Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Waco area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Waco 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 Waco 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#24. P.F. Chang's
- Rating: 3.1/5 (188 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5511 Crosslake Pkwy Waco, Texas
- Categories: Chinese, Asian Fusion, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp
#23. The Brasserie
- Rating: 3.1/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 701 Washington Ave. Hotel 1928 Waco, Texas
- Categories: Salad, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse
- Rating: 3.2/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2501 South Jack Kultgen Expy Waco, Texas
- Categories: Japanese, Salad, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. 1424 Bistro
- Rating: 3.5/5 (193 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1424 Washington Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Seafood, Mediterranean, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Jason's Deli
- Rating: 3.6/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4302 West Waco Drive Waco, Texas
- Categories: Delis, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Portofino's
- Rating: 3.6/5 (217 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 725 Austin Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Hecho En Waco
- Rating: 3.7/5 (544 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 300 South 6th St. Ste B Waco, Texas
- Categories: New Mexican Cuisine
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Brazos Bar & Bistro
- Rating: 3.8/5 (225 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 211 Clay Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: American, Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#16. DiamondBack's
- Rating: 3.9/5 (414 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 217 Mary Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Steakhouses, American, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Jake's Texas Tea House
- Rating: 3.9/5 (320 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 613 Austin Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: American, Southern, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Alpha Omega
- Rating: 3.9/5 (341 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 929 Franklin Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Milo
- Rating: 3.9/5 (687 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1020 Franklin Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bars, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Abuelita's Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (97 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1623 North Valley Mills Drive Waco, Texas
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q
- Rating: 4.0/5 (344 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2510 Circle Road Waco, Texas
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Magnolia Table
- Rating: 4.0/5 (2370 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2132 South Valley Mills Drive Waco, Texas
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Shorty's Pizza Shack
- Rating: 4.1/5 (306 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1712 South 12th St. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Baris
- Rating: 4.2/5 (565 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 904 North Valley Mills Drive Waco, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#7. One Thirty Five Prime
- Rating: 4.3/5 (252 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1201 Hewitt Drive Ste 110 Waco, Texas
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Te'jun The Texas Cajun- Robinson
- Rating: 4.3/5 (269 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 711 North Robinson Drive Robinson, Texas
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Moroso Italian Ristorante
- Rating: 4.4/5 (549 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4700 Bosque Blvd. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Dubl-R Old Fashioned Hamburgers
- Rating: 4.4/5 (217 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1810 Herring Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#3. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
- Rating: 4.4/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 300 South 6th St. Ste East Waco, Texas
- Categories: Hawaiian, Barbecue, Pan Asian
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Di Campli's Italian Ristorante
- Rating: 4.5/5 (337 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6500 Woodway Drive Ste 121 Waco, Texas
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Cajun Craft
- Rating: 4.6/5 (725 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 601 South 11th St. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Southern, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
