Miguel M. Vargas
Audio By Carbonatix
Yelp, the yellow pages of restaurant listings where people love to rant and leave one-star ratings because they’re too chicken to complain in person, has released its annual list of the top 100 restaurants in the U.S. (We have our own list of Top 50 Restaurants, zero ranting.) In what can, from a certain point of view, be considered a ringing endorsement, no Dallas restaurants are on the list of places Yelp customers adore.
No restaurants in North Texas broke the top 10, either. Or top 20 or top 30; the first local spot on the list is Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar in Fort Worth at No. 36, followed by Gold Spoon in Carrollton at No. 37. It’s a fairly big fall for Hatsuyuki, which was No. 9 on the list in 2024. The 25-seat sushi bar is a good approximation of the omakase experience that’s become so sought after in the Dallas area, minus the requirement for reservations and a giant bill at the end of the meal. For Yelp, it fits into a “trend” of Japanese cuisine taking over, with multiple sushi spots in the top 10.
A Few Bright Spots in the ‘Burbs
As for Gold Spoon, the Observer reviewed it as a fun neighborhood spot that’s great for big groups and with a solid drink program. Based on the trends Yelp spotted, this would fit into “grandma-core,” noting that diners appreciate cozy, old-fashioned spots that tap into nostalgia.
A bit further down, Hutchins BBQ in Frisco comes in at No. 49, and we’re going to attribute that to the Texas Twinkies. Fun fact, there are no other Texas barbecue spots to be found on the entire list, and, in fact, the only other barbecue Yelpers like is a Kansas City spot that snagged No. 15. Is it the prices of craft barbecue driving them away? It can’t be a general distaste for meat when A Taste of Texas, the giant caricature of a steakhouse in Houston, is at No. 2.
One of the Observers’ picks as a hidden gem made the list, also. Edmond’s Burgers & More in Plano is at No. 59. It’s all about the signature burger here, the Jaden, made with beef bacon, Swiss cheese, a fried egg and grilled onions on Texas toast.
Austin and Houston
Austin managed to land three restaurants on the list, with the highest ranking at No. 47, while Houston landed a whopping seven spots, including that big No. 2 for Taste of Texas, which really does show there’s no accounting for taste.
San Antonio’s Comfort Cafe came in at No. 5, and the city landed one other restaurant in Yelp’s top 100. (Editor’s note: Comfort Cafe has a sister concept in the wee little town of Smithville, where Lauren Drewes Daniels graduated from high school. Comfort Cafe is an amazing weekend-only nonprofit brunch spot for those in recovery. If you’re ever wandering about 45 miles east of Austin, look it up.)
Yelp’s yearly best restaurants list, driven by user votes, continues to march to the beat of its own drummer.
