10 Restaurants Worth Flying To in 2026
Jonathan Barlow
Editor
The List
Some restaurants are good enough to build a trip around. These ten are exactly that — places where the food, the atmosphere, and the city conspire to create something worth remembering.
1. Sushi Nakazawa — New York
Daisuke Nakazawa trained under Jiro Ono. His 20-course omakase in the West Village is the closest you will get to Tokyo without a passport. Reserve 30 days in advance.
2. Turkey and the Wolf — New Orleans
A sandwich shop that won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant. The collard green melt is legendary. Cash only. No pretension.
3. Coltivare — Houston
Farm-to-table Italian in the Heights. Chef Ryan Pera grows produce in the garden out back and turns it into pastas that belong in a different price bracket. BYOB on Mondays.
4. Alinea — Chicago
Grant Achatz's three-Michelin-star experience is culinary theater. Edible balloons, dessert painted on the table, courses that challenge everything you think dinner should be.
5. Bavel — Los Angeles
Middle Eastern cuisine from the Bestia team. The lamb neck shawarma and the pita bread alone are worth the flight to DTLA.
6. Underbelly Hospitality — Houston
Chris Shepherd's empire celebrates Houston's immigrant food communities. The Korean braised goat changed how America thinks about Texas dining.
7. Cane & Table — New Orleans
Colonial-era cocktails and Caribbean street food on Decatur Street. The rum program is world-class.
8. Girl & The Goat — Chicago
Stephanie Izard's flagship. The wood-fired whole pig face is not for the timid, but it is for anyone who believes food should be an adventure.
9. Swan — Miami
Pharrell and David Grutman's Design District gem. The branzino, the truffle pizza, and the transition to Bar Bevy afterward make this a complete evening.
10. Uchi — Dallas
Tyson Cole brought Austin's best sushi concept to Dallas, and it fits. The wagyu tataki and the tempura Brussels sprouts are non-negotiable orders.
Every restaurant on this list is a WKND-verified dining experience. Book your trip and we will handle the rest.