Highest-rated restaurants in Hartford 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 Hartford, 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.
#23. Banh Meee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 126 Ann Uccello St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Vietnamese, Bubble Tea, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Ajamo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 30 State House Sq Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Salad, Falafel, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Rush Bowls
- Rating: 4.5/5 (70 reviews)
- Address: 15 Front St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Acai Bowls, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Donde Julio Restaurant- Hartford
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 83 Park St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Colombian
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Fire & Spice Vegan Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (86 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 491 Capitol Ave. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Salute
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1448 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 100 Trumbull St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Soul Bowls
- Rating: 4.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 489 Wethersfield Ave. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Craftbird Food Truck
- Rating: 4.5/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Food Trucks, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Story and Soil Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (179 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 387 Capitol Ave. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Kravin Pho
- Rating: 4.5/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1999 Park St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp
#13. American & Mexican Diner
- Rating: 4.5/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 243 Zion St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Diners, American, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#12. COji Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (44 reviews)
- Address: 1400 Park St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#11. VN Pho
- Rating: 4.5/5 (47 reviews)
- Address: 59 Overlook Ter Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Vietnamese, Bubble Tea, Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Broasterant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 630 Park St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Auroras
- Rating: 4.5/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 399 Capitol Ave. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Bakeries, Latin American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Fire by Forge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 539 Broad St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: New American, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Gather55
- Rating: 4.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 55 Bartholomew Ave. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: New American, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#6. La Rosa's Marketplace
- Rating: 4.5/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 94 Brown St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Italian, Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Tangiers International
- Rating: 4.5/5 (286 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 550 Farmington Ave. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Food truck american & mexican tasty flavors
- Rating: 5.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 111 Summit St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Adriatic Restaurant
- Rating: 5.0/5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 577 Franklin Ave. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Mediterranean, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Oc 2 Go
- Rating: 5.0/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 221 Asylum St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Twisted Italian Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1400 Park St. Hartford, Connecticut
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Sandwiches
- 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.