42 Best Restaurants in USA

The owners of Los Hermanos (meaning "brothers" in Spanish), which was initially a bodega, began offering home cooked–style Dominican food after customers began asking about the smells that were coming from the back of the store. A must-order is mangú, the national dish of the Dominican Republic made with mashed plantains and accompanied by salami, fried cheese, and egg. Save room for a batido (milk shake) made with papaya, soursop, or mango.

A unique restaurant concept owned and operated by the San Antonio satellite location of the Culinary Institute of America, NAO features a rotation of resident chefs under Executive Chef Geronimo Lopez covering a whole perspective of Latin-American flavors. You'll find a fusion of Latin-inspired dishes with flavors from Peruvian causa potato purée, to Argentine roasted cheese with tomato and oregano, and Corbullon, a Caribbean-style cioppino. The beautiful South American-inspired architecture of the spacious dining room couple with excellent service make this a top destination at The Pearl.

At Palm & Pine, the cocktails are strong and the vibe is young and local. A rotation of southern and Latin American-inspired plates---with seasonal ingredients from local purveyors---come out of the open kitchen, and even simple dishes are impressive, like the P&P salad with local lettuce, dressed in a house-made Worcestershire sauce. The chef-owner team was James Beard (Best Chef South) semifinalists two years in a row. The kitchen is open until 11 pm on Friday and Saturday. 

This luminous lunch spot supplies an instant burst of sunshine no matter the month, with vibrant ingredients, tropical drinks, and a dining area filled with lush, greenery. The out-of-the-way cafe specializes in dishes from lower latitudes, like tortas, tostadas, and chilaquiles.

The menu here aspires to show Latin American food is more than just tacos. In fact, there’s not a taco in sight; instead, choose from over a dozen empanadas, a handful of tamales, and entrées such as Peruvian-style sirloin stir-fry, or sandwiches that reflect the range of available flavors, including Cuban, Argentinian, and Mexican. The vibe is casual, with an exposed-brick dining room and counter service.

This tiny storefront in Sunnyside specializes in Salvadorian pupusas (flatbreads), which are made fresh daily, with either wheat or corn dough, stuffed with different fillings like meat, stretchy cheese, and veggies. Their chicharrón (pork rinds) taco is also not to be missed, and it's all best washed down with a fresh maracuya (passion fruit) juice.

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 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.

One of Boston's celebrity chefs, Michael Schlow, scored prime real estate when it came to finding a spot in which to serve his fast-paced parade of small American plates—all infused with big personality and given Latin American twists. The half-dozen ceviches are witty and inventive; the tacos thrill with creative ingredients on top of shrimp, chicken, and fish; and the vegetables are anything but boring thanks to crispy meat and citrus garnishes. Flavors are bold enough and libations (like the hibiscus margarita) are punchy enough that you probably won't mind that the tiny portions require ordering several dishes to make a meal. And if you can't decide what to eat, consider one of the prix-fixe, multidish options, or let your waiter choose for you.

Inside the Viceroy Snowmass hotel, TORO warms up the night after a day of skiing with its craft cocktails, Latin American cuisine, and dining room decorated with wood accents and a fireplace with nearby couches that are the perfect spots for sipping drinks. This spacious restaurant has a daring menu focusing on creative seafood and chops; spicy, smoky flavors pop in many dishes, with milder options for those who can't take the heat.

Well executed in a shipping container in the trendy RiNo Art District, this restaurant seats guests at a communal table or at one of the two bars, where you can watch the line cooks shred pork for the tender cochinita pibil (a savory slow-roasted Yucatán favorite) or cut off haunches of citrus-zesty short ribs—meat comes priced by weight, from a quarter to a full pound. In keeping with the name, the rest of the menu is indeed "regular folks' food," but turned up a notch: think shrimp and grits or cheesy tomato mac spiked with chipotles. Happy hour is a big deal from 5 to 6 Wednesday through Sunday, with $6--$8 snacks and $5 beers. There are no reservations or groups over seven, but if you do have to wait, the drinks are only $5.