COVER All the Michelin Guide honourees
This year’s long-awaited Michelin-starred list sees three repeat honourees, one newcomer, and a historic two-starred announcement. Just on the tail of the Bib Gourmand 2024 reveal, Michelin Guide has announced the list of restaurants that have earned the coveted Michelin Star recognition. The stars were revealed in a ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur that included a star-studded guest list from the local culinary scene. This is the second year that Michelin Guide has marked its presence in the country, visiting and rating restaurants in both the capital of Kuala Lumpur and northern food haven Penang. The headliner of the event was clearly the roster of restaurants that were named during the ceremony, including second-time honourees Restaurant au Jardin, Dewakan, DC Restaurant, Aunty Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery, and newcomer Beta KL.
Dewakan’s representatives including Darren Teoh
The Michelin Guide has been awarding restaurants with exceptional cuisine since 1900, with the star system implemented in 1936. One star denotes a restaurant with “high-quality cooking [that is] worth a stop”, two stars represent “excellent cooking worth a detour”, and three stars indicate “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.”
This year’s Michelin star list includes one newly minted restaurant, Beta KL, led by chef Raymond Tham. Restaurant au Jardin, headed by Su Kim Hock, Beh Gaik Lean’s Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery, and DC Restaurant, helmed by Darren Chin, are carrying forward their honours from last year. In a historic announcement, Dewakan, led by chef Darren Teoh, was named Malaysia’s first-ever two-Michelin-starred restaurant in this year’s Michelin Guide.
“This one is for my team back home,” beams Teoh upon receiving his Michelin chef’s whites and plaque, marking the start of Dewakan’s tenure as a two-starred establishment. Tham also expressed gratitude for receiving his new star and promised he won’t be stopping any time soon, declaring, “we will work harder”, with a smile on his face.
The ceremony also recognised the new 14 restaurant-strong Bib Gourmand selection, which was announced about a week ago, and the 25 new Michelin Selected restaurants. The former recognises exceptional eats on a budget, and the latter is a list of eateries with no star or Bib Gourmand recognition but serve quality ingredients that are “well cooked.”
New to the Michelin Selected list are Bōl, Café Café, Entier, Frangipaani, Jwala, Ling Long, Malai, Marini’s on 57, Nadodi (new location), Seed, Shanghai Restaurant, Sushi Masa, Nasi Lemak Tanglin (Bukit Damansara), Tenmasa, Teochew Lao Er, and Wagyu Kappo Yoshida from Kuala Lumpur, and Hokkien Mee (Lebuh Presgrave), Air Itam Duck Rice, Ceki, Fook Cheow Cafe, Jit Seng Hong Kong Roasted Duck Rice, Penang Famous Samosa, Richard Rivalee, Sambal, and The Pinn (new location) from Penang.
Alongside the Michelin stars, Bib Gourmand selection, and Michelin Selected list, a number of special individual awards were also handed out to prominent and promising figures in the industry. The Michelin Guide Service Award, which recognises skilled and talented professionals who substantially add to the customer experience, went to Wan Mohd Zulkifeli of Gai by Darren Chin.
From Hide KL, sommelier and restaurant manager Yap Cze Ying bagged the Michelin Guide Sommelier Award, which honoured her exceptional wine knowledge, pairing skills, and passion for hospitality. Johnson Wong of Gēn 根 took home the prestigious Michelin Guide Young Chef Award for his exceptional talent and unwavering commitment to championing local ingredients. Finally, the first-ever Malaysian Michelin Guide Opening of the Year Award went to Remash Thangaraj from Jwala, where tandoors take centre stage.
During the ceremony, we heard from Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide and Chris Gledhill, VP of Business Development & Partnerships of the Michelin Guide East Asia, Australia and the Middle East, who both sang praise about Malaysia’s vibrant culinary scene. “I would like to congratulate Malaysia for maintaining the rich flavours that all travellers and locals can enjoy,” shares Gledhill.
“From traditional heritage dishes to contemporary interpretations, the culinary landscape continues to evolve, providing a true reflection of the diverse culinary artistry in Kuala Lumpur and Penang,” says Poullennec.
Here is the full roster of Michelin-starred restaurants named in the Michelin Guide Kuala Lumpur and Penang 2024. New entries are marked with an asterisk (*).
