What is a Michelin Guide Inspector?

The MICHELIN Guide is known for being the company that rates restaurants and gives owners the infamous “Michelin-Star.” But the MICHELIN Guide actually has a team of people that explores the world and rates restaurants according to their own criteria; they’re called Michelin Guide Inspectors. Learn more about the people behind the awarding of stars of our favorite restaurants.


For over a century, the MICHELIN Guide has stayed true to its founding mission – to foster a culture of travel and eating out – and it’s this promise of helping people that put the MICHELIN Guide above all other restaurant guides.

Food trends, cooking techniques, and dining scenes come and go, but the Michelin Guide has never failed in awarding restaurants their deserved recognition.

But how exactly does the Guide award restaurants? We’re here to tell you that the Michelin Guide has its own team that conducts the tasting and exploration of food around the world; they’re called Michelin Guide Inspectors.

The MICHELIN Guide Inspectors have 6 Core Values:


Anonymity: They test restaurants in complete anonymity in order to ensure that they do not receive any special treatment is essential to the credibility of the MICHELIN Guide.

Independence:
The Michelin Inspectors are employees of the Michelin Group only and are not linked to any other organizations. Inspectors also always pay for their meals in full to ensure independence.

Expertise: The inspectors are experts in food, dining and hotel sectors with many years of experience working in the hospitality industry.

Reliability: The different categories awarded by the guide are never the result of an inspector’s assessment. Michelin Stars are given by collective reports of inspectors who visit the establishment multiple times.

Passion: Most Michelin Inspectors have either worked in the hospitality business or cooked in kitchens themselves – rest assured our reviews are written with passion, integrity and knowledge.

Quality: Any restaurant can be reviewed for our guides as long as the establishment is deemed high quality based on Michelin’s 5 restaurant rating criteria.

So what exactly are the Michelin Inspectors’ Rating Criteria:
  • The quality of products
  • Mastery of flavor and cooking techniques
  • The personality of the chef represented in the dining experience
  • Harmony of the flavors
  • Consistency between inspectors’ visits

But prior to being a Michelin Guide Inspector, applicants have to go through intensive training before becoming an inspector. Qualifications to being an inspector include knowledge about food and experience in the industry and passion for cuisine, as inspectors are deeply immersed in dining, food, and research every day.

Another trait of success is being observant and having the ability to remember small details along with discipline and good planning. But according to one Michelin Guide Inspector, the most important trait of all is keeping an open mind as well as being ready to learn and embrace the differences and diversities in all cuisines and cultures.

The moment the applicants become an inspector, they’re not allowed to tell people what they do. Even their own parents can’t know! What a secret, right?

With the MICHELIN Guide being in the business of food throughout the years, the only thing we can do is wait for their Guide every year about the updated list of Michelin-Starred Restaurants.

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