Michelin Guide Singapore explained: stars, Bib Gourmand and hawker stalls

The Michelin Guide Singapore, first published in 2016, rates restaurants and hawker stalls at three levels: one to three Michelin Stars for cooking quality, the Bib Gourmand for good food at moderate prices, and a broader Selected list. Many Singapore hawker stalls appear in the Bib Gourmand, and in the first edition two hawker stalls received a Michelin Star. The list is updated every year, so check the current selection on guide.michelin.com before you go.

Last updated 13 November 2026 · 🍽️ Food rankings →

The three tiers

Michelin Stars (one, two or three) recognise the quality of the cooking, judged on ingredients, technique, the chef's personality in the food, harmony of flavours and consistency. Service and décor are not part of the star criteria.
Bib Gourmand highlights places serving good food at a moderate price; this is where most Singapore hawker stalls in the guide sit.
Selected restaurants are recommended by the inspectors without a star or Bib Gourmand.

Michelin also awards a Green Star for sustainable gastronomy, shown alongside the other distinctions.

How inspectors work

Michelin says its inspectors are full-time employees who visit anonymously and pay for their meals, and that a place is assessed over several visits before a decision. Selections are announced at an annual ceremony, usually mid-year for Singapore, and entries can be added, upgraded, downgraded or removed each year. A stall that has moved, changed hands or closed may still appear in older articles, so always check the live guide.

Hawkers in the guide

Singapore was among the first editions in which street-food stalls received Michelin Stars, which drew international attention to hawker food. Today, hawker and kopitiam stalls feature mainly in the Bib Gourmand, across dishes such as chicken rice, noodles (bak chor mee, wanton mee, prawn mee), laksa, char kway teow and bak kut teh.

Our rankings mark any current Michelin distinction on each entry. See our curated lists, including Michelin-listed hawker stalls, and the fine dining rankings for starred restaurants.

Using the guide well

Expect queues at newly listed stalls, especially in the weeks after the annual announcement; go early or on a weekday.
Check opening days. Hawkers often close one day a week and take breaks around festive periods.
Read beyond the list. The guide covers a small share of Singapore's hawker stalls; many highly regarded stalls are not in it.
Reservations are needed at most starred restaurants; hawker stalls do not take bookings.

FAQ

Which hawker stalls in Singapore have a Michelin Star?

The list changes each year. In the 2016 first edition, two hawker stalls (a soya sauce chicken rice stall and a pork noodle stall) received one star. Check guide.michelin.com for the current starred stalls.

What does Bib Gourmand mean?

The Bib Gourmand is Michelin's distinction for places offering good-quality food at a moderate price. It is separate from Michelin Stars and is where most Singapore hawker stalls in the guide are listed.

How often is the Michelin Guide Singapore updated?

Once a year. The new selection is announced at an annual event and published on the Michelin Guide website and app.

Is a Bib Gourmand lower than a Michelin Star?

They measure different things. Stars reward the cooking at any price; the Bib Gourmand rewards value. A Bib Gourmand stall is not simply a "near-star" restaurant.

Related rankings

Sources

Editorial guide by Best Singapore. Not legal, financial or medical advice; check the sources for current rules and figures.