Ci Siamo, an modern Italian restaurant in Union Square Hospitality’s portfolio, was the setting for Yelp’s Top 100 announcement. | Photo by Pat Cobe
Ci Siamo, Danny Meyer’s modern Italian restaurant in New York City, claimed the No. 1 spot on Yelp’s annual list of the Top 100 Places to Eat in the United States. The list showcases the highest-reviewed restaurants, diners, fast-casual spots, food halls, and more, all ranked by Yelp users.
“Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat shows what happens when real people guide the conversation about restaurants,” said Tara Lewis, Yelp’s trend expert. “By sharing honest reviews and photos, diners have surfaced a mix of cozy neighborhood favorites, brunch and sandwich shops and unique culinary experiences you won’t find on any other list.”
Ci Siamo was the setting for Yelp’s announcement Tuesday, where chef Hillary Sterling and her team treated media guests to the menu’s specialties, including arancini, pizzettes, rigatoni Amatriciana and a buffet of Italian meats and cheeses.
Chef Hillary Sterling leads the kitchen at Ci Siamo. | Photo courtesy of Ci Siamo
“We opened Ci Siamo [four years ago] as a way to bring everyone back after COVID into what we think of as our home,” Sterling told the crowd. “We started this restaurant to take guests on a journey; transporting them to wherever they want to go … by way of some pasta, some bread and conversation. The name Ci Siamo means ‘We have arrived and we’re ready,’ and we’re always ready for something here. I am so proud and honored that we have touched so many people across the United States this year and we will continue to do that.”
Sterling revealed that she and Union Square Hospitality Group are taking Ci Siamo to Boston soon, opening a location there in the spring.
The remaining 99 restaurants on the Yelp list range across 34 states, with concentrations in Texas, California and New York. Local favorites include the 50-year-old A Taste of Texas in Houston (No. 2 on the list), where guests personally select their steak cuts. Rounding out the Top 5 picks are Nam Kitchen, a Vietnamese-Peruvian spot in Gardena, California; Waffle and Berry, an all-day café in Honolulu; and Comfort Café in San Antonio, a pay-what-you-can model that supports addiction recovery.
Although the list includes a Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse in Miami and a high-end New Orleans seafood destination, the majority of the picks reflect today’s demand for affordability. About 65% of Yelp’s honorees offer meals priced at $30 per person or less.
Other dining-out trends also emerged. Places focusing on either dinner-worthy sandwiches or all-day breakfast got a lot of attention, each earning nine spots on the list. There was a definite swing toward nostalgic fare, what Yelp refers to as “grandma-core” or “nonna-stalgia.” Restaurants serving comforting menu items made with simpler ingredients were well represented.
And Japanese cuisine had a strong showing. Sushi spots, handroll bars and Japanese-Peruvian fusion concepts earned 10 spots on the list, including wood-fire restaurant Noko in Nashville at No. 24.
To determine the Top 100 Places to Eat in 2026, Yelp identified businesses in the restaurants category and ranked them using a number of factors, including total volume and ratings of reviews. When available, all businesses on the list have a passing health score as of Nov. 6, 2025.
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