Highest-rated restaurants in Albany, Oregon 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 Albany, 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. Vault 244
- Rating: 4.0/5 (313 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 244 1st Ave. West Albany, Oregon
- Categories: New American, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Hasty Freez
- Rating: 4.0/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 655 Lyon St. South Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Burgers, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#28. King Kone
- Rating: 4.0/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1515 Salem Ave. Southeast Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Burgers, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#27. La Roca
- Rating: 4.0/5 (105 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1727 Hill St. Southeast Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Fay's Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1002 Queen Ave. Southwest Albany, Oregon
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Calapooia Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.0/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 140 Hill St. Northeast Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Breweries, New American, Pubs
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Jinda Thai Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 236 West 1st Ave. Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Thai, Asian Fusion, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Los Tequilas
- Rating: 4.0/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2525 Santiam Hwy Southeast Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Seafood, American, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Sidekicks Gourmet Desserts & Espresso
- Rating: 4.0/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 832 Lyon St. Southwest Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Wraps, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Gamberetti's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 211 West 1st Ave. Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#20. PizzAmore
- Rating: 4.0/5 (175 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2212 Santiam Hwy Southeast Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Taqueria Alonzo
- Rating: 4.0/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 250 Broadalbin St. Southwest Ste 107 Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#18. No Baloney
- Rating: 4.0/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2250 14th Ave. Southeast Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Rigoberto's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1720 Pacific Blvd. Southwest Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Elmer's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (157 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2802 Santiam Hwy Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Simply Ramen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (268 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1800 Southeast Geary St. Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Ramen, Chinese, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Oregon Barbecue
- Rating: 4.5/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 744 Old Salem Road Northeast Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Barbeque, Steakhouses, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Brick & Mortar Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (538 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 1st Ave. West Ste 4 Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, New American, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Tony's Tacos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 2715 Santiam Hwy Southeast Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Kentochi Hibachi
- Rating: 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 640 Northwest Hickory St. Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Japanese, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Royal India Cuisine 1
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 6435 Old Salem Road Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Indian, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#9. El Palenque
- Rating: 4.5/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 3033 Santiam Hwy Southeast Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Tacos El Machin
- Rating: 4.5/5 (194 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1642 Pacific Blvd. Southeast Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Ba's Vietnamese Comfort Food
- Rating: 4.5/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 117 Southeast 1st Ave. Ste 104 Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Vietnamese, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Sybaris Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 442 West 1st Ave. Albany, Oregon
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Sweet Red Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 208 Southwest Second Ave. Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Wine Bars, Modern European, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Pepper Tree Sausage House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1125 Salem Ave. Southeast Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Delis, American, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#3. The Squeaky Cork
- Rating: 5.0/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 136 Southeast 1st Ave. Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Scottish, Soup, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Los Vecinos
- Rating: 5.0/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Food Trucks, Venezuelan
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Homegrown Oregon Foods
- Rating: 5.0/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 212 1st Ave. Southeast Albany, Oregon
- Categories: Specialty Food, Gluten-Free, Salad
- 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.