Highest-rated restaurants in Richmond 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 Richmond, 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.
#24. Christopher's Runaway Gourmay
- Rating: 4.5/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 10th st. & East Main St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Food Stands, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Thai Studio Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (52 reviews)
- Address: 516 North Second St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Tacos Mexico
- Rating: 4.5/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4108 Jefferson Davis Hwy Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Nile Ethiopian Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 306 North 29th St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Ethiopian
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Manchu
- Rating: 4.5/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2914 North Ave. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Chicken Wings, American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Genovas Pizza Station
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 2723 Buford Road Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#18. The Athens Tavern
- Rating: 4.5/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 401 North Robinson St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Buna Kurs
- Rating: 4.5/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 402 1/2 North 2nd St. Ste A Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Ethiopian, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Piri Piri Chicken
- Rating: 4.5/5 (53 reviews)
- Address: 7722 Jefferson Davis Hwy Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Portuguese, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Abuelita's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (286 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6400 Midlothian Turnpike Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#14. 88 Street Food
- Rating: 5.0/5 (73 reviews)
- Address: 5905 West Broad St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Seafood, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp
#13. The Smoky Mug
- Rating: 5.0/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 15 East Brookland Park Blvd. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Barbeque, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Smashed RVA
- Rating: 5.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 1600 Brook Road Ste A Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Charlotte's Southern Deli and Tapas
- Rating: 5.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 200 South 10th St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Delis, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Brunch Jr
- Rating: 5.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 1213 Summit Ave. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Minglewood Bake Shop
- Rating: 5.0/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3337 West Cary Ste Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Bakeries, Vegan, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#8. The Wooden Spoon Catering and Events
- Rating: 5.0/5 (140 reviews)
- Address: Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Spanish, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Basically Halal
- Rating: 5.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 316 North Arch Road Ste A Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Halal
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Manchester's Table
- Rating: 5.0/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 201 West 7th St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Wine Bars, Mediterranean, American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. 1115 Mobile Kitchen
- Rating: 5.0/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 6118 Lakeside Ave. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Food Trucks, Vegan, Beverage Store
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Kat's Breakfast & Lunch
- Rating: 5.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 701 East Franklin St. Ste 110 Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cajun/Creole, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Killa Dillas
- Rating: 5.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 6114 Lakeside Ave. Ste A Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Tex-Mex, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Bosna Restaurant
- Rating: 5.0/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8030 West Broad St. Ste C Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Modern European, Delis, Grocery
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Jubilee
- Rating: 5.0/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 1303 Hull St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
- 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.