What does a Michelin Bib Gourmand Award Mean? All the Criteria

Bib Gourmand, one of the famous Michelin restaurant guides, recognises restaurants that offer great food at reasonable prices. Bib Gourmand restaurants may not have a Michelin star, but the food must still be delicious, and the total cost for three courses should come to under a certain amount, depending on the local cost of living.

For many, Michelin stars, awarded annually in the Michelin tyre company’s iconic red guide, are the ultimate recognition of dining excellence. First introduced in 1900 in an attempt to persuade people to buy cars, the Michelin guide branched out into restaurant criticism in 1926, awarding stars to the best eateries they visited on their travels. One Michelin star denoted ‘an excellent restaurant in its category’, and in 1931 a second and third star were added, awarded to ‘excellent cooking, worth a detour,’ and ‘exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey,’ respectively.

But the Michelin guide isn’t only about the stars. From 1955, certain restaurants were marked with a letter ‘R’ in the guide, indicating establishments that the Michelin inspectors felt deserved recognition for serving good food at low prices. In 1997, this became known as the ‘Bib Gourmand’ award, and the ‘R’ was replaced by a picture of Michelin’s friendly mascot, Bibendum, or ‘Bib’ for short (better known as ‘The Michelin Man’ in English-speaking countries), licking his lips.

There are two main criteria to qualify for a Bib Gourmand - the food must be delicious, and it must cost less than a set amount for three courses. As the Michelin guide is now published around the world, the ceiling price varies according to the local cost of living. Michelin’s Bib Gourmand guide is a great resource for those of us who love good food but can’t afford to eat in expensive restaurants, and is particularly relevant right now, given the current trend for more relaxed dining. 

In fact, there are several Michelin-starred restaurants that fall within the price range of a Bib Gourmand. So why are some awarded Michelin stars and others a Bib Gourmand? Of course, the exact criteria for any of Michelin’s coveted awards is a closely-guarded secret, but it does seem that the Michelin inspectors are looking out for different things for each. To win a Michelin star, a restaurant should serve unique, boundary-pushing cuisine, while a Bib Gourmand is more likely to offer comforting favourites at their very best. Michelin’s website describes the ideal Bib Gourmand as featuring ‘a simpler style of cooking, which is recognisable, easy-to-eat, and often something you feel you could attempt to replicate at home.’

Phuc Yea Receives MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand Award 3 Years in a Row

Phuc Yea: Not Your Average Vietnamese Restaurant

Expect a fun time and food unlike anything you’ve ever had at  Phuc Yea in Miami’s Upper East Side neighborhood. Heralded for its shareable Vietnamese dishes that mix Cajun and Latin flavors, the restaurant’s delicious items include crispy imperial rolls, garlic-butter egg noodles and its beloved pho.