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1 / 30#30. Molcajetes Lawrence
- Rating: 4.0/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 941 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Mexican, Salad, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
Highest-rated restaurants in Lawrence 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 Lawrence, 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.
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2 / 30#29. The Mad Greek
- Rating: 4.0/5 (285 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 907 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Italian, Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
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3 / 30#28. Yello Sub
- Rating: 4.0/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1814 West 23rd St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Salad, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
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4 / 30#27. House of Chá
- Rating: 4.0/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 21 West 9th St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Taiwanese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
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5 / 30#26. The Big Biscuit - Lawrence
- Rating: 4.0/5 (201 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4821 West 6th St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Diners
- Read more on Yelp
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6 / 30#25. Limestone
- Rating: 4.0/5 (248 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 814 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
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7 / 30#24. Culver's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2111 West 33rd St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Fast food, Burgers, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
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8 / 30#23. Bon Bon
- Rating: 4.0/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 804 Pennsylvania St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Thai, Chicken Wings, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
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9 / 30#22. Lawrence Beer Co. West
- Rating: 4.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4811 Bob Billings Pkwy Ste C Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Bars, American, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
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10 / 30#21. Ramen Bowls
- Rating: 4.0/5 (505 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 918 Massachusetts Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Ramen, Hawaiian
- Read more on Yelp
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11 / 30#20. Sushi Station
- Rating: 4.0/5 (68 reviews)
- Address: 2223 Louisiana St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
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12 / 30#19. 715
- Rating: 4.0/5 (433 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 715 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
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13 / 30#18. Runza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2700 Iowa St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
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14 / 30#17. Pizza Shuttle
- Rating: 4.0/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 711 West 23rd St. Ste 19 Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
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15 / 30#16. Fields & Ivy Brewery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (115 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 706 East 23rd St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Gastropubs, Brewpubs, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
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16 / 30#15. Aladdin Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1021 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
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17 / 30#14. Merchants Pub & Plate
- Rating: 4.0/5 (400 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 746 Massachusetts Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: New American, Gastropubs, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
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18 / 30#13. China House
- Rating: 4.0/5 (72 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4821 West 6th St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
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19 / 30#12. Mamas Tamale's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 602 West 9th St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Empanadas, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
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20 / 30#11. First Watch
- Rating: 4.0/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2540 Iowa Ste D Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, American
- Read more on Yelp
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21 / 30#10. Oriental Bistro
- Rating: 4.0/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1511 West 23rd St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
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22 / 30#9. SPIN! Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 525 Wakarusa Drive Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Pizza, Gelato, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
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23 / 30#8. Auntie Em's Deli & Bakery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2311 Wakarusa Drive Ste D Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Delis, Bakeries, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
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24 / 30#7. The Merc Co-op
- Rating: 4.0/5 (86 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 901 Iowa St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Grocery, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
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25 / 30#6. Biemer's BBQ
- Rating: 4.0/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2120 West 9th Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp
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26 / 30#5. The Burger Stand
- Rating: 4.0/5 (690 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 803 Massachusetts St. The Casbah Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Burgers, Vegetarian, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
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27 / 30#4. Sandwich Bowl
- Rating: 4.0/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4821 West 6th St. Ste K Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Sandwiches, Burgers, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
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28 / 30#3. Free State Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.0/5 (772 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 636 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Breweries, Desserts, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
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29 / 30#2. Glory Days Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4821 West 6th St. Ste C Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
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30 / 30#1. Latchkey Deli
- Rating: 4.0/5 (48 reviews)
- Address: 1035 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, Kansas
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, 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.
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