Highest-rated restaurants in Salinas by diners
Highest-rated restaurants in Salinas 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 Salinas, 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.
#30. Pastability's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (160 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11 West Acacia St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Cantonese Express Food
- Rating: 4.5/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 928 Park Row Salinas, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Avatar Indian Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (572 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1568 Constitution Blvd. Salinas, California
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#27. El Zacatecano
- Rating: 4.5/5 (394 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 655 East Alisal St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#26. The Beerded Bean
- Rating: 4.5/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 210 Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Breweries
- Read more on Yelp
#25. El Charrito
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1430 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 122 West Market St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Tacos El Grullense
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Kern St. And Roosevelt St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#23. The 31st Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 32 John St. Salinas, California
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Taqueria El Grullense
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 976 Acosta Plz Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Haiku Hawaiian BBQ
- Rating: 4.5/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1253 North Davis Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Hawaiian, Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Tortas AL 100
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 1034 North Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Mangia - Eat on Main
- Rating: 4.5/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 328 Main St. Ste A Salinas, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Cali Glizzy
- Rating: 4.5/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 16 East Gabilan St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Tacos Guadalajara 831
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 170 Harrison Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#16. La Estrella Liquors & Deli
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 124 Abbott St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Emma's Bakery and Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (73 reviews)
- Address: 1182 South Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Altura Lounge and Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 66 West Alisal St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Pizza, Cocktail Bars, Sicilian
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Thanh Loi Noodles
- Rating: 4.5/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1940 North Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Vietnamese, Noodles, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Culturas Hidalgo & Oaxaca Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (354 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 473 East Market St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Jaquez Fast Food Service
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 923 East Market St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Food Stands, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Panaderia Tres Hermanos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 545 East Alisal Ste D Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Khao San Thai Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (124 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1255 North Davis Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Thai, Noodles, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Gordon's Café and Catering
- Rating: 4.5/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 343 Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Burgers, Sandwiches, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Royal Deli And Bakery
- Rating: 5.0/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 952 Park Row Salinas, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Steinbeck House Restaurant
- Rating: 5.0/5 (184 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 132 Central Ave. Salinas, California
- Categories: American, Venues & Event Spaces, Historical Tours
- Read more on Yelp
#5. T & A Cafe Home of Kleinfeldt Family BBQ
- Rating: 5.0/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1 Harris Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Barbeque, Sandwiches, American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Sushi Hut
- Rating: 5.0/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 616 East Boronda Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Poke, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Amapola Kitchen and Wine Merchant
- Rating: 5.0/5 (64 reviews)
- Address: 32 West Gabilan St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Sabor Latin Fusion
- Rating: 5.0/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 1126 South Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#1. El Chilacatazo
- Rating: 5.0/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 337 Monterey St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican, Beer Bar, 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.
