Highest-rated restaurants in Owensboro 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 Owensboro, 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. Briarpatch
- Rating: 3.5/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2760 Veach Road Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Bars, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#29. 54 Pizza Express West
- Rating: 3.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1700 Starlite Drive Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Pizza, Desserts, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Mellow Mushroom Owensboro
- Rating: 3.5/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101 West 2nd St. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Bars, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Old Hickory Bar-B-Que
- Rating: 3.5/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 338 Washington Ave. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5204 Frederica St. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#25. El Bracero
- Rating: 4.0/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 2945 Wimsatt Court Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Ole South Barbeque
- Rating: 4.0/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3523 Hwy 54 East Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Barbeque, Buffets, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn
- Rating: 4.0/5 (287 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2840 West Parrish Ave. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Barbeque, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Beef 'O' Brady's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3189 Fairview Drive Ste East Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Pubs, Sports Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Chick-fil-A
- Rating: 4.0/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4601 Frederica St. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Fast food, Chicken Shop, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#20. MOD Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2710 Heartland Crossing Blvd. Ste C Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Fast food, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Wasabi 54, Llc
- Rating: 4.0/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3238 Kidron Valley Way Ste 5 Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Chop Stick
- Rating: 4.0/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3023 Highland Pointe Drive Ste 102 Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#17. The Miller House
- Rating: 4.0/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 301 East 5th St. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: American, Southern, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Pizza By The Guy
- Rating: 4.0/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3115 Commonwealth Court Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Colby's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 202 West 3rd St. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Diners, American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Mi Ranchito Restaurante Mixicano
- Rating: 4.0/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1146 Carter Road Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Big Dipper
- Rating: 4.0/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2820 West Parrish Ave. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Five Guys
- Rating: 4.0/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3248 Mount Moriah Ave. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Burgers, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Wyndall's Wonder Whip
- Rating: 4.0/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2434 East 4th St. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Burgers, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Nikos Italian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.0/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2200 East Parrish Ave. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Fetta Specialty Pizza & Spirits
- Rating: 4.0/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 118 Saint Ann St. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Salad, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#8. City Walk of Owensboro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (67 reviews)
- Address: 222 Allen St. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: American, Barbeque, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The Creme Coffee house
- Rating: 4.5/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 109 East 2nd St. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Desserts, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Thai Food Owensboro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (45 reviews)
- Address: 2601 West Parrish Ave. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Dee's Diner
- Rating: 4.5/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1362 East 4th St. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Famous Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 102 West 2nd St. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Great Harvest Bread
- Rating: 4.5/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3211 Frederica St. Ste G Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Mikato Steak & Sushi
- Rating: 4.5/5 (38 reviews)
- Address: 3500 Villa Point Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Don Mario
- Rating: 5.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 122 West 2nd St. Ste A Owensboro, Kentucky
- Categories: Mexican, Desserts, Seafood
- 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.