Walala Asian Noodle House Credit: Matt Keller Lehman
Like they did in January, the folks at Michelin just randomly announced 14 additions to their Florida restaurant guide today, six of which are right here in Orlando.

The restaurants are Smokemade Meats + Eats, Bar Kada, Kai Kai and Banh Mi Boy inside Mills Market, Walala Asian Noodle House and Gyukatsu Rose, subject of next week’s review.

Smokemade Meats + Eats, Bar Kada, Kai Kai and Banh Mi Boy all happened to be on my list of Top Tables of 2024 (Smokemade Meats + Eats at No. 4, Bar Kada at No. 7 and Mills Market, where Kai Kai and Banh Mi Boy are housed, snagging the Honorable Mention).

Bar Kada Credit: Matt Keller Lehman
Walala Asian Noodle House received a very favorable review last month for their hand-pulled noodles, while Gyukatsu Rose, the cook-it-yourself beef cutlet joint that literally just soft-opened nine weeks ago, already got a mention in the guide because, well, it’s Japanese.

According to Michelin, these establishments are highlighted as “New” on their website and will be included in the 2025 edition of the Florida guide when it’s released April 17 at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World. Some of these newbies may even receive stars or Bib Gourmands.

Smokemade Meats + Eats, a possible Bib Gourmander? Credit: Rob Bartlett
Oh, and guess what Tampa? You didn’t get screwed this time! In fact, four restaurants in the Bay Area made it to the guide. I’m guessing Visit Tampa Bay paid their $90,000 Michelin bill this year.

In January, Sorekara, Ômo by Jônt, Coro and UniGirl were added to the guide. If I were a betting man, I’d say both William Shen’s Sorekara and Ryan Ratino’s Ômo by Jônt will be the first Orlando-area joints to receive 2 Michelin stars, not that I really give a screech about Michelin’s rating system or the shadowy manner in which they decide how to hand out their paid-for awards.

Sorekara will gun for 2 Michelin stars in April Credit: Matt Keller Lehman
In February, Michelin announced it would be expanding its footprint by adding Pinellas, Broward and Palm Beach counties to the Florida guide. Cha-ching!

The 2025 Michelin Guide will be the fourth one that Visit Florida, Visit Orlando, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit Tampa Bay and, now, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, Greater Fort Lauderdale and The Palm Beaches agreed to pay Michelin for.

As we’ve reported, Visit Orlando paid Michelin $800,100 to publish guides for 2022, 2023 and 2024 with an option to publish guides for 2025 and 2026 for an additional $533,400. Visit Florida will kick in another $150,000.

For the full list of additions to the Florida Michelin Guide, click here.

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This article appears in Mar 12-18, 2025.

Orlando restaurant critic. Orlando Weekly restaurant critic since 2006.