"Cheap" is in the eye of the beholder, or rather the wallet of the spender. At the same time, the cliche that you get what you pay for does't always apply, especially when it comes to restaurants. So, keep those two things in mind when perusing Money magazine's "Michelin Star Guide," particularly their list of the 14 least expensive Michelin three-star restaurants.
For almost a century, the Michelin Guide has awarded one to three stars to a small number of restaurants "based on its universally applied set of five criteria, including the quality of the ingredients, the mastery of cooking, the harmony of flavors, the personality of the chef through the cuisine and the consistency both over time and across the entire menu," the Guide states. "These are applied to all the selected restaurants in order to help gastronomes from around the world make an informed choice from among high-quality options."
From Money, here are the top three restaurants awarded with three Michelin Stars "for exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey":
1. King's Joy – Beijing, China
Cheapest set menu price: £83 / $110 / €100
There's no getting away from the fact that Michelin-starred dining is expensive, but the prices do vary quite considerably.
For example, at King's Joy (which was also one of the top-rated restaurants on Tripadvisor), the menus start at RMB¥699 per person, which is equivalent to around £83.
2. Lung King Heen – Hong Kong
Cheapest set menu price: £96 / $126 / €115
Another of the more affordable three-star restaurants on offer is Lung King Heen, located in the Four Seasons Hong Kong.
Here the cost is HK$1,980 for two people, so for one person that's HK$990, or just under £100 for one person.
3. Nakashima – Hiroshima, Japan
Cheapest set menu price: £108 / $142 / €129
Hiroshima's only Michelin-starred restaurant is Nakashima, but it's also one of the most affordable in the world, with the set menu costing JP¥17,320 (£108).
The restaurant serves kaiseki cuisine and is located in the city's elegant and affluent Hakushima district.
