Master chef of T'ang Court Justin Tan reacts after the announcement the restaurant has been awarded three Michelin stars in the French company’s first guide to Shanghai dining. Photo: AFP

Michelin Guide to Shanghai, its first in China, dishes out stars to 26 restaurants

Cantonese restaurant with just six tables wins coveted three Michelin stars, and Canton 8 becomes world’s cheapest restaurant with two stars; Hong Kong Italian and Cantonese restaurants also earn stars

Bernice Chanin Vancouver

Published: 2:16pm, 21 Sep 2016

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Michelin released its first Shanghai dining guide on Wednesday, awarding its coveted three stars to a Cantonese restaurant that only has six tables.

The inaugural Michelin guide to dining in mainland China handed out stars to 26 restaurants in the city, with T’ang Court in The Langham Shanghai the only one to get the top rating.

Executive chef of restaurant 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana Riccardo La Perna with the chain’s founder Umberto Bombana (right) at the launch ceremony for the Michelin Guide to Shanghai, which awards two stars to the Italian fine-dining restaurant.

Six restaurants have been awarded two Michelin stars. They include Canton 8 – the world’s cheapest restaurant with two stars – Hong Kong-based Umberto Bombana’s 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, known for its fine-dining Italian cuisine, and Ultraviolet, which has garnered interest for projecting images on its walls, playing music and even pumping out fragrances to enhance the dining experience.

Michelin announces first China restaurant guide, covering Shanghai

Of the Shanghai restaurants awarded one star, Hong Kong Cantonese chain Lei Garden’s two locations, in the city’s IFC and iapm malls, were listed along with Seventh Son and Da Dong, among others.

Michelin Guides director Michael Ellis and master chef of Canton 8 Jie Ming Jian hold a copy of the Michelin guide to Shanghai, which awards two stars to the restaurant. Canton 8 is the least expensive two-Michelin-star restaurant in the world. Photo: AFP

The Michelin guide was first published over a century ago to promote automobile travel, and now awards stars to restaurants in 28 countries.

Restaurants awarded Michelin stars have often seen business boom; examples in Hong Kong include Tim Ho Wan, which has expanded to other countries, including Australia, Singapore and Taiwan, and Ho Hung Kee, a congee and noodle shop in Causeway Bay.

Master chef Justin Tan prepares a dessert in his kitchen at the T'ang Court restaurant in Shanghai. Photo: AFP

In July, Singaporean food hawker Chan Hon Meng’s soya sauce braised chicken was awarded a Michelin star; Chan is now looking for an international expansion deal which he hopes will bring him at least S$2 million (HK$11.4 million).

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