Kaohsiung Michelin Sets New Record! 57 Restaurants Selected, 6 Stars and 1 Green Star Awarded, Li.nu Sommelier Wins Sommelier Award

Kaohsiung's culinary scene has achieved another milestone! The 'Taiwan Michelin Guide 2026' has unveiled its latest selections, with 57 restaurants in Kaohsiung recognized—setting a new record for the city. The list includes 6 one-star restaurants, 1 Green Star, 21 Bib Gourmands, and 29 Recommended restaurants. Notably, Bonnie Chiu (Wen-Chi Chiu), head sommelier and restaurant manager at Li.nu, has won the prestigious 'Sommelier Award,' marking the first time a sommelier from Kaohsiung has received this honor and showcasing the city's rising prominence on the international dining stage.

One-star restaurants increase to 6, a new high

The Kaohsiung City Government stated that since the city was included in the Michelin Guide evaluation in 2022, it has adopted a 'Gastronomy as Tourism' strategy. Through culinary support, international marketing, food festivals, and promotion of local ingredients, the city has been building Kaohsiung's food brand. This year, not only has the number of selected restaurants reached a record high, but the number of one-star restaurants has also increased from 4 last year to 6. Additionally, the city has secured its first-ever Sommelier Award, demonstrating significant progress.

Director-General Kao Min-Lin of the Tourism Bureau said that in recent years, the bureau has actively helped local restaurants meet international standards—enhancing ingredient usage, food-and-wine pairing, and service quality. By integrating Kaohsiung's unique agricultural and seafood products, historic eateries, street food, and fine dining establishments, the city presents a complete culinary landscape that blends everyday delights with refined cuisine. This diversity has become a key tourism resource attracting both domestic and international visitors.

The six restaurants awarded one star this year include French restaurants HAILI and Fang Shi; Chinese restaurant Jun GEN; and Japanese restaurant Sho, which has retained its star. NIBBON and HABU have earned their first stars, injecting fresh energy into Kaohsiung's fine dining scene.

HAILI, which has earned a star for the fourth consecutive year, continues to impress with its fusion of French and Japanese techniques using local Kaohsiung ingredients. This year, it also represented Kaohsiung at an international tourism promotion event in Malaysia, showcasing the city's culinary culture abroad. Chef Kang Jen-Wei stated, 'Each star is a new starting point. Our team will continue to express Kaohsiung's terroir through our cuisine.'

Jun GEN, which has held a star for three consecutive years, has welcomed veteran Cantonese chef Li Yun-Hao, who brings 46 years of experience. The restaurant has restructured its menu to incorporate more local Taiwanese ingredients and now offers diverse dining experiences including à la carte, tasting menus, and banquet services, further solidifying its position in the premium Chinese dining market.

Sho, the overseas sister restaurant of Japan's renowned 'Den,' has been widely praised for its reinterpretation of Japanese cuisine using Taiwanese ingredients. HABU, newly awarded a star, creates innovative dishes using herbal medicine, botanicals, and seasonal ingredients. NIBBON blends French cuisine with Asian flavors, highlighting Kaohsiung's culinary creativity.

In special awards, THOMAS CHIEN has once again received the Michelin Green Star, continuing its commitment to sustainable gastronomy. Meanwhile, Bonnie Chiu of Li.nu has been honored with the 'Sommelier Award,' becoming Kaohsiung's first recipient. She said, 'This honor is the result of years of dedication and symbolizes international recognition of Kaohsiung's hospitality standards.'

The Tourism Bureau noted that it has launched a series of food events in recent years, including the Lu Rou Fan Festival, Da Gang Hot Pot, Da Gang Ice Festival, Milk Tea Festival, Coffee Festival, Guo Shao Noodles, Salted Fried Chicken Carnival, and the Hundred Selected Delicacies campaign. Through overseas promotions and international media coverage, Kaohsiung's culinary profile has been significantly elevated.

Building on the Michelin momentum, a series of events will be held from summer through autumn, including the Cijin Kite Festival & Inflatable Water Park, Kaohsiung Coffee Festival, Xiong Hi Cocktail Festival, Milk Tea Festival, Salted Fried Chicken Carnival, and Wild East Kaohsiung. These events invite domestic and international travelers to explore Kaohsiung using the Michelin food map, savoring the city's mountain-and-sea scenery and diverse culinary charm, thereby driving continued growth in tourism and the restaurant industry.