Year Ender 2024: Indian chefs and restaurants – not only in the country but across the world – are shining a global spotlight on Indian food in different ways. In 2024, many establishments won prestigious awards. Chefs also creatively showcased the diversity of Indian cuisines and the richness of homegrown ingredients in other ways on a global scale. As the year draws to a close, we are summarising some of these accomplishments that made the country proud and that should continue to be celebrated. Check out the highlights below:
Year Ender: Here Are 11 Instances Of Indian Restaurants And Indian Food Winning Global Recognition In 2024:
1. An Indian Restaurant In Doha Won A Michelin Star
Jamavar Doha was awarded a Michelin star at the inaugural ceremony of the Michelin Guide in Doha. It serves dishes from different parts of India. It was one of two restaurants in Doha to receive a star this year. Jamavar is part of the LSL Capital restaurant group founded by father and daughter duo Dinesh and Samyukta Nair. Chef Surender Mohan serves as its Culinary Director and Executive Chef. Jamavar has several outposts in India and abroad. Jamavar London also currently holds a Michelin star. Click here to know more.
2. An Indian Restaurant In Texas Won A Michelin Star
Musaafer, an Indian fine dining restaurant in Houston, was awarded a Michelin star at the first-ever Texas Michelin awards ceremony this year. It is led by Chef Mayank Istwal and was founded by Shammi and Mithu Malik. Located in a mall called The Galleria, Musaafer’s ambience has been called as “thrilling” as its food offerings. Its name, ‘Musaafer’, means ‘traveller’ in Urdu, inspired by the team’s 100-day culinary journey across India to explore its diverse cuisines. Find the full article here.
3. Two Indian Restaurants In The UK Won Their Second Michelin Stars
Gymkhana in London and Opheem in Birmingham both won their second Michelin stars in 2024. Gymkhana won its first Michelin star in 2014. It is inspired by the exclusive Gymkhana clubs of colonial India. Opheem, owned by Chef Aktar Islam, is known for using British ingredients with a signature Indian twist. It was awarded its first Michelin star in 2019.
4. Multiple Indian Restaurants Worldwide Retained Their Michelin Stars
The Michelin Guide doesn’t have an Indian edition. But restaurants specialising in Indian food located outside the country have been awarded Michelin stars over the years. While winning a Michelin star is considered among the highest honours in the industry, retaining it is no small feat either. The restaurants have to work tirelessly to uphold their standards in every way and prove themselves worthy of this prestigious accolade. In 2024, several Indian restaurants across the globe managed to retain their Michelin stars. They include Semma in New York (which retained its one star for the third consecutive year), Rania in Washington DC, Indienne in Chicago, Gaa in Bangkok (which retained its two Michelin stars won last year), Haoma in Bangkok, INDDEE in Bangkok, New Punjab Club in Hong Kong and Chaat in Hong Kong.
Tresind Studio and Avatara in Dubai also retained their stars this year. London has several one-Michelin-starred Indian restaurants, many of which retained their accolades. They include Veeraswamy, Benares, Jamavar, Quilon, Trishna and Amaya.
5. Chef Vikas Khanna’s Restaurant Was Awarded A Michelin Bib Gourmand
Bungalow, Chef Vikas Khanna’s famous New York restaurant, won the Michelin “Bib Gourmand” award in 2024. This accolade is bestowed upon establishments serving quality food and offering the best value for money (read more here). Additionally, in 2024, the restaurant won critical acclaim from The New York Times, among other prestigious publications in the USA. Over the past year, Bungalow has also made headlines for its many celebrity guests, including Bollywood A-listers, international stars and others. Jeff Bezos, Jenna Fischer, Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are some of the big names who visited Chef Vikas Khanna’s restaurant in 2024.
6. Two Indian Establishments Were Featured On TIME Magazine’s ‘World’s Greatest Places’ 2024
Two Indian destinations were named on the TIME magazine’s list of the ‘World’s Greatest Places’ for 2024: Manam Chocolate in Hyderabad and Naar in Himachal Pradesh. Both establishments aim to spotlight homegrown ingredients in different ways. Manam Chocolate is a Hyderabad-based premium craft chocolate brand championing Indian cacao. Its flagship experiential space and factory – Manam Chocolate Karkhana – opened in Hyderabad in 2023. Nestled in a boutique hotel in Himachal Pradesh, Naar is an intimate restaurant. It is helmed by celebrated chef Prateek Sadhu, who aims to celebrate the bounty of the mountains through his dishes. Check out the complete article here.
Also Read: 11 Traditional Foods Added To UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage List In 2024
7. Two Indian Restaurants Were Named Among The World’s 50 Best
Gaggan, Chef Gaggan Anand’s progressive Indian restaurant in Bangkok, was ranked 9th among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2024. This is not the first time Gaggan has made it to this prestigious list. The restaurant was also named the best restaurant in Asia for this year, as per the same rankings. Check out the complete article here. Tresind Studio in Dubai, helmed by Chef Himanshu Saini, was ranked 13th worldwide. It was named the Best Restaurant in the Middle East for 2024. Tresind Studio emerged as the Best Restaurant in the Middle East and Africa last year too. Read more about it here.
8. Eight India-Based Restaurants Were Ranked Among Asia’s 100 Best For 2024
Three Indian establishments were featured on the prestigious list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2024 Five Indian restaurants were also ranked from 51-100, which is the extended list. Masque (Mumbai) was ranked 23rd, Indian Accent (New Delhi) was ranked 26th and Avartana (Chennai) was ranked 44th. The Indian restaurants on the extended list were Americano (Mumbai), The Bombay Canteen (Mumbai), Comorin (Gurugram), Dum Pukht (New Delhi) and Ekaa (Mumbai). Learn more about them here.
9. Five Indian Bars Were Named Among Asia’s 100 Best For 2024
ZLB23, located inside The Leela Palace Bengaluru, was named the best bar in India for 2024 by the World’s 50 Best organisation. It was the only Indian bar to make it to the reputed list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars this year. ZLB23 was ranked 40th overall. Find out more about it here. Four Indian bars were featured on the extended list of Asia’s best bars for 2024, meaning they were ranked from 51-100. They were The Bombay Canteen (Mumbai) at the 59th place, followed by Lair (New Delhi) at the 68th position, Sidecar (New Delhi) at the 84th position and Home (New Delhi) at the 96th position. Click here to read more.
10. Indian Cuisine Shone Brightly On The Lists Of Taste Atlas Awards 2024-25
As the year came to an end, the Taste Atlas Awards 2024-25 made headlines in the country for multiple reasons. The popular food and travel guide published a range of food-related lists on which Indian entries secured top spots. On a global scale, Indian cuisine was ranked the 12th best, Punjab was named the 7th best food region and Mumbai was ranked the 5th best food city. Taste Atlas also refreshed its rankings of the 100 Most Legendary Restaurants in the World this year. Two Indian establishments made it to the top 10 and seven in total made it to the top 100 (read more here). Indian dishes such as Murgh Makhani, Hyderabadi Biryani, Chicken 65, Keema, Malai Kofta, Misal pav, Amritsari Kulcha, Butter Garlic naan, etc. were also featured on various category-wise lists released by Taste Atlas.
11. An Indian Chocolate Won Gold At The International Chocolate Awards 2024
Kerala-based chocolate brand Paul And Mike recently made history. It became the first Indian brand to win a Gold at the prestigious International Chocolate Awards. In the category of ‘Milk chocolate enrobed whole fruit,’ Paul and Mike’s Milk Chocolate Coated Salted Capers came first. To craft the award-winning chocolate, the premium homegrown brand sourced capers and salt from Tuticorin on India’s eastern coast and cacao from the Western Ghats. Find out more here.
Also Read: These Are The Best Restaurants In India For 2025, As Per La Liste’s Latest Scores
