Taking inspiration from Yelp’s 9th annual Top 100 US Restaurants list, these are the best restaurants to visit in 2022. From cute bakeries to perfect pizza joints, the top 30 places offer something for everyone. Discover what makes them so popular, what you need to order to eat and drink when you get there and find out what inspired some of the rather dazzling decors too.
When a restaurant has a sleek menu of fewer than a dozen items, you know those dishes are going to be done well. In the case of Pizzeria Credo in Seattle, Washington it has (as regular diners say) absolutely nailed it. This small, family-run restaurant offers the best Italian dishes, from the classic margherita pizza, which has a crust so delicate it is “light almost like a croissant”, to its gnocchi with creamy vodka sauce.
“Do one thing only, and do it well” is the mantra of Pho 75 in Philadelphia, and it lives up to its ethos by serving just one dish: pho. This no-frills diner doesn’t need fancy decor, because the broth is the star of the show. There's nothing quite as comforting as a bowl of pho, and at just £4.40 ($5.75) for a regular bowl, with vegetables, brisket, steak or chicken to choose from, it's the medicine everyone needs.
A mix of surfing, seafood and southern aloha are the key ingredients for what makes Down the Hatch in Maui, Hawaii a favourite with diners. Opened in 2015 by friends Javier, Dave, and Julian, the trio really know how to cook and serve fish. Whether you’re bringing your own catch for the chefs to cook up, or are there to experience the famous lava lava shrimp and live music, in the true spirit of all things surfing, this dive lounge is truly awesome.
Serving up a slice of new American comfort food, Brick 29, in Nampa, Idaho, delivers a packed menu. With a 'family' of ranchers, farms and orchards supplying fresh and local produce, these elevated dishes don’t disappoint. The B29 fries are famous in their own right, while the butternut squash ravioli and fried oysters are considered a culinary delight. With a list of accolades to its name, it’s no wonder this bistro landed a place on Yelp’s Top 100 listing.
You can find Ruthie’s All-Day Arlington restaurant where Mr. W’s chocolate factory and ice cream shop once stood in 1950. Although you’ll find the menu is a little hotter today than it was back then, the decor is light and lush. With a custom-built hearth at the heart of this mid-century restaurant, Ruthie’s serves up a Southern food fan's dream, thanks to its modern take on the usual meat and three, and its “Texas-level brisket”. The Brussels sprouts are a real crowd-pleaser too.
The city of Leskovac is famous for hosting one of the largest grilled meats festivals in the world. So, when 016 Restaurant & Sandwich Shop opened in Chicago, Illinois, bringing with it the very best of Serbian food combined with Midwest ingredients, it was set to impress. Hidden within the meat lust menu are some gems, including the chievapi grilled beef sausages, which are a must-have, and the burek (a meat pastry), which you’ll need to call in advance to order. While you’re there, you could even try one of the Serbian imported drinks too.
Buffet restaurants can be hit or miss, but when it’s done the ShabuRo way, it will almost certainly be a hit. With its hotpot and hotplate dining tables, the ShabuRo AYCE restaurant in New Jersey does things a little differently. Diners have been flocking here since it opened its doors in 2016. This cook-it-yourself restaurant offers a buffet of fresh vegetables, tofu, meats and fish, which are cooked in hot broth at your table (shabu-shabu). Oh, and don’t forget to have some matcha and vanilla ice cream before you go.
What started out as a food truck, complete with cow print paint job and horns to boot, WoodBarn BBQ soon moved to a more permanent residence and has quickly established itself as one of the best barbecue haunts in Arizona. Opened at the start of 2020, this father-and-son run restaurant is decked out in rustic charm, but its smoky BBQ treats are the real gems here. Slowly smoked using mesquite and almond wood, the meats are “melt in your mouth” good, and you’ll probably want to order two johnny cakes (cornmeal flatbreads) for the road.
If you’re after proper Louisiana food, LoLA in Charleston, South Carolina should be your next port of call. With a menu packed full of Cajun pub fare, from gumbos and overstuffed po' boys, to Carolina gator bites and shrimp risotto cake, this pet-friendly eatery is, as diners agree, not your average restaurant. It’s better. Even the drinks menu champions that notion. Anyone fancy a swamp water (sweet tea vodka with citrus)?
Good things come to those who wait, so if you ever find yourself waiting for a table at Raku in New York, your patience will be rewarded. Once inside, you’ll be too busy savouring the incredible texture of chef Norihiro Ishizuka’s udon noodles to notice the restaurant has no windows. And although you might be overwhelmed with the extensive menu, it just means more of a reason to come back again and again to try some classic Japanese dishes.
Just because it’s small doesn’t mean The Bakeshop on 20th in Philadelphia offers anything that's less than mighty. This small-batch bakery has it all, from brown sugar pound cake and chocolate fudge chunk brownies, to breakfast cookies and seasonal pies; not forgetting its avocado toast special, which is something of a legend here. Ingredients are seasonal, meaning no two months are the same, and with everything handcrafted, its little surprise this bakery made it into the top 20 of Yelp’s listing.
Food is of the essence at Copine, in Seattle, Washington. Each dish from the three-course prix fixe is a work of art, bringing contemporary American cuisine and French techniques together in harmony. Dining here is an experience, with memories of the midcourse carbonara and risotto still strong in diners' minds. With a new menu each week, and a policy of taking bookings up to 60 days in advance, you might want to get a date in your diary.
“This is not a restaurant, this is our home; you are not our customer, you are our guest.” With a mantra as profound as this, it's no wonder MACHETE in Greensboro, North Carolina delivers more than just great food. According to guests, it delivers an experience. Offering an array of small plates, the food is designed to “arouse your senses”. Just make sure to leave room for the bananas foster for dessert.
Founded in 2010, Cafe Kacao, in Oklahoma City, serves an eclectic menu of Guatemalan breakfast and brunch items, with influences from Central and South America. Its generous portions and homecooked meals have made a reputation for this family-run business, not to mention the amazing flavours it brings to the table too. The Tikal (scrambled eggs, plantains, steak, Guatemalan beef sausage, refried beans and tortillas) is a favourite with diners, while the French toast is one of the most mentioned dishes. Diners regularly say they want to try everything at least once. And if that isn’t enough to satisfy your appetite, you can always pick up some apparel before you leave.
Say cheese! With its black weatherboard frontage and pops of yellow, the Cultured urban cheese shop in Louisville, Kentucky lends itself as a quirky picture-perfect opportunity. And with its grandma-inspired warm welcome, inside is just as memorable too. Of course, wine and cheese go hand in hand, but Cultured takes it up a notch, with charcuterie boards packed with assorted fruits, vegetables, pickles, condiments, nuts and berries. Even the drinks, which have been carefully curated, have been given a touch of culture, with cocktails including site for sorel eyes or the miracle on main.
Whether you're looking for a great lunch spot, somewhere for date night, or want a chilled out evening with friends or family, Altura Bistro in Alaska is the place to go. Although it might not look like anything super special from the outside, the locally-sourced ingredients, fresh seafood and high-quality beef all definitely make it worth the trip. Whether you're ordering the Alaskan black cod, locally-famous Altura burger, or treating yourself to an Australian Wagyu ribeye, it all comes highly rated. Diners have been raving about this joint since it first opened its doors.
Located in a basement in Nashville, Tennessee, the world famous Skull’s Rainbow Room has a rich entertainment history and ambient jazz-filled atmosphere that speaks for itself. It’s been providing legendary entertainment since 1948, and its dinner and drinks menus are pretty legendary too. The crawfish gnocchi is, according to regulars, a must, while the mac 'n' cheese is “hands down” the best ever. With its signature lady day and the skull #4 cocktails, live jazz and a burlesque show, what more can someone in Music City wish for?
It might be a small spot, but the family-friendly welcome at the Santo Brúklin is huge. And the menu packs a flavour punch too. Having only opened its doors in 2020, it might be a relative newbie on the block, but it’s cooked up a great reputation with its comforting Brazilian-inspired Brooklyn cuisine. Diners who are brunching are encouraged to try the fried chicken and waffles, and if you’re dining out then the hell yeah pão de queijo (a Brazilian cheese bread) is a must too.
A rebrand doesn’t change the nature of the pizza-perfect menu that DOPO Pizza & Pasta (previously Food + Drink) has on offer. First opened in 2020, the popular Midtown pizza spot has retained the menu that made it locally famous, and its new owner has even added a few craft specialities to the mix, of which the strawberry margarita is a new favourite. And if the food and drink wasn’t enough, the Dopo wall of fame, a graffiti homage to South Virginia street art add to its already impressive vibes.
Be prepared to wait if you haven’t made a reservation for The Vox Kitchen in Fountain Valley, California, because this Vietnamese, Chinese, Taiwanese and Peruvian fusion restaurant is always popular. Its menu may be simple, but the dishes are nothing short of spectacular, with the Saltado shaken fries house special, spicy shrimp wontons and bacon Brussels sprouts all delivering on flavour. And the service is exceptional too.
Need directions to The Riv in Oregon? Just ask someone to point you in the direction of 'the old stone church' and you’ll soon stumble upon the more than a century old building which, having been a life of Christ church and then temporarily condemned, is now home to an espresso bar and kitchen serving up some of the best farm-to-table style food around. Whether you want a something small bagel, a have it all breakfast, or fancy the star of the show fried chicken and waffles, this really is the perfect place to enjoy great food, coffee and conversation.
With Persian rugs adorning the walls and dishes served on traditional tableware, you'll feel a million miles away at OSH Restaurant and Grill, Nashville, Tennessee. Serving up Uzbek cuisine, the menu is extensive, but it is the osh (also known as pilaf) speciality that captures the attention of diners young and old. To deliver an exceptional osh takes years of practice, and it seems the chefs, or oshpaz, are certainly masters of this dish.
Sporting a decor of comic books, stickers and Marvel characters, the Goodwich has come a long way from its parking lot days of 2014, when it operated from a kiosk outside Las Vegas dive bar Dino’s. But even now on solid ground, the menu still meets its original philosophy, delivering sandwiches with the perfect bread to filling ratio (known as 'stacked-rite'). From the griddle ground beef patty melt with smoked cream cheese, or the turkey thyme Thanksgiving dinner, we know a good sandwich when we see one, and these diners do too.
With its corrugated panelling and questionable name, you could walk by the Junkyard Bistro in Salmon, Idaho, thinking the food wasn’t all that. But as all these Yelpers proudly say, you would be mistaken. Offering traditional American and globally-inspired fare, the menu is diverse, with favourites including the Mongolian beef noodle bowl to the blue cheese and chicken sandwich. Oh and the garlic burger is "to die for".
The key to dining at Jackrabbit Filly is to follow in the footsteps of its founders Shuai and Corrie Wang, and experiment. It’s something they did with the restaurant name (a combination of their zodiac animals), the decor (bunnies, bunnies, and more bunnies), and even the menu, which started with Japanese rice bowls and now delivers a culinary flare of Chinese-American cuisine. From the pedro for president cocktail, fish tartare main, pork and cabbage dumplings, or the Sichuan dry pot, the opportunity for dining adventure is endless.
Two friends, one dream, and a mysterious master biscuit whisperer are the secret ingredients behind Bird Bird Biscuit. With two locations in Austin, Texas, this restaurant has been serving up some of the best chicken sandwiches since it opened its doors in 2018. With its hip and vibrant decor (impressed nod to the chicken in sunglasses), and menu options like the crowning queen beak, dough-doughs doughnuts and the biscuitarian, meat-lovers, vegetarians and those with a sweet tooth are all catered for. It’s no wonder it made the top five.
Upwards of £165 ($215) per person, the two Michelin starred Oriole in Chicago is met with high expectations from the moment of booking, and judging from reviews, it delivers. The ever-evolving menu, exceptional service, open kitchen and refined decor with album cover-clad ceiling, work together to provide a culinary concoction that takes guests on a voyage of dining discovery. With tasting menus that delight the senses, it is more than just a restaurant, it is an experience. And an outstanding one at that.
Coming in third place of Yelp’s Top 100 US Restaurants is Fermentation Farm in Costa Mesa, California. Locally famous for creating handcrafted fermented foods and drinks, packed full of gut-friendly bacteria and nutrients, its kitchen serves up some impressive dishes too. From the vegan black bean chilli and chicken bone broth mains, to the kimchi quesadilla or the flourless chocolate cake, the range on offer might just surprise you. Its kombucha growler fill drinks are all the rave too.
Tucked inside a mini-mall off Beverly Road in McLean, Virginia, the Afghan bistro Aracosia–McLean offers a menu that caters for every diet, and whether choosing the signature mix mazza, dumpling platter, lamb chops, or rose water rice pudding, everything, even down to the Afghani soft bread is delicious. But this spot has more than just an impressive menu. Adorned with tapestries and soft lighting, this family-owned restaurant created by four Aghan-American women has an ethos to support those in need in their local community, meaning it really does excel in every area.
From one global culinary delight to another, the top spot on Yelp's ranking goes to Cocina Madrigal, in Phoenix, Arizona. Established in 2018 and described by diners as a place of “radiance and perfection”, this restaurant delivers Mexican excellence under the hands of talented chef Leo Madrigal. Crafting tacos, burros and homemade enchiladas, of which the mushroom option is one to remember, it is a slice of Mexico in the Arizona homelands.