Yelp, the digital guide for discovering and reviewing local places, recently released its 2025 list.25 Best New Restaurants in America,
Based on Yelp data and community reviews, the list presents a tasty tour of the country’s most exciting restaurants, ranging from a Bangkok-style street food spot in Los Angeles to a cozy neighborhood bistro in New York. This year’s selections also reflect today’s top culinary trends, with chefs taking a sophisticated take on open-fire cooking, signature tasting menus and global comfort food.
coming in at number 1 dogon In Washington, DC, where the James Beard Award winner is Chef Kwame Onwuachi Incorporates its Afro-Caribbean roots into an unforgettable fine dining experience. is located inside Salamander DCThis astronomical-themed restaurant is inspired by Benjamin Banneker, the 18th-century astronomer and surveyor who helped chart the original boundaries of Washington, D.C. and traces his ancestry to the Dogon people of West Africa, famous for their profound knowledge of the stars.
After dining there with my family, I can absolutely understand why this restaurant tops the charts. As you enter, the restaurant’s grand lobby immediately catches your attention with its smooth geometric lines and metal chain accents that nod to Benjamin Banneker’s mapping instruments. The space glows with mesmerizing lights, moonlight domes and blue mirrored glass, creating an ambiance that feels like dining under the night sky. Soft shades of mauve and purple extend the divine theme into the futuristic design of the dining room.
The restaurant’s menu is a blend of Onwuachi’s Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian and Creole roots, while also paying homage to Washington, DC’s large Asian and Ethiopian population.
Each dish transported us somewhere within the African diaspora. We enjoyed Ho Crab with Plantain Ho Cake, Berbere Roasted Chicken with Jollof Rice, Curried Branzino with Crisp Zucchini and Callaloo, and Barbecue Greens with Candied Cipollini and Beef Bacon. We also tried two of the three desserts, including the Rum Cake with Vanilla Whip and Burnt Fruit and the Cherries and Cream, which my daughter described as unique and delicious.
The drinks list, designed by award-winning mixologist Derek Brown, includes a selection of black-owned spirits, zero-proof options and inventive cocktails like the Astronomer, crafted with Bieb African gin, house-made tea, lemon, orgeat, aquafaba and lavender.
Yelp’s top five restaurants celeste in Narragansett, Rhode Island; Theodora in New York City; commission row in indianapolis; And Sgrizzi by Chef Mark In Las Vegas.
To see the full list of restaurants and learn more about the report, visit here yelp.com,
