Highest-rated restaurants in Kankakee 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 Kankakee, 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.
#18. Oliver's Bar and Grill
- Rating: 3.0/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2122 West Station St. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Bars, Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Sammy's Pizza
- Rating: 3.5/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 690 North 5th Ave. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Great Wall Chinese Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1545 West Court St. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Jaenicke's Root Beer Stand
- Rating: 3.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 390 East River St. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Beer Bar, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Monical's Pizza
- Rating: 3.5/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1155 West Court St. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Paul's Place
- Rating: 3.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 500 South Washington Ave. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Bars, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. El Mexicano Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 503 Riverstone Pkwy Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Johnny's Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 265 South Schuyler Ave. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Carlo's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2060 West Station St. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: American, Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#9. JR's Chicken
- Rating: 4.0/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 135 East Bourbonnais St. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Chicken Wings, American, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Burgers & Beer
- Rating: 4.0/5 (196 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 756 West Jeffery St. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Pa-Chan-Ga
- Rating: 4.0/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 110 Meadowview Center Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Poor Boy
- Rating: 4.0/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1514 East Court St. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Greek, American, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Martinez Tacos Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 348 East Station St. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Isidro's Tamales and Taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 430 West Station St. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Rigo's Place
- Rating: 4.5/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 164 North Schuyler Ave. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Blue's Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1190 West Station St. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Stefari West Avenue
- Rating: 4.5/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 267 South West Ave. Kankakee, Illinois
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cocktail Bars, Modern European
- 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.