2026 Food & Wine Top 10 US Restaurants

Kabawa is worth prioritizing for a New York City celebration when the table wants a Caribbean tasting menu with a clear point of view. The counter-forward room suits solo diners, dates, small groups better than large parties, the strongest reason to choose it over nearby alternatives is the more structured, occasion-ready experience.

Alma Fonda Fina is a Michelin-starred contemporary Mexican restaurant in Denver's LoHi neighbourhood, earning national recognition from Esquire within months of its 2023 opening. Chef Johnny Curiel's shareable four-section menu, anchored by an eight-seat chef's counter, delivers technical precision at a $$ price point that is difficult to match in the city. Book three to four weeks out minimum.

Canje is Austin's strongest case for Guyanese-Caribbean cooking, landing #4 on Esquire's Best New Restaurants in 2022 and holding a Pearl Recommended designation in 2025. The East 6th Street room works well for dates and small celebrations, booking is straightforward, a rotating menu means return visits stay interesting. Go with an open mind on what to order.

Kwame Onwuachi's Afro-Caribbean restaurant inside the Salamander Hotel is one of D.C.'s hardest tables to get for good reason. The sharing-plate format pulls from Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Creole traditions with real specificity; earned a Michelin Plate and Esquire Best New Restaurants nod in its first year. Book four-plus weeks out via Resy, bring a group to get the most from the menu.

Emeril's is the right booking when a New Orleans dinner needs to feel serious, polished, worth planning around. With Michelin 2 Stars, a Wine Spectator Grand Award, E.J. Lagasse leading a Cajun kitchen, it is better for a seated special occasion than takeout, delivery, or a casual group meal.

Hayato is the most coveted reservation in Los Angeles: a seven-seat kaiseki counter in Row DTLA where chef Brandon Hayato Go cooks directly in front of guests and narrates every course. Two Michelin stars, ranked #2 by the LA Times and #10 in North America by OAD. Near-impossible to book, but worth pursuing for a serious special occasion.

Semma is the clearest argument for South Indian cooking in New York City, holding a Michelin star and the 2025 James Beard Award for Best Chef: New York State. At $$$, it sits a tier below the city's tasting-menu circuit while delivering comparable critical recognition. Book well ahead; this is a hard reservation; and go with the staff's recommendations beyond the dosa.

Kalaya is the clearest yes in Philadelphia for Southern Thai cooking that operates with real ambition. Chef-owner Nok Suntaranon's Fishtown restaurant is Michelin-recognised, built around house-made pastes and authentic heat, more bookable than its reputation suggests. The bar seats work well for solo diners and walk-ins. Go hungry and stay for the shaved-ice desserts.

Gregory Gourdet's debut restaurant brings three-time James Beard Award-winning technique to Haitian Caribbean cuisine at a $$ price point; the full menu is gluten- and dairy-free, the front-of-house depth (dedicated wine director, sommelier) outpaces the price tier. Ranked on OAD's Casual North America list in both 2024 and 2025, this is one of Portland's hardest bookings and one of its clearest yes-book decisions for a serious dinner.

Mister Jiu's is San Francisco's only Michelin-starred Chinese-American restaurant and the strongest value in the city's fine dining tier: James Beard Award-winning cooking at $$$ rather than the $$$$ most peers charge. Built on seasonal Bay Area sourcing within a Cantonese banquet framework, it rewards the booking effort. Reserve via Resy at least two to three weeks out.