Best of Flavor 2025

In a time when menu developers are navigating a complex landscape of constraints, this special Best of Flavor report reads like a love letter to menu innovation. Collectively, these 100 stories also reveal emerging themes—pathways highlighting broader trends shaping modern menu innovation..

Contributors

Alora Coastal Mediterranean | San Francisco

Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails | San Antonio

Angelo’s | Aspen, Colo.

Atlanta

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar | Based in Golden, Colo.

Bar Bonobo | New York

Bar Louie | Based in Addison, Texas

Beautiful South | Charleston, S.C.

Blind Coyote Cantina | Yorba Linda, Calif.

Boleo | Chicago

BriDer | Denver

Brodeto | Raleigh, N.C.

Broken Yolk Café | Based in San Diego

Canoe | Atlanta

Cavalier | San Antonio

Cavaña | San Francisco

Chai Pani | Asheville, N.C. and Decatur, Ga.

Chart House Prime | Based in Houston

Church’s Texas Chicken / Texas Chicken | Based in Atlanta

Claro | Brooklyn, N.Y.

Clean Eatz | Based in Wilmington, N.C.

Credence | Houston

Dave & Buster’s | Based in Dallas

Dialtone Coffee + Wine Bar | Chicago

Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar | Based in Chicago

Early to Rise | San Francisco

Eddie Merlot’s | Based in Denver

Favorites Bistro Bar | New London, Conn.

Fitoor Indian Grill | San Jose and Santa Monica, Calif.

Foreign & Domestic | Austin, Texas

Fred’s Meat & Bread | Atlanta

Félix Cocktails et Cuisine | Charleston, S.C.

Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream | Based in Davenport, Iowa

Hash Kitchen | Based in Paradise Valley, Ariz.

Hawksmoor | Based in London with locations in Chicago and New York

High-impact ingredients for a better beverage

Hot Head Burritos | Based in Kettering, Ohio

Il Parco | San Francisco

In partnership with Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute

Indienne | Chicago

Jaji | Oakland, Calif.

Jarana | Aventura, Fla.

Jollibee | Based in West Covina, Calif.

Kachina Cantina | Denver

Kaiyō | San Francisco

Krystal | Based in Dunwoody, Ga.

La Madeleine | Based in Dallas

Leña Brava | Chicago In partnership with the National Watermelon Promotion Board

LifeWorks Restaurant Group | Based in Philadelphia In partnership with Lentils.org

Lime Fresh Mexican Grill | Based in Miami

Lingo | Brooklyn, N.Y.

Lona Nashville | Nashville, Tenn.

Mano a Mano | Chicago

Marcus Bar & Grille | Atlanta

Meso Modern Mediterranean | San Jose, Calif.

Mountain Mike’s Pizza | Based in Newport Beach, Calif.

Moxies | Based in Vancouver, Canada

Nami Lake Nona | Orlando, Fla.

Newk’s Eatery | Based in Jackson, Miss.

Nixtaco Mexican Kitchen & Distillery | Roseville, Calif. In partnership with California Milk Advisory Board

Nordstrom Restaurant Group | Based in Seattle In partnership with California Walnuts

Nékter Juice Bar | Based in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Oakberry | Based in Miami

Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom | Based in Houston

Olivero | Wilmington, N.C.

Pacific Catch | Based in Corte Madera, Calif.

Palo Santo | Atlanta

Pintxo by Valdemar | Woodinville, Wash.

Pollo Campero | Based in Dallas

Popeyes | Based in Miami

PostBoy | New Buffalo, Mich.

Puesto | Based in San Diego

Reserve Cut | Based in New York

Restaurant Olivia | Denver

Root & Bone | Indianapolis and Chesterton, Ind.; Hendersonville, N.C. In partnership with Aussie Beef & Lamb

Rubio’s Restaurants | Based in Carlsbad, Calif.

Rumi’s Kitchen | Based in Atlanta

Saigon Hustle | Two locations in Houston

Saint & Second | Long Beach and Woodland Hills, Calif.

Salata Salad Kitchen | Based in Houston

Señor Sisig | Based in San Francisco

Shor Bazaar | Los Angeles

Sous Terre | Raleigh, N.C

Stateside Kitchen | Nashville, Tenn.

Sunny Street Café | Based in Columbus, Ohio

Suspiro | San Jose, Calif.

Tamasha Modern Indian | Raleigh, N.C.

The Chapman | Winter Park, Fla.

Thinking beyond red, white and green

Tipsy Trout | Stowe, Vt.

Toppers Pizza | Based in Whitewater, Wis.

Toro | Based in Denver

Tupelo Honey | Based in Asheville, N.C.

Uchi West Hollywood | West Hollywood, Calif.

Udon | Based in Barcelona with two Miami locations

Wahlburgers | Based in Hingham, Mass.

Wild Rye Restaurant and Bar | Butte, Ore.

Wren | Tysons, Va.

Wurst Behavior | Chicago

Zazil | San Jose, Calif.

Ámbar Restaurante | El Paso, Texas