Indian chefs and restaurants have garnered international recognition throughout 2024, celebrating the richness of Indian cuisine and the diversity of regional flavors. The year saw numerous accolades and milestones that brought Indian food to the global spotlight.

Jamavar Doha earned a Michelin star at the inaugural Michelin Guide ceremony in Doha. Known for its exquisite representation of Indian regional dishes, the restaurant is part of the LSL Capital group, founded by Dinesh and Samyukta Nair, with Chef Surender Mohan as its Culinary Director. Similarly, Musaafer, an Indian fine dining restaurant located in Houston, Texas, also received a Michelin star at Texas' first-ever Michelin awards. Led by Chef Mayank Istwal and founded by Shammi and Mithu Malik, Musaafer’s offerings were inspired by a 100-day culinary exploration across India.

In the United Kingdom, Gymkhana in London and Opheem in Birmingham secured their second Michelin stars this year. Gymkhana, known for its inspiration from colonial-era clubs, and Opheem, which creatively uses British ingredients with an Indian twist under Chef Aktar Islam, solidified their positions in the global culinary world. Alongside these wins, several Indian restaurants worldwide successfully retained their Michelin stars. Semma in New York, Rania in Washington DC, Indienne in Chicago, and Gaa, Haoma, and INDDEE in Bangkok showcased consistency and excellence. New Punjab Club and Chaat in Hong Kong, along with Tresind Studio in Dubai, also upheld their stars. London continued to shine with one-Michelin-starred Indian restaurants such as Veeraswamy, Benares, Jamavar, Quilon, Trishna, and Amaya retaining their prestigious accolades.

Chef Vikas Khanna's acclaimed restaurant Bungalow in New York received the Michelin Bib Gourmand award for offering high-quality food at exceptional value. The restaurant also earned critical praise from major publications like The New York Times and welcomed numerous celebrity guests, including Jeff Bezos, Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, and Nick Jonas.

Two Indian establishments earned spots on TIME Magazine’s ‘World’s Greatest Places’ for 2024. Manam Chocolate in Hyderabad celebrated India’s premium cacao through its experiential flagship space, Manam Chocolate Karkhana. Naar, a boutique restaurant nestled in Himachal Pradesh, helmed by Chef Prateek Sadhu, showcased the bounty of the Himalayan region through innovative dishes.

Gaggan, Chef Gaggan Anand's progressive Indian restaurant in Bangkok, was ranked ninth on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list and was named Asia’s Best Restaurant. Tresind Studio in Dubai, led by Chef Himanshu Saini, earned the thirteenth spot globally and was recognized as the Best Restaurant in the Middle East.

In Asia, eight Indian restaurants earned recognition on the prestigious list of Asia’s 100 Best Restaurants for 2024. Masque in Mumbai was ranked twenty-third, followed by Indian Accent in New Delhi at twenty-sixth and Avartana in Chennai at forty-fourth. Five more Indian establishments, including Americano, The Bombay Canteen, Comorin, Dum Pukht, and Ekaa, were featured in the extended list of fifty-one to one hundred.

Indian bars also made their mark globally this year. ZLB23, located at The Leela Palace in Bengaluru, was ranked the best bar in India and the fortieth best bar in Asia. Four additional bars—The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai, Lair in New Delhi, Sidecar in New Delhi, and Home in New Delhi—secured spots in the extended list of Asia's 100 Best Bars.

Indian cuisine continued to earn global acclaim with outstanding rankings in the Taste Atlas Awards. Indian cuisine was ranked twelfth among the world’s best, while Punjab was recognized as the seventh best food region, and Mumbai was celebrated as the fifth best food city. Indian dishes, including Murgh Makhani, Hyderabadi Biryani, Keema, and Amritsari Kulcha, featured prominently on various category-specific lists.

Kerala-based chocolate brand Paul and Mike created history by winning Gold at the International Chocolate Awards. Their Milk Chocolate Coated Salted Capers earned top honors in the ‘Milk chocolate enrobed whole fruit’ category, showcasing capers sourced from Tuticorin and cacao grown in the Western Ghats.

From Michelin stars to global rankings, Indian culinary excellence in 2024 stood tall on the world stage, celebrating innovation, tradition, and the brilliance of homegrown ingredients.

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