9204 Best Restaurants in USA

The Design District is filled with chic, breezy showrooms and galleries that evoke the California "good life" vibe, like this excellent restaurant from chef Dustin Falcon and the Omakase Group. The menu is a seamless blend of Italian and Californian influences, where vadouvan spaghetti with duck sugo might precede king salmon and a citrus sabayon. It's worth noting that this is the very rare sit-down restaurant that is open for lunch on every weekday in the city, and the patio is a perfect spot for a sunny-day meal.

Even if you haven't been to Rosepepper, it's possible you've seen a photo of the restaurant's front sign, which features humorous comments like, "We love margaritas as much as Kanye loves Kanye." Luckily for guests, the food and drinks—which span classic Mexican fare like tacos as well as Americanized hybrids like the Mexican Caesar salad—are as good as the restaurant's sense of humor. They have a great outdoor space, too, so visit when the weather's nice.

This delightful hole-in-the-wall Mexican spot boasts authenticity you can't get at the Tex-Mex chains. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrées, served all day, range from Mexican eggs, enchiladas, and taco salad to stewed beef and fried pork chops. Order à la carte specialties or dinners and combos with salad, beans, and rice. The food is spicy, but for extra heat, reach for the fresh salsa, pickled jalapeños, or bottled habanero sauce on tables. Spiffy, with an open kitchen and takeout counter, Rosita's is a favorite among guests staying at nearby hotels.

On sunny weekend afternoons, the enormous tree-covered, creekside beer garden of this countryside dining icon feels like the epicenter of Silicon Valley. It’s a popular destination for professors and graduate students to enjoy brews and sandwiches, located just beyond campus in the pastoral town of Portola Valley. And over a century ago, it was a saloon that lasted through California's rapid growth in the late 1800s and then Prohibition. Nowadays, it's a gathering spot for local families, out-of-towners looking to eat in a quintessential Northern California setting, and the many cyclists who go on rides around the nearby rolling hills.

This spot could get away with a so-so menu in a town with few dining alternatives. Instead, the menu includes gems like the family-recipe herb bread, baked each morning and used in the restaurant's popular breakfast sandwiches that are served until the restaurant closes at 3 pm. Other menu items range from deep-fried halibut to steaks. The decor is classic Alaska, all burled wood and carved bears. The brews, including an excellent Hefeweizen and root beer, are only available here.

This tiny, no-frills cook shack, operated by the lobstermen's co-op, is the place to come for a simple, old-fashioned feed, featuring fairly priced, cooked-to-order lobsters and steamers with corn on the cob and a few other sides. You're welcome to BYOB, soft beverages, and even other dishes or desserts to round out your meal. Roll up your sleeves, and dive into your feast at a picnic table while you enjoy views of Round Pond harbor.

Perched at 7,750 feet on Bald Mountain, halfway up the River Run side, this historic ski lodge is known for its fondue and great views. Upstairs, white linen tablecloths and a rustic lounge (think elk antler chandeliers) encircle a four-piece fireplace. Downstairs, Averall’s Bar is filled with pink-nosed skiers warming up with a beer or, in the summer, with hikers enjoying the southern views of the valley and surrounding Pioneer Mountains. On a starry winter night, you can ride the gondola up the mountain, dropping off at the lodge’s doorstep, to enjoy an old European-style meal with the tiny town of Ketchum glittering below.

This charming establishment from an all-star chef trio has quickly become a favorite for classic bistro cooking with plenty of unique elements. A vintage Parisian dining room and marble-topped bar set the stage for fresh takes on French cuisine with a Californian accent. Dungeness crab potato pavé bites are the early signature starter; then there are equally magic mains, like black cod with lobster sauce and miso creamed leeks.

This daytime-only spot from Charlie McKenna, who made his name on the local barbecue scene, packs in locals and students for Southern-accented brunch and lunch fare in a light-filled space with a modern farmhouse vibe. The dishes are hearty—think beignets and chicken fried steak—so a good plan is to dine with abandon and then walk it off on a stroll to Promontory Point.

Chef Fabrice Roux, who hails from France, worked at lauded Parisian restaurants for more than a decade before coming to Carmel Valley to wow diners with his contemporary takes on traditional French-Mediterranean cuisine. The eclectic menu, with mostly small and large plates meant for sharing, focuses on local ingredients procured that week—perhaps crispy duck leg confit, tuna tartare, or braised wild-boar bourguignon. Order sandwiches, beignets, and French-style egg dishes for brunch and lunch. Save room for house-made desserts like Meyer lemon cheesecake and crème brûlée.

Set in a gleaming, industrial-chic dining room with tall windows, exposed air ducts, and metal tables and chairs, this contemporary and slightly fancy take on a classic seafood house is the sort of place that's equally appropriate for special celebrations and casual beer-and-oysters happy hours with friends. From tuna tartare to scallop ceviche, you can't go wrong with anything from the raw bar, but also check out the extensive variety of steamed and grilled fare, such as roasted monkfish and grilled salmon collar.

Tiny Rowley Farmhouse Ales has won several awards at the Great American Beer Festival, including three medals for its sour-style ales, so if you like beer (any kind of beer) a stop at Rowley is a must. In addition to offering its own brews, Rowley also has an extensive list of local and imported beers and ciders that it finds inspiring, along with comfort foods like shrimp po'boys, cast-iron skillet green chile mac 'n' cheese, and chicken and waffles. Tucked off Cerrillos on a side street in an industrial-meets-residential area, it's a comfortable neighborhood spot to enjoy a beer and meal.

Roy Yamaguchi is one of the 12 founding chefs of Hawaiian regional cuisine, a culinary movement that put the state on the foodie map back in 1991. Opened in 1988, his flagship restaurant across the highway from Maunalua Bay is still packed every night—reservations are essential—with food-savvy visitors and well-heeled residents, all of whom come for classics like smoked Szechuan baby back ribs or blackened ahi with soy mustard butter sauce. Local favorites include the miso butterfish and chocolate soufflé (which should be ordered with your entrée). There are also vegetarian and vegan options, not to mention an exceptional wine list. Although the Waikiki branch is busy, it's this original Hawaii Kai location that loyalists return to again and again.

The Ko Olina outpost of Roy’s famed restaurant chain overlooks the 18th hole of the Ko Olina Golf Course and reflects a distinct local vibe, as most of the friendly staff come from this side of the island and exude an authentic aloha spirit. Dine on the Hawaii-Asia-Europe fusion signature dishes of Roy Yamaguchi and the chef’s west side–influenced creations out on the patio or in the iconic wood-beam-and-concrete interior.

Enjoy a taste of modern Hawaiian cuisine from the chef who started it all, Roy Yamaguchi. Situated in the center of Waikiki, the sprawling, stylish restaurant has been serving innovative pan-Asian dishes since 2007 and remains a fan favorite. Today, executive chef Jason Ichiki uses locally sourced ingredients to prepare such delectable signature dishes as spicy ahi hand rolls, ginger soy-glazed ora king salmon, and honey mustard–braised short ribs. Enjoy a multicourse chef’s tasting dinner in the main dining room, sit at the sushi bar, or simply snack on some happy hour pupu plates at the lively bar on the lanai. There’s something for everyone here, including an excellent children’s menu.

One of celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi's Hawaii restaurants, this reliable, albeit pricey, place overlooks the lake at the Kings' Shops. Despite the restaurant's boxy interior, the food is good; the three-course, prix-fixe meal is a sure bet, as is blackened ahi. The macadamia nut–crusted Hawaiian fish with Kona lobster cream sauce is a melt-in-your-mouth encounter. If you are in the mood for something lighter, sit at the bar and choose from the enormous selection of great appetizers, discounted cocktails, and happy hour pricing. For families, the kids' menu goes above and beyond standard keiki (children's) menus.

The Royal is both a Michelin-recognized Bib Gourmand restaurant and a well-priced, local favorite for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just for a matcha latte while working on your laptop at the bar. The second concept by owner Paul Carlson is a celebration of his family’s international roots, with a strong emphasis on vegetarian and gluten-free options. Stepping inside is like walking into a Colombian coffee shop or full restaurant, depending on the time of day. In the morning, grab a homemade fried-chicken biscuit with your cold brew; for lunch or dinner, enjoy the famous grilled avocado or a Bird Dog (chicken and poblano sausage). If you’re looking for something stronger than coffee, have a classic Aperol spritz or a house cocktail with fun, unusual Latin flavors.

A collaboration between the owners of local favorites Royal Tavern and Khyber Pass Pub, Royal Boucherie is a polished operation set in a moody and intimate bi-level space. A classic brasserie in approach, it specializes in luscious raw-bar selections, house-made charcuterie, and rib-sticking plates like steak au poivre, pork schnitzel, and handwrought pastas. Seating is split between the boisterous, cocktail-slinging barroom, upper and lower dining rooms, and a charming semi-enclosed garden patio that’s one of the city’s lushest alfresco areas. Happy hour specials are offered at the bar during the week. 

Just steps from Fremont's Stalin statue, Royal Grinders serves hearty hot subs on pillowy rolls. We're talking classic combos of meat, cheese, and veggies piled high and baked in the oven. The Crown and the Italian are the best.

After a decade of fine-tuning their skills and tastebuds in the coffee industry, Royal Oak co-owners Alessandra and Matthew Delia-Lobo opened their own café on Seymour Street, a cozy spot to hole up for a while. The menu, featuring beans from Burlington-based Vivid Coffee Roasters, is known for shaken ice maple lattes in the summer and frothy cardamom-vanilla lattes in the winter (a seasonal special that, say the Delia-Lobos, now never leaves the menu due to popularity).

This popular "breakfast all day, every day" enterprise has two locations, only a few blocks apart, to accommodate a steady stream of customers who come for everything from omelets and pancakes to biscuits and gravy, plus salads, steaks, and seafood.

Given its sprawling perch in a marina on the Royal River, you'll want to save time to linger at this chicly appointed local favorite that feels a bit like a casual country club. The view is stunning and the food is solid; specialties like the crispy avocado with crab are filling and tasty, as are dinnertime plates like grilled duck breast with roasted oyster mushrooms. On sunny days (and especially in the summer), tables fill up fast starting at noon and stay that way until evening's close, so plan accordingly.

Several cozy rooms with fireplaces and wood beams and pillars are furnished with Arts and Crafts pieces and embellished with arched stained-glass windows. An enclosed sunroom with wicker chairs looks out onto the viney covered patio, open in warm weather. The fare is American: duck confit with apricot chutney, smoked mozzarella ravioli in a garlic–white wine sauce, oven-roasted salmon in a puff pastry with wild mushrooms, leeks, and roasted-red-pepper sour cream. Breakfast is served daily (brunch on Sunday).

This offshoot of the Chicago original—from celebrity couple Giuliana and Bill Rancic and Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises siblings R. J., Jerrod, and Molly Melman—has a modern-Italian mission, which is reflected in its sleek, sophisticated decor. The Vegas-classic starters of steak tartare and beef carpaccio are joined by the more creative Maine lobster caprese and bluefin tuna crudo. The expected pastas are joined by one with spicy king crab, and a selection of steaks and chops, seafood, and Italian classics round out the menu. There's a three-course lunch prix fixe menu on weekdays and kids' and gluten-free menus. Happy hour from 3 to 6 pm weekdays offers discounted cocktails, wines, and small bites.

What you get at this friendly, bustling little joint is a good square meal. Huevos rancheros in the morning come with fresh green lettuce, tomatoes, and some of the tastiest panfried potatoes around. Eggs are cooked exactly the way you ask. The red chile is rich—loaded with beef—and not spicy. Burritos, burgers, and a basic BLT are also available.

Credited with popularizing fish tacos in the United States, Ralph Rubio brought the Mexican staple to San Diego, opening his first restaurant in Pacific Beach where it still stands today. The original beer-battered fish tacos have fried pollock topped with white sauce, salsa, and cabbage atop a corn tortilla.

Specializing in aebleskivers (fluffy, round Danish pancakes) topped with Nutella and strawberries and any number of other sweet toppings along with overstuffed sandwiches, this cute counter-service eatery is a fun spot for breakfast or lunch all summer long. This is also Bear Lake's go-to for espresso and coffee drinks, and there's an extensive menu of gourmet milk shakes, too.

While technically open until 11 am, the donuts at this popular bakery frequently sell out well before then, so get there early or preorder online the day before your pickup to guarantee the best selection. Baker Todd Bross makes up to 400 yeast brioche donuts daily in the high season, with specialty glazes and toppings like blueberry lemonade, espresso cream, and The Homer (strawberry with sprinkles).

What looks like an old gas station is actually home to some of San Antonio's favorite barbecue. The wait to place your order is worth it once you bite into some tender brisket (their original "sause" is on the side) or smoked turkey dry-rubbed with flavor and cooked in wood-fired pits.

Many local barbecue snobs turn up their noses at Rudy's because it's a chain (albeit Texas-based) with hokey interiors, but plenty of Austinites count this as their "go-to" choice for a laid-back barbecue lunch. And this location near the Domain provides an ideal pit stop for hungry travelers to refuel after a day of shopping. Three kinds of brisket—regular, extra moist, and extra lean—are cooked with dry spices over oak wood (not mesquite). Sides are uniformly good, especially the creamed corn, which has a cult following. Take-out is brisk (and popular with large groups), but many diners chow down at the vinyl-covered picnic tables.