VEGAS DINING NEWS: 4 Vegas Restaurants Earn Michelin Stars, High Mis-steaks

Four Las Vegas restaurants earned Michelin stars in the guide’s 2026 edition, it was announced in a ceremony Wednesday night at the Fontainebleau. Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand received two stars, while L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Restaurant Guy Savoy and É by José Andrés each earned one.

It was the first time any Las Vegas restaurant even qualified for a star since Michelin shut down its Las Las Vegas guide after two short years in 2008-2009.

Instead of another Vegas-exclusive edition, Michelin returned to count the best restaurants in an American Southwest edition that included all of Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico (but not California, which Michelin considers in a league of its own).

Despite how vastly the Las Vegas scene has improved in the last 17 years, this was not reflected in the results. Not only did three of the four starred Las Vegas restaurants also receive stars in the 2008 and 2009 guides, Joël Robuchon and Restaurant Guy Savoy each slipped a star in the rankings.

And not one restaurant in the American Southwest received three stars, Michelin’s highest honor, which went to a whopping 10 restaurants in the organization’s 2026 California edition (and to Joël Robuchon in the 2008 and 2009 editions).

Not Enough Star Power

China Poblano, Esther’s Kitchen and Yen Viet Kitchen drew Michelin’s Bib Gourmand nods, which recognize “simple yet skillful cooking at an accessible price.” And 17 Las Vegas restaurants received Selected by Michelin honors: Anima by EDO, Bouchon, COTE, Estiatorio Milos, Gymkhana, Kabuto, Kame, Lamaii, Michael Mina, Mott 32, Partage, Pho Ga Bac Bac, Ping Pang Pong, SoulBelly BBQ, Sparrow + Wolf, Stubborn Seed and Wing Lei.

In other words, all were considered good — but not star good — by the anonymous inspectors who decide the rankings.

Dining Ins & Outs

High Steaks atop the Rio has rebranded to High Stakes after opening only 10 months ago. That’s apparently how long it took for Thunder Valley, a tribal casino in Lincoln, Calif. to notify High Steaks owner James Trees that their steakhouse already had dibs on the clever better spelling.

In other Rio rebranding news scooped by Vital Vegas, Luckley Tavern is now Revolution Tavern & Grill, reflecting the casino resort’s desire to bring some food concepts in-house that previously involved third-party partnerships.

Marathon Burger, the wagyu smashburger concept created in L.A. to honor the late Grammy‑winning rapper Nipsey Hussle, is expanding to Las Vegas. Neither the location nor opening date has been announced, though it will be the brand’s first drive-thru.

Mulberry Street Pizzeria will close at Resorts World in mid-September. The resort reportedly decided not to renew its five-year lease and plans to replace it with another pizzeria. Mulberry Street, an L.A. brand, is looking for another Strip location.

Mama Chai’s, a bakery and tea shop in Vegas’ Chinatown, is closing Aug. 30.