MICHELIN Guide Philippines 2027: Things That Could Be Different This Year

MICHELIN’s inspectors never say where they’ve been eating. This year, though, The MICHELIN Guide and the Department of Tourism have let a few clues slip about what to expect when the second MICHELIN Guide Philippines selection is announced on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

With MICHELIN fever running high, we did a little sleuthing of our own. The Guide’s official statements and an interview with DOT Director Paulo Tugbang point to five things that could be different this year.

1. Will Pampanga and Cavite gain more recognition this year?

“We’ve strengthened our presence in Pampanga and in Cavite,” Tugbang told Metro. “I’m expecting that we might have some surprises from those destinations.”

The inaugural 2025 MICHELIN Guide Philippines selection recognized no restaurants in Pampanga, long regarded as the country’s culinary capital. Cavite, meanwhile, had two restaurants recognized by the Guide: Asador Alfonso, which earned One MICHELIN Star, and Antonio’s, which was included in the MICHELIN Selected list. Will the inspectors’ deeper scrutiny translate into wider recognition? The answer comes on October 29.

2. Will more restaurants in Quezon City, Malabon, Pateros and Marikina make this year’s list?

The Department of Tourism wants this year’s selection will recognize more restaurants across Metro Manila, including in areas beyond its established dining hubs.

“We want to see more of Quezon City. We want to see more of Malabon, Pateros, even Marikina—you know, the farthest of the cities,” Tugbang told Metro. “Hopefully, we’ll get surprised in the event.”

3. Who will be the new names on the list?

MICHELIN says its latest discoveries point to “new voices emerging” and “established talents taking unexpected turns,” with Philippine cuisine appearing in forms both rooted in heritage and distinctly of the moment.

That could mean newer restaurants bringing fresh ideas to the table, or established chefs venturing beyond their familiar repertoire. MICHELIN hasn’t said which developments it has in mind, leaving the full picture to emerge on Thursday.

4. Will the Guide travel beyond Manila and its Environs, and Cebu?

In its preview of the 2027 selection, the MICHELIN Guide describes Manila’s “chef-driven restaurants, tasting menus, and ambitious contemporary concepts,” while Cebu draws strength from “its lechon, seafood, charcoal-grilled dishes, and convivial home cooking.”

More telling is the Guide’s statement that inspectors are finding “compelling expressions of regional identity” beyond these established dining centers, where “recipes passed down through generations sit alongside more contemporary and polished dining experiences.”

That’s a clear hint that MICHELIN’s sights may extend beyond Manila and Cebu. The question is when, and where, it will go next.

5. Will Filipino cooking have a stronger showing?

The MICHELIN Guide is highlighting greater confidence in Filipino cooking, from fresh interpretations of familiar dishes to a deeper interest in heritage recipes and local ingredients.

“Across these regions, Inspectors are seeing greater consistency, technical confidence, and a deeper engagement with local ingredients and culinary history,” the Guide says. It points to calamansi, kamias, and tamarind, as well as native spirits, tropical fruit, coffee, spices, and herbs finding their way into more thoughtful food and drink pairings.

Could this mean more Filipino restaurants on the list? Or greater recognition for those reinterpreting Filipino classics, preserving heritage cooking, and putting local ingredients at the center of their menus? The Guide’s comments suggest these are developments worth watching.

The MICHELIN Star turns 100 this year, a century after it was introduced in 1926. The Philippines is only on its second selection, and there is still much to discover about the restaurants and cooking MICHELIN chooses to recognize.

Let’s find out on October 29. The MICHELIN Guide Philippines 2027 ceremony will be livestreamed on the MICHELIN Guide YouTube channel, but stay tuned to Metro for the latest news, the full list of winners, and our take on what this year’s selection means for Philippine dining.