Back in February, just a few short months ago, Yelp revealed the top 100 restaurants in the U.S. Their data science team considered the restaurant’s ratings, the number of reviews, and the overall activity in the area. Then, their community managers and trend experts curated the list further.
While world flavors were expected to be a hallmark, there was also another interesting similarity between these establishments—unconventional settings. Food halls, food trucks, and fast-casual concepts made the list. Yelp noted that simple and comfortable was in, like standout food at fair prices.
For example, an order-at-the-counter seafood stand in a food hall made number one. While not a sit-down restaurant, Holbox, in Los Angeles, offers an 8-course tasting menu two nights a week with counter seating for $130.
If you’re interested, it’s best to get your reservation early. They don’t serve alcohol, but they do serve numerous ceviches, wild Mexican shrimp, and a host of unique seafood dishes, from live urchins to giant East Coast surf clams and Gulf of Mexico octopus. In 2024, it became the first Mexican marisqueria in the U.S. to earn a Michelin star.
Let’s see what other unique restaurants made the top 10.
Multicultural Cuisines
With experience being the pièce de résistance of the decade, it makes sense that global cuisine would draw in the experientially minded. In the top 10, you can find restaurants featuring foods from Peru, Cambodia, the Mediterranean, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, and France. The Middle East garnered two spots in the top 10, making this cuisine one of the most popular.
Sustainability
It’s no surprise that today’s younger generations are searching out eco-friendly restaurants. Two of the top 10 stand out for their environmental consciousness. According to Yelp, Holbox uses normally discarded fish parts to make spreads and other entrees. Kaya, the number 10 spot, is a Filipino restaurant in Orlando whose sustainable practices earned it a Michelin Green Star—the first Orlando restaurant ever to receive one.
The Leading Trends
The fast-casual concept Twisted Gyros in Hillsboro, Oregon, made the number two spot as a viral food truck turned brick-and-mortar. When you see their menu, you’ll understand how a food truck goes viral and then makes it to Yelp’s second-best restaurant in the U.S.
This restaurant covers all the leading trends, from total fusion that includes a menu with Korean bulgogi beef, Jamaican mango habanero chicken, and gyros. Anything pistachio on there? Absolutely. If you’ve been living in a cave and didn’t realize pistachio was the flavor of 2025, now you know. Twisted Gyros’ whipped feta is topped with pistachios, wildflower honey, and za’atar, a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spice.
Authentic Middle Eastern food made the third spot with De Babel in Scottsdale, Arizona. Found in a strip mall, its location is yet another testament to today’s diners craving an experience that is often found in the most unexpected places.
Pho Enthusiasts
There’s something about pho that makes normal people slightly fanatical. Is it the comforting broth or the unique flavor profile? Suffice it to say that when a restaurant gets it right, they can count on brand-loyal enthusiasts who shout their praises from the rooftop.
Such are the accolades inspired by Phonomenal, the creators of a Cambodian-style pho that has everyone talking and is number four on Yelp’s list. Their signature dish is a recipe that’s been in the family for 30 years. The small menu shows a commitment to doing one or two things exceptionally well. Apparently, it’s working, with the restaurant potentially selling out by 2 pm every day.
A Food Truck
There’s something about a tiny food truck making it onto the best restaurant list. Many food enthusiasts dream of stumbling upon an out-of-the-way truck in a side alley and finding the best food they’ve ever experienced. It’s a subtle reminder of the trailblazers that came before, like Andrew Zimmerman and the late Anthony Bourdain, searching the world for the exotic.
It’s incredibly nice when it’s in your own backyard. That is if you live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Chellas Arepa Kitchen proudly serves South American-inspired cuisine. Their specialty? Scratch-made arepas that originate from the recipes of their grandmother, Chella.
In 2024, they made Yelp’s Top Peruvian Restaurant list.
The other restaurants to make the top 10 include Wally’s Café in Rockling, California, serving up Middle Eastern dishes, and Aroy Mak, a Thai food restaurant in Seattle. The Good Salad in Santa Clara, California, offers customized takeout salads. Number nine is Amy’s French Bakery & Bistro in Pompano Beach, Florida. This husband and wife team from the French Riviera serve breakfast all day in an authentic French atmosphere.
As you can see, this unusual list is a testament to the fact that great food can be found anywhere, and passion is its own reward.
