chef Clay Conley, is a Palm Beach favorite. And, happily for Miami dwellers wary of traveling that far north, It has finally opened its second location in Coral Gables.

Emelina: Chef Osmel González and his wife Camila Salazar (formerly of the Michelin-starred EntreNos in Miami Shores) and restaurateur Alvaro Perez Miranda (Midorie, Hiyakawa and the Michelin-starred Ogawa) have joined forces to create an upscale Cuban tasting menu. It probably hasn’t been open long enough for consideration — the restaurant opened in February in the former Konro space in West Palm Beach — but it’s hard to imagine this team wouldn’t create something special.