42 Best Restaurants in USA

Shortly after graduating from a local college's culinary program, chef Carlos Mojica opened this Latin American–Caribbean restaurant with a handful of tables inside and out front. Loyalists pine for chicken or pork sliders, halibut crudo, and pupusas (corn tortillas stuffed with cheese and pork or vegetables), a prelude to entrées like fish tacos with chili-yogurt sauce and Caribbean-style paella suffused with smoky-garlicky tomato broth.

A lively yet intimate spot on the edge of downtown, Havana serves Latin-inspired dishes like seafood paella and panko-crusted lamb chops with lemon mojo sauce paired with robust wines from the lengthy, award-winning, and passionately curated wine list. In season, have a bite on “the Parrilla,” the informal no-reservations patio (separate menu); year-round, dine in a pleasant indoor space with a modern aesthetic, featuring clean lines and cheery colors. The menu has staples yet varies with the seasons. Lamb chops might come with cheesy grits and grilled veggies in July and sweet potato puree and ratatouille in September. Seafood paella piles in lobster, mussels, shrimp, scallops, chorizo, tomatoes, peppers, and smoked chicken with saffron rice. Whatever you choose from the delectable seasonal desserts, pair it with a selection from the “Cigars & After Dinner Drinks” menu. Like the wine list it's extensive, and, yes, cigars are to go.

At Seven Reasons, one of D.C.'s most talked-about restaurants in the past two years, chef Enrique Limardo honors his native Venezuela with creative versions of arepas (stuffed cornmeal cakes) and arroz bomba (rice with seafood). The restaurant also takes you on a Latin American tour with offerings such as Argentinean-style steak or Peruvian-style ceviche. The dining room is tropical and sexy, featuring an open kitchen where you can see the culinary team in action. The rooftop patio, which has a mural painted by the chef himself, is perfect for predinner cocktails or dinner alfresco.

A colorful mosaic-tiled, multistoried room delivers outstanding New World cuisine that includes roasted pork filet mignon with grilled shrimp and lump crabmeat and the crowd-favorite Encamisado, a chicken breast crusted with plantains and Chontaleno cheese over black-bean sauce. The executive lunch, available weekdays, is just $15.95 and includes a signature entrée and dessert, plus your choice of soup or salad.

Far below the Ritz-Carlton's 140-foot-tall rotunda sits this Latin-inspired grill by chef Richard Sandoval, who creates meals that match the grandeur and excitement of the historic building. Many visit Aqimero for its wood-fired meats and fish, as well as its endless Champagne weekend brunch.

If you want something different from the usual Mexican or Tex-Mex offerings, venture south to find festive fare here hailing from the Caribbean, Spain, and South and Central America. Executive chef Rene Fernandez mixes up flavors and styles con pasion. Start with an appetizer sampler (five different apps) and move on to Seafood Curry Latino or Parillada Mixta, a mix of chicken, pork, and sausage basted with chimichurri, a tangy basil sauce. Tempting desserts include coconut flan, chocolate truffles made to order, and a dessert sampler with five house creations and homemade ice cream. Dance it all off with live salsa music Friday and Saturday. Reservations are recommended for weekend nights.

The crowds outside tell all you need to know about the flavorful, rustic Latin American fare at this tiny, charming eatery in the bustling Edge District. This place hops every day of the week—but don’t worry, the friendly staff keeps things moving.

With daily almuerzo (lunch) specials on the menu, as well as an assortment of fresh pastries, cakes, and savory baked goods, this classic panaderia has a homey vibe with festive, brightly lit decor on the ceilings and Spanish guitar playing in the background. Try the buñuelos (cheese fritters), freshly squeezed juices, or the decadent flan with a cup of Colombian coffee.

Everything is made from scratch here, from the sauces and marinades to the mixers for unique cocktails such as the cucumber jalapeño margarita. Daily specials might include pork and chicken tamales or fresh local cobia with tequila-marinated shrimp, mango corn salsa, and chipotle sauce. The Mayan soup is a must—fresh vegetables, avocado chunks, and crispy tortillas in a light vegetable broth. The two-story restaurant has three seating areas: a shaded ground-level courtyard, a second-story deck overlooking the street, and a rustic indoor dining room. 

Panamanian-inspired food is the focus of this lively chef-owned rum bar and restaurant just across the bridge from the beach. The ceviches—traditional Panamanian corvina, lobster, and tuna "cooked" in lime juice—are all wonderful, but ropa vieja (flank steak served over coconut rice) and blackened tuna are tasty, too. Outdoor seating includes a pleasant interior atrium, and tables on the patio by the road.

Named for a legendary ice-cream shop in Havana, Coppelia is neither Cuban nor an ice-cream parlor. Chef Julian Medina has created a 24-hour pan-Latin diner that works on many levels—for a quick breakfast, casual lunch, or late-night bite—with a continent-size menu that emphasizes comfort food. Some satisfying dishes include the pork-belly-spiked mac 'n' cheese, mountainous nachos, grilled cheese with jalapeño and bacon, and oxtail empanadas. If you did have your corazón set on ice cream, there's plenty of it on the dessert menu.

A humble, family-run restaurant in a tiny roadside shack, Coquito’s serves an eclectic array of traditional Puerto Rican and Latin American dishes, such as arroz con gandules (rice with peas), shrimp mofongo, pastel borricúa (ground green-banana masa stuffed with pork), Colombian empanadas, and Argentinian flank steak with chimichurri sauce. Order takeout for a picnic at a beach park, or dine in the small outdoor patio (no alcohol sold here, so you need to BYOB).

People who have been to Havana swear this place is a dead ringer; in any event, it's lovely, with balconies and fancy streetlights and even a leaded-glass window on the interior. An entire drinks menu is devoted to rum from everywhere in the Caribbean and Central and South America, including Cuba Libre's own brand, and, of course, the mojitos are excellent. The appetizers, like Cienfuegos-style beef empanadas and malanga fritters, are authentic. Rice and black beans are served with classic entrées like vaca frita and ropa vieja.

Mexico City natives chef Nora De La Vega and her brother, Mano, run this casual-elegant downtown restaurant serving Latin-fusion tapas. The menu emphasizes healthy, fresh ingredients, with numerous vegan and vegetarian options, and some of chef Nora's creations—such as the banderillas (chicken or cheese skewers with zucchini, roasted peppers, and mango vinaigrette)—look almost too good to eat. During weekend brunch, unlimited tapas and sangria accompany creative egg dishes such as the huevos con nopal (freshly grilled cactus, fried egg, refried black beans, and pepper sauce), which is served with tropical granola and the best avocado toast you've ever had. Outside, there are two rows of tables on the sidewalk; inside, you'll find a serene ambience, with dark-wood tables and dramatic art on the walls. 

This multilevel waterfront eatery gives every table a nice view of the river and puts a modern spin on tapas, bringing unexpected flavors and textures to classic Latin food. The menu also features larger dishes, with a strong emphasis on seafood and beef. If you're not in the mood for meat, the chiles rellenos marries a mild poblano pepper with goat cheese and an amazing smoky salsa. They pride themselves on creative, Latin-inspired cocktails, and there's extensive list of wines by the glass.

A trip to D.C. is not complete without tasting pupusas, the El Salvadoran tortillas filled with chorizo, cheese, and chicharrón. El Rinconcito Cafe, a fixture in Shaw for El Salvadoran and Mexican cuisine, specializes in pupusas and also serves quesadillas, tacos, and enchiladas—all at affordable prices.

With almost 40 years in operation, El Tamarindo, an El Salvadorean and Mexican restaurant, has weathered the neighborhood's many changes. Guests come for their savory pupusas (a thick corn tortilla) with various fillings to satisfy every taste from a vegan to a carnivore. Their late-night menu is popular with the nightlife set, and their lively brunch satisfies those who prefer daytime drinking.

At this popular, family-owned Mexican and Peruvian restaurant, the bright orange exterior and the small, colorfully decorated dining room are secondary to fresh, flavorful dishes that hold to tradition (tacos and fajitas) and add innovative touches (lunch bowls with everything from ceviche to skirt steak). Bring your own wine or beer to pair with Peruvian lamb stew, Mexican seafood chile relleno, or the many kinds of ceviche, or try the delicious fruit drinks. The helpful waitstaff can explain the menu, and you can dine alfresco in season.

Celebrated Miami chef Douglas Rodriguez has brought his globally inspired flair to historic Ybor City as part of the gorgeous new Hotel Haya. Whether you’re grabbing a drink and a bite at the wraparound bar or luxuriating over a meal in the dining room, this swanky restaurant is rich with an atmosphere that’s upscale and cozy all at once. Rodriguez’s Nuevo Latino-menu features wood-grilled coastal cuisine, an imaginative selection of ceviches, and a range of rum-soaked cocktails.

The food here is Mexican and Salvadoran, with plentiful servings and intriguing desserts; you must try the chocolate flan. Order the Super Special for an excellent overview of Salvadoran treats; the plate features yuca, plantain, and pupusa. Gloria's also has more varieties of margarita than you might have thought possible. The restaurant's interior reflects its Latin American flavor, and it can get loud at peak times. You can sit outside for air and eccentric people-watching.

The flavors of Mexico, Latin America, and beyond come to you at Happy Monkey courtesy of world-renowned Michelin star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Inventive small plates and creative cocktails are available at the bar for a quick stop, but a little more time will allow for exploration of a flavor-dense menu made to let the ingredients shine, in portions suitable for sharing.

Although Imperfecto means imperfect in Spanish, there's nothing flawed about this Michelin-starred restaurant. The menu brings together Mediterranean and Latin American cultures with dishes such as moussaka and suckling pig with horchata (a popular Latin American rice-based drink). Imperfecto, owned by acclaimed Venezuelan chef Enrique Limardo, has a bold approach to his menus. Guests can choose from a chef's menu where the chef will take them on a culinary trip around Europe and Latin America, or you can opt for a la carte.

Need a break from the bounties of the sea prevalent in New Orleans restaurants? Book a table at chef Adolfo Garcia's classic Argentine steak house, where wine and meat are simple but satisfying priorities. While most steak houses are clubby, masculine, and hard on the wallet, this Warehouse District eatery feels more like a party. The kitchen coaxes flavor from less expensive cuts, like flank and hanger steaks. Sides include empanadas, thick rounds of provolone grilled and sprinkled with oregano, and homemade pasta, a nod to Argentina's large Italian population. After dinner at La Boca, you'll walk outside and be surprised to discover that you're not in Buenos Aires.

Like a culinary tour of Latin America, La Duni's showcases vibrant flavors from Mexico, Central America, and South America, with occasional side trips to Cuba. Citrus-sparked specialty drinks set the mood for roasted chicken napped with a sauce of Champagne and tart oranges or carne asada—beef marinated in lime juice and grilled, all accompanied by caramelized plantains, black beans, and rice. Desserts include the muy rico (very rich) cuatro leches (four milks) cake or chocolate-hazelnut Nutella cake.

The colorful metal cactus standing guard over the sidewalk seating is a tip-off that the name of this place refers to Latin America. Run by the same folks who own the adjoining Lilly's Gourmet, Café America has the same casual feel, but this place also has a full bar. Sip some sangria or a pomegranate mojito while you choose from among the platos grandes (which translates as "big dishes"). Chimichurri steak, baby greens topped with blackened salmon and a lime cilantro vinaigrette, a Cuban pressed sandwich, chicken tamale, and tostones are some of the options.

Chef Oscar Diaz reinvents the staid nostalgia of “what grandma used to make” to what your dialed-in cousin would make if he went to culinary school and revisited your abuela’s recipes with a fresh take. Diaz honed his culinary chops at Michelin restaurants in Las Vegas and California before launching menus at Raleigh’s Jose and Sons and Cortez, earning him James Beard nods. The Durham restaurant fuses his favorite tastes from Mexican, Asian, and American cuisine, with popular dishes like birria (goat stew)-filled dumplings, a whole roast chicken done halal-style with turmeric salsa, and churro balls for dessert. The flavors are often echoed on the drink menu, with mezcal-based cocktails and mole bitters.

Los Andes is perennially at or near the top of every Rhode Island "best of" restaurant list. Credit the state's Latin American diaspora, Rhode Island's melting pot status, but mostly chef Cesin Curi for his masterful Latin fusion cuisine that draws upon the rich culinary traditions of Bolivia and Peru. You can't go wrong with the ceviche or any of the seafood dishes, including the Jalea, a classic fried fisherman's plate from Peru, but the churrasco steaks are amazing, too.