Need a new favorite restaurant? Four in California rank among nation’s best new spots
Restaurant-goers craving new places to try in California are in luck.
Yelp ranked the best new restaurants in the U.S. in 2024, and four spots in the Golden State made the cut out of 25, according to a report released Dec. 3.
These new and trendy spots vary in cuisine and can be found in San Diego, Los Angeles and Anaheim.
“This year’s top new US restaurants are not just serving amazing dishes—many are also creating immersive experiences that customers remember long afterward,” Yelp said in its post.
To find the best new restaurants in the country, Yelp looked at eateries that opened after Jan. 1, 2023. Those spots were then ranked “using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews” from Jan. 1, 2023, to Sept. 1, 2024.
Yelp Trend Expert Tara Lewis was then consulted to “zero in on what spots Yelpers were loving.”
Kinme Omakase — San Diego
Kinme Omakase has been recognized as a top restaurant after opening in March 2023.
The intimate Japanese restaurant in San Diego offers an omakase experience for 10 guests at a long wooden bar.
Omakase translates from Japanese to “I leave it up to you.”
That’s what each guest gets to do when they sit at the bar and allow the chef to use their creativity and expertise to craft every dish, according to the Michelin Guide.
Every diner has “almost a theatrical experience,” the owner and creative director Shihomi Borillo told Yelp.
Yelp reviewers raved about the atmosphere, the flavors, the food presentation and the service.
“Worth every penny. With every bite I wanted the melt in your mouth, decadent flavors to last forever. When I say everything served was delicious, I mean it,” a Yelp Elite reviewer said.
Burnin’ Shell — Los Angeles
Burnin’ Shell isn’t your typical Korean barbecue spot.
The pirate-themed restaurant — ranked No. 5 by Yelp — has employees searing only seafood at the table.
“Strips of sea eel set ablaze right on your table, a live lobster presented in a treasure chest before steaming, and towers of mussels and clams,” Yelp said in its post.
The Korean restaurant goes above-and-beyond with its presentation.
And Yelp reviewers seem to agree.
“All the seafood came out in beautiful presentation and was very fresh. The server grilled everything perfectly. My favorite was the abalones, oysters, clams, and hagfish!” a Yelp Elite reviewer said.
“The seafood was fresh and was an awesome experience overall. Loved the little things they did like showing us the lobster and doing a fire show, to make this a special experience,” another reviewer wrote.
The menu has fixed prices depending on party size.
BoujieMana — San Diego, California
A second San Diego restaurant was recognized as one the best new restaurants in the country.
BoujieMana, ranked No. 8, is a Mediterranean restaurant that does more than serve food.
The business donates 3% of its profits every month to nonprofits, according to its website.
The restaurant is donating to Operation Warm in December, an organization that helps provide resources, like new shoes and coats, to children.
In addition to giving back, the restaurant serves “delicious and timeless dishes,” including traditional beef kibbeh, herb roasted jidori chicken and Lebanese tabouleh.
The menu also features hummus and pita, pizza and other salads.
“Everything is prepared with every detail in mind. The blending of the flavors, the textures, and the presentation is 5 stars. We loved everything we had on this initial journey to this hidden oasis,” one Yelp reviewer said.
Reviewers also said the bidets in the bathroom were a plus.
Paseo — Anaheim
An upscale Mexican dining spot recently opened by Michelin-star chef Carlos Gaytán.
Gaytán, who is from Huitzuco, Guerrero, Mexico, is the first Mexican-born chef to receive the highest honor in the culinary world.
One of his newest restaurants, Paseo, was recognized as the ninth best new place to eat.
He opened the restaurant in the Downtown Disney District where he serves many tasty dishes.
Yelp reviewers raved about Mama’s Cochinita Pibil, a gluten-free dish with “guerrero-style pork shank, black bean pureé, pickled red onion, habanero salsa, corn tortillas.”
The recipe honors Gaytán’s mother who tweaked the original recipe to add pineapple vinegar and guajillo peppers, according to Yelp.
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 7:58 AM with the headline "Need a new favorite restaurant? Four in California rank among nation’s best new spots."
