Best of Flavor 2022

Flavor & The Menu’s special “Best of Flavor” edition is a collection of 100 menu inspirations from our readers, showcasing the flavor-forward innovation taking place in menu development today.

Fill ‘er Up: Empanadas Rustika Café and Bakery | Based in Houston

Empanadas served with tortilla chips and salsa, plus choice of soup or salad ...

Fiery Fusion: Korean Quesadilla bd’s Mongolian Grill | Based in Irving, Texas

Korean Quesadilla: Flour tortilla, gochujang-honey-marinated chicken, kimchi and cheddar cheese,...

Well Rounded: Salsiccia Broccoli Pizza Casa Don Alfonso | St. Louis, Mo.

Salsiccia Broccoli Pizza with Parma cream, fennel sausage, broccoli rabe, smoked scamorza, chile...

Crossover King: Street Style Ribs Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant | Based in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Street Style Ribs with sweet and spicy glaze, cashews, green onion, cilantro and lime...

Rich Tradition: Bergen Fish Chowder Seafood from Norway + Lysverket

Bergen Fish Chowder: Pollock stock, egg yolk, butter, sour cream, chives and caviar, served with...

Happy Hour: Okonomiyaki Waffle Sunda New Asian | Chicago

Okonomiyaki Waffle with cabbage, topped with tonkatsu sauce, Kewpie mayo, bonito and pickled ginger...

One in a Melon: Crispy Rice Planta | Based in Miami

Crispy Rice with avocado and spicy “ahi” watermelon ...

By Land and Sea: Surf & Turf Burrito Chronic Tacos | Based in Aliso Viejo, Calif.

Surf & Turf Burrito: Grilled steak, shrimp, black beans, Spanish rice, lime, cheese, housemade...

Hitting the Sauce: Korean BBQ Tacos California Tortilla | Based in Rockville, Md.

Korean BBQ Tacos with Jack cheese, Korean barbecue sauce, onions, peppers, jicama slaw, Sriracha and...

Sauce Crisscross: Flip the Bird Bowl Roti | Based in Chicago

Flip the Bird Bowl: Char-grilled chicken rōti, saffron rice, black lentils, curried carrot salad,...

Turning a New Leaf: Fried Brussels Sprouts Amalia | Miami Beach, Fla.

Fried Brussels Sprouts with guacamole, yakitori dressing, crispy almonds, radish and pomegranate...

Crowning Touch: Tagliatelle Indaco | Based in Charleston, S.C.

Tagliatelle with pork tesa, black pepper, egg, chives and Parmesan Photo credit: Andrew...

Eye-Popping: Duroc Pork Belly Lollipops Rye | Dallas

Duroc Pork Belly Lollipops: Bourbon-braised pork belly, garlic-wilted rainbow chard and burnt orange...

The Sauce Is Boss: Mutts Original Chicken Sandwich Mutts Canine Cantina | Based in Dallas

Mutts Original Chicken Sandwich: Crispy chicken tenders, American cheese, pickles and Sichuan...

Wild Idea: Salmon Teriyaki Sandwich Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar | Based in Denver

Salmon Teriyaki Sandwich: Wild-caught salmon fillet grilled with teriyaki, paired with housemade...

Elegant Equation: Charred Cabbage Zitz Sum | Coral Gables, Fla.

Charred Cabbage with Fresno chile, Parmigiano-Reggiano, chives and olive oil Photo Credit: Zitz...

Cali-Med: California Shakshuka Fredericks at The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel | San Francisco

California Shakshuka: Two poached eggs, tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, yogurt, housemade lamb sausage,...

Inside Scoop: Twice-Baked Bone Marrow Potato Harper’s | Dallas

Twice-Baked Bone Marrow Potato with Gruyère and crème fraiche, garnished with a filled split bone...

Game Play: Roasted American Bison Filet Haywire + The Ranch at Las Colinas | Multiple locations in Texas

Roasted American Bison Filet with buttermilk-chive whipped potatoes, grilled asparagus and...

Bar None: Hildee Bar Hildee’s Dine-Inn | Wimberley, Texas

Hildee Bar: Chocolate chip shortbread, brown butter caramel and dark chocolate ganache garnished...

Dutch Crunch Delight: Smoked Pastrami Sandwich Hot Johnnie’s | San Francisco

Dutch Crunch: Smoked pastrami, Muenster cheese, pepperoncini spread, house pickles and fresh dill...

Game On: “Bone-In” Duck Meatloaf Jack & Charlie’s No. 118 | New York

“Bone-In” Duck Meatloaf with fig jus, served with whipped potatoes and charred Chinese broccoli...

Dumplings To Talk About: Pork & Shrimp Potstickers Lure Fishbar | Based in New York

Pork & Shrimp Potstickers served with dumpling sauce Photo Credit: Alex Stein...

From Bowl to Box: Salmon & Tuna Poke Sweetfin | Based in Los Angeles

Sweetbox: Signature Yuzu Salmon Poke over citrus-kale salad; Signature Spicy Tuna Poke over bamboo...

Work of Art: Porchetta Roast Whino | Arlington, Va.

Porchetta Roast with fennel, lemon zest and rosemary, wrapped in crispy skin pork belly and served...

Winning Chicken: Ranch-Seasoned Fried Chicken Golden Corral | Based in Raleigh, N.C.

Ranch-Seasoned Fried Chicken When Golden...

Umami Boost: Fingerling Potatoes Indo | St. Louis, Mo.

Fingerling Potatoes with kombu butter, mushroom salt, pickled wakame seaweed and shredded dried nori...

Umami Bombs: Yuzu-Xilli Dumplings Camp | Greenville, S.C.

Yuzu-Xilli Dumplings with yuzu ponzu, chile oil, pork belly, shrimp, cashews and cilantro ...

Sunrise, Sunset: Dusk til Dawn Cocktail Nina’s | New York

Dusk til Dawn: 818 blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, amber agave, pineapple/jalapeño purée and...

Street Sensation: Pomegranate Bhel Puri Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen | Fullerton, Calif.

Pomegranate Bhel Puri: Crackers, puffed rice, peanuts, vermicelli, tamarind chutney and pomegranate...

Spicy Sweet: Outrageous Chamoy Cup Yogurt Mill | Based in Modesto, Calif.

Outrageous Chamoy Cup: Dole pineapple sorbet, fresh pineapple, mango, chamoy sauce, Tajín and...

Spanish Comfort: Rossejat De Fideos Comedor | Laguna Beach, Calif.

Rossejat De Fideos: Paella-style vermicelli, lobster, shrimp, calamari, clams and mussels cooked in...

Spanako-Pizza: Greek Spinach & Feta Pizza Greens Restaurant | San Francisco

French Onion Agnolotti with allium crunch and Gruyère ...

Soup for the Soul: French Onion Agnolotti Church & Union | Nashville, Tenn.

French Onion Agnolotti with allium crunch and Gruyère ...

Snack Wave: Fried Mozzarella Skewers Fazoli’s | Based in Lexington, Ky.

Fried Mozzarella Skewers with marinara or Alfredo sauce ...

Sizing Up: California Avocado Burrito California Avocado Commission + Libelula

Big A$$ California Avocado Burrito with achiote-braised cauliflower, bacon, andouille, roasted...

Seeding Success: Gluten-Free Super Seed Bread Le Pain Quotidien | Based in New York

Gluten-Free Super Seed Bread When “daily...

Seasonal Spice: 5-Alarm Fall Vegetable-Grain Bowl True Aussie Beef & Lamb + Nordstrom Restaurants

5-Alarm Fall Vegetable-Grain Bowl: Lamb meatballs, feta cheese, farro, quinoa, spinach, butternut...

Seafood Special: Spaghetti with Blue Crab Vestal | Lafayette, La.

Spaghetti with blue crab, katsuo cream, basil, chile and salmon roe Photo Credit: Denny Colbert...

Saucy Mocktail: BBQ Pineapple Shrub Buxton Hall Barbecue | Asheville, N.C.

BBQ Pineapple Shrub: Pineapple, sugar, Buxton Hall’s Eastern Carolina BBQ vinegar, lime wheel ...

Rolling in Dough: Dire Wolf Chicken Wrap Wolfnights | New York

Dire Wolf: Fried chicken wrapped in ginger dough with lamb bacon, melted cheddar, green papaya slaw,...

Monkey Around: Mango Monkey Bread National Mango Board + Tesse Restaurant

Mango Monkey Bread: Mango purée-sweet dough, diced mango, cinnamon, ginger, brown sugar and caramel...

Loaded with Possibility: BBQ Brisket Fries Wienerschnitzel | Based in Newport Beach, Calif.

BBQ Brisket Fries: Fries topped with shredded brisket, barbecue sauce, cheese sauce and grilled...

Pulpo Perfection: Octopus Carpaccio Leku | Miami

Octopus Carpaccio with housemade tartar sauce, pickled onions, caviar and pimentón emulsion ...

Pastrami Flip: Mushroom Rueben Hearth and Hill | Park City, Utah

Mushroom Rueben: Oyster mushrooms, caramelized onions, dill sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, pastrami spice...

Aïoli Upgrade: Pink Fries Spark | Oklahoma City

Pink Fries with beet-aïoli sauce, Parmesan and chopped parsley ...

Child’s Play: PB&J Slider Son of a Butcher | Based in Plano, Texas

PB&J Slider with blackberry jam, bacon, crunchy peanut butter, American cheese and caramelized...

‘Tis the Season: Citrus-Olive Oil Cake Solstice | Locations in Newtown, Pa., and Irvine, Calif.

Citrus-Olive Oil Cake with orange, grapefruit and yogurt gelato ...

Schnitzel Delight: Chicken Schnitzel Seed Kitchen & Bar | Marietta, Ga.

Chicken Schnitzel with miso-mustard-cream sauce, oven-dried tomato, arugula and Grana Padano ...

Well Traveled: Little Tokyo Sandwich Frida Southwest | Oklahoma City

Little Tokyo: Fried chicken thigh, Japanese mayo, cucumber, pickled egg, togarashi, maple syrup and...

Signature Stamp: Espresso Martinique Apothecary | Dallas

Espresso Martinique: Rhum J.M Agricole, Brulot VSOP Cognac-coffee liqueur, salted honey and malted...

Hook, Line and Sinker: Kanpachi Crudo The Salt Line | Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Va.

Kanpachi Crudo with pickled carrots, radishes, fried ginger, lime, cumin salt and dill...

Knuckle Down: Lobster Knuckles “Escargot Style” The Mermaid Inn | Three locations in New York

Lobster Knuckles “Escargot Style” with parsley-garlic butter and grilled country bread Photo Credit:...

Use Your Noodle: Chicken Curry Ramen The Holding Company | San Diego

Chicken Curry Ramen with boiled egg, chile peppers, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, tofu, fried garlic...

Mussel Magic: Mussels with Lobster-Butter Broth The Graceful Ordinary | St. Charles, Ill.

Mussels with lobster-butter broth, sliced shallots, pappardelle and dill Photo Credit: Matt...

Treasure Chest: Scallop en Croûte The Driskill Hotel | Austin, Texas

Scallop en Croûte with truffle and cream sauce Photo Credit: Lian Reddick...

Roman Expansion: Mezze Maniche al Sugo di Manzo Testaccio | Chicago

Mezze Maniche al Sugo di Manzo with red wine-braised oxtail and prime ground beef ragu...

Griller Thriller: Spicy Steak & Potato Griller Taco John’s | Based in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Spicy Steak & Potato Griller: Hand-cut sirloin steak, Potato Olés, warm nacho cheese, zesty...

Life Gives You Lemons: Smoked Half Chicken Sweetbriar | New York

Smoked Half Chicken over a salad of lettuce and shallots, and garnished with Meyer lemon marmalade...

‘Rita Rave: Tamarind Margarita Rasa | Based in Washington, D.C.

Tamarind Margarita: Tequila, housemade tamarind purée, sugar and citric acid ...

For the Love of Bees: Queen Bee Cocktail National Honey Board + Garden Bar PHX

Queen Bee: Dry gin, Heirloom Genepy, pineapple juice, lemon juice, honey, egg white, honeycomb and...

Hybrid Hit: Braised Beef Chilaquiles Norms | Based in Bellflower, Calif.

Braised Beef Chilaquiles: Tortilla chips tossed with red chile broth, topped with quesabirria...

Carnival of Flavor: Mussel + Beer + Cotton Candy NR | New York

Mussel + Beer + Cotton Candy: Beer-steamed mussels, topped with cotton candy and served with a broth...

Dramatic Drink: West Side Crusta Cocktail Ophelia | New York

West Side Crusta: Cognac infused with salted butter-caramel black tea, orange liqueur, ras el...

Free-Range Flavors: Country Chicken Sandwich PB&J: Pizza, Beer and Jukebox | Chicago

Country Chicken Sandwich: Cornflake-crusted fried chicken, creamy slaw, chipotle aïoli and kosher...

Camera Ready: Roasted Tika Cauliflower Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery | Based in Houston

Roasted Tika Cauliflower: Tri-colored cauliflower, grains of paradise, spiced almonds, pickled...

Seafood Stacks: Monterey Squid Okonomiyaki Pabu Izakaya | San Francisco

Monterey Squid Okonomiyaki with pork belly, sunny-side-up egg, bonito flakes and okonomiyaki sauce...

Taco Transformations: Chicharrón Tacos Sally Can Wait | New York

Chicharrón Tacos with slow-roasted pork belly, pickled onions, Cotija, cilantro, aïoli and schmaltz,...

Original Icon: Khao Mun Gai Rooster & Rice | Based in San Francisco

Khao Mun Gai: Poached, organic chicken, chicken rice, cucumber and cilantro with fresh...

High Steaks: Steak Gorgonzola Romano’s Macaroni Grill | Based in Denver

Steak Gorgonzola: Sirloin topped with Gorgonzola-garlic butter and served with buttermilk mashed...

Kashmiri Hot: Kashmiri Fried Chicken Mister Mao | New Orleans

Kashmiri Fried Chicken with ancho, árbol, Sichuan, black salt-lime cream, cumin and Poor Man’s Pink...

Dragon Takes Flight: The Little Dragon Cocktail Ma Der Lao Kitchen | Oklahoma City

The Little Dragon: Arette Reposado tequila, Mandarine Napoléon liqueur, jeow som chile dip, lime...

That’s A Wrap: Bronco Burrito Bad-Ass Breakfast Burritos | Based in Pasadena, Calif.

Bronco Burrito with three eggs, smoked bacon, white American cheese, avocado, pickled jalapeños,...

Rock’n Rice Bowl: Pineapple Adobo Alaska Rockfish & Brown Rice Bowl Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute + Nordstrom Restaurants

Caramelized Pineapple Adobo Alaska Rockfish & Gingered Brown Rice Bowl with sugar snap peas,...

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Best of Flavor 2022

No Results Found

Contributors