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The Michelin Guide revealed its 2026 Texas selection on October 8, 2026. It names 19 restaurants with stars in the state. Three of them earned a star for the first time this year.
Barbecue gets a star
The headline is Goldee’s Bar-B-Q in Fort Worth. It moved up from a Bib Gourmand to One Star.
Friends started Goldee’s in 2019, and it opened in 2020, Michelin says. Lines are long. The guide singles out the brisket, plus beef and pork ribs and a jalapeño cheddar sausage, all smoked over local post oak.
Barbecue shows up elsewhere in the guide too. Levant BBQ in Houston is a new Recommended restaurant. Michelin says it blends Central Texas barbecue with Levantine flavors.
Two more new stars in Austin
Fabrik, a vegan restaurant in Austin, also moved up to One Star. Michelin groups it with the state’s farm-to-table places, alongside Barley Swine and Birdie’s in Austin and Lovers Pizzeria, a newcomer in San Antonio.
Kappo Kappo, also in Austin, entered the guide with One Star. Brothers Haru and Gohei Kishi run it. They combine their Japanese roots with years spent in France. The format is an intimate omakase at a chef’s counter, using French techniques. Michelin mentions dishes such as toro tartare and Wagyu.
A service award
Barley Swine in Austin, already a One Star restaurant, won the 2026 Michelin Guide Texas Service Award.
Bib Gourmand news
The Bib Gourmand marks good food at a moderate price. FOX 4 in Dallas-Fort Worth reports that Resident Taqueria earned a 2026 Bib Gourmand. Michelin’s own roundup names Xolo in Houston, led by chef Javier Becerra, as a new Bib Gourmand with a Mexico City focus.
How Michelin ratings work
- One Star: high-quality cooking that is worth a stop.
- Two Stars: excellent cooking that is worth a detour.
- Three Stars: exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.
- Bib Gourmand: good quality and good value.
- Recommended: a restaurant listed in the guide without a star or Bib.
Planning a visit
At Goldee’s, expect a long line. Michelin notes it opens just a few days each week, late morning to afternoon. At Kappo Kappo, Michelin says the best seats are at the L-shaped counter. Check each restaurant’s own site for current hours and booking.
Top photo: Jackilometresan via Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Cropped and edited to blur faces.
Sources
- Michelin Guide, Every Michelin-starred restaurant in Texas for 2026
- Michelin Media, Michelin Guide Texas honors three new starred restaurants
- FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, 3 new Texas restaurants receive Michelin Stars, 8 Oct 2026
- Michelin Guide, Goldee's Bar-B-Q restaurant page
- Michelin Guide, Kappo Kappo restaurant page
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