As of the 2025 Michelin Guide , there are 14 restaurants in Turkey with a Michelin star rating. [1] The Michelin Guides have been published by the French tire company Michelin since 1900. They were designed as a guide about eateries worth driving to, which would subtly increase Michelin tire sales by encouraging drivers to wear out their tires through more and longer trips. Over time, the stars that were given out became more valuable. [2]
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Some well-known chefs in Turkey with Michelin stars include Fatih Tutak, who had previously been awarded a Michelin Plate in 2018, [3] and Maksut Aşkar, whose restaurant, Neolokal, also won a Michelin green star. [4] The Turkish guide launched in 2023, reviewing restaurants solely in the city of Istanbul. [5] In 2024, it expanded to also review restaurants in the Turkish seaside regions of Bodrum and İzmir Province. [6] [7] In 2025, the guide was criticized for omitting restaurants in key, densely populated regions such as Ankara (Turkey's capital city) and Antalya. [8] TURK Fatih Tutak is the only restaurant with more than one star. [1]
Multiple anonymous Michelin inspectors visit the restaurants several times. They rate the restaurants on five criteria: "quality of products", "mastery of flavor and cooking techniques", "the personality of the chef represented in the dining experience", "value for money", and "consistency between inspectors' visits". [2] [9] Inspectors have at least ten years of expertise and create a list of popular restaurants supported by media reports, reviews, and diner popularity. If they reach a consensus, Michelin awards restaurants from one to three stars based on its evaluation methodology: one star means "high-quality cooking, worth a stop", two stars signify "excellent cooking, worth a detour", and three stars denote "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey". [10] The stars are not permanent and restaurants are constantly re-evaluated. If the criteria are not met, the restaurant will lose its stars. [2]
