The Best Restaurants in North America Aren't All in New York Anymore

North America's 50 Best Restaurants just dropped its 2026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants list, and if you're looking for where to book your next serious meal, you'll want to pay attention. Chicago's Smyth claimed the top spot, jumping from No. 4 last year. New York still dominates with 10 restaurants across the list. And cities like Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles are making real moves. The geographic spread shows something important-the best food in America isn't concentrated in one place anymore.

The top pick, Smyth, is run by John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, a husband-and-wife team who approach cooking with genuine simplicity. They work with a network of local growers and purveyors they actually know, and the menu shifts constantly based on what's available and what inspires them that season.

After Smyth, the list reveals something about where the best food in America is actually happening right now. New Orleans has multiple restaurants in the top tier because the city treats food like culture. You see it happening in Philadelphia, in San Francisco, in Los Angeles-cities where restaurants aren't coasting on reputations they built years ago but are actively building something new, constantly evolving, genuinely pushing forward what a restaurant can be.

Related: The Best Fine Dining Restaurant in America Isn't In New York-It's in a Southern Town Full of Cobblestone Streets, Romantic Coastal Views and Rich History

What the Rankings Actually Reveal

Unsurprisingly, New York still leads with 10 restaurants in the top 50. But cities like Washington D.C., New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Atlanta are all gaining multiple wins this year. The list includes 36 U.S. restaurants total, and 18 of them are appearing for the first time. The remaining top 20 winners are based in Canada.

In terms of special awards, Emeril Lagasse received the "Icon Award" for helping to shape American cuisine and bringing Creole and Cajun flavors to a global audience. Atelier Crenn in San Francisco won for sustainability, and Wildweed in Cincinnati earned the "One to Watch" award-meaning that the restaurant is on people's radar as the next big thing. Mashama Bailey of The Grey in Savannah received "North America's Best Female Chef Award." Albi in Washington D.C., won the "Biggest Mover" having climbed 28 spots from last year's ranking to land at No. 6. Eunji Lee of Lysée in New York City won "North America's Best Pastry Chef Award." And Restaurant Pearl Morissette also won the "Art of Hospitality Award."

Related: One of the Best Rodeos in America Isn't Even Close to Texas

North America's 50 Best RestaurantsNorth America's 20 Best Restaurants

• 1. Smyth, Chicago, Illinois
  1. Eight, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  1. Restaurant Pearl Morissette, Lincoln, Ontario, Canada
  1. Dakar NOLA, New Orleans, Louisiana
  1. Mon Lapin, Montreal, Québec, Canada
  1. Albi, Washington, D.C.
  1. Atomix, New York, New York
  1. Quetzal, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  1. Tanière3, Québec City, Québec, Canada
  1. César, New York, New York
  1. Kalaya, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  1. Le Veau d'Or, New York, New York
  1. Le Bernardin, New York, New York
  1. Kabawa, New York, New York
  1. Le Violon, Montréal, Québec, Canada
  1. Singlethread, Healdsburg, California
  1. Published on Main, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  1. Jungsik, New York, New York
  1. Penny, New York, New York
  1. Emeril's, New Orleans, Louisiana

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 5:16 PM.