_Four of the most unusual Michelin starred restaurants from around the world

by Stefan Chomka

Not all Michelin-starred restaurants are hushed temples of haute cuisine. From street vendors to neighbourhood restaurants, here’s where to head to experience some of the more interesting and unusual places honoured by the red book.

1. Sukiyabashi Jiro, Tokyo

This three-starred sushi restaurant only has 10 seats, but it goes to extraordinary lengths to ensure anyone sat in them has the optimum dining experience. Run by revered chef Jiro Ono, nothing is left to chance. Not only are diners expected to be bang on time, the restaurant has extensive rules on how to eat its sushi – including soy sauce usage and chopstick management – and given this is among the best sushi in the world, you’d best stick to them.

2. Tim Ho Wan, Hong Kong

The Hong Kong restaurant of this dim sum chain is one of the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred eateries. While founding chef Mak Kwai Pui has an awesome cooking pedigree, having been the former dim sum master at Hong Kong’s Four Seasons Hotel, he’s kept prices in line with the modesty of his canteen – for less than the cost of a craft beer in London, you can gorge on steamed egg cake and the legendary baked buns with barbecue pork.

3. Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle, Singapore

Last year HKSSCRN – to use its short name – became one of the first street-food locations in the world to be awarded a Michelin star (along with Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, also in Singapore), making the queues for it even longer than before. But it’s worth the wait. A plate of its eponymous dish involves whole roasted chicken – chopped in front of you – and will set you back little more than £1.

4. Faro, New York

Earth, wheat and fire is the approach Faro takes – not in homage to the American funk band of a similar name, but in reference to its rustic Italian cooking that focuses on handmade pasta made with local grains. For a ringside view at this unassuming Brooklyn restaurant, sit at the chef’s counter facing the kitchen and watch chefs prepare dishes such as wood-fired chicken with roasted garlic and potato puree, and pork ragu gnudi with fennel and cream.

Above: Dry Aged Duck Breast with Turnip at Faro

Above right: Sushi chef Jiro Ono of Sushi restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro