The best new restaurants in California have menus inspired by Indian, Caribbean and Hong Kong flavors, according to Yelp.
Tyler Stableford
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Looking for a new restaurant to try? Five California restaurants rank among the best in the nation, according to Yelp.
The popular review platform recently showcased the 25 best new restaurants of 2026, highlighting “exceptional U.S. dining destinations that Yelpers can’t stop recommending.”
Yelp’s list focuses on “top U.S. dining destinations, chef-driven menus and exciting culinary experiences,” highlighting trends including brunch, steakhouses and Indian cuisine.
“These newcomers aren’t just serving memorable food,” Yelp said. “They’re creating unforgettable experiences.”
See what the Golden State’s best new restaurants are serving up:
What is the best new California restaurant in 2026?
Firstborn in Los Angeles was California’s best new restaurant in 2026, Yelp said, coming in at No. 2 nationwide.
“An art-deco gem in L.A.’s historic Chinatown, this Michelin-recognized newcomer delivers a ‘remarkably complex’ dining experience,” Yelp said.
Firstborn was highlighted by the Michelin Guide for the first time in 2026 after officially opening in March 2025.
The prix fixe menu, which costs $68 per person, is a four-course experience featuring Chinese fusion food. Dishes include butter-poached prawns, lamb terrine and beef cheek with grilled peppers and whipped potatoes.
Firstborn has an average Yelp rating of 4.2 stars out of five, with 162 reviews.
Yelp reviewer Athena W. said she had a “spectacular meal” at Firstborn, adding that the eatery offers a “great exploration of Asian fusion done in a fine dining/tasting menu-style.”
“Holy smokes!” another reviewer wrote. “Firstborn may be the best restaurant experience for the most affordable price EVER in LA.”
Which California restaurants rank in the top 5?
Yelp named Eylan in Menlo Park the fourth best new restaurant in the United States in 2026.
Eylan’s chef, Srijith Gopinathan, and restaurateur Ayesha Thapar were finalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards. The restaurant earned Bib Gourmand and Exceptional Cocktails honors from the Michelin Guide in 2025.
The menu focuses on Cal-Indian food with dishes such as kebabs, paneer, naan and roti. Eylan also has multiple prix fixe multi-course dinners.
Eylan also puts its own spin on classic cocktails including old-fashioneds, Manhattans and cosmopolitans.
The eatery has an average Yelp rating of 4.3 stars from 202 reviews.
“I would recommend their cocktails and well as mocktails menu,” Yelp user Amita G. wrote. “It’s very well crafted.”
Landing at No. 5 on Yelp’s list of the best new restaurants in the United States, Lilo in Carlsbad “earned a Michelin star within two months of opening,” the restaurant review platform said.
Lilo seats 24 people at a chef’s counter serving a “multi-course tasting menu rooted in a thoughtful connection to nature,” according to the restaurant’s website.
Some “standout dishes” Yelp reviewers highlighted were Kaluga caviar with ice cream, Santa Barbara sea urchin and Miyazaki wagyu.
“It is a rare meal that rises to the level of a culinary performance,” Yelp user Jennifer B. said. “Every dish lovingly placed in front of us was a delicate work of art containing ingredients sourced from around the globe.”
Lilo had an average rating of 4.7 stars from 118 reviews on Yelp.
What other new California restaurant did Yelp rank as the best?
At No. 16 on Yelp’s ranking, Ah Ma’s Kitchen serves Hong Kong-style comfort food and Cantonese classics.
The San Francisco restaurant’s “must-try specialties” include kiln chicken and a scrambled egg , pork and pineapple bun.
Dishes inspired by Hong Kong tea restaurants include noodle soup, beef chow fun and salt egg yolk chicken wings.
Many Yelp reviewers said the restaurant has “delicious” dishes and affordable pricing
Suzy C. said the kiln chicken was “absolutely worth it. It’s flavorful all the way through, incredibly juicy, and perfectly balanced — not too greasy or bland at all.”
Ah Ma’s Kitchen has 105 reviews on Yelp, with an average rating of four stars.
Another Los Angeles eatery, Lucia, was No. 19 on Yelp’s list of the best new restaurants in 2026.
“Lucia puts a unique and modern spin on Caribbean classics and brings fine dining techniques to the region’s diverse food,” the restaurant said on its website.
It has also been previously recognized for its interior design including being highlighted in Robb Report’s 21 Most Beautiful Restaurants in America in 2025.
Yelp said Lucia pays tribute to “Caribbean diaspora cuisine,” with menu options including pastas, beef and crab patties and “heritage classics” such as escovitch sea bream and oxtail.
“From the outstanding service, to the beautiful ambience and their delicious food,” Yelp reviewer Staci R. said.
Lucia had an average Yelp rating of 4.3 stars with 394 reviews.
What are the best new restaurants in the West?
Yelp highlighted a total of nine new restaurants in the West on its list of the top spots to eat, including:
How did Yelp come up with its ranking?
To rank America’s best new restaurants in 2025, Yelp examined full-service restaurants that open after Jan. 1, 2025.
The restaurant review platform looked at the total volume and ratings of reviews.
Yelp said it also consulted with trend expert Tara Lewis to “zero in on what spots Yelpers were loving.”
All restaurants on the list had passing health scores as of June 1.
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Alexiah Syrai Olsen
The Tribune
Alexiah Syrai Olsen is a service journalism reporter for The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, California. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and design from The New School in New York City.
Dining and Cooking