This CT Restaurant Named To Top 100 In America: New List

CONNECTICUT — A humble sushi joint in Connecticut was not only named to the top 20 restaurants of 2025 by a major review aggregator, it's the only one in the state to make the top 100 nationwide.

The gastronomes who frequent local business review website Yelp have named Gohan Japanese Cuisine in Southington to their list of the best restaurants of 2025.

How does a "nondescript sushi place in a strip mall in Southington have universal five stars on Yelp" one Hartford diner wanted to know, and the internet was more than happy to explain it to him.

A reviewer from West Haven praised Gohan's "genuine 'mom and pop' feel" and "the sushi that truly shined." The sushi sentiment was echoed by another Gohan patron who called out the "Titan" appetizer — shrimp tempura wrapped in tuna, mango, avocado, topped with jalapeno, coconut flakes, cranberry, and thinly sliced lime — as "truly astonishing."

Another diner from Orange had high praise for Gohan's chef, calling him "a creative genius who is both innovative and friendly." Although sushi is clearly the heart of Gohan's wheelhouse, Yelpers also gave the restaurant high marks for the Thai spicy wings. Full menu is here.

In terms of decor and ambiance, Gohan, at 405 Queen Street in Southington, fit right in with the rest of this year's eatery elite. Yelp editors noted that finding the best food "in some of the most unexpected places" was a recurring theme of their 2025 Best Restaurants list. Their No. 1 pick, the Michelin-rated Holbox, is located in a crowded food hall in Los Angeles.

Other trends include the country's newfound taste for international delicacies, particularly Middle Eastern cuisine, and "eco-friendly dining." Holbox, for example, uses fish parts that are often discarded, like the heads, to make spreads for tacos and other entrées, according to Yelp.

Yelp's complete top 20 best restaurants of 2025 is below; the top 100 list is here.

1. Holbox, Los Angeles, California
2. Twisted Gyros, Hillsboro, Oregon
3. De Babel, Scottsdale, Arizona
4. Phonomenal, National City, California
5. Chellas Arepa Kitchen, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
6. Wally’s Cafe, Rocklin, California
7. Aroy Mak Thai Food, Seattle, Washington
8. The Good Salad, Santa Clara, California
9. Amy’s French Bakery & Bistro, Pompano Beach, Florida
10. Kaya, Orlando, Florida
11. Shlap Muan Wings, Long Beach, California
12. Sierra Subs and Salads, Three Rivers, California
13. Odeh’s Mediterranean Kitchen, High Point, North Carolina
14. Beyer Deli, San Diego, California
15. Berry Brand, Tustin, California
16. Georgetown Seafood, Washington, DC
17. Jack of Cups Saloon, Folly Beach, South Carolina
18. West Coast Cheesesteaks, Glendora, California
19. Milpa, Las Vegas, Nevada
20. Gohan Japanese Cuisine, Southington, Connecticut