Highest-rated Restaurants in Champaign by Diners

Photo Illustration by Stacker // Canva

Highest-rated restaurants in Champaign 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 Champaign, 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. Cravings

- Rating: 4.0/5 (200 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 603 South Wright St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese, Pan Asian
- Read more on Yelp

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#29. Seven Saints

- Rating: 4.0/5 (511 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 32 East Chester St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: American, Pubs, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp

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#28. Watson's Shack & Rail

- Rating: 4.0/5 (267 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 211 North Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

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#27. Bangkok Thai and Pho 911

- Rating: 4.0/5 (212 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 410 East Green St. Unit 3 Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

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#26. The Himalayan Chimney

- Rating: 4.0/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 134 West Church St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Indian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#25. Black Dog Smoke & Ale House

- Rating: 4.0/5 (518 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 320 North Chestnut St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Barbeque, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#24. Sam's Cafe

- Rating: 4.0/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 115 North Walnut St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#23. Einstein Bros. Bagels

- Rating: 4.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Temp Closed Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#22. Thara Thai

- Rating: 4.0/5 (269 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 912 1/2 West Bloomington Road Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Thai, Salad, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp

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#21. Big J J Fish & Chicken

- Rating: 4.0/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1114 North Market St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Fish & Chips, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

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#20. Paris Super Crepes

- Rating: 4.0/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 601 South 6th St. Ste 106 Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Desserts, Creperies
- Read more on Yelp

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#19. Baxter's American Grille

- Rating: 4.0/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 100 Trade Centre Drive Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: American, Steakhouses, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#18. Mo's Burritos Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 705 North Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#17. Mid-Summer Lounge

- Rating: 4.0/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 623 East Green St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese, Asian Fusion, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp

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#16. Cheese and Crackers

- Rating: 4.5/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1715 West Kirby Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Chocolatiers & Shops, Delis, Seafood Markets
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. Golden Harbor Authentic Chinese Cuisine

- Rating: 4.5/5 (531 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 505 South Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese, Taiwanese
- Read more on Yelp

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#14. Original Pancake House

- Rating: 4.5/5 (308 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1909 West Springfield Ave. Ste B Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#13. Sticky Rice

- Rating: 4.5/5 (146 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 415 North Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Laotian, Thai, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp

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#12. Signature Grill

- Rating: 4.5/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 505 East Green St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Mediterranean, Indian, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#11. Maize Mexican Grill

- Rating: 4.5/5 (710 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 60 East Green St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. Kohinoor Indian Restaurant and Lounge

- Rating: 4.5/5 (254 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6 East Columbia Ave. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Indian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#9. La Bahía Grill

- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 132 West Church St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

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#8. Sakanaya

- Rating: 4.5/5 (609 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 403 East Green St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. San Maru

- Rating: 4.5/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2504 Village Green Place Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Korean, Food Delivery Services, Shaved Snow
- Read more on Yelp

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#6. Shawarma Joint

- Rating: 4.5/5 (59 reviews)
- Address: 627 East Green St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Mediterranean, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. Mo's Burritos

- Rating: 4.5/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1104 North Prospect Ave. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#4. Fernando's Food

- Rating: 4.5/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 44 East Sprinfield Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp