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Fresh off the heels of this year’s Asia’s 50 Best list comes news that Michelin will bring its stars to Thailand. TNN Thailand reports the Tourism Authority of Thailand has pledged financial support to the project for five years. Per BK Asia City, the guide will hit shelves before the end of 2017.
Presumably this new guide will focus primarily on Bangkok. As Thailand’s capital, Bangkok is home to over eight million people and boasts a robust dining scene. It’s also worth noting that for the past few years the Bangkok restaurant Gaggan has held the top position on the Asia’s 50 Best List. It’s perhaps the most likely candidate to debut in the new guide with three stars, the most available to any Michelin-ranked restaurant. Another strong contender is Le Normandie, considered the city’s best haute French restaurant.
The new Thailand guide will be the tire company’s fifth in Asia. Michelin currently has guides to Seoul, Japan, Hong Kong and Macau, and Singapore. Seoul launched in November 2016, while Singapore launched in July 2016. Will the Thailand guide be the red book that solidifies Michelin’s (questionable) relevance in Asia? We’ll see.
• The Michelin Guide Thailand [TNN, via Google Translate]
• Confirmed! Michelin Guide Is Coming to Thailand This Year [BK Asia City]
• The 38 Essential Bangkok Restaurants [E]
• All Michelin Coverage on Eater [E]
