Feeling hungry – and maybe a little indecisive? Head to one of these specialty restaurants around the world, each of which only focuses on one thing. The highly-focused restaurants in our gallery offer incredibly precise menus all about one dish or ingredient, whether that's the humble savory pie, succulent steak, or mac 'n' cheese served with any toppings you could possibly imagine.
Read on as we count down to the most specialized restaurant in the world.
We've based our ranking on diner reviews, how unusual each restaurant is, and on the opinions of our well-traveled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.
This iconic San Francisco spot is a garlic lover’s dream. Dedicated entirely to the boldly flavored bulb, it proudly claims, “We season our garlic with food.” The menu is packed with garlicky twists on comfort classics – from garlic-infused roast chicken to garlic ice cream. Even the bread comes with a generous smear of roasted garlic. With its kitschy décor and unapologetic devotion to one of the world’s most pungent ingredients, this restaurant has become a must-visit for anyone who believes there’s no such thing as too much garlic.
Pieminister specializes in excellent pies, offering varieties including chicken and ham, beef and Stilton, mushroom and asparagus, and vegan chicken and leek. There are even lower-calorie Mediterranean-inspired filo pies on the menu. All pies can be served on their own or 'Mothership' style, with smooth, creamy mashed potatoes or loaded fries and gravy. Locations across the UK include Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, and Oxford. Brits can buy the brand's pies in supermarkets, too.
In the mood for crêpes or waffles? Well, then, you should probably head to one of Crepes & Waffles' many locations in South America, Mexico, and Spain. The menu at this Colombian chain offers plenty of waffle and crêpe toppings, as well as Instagram-worthy inventions such as waffle sandwiches and crêpe burritos. Customers can also choose between multiple ice cream flavors.
Those with a sweet tooth will be in heaven at Cape Town's Honest Chocolate Café, a chocolate-themed dessert café. There's an indulgent menu of chocolate truffles, brownies, ice creams, tarts, cakes, and hot chocolate. There's also a list of vegan and dairy-free options available. Chocolate bars, cakes, and experiences can be bought in-store or online, too.
La Maritxu co-founder Lucía Larragoiti Fisher comes from a Basque family and wanted to bring a taste of her homeland to London. The recipe for the Basque cheesecake that's the cornerstone of the shop's menu has been in her family for generations. The crustless dessert is baked at a high temperature to achieve the perfect caramelized top while retaining a creamy middle. Customers can buy it (and nothing else) whole in three different sizes, or by the slice at La Maritxu's two London locations.
Ichiran Ramen only serves tonkotsu ramen – an aromatic pork-based broth with thin noodles and various toppings. It's known for its thick, spicy red sauce, which combines more than 30 different spices. You order at the ticket machine and eat in your own private booth, so you can 'focus on the flavors'. There are locations in the USA, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
If you're a fan of meatballs, The Meatball Shop is an obvious choice. The most popular dish is B'alls + Sauce: chicken, pork, or veggie balls with sauce, Parmesan, and focaccia. Other options include spicy pork, cheese, Buffalo, mac 'n' cheese, chicken pesto, and a layered lasagna-style creation featuring ricotta, mozzarella, and tomato sauce.
Konnopke's Imbiss is famous in Berlin for serving up the best currywurst in town. Max Konnopke first opened the sausage stall, complete with outdoor seating, in 1930 – and since then, it's become legendary, with people willing to wait in line to get their sausage fix. There's a selection of sausages available, including currywurst, wieners, and krautwurst, all of which can be served on their own, or with fries or potato salad.
Fromage fans will be in heaven at London's Cheese Bar, which showcases the finest cheeses in a variety of dishes. Feast on fresh burrata, a four-cheese fondue, or Baron Bigod Brie (produced in Suffolk) before tucking into a raclette sharing plate or a cheeseburger with super-cheesy truffle fries. There are three cool London locations – including one in a barge on the Regent's Canal – plus one in Austwick, North Yorkshire.
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Yang’s Braised Chicken Rice serves a single Chinese dish: huang men, or braised chicken rice, based on owner Xiao Lu Yang's grandmother's recipe. Yang opened his first restaurant in Shandong Province, China – and before long, he decided to trim the menu right back to what was by far the most popular dish. The chain has since franchised more than 6,000 locations across Australia, Singapore, and the USA.
Burger & Lobster prides itself on doing two things really well: prime burgers and Canadian lobster (Atlantic lobster, if you're outside the US). On the menu you'll find various-sized lobsters (served grilled or steamed with lemon garlic butter), lobster rolls, Nebraskan beef burgers, and a surf 'n' turf burger topped with lobster meat. Locations include New York City, London, Dubai, and Bangkok.
Hotel Chocolat's Saint Lucia estate has a hotel and a restaurant, Rabot, which serves dishes featuring cacao grown onsite. There are menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and previous options have included cacao cannelloni (filled with local vegetables and roasted pumpkin purée), and fish coated in cacao nib and beer tempura. Of course, there's an indulgent dessert menu, too.
This quirky Japanese chain serves only one thing: canned food. At Mr. Kanso, diners browse shelves lined with hundreds of canned items, from curries and stews to exotic delicacies like whale and insect snacks. Once chosen, the cans are opened, plated, and served alongside drinks in a bar-style setting. It’s a playful twist on convenience cuisine that turns pantry staples into a unique dining experience. The chain has locations across Japan, as well as franchises dotted around Southeast Asia.
Yorkshire Burrito takes one of Britain’s best-loved meals – a Sunday roast – and rolls it into an easy-to-eat Yorkshire pudding wrap. The light, crisp, baked batter is usually served with roast meats, vegetables, potatoes, and gravy. Customers can choose between roast beef, chicken and stuffing, and cauliflower cheese. There are five locations in London.
Sometimes only fries will do, as New York City's Pommes Frites will testify. The only things on the menu are drinks, fries, and sauce – but there's more than just ketchup. There are 36 toppings to choose from, such as wild mushroom sauce, blue cheese, black truffle sauce, and cheese curds and gravy. The tables even have holes designed to hold the cones of fries.
Lasagna isn't the only thing served at London’s Lasagneria Italiana, but it's definitely the house specialty. There are 21 styles to try, from zucca e gorgonzola – a roasted butternut squash, gorgonzola, Béchamel, and Parmesan lasagna – to the Iberica, which is packed with chorizo, roasted chicken, and Manchego cheese. If you can't decide, you can also order a trio of lasagnas of your choice.
You better be in the mood for steak frites if you visit Le Relais De Venise, because that's all this restaurant serves. Once seated, you'll be given a green salad with walnuts and asked whether you want your accompanying steak blue, rare, medium, or well done. The meat is served in a Porte Maillot sauce with fries. If you're still hungry, fear not – the restaurant offers a range of desserts. You'll find locations in New York City, London, France, and Mexico.
Le Swine is a cult‑favorite London café devoted entirely to bacon sandwiches. Forget soggy slices and limp bread – these sandwiches are done properly. Thick-cut, free-range bacon is cooked until perfectly crisp, then layered into a toasted milk and caramelized onion bun. It’s slathered with bacon butter and topped off with your choice of chipotle tomato or mushroom ketchup. Want to go all out? Add a fried duck egg. Once a food truck favorite, Le Swine now has a permanent home, and it even ships DIY kits across the UK.
It’s relatively common for restaurants in Thailand to specialize in one dish, and Nong’s Khao Man Gai founder Nong Poonsukwattana wanted to bring this idea to her new home in the US. Khao man gai translates as chicken and rice, and Poonsukwattana serves it with her signature sauce and a side of soup. There are two locations in Portland.
With three locations around London and a presence at many major festivals, Poptata serves gourmet loaded fries. The fries themselves are hand cut from premium potatoes, and the toppings are especially fancy. Choices include Parmesan and pink garlic mayo, guacamole, and vegan cheese topped with BBQ pulled jackfruit and scallions.
Few culinary creations are more comforting than mac 'n' cheese, and the amazing S’MAC (short for Sarita's Macaroni & Cheese) is dedicated to the dish. It serves an array of inventive twists, including Mediterranean-inspired macaroni with goats' cheese, spinach, olives, and roast garlic, and a cheeseburger-style dish packed with American cheese and seasoned ground beef. There's plenty of choice for those looking for vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options, too.
Where The Pancakes Are serves buttermilk pancakes all day, alongside coffee, juices, and other delicious drinks. Savory toppings include smoked salmon with poached eggs and BBQ chicken, while sweet additions include chopped banana, praline and marshmallow, and poached pear.
Le Coq & Fils is dedicated to poultry and eggs. Its carefully sourced menu features starters including skewers of griddled hearts and gizzards, and egg styles from deviled to fried. However, the main event is, of course, the chicken. Diners can choose how they'd like it cooked, how many people they want to share with, and what sides they'd like from a choice of fries, salad, mac 'n' cheese, and seasonal vegetables.
Sambal Shiok is a restaurant in north London dedicated to the Malaysian noodle soup dish laksa. Specializing in a campur-style laksa from Malacca (each region in Malaysia has its own laksa style), the restaurant allows diners to personalize their bowls with toppings of chicken, shrimp, or tofu. You can also request a vegan broth.
Chả Cá Thăng Long specializes in one thing: chả cá, a fish dish featuring noodles, herbs, vegetables, and peanuts in a special sauce. Diners say it's the best meal you can have in Hanoi, with the chả cá prepared right in front of you at the table. All you need to decide on is what drink to order. The stunning restaurant is surrounded by bamboo, and it's located in a beautiful traditional building with mosaic floors.
Brooklyn Kolache is a popular New York City bakery selling Texan kolaches: small-batch fruit or cheese–stuffed pastries with Czech origins. Sweet fillings include strawberry rhubarb, chocolate ganache, and apple crumble, while egg and meat fillings are savory options. This spot also serves amazing coffee, which makes the perfect accompaniment to the pastries.
Broken Eggs is on a mission to bring Londoners the ultimate Spanish tortilla. Its owners, Gabriel Larraz and Marta Verdu, spent hours perfecting their tortilla technique, using only the finest and freshest ingredients. Tortillas here are served in four flavors – classic, ham, zucchini, and chorizo – and there's also a monthly special. There are a few other Spanish specialties on the menu, but the tortillas are the main draw,
Les 4 jeudis serves just one daily changing 'dish of the day.' The only thing you can be sure of is that your meal will be vegan and made with organic ingredients. There's also a dessert and a children's dish of the day on the menu. To see what's being served, check out the Facebook page – or wait and see what's on the restaurant board when you get there. Example dishes include lentil meatballs with quinoa, beetroot, and tomato cream, and tofu with miso, peppers, and sprouted rice.
Tartufi & Friends specializes in mouthwatering Italian truffles. Order anything off the menu – foie gras, beef tartare, burrata – and it'll come smothered in the stuff. For a high-end lunch or dinner packed with rich, earthy flavor, diners can choose everything from burgers to salads featuring black and white truffles as the main ingredient.
Avocados take centre stage at The Avocado Show, which has a handful of cute locations in the Netherlands. Everything on the menu includes responsibly sourced avocado in some form. Choose from dishes including colorful salads, poke bowls, burgers with avocado buns, and, of course, the dish that sparked a global obsession: avocado on toast. There are even avocado desserts on the menu, such as molten chocolate cake with avocado frosting, and peanut butter and avocado ice cream.
Rice to Riches serves an array of comforting rice pudding dishes with interesting flavors. The menu includes delights such as Coconut Coma, The Edge of Rum Raisin, and Raspberry Statement, and toppings such as chocolate brownie crumble, mixed nuts, and cinnamon raisin crumble. Just choose your flavor, your topping, and the size of your bowl.
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Now discover the world's most unusual restaurants
Last updated by Natasha Lovell-Smith.