California Restaurants Shine on Yelp's 2026 Best New Eateries List
The Golden State secured five spots on Yelp's national ranking, with Los Angeles' Firstborn earning the second position.
California is leading the nation in culinary innovation, with five of its newest restaurants named among Yelp's top 25 best new eateries for 2026. Los Angeles' Chinatown-based Firstborn secured the second spot on the prestigious list.
Firstborn, a Chinese restaurant helmed by Michelin-recognized chef Anthony Wang, received praise for its "remarkably complex" menu, which draws inspiration from Wang's upbringing and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant offers a $68 pre-fix menu featuring dishes like duck sausage, butter-poached prawn, and Chongqing fried chicken.
Another California standout, Eylan in Menlo Park, a Cal-Indian restaurant, ranked fourth. Yelp highlighted its innovative approach to traditional flavors, particularly its family-style prix-fixe menu which includes items like crispy chicken and taro root chaat.
Carlsbad's Lilo, a Japanese-influenced establishment, earned the fifth position. The restaurant, which received a Michelin star shortly after opening, offers a multi-part dining experience that includes small bites, a chef's counter tasting menu, and a post-meal tea service by a fire pit.
San Francisco's Ah Ma’s Kitchen, offering a modern take on Cantonese cuisine inspired by Hong Kong tea restaurants, was ranked sixteenth. The menu features dishes such as noodle soup with wontons and crispy salted egg yolk chicken wings.
Rounding out California's representation is Lucia in Los Angeles, which ranked nineteenth. This Caribbean restaurant has become a celebrity favorite and was also recognized by Robb Report for its design. Chef Cleophus “Ophus” Hethington's menu includes saltfish croquetas and Guyanese chow mein.
The top spot on Yelp's list went to Tempe's Filthy Animal, an American eatery known for its wood-fired cooking and global influences.