The Michelin Guide is often considered the most prestigious restaurant award in the world. The reviewers at the Michelin Guide are famously mysterious, but traditionally, Michelin has centered on fine-dining concentrated in major urban areas. In recent years, the guide has expanded in both types of cuisine and regions. In 2025, the Michelin Guide entered the American South, featuring Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee (Atlanta was the only area covered previously).
With a total of one Michelin star, seven Bib Gourmand awards, and 39 recommended restaurants, North Carolina was one of the most awarded states in the American South. To sample these restaurants firsthand, I was taken on a guided culinary tour courtesy of Visit North Carolina. The tour centered on four of the major cities in North Carolina: Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham. We visited more places than featured on this list, but I chose to curate some of the most interesting restaurants that impressed me. Needless to say, there was plenty of eating.
