California Cleans Up Yelp’S 2026 Best New Restaurants List — La’S Firstborn Scores No. 2

California takes the crown on Yelp’s best new restaurants list

Yelp’s freshly released list of the 25 best new restaurants of 2026 has a clear West Coast flavor — California placed more entries than any other state, claiming five coveted spots. The roundup highlights newcomers across the state, from Chinatown in Los Angeles to the North County coast, showing how varied and vibrant California’s dining scene remains.

Three California restaurants broke into the top five, proving the state’s way of cooking is still setting trends nationally. The list reflects everything from nostalgic family recipes reimagined for a modern audience to intimate chef-counter experiences that feel more like a culinary performance than a meal.

LA’s Firstborn lands at No. 2 — Chinatown’s new must-try

Chef, concept and neighborhood buzz

Firstborn, tucked into LA’s Chinatown, snagged the No. 2 spot on Yelp’s list. The buzz is real — the restaurant is led by Michelin-recognized chef Anthony Wang and offers a menu critics and diners alike have called “remarkably complex.” Its approach leans on nostalgia and seasonality, bringing hometown flavors into a contemporary Chinatown setting.

Firstborn’s three-course pre-fix runs $68 and gives diners three choices per course. Standouts on the menu include duck sausage, butter-poached prawn and a Chongqing fried chicken crowned with chili crisp and roasted chicken jus — all offering big flavor without the downtown price tag.

"A lot of what we cook comes from the memories of home and the seasons that shape them - it’s about translating those moments into dishes that surprise people," said Chef Anthony Wang, reflecting on the menu’s roots and its ties to Chinatown’s food scene.

Cal-Indian Eylan and Carlsbad’s Lilo round out the top five

Eylan in Menlo Park — Cal-Indian, family-style and bold flavors

Menlo Park’s Eylan came in at No. 4, a Cal-Indian newcomer that reimagines classic South Asian dishes with a Northern California sensibility. The restaurant serves a family-style prix-fixe that invites sharing at the table, with dishes that range from crispy chicken to gulf shrimp and taro root chaat.

Yelp highlights the restaurant’s playful reworkings of traditional flavors, noting that plates like the Sigri Kabab and taro-root preparations have impressed guests looking for a modern spin on comfort food.

Lilo in Carlsbad — a Michelin-backed counter experience

Lilo, arriving from Carlsbad, claimed the No. 5 slot and earned a Michelin star just two months after opening. The restaurant’s three-part dining format starts with small bites and a welcome drink, moves into a dozen dishes presented around the chef’s counter, and finishes with tea served by a fire pit—a bit of SoCal theatricality paired with precision cooking.

Reviewers praised the choreography of the meal, noting how each course felt like a carefully composed piece of edible art and recommending Lilo as a destination dining experience for visitors across the county.

Other California standouts on Yelp’s list

Ah Ma’s Kitchen — San Francisco’s Cantonese comfort

San Francisco’s Ah Ma’s Kitchen landed at No. 16, offering Cantonese dishes with clear inspiration from Hong Kong tea restaurants. The menu is rooted in comforting plates like noodle soup with pork-and-shrimp wontons, beef chow fun and crispy salted egg yolk chicken wings — dishes that speak directly to the city’s Chinatown and immigrant food traditions.

As a neighborhood spot with a refined point of view, Ah Ma’s blends classic flavors with a polished touch, making it a go-to for those craving Cantonese staples done thoughtfully.

Lucia in Los Angeles — Caribbean flavors and celebrity energy

Los Angeles’ Lucia appears at No. 19 on the list, a Caribbean restaurant that has already become a celeb favorite. A-listers like Usher and Saweetie have been spotted dining there, which has only added to the restaurant’s local cachet and nightlife buzz.

Beyond the star sightings, Lucia’s food is front and center. Helmed by two-time James Beard Award finalist Cleophus “Ophus” Hethington, the menu includes standout dishes like saltfish croquetas with truffle and manchego and a Guyanese-style chow mein that blend island flavors with refined technique. The room’s design has also earned spots on national lists for aesthetic appeal, but critics say it’s the cooking that keeps people coming back.

Top honor goes to Tempe’s Filthy Animal

The No. 1 new-restaurant title belongs to Filthy Animal in Tempe, an unapologetically jungle-themed eatery from Teddy Myers’ Pretty Decent Concepts. Executive Chef Rene Vargas centers the menu on open-fire techniques, producing American dishes with smoky depth and global notes that feel both adventurous and deeply grounded.

Filthy Animal’s cooking leans into wood-fire pit methods and playful flavor combinations — a style Myers describes as primal and elemental, mixing Asian, Mexican and tropical influences into a cohesive, flame-kissed whole. For diners willing to travel a bit outside California, it’s the kind of destination that rewards curiosity.

What this list means for California’s food scene

California’s strong showing on Yelp’s list underscores how the state continues to incubate bold concepts and diverse culinary voices. From Chinatown’s clever reinterpretations to coastal tasting counters and elevated Caribbean kitchens, the profile of what’s “new” is broad and democratic.

For Angelenos and visitors alike, the roundup is a reminder to keep exploring local neighborhoods — Chinatown, Menlo Park, Carlsbad and beyond — for meals that reflect both heritage and the inventiveness of today’s chefs. Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters for more dining guides and local food trends.