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Highest-rated restaurants in Auburn 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 Auburn, 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.
#30. Amsterdam Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (330 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 410 South Gay St. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Jin Korean Restraunt
- Rating: 4.1/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2055 East University Drive Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Korean
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Hamilton's On Magnolia
- Rating: 4.1/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 174 East Magnolia Ave. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: New American, Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Johnny Brusco's New York Style Pizza
- Rating: 4.1/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2408 East University Drive Ste 100 Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Mellow Mushroom Auburn
- Rating: 4.1/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 128 North College St. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Pizza, Bars, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Frutta Bowls
- Rating: 4.1/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 211 West Glenn Ave. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Acai Bowls, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#24. La Plaza Taqueria Y Carniceria
- Rating: 4.1/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1629 South College St. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Durango Taqueria y Carniceria
- Rating: 4.1/5 (68 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 435 North Dean Road Ste J Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Hey Day Market
- Rating: 4.1/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 211 South College St. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Food Court, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Insomnia Steak & Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 186 North Donahue Drive Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: New American, Mediterranean, Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Chicken Salad Chick
- Rating: 4.2/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1345 Opelika Road Ste A Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Sandwiches, Southern, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Foosackly's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 131 North Dean Road Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Savanh Thai Kitchen
- Rating: 4.3/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1750 Opelika Road Ste B Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Thai, Noodles, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Sushiya Japanese Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2319 Bent Creek Road Ste 300 Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Poke
- Read more on Yelp
#16. El Ranchero
- Rating: 4.3/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 114 Spirit Drive Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican, Salad, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Umami Auburn
- Rating: 4.3/5 (69 reviews)
- Address: 2319 Bent Creek Road Ste 400 Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Seafood, Japanese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Johnny Brusco's New York Style Pizza
- Rating: 4.3/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2415 Moores Mill Road Ste 200 Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Byron's Smokehouse
- Rating: 4.3/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 436 Opelika Road Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp
#12. El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (48 reviews)
- Address: 2487 East Glenn Ave. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican, Beer Bar, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Acre
- Rating: 4.4/5 (517 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 210 East Glenn Ave. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Bars, Southern, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#10. The Depot
- Rating: 4.4/5 (276 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 124 Mitcham Ave. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#9. The Bean Coffee Shop
- Rating: 4.4/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 140 A North Dean Road Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Desserts, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Sheila C's Burger Barn
- Rating: 4.5/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 622 Shug Jordan Pkwy Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Pannie-George's Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (169 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2328 South College St. Ste 6 Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Southern, Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Toomer's Drugs
- Rating: 4.5/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 100 North College St. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Sandwiches, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Dumps Like A Truck
- Rating: 4.5/5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 127 West Magnolia Ave. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#4. The Hound
- Rating: 4.5/5 (698 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 124 Tichenor Ave. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Sushi Bistro
- Rating: 4.6/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1888 Ogletree Road Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The Irritable Bao
- Rating: 4.7/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 127 East Magnolia Ave. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Chinese, Gluten-Free, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Lucky Pot
- Rating: 4.7/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 1780 Opelika Road Ste 103 Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Chinese, Noodles, Hot Pot
- 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.