30 editor picks across United States.
30 casual dining worth the trip across United States, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All United States guides.
Neptune Oyster on Salem Street runs the city's defining raw bar in Boston's North End since 2004. 42 seats, no reservations, hot-buttered lobster roll.
OrderHot-buttered lobster roll on a butter-toasted split-top bun.
TipPut your name on the iPad at 16:30. The wait at 18:30 runs 90 minutes; weekday lunch is the easy seat.
Goldee's Barbecue in Fort Worth is a Michelin-recognised pitmaster destination open only Friday through Sunday, and sells out early most days.
OrderBrisket, pork ribs, house-made sausage links, banana pudding.
TipArrive at opening or call ahead. They sell out most Fridays by 13:00 and do not restock once the pit is empty.
Red Iguana on West North Temple, the Cardenas family's Mexican room since 1985 and Utah's most awarded restaurant, runs the state's defining moles.
OrderA combination platter with mole negro and verde plus a pomegranate margarita.
TipHour-plus wait at peak; cross to Red Iguana 2 across South Temple or order takeout via the operator's site.
Niki's West on Finley Avenue West Birmingham has run the canonical meat-and-three since 1957, with a cafeteria steam table by the Alabama Farmers Market.
OrderFried catfish, Turnip greens, Cornbread
Eagle's Restaurant on 16th Street North in Smithfield is the Black-owned soul-food anchor since 1951, with Friday catfish and weekday meat-and-three plates.
OrderSmothered pork chop, Fried catfish, Greens and cornbread
John Lewis's Lewis Barbecue in Charleston runs central-Texas-style brisket and hot-guts sausage from a Nassau Street smokehouse since 2016. Priced at $$.
OrderA quarter-pound of fatty brisket and a hot-guts link, plus the green chile corn pudding side.
TipOrder at the counter. Brisket runs out by 19:00 most nights; arrive earlier for the full menu.
Abigail Street on Vine in OTR is Daniel Wright's Cincinnati Mediterranean small-plates room, with lamb meatballs, spanakopita and Greek wines.
OrderLamb meatballs, Spanakopita
Eli's BBQ on Riverside Drive in Cincinnati's East End is the smoker-led pulled-pork and brisket counter that grew from a single backyard pit.
OrderPulled pork sandwich, Jalapeno cheddar grits
Larder Delicatessen and Bakery on West 29th Street in Hingetown, Jeremy Umansky's koji-and-curing project a 2025 James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef Great.
OrderPastrami on rye with a side of matzoh ball soup, plus a knish to go.
TipHot food service stops 17:45; walk-ins welcome. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Lucky's Cafe on Starkweather Avenue in Tremont, the Diners Drive-Ins and Dives brunch room often voted Cleveland's best, runs farm-driven breakfast and lunch.
OrderShrimp and grits and an order of the house biscuits with house jam.
TipReservations only for parties of six or more; arrive by 09:15 on weekends to skip the queue.
Deep Ellum's most-visited dining room: long communal tables, cold beer, and brisket that made national food media relocate their coverage of Texas BBQ.
OrderBeef brisket by the pound. Jalapeño cheddar sausage. The beef rib on Saturdays.
TipThe beef rib on Saturday is the highlight. Come at 11am or accept the queue. They sell out daily.
The suburban BBQ pilgrimage: Michelin Bib Gourmand, Texas Monthly Top 50, Akaushi Wagyu and Duroc pork, and a loyal following that lines up before 10am.
OrderAkaushi Wagyu brisket. The Toddfather sandwich.
TipBYOB. Credit card only. Pre-order whole meats for the best selection. Closed most of the week.
Bar Dough in Denver is Max MacKissock's wood-fired pizza and pasta room in Highland since 2015, with a Neapolitan-trained oven and house-made pastas.
OrderThe cacio e pepe and a Margherita pizza; the kitchen runs daily seasonal pasta specials.
TipWalk-in at the bar usually works; the patio is busy on summer weekends. Brunch on Sunday with carbonara is a draw.
Work and Class in Denver is Tony Maciag and Tabatha Knop's family-style Latin American room on Larimer in RiNo since 2014, a James Beard semifinalist.
OrderThe roasted half chicken with chimichurri or the steak frites.
TipWalk-in only; weekend nights hit 60-minute waits by 7 pm. The bar pours one of the city's best mezcal lists.
Al Ameer on West Warren Avenue in Dearborn serves Lebanese cooking in metro Detroit since 1989. James Beard America's Classic 2016, the first Michigan winner.
OrderWhole-leg lamb shawarma, hummus with pine nuts and warm pita straight from the oven.
TipWalk-in friendly; the parking lot is large for the area. Hours 11:00-22:00 most nights.
Stella's Southern Brasserie runs French-influenced Southern from a Rocky Slope Road storefront: shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, bourbon-pecan tart.
OrderShrimp and grits, Fried green tomatoes, Bourbon-pecan tart
Truth BBQ in Houston is Leonard Botello IV's Heights Boulevard smokehouse since 2019, with post-oak-smoked brisket regularly ranked on Texas Monthly's Top 50.
OrderBrisket fatty. The strawberry cake (the legend of Truth). Pulled pork.
TipWed to Sun lunch only until sold out, usually 2 to 3pm. Get there by 11am for brisket.
Raku in Las Vegas is Mitsuo Endo's Spring Mountain izakaya since 2008, binchotan-charcoal robata that drew chefs from the Strip and earned multiple James.
OrderAgedashi tofu (made in-house daily) plus a run of robata skewers chosen at the counter.
TipBooking is essential. Late-night kitchen runs to 03:00 for after-shift industry diners.
Salvatore's Tomato Pies on North Livingston, the Madison branch of the Sun Prairie Trenton-style pizzeria, runs tomato pies with sauce on top of the cheese.
OrderA Trenton-style tomato pie and a Wisconsin tap beer at happy hour.
TipClosed Monday; 16:00-18:00 happy hour Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday with $5 off 10-inch pies.
Ahan on Williamson Street, the Brown-Soukaseume family's Asian-inspired room, brings Laotian and Southeast-Asian dishes to the Willy Street corridor.
OrderA Laotian curry preparation plus the spring rolls and a rotating special.
TipReservations via the operator's site; takeout runs faster than dine-in at peak weekend hours.
Punch Neapolitan Pizza on Grand Avenue has fired Vera Pizza Napoletana pies in the Twin Cities since 1996. The first Italy-certified pizzeria in the Midwest.
OrderThe Margherita pizza and the Toto with prosciutto and arugula.
TipWalk-ins only; wait list moves fast. Nine Twin Cities locations spread the load.
Brian Lea and Leina Horii's 40-seat Highland Yards Japanese comfort-food room earned a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand and Garden and Gun Hot List in Nashville.
OrderOkonomiyaki with bonito flakes, plus seasonal curry rice and karaage.
TipLunch only Wednesday through Sunday. No reservations; queue starts before opening on weekends.
FOB Kitchen in Oakland's Temescal carries a Bib Gourmand for Janice Dulce's Filipino cooking. Weekend brunch is longanisa and garlic rice in a tropical room.
OrderSinigang, Coffee-braised ribs
Belotti on Rockridge's College Avenue cooks Piemonte cuisine in a Michelin Recommended trattoria. Tajarin and brasato are the cross-town dishes worth booking.
OrderTajarin, Brasato
Pizzeria Beddia in Philadelphia is Joe Beddia's Fishtown reincarnation of the Bon Appetit 2015 America's Best Pizza, with a margherita pie and a separate.
OrderMargherita with sungold tomatoes; a salad of every herb in the kitchen.
TipThe hoagie room books separately. Reserve it for groups of four to six who want lunch sandwiches.
Primanti Bros on 18th Street is the 1933 Strip District original in Pittsburgh. The sandwich with fries and vinegar slaw stacked inside the Italian bread.
OrderAn Almost Famous sandwich with grilled meat, slaw and fries packed inside the bread.
TipThis is the original location, open since 1933 and late into the night on weekends.
Driftwood Oven on Butler Street in Lawrenceville bakes sourdough pizza and bread in Pittsburgh. A food-truck-turned-bakery with naturally-leavened pies.
OrderA naturally-leavened pizza and a loaf from the bread counter.
TipThe sourdough crust is the point. Pies sell out late; bread goes early.
The Honey Paw on Middle Street is the Big Tree Hospitality noodle counter, with hand-pulled noodles, dumplings and seafood served through a pan-Asian lens.
OrderHand-pulled noodles with the daily sauce, plus the kimchi fried rice.
TipDaily 11:00-22:00. Book tables via Resy for dinner; the bar takes walk-ins through last call.
OneSpeed on Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento is Rick Mahan's bicycle-themed pizza counter from The Waterboy team, organic flour and DiNapoli tomato base.
OrderThe seasonal California-style pizza; the meatball appetiser
TipTuesday to Friday 16:00-21:00, Saturday and Sunday 15:00-21:00. Walk-in or call ahead.
Amber Michel and chef Billy Zoellin's Bacon & Butter on Broadway in Sacramento is the city's Michelin Recommended California farm-to-fork brunch counter.
OrderBrioche French toast, the seasonal chicken and waffles
TipWednesday to Sunday 08:00-14:00. Expect a queue Saturday and Sunday after 10:00.
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