The Michelin Guide today announced 14 new additions to its Florida restaurant selection. Six of them are in Orlando. These include Bánh MìBoy, Bar Kada, Gyukatu Rose, Kai Kai, Smokemade Meats + Eats and Walala Asian Noodle House.
“What?!” said the incredible Jerry Lau when Kai heard the news that Michelin had been chosen. This was followed by a whisper, “Oh, my gods.”
I reminded him that our first conversation took place in the refrigerated aisle of Ifesh supermarket in Orlando, adjacent to Kaikai’s former food stall.
“I couldn’t imagine this,” he said.
Mills Market’s Johnny Tun probably has it, but his gasp was that listening to the news never gets old.
“I think a lot of people have only discovered just recently because of all the topics we’ve had recently, but (Kai Kai and Ban Mu Boy have both served people, and people enjoy the food.
Both Sorekara and Mills markets were recognized as Restaurant of the Year for the Orlando Sentinel Foodie Award a few days ago.
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“Owners of restaurants like this, they’re working quietly and hard. They’re not looking for anything. They’re just trying to survive, they’re trying to run a business, they’re trying to raise a family. When these people are recognized, that’s when it’s most validated.”
People who are already in the guides are also humble, like Michael Colantes of One Star Sozeki. He was surprised to learn of the inclusion of Bar Kada.
“Oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh “We always say we don’t chase praise, but that doesn’t mean anything to us. It’s all about the dedication and hard work of the time and we keep on burning fire to make sure we’re doing the best we can.”
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On East End Market, Sean “Sonny” Nguyen thinks he’s found out that Gyukatu Rose is included in the 2025 Michelin selection for the best chef: South, than the recent James Beard semi-finalist.
Like Edvoy, Shimizu Rose, a standing sushi bar in Nuguen at Mills 50, specializes in providing a Japanese experience.
“First and foremost, we feel blessed, but I think this has come at the best time possible,” Nguyen says. “We’ve really tried to get people to try something new and give them a real sense of what it’s like to be in Japan, and I think being in a Michelin guide will encourage more people to give us a try.”
These facilities are highlighted as “new” on guide.michelin.com and will soon be participating in the selection as “recommended.” Some will win a Bib Gourmand or Star Award at the Florida Michelin Guide Ceremony at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort.
He will have to wait until then to find out if Smoked Maid Meat + Eats wins the Bib Gourmand Award, but Tyler Brunash is excited to follow in the footsteps of his recently own winning Texas mentor at Goldies in Fort Worth, Texas.
“It’s pretty amazing. We’ve only had a few months behind them and those are the people who taught us everything,” Brunatch said when he learned the news.
Smokemade has come a long way since the original OS article, but when Brunache and his team were throwing cues from under the tent, he believes Michelin approval will add some more bodies to the Curryford Brick and Mortal line, headed for busy seasons.
“I think it’s going to be a little higher on the map, especially if tourists are concerned,” he said. “This will allow us to reach another market and keep us at a very high standard. It’s really exciting.”
It’s a two-week week for the Wallara Asian Noodle House. This brought home a selection of critics for the best Chinese at the 2025 Orlando Sentinel Hoodie Awards a few days before diving straight into the Michelin Guide.
Yafei Yen, who co-owns this Western Colonial Drive eatery with her father Jian Yen, had over the moon.
“It’s a great honor because I love the industry,” News’ Yen said. “I’ve dreamed of owning a restaurant since I was a teenager.”
Wallara said that they will be adding knife-cut noodles to the menu at the end of the month, but this only encourages them to create more.
“This gives you a motivator to pay more attention to the details,” Yen said. “I can’t be more excited!”
Michelin Guide adds four Orlando restaurants to your list
This latest group has now joined four other groups, Koro, Yount, Solekara and Uniguri, who were nominated for the January selection. In addition to the hometown roster, restaurants in Coral Gables, Miami and Tampa were also named.
Orlando’s Michelin credibility continues to grow, but its illustrious name doesn’t tire of people working hard on the city scene.
“It’s like winning an Academy Award,” Lau said.
Do you want to reach out to me? Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram @Amydroo or the Osfoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com. Join Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook Group for more foodie fun.
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Original issue: March 12, 2025, 11:46am EDT
