Highest-rated restaurants in Carbondale 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 Carbondale, 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. Don Taco
- Rating: 3.5/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 780 East Grand Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Pita Alley
- Rating: 3.5/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1711 West Main St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Mediterranean, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Global Gourmet
- Rating: 3.5/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 102 East Jackson St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#27. New Kahala
- Rating: 3.5/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 600 East Grand Ave. Ste 3 Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese, Taiwanese
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Moe's Southwest Grill
- Rating: 3.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 715 North Giant City Road Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Flame Grill & Bar
- Rating: 3.5/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 501 East Walnut St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Dale's Burger Shack
- Rating: 4.0/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1709 West Main St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Bombay Olive
- Rating: 4.0/5 (68 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 518 South Illinois Ave. Ste B Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Indian, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Thai Taste
- Rating: 4.0/5 (174 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 100 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Thai, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Mary Lou's Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 118 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Diners, American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Sam's Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 521 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Cafes, Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Sunny Street Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 900 East Walnut St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Don Sol
- Rating: 4.0/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 715 North Giant City Road Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Qin Guan Buffet
- Rating: 4.0/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1285 East Main St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Buffets, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#16. PK's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 308 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Dive Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Chango's Bar & Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 519 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Bars, Mexican, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Hunan Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 710 East Main St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Underground Public House
- Rating: 4.0/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 717 South University Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: American, Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Common Grounds Coffeehouse
- Rating: 4.0/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 600 East Grand Ave. Ste 6 Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Yamato Steak House of Japan
- Rating: 4.0/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1013 East Main St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Neighborhood Co-op Grocery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1815 West Main St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Bakeries, Grocery, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Bandana's Bar-B-Q
- Rating: 4.0/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 309 East Main St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Barbeque, Sports Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Quatro's Deep Pan Pizza
- Rating: 4.5/5 (327 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 218 West Freeman St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Harbaugh's Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (172 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 901 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Primo's Pizza
- Rating: 4.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 604 East Park St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Longbranch Cafe & Bakery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (175 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 100 East Jackson St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Bakeries, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Blend Tea & Crepe Lounge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 719 South University Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Tienda Mexicana El Paisano
- Rating: 4.5/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 100 North Glenview Drive Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Cristaudo's Cafe & Bakery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 209 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Aban Kitchen
- Rating: 5.0/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 114 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Halal
- 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.