Highest-rated restaurants in Springfield, Illinois 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 say they rarely or never try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, according to a 2024 survey of more than 1,500 diners from TouchBistro.

But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—67% of Gen Zers and 40% 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 social media or online restaurant reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google. The TouchBistro survey found that 52% of Gen Zers have opted to try a new restaurant due to positive feedback on social media, and 67% of millennials have gone to a new dining spot solely because of favorable reviews online.

New restaurants in particular tend to garner a lot of online attention. About 50,000 new restaurants open each year in the U.S., and that number continues to rise. An analysis by Yelp published in June 2024 found that new restaurant openings were up 6% from May 2023 to April 2024. But some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established eateries that customers have been visiting for decades.

To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Springfield, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2025. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews and a 3.0 rating were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.

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#30. Mekong Cafe

- Rating: 4.2/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1308 South 2nd St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai
- Read more on Yelp

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#29. Toasty-Subs

- Rating: 4.3/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 2020 South MacArthur Blvd. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#28. Ritz's Lil Fryer

- Rating: 4.3/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2148 North Grand Ave. East Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp

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#27. Sapori Pizzeria & Italian Market

- Rating: 4.3/5 (48 reviews)
- Address: 1941 West Iles Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Pasta Shops, Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#26. Joseph's Fine Cuisine

- Rating: 4.3/5 (73 reviews)
- Address: 3153 Hedley Road Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#25. Lulu's Diner

- Rating: 4.3/5 (163 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 608 South 9th St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Diners
- Read more on Yelp

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#24. Maryflor

- Rating: 4.4/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 2 West Old State Capitol Plz Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#23. Taqueria el POLLO

- Rating: 4.4/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 635 West Jefferson St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp

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#22. Loukinens' on 4th

- Rating: 4.4/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 517 South 4th St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: American, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

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#21. Los Rancheros Taco Joint

- Rating: 4.4/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 230 South Grand Ave. East Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

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#20. Star 66 Cafe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (145 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3752 Camp Butler Road Ste- 100A Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Cafes, Seafood, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

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#19. VELE

- Rating: 4.4/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3241 West Iles Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#18. Mission BBQ

- Rating: 4.4/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2401 Wabash Ave. Ste B Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Barbecue, Sandwiches, Smokehouse
- Read more on Yelp

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#17. Luminary Kitchen & Provisions

- Rating: 4.5/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3121 Hedley Road Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: American, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

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#16. Hibachi Madness

- Rating: 4.5/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4318 Wabash Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. Yannis Gyros

- Rating: 4.5/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1814 Adlai Stevenson Drive Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Greek
- Read more on Yelp

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#14. Gyros Stop

- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 2345 West Monroe St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Fast food
- Read more on Yelp

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#13. Jaalsa

- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 3114 South 6th St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Indian, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#12. Rancho chico

- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 3028 Stanford Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp

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#11. La Piazza

- Rating: 4.6/5 (163 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 218 South 6th St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. Happy Sushi

- Rating: 4.6/5 (221 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 846 South Grand Ave. East Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

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#9. Ugly Restaurant and Bar

- Rating: 4.6/5 (68 reviews)
- Address: 2312 Wabash Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Turkish, Mediterranean, Kebab
- Read more on Yelp

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#8. Empire Korean Steakhouse & Bar

- Rating: 4.6/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2100 West White Oaks Drive Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Korean, Steakhouses, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. James Home Kitchen

- Rating: 4.6/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2901 Chatham Road Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Barbecue, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

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#6. Curate

- Rating: 4.6/5 (115 reviews)
- Address: 2930 Plaza Drive Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. Legacy Pointe Eatery

- Rating: 4.6/5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 1130 Legacy Pointe Drive Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Sandwiches, Burgers, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp

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#4. Yummy Bowl

- Rating: 4.7/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 3434 Freedom Drive Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Mongolian, Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

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#3. Jerk Shop Go

- Rating: 4.7/5 (71 reviews)
- Address: 213 South 5th St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Caribbean
- Read more on Yelp

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#2. Pita or Bowl

- Rating: 4.7/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 848 South Grand Ave. East Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

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#1. Roots Latin Grill

- Rating: 4.8/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4127 West Wabash Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Latin American
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 318 metros.