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Michelin honors spread across North Carolina, with new Bib Gourmands in Charlotte and the Triangle
Charlotte’s Counter- kept its Michelin Star as four restaurants in Charlotte and the Triangle joined the 2026 guide’s Bib Gourmand list. The selections also recognize chefs and restaurants in Wilmington, Greenville and Asheville.
North Carolina restaurants earned new Michelin recognition Wednesday night, with Charlotte’s Counter- retaining its one-star distinction and four restaurants in Charlotte and the Triangle receiving Bib Gourmands for the first time in the 2026 Michelin Guide American South selection.
The awards were announced at a ceremony in Nashville. The Bib Gourmand recognizes restaurants Michelin considers to offer high-quality food at a good value. Charlotte’s new honoree is The Story of Mi Cariño, a Mexican cantina and mezcalería in South End. In the Triangle, new honorees are Ajja in Raleigh, Ideal’s in Durham and Tesoro in Carrboro.
Counter-, a tasting-menu restaurant in Charlotte’s Wesley Heights neighborhood, retained its Michelin Star. Lang Van, a Vietnamese restaurant in Charlotte, also kept its Bib Gourmand. Triangle restaurants Mala Pata and Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh, and Prime Barbecue in Knightdale, retained theirs.
Michelin also added several North Carolina restaurants to its recommended list, which recognizes dining experiences without awarding a Star or Bib Gourmand. The new recommendations are Salita Pizza and Manna in Wilmington, and Native Fine Diner in Greenville. In Asheville, Little Chango, Luminosa and Mother retained their Bib Gourmands.
The ceremony recognized North Carolina hospitality professionals as well. Hector González-Mora of The Story of Mi Cariño received the Young Chef Award, while Sam Diminich of Charlotte’s Restaurant Constance was named a Michelin Mindful Voices honoree. William Mellon of Manna in Wilmington received the Sommelier Award.
Diminich described food and hospitality as a way to bring people together at a time of division. “Food is the last line of defense,” he said. “It’s something that we can all agree on. Cooking and hospitality is our language. Hope is the message.”
Michelin began publishing its American South restaurant selections in 2025, bringing international attention to North Carolina’s dining scene. The 2026 distinctions span established restaurants and newer businesses, including Mi Cariño, which opened in South End earlier this year.