57 Best Restaurants in USA

At Amada, the first of chef-restaurateur Jose Garces’s restaurants, the Ecuadorian-American chef reinterprets regional cuisine with choice ingredients and a modern touch that feature in more than 50 tapas, from the crab-stuffed peppers with toasted almonds to the flatbread topped with artichoke, black truffle, and manchego. Many ingredients—including even more glorious cheeses—are sourced from northern Spain, the main inspiration for the menu. The large, festive front room can skew loud; for a quieter meal, ask for a table in the second dining room, beyond the open kitchen.

Make a date for some of the best Latin cuisine in Tampa. A fixture since 1905, this magnificent structure with an old-world air and spacious dining rooms takes up an entire city block and seems to feed the entire city—locals as well as visitors—throughout the week, but especially on weekends. The paella à la Valenciana, bursting with seafood, chicken, and pork, is arguably the best in Florida, and the 1905 salad (with ham, olives, cheese, and garlic) is legendary. The menu also has Cuban classics such as boliche criollo (tender eye of round stuffed with chorizo), ropa vieja (shredded beef with onions, peppers, and tomatoes), and arroz con pollo (chicken with yellow rice). Don't miss the flamenco dancing show every night but Sunday. This place is also known for its sangria. If you can, walk around the building and check out the elaborate, antique decor along every inch of the interior.

If you have the blahs, Cúrate, with its extraordinary authentic tapas and fun atmosphere (they won the 2022 James Beard Award for Best Hospitality in the country) is the cure. The kitchen showcases the flavors of Spain over two dozen snacks and small plates, with special attention to cured Iberian ham dishes and seafood such as octopus and calamari.

In the heart of Waikiki, El Cielo was opened in 2023 by chef Masa "Arnaldo" Gushiken, who creates incredible Spanish tapas and other international specialties based on his global expertise in places such as Japan, Los Angeles, and Spain. The interior's serene, minimalist design establishes a sophisticated but relaxed ambience in several dining rooms. A few standouts include the truffle egg custard pudding, imported cheeses and hams, octopus, and Basque-style sea bream, and the wine list has some Spanish vintages. The restaurant has attracted attention from local and visiting food lovers, becoming a must-dine experience on Oahu. 

Come for the tapas; stay for the Southwestern entrées, such as chicken with cilantro pecan pesto or poblano shrimp with polenta, at this cheery, popular restaurant a few blocks off bustling Whiskey Row. The lovely creekside patio affords a casual ambiance where top-notch service matches the superb cuisine.

The name of this polished palace means "stadium," and its gorgeously baroque interior, which surrounds a high-wire open kitchen, makes a perfect stage for energetic and flavorful uses of top-notch ingredients. The menu, developed during research jaunts throughout Spain, is a master class in tapas, with smoky grilled scallions punched up by garlicky romesco sauce and tortilla española smoother than any served in Barcelona. The bar menu is equally inventive. Try a slushito to get a delightful alcoholic twist on the beloved slushie. For dessert, don't miss the sweet-and-salty manchego cheesecake with pistachio granola.

An eight-time James Beard nominee, chef/owner James Campbell Caruso is known for his authentic yet creatively updated Spanish tapas, which are served at both his intimate dining room called La Boca, and the more lively, bustling Spanish pub located directly behind it and aptly named Taberna. La Boca has a more leisurely and romantic vibe and its big windows look out onto fashionable Marcy Street, while Taberna offers a livelier, communal atmosphere featuring live music and ample seating, spilling out into a cloistered courtyard. A full meal in either spot can also include authentic paella, and both areas are similarly priced, though the main restaurant is a tad more expensive. In both, you'll find a long list of fine Spanish wines and sherries. La Boca Bodega is another addition where guests can buy olive oils, spices, chorizo, and more. It also features a coffee bar that serves bocadillos (sandwiches), pastries, and charcuterie boards. 

Sidle up to the bar or grab a table (if you're lucky) at this North Park hot spot that pays homage to Iberian cuisine and sports a predilection towards natural wine and gin. Named as a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant for good quality at reasonable prices, Mabel's menu includes snacks and shareables like clam toast and smoked potatoes (be sure to ask for a side of the homemade hot sauce) and dessert like the Basque cheesecake that's moan-out-loud delicious. Top off your meal with a cocktail or two from the gin-heavy options, or try one of their bottles of wine from Spain or Portugal to commit to an immersive experience.

An authentic interior (one wall is covered with bullfighting posters) creates just the right mood for chef Charles Coates' wide array of sophisticated small plates and one of the best wine lists in the area. The bacon-wrapped dates, the lamb sliders, and the morcilla quail eggs are especially delicious.

Picky palates will be satisfied at this funky, dark, and sensuous tapas restaurant, which is well off the main drag and is a secret spot for local foodies in the know. Small plates include yellowfin tuna ceviche with hunks of avocado and mango or filet mignon with creamy Gorgonzola butter. Waiters recommend choosing three small plates per person, then sharing.

Little Italy may not be home to any real Italian-seeming restaurant, but this intimate Galician tapas spot readily evokes the spirit of northern Spain and its gastronomic traditions. The kitchen excels at regional seafood dishes like grilled octopus with pimentón (red pepper), and the sea scallops with jamon, served in the shell, but meatier options like the lamb chops are also delicious.

Chef Ken Oringer's tapas joint is a lively, popular spot where the Barcelona-inspired small plates, such as the jamon and queso, salt cod croquettes, and grilled corn with cotija cheese, are hefty enough to make a meal out of a few. The traditional or vegetarian paella is also perfect for sharing with a hungry crowd. A predominantly Spanish wine list complements the plates. Crowds have been known to wait it out for more than an hour for dinner without a reservation. Also of note: there's a 3% Fair Wage + Wellness Provision fee added to all bills.

Tres Gatos not only serves delicious Spanish tapas, pinchos (appetizers), and paella; it also has a cool record and bookstore in the back. Olives, stuffed dates, and tortilla Española are great starters, but the paella, made with shrimp, clams, chorizo, and rabbit is the star—there’s also a vegetarian version. Don’t miss the small gem of the shop for the latest vinyl or bestselling book. On the first and third Wednesdays of every month, there is live entertainment at 9 pm.

Husband-wife chef duo Alex Raij and Eder Montero are the talented toques behind this wonderful restaurant that relies on Spain's Basque Country for inspiration. Prop yourself at the inviting bar in the front room or grab a table in the back and get ready to be wowed by dishes like crispy beef cheeks and jowl, tender swordfish belly paired with smoked eggplant, and gooey croquettes (the ingredients of which change weekly). The restaurant has a great wine list of Spanish wines, particularly from La Rioja. 

The focus at festive ZuZu is on cold and hot tapas, pintxos (bar bites), paella, and other Spanish favorites, often washed down with Cava (Spanish sparkling wine), sangria, or a specialty cocktail. The restaurant, which opened in 2002 and contributed to downtown Napa’s renaissance, still draws crowds for flounder ceviche, jamón ibérico, seared pork cheeks, grilled lamb chops with Moroccan barbecue glaze, and many other shareable plates.

Spanish flavors and seafood combine with coastal California flair at this trendy downtown eatery. Menu items change with the season, but perennial favorites include dry-aged branzino, paella, or saffron buns with Santa Barbara sea urchin butter. For a special-occasion treat, order the chef’s five-course tasting menu for two ($185).

The narrow wraparound patio is the draw at this buzzing Spanish-inspired restaurant and wine bar. The must-try paella and weekly wine specials help to keep patrons happy. Inside, rich wood tones and classic decor make the place feel a bit upscale, although the menu here is entirely approachable, even a bit indulgent with an emphasis on meats, cheeses, and some deep-fried favorites.

While diving right into the monumental cheese and charcuterie menu seems like a solid starter bet, save some room for the outstanding tapas at this lively wine bar. Favorites on repeat with its young, sophisticated diners include blistered shishitos, patatas bravas, chorizo with figs, spicy empanadas, and sautéed mussels. The animated crowd's chatter rarely lowers below a dull roar, and with a lengthy list of mostly Spanish wines, happy glass clinking can also be heard throughout the night. The locations in Brookline and Cambridge are equally as popular (read: packed).

There's no need to take a transatlantic flight to Spain when you can feast on authentic Spanish cuisine right here in New Haven. There are "large plate" entrées and salads on the menu, but the tapas are the best bet—rich, tasty, and full of flavor.

Located right across the street from the Ryman Auditorium, Boqueria is an ideal spot for a preshow meal made up of flavorful Spanish tapas that emerge quickly from the kitchen as soon as they are ready. You might not receive your plates in the order you requested them, but everything comes together to create a cohesive meal; favorite dishes include traditional Spanish staples such as patatas bravas (Spanish fried potatoes), grilled octopus, and paella, or diners can opt for a choice between two prix fixe menus that offer culinary tours through Spain. Don't forget about the sangria and creative cocktails to accompany the bold flavors.

Spanish-style tapas and an outdoor patio in perpetual party mode make this restaurant, headquartered in a restored 1920s bungalow, a popular downtown perch. Contemporary Spanish mosaics set a perky tone inside, but unless something's amiss with the weather, nearly everyone heads out back for croquettes, paella, jamón ibérico, pan tomate (tomato toast), grilled octopus, skirt steak, and crispy fried chicken.

The name is so cute, you might not think the food is a selling point—but you'd be wrong: expat Spaniards swear this sprawling spot is one of the best Spanish restaurants in town, and the colorful Mediterranean-style interiors encourage the Spanish feel. There’s a large assortment of cold and warm tapas, as well as four varieties of paella.

A choice romantic destination as well as an excellent launchpad for a night out, this restaurant offers an astonishing spate of meat, seafood, or veggie small-plate options. You can't go wrong with any of the ceviches, and the paella (featuring vegetables, seafood, or chicken and pork paella) is a good large-plate choice. In the catacomb-like bar downstairs, there's jazz, salsa, and flamenco many nights (the schedule varies each month). While you're here, the sangria is a must.

Befitting its Cuban and Spanish cuisine, this historic restaurant evokes an airy villa, thanks to a white-stucco exterior and an interior atrium dining room full of palm trees, hand-painted tiles, and decorative arches. Favorites on the menu include arroz con pollo, fillet salteado (with a spicy sauce), an array of tapas, and a fragrant seafood paella (allow extra time for preparation). Table not ready? Take in the archival family photos on the walls, linger in the courtyard, listen to the fountains, and enjoy a glass of homemade sangria or a refreshing mojito.

With its Bay Bridge views and stellar Spanish tapas, the late chef Michael Chiarello's San Francisco restaurant is a big hit that’s equal parts rustic and chic, a lively destination for both small bites and larger meals. Toothpicked pintxos (small snacks) like quail egg with sausage are a tasty way to start, but the real draws are the inventive cocktails, luscious paella, and dazzling selection of cured meats.

Perched on the rooftop level of a downtown building, this sleek, modern, Spanish-inspired steak house has one of Boulder’s only unobstructed views of the Flatirons; grab a seat outdoors on the patio if you can. You can mix and match generous cuts of high-quality steak with seasonally rotating tapas for northern Spain flavor with a Boulder twist—think Vaca Vieja dry-aged tomahawk steak and a Basque-style cheesecake.

Live music and a twist on the standard date night keep this place bustling on weekends. The menu consists of tapas such as patatas bravas con romesco (potatoes with olive oil and a spicy sauce) and ceviche. The only real entrées are a roasted whole fish and a traditional paella overflowing with fresh seafood, chicken, and chorizo. The restaurant is at the very end of the Miami Circle design center.