You don’t need to fly to Paris or Tokyo for a world-class meal. America’s best restaurants are right here at home. From coast to coast, top chefs are creating unforgettable dishes with bold flavors and local flair. Whether you’re planning a cross-country road trip or just a weekend getaway, this list has something for every taste.
For the third-annual Food & Wine Global Tastemakers awards, more than 400 chefs, writers, and travel experts shared their picks. These aren’t just popular spots—they’re places the pros visit themselves or recommend to close friends. Some bring fine-dining flair to small cities. Others reinvent regional classics with surprising twists.
From New England seafood to California kaiseki, these are the top 15 U.S. restaurants worth traveling for right now.
1. Eleven Madison Park – New York, NY
This three-Michelin-starred restaurant redefined fine dining by going entirely plant-based under Chef Daniel Humm. Once known for its foie gras and duck, it now serves seasonal vegetables, legumes, and grains with incredible artistry. Each dish is built from local ingredients, presented with precision, and plated like artwork. Critics highlight the creativity, especially how much flavor is drawn from non-animal ingredients. The service is theatrical yet friendly, and the minimalist space enhances the focus on the food. You won’t leave hungry, and you definitely won’t forget it. Experts say it’s the most ambitious shift in American dining in recent memory.
2. Alinea – Chicago, IL
Alinea remains one of the most inventive restaurants in the world. Chef Grant Achatz creates dishes that often defy logic but never lack flavor. Diners experience edible balloons, smoke-filled domes, and courses served on sculpted surfaces. Each dish is engineered for surprise, with textures and temperatures that play with your senses. The experience changes constantly, with no two visits ever the same. Michelin awarded it three stars for a reason, and experts continue to rank it among the top for culinary innovation. Theatrics aside, every bite is carefully calibrated to amaze.
3. The French Laundry – Yountville, CA
Thomas Keller’s Napa Valley institution has been a benchmark for fine dining in the U.S. for decades. The nine-course tasting menu, which changes daily, blends French precision with California ingredients. Dishes like oysters and pearls, truffle-infused custards, and garden vegetables are executed flawlessly. The restaurant’s own garden provides much of the produce, and even the butter and salt are specially sourced. Every course arrives with impeccable service and careful pacing. Experts call it a near-spiritual experience. The French Laundry doesn’t just meet expectations—it raises them.
4. Atelier Crenn – San Francisco, CA
Chef Dominique Crenn infuses her tasting menu with poetry—literally. The meal begins with a handwritten poem, and each line connects to a dish. Known for her delicate touch and artistic plating, Crenn builds seafood-forward dishes with French elegance and California soul. The flavors are bold but balanced, with an emphasis on sustainability and storytelling. Her three Michelin stars reflect not just her technique but her ability to transform food into memory. Critics say few chefs communicate emotion through food like Crenn. The experience is intimate, expressive, and unforgettable.
5. Le Bernardin – New York, NY
Seafood mastery defines Le Bernardin, where Chef Eric Ripert lets every ingredient speak clearly and with grace. The menu moves from raw to lightly cooked to fully cooked, showcasing seafood in all its forms. Dishes are light but layered with flavor—barely seared scallops, perfectly cooked langoustines, and delicate sauces that never overpower. The room is formal yet welcoming, with service that glides unnoticed. Critics say Le Bernardin achieves perfect balance: flavor, finesse, and flow. It’s a place where precision meets restraint, and every bite matters.
6. SingleThread – Healdsburg, CA
This restaurant, farm, and inn offers one of the most immersive dining experiences in the country. Chef Kyle Connaughton brings Japanese kaiseki tradition to California’s Sonoma wine region, using produce from the on-site farm and rooftop garden. The multi-course tasting menu is shaped by the season and styled with artistic flair. Dishes are delicate but deeply flavorful, and presentation is always striking. Service is thoughtful and personal, enhancing the meal’s emotional impact. Experts call SingleThread a masterclass in hospitality, aesthetics, and sustainability. Every detail, from floral arrangements to lighting, contributes to a peaceful, extraordinary evening.
7. Canlis – Seattle, WA
Canlis blends timeless elegance with Northwest spirit. Perched high above Lake Union, it’s run by the third generation of the Canlis family. The architecture is iconic mid-century modern, and the view is breathtaking. The menu combines Pacific flavors, like smoked salmon and wagyu, with global techniques. Chef Aisha Ibrahim brings refinement to seasonal ingredients, and the wine list is among the most respected in the region. Critics praise the impeccable service, where every guest is treated like royalty. Canlis is where traditions are honored, but innovation still shines through.
Read More: Restaurant Shuts down for a ‘Day of Kindness’ After Verbal Abuse from Customers Makes Staff Cry
8. n/naka – Los Angeles, CA
At n/naka, Chef Niki Nakayama creates modern kaiseki, a Japanese tasting menu built around seasonality, harmony, and storytelling. Her cooking is precise but emotional, often inspired by personal history and cultural roots. Seafood plays a central role, with sashimi, grilled fish, and delicate soups arranged with painterly detail. The courses flow like chapters in a novel, building depth and surprise as they progress. Michelin awarded n/naka two stars, and critics continue to praise Nakayama’s ability to merge tradition with personal expression. The setting is serene and small, ensuring every guest receives full attention.
9. Providence – Los Angeles, CA
Providence is all about sustainable, ocean-forward cuisine. Chef Michael Cimarusti emphasizes traceability, sourcing wild seafood directly from responsible fisheries. His tasting menu is a tribute to the sea—Santa Barbara spot prawns, uni custards, wild king salmon, and more. Each dish highlights purity of flavor, with minimal manipulation. The restaurant’s interior is sleek, with cool tones that reflect its coastal inspiration. Service is smooth, confident, and well-paced. Experts consider Providence one of the best examples of modern seafood dining, with a conscience to match its culinary excellence.
10. Blue Hill at Stone Barns – Pocantico Hills, NY
Blue Hill at Stone Barns is the ultimate farm-to-table destination. Chef Dan Barber works closely with the farm to shape each meal. The tasting menu—often more than 20 courses—is designed around what’s growing that day. You might eat carrot tartare, beet burgers, or a turnip that tastes like steak. No imports here. The dairy, meat, and vegetables are all local. Critics admire Barber’s ethical commitment and creative genius. This isn’t just dinner—it’s a deep dive into agriculture, flavor, and environmental stewardship.
11. The Inn at Little Washington – Washington, VA
Chef Patrick O’Connell brings fairytale charm and French technique to Virginia. This three-Michelin-starred restaurant feels like a grand European manor, with chandeliers, rich fabrics, and impeccable service. The menu includes elevated classics like foie gras torchon, lamb loin, and butter-poached lobster. Every detail, from custom china to the tableside presentations, feels like part of a larger story. Critics praise O’Connell’s consistency and hospitality. For many experts, this restaurant is the gold standard for American countryside luxury dining.
12. Pujol (Pop-Up at Damian) – Los Angeles, CA
While Mexico City’s Pujol remains world-renowned, Chef Enrique Olvera’s Los Angeles pop-up at Damian is drawing serious attention. Though technically temporary, this version of Pujol is serving hits like the legendary mole madre, aged for over 3,000 days. The menu blends modern Mexican with ancient technique. Tortillas are made from native heirloom corn. Ingredients are local but transformed with deep cultural reverence. Critics say the pop-up proves Mexican food belongs among the world’s finest cuisines. Every dish balances boldness with refinement.
13. Sushi Nakazawa – New York, NY
Trained by the master Jiro Ono, Chef Daisuke Nakazawa brings classic Edomae-style sushi to New York with remarkable precision. His 20-course omakase features perfectly sliced fish over warm rice, each piece handed directly to the diner. No soy sauce. No rolls. Just nigiri, prepared at the exact moment for ideal texture and flavor. The rice temperature, knife cuts, and seafood selection are all studied and meticulous. Experts rank Nakazawa as one of America’s top sushi chefs. It’s not flashy—it’s flawless.
14. Owamni – Minneapolis, MN
Chef Sean Sherman’s Owamni is the first restaurant of its kind—serving exclusively Indigenous ingredients. You won’t find dairy, sugar, wheat, or other colonial imports here. Instead, bison, wild rice, corn, and native herbs take center stage. The menu respects cultural traditions while embracing creativity. Dishes feel ancient and modern at once. Critics praise Owamni’s role in revitalizing Indigenous foodways and shifting the American culinary conversation. It’s not just a restaurant—it’s a reclamation.
15. Girl & the Goat – Chicago, IL
Chef Stephanie Izard’s Girl & the Goat is a playful powerhouse. Small plates burst with bold global flavors—goat empanadas, chili-glazed pork shank, crispy cauliflower. Izard doesn’t shy away from spice, crunch, or funk. The dining room buzzes with energy, and the open kitchen keeps things lively. Cocktails are sharp, and the wine list is adventurous. Critics admire the creativity and inclusivity of the menu. Girl & the Goat makes fine dining feel like a party.
Read More: Romance or a Restaurant? The Growing Trend of Food Digging in Dating