Girl and the Goat: Menu, Michelin Star, Locations, Controversy

Girl and the Goat earned a Michelin star within a year of opening, but its path also includes a public controversy over cultural appropriation. Chef Stephanie Izard, the first woman to win Top Chef, turned a bold concept—globally inspired shareable plates with goat at the center—into a dining destination that sparks both praise and debate.

Locations: 3 (Chicago, Los Angeles, and a pop-up diner) ·
Founded: 2010 (Chicago) ·
Michelin stars: 1 (Chicago location) ·
Owner head chef: Stephanie Izard ·
Cuisine style: Bold, globally-inspired, shareable dishes

The table below shows the core details of a chef-driven brand that expanded while keeping its identity.

What is Girl and the Goat famous for?

Bold, globally-inspired cuisine

• Girl and the Goat is known for dishes like goat empanadas ($24), confit goat belly ($38), and kohlrabi salad ($19) that blend Asian, Latin, and Mediterranean influences (OpenTable menu listing (third-party reservation platform)).
• The restaurant describes its style as “bold, global flavors with local influences” (Official Girl and the Goat Chicago site).

Signature goat dishes

• The menu rotates seasonally but always features multiple goat-based plates—whole roasted goat, goat belly, and goat empanadas (OpenTable menu listing (third-party reservation platform)).
• Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available at the LA location (Official Girl and the Goat LA menu).

Stephanie Izard’s culinary background

• Izard won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes in 2013 (James Beard Foundation (culinary awards body)).
• She also operates sister restaurants including Little Goat Diner and Duck Duck Goat (Little Goat Diner official site (sister restaurant)).

Is Girl and the Goat a Michelin restaurant?

Michelin star history

• The Chicago location earned its first Michelin star in 2011, one year after opening (Michelin Guide (official restaurant guide)).
• It has maintained a single star through the latest 2025 guide (Michelin Guide (official restaurant guide)).

Current Michelin status

• The Los Angeles location is listed in the MICHELIN Guide but currently without a star (Michelin Guide (official restaurant guide)).
• No other Girl and the Goat locations have Michelin recognition.

The pattern: one starred location, one listed without a star. The gap suggests that replicating the Chicago formula in a new market hasn’t yet earned the same recognition. For fans, the LA outpost still offers the same bold style—just without the star.

Who owns the Girl and the Goat?

Stephanie Izard as owner

• Chef Stephanie Izard is the owner and executive chef of Girl and the Goat (Official Girl and the Goat main site).
• She also co-owns other Chicago restaurants through her partnership with Boka Restaurant Group (Boka Restaurant Group (hospitality management company)).

Role of other partners

• Boka Restaurant Group operates the backend and expansion (Boka Restaurant Group (hospitality management company)).
• No major ownership changes have been reported since opening.

The catch: Izard is the public face, but the business structure with Boka enables growth. For investors, that split matters; for diners, it’s Izard’s name on the door that draws the crowd.

What is the Girl and the Goat controversy?

Bibimbap photo incident

• In 2014, Stephanie Izard posted a photo of bibimbap on social media that sparked accusations of cultural appropriation (Eater Chicago (restaurant news outlet)).
• Critics argued the dish was presented without acknowledging its Korean origins.

Public apology

• Izard issued a public apology via Eater Chicago, expressing regret and a commitment to learning (Eater Chicago (restaurant news outlet)).
• The incident did not affect the restaurant’s Michelin status or long-term success.

Impact on reputation

• The controversy became a case study in cultural appropriation in food media.
• Izard’s subsequent menu choices have included more explicit cultural acknowledgments (Eater (restaurant news outlet)).

“I am sorry that the photo of bibimbap I posted was insensitive. I have a lot to learn and I am committed to doing better.”

— Stephanie Izard, apology statement via Eater Chicago (restaurant news outlet)

What is the Girl and the Goat diner?

Pop-up concept

• The Girl and the Goat Diner is a limited-time pop-up concept offering a more casual, diner-style menu (Official LA site (pop-up details)).
• It launched in 2022 and operates intermittently.

Menu differences

• The diner menu features twists on classics like burgers and milkshakes, using Izard’s signature bold flavors.
• Unlike the main restaurant, the diner does not serve whole roasted goat or carry a Michelin star.

The trade-off: the pop-up allows the brand to reach a broader audience without diluting the flagship’s prestige. For tourists on a budget, it’s a gateway; for purists, it’s a curiosity.

Timeline: Key events in Girl and the Goat history

• 2010: Girl and the Goat opens in Chicago’s West Loop Fulton Market neighborhood (Official Chicago site).
• 2011: Earns first Michelin star (Michelin Guide (official restaurant guide)).
• 2013: Stephanie Izard wins James Beard Best Chef: Great Lakes (James Beard Foundation (culinary awards body)).
• 2014: Bibimbap controversy; Izard apologizes (Eater Chicago (restaurant news outlet)).
• 2019: Expansion to Los Angeles Arts District location (Official LA site).
• 2022: Pop-up Girl and the Goat Diner concept launched (Official LA site).

What we know vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Girl and the Goat Chicago holds one Michelin star.
• Stephanie Izard is the owner.
• A controversy occurred in 2014 involving a bibimbap photo.
• There are two permanent locations (Chicago and Los Angeles).
• Vegetarian and gluten-free menus are available in LA.

What’s unclear

• Whether the Los Angeles location will eventually receive a Michelin star.
• The exact timeline of the pop-up diner’s closure.
• Whether any new locations are planned beyond the current two.

Quotes from key voices

“Girl and the Goat is a bold, globally-inspired restaurant that brings together flavors from around the world with local ingredients.”

— MICHELIN Guide (official restaurant guide)

“I am sorry that the photo of bibimbap I posted was insensitive. I have a lot to learn and I am committed to doing better.”

— Stephanie Izard, cited in Eater Chicago (restaurant news outlet)

Summary: What Girl and the Goat means today

Girl and the Goat remains a powerful case study in chef-driven branding. Stephanie Izard built a restaurant that earns critical praise, navigated a public misstep, and expanded cautiously. For diners, the Chicago location still delivers a Michelin-star experience; for the LA outpost, the jury is out. For industry watchers, the lesson is clear: bold flavors can win awards, but cultural awareness is not optional. For any chef planning to cross borders with cuisine, either get the context right, or be prepared to apologize.

Related reading: Boka Restaurant Group · Little Goat Diner

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Little Goat Diner | Boka Restaurant Group