How Many Restaurants Does Jean-Georges Vongerichten Have?

Jean-Georges Vongerichten Restaurants: Key Takeaways

Jean-Georges Vongerichten owns 37 restaurants worldwide spanning six continents.
His portfolio includes 3 Michelin-starred restaurants with a 2-star flagship in New York City.
His signature Jean-Georges fine dining brand operates in New York, Shanghai, and São Paulo.
Recent expansion targets Asia-Pacific and Middle East markets including Thailand, South Korea, and UAE.

Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is a world-renowned culinary figure with a diverse portfolio of 37 restaurants around the globe. From his revolutionary fine dining flagship to casual venues, his brand fuses French techniques with global flavors.

This article explores how many restaurants Jean-Georges owns worldwide, their Michelin acclaim, and the unique concepts he operates across various international markets.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten Restaurants: Global Presence and Restaurant Count

Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s restaurant empire consists of 37 venues across multiple continents, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. His establishments encompass fine dining, casual dining, unique local ventures, and are a mix of company-owned and licensed operations.

In the United States, he manages 20 restaurants, including his flagship properties and casual concepts, with a strong concentration in New York City. Europe hosts 5 of his venues, while Asia has 7, reflecting his growing foothold in key metropolitan markets. The Middle East, South America, and the Caribbean also feature select venues in his global footprint.

Region	Approx. Number of Restaurants	Notable Examples
United States	20	Jean-Georges (NYC), abc Kitchen (NYC), The Fulton (NYC)
Europe	5	Primarily in major cities; venues not franchised
Asia	7	Jean-Georges Shanghai, Mercato (Shanghai, Guangzhou), The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar (Singapore)
Middle East	2	Dubai (expansion underway)
South America	1	Jean-Georges São Paulo
Caribbean	2	Selected luxury resort dining
Total (Global)	37	(Company-owned and licensed locations worldwide)

These restaurants reflect Jean-Georges’s versatile culinary vision, ranging from high-end contemporary French cuisine to approachable Italian and farm-to-table concepts.

His strategy combines flagship venues owned outright alongside licensed partnerships in growing international hubs, enabling steady expansion especially from 2023 to 2025 in cities like Bangkok, Seoul, and Dubai.

For hoteliers and restaurant owners looking to expand or maintain high culinary standards, studying how Jean-Georges manages his diverse portfolio offers valuable insights. How to hire top chefs for your kitchen is a crucial resource for maintaining excellence similar to Jean-Georges's flagship venues.

Michelin-Starred Flagship Restaurants

Jean-Georges Vongerichten is celebrated for his excellence in fine dining, demonstrated by his three Michelin-starred restaurants globally.

His flagship restaurant, Jean-Georges in New York City, is distinguished with 2 Michelin stars since its opening in 1997, serving innovative contemporary French cuisine highlighted with Asian influences.

In addition, he operates two other Michelin-starred establishments: JoJo in New York City with 1 star since 1991, known for its elegant yet accessible dining experience, and Jean-Georges Shanghai which earned 1 star starting in 2004, marking his strong presence in the Chinese fine dining market.

Jean-Georges (New York City, USA) – 2 Michelin stars, flagship fine dining venue, established 1997.
JoJo (New York City, USA) – 1 Michelin star, classic upscale restaurant, since 1991.
Jean-Georges Shanghai (Shanghai, China) – 1 Michelin star, blending French and Asian influences, since 2004.

These Michelin accolades underpin Vongerichten’s status as one of the world’s foremost chefs, with a sustained presence at the pinnacle of gastronomy for over three decades.

Employers and culinary managers interested in Michelin-level performance might also consider restaurant Michelin stars statistics to understand what it takes to achieve and retain these prestigious awards.

Notable Jean-Georges Vongerichten Restaurant Concepts and Locations

Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s diverse portfolio includes flagship fine dining, approachable casual dining, and unique localized venues, each emphasizing quality, creativity, and a sense of place.

Jean-Georges Fine Dining

The signature Jean-Georges brand is synonymous with elegant contemporary French cuisine blended with Asian inspirations. It operates three locations worldwide: New York City, Shanghai, and São Paulo.

Known for exceptional tasting menus, refined service, and stylish ambiance, these restaurants fall within a price range of $150–$250 per person. They serve as flagship venues exemplifying Vongerichten’s culinary philosophy.

Fine dining venues like Jean-Georges require skilled leadership and management. For those building careers in such environments, the executive chef interview questions page offers helpful preparation resources.

Mercato

Mercato is Jean-Georges’s Italian-inspired casual dining concept, featuring rustic decor and an inviting atmosphere. Current locations include Shanghai and Guangzhou in China.

Menu offerings focus on authentic Italian dishes with a contemporary touch, priced between $50–$100 per person. The concept balances quality and accessibility, appealing to a broad customer base in Asia’s major cities.

abc Kitchen

Located exclusively in New York City, abc Kitchen is a farm-to-table casual dining venue emphasizing seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.

This concept, priced at $40–$80 per person, promotes sustainable practices with a menu that changes regularly to highlight fresh, organic produce and responsibly sourced proteins.

Seasonal and sustainable culinary concepts such as abc Kitchen benefit from workforce stability. Learn more about strategies to reduce restaurant employee turnover to keep your team engaged and consistent.

Unique Venues

Beyond his branded concepts, Vongerichten runs select unique venues that reflect local character and luxury hospitality partnerships.

Notable among these are The Fulton in New York City, a seafood-focused venue set in an architecturally iconic space, and The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar in Singapore, blending contemporary Western cuisine with local influence.

These exclusive locations showcase his ability to adapt and innovate across different markets.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten Restaurant Empire: Conclusion

In conclusion, Jean-Georges Vongerichten controls a substantial restaurant empire of approximately 37 worldwide locations as of 2025.

With a stronghold in the United States, especially New York City, complemented by key venues across Asia, Europe, South America, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, his brand enjoys extensive geographic reach.

His three Michelin-starred restaurants, including the renowned two-star Jean-Georges in NYC, reflect his commitment to culinary excellence in fine dining. Meanwhile, his casual and unique venue concepts provide accessible experiences to diverse diners globally.

Jean-Georges’s strategy of combining ownership with licensing agreements, plus expansion into emerging markets like Bangkok, Seoul, and Dubai, positions him as a dynamic and visionary restaurateur with a multifaceted global presence.

Whether through world-class tasting menus or approachable casual eateries, Chef Vongerichten continues to elevate and diversify the contemporary dining landscape.

For those interested in further exploring restaurant consulting or starting similar restaurant ventures, consider reading why restaurant consulting for new owners matters.

01. How involved is Jean-Georges Vongerichten in day-to-day restaurant operations?

Jean-Georges remains actively involved in the creative direction and culinary vision for his restaurant group. While he does not manage daily operations directly in all venues, he provides menu development, training, and oversight to executive chefs, especially at flagship locations.

Operational management and service execution are typically handled by experienced hospitality teams and regional partners, allowing the brand to maintain consistent quality worldwide.

02. Are Jean-Georges restaurants expensive—and which ones offer the best value?

Jean-Georges’s pricing varies by concept, with fine dining experiences like Jean-Georges commanding $150–$250 per person.

Casual offerings such as Mercato and abc Kitchen are more affordable, ranging from $40 to $100 per person. These casual dining venues often present excellent value for quality food in stylish environments.

For those seeking Michelin-star dining, the New York flagship or Shanghai locations provide top-tier culinary experiences at premium prices.

03. How does Jean-Georges choose new cities or countries for expansion?

Jean-Georges selects new markets based on strategic growth potential, culinary demand, and hospitality partnerships. Preference is given to cosmopolitan cities with vibrant dining scenes, strong tourism, and receptive local audiences.

His recent expansion into Bangkok, Seoul, and Dubai reflects data-driven decisions seeking to diversify geographic presence and tap into emerging luxury markets.

Local alliances and licensing agreements frequently support these ventures, leveraging regional expertise while maintaining brand standards.

04. Are Jean-Georges restaurants sustainable or locally sourced?

Sustainability is a growing focus, particularly at casual dining venues like abc Kitchen, which emphasizes farm-to-table practices and seasonal menus.

Fine dining locations also prioritize seasonal ingredients and responsible sourcing, though the degree of sustainability varies by restaurant and regional supply chains.

Overall, Jean-Georges restaurants balance quality with environmental considerations, adapting to evolving consumer expectations.

05. Can you book Jean-Georges restaurants online—and are there loyalty programs?

Yes, most Jean-Georges restaurants accept online reservations through platforms like OpenTable or directly via their official websites.

However, the group does not currently have a unified loyalty program across its venues. Reservations and promotions are managed independently by each restaurant or partner organization.

Guests typically book fine dining experiences well in advance due to limited seating and high demand.