Introducing Eater’s list of the Best New Restaurants of 2025. 🎉
Over the past year, we’ve gone to dozens (and dozens) of restaurants nationwide in search of surprising, creative, and memorable meals that surpass all expectations. These 15 spots — including Caribbean and Korean tasting menus in New York and LA, and halal barbecue and fast-casual West African food in Texas — are the best in the U.S. right now.
Find out why each restaurant earned a place on our list at the link in our bio and start making your reservations now.
📸: Scott Semler (@scottdsemler ), Zach Horst (@zacharyhorst ), Andrew Thomas Lee (@andrewthomaslee ), Cary Norton (@carynorton ), Tom McGovern (@foodphotographer ), Doug Sweet Jr (@dougsweetjr ), Carolyn Fong (@cfongphoto ), Alex Staniloff (@alexstaniloff ), Brittany Conerly (@brittany.conerly ), Stan Lee (@secretstan ), Thalía Gochez (@thaliagochez ), Bonnie Durham (@bonniedurhamphotography ), Jarod Opperman (@photoppermanj ), Aliya Ikhumen (@aliyaikhumen ), Rey Lopez (@reylopezphoto_ )
That crunch >>> 😍
We bet you’ve never had a crispier samosa than this seven-layered version from the new Ambassadors Clubhouse (@ambassadorsclubhousenyc ) in NYC. We’ll take 3 plates, please!
Tap the link in our bio to get a behind-the-scenes look from the kitchen at Ambassadors Clubhouse, the most in-demand restaurant in the city.
Order this raj kachori chaat before you even open the menu at Ambassadors Clubhouse (@ambassadorsclubhousenyc ) in NYC.
If you’re lucky enough to snag a seat at the newest hotspot in the city, this standout dish is a must. Tap the link in our bio to see why NYC's only charcoal tandoor Indian restaurant has a 12,000-person waitlist.
On his day off, Hamburger America (@hamburger_america ) owner (and burger scholar!) George Motz (@motzburger ) brought us to a few of his favorite spots around NYC, including Werkstatt (@werkstattbrooklyn ), a cozy spot in Brooklyn that’s serving up world-class schnitzel and other German-Austrian favorites. We could never say no to a pretzel the size of our head. 🤣
Tap the link in our bio to watch the full episode of “Chef’s Day Off” to see the rest of Motz’s NYC food tour.
This NYC hotspot only makes *two* of these chickens every day — and it’s easy to see why.
Ambassadors Clubhouse (@ambassadorsclubhousenyc ), the most in-demand restaurant in the city with a waitlist of over 12,000 people per night (!), spends three days on each chicken. If you want one, run, don’t walk.
Tap the link in our bio to see more from the restaurant, including how they’re making other Punjabi-inspired dishes like a seven-layered samosa.
This is NYC’s most impossible reservation — there are over 12,000 people on the waitlist every night. 😱
Ambassadors Clubhouse (@ambassadorsclubhousenyc ), the most in-demand restaurant in the city, is a sister concept to London's Michelin-starred spot of the same name (@ambassadorsclubhouse ), as well as two-starred Gymkhana (@gymkhanalondon ). The refined Punjabi restaurant is the only place in Manhattan cooking with a traditional charcoal tandoor. See how they’re making other hits, like their Royal Atta Chicken (a dish that takes three days from start to finish!), at the link in our bio, and let us know: Have you been yet? 👀
We sat down with actor Justin Hartley (@justinhartley ), star of the CBS show “Tracker,” for lunch at Ci Siamo (@cisiamonyc ) in NYC to chat about the oddest thing in his freezer (you’ll *never* guess what it is 👀), his go-to snacks at craft services, and more. Are you a “Tracker” fan? Let us know below. 🎥: Sergio Scardigno (@sergescardigno ), Nadia Chaudhury (@nadiachaudhury ), Seyeon Bang (@seyeonbangfilm )
There’s solace in data, especially for restaurant owners. 📈
We spoke to Tracy Spetka, director of operations at Yellow Rose (@yellowrose.nyc ) and Rose Marie (@rosemariebk ), and Anoop Pillarisetti, co-owner of Strange Delight (@strangedelight.nyc ), about how they make pivots and predictions when it comes to controlling their restaurant’s margins.
Head to the link in our bio to watch the full Pre Shift “We Asked” roundtable discussion on @Square ’s site, and hear more advice, tips, and real-world experience from industry insiders.
It’s gimbap’s time to shine. 🌟
Often, especially in Western food media, gimbap, which is also romanized as kimbap, has been referred to as “Korean sushi.” This comparison is easy, given that most people have probably had a maki roll. But to some people, particularly within the Korean diaspora, this framing erases the nuance of a beloved dish. With Korean cuisine on the rise in the United States, some chefs now want to give gimbap the spotlight. Tap the link in our bio to read more from senior reporter Bettina Makalintal (@buttina ).
📸: Jill Rittymanee (@j.ritty ), Kim’s Kimbap (@kimskimbap ), Perilla (@_perilla.la ), Jennelle Fong (@jennellefong )
We sat down with actor Matthew Rhys (@thematthewrhys ), star of the new Apple TV show “Widow’s Bay,” for lunch — and an oyster shucking lesson! — at Concrete Shoals (@concreteshoals ) in NYC to chat about the one Welsh food he can’t find a good version of in New York, if he would eat a fish caught in the Hudson River (his answer may surprise you 👀), and more. Have you watched “Widow’s Bay” yet? Let us know below. 🎥: Sergio Scardigno (@sergescardigno ), Nadia Chaudhury (@nadiachaudhury )
