Yelp has spoken. Recently, the informative review brand, with a love-hate relationship by those in the restaurant industry, curated its 2024 best new restaurant list. These top 25 full-service restaurants opened between January 1, 2023, and September 1, 2024. They were ranked according to reviews and total volume ratings, with states from California to Hawaii and Washington D.C. getting in on the celebrated distinction.
Yelp also highlighted the top dining trends they spotted as people shared their restaurant reviews. Not surprisingly, one of the top mentions was experiential dining.
Ready to find out who made the grade and why? Let’s get inspired and see what it takes to make the Yelp Top 25.
The Next Great Restaurant
According to Yelp 2024 Best New Restaurants, users searching for “great new restaurants” increased 673% year-over-year from August 2023 to August 2024. So, what is this great new restaurant they’re looking for?
Experiential Dining
It seems they’re not just looking for a unique dish or signature cocktail. Today, they’re looking for immersive experiences and experiential dining, moments they remember and take with them long after they’ve put their silverware down. Four out of the 25 hot spots are known for experiential dining, with one of those making the #1.
- #23 – Wolf by Vanderpump at Harveys Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada
This restaurant is all about the experience, with the longest bar in Tahoe, carved ice sculptures, and antler chandeliers with sparkling jewels. Creative cocktails and upgraded American fare also helped get them to the top 25.
- #15 – Nami in Orlando, Florida
This restaurant’s experience lies in its unique menu and imaginative dining room. It also transforms as the evening rolls around, with the cocktail bar and dining room turning into an energetic retreat. An in-house DJ and late-night menu complete the enhanced aesthetics. Nami also received the AIA Florida 2024 Award of Excellence Interiors.
- #5 – Burnin’ Shell in Los Angeles, California
Smart is all you can say about Burnin’ Shell and its creators. It’s a trendy seafood spot in Koreatown that took social media by storm. This pirate-themed restaurant includes strips of sea eel cooked at your table in a blast of fire and a live lobster arriving in a treasure chest.
- #1 – Meduza Mediterrania in Manhattan, New York
This restaurant has gone viral and offers a breathtaking interior with a glass-enclosed atrium and lush landscape. Everything about it is designed to be noticed, from the patrons who abide by a strict dress code to the stunning towering seafood, smoke-filled signature cocktail, and VIP mezzanine.
Japanese Cuisine
Another leading trend with several restaurants in its category is Japanese cuisine. These concepts range from pub food to seasonal fare and a multi-concept masterpiece.
- #22 – Love, Makoto in Washington, DC
Offering several concepts under one room, Love, Makoto features a sushi restaurant, an izakaya, and a Japanese grill in the same building. Perhaps you can be all things to all people.
- #11 – Kawa Ni in Denver, Colorado
This Japanese-style pub is about fun, unique flavors, and healthy portions. One example is their temaki, seaweed cones filled with wasabi peas, scallops, and more. A Yelper, Emily J., shared, “Drop everything and make a reservation here! One of my favorite meals in Denver in a long time. Crab-fried rice, tuna temaki, and shaved broccoli are must-orders. Amazing taste, quality of ingredients, and very generous portion sizes for the price. Can’t wait to try more food here!” Now, that’s the kind of review we should all aspire to.
- #4 – Kinme Omakase in San Diego, California
This unique restaurant pays tribute to the art of kaiseki, or seasonal sushi. Join nine other diners at a long wooden counter for a 10-course, personalized meal. In this intimate setting, everything is prepared before you, where the head chef and owner take center stage.
Approachable
Another notable trend was “approachable” restaurants that veered away from fancy table settings to a relaxed ambiance with great food. Three restaurants that fit the bill in this category were Course Restaurant in Scottsdale, Percy in Boise, and The Evie in Chicago.
So, what can we take from Yelp’s Top 25? Today’s consumers are nothing, if not diverse, from those who want to be seen at the trending hot spot to others who enjoy a more casual encounter. All these restaurants have one thing in common—passionate creators who love what they’re doing.
