278 Best Restaurants in USA

Co-owners Chris D'Ambro and Marina de Oliveira run this beloved neighborhood restaurant that has one of the city's best bars. The menu features seasonal produce prepared using Italian techniques; the house-made pastas are always a good bet, and their burger is among the best in the city. The intimate bar is as romantic as it is comfortable. On Monday, their sommelier takes over for a wine-focused bar night and there's a limited food-menu and a by-the-glass menu featuring reserve bottles.

This casual burger joint connected to a gas station is probably the best-known stop between Lake Powell and Capitol Reef. Even if you're not hungry, it's worth a visit for the incredibly thick shakes that rise out of their cups, but just be ready for some long lines on busy days.

Rotating food trucks means that menus revolve weekly at this literal playground constructed out of old shipping containers. Two permanent fixtures are a well-stocked central bar and Pizzeria Vittoria, whose piping hot oven manned by award-winning chef Kyle Jacovino churns out the neighborhood's best pizza. A credit card is taken upon entry, so visitors can order at the yard's multiple food sites and pay one bill as they exit. The park often hosts live music, and cornhole and other games make for a festive atmosphere.

This simple eatery is a local favorite and a great place to stop for breakfast or lunch as you travel the width and breadth of the Mission Valley. Ask for a warmed-up homemade cinnamon bun while you wait for your "farmer's breakfast" of eggs, bacon, and homemade bread. Try some combo of the many soups, sandwiches, and salads for a satisfying mid-day meal. 

The breakfast burrito—paired with a cup of joe from their adjacent Deja Brew coffee stand—at this waterfront counter-serve can feel life-changing after a night out on Ocracoke. During summer, they also serve a lunch menu of fish tacos and curry bowls. 

This casual restaurant serves delicious Southern comfort food like country fried steak, shrimp and grits, and blackberry barbecue short ribs. Business bustles at lunchtime for favorites like the pimento cheese fried chicken club.

This iconic food truck is known for its highly popular cheesy spinach bread and also serves breakfast and rotating daily specials, like Thai curry, Ethiopian beans and rice, and a Hawaiian poke bowl. Just look for the shiny metal trailer with a long line of people waiting for their favorite meal. It's worth the wait, and don't forget to grab some Brazilian limeade to wash it all down.

One of Asheville's hottest dinner spots, this neighborhood tavern serves elevated but approachable fare like pork schnitzel with fennel salad and striped bass with harissa. 

Don't let the long lines outside this counter-service eatery discourage you. They move quickly, and once you get in you'll be rewarded with a full bar, a wide selection of tacos and enchiladas, and unusual sides like spicy collard greens and jalapeño coleslaw. You can also sample a fabulous trio of salsas and not-to-be-missed chunky guacamole.  Don't grab a table before you order or you'll get glares from those waiting in line.

Known for home-baked pastries, gourmet loose-leaf teas, and high-end coffees, this sweet, cozy spot is a lovely destination not far from the beach. Try the brie, apple, and fig jam combo on freshly baked baguette or one of the signature salads. A to-go picnic box for two is priced at only $27. They even serve made-to-order Italian sodas.

This small corner spot in Chinatown serves up the signature rice noodles of Yunnan, China. Try them in tomato soup with or without meat, or with different preparations, like the pickled pepper rice noodles and the kimchi beef rice noodles. Staff is friendly, and service is quick.

Using locally sourced ingredients, the chef at this small, independent redbrick eatery on Sanford's main drag creates Southern-fusion dishes. His house-made biscuits and gravy are renowned, the Saturday brunch menu features a Southern-style croque monsieur with candied collard greens, and dinner choices include pan-seared Florida catfish with bacon from Tennessee and the ever-popular shrimp and grits with corn from Zellwood, Florida.

A relatively recent addition to Austin’s barbecue scene, its newcomer status is bolstered by generations of pitmasters hailing from the famed BBQ epicenter of nearby Lockhart. The laid-back Barton Springs location and cafeteria-style service keep things casual, with diners picking out their sides (all the classics, from mac 'n' cheese to potato salad) before selecting their cut of meat. The brisket is impeccably juicy and tender, ribs (pork and beef) are colossal, and the jalapeño sausage is a crowd favorite. Prices are higher than the average barbecue joint, but the merit is there. Don’t expect a Franklin-type line, but they do occasionally sell out of meat, so call ahead if you’re hungry for anything in particular near closing time.

The food is authentic and the prices are reasonable at this little Volcano Village find with Thai art and silk wall hangings in the pleasant dining room. A steaming-hot plate of curry is the perfect antidote to a chilly day at the volcano, and the chicken satay is excellent—the peanut dipping sauce a good blend of sweet and spicy. And speaking of spicy, "medium" is more than spicy enough, even for hard-core chili addicts. The service is warm and friendly.

This cozy shop across the street from the massive Pepperell Mill complex roasts and brews some of the finest coffee in town. Painted in white and soft pink hues, its seating area invites sipping and quiet contemplation.

Time Out magazine has certainly made a splash with its gourmet food halls found in cities around the world—and its New York location is no exception. Found on the ground and fifth floors of the historic Empire Stores building, this collection of elevated food stalls will seduce any foodie with its diverse selections of sweet and savory offerings, including Venezuelan arepas from The Maiz Project, Japanese hand rolls from Mori Mori, and Dominican-meets-Texan fare at Bark Barbecue.

Former resort chef TK Keosavang serves inventive Asian fusion cuisine with the emphasis on noodles. Generous portions are beautifully plated, like the crispy pork belly sauté with Chinese greens and garlic sauce, and noodle soups and abundant salads don't disappoint. The savory seafood yentafo soup is a good bet, as is the lilikoi chicken.

This perennially popular (and affordable!) spot features carefully sourced comfort food with ample vegetarian options. The extensive menu includes generously sized salads and pizzas with toppings like basil ricotta, house-pickled banana peppers, and sun-dried tomato pesto. Seating spills out into public tables in the square during busy lunches and weekends.

Is it an Italian grocery store; an Italian coffee shop; an Italian wine bar; an Italian restaurant? It's all of the above. The name might not giveaway its Bel Paese motif, but step inside and you'll experience a sensory explosion of all things Italian, right down to the employees gesturing wildly while speaking the language of their birth. If you visit in the morning, sidle up to the bar for a cappuccino and a croissant, at lunch indulge in some pizza, and in the evening, pasta and wine. They also sell good homemade pastas and various made-in-Italy food products to take home.

Perched on a rooftop in La Jolla, this café features a mindful menu of bowls, tacos, and other creative entrées that are all 100% organic, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based, seed-oil free, and soy-free. There's also a boutique with sustainable products and a yoga studio with aerial yoga, sound healing, and training workshops.

Exceptional Japanese cuisine and creative sushi attracts neighborhood foodies as well as visitors to owner and chef Kenneth Sze's Tuna Bar. Fresh specialties made from locally sourced seafood and other ingredients include favorites such as hand rolls, seaweed salad, and shrimp tempura, along with some unique house specialties that showcase a delectable mix of Japanese flavors and textures. Order one of the specialty combination plates—the "Big Tuna" or "Little Tuna"—and let the chef choose for you. The extensive sake and wine list is worth sampling, as are the craft cocktails. Sushi-making classes are also available (check the website for details). 

Respectful of traditional sushi and sashimi methods—but not limited by them—this standout sushi bar (and consistently ranked top restaurant in Austin) starts with super-fresh ingredients. After that, anything goes, including touches of the South or south-of-the-border: yellowtail with ponzu sauce and sliced chilies, tempura-style fried green tomatoes, or seared monkfish cheeks with Vietnamese caramel, Belgian endive, roasted red grapes, and cilantro. You can make a tapas-style meal from the cold and hot "tastings" menu. Make reservations ahead of time for their daily happy hour (4–6 pm).

This straightforward local restaurant not only has one of the best restaurant names in the borough, but they're serving up some of the tastiest fried chicken in New York. UFC serves organic, humanely raised birds, fried crisp, spicy, and addictive with soy, garlic, or hot sauce. Other items on the menu include spicy pork bulgogi empanadas, beef bulgogi burgers, and good ol' cheese fries, but crispy chicken paired with one of the many craft beers on tap is a foolproof move here.

There aren't too many places where you can enjoy a pizza heaped with organic veggies; a crisp salad of organic greens tossed with homemade dressing; freshly pressed juice (try the beet--apple--lime juice concoction); and creative cocktails while surrounded by images of Elvis Presley and Frida Kahlo. The owner uses a 1930s dough recipe for the pizza's delightful whole wheat crust; a gluten-free, almond-based pizza crust and bountiful salads entice those who may seek a low-carb alternative.

One of the rare breweries in this corner of the state, this gastropub also stands out for its creative takes on pub favorites, including burgers, pizza, and sandwiches. Located downtown, the interior has a big-city warehouse feel, with large windows, tall ceilings, and exposed pipes. Choose from an array of VBC's craft beers brewed on-site, and even get a growler to go. For the kids, there's a varied children's menu and house-made sodas in several flavors.

A wide, redbrick accent wall helps give this long-running neighborhood café its cozy Brooklyn feel, which serves quick lattes, muffins, and scones at the front counter. However, if you've got a little more time on your hands, head to the back room, beyond all the images of pineapples, where they serve brunch fare: breakfast sandwiches, paninis, soups, and salads. Wine and cocktails are also available, which continue after 4 pm, when heartier dinner fare is served.

Since 1961, this bustling Italian bakery and deli has been making fresh breads and rolls, serving some of the tastiest sandwiches around. One of the shop's signatures is the now-famous Saint Joseph Sandwich, made with their Italian bread stuffed with Italian deli meats, olive oil, and oregano. Pick up one (or two), along with other grocery items, before heading to the beach for a picnic.

Across from Independence Hall, the world's largest Wawa convenience store (at over 11,000 square feet) is located inside an impressive historic structure and sells a grand assortment of satisfying quick bites all day long, including breakfast items and their famous made-to-order hoagie sandwiches. There's also pizza, wraps, and plenty of grab-and-go foods, such as pre-made fruit bowls and salads, along with aisles of packaged snacks. (Wawa's coffee is a local favorite, too).  

Follow the gravel drive to the back of the Wedge building and you’ll see a large covered deck and a huge mural of a pizza slice—the pizza here is delicious. The space inside is both cavernous and cozy, with comfy seating areas and a reading area stocked with books, which are great places to enjoy salads, wings, and other typical pizza-restaurant fare such as breadsticks, dessert wedges, and New York–style cheesecake. A row of dartboards lines one wall, and there is a pool table and other diversions. The Wedge hosts dart tournaments, trivia contests, live music, and Nashville SC watch parties.

Thin-crust pizzas made from organic flour are the specialty at this lively eatery that also serves a range of creative pasta and entrees like a roasted root bowl. Try out eclectic pizza toppings like roasted salmon, butternut squash, and sweet onion marmalade. The open-air patio is especially popular.