Michelin Guide Singapore 2017: More Diversity Despite a Predictable List with 11 New Starred Restaurants

The second year of any awarding body is always exciting, because we all have questions. In the case of the Michelin Guide, it’s things like: Will more hawkers get a star? Will any restaurant lose their star? Are there going to be restaurants that will move up the ranks to get the second, or even the third star?

Well, the answer is no, yes, and yes, with the 38 restaurants receiving the affirmation from the international guide.

There was a lot of debate last year when Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle and Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles received a Michelin star since public opinion is that we cannot judge hawkers on the same level as fine dining restaurants. Although both hawkers managed to hold on to their stars – with Liao Fan’s second outlet getting recognition with on Bib Gourmand as well – there were no other hawker awardees this year, putting a stop to the controversy. Since we agree with the public, be it the lack of hawkers that are up to standards or that the Michelin team is pandering to public, it’s something we’re quite happy to let go of.

Chef’s Table at Waku Ghin

Japanese celebrity chef Tetsuya Wakuda has the most reason to celebrate this year since his Marina Bay Sands restaurant Waku Ghin has received another star, and it’s the only new two Michelin-starred restaurant in Singapore. That said, it’s quite unfortunate that Terra, the Italian-Tokyo fine dining restaurant on Tras Street, lost its Michelin star alongside Forest (by local celebrity chef Sam Leong) at Equarius Hotel in Resorts World Sentosa.

The new one Michelin-starred restaurants that are completely deserving of the win while adding diversity are long-time fine dining institutions Iggy’s and Garibaldi, the latter being the first Italian restaurant to get a star in Singapore. We’re glad that Chef Jason Tan at Corner House and Chef Malcolm Lee at Candlenut managed to hold on to their stars, and that local Chef Han Li Guang adds to the diversity with his Mod-Sin Restaurant Labyrinth. Homegrown group Imperial Treasure also scores a star with its fine Teochew restaurant while Regent Singapore’s Summer Palace and Chef Kang’s increases the representation of Cantonese cuisine in the guide.

Cheek by Jowl’s Chef Rishi Naleendra is the first Sri Lankan chef to receive a Michelin Star while fellow contemporary Australian restaurant Whitegrass by Sam Aisbett also gets its first star. Fun fact: did you know that the two chefs, as well as Sun Kim of Meta (also a new one star restaurant) used to work under Chef Tetsuya Wakuda?

Compared to last year, the 2017 Michelin Guide is a lot less controversial without much movement in the restaurants who were awarded last year and the new restaurants awarded this year are more or less deserving of it. I guess we have to save our discussions for 2018.

Three Michelin Stars

Joël Robuchon, Resorts World Sentosa

Odette

Two Michelin Stars

Restaurant ANDRE, Bukit Pasoh Road

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Resorts World Sentosa

Les Amis, Shaw Centre

Odette, National Gallery Singapore

Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro, Mandarin Orchard Singapore

Shoukouwa, One Fullerton

Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda, Marina Bay Sands

Whitegrass

One Michelin Star

Alma by Juan Amador, Goodwood Park Hotel

Beni, Mandarin Gallery

Braci, Boat Quay

Candlenut, Dempsey

Cheek by Jowl, Boon Tat Street

Chef Kang’s, Mackenzie Road

Corner House, Singapore Botanic Gardens

Crystal Jade Golden Palace, Paragon Shopping Centre

CUT by Wolfgang Puck, Marina Bay Sands

Garibaldi, Purvis Street

Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, Crawford Lane

Iggy’s, Hilton Singapore

Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine, ION Orchard

JAAN, Swissôtel The Stamford

Labyrinth, Espalande

Lei Garden, CHIJMES

Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle, Chinatown Food Complex

Meta, Keong Saik Road

Osia, Resorts World Sentosa

Putien, Kitchener Road

Rhubarb, Duxton Hill

Saint Pierre, One Fullerton

Shinji by Kanesaka, Raffles Hotel

Shinji by Kanesaka, The St. Regis Singapore

Summer Palace, Regent Singapore

Summer Pavilion, The Ritz-Carlton Millenia

Sushi Ichi, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel

The Kitchen at Bacchanalia, Hong Kong Street

The Song of India, Scotts Road

Whitegrass, CHIJMES

See Michelin Guide’s full release here.

Top Image: Cheek by Jowl by Gourmet and Travel.


Chief Editor

Emily heads the editorial team on City Nomads by being a stickler for details, a grammar Nazi, and a really picky eater. Born and bred in Singapore, she loves cats, the written word, and exploring new places. Can be bribed with quality booze across the board.