Michelin's 2026 Toronto guide crowns no new stars, dropping count to 15 restaurants
The tire company's fifth annual awards ceremony held Tuesday brought new Bib Gourmand honours and special awards, but no first-time Michelin stars—a reflection of stricter standards.
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Michelin's inspectors were in a frugal mood this year. At Tuesday's fifth annual Toronto Michelin Guide ceremony, held at the Liberty Grand, not a single new restaurant earned a star—and the region's starred-restaurant count actually shrunk from 17 to 15, as Aburi Hana lost its only star and Oakville's Hexagon closed entirely.
The stagnant results put Michelin's secretive judging process under scrutiny. The guide doesn't disclose how many local restaurants its inspectors visit, how often they return to check consistency, how many inspectors work the region, or how much funding its tourism partners contribute. Yet the numbers tell a story: Toronto has only four starred restaurants per million residents, while comparable cities like Chicago and New York have seven and eight, respectively.
Still, recognition flowed elsewhere. Five restaurants earned Bib Gourmand status—an honour for high-quality dining at good value: Antylia and The Lunch Lady of Saigon in Toronto, Golden Horseshoe Barbecue (which grew from a pandemic pop-up in Seaton Village to a permanent fixture), Les Incompetents in St. Catharines, and RPM Bakehouse in Jordan. Eleven new restaurants joined Michelin's recommended list, bringing the region's Bib Gourmand tally to 31.
Michelin also retired its Green Stars for sustainable restaurants, replacing them with the Mindful Voices award for leadership, mentorship, and community engagement—awarded to Aldo Camarena and Ashley McKay of Latin American standout Antylia. Other special honours went to Sharon Chan at One Five Six (Exceptional Cocktails), Toni Weber at 20 Victoria (Sommelier), Eric Roell at Lore (Michelin Service Award), and Andrew Golden at Golden Horseshoe Barbecue (Young Chef Award).
Restaurant Pearl Morissette's Daniel Hadida and Eric Robertson took the stage to reclaim their two stars with the ease of repeat winners—they've topped three Michelin ceremonies, two Canada's 100 Best lists, and two North America's 50 Best lists in just over two years. "The year's been very intense," Hadida said, "but it's very exciting to watch the community, which has grown over the last decade with us, get to share in the excitement and wonder that comes with being accoladed."
How many restaurants does Michelin actually inspect in the Toronto region each year, and how has that number changed?
What specific criteria shifted to result in no new starred restaurants this year when previous editions awarded new stars?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
Good to know
How many Michelin-starred restaurants are in Toronto now?
Toronto has 15 Michelin-starred restaurants as of the 2026 guide, down from 17 the previous year.
Which restaurants newly earned Bib Gourmand status?
Five restaurants earned Bib Gourmand honours: Antylia and The Lunch Lady of Saigon in Toronto, Golden Horseshoe Barbecue, Les Incompetents in St. Catharines, and RPM Bakehouse in Jordan.
What award replaced Michelin's Green Stars?
Michelin replaced its Green Stars for sustainable restaurants with the Mindful Voices award, which recognizes leadership, mentorship, and community engagement.
Which restaurant has won the most Michelin ceremonies in Toronto?
Pearl Morissette has topped three Michelin ceremonies, along with two Canada's 100 Best lists and two North America's 50 Best lists in just over two years.
