Forking out: the five most and expensive Michelin Star restaurants in the US, and four are in New York

Taking the top spot is Masa in New York, whose standard tasting menu will set you back an astonishing $750 per person. Established in 2004 by Japanese chef Masa Takayama, it has earned the maximum of three Michelin Stars. It gained its third star in 2009, and was the first Japanese restaurant in the US to do so. With a casual and comfortable dress code, the $750 Omakase menu is the cheaper of two options, with their Hinoki Counter Experience costing $950 per person. This experience guarantees seating at their sushi counter for an immersive experience with one of their highly skilled sushi chefs.  

In second place is Sushi Noz, also in New York. The standard tasting menu costs $525 per person. With a vision to create an elegant dining experience with sushi, chef Nozomu Abe opened Sushi Noz in 2007. Their Edomae style menu is a 2.5-hour experience, beginning with a series of small plates, followed by a selection of seasonal nigiri, finishing with miso soup, tamago and dessert. Receiving its first in 2020, the restaurant now has two Michelin Stars. 

Third is Single Thread in Healdsburg, California. Opened in 2016 by chef Kyle Connaughton and his wife Katina, its standard tasting menu costs $495 per person. The chef’s ten-course Japanese menu has earned the restaurant three Michelin Stars, with their fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers and honey supplied by Katina’s farm. 

Next on the list is Benu in San Francisco, with a tasting menu that costs $420 per person. Their three-hour dining experience puts a Western spin on Korean and Cantonese food, featuring a wide variety of seafood, vegetables, meat courses and dessert. After 25 years working at some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world, chef Corey Lee opened Benu in 2010. It has since received three Michelin Stars, becoming the first restaurant in San Francisco to do so. 

Sushi Ginza Onodera in West Hollywood is fifth, with its tasting menu costing $400 per person. Opened by chef Akifumi Sakagami in 2013, the restaurant has earned two Michelin Stars. The Omakase menu includes Edomae style traditional sushi, with fish imported from the Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo.  

The research also revealed the least expensive two and three Michelin Star restaurants.  

In first place is Aquavit in New York, with the standard tasting menu priced at $175 per person. First opened in 1987, the restaurant has two Michelin Stars. The five-course menu offers exquisite Nordic cuisine, beginning with yellowtail and pear, followed by scallop and chestnut. The experience then moves on to cod and cauliflower, before a beef and black trumpet dish, concluding with an almond and maple dessert. 

Second is Le Bernardin in New York. This is the cheapest three Michelin Star restaurant in the US, with a dinner menu priced at $210 per person. The seafood restaurant, owned by Maguy Le Coze and chef Eric Ripert, has held its three Michelin Stars since 2005. Some of its menu’s highlights include caviar tartare, seafood truffle pasta and Japanese Wagyu. 

Commis in Oakland is third, with their tasting menu costing $225 per person. Established in 2009 by chef James Syhabout, the restaurant has two Michelin Stars. The ten-course dining experience begins with cool oysters, raw fish and salads, progressing into warm seafood and finishing with rice.  

In fourth place is The Modern in New York, with their tasting menu costing $225 per person. Since opening in 2005, the restaurant has gained two Michelin Stars. Sitting directly next to the Museum of Modern Art, The Modern offers elegant French-American cuisine. Chef Thomas Allan’s eight-course tasting menu, while it is changed frequently, includes some surprise courses meant to be shared between the table. They also offer an inventive range of desserts including strawberry Romanoff. 

Fifth is Odo in New York. Their tasting menu costs $265 per person. Owned by chef Hiroki Odo, the restaurant serves traditional Japanese cuisine. Five of the eight courses are seafood-based, despite Hiroki Odo being the former head chef at an acclaimed vegan restaurant. Since opening in 2018, Odo has gained two Michelin Stars.  

Nick Warren, head of e–commerce at Restaurant Furniture, has commented: “Michelin Stars are traditionally a hallmark of culinary excellence and exclusive dining experience. They are awarded to restaurants for outstanding cooking, taking into account factors such as the quality of ingredients, the harmony of flavors, and the mastery of technique. Many of the restaurants listed serve Japanese cuisine due to the quality of ingredients and intricacy of the dishes meeting the expectations of the Michelin inspectors. 

“It is also fascinating to see such a large diversity in pricing among the Michelin Starred restaurants. For many, visiting the most expensive restaurants is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. On the other end of the spectrum, the least expensive are a testament to the talent and dedication of the chefs to produce high-end dishes at a more affordable price, showing that quality and excellence doesn’t have to come with such a large price tag.” 

This information was provided by Restaurant Furniture, experts in the restaurant furniture industry.