Highest-rated restaurants in State College by diners
Highest-rated restaurants in State College 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 State College, 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. Chopstick Express
- Rating: 4.0/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 134 East College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Café Wow
- Rating: 4.0/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 234 East College Ave. Unit C State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Cafes, Desserts, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Tadashi
- Rating: 4.0/5 (266 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 206 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Ramen, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#27. India Pavilion Exotic Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.0/5 (218 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 East Calder Way State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Penn Kebab
- Rating: 4.0/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 418 East College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Turkish, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Faccia Luna Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.0/5 (372 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1229 South Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Fiddlehead
- Rating: 4.0/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 134 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Soup, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Central Reservation
- Rating: 4.0/5 (49 reviews)
- Address: 153 South Allen St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Brothers Pizza and Pasta
- Rating: 4.0/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 253 Benner Pike State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Little Szechuan
- Rating: 4.0/5 (289 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 228 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Szechuan, Asian Fusion, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Jersey Mike's Subs
- Rating: 4.0/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2009 North Atherton St. Ste 100 State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Delis, fast food, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#19. RE Farm Cafe at Windswept Farm
- Rating: 4.0/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 1000 South Fillmore Road State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Venues & Event Spaces, New American, Cooking Classes
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Prospector's Mount Nittany Rib Company
- Rating: 4.0/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 333 Benner Pike Shops State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Barbeque, Salad, American
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Chen's Mongolian Buffet
- Rating: 4.0/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1880 South Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mongolian, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Big Bowl Noodle House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (255 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 418 East College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Chinese, Taiwanese, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Plaza Mexican Bar And Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (292 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1550 South Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Elixr Coffee Roasters
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 123 West Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Shaker's Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 137 East Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Street Vendors
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Original Waffle Shop
- Rating: 4.5/5 (303 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1229 North Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Waffles, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Lupita's Authentic Mexican Food
- Rating: 4.5/5 (88 reviews)
- Address: 3180 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Margarita's Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 222 West Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Kokoro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 404 East Calder Way State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Ramen
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Webster's Bookstore Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 133 East Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Bookstores, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Roots Natural Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (58 reviews)
- Address: 270 East Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Salad, Live/Raw Food
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Bistrozine
- Rating: 4.5/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 409 East Calder Way State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Coffee & Tea, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Original Waffle Shop
- Rating: 4.5/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1610 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Waffles
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Penn Pide
- Rating: 4.5/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 127 West Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mediterranean, Turkish, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Juana's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (45 reviews)
- Address: 129 South Fraser St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Venezuelan
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Sowers Harvest Café
- Rating: 4.5/5 (226 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 421 East Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Carter's Table
- Rating: 5.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 407 East Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Tacos, Sandwiches, Pop-Up Restaurants
- 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.
