1438 Best Restaurants in California, USA

Join Peruvian locals enjoying a taste of back home at this strip-mall restaurant whose name means "flavor" or "seasoning." Several ceviche appetizers—including one with ponzu sauce for a Japanese twist—show the range of tastes the chefs conjure up, as do the empanadas, lomo saltado (steak and fries), and arroz con mariscos, a velvety, turmeric-laced seafood paella.

The menu at this American bistro changes quarterly but the clientele is here to stay, especially during summer months when people-watching becomes a sport. Grab a seat on the terrace, if you’re lucky, to enjoy such magical cocktails like a cucumber crush of grapefruit, vodka, and elderflower, and menu mainstays such as buttermilk-fried Jidori chicken, braised short ribs, and seared ahi tuna. For a collision of textures, try the sticky steam buns with crunchy chicken, or the crispy calamari with chipotle crema. This is a popular spot for weekend brunch. 

A Wine Country–style establishment that sources ingredients from the on-site gardens and surrounding farms and orchards, this popular restaurant occupies a redbrick 1921 schoolhouse in the town of Sanger. Chef Ryan Jackson, who grew up on local fruit farms, creates seasonal menus from the bounty of familiar backyards, mostly filled with classic American dishes with a contemporary twist.

Homemade crepes and fresh-brewed coffee come second to the artisanal ice cream made with just a handful of ingredients. Even vegans can get their scoop on, with flavors like strawberry shortcake, cookie dough, and chocolate made with cashew milk, cocoa butter, organic carob beans, and other natural goodness.

This longtime favorite turns out big plates of veal scaloppine, chicken piccata, and garlicky linguine with clams—straightforward Italian American food (and lots of it), served in an intimate dining room warmed by a crackling fire on many nights. There's an outdoor patio that's open in warm weather.

The initials in this open-air mall bistro's name stand for "Southeast Asian," reflecting the cuisines beyond Thailand's the chef prepares. Glass chandeliers of jellyfish and schools of fish glow softly above patrons who sit at dark-wood tables, the rectangular onyx bar, or on the patio, enjoying comfort food like spring rolls and "street fair" rice noodles with chicken, bacon, and vegetables before moving on to distinctively spiced entrées.

In addition to all kinds of traditional American fare, this inviting, country-style diner also serves unique dishes, such as medallions of Cervena elk, smothered in port wine, dried cranberries, and toasted walnuts. Try the the Baileys Irish Cream cheesecake or the Grand Marnier crème brûlée for dessert.

This longtime Italian favorite is spacious and lively, with consistently excellent contemporary-upscale Italian cuisine and a superb wine list. It has many local regulars for good reason but is also one of the city's most popular restaurants with visiting celebrities and athletes.

A favorite gathering spot for locals, this small coffee shop in a stone building serves specialty wraps and burritos for breakfast and lunch, plus soups and salads. Pastries, made daily, include muffins, cookies, and scones (great blackberry ones in season).

Formerly Curry Village Pavilion, this casual eatery serves everything from roasted meats and salads to pastas, burritos, rice bowls, and beyond. Alternatively, order a pizza from the stand on the deck, and take in the views of the valley's granite walls.

To get to this romantic spot overlooking Soquel Creek, you can take a cable car or walk the stairs down a steep, fern-lined bank beside a running waterfall. Dining room options include the rooftop Redwood Room, the wood-paneled Wine Cellar, the creek-side, glass-enclosed Greenhouse, the Fireplace Room, and the airy Garden Room.

Unaffiliated with the fast food chain of the same name, this Southern California landmark sitting on a bluff off of PCH is the perfect spot to get a quick breakfast burrito, tasty Cove burger, fish-and-chips, or a seared ahi sandwich. The menu also includes a vegan Impossible burger, banana date shakes, and root beer floats.

Jordan-inspired street food is not easy to find in the Bay Area. The unique Californian catch here is the use of flour tortillas, which are a savvy base for the foot-long, narrow wraps that are pressed on the flat top for an extra level of caramelized delight to each bite (a pita option is also available). It’s irresistible, whether filled with the signature slow-roasted yogurt and spice-marinated chicken shawarma, lamb/beef shawarma, or falafel.

This kappo (cooking and cutting) restaurant in the middle of Downtown is offering up some of the most inventive raw, steamed, grilled, and fried Japanese dishes you’ll ever try. Chef David Schlosser serves you personally from the 400-year-old cypress bar. Order the Japanese sea bream sashimi or the grilled rice balls with pumpkin and ginger. Always ask for what’s off the menu from this Michelin-starred spot—it’ll surprise you.

Dine alfresco on the patio to enjoy locally sourced dishes with a glass of wine or artisanal cocktail at this all day eatery at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach. The seafood platter with mussels, oysters, poached shrimp, crab meat salad, and cocktail sauce is a favorite. Other dishes include a chopped Cobb salad, seared scallops, and Korean fried chicken tenders.

This casual indoor-outdoor eatery in La Jolla Shores has a sprawling outdoor patio perfect for leisurely lunches with friends and family. Surfers and well-heeled locals populate the 50-seat patio while enjoying made-to-order organic smoothies and fresh salads, as well as scrumptious breakfast and creative lunch entrées that include flatbreads, soups, sandwiches, and the popular cheeseburger and prime steak frites. The blueberry banana smoothie is addictive, while the tarragon chicken salad with lemon aioli, green apple, avocado, pistachios, and dried cranberries over mixed greens with a citrus vinaigrette is a tantalizing mix of flavors.

It's never pleasant to think about food waste, but it's an unfortunate reality in our world today—there is an enormous amount of perfectly fine food thrown away. This colorful, quirky, purposefully over the top restaurant embraces the concept of food waste as a key centerpiece of a pizza-centric menu (the crust is made of discarded whey and oat flour). Guests aren't lectured about the issue; instead, they'll learn from the plates about how oft-neglected or discarded ingredients can be absolutely delicious.

The famous brewery's high-ceilinged, heavy-on-the-wood taproom bustles day and night with patrons washing down well-conceived gastropub grub with the best-selling Pale Ale and smaller-batch offerings, some only available here. The open kitchen turns out sandwiches, burgers, wood-oven pizzas, and fish-and-chips (the fish's batter made with Pale Ale) with remarkable speed.

This well-run sandwich joint satisfies carnivores and vegetarians alike with crispy-fresh ingredients prepared with panache. Depending on your preference, the centerpiece of the Bull's Eye sandwich, for instance, will be roast beef or a portobello mushroom; whichever you choose, the accompanying flavors—of ciabatta bread, horseradish-and-garlic mayonnaise, roasted red peppers, Havarti cheese, and spinach—will delight your palate.

Just a skip away from the Silver Lake Reservoir, the Silver Lake House is a perfect stop for a hearty Thai lunch before embarking on a hike, walk, or a run with the dogs. Their lunch specials boast some of the best deals around, arriving with a veggie spring roll and your choice of soup or salad.

Expect to wait in line at this little sandwich spot on the pedestrian-only shopping strip outside the Mission Inn. At lunchtime, salads, soups, and sandwiches on house-baked breads are served (sandwich standouts include the chicken-apple sausage and the roast lamb topped with baba ghanoush); pastries, eggs various ways, and French toast are breakfast highlights.

Homemade lunches and breakfasts served with warmth and cheer are the trademarks of this restaurant and coffee shop in Sutter Creek's historic district. Egg scrambles, pancakes, bagel sandwiches, French toast, and biscuits and gravy headline at breakfast, with soups, salads, sandwiches, and wraps on the menu for lunch.

Sip & Sonder is a trendy, Black women–owned coffee shop and community space in downtown Inglewood. Founded by two local entrepreneurs, it's more than just a café—it's a cultural hub. The shop serves high-quality coffee and teas, alongside a selection of pastries and light bites like bagels and a turkey and brie sandwich. With its sleek, modern interior, incredible music, and welcoming atmosphere, it attracts remote workers and creatives alike. The space often hosts events, workshops, and exhibitions, emphasizing its commitment to fostering community and celebrating Black culture. As Inglewood's first true specialty coffee house, Sip & Sonder exemplifies the neighborhood's swiftly rising star while staying true to its roots.

When in doubt, order pizza from this tidy, tasty spot on the main drag, within walking distance of the national park visitor center, where toppings include things like smoked Gouda, Fresno chili, soppressata, or fried eggs. Sky also turns its ovens on early most mornings to prepare fresh quiche and pastries, which are served from a takeout window and can be enjoyed with a cup of Joe in the expansive courtyard that's shared with the neighboring Joshua Tree Coffee Company.

Some of the spiciest and most succulent tacos in L.A. are made at Sky’s. This quaint taco joint offers up beef, chicken, turkey, seafood, and vegan options that will leave your mouth on fire and your belly full. Chef-owner Barbara “Sky” Burrell also dishes out steaming breakfast tacos and has an enormous vegan and vegetarian menu.

Bacon is king at this lively burger, beer, and sports bar in Liberty Station. Founder Scott Slater’s signature “designer” patty, half beef and half ground bacon, is topped with a fried egg and cheese, and sauced with chipotle adobo mayonnaise. Or design your own burger from a menu with over 30 toppings like bacon jalapeño jam. Even fries get a lift from bacon ketchup. While little ones munch sliders from the kids' menu, parents quaff one of the 100 craft and local beers on tap and join military from nearby bases and other sports fans following games on the room’s many flat-screen TVs. There's even a dog menu featuring the signature 50/50 patty or bacon strips for furry friends.

San Jose’s most well-known dining destination might be this Detroit-style square pizza specialist that only found a full-time home in 2022 after being a pop-up in a nightclub. Now it’s part of a multipurpose entertainment space called San Pedro Social, just a block away. New York–style and cast-iron baked Sicilian square pizzas are also offered. Everything is fantastic and uses the highest level of ingredients, from the olive oil, to the flour, to the four kinds of cheeses used in the house blend.

A local success story that expanded into a second storefront after a few years in business, Small Town serves morning coffee and baked goods, by 11 am adding small bites, salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads. For a midday pick-me-up, pair affordable, well-selected wines from the area and beyond with deviled eggs, a three-cheese mac, or an artisanal charcuterie plate.

Bright “Brady Bunch” decor, plus plenty of sunshine and fresh air pouring through windows and skylights, are cheery wake-ups for diners at this hip neighborhood haunt for pancakes and lattes. Expect long waits for a table, especially on weekends; free coffee helps the time pass while you wait to indulge in made-from-scratch breakfast bliss.

A unique blend of African culinary influences along with flavors from various Latin American countries are the draw at chef Nelson German's restaurant. Each tapa is compelling (there are no main courses, though there are more than enough tempting dishes to satisfy a group) and nicely ties together the two geographic regions. This is a perfect example of a bar with excellent food or a restaurant with standout cocktails—it toes the line perfectly between the two. The decor is sleek with a gentle island theme as if it's a hip supper club in Miami. Every night feels like a party.