The global culinary hierarchy has shifted, and for the first time, two restaurants from Latin America reached the highest level of gastronomic recognition. During the launch of the Michelin Guide Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo 2026, three Michelin stars were awarded, instantly placing Brazil at the center of the fine dining world.
Now you don’t have to go to France to find an exquisite cuisine, as restaurants Evvai and TUJU, both in São Paulo, offer two entirely different culinary visions that are still deeply connected by translating Brazil’s identity onto the plate, all while doing it with precision, emotion, and innovation.
© EvvaiEvvai and the Rise of “Oriundi” Cuisine
At Evvai, chef Luiz Filipe Souza has spent nearly a decade crafting a concept that feels globally relevant. His philosophy is based on “Oriundi,” which explores the legacy of Italian immigration in Brazil.
© EvvaiEvvai, which earned its first Michelin star in 2018, earned a second star in 2024, and now rejoices with a third star awarded in 2026, is now celebrating the validation of a long-term vision that merges cultures seamlessly.
What sets Evvai apart is how each dish is paired with hand-drawn illustrations by the chef, making the tasting menu a multi-sensory narrative, so food can be experienced, interpreted, and remembered.
© EvvaiTUJU and Brazil as a Living Ecosystem
If Evvai is about heritage, TUJU is about systems. Chef Ivan Ralston approaches cuisine as an evolving ecosystem rooted in Brazil’s biodiversity. TUJU is the only Brazilian restaurant with its own research institute, making the menu structured around Humidity, Rain, Wind, and Drought.
© TUJUThis scientific approach extends to a multi-level space where architecture, service, and cuisine are tightly integrated. Diners can move through different environments into a cohesive dining experience where sustainability, research, and creativity intersect.
São Paulo: The New Culinary Capital to Watch
This historic double win also cements São Paulo’s status as one of the most important food cities in the world, as the city now holds the region’s only three-star establishments, alongside a growing list of one- and two-star restaurants.
© TUJUIn 2025, Mexico made history thanks to Mario Hernández, the proud owner of El Califa de León, Mexico City’s only Michelin-starred taco stand. "If you choose a profession as beautiful as gastronomy, that’s the advice I humbly give, innovate, contribute. The kitchen is a magical place where you can, through your work, make people fall in love," Hernández told HOLA!
He continued, "The Michelin award we received was a huge boost, a very important springboard. We had been comfortable for many years. Modesty aside, the business has always been successful since it opened. But this recognition definitely enhanced everything we do in all aspects.”
