A Costa Mesa sushi counter and an Anaheim tiki bar have earned spots on OpenTable\u2019s annual list of the 100 best restaurants in America.<\/p>\n
Naisho Omakase in Costa Mesa and Strong Water in Anaheim earned spots on the reservation platform\u2019s 2026 list, which was released Nov. 4. The two eateries are among 19 California establishments recognized this year, more than any other state.<\/p>\n
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For Naisho Omakase, which opened earlier this year, the recognition comes quickly. The intimate, 14-seat restaurant, led by chef Shimpei Shinohara, offers a chef\u2019s-choice experience with 12- and 16-course menus. The latter is priced at $100 while the shorter option runs $75. It also features a Japanese-style bar in the front.<\/p>\n
Strong Water, meanwhile, is no stranger when it comes to national recognition, having already received James Beard Award nominations. The Anaheim tiki bar, which also landed on OpenTable\u2019s 2025 list, has built a following for its tropical cocktails, Polynesian-inspired fare and dream-like interiors. Its nautically themed decor, replete with the trappings of a shipwreck, makes this place a standout compared to your average neighborhood watering hole.<\/p>\n
The two Orange County establishments join a handful of other California restaurants making the cut. Other Golden State names on the list include Bar Cecil in Palm Springs, Musso & Frank Grill in Los Angeles and Callie and Cesarina in San Diego. Further north, San Francisco was represented by such restaurants as House of Prime Rib, Kokkari Estiatorio and Saison.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ: Every OC restaurant featured in \u2018Real Housewives of Orange County\u2019 season 20<\/p>\n
So how does a restaurant make the cut? Unlike lists by food critics or anonymous food inspectors, OpenTable\u2019s Top 100 is determined by a combination of diner reviews and reservation activity. For its 2026 selection, the company analyzed more than 11 million reviews from verified diners along with other data collected between September 2025 and August 2026.<\/p>\n
Restaurants had to meet a minimum number of reviews and remain in good standing with the platform to qualify. OpenTable then weighted several factors, including overall diners ratings, the percentage of five-star reviews, how often customers searched for the restaurant, the number of alerts set for available tables, how far in advance reservations were made and the percentage of seating capacity booked.<\/p>\n
These figures were combined into an overall score to determine the final 100. Keep in mind, restaurants are not ranked, despite the numerical distinction.<\/p>\n
The entire 2026 list is as follows, grouped alphabetically by state:<\/p>\n
Arizona<\/p>\n
Cafe Monarch \u2014 Scottsdale, AZChristopher\u2019s at Wrigley Mansion \u2014 Phoenix, AZOcean 44 \u2014 Scottsdale, AZSteak 44 \u2014 Phoenix, AZUppercut \u2014 Phoenix, AZ<\/p>\n
California<\/p>\n
Bar Cecil \u2014 Palm Springs, CABoulevard \u2014 San Francisco, CACalifornios \u2014 San Francisco, CACallie Restaurant \u2014 San Diego, CACesarina \u2014 San Diego, CAChicano Nuevo \u2014 San Francisco, CACowboy Star \u2014 San Diego, CADunsmoor \u2014 Los Angeles, CAHouse of Prime Rib \u2014 San Francisco, CAKokkari Estiatorio \u2014 San Francisco, CALEILA \u2014 San Diego, CALilo \u2014 Carlsbad, CANaisho Omakase \u2014 Costa Mesa, CAProvidence \u2014 Los Angeles, CARich Table \u2014 San Francisco, CASaison \u2014 San Francisco, CAStrong Water \u2014 Anaheim, CAThe Musso & Frank Grill \u2014 Los Angeles, CAThe Progress \u2014 San Francisco, CA<\/p>\n
Colorado<\/p>\n
Alma Fonda Fina \u2014 Denver, COAlte\u00f1o \u2014 Denver, COFlorence Supper Club \u2014 Denver, COGuard & Grace \u2014 Denver, COMezcaleria Alma \u2014 Denver, COMilpero \u2014 Denver, COThe Wolf\u2019s Tailor \u2014 Denver, CO<\/p>\n
District of Columbia<\/p>\n
J\u00f4nt \u2014 Washington, DCMoon Rabbit by Kevin Tien \u2014 Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Florida<\/p>\n
Bern\u2019s Steak House \u2014 Tampa, FLBuccan \u2014 Palm Beach, FL<\/p>\n
Georgia<\/p>\n
Bones \u2014 Atlanta, GALa Grotta \u2014 Atlanta, GAUMI \u2014 Atlanta, GA<\/p>\n
Hawaii<\/p>\n
Merriman\u2019s Kapalua \u2014 Lahaina, HI<\/p>\n
Illinois<\/p>\n
Daisies \u2014 Chicago, ILEver \u2014 Chicago, ILGibsons Italia \u2014 Chicago, ILJoe\u2019s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab \u2014 Chicago, ILKasama \u2014 Chicago, ILLe Colonial \u2014 Chicago, ILLula Cafe \u2014 Chicago, ILMon Ami Gabi \u2014 Chicago, ILNorth Pond \u2014 Chicago, ILPIZZ\u2019AMICI \u2014 Chicago, ILRL \u2014 Chicago, ILZarella Pizzeria & Taverna \u2014 Chicago, IL<\/p>\n
Kentucky<\/p>\n
MeeshMeesh Mediterranean \u2014 Louisville, KYTara Restaurant \u2014 Louisville, KY<\/p>\n
Louisiana<\/p>\n
Dakar NOLA \u2014 New Orleans, LAGW Fins \u2014 New Orleans, LA<\/p>\n
Maine<\/p>\n
Scales \u2014 Portland, ME<\/p>\n
Massachusetts<\/p>\n
LUNE \u2014 Dennis Port, MAPammy\u2019s \u2014 Cambridge, MA<\/p>\n
New Jersey<\/p>\n
The Saddle River Inn \u2014 Saddle River, NJ<\/p>\n
New Mexico<\/p>\n
Geronimo \u2014 Santa Fe, NM<\/p>\n
New York<\/p>\n
Chambers \u2014 New York, NYDel Vino Vineyards \u2014 Northport, NYDon Angie \u2014 New York, NYFairfax \u2014 New York, NYGallaghers Steakhouse \u2014 New York, NYGraciela \u2014 New York, NYJeffrey\u2019s Grocery \u2014 New York, NYJoseph Leonard \u2014 New York, NYKabawa \u2014 New York, NYPalma \u2014 New York, NYRed Hook Tavern \u2014 Brooklyn, NYSailor \u2014 Brooklyn, NYThe Odeon \u2014 New York, NYThe Tavern at Gramercy Tavern \u2014 New York, NYUna Pizza Napoletana \u2014 New York, NY<\/p>\n
Ohio<\/p>\n
Jeff Ruby\u2019s Steakhouse \u2014 Cincinnati, OHPepp & Dolores \u2014 Cincinnati, OHSotto \u2014 Cincinnati, OH<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania<\/p>\n
Fiorella \u2014 Philadelphia, PAFriday Saturday Sunday \u2014 Philadelphia, PAHer Place Supper Club \u2014 Philadelphia, PAMawn \u2014 Philadelphia, PAProvenance \u2014 Philadelphia, PASaloon Restaurant \u2014 Philadelphia, PASao \u2014 Philadelphia, PAVetri Cucina \u2014 Philadelphia, PA<\/p>\n
Tennessee<\/p>\n
Bastion \u2014 Nashville, TNKase x Noko \u2014 Nashville, TNLocust \u2014 Nashville, TNNoko \u2014 Nashville, TN<\/p>\n
Texas<\/p>\n
Aba \u2014 Austin, TXBCN Taste & Tradition \u2014 Houston, TXJ Carver\u2019s \u2014 Austin, TXMamani \u2014 Dallas, TXMister Charles \u2014 Dallas, TXMot Hai Ba \u2013 Lakewood \u2014 Dallas, TXRed Ash Italia \u2014 Austin, TX<\/p>\n
Virginia<\/p>\n
L\u2019Auberge Chez Francois \u2014 Great Falls, VA<\/p>\n
Washington<\/p>\n
The Pink Door \u2014 Seattle, WA<\/p>\n
Wisconsin<\/p>\n
Nakama \u2014 Milwaukee, WI<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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