California locked up five spots on Yelp’s best new restaurants list for 2026, more than any state, with LA’s Firstborn ranking No. 2.
The New York Post reported that Yelp’s 25 best new restaurants rundown put the Golden State ahead of every other state, with three California newcomers cracking the top five.
Yelp’s overall No. 1 went to Filthy Animal in Tempe, Arizona. But California’s haul stood out: Firstborn at No. 2, Eylan at No. 4, Lilo at No. 5, Ah Ma’s Kitchen at No. 16, and Lucia at No. 19.
These are not legacy temples with decades of PR polish. They are new rooms winning diners on taste, craft, and word of mouth.
Firstborn, a Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles Chinatown, landed second on the national list. Michelin-recognized chef Anthony Wang runs the kitchen.
The restaurant sells a $68 pre-fixe menu with three choices per course. One Yelp review called the menu “remarkably complex.”
Wang told Yelp the cooking reaches back to home.
“Many of the ideas are rooted in nostalgia from my upbringing,”
He also said seasonal supply steers the plate.
“Much of the menu is driven by seasonal availability.”
No committee handed him that ranking. Paying guests did.
Eylan in Menlo Park took fourth. The Cal-Indian spot runs a family-style prix-fixe menu.
One Yelp reviewer zeroed in on the openers.
“The Sigri Kabab and Taro Root Chaat were phenomenal appetizers, bursting with flavor and beautifully executed,”
Lilo in Carlsbad landed at No. 5. The Japanese-influenced restaurant earned a Michelin star just two months after opening.
Its three-part dining experience includes about a dozen dishes around the chef counter. Reviewers did not hold back.
“Each dish was a whimsical work of art and tasted so fresh and delicious. It’s amazing how the chefs are able to pair flavors that work so well together,”
Another guest pressed the point.
“The attention to detail was exquisite. Definitely make this a destination meal if you want a magical experience.”
A star that fast is rare. Execution that sharp is rarer.
Ah Ma’s Kitchen in San Francisco ranked 16th. The restaurant leans Cantonese, with a Hong Kong tea-restaurant spark in the concept.
Lucia in Los Angeles took 19th. The Caribbean spot has drawn A-list attention from Usher and Saweetie and made Robb Report’s list of the 21 most beautiful restaurants in America.
Two-time James Beard Award finalist Cleophus “Ophus” Hethington is tied to the menu there, including saltfish croquetas with truffle and manchego and Guyanese chow mein.
Looks matter at Lucia. Flavor still has to close the deal.
Filthy Animal in Tempe finished as Yelp’s best new restaurant overall. Restaurateur Teddy Myers’ Pretty Decent Concepts group is behind it. Executive chef Rene Vargas works creative American plates with smoky depth over an open pit fire in a jungle-themed room.
Myers described the cooking in plain terms to Yelp.
“There are Asian, Mexican, and tropical influences, but it’s all focused around the wood fire pit,”
“It’s a primal style of cooking.”
Fire, smoke, and a clear idea. Diners noticed.
Yelp’s full methodology and the complete 25-name roster beyond the restaurants named here were not laid out in the reporting. The pattern that is clear: California put more new rooms on the board than any other state, and three of them landed in the top five.
When diners pick the winners, kitchens that deliver rise fast, no political favor required.