Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the McAllen area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the McAllen area by diners
Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, French Laundry, unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chefs' tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the McAllen area using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#23. Dirty Al's Bayou Grill
- Rating: 2.9/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5712 North 10th St. Ste 400 McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Seafood, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Bourbon Street Grill
- Rating: 3.1/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4800 North 10th St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Don Pepes Mexican Restaurant and Cantina
- Rating: 3.2/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 306 North Mccoll Road McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Morado's
- Rating: 3.2/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1610 North 23rd St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux - Edinburg Restaurant
- Rating: 3.3/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 415 Trenton Road Edinburg, Texas
- Categories: American, Cajun/Creole, Sports Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
- Rating: 3.4/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3200 West Expy 83 McAllen, Texas
- Categories: American, Pizza, Brewpubs
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Costa Messa Restaurant
- Rating: 3.4/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5248 North 10th St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Lucky Sushi Bar
- Rating: 3.4/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2115 West Trenton Road Edinburg, Texas
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Yard House
- Rating: 3.7/5 (168 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2200 South 10th St. Mcallen, Texas
- Categories: Bars, Vegetarian, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Texas de Brazil
- Rating: 3.7/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2200 South 10th St. Room S03 Mcallen, Texas
- Categories: Steakhouses, Brazilian, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Espana Mediterranean Cuisine
- Rating: 3.7/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 701 North Main St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Jazz & Blues, Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#12. El Divino Dining & Cocktails
- Rating: 3.9/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 5001 North 10th St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Cigar Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Republic of The Río Grande
- Rating: 3.9/5 (262 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1411 South 10th St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: New American, Bars, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Palenque Grill La Plaza Mall
- Rating: 3.9/5 (178 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2200 South 10th St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. On The Grill Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1201 South Jackson Road Ste 7 Pharr, Texas
- Categories: Burgers, Breakfast & Brunch, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Il Forno a Legna
- Rating: 4.0/5 (193 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3817 North 10th St. Ste 5 Mcallen, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
- Rating: 4.1/5 (275 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1610 West Expressway 83 Pharr, Texas
- Categories: Seafood, Cajun/Creole, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Bodega Tavern & Kitchen
- Rating: 4.1/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2901 North 10th St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Santa Fe Steakhouse & Cantina
- Rating: 4.2/5 (227 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1918 South 10th St. Mcallen, Texas
- Categories: Steakhouses, New American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. House Wine & Bistro
- Rating: 4.3/5 (260 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1117 West US Hwy 83 McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Wine Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#3. The Blue Onion
- Rating: 4.3/5 (189 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 925 Dove Ave. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Sandwiches, Pizza, American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The Patio on Guerra
- Rating: 4.3/5 (265 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 116 South 17th St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Salt New American Table
- Rating: 4.4/5 (428 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 210 North Main St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
