Highest-rated restaurants in El Centro by diners

Written by:
January 18, 2024
Photo Illustration by Stacker // Canva

Highest-rated restaurants in El Centro by diners

Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans said they rarely, if ever, try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, and 5% say they never do, according to a survey of more than 2,600 diners from TouchBistro.

But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—56% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.

Some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established spots that customers have been visiting for decades, but some may be brand new. More than 10,000 new restaurants opened in 2023, up 5.7% from 2022, according to a report from BentoBox. The states that saw the most new restaurants open up in 2023 were Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but new locales are popping up all over the U.S.

To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in El Centro, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.

Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily reflect each restaurant listed.

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#30. Kennedy's Taco

- Rating: 3.5/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1560 Ocotillo Drive Ste A El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#29. Los Cabos Seafood & Grill

- Rating: 3.5/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1649 West Main St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#28. Grasso's Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 3.5/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1902 West Main St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#27. Burgers & Beer

- Rating: 3.5/5 (344 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 260 North Imperial Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican, American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#26. Raspados Cuchis

- Rating: 3.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 502 West Adams Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Fast food, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp

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#25. La Fonda Bar Grill

- Rating: 3.5/5 (86 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1950 South 4th St. Ste A-B El Centro, California
- Categories: Bars, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#24. Broken Yolk Cafe

- Rating: 3.5/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3049 North Imperial Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, American
- Read more on Yelp

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#23. Juice Haus

- Rating: 3.5/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1630 South 4th St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

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#22. Cardenas Markets

- Rating: 3.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1620 North Imperial Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Grocery, Meat Shops, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#21. Lucky Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 500 South 4th St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Chinese, Asian Fusion, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

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#20. Exotic Thai

- Rating: 4.0/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1461 South 4th St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Thai, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

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#19. Khan Korean BBQ

- Rating: 4.0/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 330 Wake Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Korean, Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp

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#18. Hong Kong

- Rating: 4.0/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 550 Wake Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

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#17. Sombrero Mexican Food

- Rating: 4.0/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 703 East Danenberg Drive El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican, fast food, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#16. Sobe's

- Rating: 4.0/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1151 South 4th St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. Chef Lee's Chinese Food and Noodles

- Rating: 4.0/5 (83 reviews)
- Address: 1049 North Imperial Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Fast food, Chinese, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp

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#14. In-N-Out Burger

- Rating: 4.0/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2390 South 4th St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Burgers, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

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#13. Tacos Marlyn

- Rating: 4.0/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1614 South 4th St. Sunshine Mall El Centro, California
- Categories: Seafood, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

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#12. Pepper Grind Coffee

- Rating: 4.0/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 1560 Pepper Drive El Centro, California
- Categories: Acai Bowls, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#11. Flautas and Sopes

- Rating: 4.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 1531 Ford Drive El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. Celia's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (149 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1530 Adams Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#9. Mozzarelli

- Rating: 4.5/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 950 North Imperial Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#8. D'Poly Taco Grill & Beer

- Rating: 4.5/5 (214 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1573 West Main St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican, Chicken Wings, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. Juniors Cafe

- Rating: 4.5/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1791 Adams Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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#6. Sonora Fusion

- Rating: 4.5/5 (65 reviews)
- Address: 560 West State St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. Letty's Casita

- Rating: 4.5/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 705 South 4th St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#4. Antojito Como En Casa

- Rating: 4.5/5 (353 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 425 Desert Gardens Drive El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#3. Volcano

- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 445 East Main St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

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#2. Fujisan Sushi

- Rating: 4.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 1560 Ocotillo Drive Ste O El Centro, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

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#1. Puerto Nuevo Patio & Grill

- Rating: 5.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 395 Broadway El Centro, California
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 331 metros.

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