These 19 California Restaurants Just Made Opentable’s 2026 Top 100 In America, More Than Any Other State

Getting a table at some California restaurants takes more planning than an actual vacation.

Reservations disappear quickly, regulars know exactly what to order, and newcomers often wonder what all the excitement is about.

Well, OpenTable’s 2026 Top 100 Restaurants in America gives us a pretty good idea. California claimed 19 spots, more than any other state, and the variety is genuinely impressive.

Some of these restaurants have been feeding generations of loyal customers. Others are relatively new, already earning national recognition for doing things a little differently.

What I find especially interesting is that these selections reflect actual diner experiences. And with 19 California restaurants making the cut, there’s plenty to be curious about.

1. Bar Cecil

A restaurant named after a British artist and designer feels very on brand for Palm Springs. Bar Cecil pays tribute to Cecil Beaton, and the room leans into that stylish spirit with vintage décor and chic lighting.

Dinner here mixes classic and modern ideas with flavors from around the globe. You’ll spot Steak Frites, Duck Two Ways and a Duroc pork chop.

Feeling extra hungry? The Australian Wagyu tomahawk steak is the showstopper of the menu.

Vegetarians get a mushroom risotto with vegan parmesan and basil.

Plan ahead, because reservations open online up to 14 days out. Leave the cash at home too, since Bar Cecil is cashless.

The restaurant began taking reservations in June 2021 and now sits in the Michelin Guide. Not bad for a pandemic-era newcomer.

Address: 1555 S Palm Canyon Dr, Suite H-104, Palm Springs, CA 92264

2. Boulevard

Few dining rooms can claim a building older than most cable car lines. Boulevard lives inside the Audiffred Building, which dates back to 1889.

Inside, the Belle Epoque style shows off mosaics, ironwork, and hand-blown glass. A 2021 refresh added shades of blue and Art Deco touches.

Chef Nancy Oakes opened Boulevard in 1993 with designer Pat Kuleto. It hit its 30th birthday in 2023 and still runs strong.

Executive Chef Dana Younkin cooks seasonal Californian food with classic and modern techniques. Past menus have included salmon carpaccio, ahi tartare, and roasted pearl hen.

The main dining room offers a flexible multi-course prix fixe menu. Want something looser?

The bar, lounge, and chef’s counter serve à la carte and welcome walk-ins.

Just remember it closes on Sundays. Monday through Saturday, dinner starts at 5 PM.

Address: 1 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105

3. Californios

History got made in June 2026, and it tasted like heritage corn. Californios became the first Mexican restaurant in the world to earn three Michelin stars.

Chef Val M. Cantú started with two years of pop-ups. He opened a permanent spot in the Mission in 2015, then moved to SoMa in early 2021.

The nightly tasting menu blends Mexican roots with Northern California ingredients. Nixtamalized heritage corn anchors much of the meal.

Dishes have included masa negra corn tartlets with cranberry bean mousse and caviar. Uni tacos and smoked quail wrapped in house mole have also appeared.

Block out your evening, because the experience runs about three hours. Both the dining room and the bar serve the full menu.

Look around between courses and you’ll spot the chef’s personal library on display. Dinner happens Tuesday through Saturday only.

Address: 355 11th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

4. Callie Restaurant

Sunshine gets its own cooking style in San Diego’s East Village. Chef Travis Swikard calls it Cuisine du Soleil, with bold flavors from Greece, Spain, Italy, Morocco, and the Middle East.

He sharpened those skills at Daniel Boulud’s Boulud Sud in New York. Now his menu is seasonal and built for sharing.

Kampachi crudo comes with Israeli hot sauce and black lime. Carrots get crunchy cashew dukkah and a burnt orange habanero dressing.

Bigger appetites can go for Harissa Grilled Lamb Chops or Aleppo Chicken. Save room for the Warm Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookie, honestly.

Bringing a crew? The Callie Feast is a five-course family-style menu, but the whole table has to join in.

Here’s a sweet bonus: you get three hours of free garage parking with validation. Callie also picked up a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2026.

Address: 1195 Island Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101

5. Cesarina

Farmers’ market pasta grew up and got a whole restaurant. In 2017, Cesarina Mezzoni and Niccolò Angius sold fresh vegan pasta at San Diego markets.

By February 2019, they opened this trattoria with Giuseppe Capasso. The place carries Cesarina’s own name.

The coolest feature is the open-air pastificio, or pasta factory. You can watch the dough turn into noodles right in front of you.

You also get to play matchmaker. Pick a pasta shape, then pair it with your favorite sauce.

The truffled gnocchi arrives in its own copper pot with cream sauce. Tiramisu gets a tableside show for dessert.

Vegan diners have plenty of options, which makes sense given those market roots. Two garden patios even welcome dogs.

Breakfast runs Friday through Sunday mornings. Cesarina also holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

Address: 4161 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107

6. Chicano Nuevo

Tijuana street food just got a tasting menu, and it’s one of the toughest bookings in San Francisco. Chicano Nuevo serves six courses built around masa.

Chef Abraham Nuñez worked at El Amigo bar in this same Mission Street building back in 2013. He launched Chicano Nuevo here as a pop-up in 2015.

In 2026, it finally became a permanent restaurant. Talk about a long road home.

The Baja fish taco is a star. Tempura-fried basa sits on hand-rolled blue corn tortillas with cabbage, pickled onions, and a clarified salmon consommé.

Then there’s the tamale negro, with beef tongue, squid-ink masa, cheese, and Baja-style crema. Bold stuff.

Finish with the WuTang flan, which might be the best dessert name in California. Dinner runs nightly from 5 to 10 PM.

Address: 3355 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

7. Cowboy Star

Builders found a surprise while constructing this steakhouse: an early-1900s hearth from a family home on the site. It now lives in the private dining room.

Jon Weber, Angie Weber, and chef partner Victor Jimenez opened Cowboy Star in 2008. That same year, it won an Orchid Award for interior design.

The look mixes rustic Western style with 1940s Hollywood polish. Expect exposed beams, cowboy accents, and classic landscape photos.

It’s a steakhouse and a butcher shop in one. Every steak gets cut in-house, sourced from independent family ranches.

The 35-day dry-aged bone-in ribeye is the headliner. Housemade charcuterie and steak tartare make tasty openers.

Seafood fans aren’t left out either. The fish meets Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch standards.

Watch the display kitchen while you wait. Dinner is served nightly.

Address: 640 10th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101

8. Dunsmoor

Fire runs the show in Glassell Park. At Dunsmoor, nearly each dish gets cooked over or near a central wood-burning hearth.

Chef Brian Dunsmoor blends Southern American traditions with seasonal California produce. Smoke and heritage techniques shape the menu.

Start with the Hatch Chile Cheddar Cornbread, because why wouldn’t you? Pork and Green Chili Stew and grilled quail with pepper jelly have also appeared.

Craving something big? The Dry-Aged Ribeye and Mushroom-Crusted Pork Chop are serious contenders.

The room features faded brick, amber lighting, and long communal tables. Grab a counter seat if you want to watch the kitchen work.

Since opening in 2022, Dunsmoor has earned plenty of praise. It ranked tenth on the Los Angeles Times 2024 list of 101 best restaurants.

Doors open nightly at 5:30 PM, though it closes on major holidays.

Address: 3501 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90065

9. House of Prime Rib

Indecision isn’t a problem here, since the menu basically has one main dish. House of Prime Rib has served prime rib in San Francisco since 1949.

The beef ages for 21 days. Then servers carve it right at your table from gleaming stainless steel carts.

You’ll choose your cut, from The City Cut to the hefty King Henry VIII Cut. Pick based on your appetite and your ambition.

Dinner comes with a tossed salad made tableside and Yorkshire pudding. You also get mashed or baked potato, creamed spinach, and horseradish cream.

Wood panels, fireplaces, and leather booths give the room an old English feel. Joe Betz bought the place in 1985 and kept its legacy going.

Fair warning: reservations can be booked months ahead. Some folks line up before opening, hoping for bar seats or cancellations.

Address: 1906 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109

10. Kokkari Estiatorio

A tiny Greek fishing village lends its name to one of San Francisco’s favorite dining rooms. Kokkari is a village on the island of Samos.

The restaurant opened in 2000 and serves modern Greek food with Northern California ingredients. It’s the sister of Evvia Estiatorio in Palo Alto.

A giant wood-burning fireplace anchors the room. Wood-fired meats and charcoal-grilled whole fish are the big draws.

Try the Arnisia Paidakia, which are grilled lamb chops. Kotopoulo Souvlas, a spit-roasted chicken, is another classic.

Little bites matter too. Tiropitakia are flaky phyllo pies with feta, and soutzoukakia are lamb meatballs.

Finish with Pagoto Baklava for a sweet ending. Lunch runs on weekdays, and dinner happens nightly.

Can’t snag a table? The bar and lounge take walk-ins and serve the full menu.

Address: 200 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

11. LEILA

Dinner under the stars doesn’t require a patio at LEILA. The ceiling is designed to look like a night sky, and a stream runs through the room.

Opened on July 31, 2024, this North Park spot spreads across two levels. Moroccan décor and an open kitchen add to the dreamy effect.

Founder Arsalun Tafazoli drew on his roots for the concept. Influences come from Morocco, Iran, and beyond.

Executive Chef Majid Mayahi blends Middle Eastern, Lebanese, and Persian flavors. Tahdig, the crispy Persian rice, is a must for crunch lovers.

Koobideh kebab and braised lamb shank bring heartier fare. Whole fish shows up on the menu too.

Share some mezze like falafel, hummus bi tahina, and shirazi salad. The menu is meant for passing plates around.

Night owls, take note. Weekend hours stretch until midnight.

Address: 3956 30th Street, San Diego, CA 92104

12. Lilo

Six weeks. That’s how long Lilo took to earn a Michelin star after opening in 2025.

The New York Times then named it one of the nation’s 50 best restaurants that year. Quite the rookie season in Carlsbad.

Chef Eric Bost and restaurateur John Resnick run the show. Dinner happens at a 24-seat chef’s counter with one multi-course tasting menu.

Ingredients can include Japanese kinmedai, wagyu, Maine lobster, and California abalone. Local Spot Prawns and Squab have also appeared.

Dessert gets adventurous. One ice cream came topped with celery root bushi and Ossetra caviar.

Your evening may begin on a heated patio before moving inside. The design leans on natural textures and coastal touches.

The name comes from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. It means a friendship that rekindles instantly after years apart, which is lovely.

Address: 2571 Roosevelt St, Carlsbad, CA 92008

13. Naisho Omakase

Naisho means secret, and the name fits. This 14-seat sushi bar sits inside Highball, a Japanese-style spot in Costa Mesa.

Chef Shimpei Shinohara started training at age 13 in his parents’ sushi restaurant in Fullerton. That’s a long time with a knife in hand.

Meals last about an hour and focus on nigiri. You can pick the 12-course menu called The Moment or the 16-course The Journey.

The longer option adds shellfish, more nigiri, and hand rolls. The chef plays with contrasts in temperature, texture, and flavor.

Set an alarm if you want in. Reservations drop on OpenTable two weeks out, daily at 9 AM.

Missed it? A walk-in list starts at 4:30 PM, depending on space.

The concept opened in March 2026. Already landing on a national list is quite the start.

Address: 3033 Bristol St #117, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

14. Providence

Bees on the roof help finish your meal at Providence. The restaurant keeps Italian honeybee hives and a rooftop garden for herbs and edible flowers.

Chef Michael Cimarusti opened Providence in June 2005. Since 2025, it has held three Michelin stars.

Sustainable seafood is the heart of the tasting menu. Expect wild-caught fish, often from American waters.

Past dishes include a lobster mousse tart with box crab. Roasted monkfish with cauliflower and shaved black truffles has appeared too.

Truffles get shaved right at your table. Colorful flowers turn plates into tiny works of art.

A 2023 redesign gave the room a calm sea theme. Hand-blown glass Sea Clouds float above walls in eight shades of blue, green, and sand.

A vegetarian menu is available as well. Dinner runs Tuesday through Saturday.

Address: 5955 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038

15. Rich Table

Doughnuts before dinner? At Rich Table, the Dried Porcini Doughnuts come with a raclette cheese dip, and nobody’s judging.

Husband-and-wife chefs Evan and Sarah Rich opened the spot in 2012. It held a Michelin star from 2014 until 2021.

The menu stays casual but uses fine-dining skills. Seasonal produce and foraged ingredients guide it.

Small Bites steal the spotlight. The Sardine Chip with horseradish crème fraîche is a fan favorite.

You’ll also see Aged Beef Dumplings and Smoked King Salmon Cannoli. Ricotta agnolotti with pork belly brings bigger comfort.

Can’t decide? The Chef Picks tasting menu does the choosing for you.

The room has warm woods, local art, and a farmhouse feel. Bar seats can be reserved, and walk-ins can try the bar or communal table. Doors open daily at 5 PM.

Address: 199 Gough St, San Francisco, CA 94102

16. Saison

Long before open-fire cooking got trendy, Saison was stoking the flames. It was an early fine-dining champion of wood-fire cuisine.

The story began with a pop-up in 2009. It later moved from the Mission District to this Townsend Street warehouse.

The roaring hearth is the center of the action. The room blends rustic bones with polished style.

Executive Chef Richard Lee builds a seasonal tasting menu from California farms and fisheries. Meals start with small bites, like a tuna and strawberry tartlette.

Later courses have included rabbit saddle with morels. Texas antelope ribeye with blueberries has shown up too.

Saison holds two Michelin stars in the 2026 guide. It ranked No. 22 on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2026.

Book early, since reservations are required. Vegan diets can’t be accommodated, so plan accordingly.

Address: 178 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107

17. Strong Water

Shipwrecks usually end badly, but this one serves Cannonball Tots. Strong Water drops you inside the wreck of the Clementine, a vessel said to have sunk in 1884.

Ying Chang and Robert Adamson opened it in 2019. The couple also runs The Blind Rabbit speakeasy.

The room is dim and packed with quirky nautical décor. It earned a James Beard nomination in 2024.

Food gets just as much attention as the theme. Cannonball Tots come with braised short rib and American cheese fondue.

Ahi Poke Nachos and Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp keep things island-style. The Loco Moco Burger stacks a Wagyu patty with spam and a fried egg.

Plant-based eaters can grab the Thai Curry Ravioli. Indoor dining is 21 and over and needs reservations.

Parking in Car Park 4 is free for two hours with validation.

Address: 270 S Clementine St, Anaheim, CA 92805

18. The Musso & Frank Grill

Hollywood stars come and go, but this grill has outlasted them since 1919. Musso & Frank is the oldest restaurant in Hollywood.

French immigrant Firmin Toulet started it as Frank’s François Café. The Musso & Frank name arrived in 1923.

In 1927, it moved next door to its current address. Descendants of John Mosso still own and manage it today.

French chef Jean Rue created the original menu. It has stayed largely the same for decades, which is part of the charm.

Look for steak tartare and butter-fried lemon sole with capers. Roasted oysters with black garlic are on there too.

Red leather booths and a famous mahogany bar keep the old-school mood alive. You may recognize the room from films and TV shows.

Honestly, few California dining rooms carry this much backstory.

Address: 6667 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028

19. The Progress

Silent films once flickered inside this Fillmore Street building. From 1911 to 1925, it worked as a movie theater.

Today, Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski run The Progress. They’re the team behind State Bird Provisions next door.

Think of this as the dressier sibling. It opened in 2014 and holds a Michelin star in the 2026 guide.

The kitchen follows a whole animal, whole vegetable approach. Curing, fermenting, smoking, and fire all build bold flavors.

Here’s the fun part: your table picks four dishes to share. The menu changes often, so each visit can feel new.

Past plates include brown butter seaweed noodles and crispy lamb’s tongue katsu. The State Bird peanut milk dessert is a signature.

Two stories of wood, stone, tile, and skylights make the space striking. Walk-ins can try the bar.

Address: 1525 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115