12 SoCal Restaurants Ranked Among America's Best, New Ranking Says

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — A total of 12 restaurants in Southern California have earned bragging rights as being among the best in America, according to a new ranking from the reservation platform OpenTable.

OpenTable has released its annual list of the Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2025. The restaurant reservation and review site draws on diner reviews and seat demand to determine the top restaurants in every state.

In California, 18 restaurants in cities across the state hold that honor.

Unlike some lists decided by critics, OpenTable’s list of the 2025’s Best 100 Restaurants is based on diner reviews and the percentage of reservations made in advance, among other metrics.
Each year, OpenTable looks at insights from diner reviews and demand to determine the top restaurants across the country–the list is arranged in alphabetical order by state and by restaurant name.

Here are the most desirable eateries of all kinds across Southern California, according to OpenTable.

• BarCecil, Palm Springs, 4.8 stars (587 reviews)
• Bestia, Los Angeles, 4.7 stars (937 reviews)
• Callie Restaurant, San Diego, 4.8 stars (733 reviews)
• Cesarina, San Diego, 4.8 stars, (1,064 reviews)
• Cowboy Star, San Diego, 4.8 stars, (543 reviews)
• Dunsmoor, Los Angeles, 4.8 stars, (551 reviews)
• Jeune et Jolie, Carlsbad, 4.8 stars, (495 reviews)
• Lilo, Carlsbad, 4.9 stars, (234 reviews)
• Musso & Frank Grill, Los Angeles, 4.8 stars, (960 reviews)
• Providence, Los Angeles, 4.9 stars, (274 reviews)
• Strong Water, Anaheim, 4.9 stars, (475 reviews)
• Sushi | Bar, Hermosa Beach, 5 stars, (105 reviews)

Anaheim:

Strong Water, located at 270 South Clementine Street, Anaheim. According to OpenTable, “Strong Water is a nautical-themed tiki bar in Anaheim, California, that immerses guests in the ambiance of a sunken treasure ship. The dimly lit interior, featuring dark wood and rich burgundy décor, feels like a ship's cabin. Enjoy tropical music while sipping drinks served in tiki mugs with umbrella straws. The menu offers Polynesian-inspired dishes and an extensive selection of rum, from spiced to aged.

More than just a bar, Strong Water provides an unforgettable experience. Every detail, from the décor to the music and menu, is crafted to transport you to another world. With delicious food, creative drinks, and a captivating atmosphere, Strong Water is perfect for tiki culture enthusiasts or anyone seeking a unique dining experience. Don't miss out on this extraordinary destination.”

Carlsbad:

Jeune et Jolie, located at 2659 State Street, Carlsbad. This restaurant, ideal for special occasions, is considered innovative as it is charming, according to OpenTable guests. “A culinary experience celebrating the moment, Jeune et Jolie reimagines French cuisine through the vibrant lens of our Southern California landscape with a 4-course menu offered at $120 per guest. For those looking for a more casual evening, we feature "Le Menu du Bar”, an à la carte offering available for walk-in guests at our bar and lounge.”

Lilo, located at 2571 Roosevelt Street, Carlsbad. This is a fancy, special occasion spot with a truly innovative menu that won its first Michelin star in 2025. According to OpenTable editors, “The team behind acclaimed Carlsbad restaurants Jeune et Jolie and Campfire have added this intimate, 22-seat tasting menu restaurant housed in a former boogie board factory that's the most ambitious yet. Star chef Eric Bost takes inspiration from the Southern California coast for his menus that include thoughtful dishes like spot prawns served with a sauce made of sea buckthorn, lime leaf, serrano pepper, and gooseberries. Everything is well thought out here, down to the drink pairings that offer standout wine, nonalcoholic beverages, or a mixed option, too.”

Hermosa Beach:

Sushi | Bar, located at 25 22nd Street, Hermosa Beach. According to OpenTable, Sushi | Bar, described as "The Best Omakase in America" is taking up residency during the evenings at Hermosa's beloved Martha's restaurant. This specially curated Omakase experience is comprised of a rotating menu including seasonal ingredients from both land and sea. Throughout your time at Sushi Bar, you can expect innovative riffs on traditional favorites as the chefs prepare a playful reverie on modern nigiri. This intimate experience serves just 12 guests per seating."

Los Angeles:

Bestia, located at 2121 E. 7th Place, Los Angeles: According to OpenTable editors, this restaurant has been “packed since the day it opened in 2012. Ori and Genevieve Menashe’s acclaimed California-Italian restaurant has made a name for itself for excellent cocktails, wood-fired pizzas, and now-iconic dishes like slow-roasted lamb neck. Housed in a former warehouse, the cavernous, industrial-chic restaurant ushered in a new era of Arts District dining—and feels just as vibrant and energetic as it did a decade ago.”

Dunsmoor, located at 3501 N. Eagle Rock Boulevard, in Los Angeles: OpenTable raves, "Brian Dunsmoor’s namesake restaurant is the latest iteration of his ongoing exploration of American heritage cooking. It is, first and foremost, a restaurant for the community that surrounds it, and a loving expression of the relentless research that has informed his cooking for the last ten years."

Musso & Frank Grill, located at 6667 Hollywood Boulevard, in Los Angeles. This spot is ideal for special occasions and is considered a charming neighborhood gem by diners. OpenTable says, “Welcome to The Musso & Frank Grill where we provide an authentic Old Hollywood dining experience one would have received in the early decades of last century. We welcome you to Old Hollywood!”

Providence, located at 5955 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles. This three-time Michelin Star winner is one of only two LA Restaurants to achieve that honor, OpenTable editors say. “One of only two LA restaurants to earn prestigious three-MICHELIN-Starred status, Providence is what seafood dreams are made of. James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Cimarusti puts sustainability front and center in his blockbuster tasting menus starring the likes of Santa Barbara spot prawns and Golden Kaluga caviar. Expect excellent wine pairings and exceptional service that never feels stuffy—just the way dining at one of LA’s most acclaimed restaurants should be.”

Palm Springs:

BarCecil, located at 1555 S Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. This bistro-style, casual dining restaurant won its Michelin Plate award in 2022. Diners can expect $31 to $50 per plate for the French, American cuisine.

San Diego:

Callie Restaurant, located at 1195 Island Ave, San Diego, according to OpenTable editors, "Chef Travis Swikard’s celebration of the Mediterranean, inspired by his time cooking at Chef Daniel Boulud’s New York restaurant, Boulud Sud. There, he immersed himself in the flavors of Greece, Spain, Italy, Morocco, and the Middle East, embracing the region’s diversity, generosity, and warmth."

Cesarina, located at 4161 Voltaire Street in San Diego. OptenTable editors say that “Cesarina is a grandmother, a mother, a daughter—our personification of a nurturer who feeds and cares for her community. From meticulous attention to detail and fresh ingredients to the warm and inviting atmosphere, this restaurant is a celebration of the power of food and family.”

Cowboy Star, located at 640 10th Avenue, San Diego. Owners say that this restaurant is “located in the heart of the East Village neighborhood of San Diego, Cowboy Star is dedicated to providing an unmatched attention to detail and a level of service that immediately sets us apart. Cowboy Star guests are the number one priority and guest satisfaction is the basis upon which our entire concept is built.”

So, where in California would you want a reservation?