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 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 State College, 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. Five Guys
- Rating: 3.9/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 226 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Burgers, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Café Wow
- Rating: 3.9/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 234 East College Ave. Unit C State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Cafes, Desserts, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Chopstick Express
- Rating: 3.9/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 134 East College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Kaarma Indian Cuisine Redefined
- Rating: 3.9/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 East Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Indian, Pakistani
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Penn Kebab
- Rating: 3.9/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 418 East College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Turkish, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Fiddlehead
- Rating: 3.9/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 134 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Soup, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Tadashi
- Rating: 4.0/5 (281 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 206 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Ramen, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Faccia Luna Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.0/5 (410 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1229 South Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#22. India Pavilion Exotic Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.0/5 (234 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 East Calder Way State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Central Reservation
- Rating: 4.0/5 (68 reviews)
- Address: 153 South Allen St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Voodoo Brewery - State College
- Rating: 4.1/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 201 Elmwood St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Bars, American, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Little Szechuan
- Rating: 4.1/5 (316 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 228 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Szechuan, Asian Fusion, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Jersey Mike's Subs
- Rating: 4.2/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2009 North Atherton St. Ste 100 State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Delis, fast food, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Chen's Mongolian Buffet
- Rating: 4.2/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1880 South Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mongolian, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Plaza Mexican Bar And Grill
- Rating: 4.3/5 (311 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1550 South Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Big Bowl Noodle House
- Rating: 4.3/5 (266 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 418 East College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Chinese, Taiwanese, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Lupita's Authentic Mexican Food
- Rating: 4.3/5 (93 reviews)
- Address: 3180 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Original Waffle Shop
- Rating: 4.4/5 (335 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1229 North Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Waffles, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Roots Natural Kitchen
- Rating: 4.4/5 (69 reviews)
- Address: 270 East Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Salad, Live/Raw Food
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Bistrozine
- Rating: 4.4/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 409 East Calder Way State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Coffee & Tea, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Elixr Coffee Roasters
- Rating: 4.4/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 123 West Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Margarita's Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.4/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 222 West Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Shaker's Grill
- Rating: 4.4/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 137 East Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Street Vendors
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Webster's Bookstore Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 133 East Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Bookstores, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Original Waffle Shop
- Rating: 4.5/5 (181 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1610 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Waffles
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Kokoro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 404 East Calder Way State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Ramen
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Cafe Alina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 421 East Calder Way State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Cafes, Pakistani
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Juana's
- Rating: 4.7/5 (50 reviews)
- Address: 129 South Fraser St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Venezuelan
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Sowers Harvest Café
- Rating: 4.7/5 (241 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 421 East Beaver Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Carter's Table
- Rating: 4.9/5 (38 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 Wade Zhou, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 318 metros.
