1438 Best Restaurants in California, USA

One of San Diego’s most popular sushi restaurants is set in a sea of touristy Mexican dining spots in the heart of Old Town. Fans young and old flock to the lively space for refreshing cocktails, sustainable California-style sushi, and modern Asian cuisine. It gets pretty lively at night and on weekends, but the fresh sashimi is worth a wait.

Red-meat connoisseurs will appreciate this old-school restaurant, home to some of the best dry-aged steaks in town, including Kobe-style Wagyu rib eye. Enjoy a generous martini or Manhattan and you'll feel transported back in time at one of the city's few lavish, wood-paneled classic steak houses. You can also pick up raw steaks to go at the well-stocked beef counter.

Big caloric portions and long lines are hallmarks of this Southern-accented comfort food destination where hungry regulars from near and far line up for an indulgent meal in the crowded (and sometimes noisy) dining room. Bring an appetite and a friend; sharing plates is a necessity here.

A wood-fire rotisserie in an open kitchen, simple but tasty comfort foods, and a lively bar scene attract locals and visitors alike to this cozy, casual space in an historic brick building a block north of the main square. Although reservations are recommended, bar seating with access to full dinner menu is available for walk-ins.

Part of a complex that includes art galleries and an events venue, the Haute adds bohemian character to the seafaring village of Moss Landing. The inventive Latin American–inspired dishes include shrimp and black corn enchiladas topped with a citrus cilantro cream sauce, and roasted pasilla chilies stuffed with mashed plantains and caramelized onions.

A short walk up a flight of stairs transports diners into old Havana as Hemingway once knew it. True to its name, this laid-back restaurant specializes in classic Cuban fare, such as empanadas, croquettes, and, of course, the Cubano sandwich.

A one-stop shop meets dining experience starts here with a market, farm, restaurant, brewery, and event space all in one. At the heart of the scene is Haven, a field-to-table restaurant delivering a menu built by both chef and farmer that manifests in such dishes as beetroot hummus, roasted cauliflower soup, smoked chicken, and seared lamb. The sincere and simple menu evolves with the seasons, showcasing the freshest ingredients at their peak. Organic wines, seed-free oils, and other sustainable practices are what make this spot truly on (Fox) point. Outdoor tables offer garden views, and the indoor dining space is equally green with plants draping the A-frame structure as an architectural masterpiece.

Sit down here to a table piled high with assorted kibbie, garlic wings, baba ghanoush, falafel, and zesty kebabs piled on a bed of rice. Fresh, satisfying, and with excellent service and big portions, this real-deal hidden gem is worth the trek over the hill. Hayat's does its best to disguise its strip mall setting with flowers, placemats, and Middle-Eastern music in both the open-air patio and the slightly more formal dining room. The menu has all the dishes Americans have come to love like hummus, tabouli, and beef shawarma but adds some unexpected entrees like quail, frog legs, and charbroiled trout in walnut sauce. Complimentary baklava finishes the meal and should be washed down with mint tea or strong coffee. 

You'll snag a table if you arrive at this longtime (since 1979) standby just as music lovers are folding their napkins and heading off for a show at the nearby Opera House or SFJAZZ Center. Fresh, sustainable, often local seafood lures the faithful here, as well as peak seasonal produce from the nearby region. Much of the fish—yellowtail, salmon, swordfish—is grilled and served with a choice of sauces, from beurre blanc to lemon-and-caper butter. Brass coat hooks, white tablecloths, a long bar, and a mix of banquettes and tables define the traditional San Francisco look.

Even before diners settle in their seats, the Montage resort's glass-walled special-occasion restaurant captures the imagination with exterior views of vineyards, oaks, and far-off Mt. St. Helena and interior haute-luxury touches like chandeliers of locally handblown Czech glass. The Cali-Continental connection comes full circle in dishes—rabbit cassoulet or caviar with house-made potato chips to start, perhaps, or striped bass with prawn, uni, saffron, and fennel—whose French flourishes elevate the seasonal ingredients.

Sandwich lovers build up their appetite with a hike up the steep hill and then are greeted with some of the city's consistently excellent sandwiches at this small, friendly shop where the menu seems bigger than the actual space. If you're not in a sandwich mood, there are also a few other items like breakfast scrambles, fish tacos, and salads. Plan on taking your food elsewhere since seating is limited outside.

For a low-key vibes and high-quality coffee service with a punk rock edge, head to Heartwork Coffee. The sidewalk service window slings a full espresso menu, plus teas, cocoa, and plenty of pastries that are often vegan and/or gluten-friendly.

This handsomely outfitted spot will introduce you to the aromas and tastes of traditional Afghan cooking, with sauces and spices reminiscent of Indian cuisine and an emphasis on lamb. Highlights include aushak (leek-filled ravioli served with yogurt and ground beef) and kadoo (a sweet-savory dish of sugared pumpkin in a beef sauce). Basmati rice pudding, perfumed with cardamom and pistachio, is a wonderful way to finish. The calm restaurant, with white tablecloths and real Afghan rugs, also does a quick-paced delivery service.

A more recent addition to the landscape of Orange Avenue, The Henry brings a more modern and spacious dining option to the small-town feel of Coronado Island. Though part of a small chain, the restaurant's cuisine is eclectic and inspired, with a menu full of both contemporary American staples and more innovative fusion offerings, including Korean prime skirt steak and a seared tuna chopped salad with sesame ginger vinaigrette. Whatever you order, make sure to pair it with one of their signature cocktails.

Some of the best sushi spots in Los Angeles are the most hidden and discreet, and come with zero fanfare. The decades-old, no-reservations Hide (pronounced hee-day) is one of those restaurants. Walking through a curtained entryway, diners will find a smattering of tables and a sushi counter (which is where you should sit) where master sushi chefs slice raw cuts of the freshest fish in town. Keep in mind, this establishment is cash only, but it does have an ATM inside.

Fans of Top Gun—or the 2022 Maverick comeback—can get a taste of the historic house featured in the original 1986 film. In 2023, the 100-year-old home was moved to its current beachfront location, which operates as a pie shop serving hot, hand-held pies in cherry, apple, blueberry, and seasonal favorites.

Although it carries an extensive selection of craft beers, wine, and spirits, High Tide Bottle Shop is a lot more than a liquor store. The extensive menu of signature pizzas, wraps, sandwiches, wings, and more are worth savoring at one of its outdoor tables or carrying out for a picnic on the beach.

Locals enjoy the fast-casual HiHo Cheeseburger, where the humble burger is elevated with high-quality ingredients: premium 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef with freshly baked buns and topped with locally sourced produce. The menu includes a variety of gourmet burgers with a selection of sauces and toppings. Sides, such as fries and milkshakes, complete the meal. They also offer alternatives like a veggie burger for those with dietary preferences for a more elevated fast-food experience.

At this no-frills storefront restaurant, it's best to order family style so that everyone gets a taste of the many Nepalese and Indian delicacies that are offered. Favorites include the spicy mo-mo (pot stickers), daal (green lentils), lamb and shrimp-curry vindaloo, fish and chicken masala, and clay-oven-roasted tandoori meats and seafood. The aromatic teas and lemonades provide a perky contrast to your meal's savory flavors.

San Franciscans are spoiled with an incredible abundance of cuisines and restaurants specializing in niche dishes—but yakitori (Japanese grilled meat skewers) remained elusive until the Ju-Ni team and chef Tommy Cleary opened this upscale omakase destination near Alamo Square Park, focused on chicken yakitori. The binchotan (Japanese charcoal) grill adds the pivotal smoky touch to the skewers that hold all parts of the chicken and make up the heart of the tasting menu. It's an exciting mix of traditional and contemporary skewers, plus captivating small plates, served to the lucky 10 guests at the counter during each seating.

It's impossible to miss this Stockton Street Cantonese barbecue butchery icon—just look for the air-drying ducks and pigs hanging from above and the sign in the window that reads "Go duck yourself," the name by which many locals know this to-go favorite. Roast duck, crispy roast pork, and succulent honey barbecue pork are the marquee items on the concise menu, and must-try signature tastes of Chinatown history. This isn't a café or an eatery—order a half pound of a few meats with rice and braised greens and enjoy it as a snack on the go or to bring back to the hotel/condo for dinner.

You'll find everything from grilled artichokes to quail at this casual eatery, but most people come for the smoky Santa Maria–style barbecue. Be sure to try a glass of owner-chef-winemaker Frank Ostini's signature Highliner Pinot Noir, a star in the film Sideways. Lunch and snacks are available earlier in the day at the Hitching Post Wines tasting room next door.

Everything feels like a Roaring '20s party at the FiDi's go-to glamorous restaurant-bar for power lunches and celebratory happy hours (there are switches at each table to summon champagne and martini carts), except it actually only opened in a different '20s decade (2023). The food could coast in mediocrity because of the elegant, eye-catching environs; but thankfully it doesn't, thanks to sharp dishes like a fantastic petrale sole with hazelnut brown butter that will win over any skeptic of that oft-ignored flaky fish. The adjacent glass-ceiling atrium, known as the Conservatory at One Sansome, is utterly spectacular and often used for extra seating.

The fuel is more than petrol at this gas station–convenience store whose redbrick exterior recalls the heyday of Route 66 travel. The shop inside sells hot dogs, fresh scones from nearby R+D Kitchen, gourmet chocolates, and (in summer) ice cream—gas up, grab some picnic items, and be ever-so-merrily on your way.

This quaint, family-run Korean fried chicken–focused establishment serves quite possibly the leading wings in the city. Cover the crispy, tender wings with your choice of more than a dozen sauces, from tangy lime-fish to fiery habanero-mango, and take them to go.

A family-friendly, mostly open-air spa restaurant, HoB promotes wellness via Southwest-inspired "booster food" like a quinoa-and-kale salad and bowls containing sautéed kale, red quinoa, green chilies, and avocado. To reel in the wary, House of Better hedges its bet with nicely spiced fish tacos, going full carnivore with a green-chili cheeseburger and pepper steak add-ons to nachos, enchiladas, burritos, and tacos.

Open since 1969, House of Pies is quintessential SoCal comfort food. With a slight retro diner vibe, the restaurant famously offers over 20 flavors of pie for sale, ranging from coconut cream and banana cream to lemon meringue and Dutch apple. A menu hangs on the wall above the register, so take your time at your booth to brainstorm how you will tackle all of its flavors with your party. Depending on what time of day you go in to satiate your cravings, House of Pies also has classic diner options that never fail, such as creamy eggs Benedict, chicken quesadilla, and a hearty cup of clam chowder. 

Van Ness's temple to a British Sunday roast is one of San Francisco's most timeless dinner experiences. Waiters continuously wheel prime rib carving stations around a sprawling complex that feels like the vast dining hall of a Cotswolds manor, complete with fireplaces and chandeliers. The prime rib dinners, including potatoes, creamed spinach, and Yorkshire pudding, are bountiful and consistently excellent. Meanwhile, the martinis are reliably large and stiff, adding to the whole mystique.

The morning fare (some served until closing) at Occidental's neo-hippie go-to breakfast and weekend brunch spot includes order-at-the-counter huevos rancheros, omelets, eggs Benedict, waffles, pancakes, French toast, and "healthy alternatives" such as oatmeal, house-made granola, and quinoa and brown rice bowls with kale and eggs. Soups, salads, burgers, and sandwiches are among the lunch items at this laid-back space with seating inside a 19th-century gingerbread Victorian and on its wooden front porch and covered back patio.

Founded by Santa Monica natives, Huckleberry brings together the best ingredients from local farmers and growers to craft diner-style comfort food with a chic twist. Nearly everything is made on-site, even the hot sauce and almond milk. The light, bright space is perfect for a quick brunch. Choose from savories like huevos rancheros with black bean puree or a Niman Ranch ham and Gruyère sandwich. Breakfast is served all day. Baked goods rotate frequently according to the seasonal whims of the pastry chef; the kouign amann is always a standout. Bonito Coffee Roasters coffee tempts from the extensive drink menu.