California dominates top 10 best restaurants in America — and the winner is in SoCal

California’s dining scene just scored another major bragging right.

The Golden State crushed the competition in a new Robb Report ranking of the 10 best new restaurants in America for 2026, claiming nearly half the list, and the coveted number one spot.

Taking the crown at the top is Lilo, an ultra-intimate fine dining destination tucked inside a former boogie board factory in Carlsbad, north of San Diego. The 24-seat tasting counter was crowned the best new restaurant in the country, beating out buzzy openings from New York, Chicago, Houston and beyond.

The honor caps a meteoric rise for the tiny Southern California powerhouse Lilo, which opened in 2025, and earned a Michelin star soon after opening.

Chef Eric Bost and restaurateur John Resnick transformed the former industrial space into a minimalist dining room centered around a chef’s counter, where guests are treated to an elaborate multi-course tasting menu.

California’s dominance didn’t stop there, as three other restaurants also landed on the top 10 list.

San Francisco landed two restaurants on the prestigious list: Wolfsbane, a high-end tasting menu destination in the city’s Dogpatch neighborhood from the team behind Michelin-starred Lord Stanley, and another buzzy newcomer, Chinese restaurant The Happy Crane.

Los Angeles also earned a spot on the ranking thanks to Lielle, the highly anticipated restaurant from three-Michelin-starred Swedish chef Marcus Jernmark.

The Beverly Hills adjacent hotspot that draws diners with its California-meets-Nordic menu and relaxed approach to fine dining.

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