2081 Best Restaurants in USA

Easy to spot from its vintage sign outside, the self-described “saloon with food” has been serving its famous hefty burgers and cottage fries, along with thick sandwiches and drinks like Bloody Marys, since 1972. Its decor is warm and woody, the tablecloths are checkered, the tables are packed close together (so it’s noisy when crowded), and there’s an everybody-knows-your-name vibe. Save room for dessert, because the chocolate chip cake and pecan pie are worth the calories. This place also is known for its late hours—the kitchen is open until after midnight on most nights—and its old-time jukebox.

This French-style café, bakery, and market has a little bit of everything for those who dine-in or takeaway for picnics and meals at home. Inside there is a daily fresh deli and salad counter filled with imported cheeses, crispy baguettes, and appealing fresh pastries. People-watch on the outdoor patio while eating omelets and tuna melts. It's crowded on weekends; the key is to arrive early to secure your spot outside.

Housed in humble digs next to a defunct railroad crossing, John’s doesn’t wow with curb appeal, but wise eaters know the close-to-centenarian grill spot turns out some of Philly’s best sandwiches. Newbies and lifers alike line up in a zigzag along the counter, grabbing outdoor picnic tables after paying for their roast pork, roast beef, or cheesesteak. The namesake sandwich, a Philly Italian signature, is juicy, garlicky, and herbaceous; sharp provolone and sautéed spinach (no broccoli rabe here) are common add-ons. The roast beef and cheesesteak rival the pork in popularity, earning owner John Bucci Jr. loyal fans and national awards. They’re not open late but do start early; staying true to their beginnings feeding Delaware River dock workers, they also do fluffy egg sandwiches layered with pork roll or crispy fried scrapple.

The smell of waffle cones will guide you to this town treasure whose Portuguese-Swiss namesake has been making ice cream since she was a young lass. Handcrafted flavors include Chill'n Cherry Chip (cherries and dark chocolate) and Wake Up Murphys (coffee, cocoa, and fudge).

Since 1923, Jones' has been a destination for doughnuts and baked goods made fresh each day in the earliest hours of the morning. Fill a box with cinnamon rolls, pie squares, apple turnovers, and some of the best doughnuts in the state.

Part of James Beard award–winning chef Michael Solomonov's CookNSolo group, K'Far is an ode to the all-day bakeries that populate Israeli mornings with traditional baked goods, coffee, and Jerusalem bagel sandwiches; lunch also features grain bowls and salads. There are so many options, you could easily visit multiple times a day to try them all.

It figures that the best laulau (pork or chicken wrapped in taro leaves and steamed) in West Hawaii can be found at a roadside hole-in-the-wall rather than at an expensive resort luau; in fact, this humble family-run eatery was featured on the Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Plate lunches to go include tender chicken or pork laulau, steamed for up to 10 hours. The kalua (earthen oven–roasted) pig and cabbage is delicious, and the lomil omi salmon features vine-ripened tomatoes. Owners John and Janice Kaaloa grind their own poi sourced from taro in Hilo and Waipio.

Authentic, friendly, and local, the Kabob Palace is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The chicken, lamb, and spicy beef kabobs are cooked to perfection and best dipped in chutney sauce and chased with a bite of naan. The sides vary, but rice and chickpeas are usually favorites.

A slice of Europe in Georgetown, Kafe Leopold has an all-day coffee-and-drinks bar, olive-and-onion tarts, crispy schnitzel paired with arugula, and a decadent assortment of pastries. Tucked away in Cady's Alley, the restaurant sits on a quiet side street with design shops and restaurants. The setting is an architecturally hip dining space, with roll-up window walls and a patio complete with a fountain, perfect for sitting with a glass of Grüner Veltliner and taking in the views. 

Fourth-generation descendants of Japanese sugarcane workers own and operate this casual café, set on the edge of a 140-acre farm north of the food truck village. Menu items include panini, pizzas, wraps, salads, iced drinks, and smoothies, all filled with homegrown ingredients, from lilikoi (passion fruit) and cacao to açai and sweet papaya; enjoy your meal or snack at outdoor shaded tables near a tree-studded lawn and gardens.

A favorite among Financial District 9-to-5ers, this local mom-and-pop doughnut shop sells crave-worthy flavors, from the standard honey dip to the more elaborate crème brûlée and maple bacon. Kane's also offers 10 different seriously delicious gluten-free varieties.

Stop at this James Beard–nominated Molokai institution for morning coffee, a loco moco (white rice, burger patty, fried egg, and brown sauce), and some Molokai bread—a sweet, pan-style white loaf that makes excellent cinnamon toast. Prices are nice, and portions are large—breakfast can easily carry you through lunch. By night, the famous "Hot Bread Lane" is a Molokai institution—sniff your way down the alley behind the store around 7:30 pm to find the hidden bakery window and grab a loaf of tomorrow's bread right out of the oven. This quest is a crucial Molokai experience—your reward is fresh, warm, tasty bread full of your choice of toppings like tropical jelly, cream cheese, cinnamon, and more.

This fun stop along scenic Highway 12, about 13 miles east of Escalante, was constructed by the late artist and inventor Bradshaw Bowman, who began building it when he was in his eighties and spent two years finding and transporting the 13 Douglas-fir logs surrounding the structure. The distinctive eatery with amazing views serves a daily-changing array of made-from-scratch soups, bagel sandwiches, tamales, oatmeal pancakes, salads, and decadent desserts, plus exceptional coffee and espresso drinks. Open from March through October, the café also rents two overnight accommodations in a nearby cabin.

The award-winning Knowrealitypie, tucked away in a strip mall in Eagle Rock, is the passion project of Tracy Ann DeVore. Devoted to its artisanal touch, the pie shop is only open from Thursday through Saturday until it sells out (it often does). Indulge in its rotating menu of seasonal savories and sweet pies, turnovers, and other pastries in innovative flavors such as triple berry cabernet, summer peach macaroon, and caramel apple pecan.

Talk about "farm to table"––Kokee Lodge grows much of its own produce, and the tables are handmade from local lumber. Local beef is used for loco mocos (white rice topped with a hamburger patty, brown gravy, and fried egg) and burgers, which can be served on fresh greens with house-made dressings; a veggie strata or a kalua pork plate, with Kokee plum barbecue sauce, is a perfect hot lunch on chilly days. Hikers have every excuse to carb load with locally famous corn bread or to refuel with pie by the fire. There's a full bar, espresso counter, and live music, too. Peruse the gift shop for "Hunt Pig" T-shirts, postcards, and mountain memorabilia.  Ask about the occasional chef's dinners.

Winston's hippest coffee joint is known for its biscuits and burgers (the chef behind Heff's Burger Club started out at Krankies) as much as its espresso. A warehouselike interior offers plenty of room to spread out, and ample outdoor tables fill with locals relaxing or working on sunny days.

Spend a sweet afternoon learning about the chocolate-making process during the Kuia Chocolate Factory Experience, a 90-minute tour of this confectioner's operations for guests ages 10 and up, followed by the chance to taste some of Maui’s best chocolate. If you have smaller children in tow and/or are short on time, you can head straight for the café for a hand-mixed chocolate shake, a hot chocolate or a coffee, and a treat from the bakery case. You can also embark on a chocolate-tasting flight, and then customize a box of chocolates to take home. Profits from sales and the tour benefit local charities, including major contributions to fire-relief efforts.

One of Brooklyn's most celebrated slice joints made the leap over the East River in late 2023 and a line formed immediately. The owner of L'Industrie is originally from Tuscany and it shows in the crispy, ultrathin-crust pies. There are usually 10 varieties of pizza available daily, but first-timers should opt for the burrata slice: thin, crispy crust topped with sweet tomato sauce and gooey flavorful globs of burrata cheese. Limited seating is available, plus a small selection of natural wine and beer. 

Right across the street from the west-facing side of South Station, this Philly born-and-bred coffee shop supplies Downtown and Financial District workers with top-quality caffeine during the week—unfortunately, it's not open on weekends. Blended and single-origin coffee comes from all over South America and Africa, from dark to light roast. The café has a few latte and cold brew drafts on tap, not to mention espresso drinks and pour-overs. You can take your order to go, sip at the bar, or sit and stay awhile. 

Adjacent to City Hall, the 9-to-5-ers flock to locally based La Colombe Coffee Roasters for their morning, afternoon, and evening cup of coffee among the hustle and bustle of Center City. The shop is small, but the staff is efficient, which keeps the line moving no matter how busy it may look from the outside. In addition to hot coffee, lattes, and breakfast pastries, the café also serves oat-milk-based draft lattes, draft cold brew, and more.

This is the place to satisfy any French-pastry craving—from the made-from-scratch croissants to the cookies, muffins, coconut macarons, and of course, breads. A lovely patio is the perfect backdrop for breakfasts of brioche French toast, quiches with fresh salads, and a croque madame oozing with bechamel and poached eggs. Look out for the little French bulldog who meanders around the tables and is the unofficial mascot of the place.

Lines can get long at this local, family-owned favorite for good reason: the lengthy, rotating list of ice cream flavors, from classic (coffee, black cherry, butter pecan) to creative (lime, banana peanut-butter fluff, cotton candy), means there's something for every taste and mood. The owner was inspired by the fresh, high-quality ingredients used in the rich, creamy ice cream and tropical fruit popsicles of the Mexican state of Michoacán.

In a city filled with Mexican bakeries, brothers José and David Cáceres kicked the whole pan dulce (pastry) game up a notch with La Panadería. Their love for baking comes from selling their mama Doña Josefina's loaves of fresh-baked bread on the streets of Mexico City, and they've translated that passion into a winning combination of fresh, quality products available for only a limited amount of time each short day. Bestsellers include empanadas, tres leches (three-milk) croissants, and Nutella cruffins (a croissant-muffin hybrid). Brunch items include avocado toast with grilled chicken, ranchero eggs Benedictine, and tequila-butter steak and eggs. They also have salads, tortas, cakes and cookies, and a nice assortment of freshly baked breads. Their other locations are 8305 Broadway (Alamo Heights) and 17030 Fiesta Texas Drive (La Cantera Heights).

The crew at this seaside hole-in-the-wall puts on quite a show while assembling their sandwiches—locals rave that this indie chain has the best around. Fill up on the foot-long Monster (ham, turkey, roast beef, and cheese), Mama (turkey and Genoa salami), or hot meatballs marinara.

This pie-focused operation began as a stall at Portland's Saturday Farmers Market at PSU and is now a charming, homey, brick-and-mortar café along Division Street in Southeast. Though it's the delicious pies—with feathery-light crusts and delicious fillings like tart cherry, salted pecan, and chocolate-banana cream—that have made Lauretta Jean's a foodie icon in Portland, this cheerful eatery also serves exceptional brunch fare, including the LJ Classic, a fluffy biscuit topped with an over-easy egg, Jack cheese, bacon, and strawberry jam. In the evening, it's a popular spot for desserts and coffee, or even cocktails.

A coffee shop, restaurant and market all in one, Le Bon Nosh is all elegance and French flair. As soon as you step into the stunning, open space, you’re immediately transported. The aesthetics wow, but the service, food and drinks are memorable as well. Everything is simple yet dynamic, made with the freshest local ingredients. Pastries are made in-house, ranging from savory to sweet, and the espresso bar is a must.

Slow down as you drive through the little roadside village of Olowalu so you don't miss this adorable farmhouse-chic restaurant and pie shop, where everything is prepared with care. All the breads are house-made and excellent, and most ingredients are sourced locally—you can't go wrong with a sandwich or a burger with Kula onions for lunch or comfort food like pot pies for an early dinner. Take note if you're in a rush: this is a big fan favorite, and lines are often very long.