How Many Restaurants Does Ming Tsai Have?

Ming Tsai Restaurants: Key Takeaways

Chef Ming Tsai currently owns a single restaurant under his name, BāBā, located in Big Sky, Montana.
Unlike many celebrity chefs, Ming Tsai does not operate any Michelin-starred restaurants as of 2025.
BāBā offers Asian-inspired cuisine and is uniquely situated at the exclusive Yellowstone Club mountain resort.
Ming Tsai’s portfolio is characterized by direct ownership rather than franchised or licensed operations.

Chef Ming Tsai is a renowned American culinary figure specializing in Asian-inspired flavors. While his media presence and cookbook success are vast, his restaurant footprint as of 2025 is modest but distinctive.

This article explores Ming Tsai’s restaurant holdings, including the sole venue BāBā, highlighting its location, concept, and how it fits within his broader culinary brand.

Ming Tsai Restaurants: Global Presence and Restaurant Count

As of 2025, Ming Tsai directly owns and operates one restaurant worldwide.

This establishment, BāBā, is located exclusively in the United States. Unlike many celebrity chefs who operate multiple venues or franchises, Tsai’s restaurant portfolio remains singular and focused.

BāBā represents a fusion of Asian-inspired cuisine set in a distinct mountain resort environment, blending fine dining elements with a unique locale. Currently, Tsai does not operate any franchised or licensed restaurants, maintaining full ownership and control of his sole venue.

Region	Approx. Number of Restaurants	Notable Examples
United States	1	BāBā (Big Sky, Montana)
Total (Global)	1	(Single location worldwide)

Michelin-Starred Flagship Restaurants

Ming Tsai does not currently hold any Michelin stars nor operate any Michelin-rated restaurants.

While Michelin accreditation is a common hallmark among celebrity chefs’ fine dining ventures, Tsai’s restaurant activities focus more on flavorful Asian fusion cuisine in exclusive settings rather than the fine dining Michelin circuit.

None – Ming Tsai has no Michelin-starred restaurants as of 2025.

For insights on the role Michelin stars play in dining, explore our restaurant Michelin stars statistics spotlight.

Notable Ming Tsai Restaurant Concepts and Locations

Ming Tsai’s primary restaurant concept is BāBā, centered on Asian-inspired dishes crafted to complement its unique mountain resort location.

BāBĀ Restaurants

BāBā is located at the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana, an exclusive private ski and golf resort offering a mountain destination experience.

The restaurant focuses on Asian-inspired cuisine, leveraging Ming Tsai’s expertise in merging Eastern flavors with locally sourced ingredients. Its setting offers a retreat-style dining atmosphere that caters to the resort's affluent clientele.

Since it is the sole Ming Tsai restaurant, BāBā embodies Tsai’s culinary philosophy firsthand. The venue's exclusivity and location differentiate it from urban fine dining staples and mass-market casual brands.

Managing a restaurant like BāBā requires strong hospitality team leadership. Learn effective strategies for how to hire a restaurant manager to maintain premium service standards.

Ming Tsai Restaurant Empire: Conclusion

In summary, Ming Tsai owns and operates one distinctive restaurant globally—BāBā in Big Sky, Montana.

His selective presence reflects a focus on unique dining experiences rather than broad geographic expansion or franchising. Without Michelin-starred venues, Ming Tsai’s restaurant practice underscores quality and exclusivity within a niche market.

This singular but carefully curated approach makes Ming Tsai’s restaurant portfolio stand out for its dedication to intimate fine dining within specialized environments rather than proliferation.

For those interested in expanding or consulting on boutique restaurant operations, our guide on hiring a restaurant consultant offers valuable advice.

01. How involved is Ming Tsai in day-to-day restaurant operations?

Ming Tsai maintains active involvement in the culinary direction and menu creation at BāBā, leveraging his expertise and personal vision.

However, the day-to-day operations, including service and management at the Yellowstone Club venue, are handled by an on-site team of hospitality professionals.

02. Are Ming Tsai’s restaurants expensive—and which ones offer the best value?

Ming Tsai’s single restaurant, BāBā, caters to a luxury resort clientele and is expected to be positioned in the premium price range, though specific pricing details are not publicly specified.

As there is only one venue, potential guests typically experience the restaurant's full premium service value rather than budget or casual options.

03. How does Ming Tsai choose new cities or countries for expansion?

Currently, Ming Tsai has not expanded beyond BāBā. However, his choice of the Yellowstone Club location indicates careful selection based on exclusivity, clientele, and alignment with his brand identity rather than rapid global expansion.

04. Are Ming Tsai restaurants sustainable or locally sourced?

Sustainability and local sourcing are important values reflected in BāBā’s menu design, emphasizing fresh ingredients attuned to the mountain region’s local produce.

While there are no formal certifications publicly noted, Tsai’s culinary philosophy typically includes a focus on quality sourcing adapted to the locality of each venture.

05. Can you book Ming Tsai restaurants online—and are there loyalty programs?

BāBā at the Yellowstone Club is generally accessible to resort members and guests. Reservations are typically managed through the club’s concierge or official channels rather than public online platforms.

There are no known loyalty programs associated with Ming Tsai restaurants at this time.

If you're interested in the luxury hospitality market where locations like BāBā thrive, consider exploring our luxury high-end hospitality services spotlight for insights.