Who is the world’s best chef? If there’s ever an accolade that professional chefs dream about, then it’s the Michelin star. Getting a Michelin star is a true testament to a chef’s skill and dedication in the kitchen, and that’s why the world’s top chefs work tirelessly for years to get even just one.
A Michelin star is undoubtedly the highest honour in the international culinary industry. Some refer to the award system as ‘the Oscars of the culinary world’.
Chefs worldwide dedicate their lives to earning even one coveted star for their excellence. But a select few have managed to collect an astounding number of stars for their fine-dining restaurants.
Here’s a list of chefs who have earned the most Michelin stars. Consider it a rundown of the world’s best chefs, with only the most highly decorated and esteemed professionals ever to grace the restaurant industry. So, who is the world’s best chef?
Joël Robuchon: 31 stars
Have you ever wondered which chef has the most Michelin stars worldwide? Well, here he is. Joël Robuchon holds the number one spot amongst the world’s top 10 chefs, making him the best chef in the world according to Michelin star ratings.
Although he passed away with only 28 Michelin stars to his name, at one point, Robuchon was the proud owner of 31 Michelin stars. He has also been dubbed the Chef of the Century on numerous occasions. Joël specialised in French cuisine and owned twelve restaurants. He also liked to mentor young chefs, one of whom is the now-infamous Gordon Ramsay.
Today, a famous restaurant chain is dubbed after this iconic French Michelin Star chef. Twelve restaurants in this chain go by the name L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon. You’ll find them in some of the world’s biggest cities, including Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Las Vegas, Shanghai, Montreal, Taipei, Bangkok, Tokyo, and Singapore.
Chef Joël Robuchon restaurants
Chef Robuchon was recognised for his immense creativity in designing his restaurants, which served French haute cuisine. His restaurant’s interiors deserve as much attention as the food he puts on the plates. Most tables would be arranged unusually, allowing diners to see how the food was prepared. L’Atelier, the title of his namesake restaurants, also translates to ‘workshop’. The term often refers to an artist’s workshop in the decorative or fine arts, and Joël was certainly an artist in his own right.
Alain Ducasse: 21 stars
Considered by many to be one of the best chefs in the world, Alain has built a business empire over the years with 36 restaurants spanning the globe. He’s also one of only two chefs to hold 21 Michelin stars throughout their career and the first chef to own restaurants in three cities carrying three Michelin stars. How’s that for award-winning?
Ducasse is recognised for his world-class French cuisine, but he is also the only chef on this list to have sent his food up into space. 2015 Ducasse delivered meals to astronauts orbiting Earth on the International Space Station. Ducasse referred to this achievement as conquering the ‘final frontier (of cooking)’.
Gordon Ramsay: 16 stars
This hot-headed chef inspires the world with his passion, work ethic, and self-confidence. His empire stands at a whopping $190 million, and with his restaurants knocking on Asian doors, it’s only a matter of time before he hits the billions. Ramsay’s restaurants have been awarded an extraordinary 16 Michelin stars. His popularity has skyrocketed with numerous successful TV shows, books, and appearances on various world stage events, and, by many, he is recognised as one of the best chefs in the world.
In 1993, Gordon Ramsay took on the kitchen of a newly opened London restaurant, Aubergine. After being head chef for two years, he earned the hotel a two-star Michelin rating. In 1998, at 31, Ramsay set up his first wholly-owned namesake restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
This quickly received the most prestigious accolade in the culinary world – three Michelin stars. Today, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is the longest-running restaurant in London, holding three Michelin stars. Chef Ramsay is also one of only four chefs in the UK to have maintained three stars.
To this day, Gordon Ramsay has opened 49 restaurants, 23 of which have been closed. Notoriously referred to as the ‘Bad Boy of British Cuisine’, he’s famous for his legendary fiery temper in the kitchen. With all his successes and failures, Ramsay’s story realises how a fire in the belly can dramatically change a person’s destiny.
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Pierre Gagnaire: 14 stars
Another renowned French chef, Pier Gagnaire, spent his 40-year career collecting Michelin stars. Having grown up in his family’s Michelin-star kitchen, he received his first star at the tender age of 26 – and he hasn’t stopped since. This iconoclastic chef is famous for tearing down the conventions of classic French cooking and is said to be at the ‘forefront of the fusion cuisine movement’ according to the Michelin guide.
Pierre Gagnaire’s cuisine is a vibrant testament to the power of innovation in the culinary world. His approach blends the rich traditions of French cooking with a daring, avant-garde twist that challenges and delights the palate. At the heart of Gagnaire’s philosophy is a commitment to emotion and creativity, leading him to craft visually stunning dishes that are deeply resonant with flavour.
He masterfully combines unexpected ingredients, creating a unique dining experience that reflects his passion for exploring new culinary landscapes. This boundary-pushing approach has solidified his reputation as a pioneer of modern French cuisine and fusion food, making a meal at one of his restaurants an unforgettable adventure into the possibilities of gourmet cooking.
Gagnaire’s eponymous flagship restaurant in Paris’s Rue Balzac has maintained three Michelin stars for over two decades, a true feat in the culinary world. Today, he oversees 18 gastronomic restaurants worldwide, including Sketch, a top Michelin star restaurant in London’s Mayfair.
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Martin Berasategui – 12 stars
As the world’s third most decorated Michelin-starred chef, Martin Berasategui has more Michelin stars than any other Spanish chef, with 12 Michelin stars. He’s also one of a select few chefs worldwide with two three-Michelin-starred restaurants.
Martin Berasategui’s cuisine is a testament to his Basque roots. He intricately weaves traditional flavours with avant-garde techniques. His dishes are renowned for their innovation, precision, and ability to evoke a sense of place and memory.
Chef Berazategui’s culinary philosophy
Berasategui’s culinary philosophy centres around the purity of ingredients, a deep respect for seasonal produce, and an unwavering commitment to culinary excellence. This approach has garnered him an impressive collection of Michelin stars and a loyal international following. Each plate from his kitchen is a work of art, offering diners a meal and an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
The exceptional Basque chef earned his first Michelin star at the age of 25 for his first restaurant, Restaurante Martin Berasategui. The celebrated eatery was awarded a third Michelin star in 2001 and has been on the World’s Top 50 Restaurants list for more than six years.
Over his 44-year career, Berasategui has opened three other Michelin-starred restaurants in Tenerife and Barcelona and owns six other restaurants in Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. He is considered a legend in the world of traditional Basque cuisine and, of course, one of the best chefs in the world.
Yannick Alléno: 10 stars
Yannick Alléno directs eighteen restaurants worldwide. His Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen is one of the oldest restaurants in Paris, located in the Champs-Élysées gardens.
Alléno has a constellation of Michelin stars, with three star-rated restaurants in 2020’s French Michelin Guide. That same year, Pavillon Ledoyen became the most star-rated independent establishment in the world.
This French chef isn’t just about gathering stars, however. Since 2013, Alléno has been conducting research and development on French cuisine to the point of starting his own culinary movement, Modern Cuisine.
As part of his research, Alléno closely studied French sauces and even patented his own technique, Extractions®. According to Alléno, this unique process allows for the concentration and perfection of flavours, giving them the ideal texture, a long finish, and minerality.
Famous chefs in the world.
So there we have it, the world’s top 5 Michelin Star chefs. Eat at any of their restaurants, and you’ll be guaranteed a diving meal of delicious food with magnificent texture. Booking a table at these award-winning restaurants may cost a fair bit of money, but it is well worth trying these chefs’ food at least once.
This article highlights the world’s top chefs, including Massimo Bottura, Joan Roca, Gordon Ramsay, Alain Ducasse, and Yannick Alléno. Each chef has significantly impacted our perception of food through their innovative culinary techniques and dedication to excellence.
These chefs have redefined modern cuisine from Bottura’s contemporary twist on traditional Italian dishes to Alléno’s patented Extractions® technique that perfects flavours and textures. Sampling a meal at any of their restaurants offers a taste of their exquisite dishes and an insight into the evolving landscape of global gastronomy.
Who is your favourite Michelin star chef?
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