Eater names best new U.S. restaurants and bakeries of 2026

Eater has released its list of the 15 best new restaurants in the U.S. for 2026, featuring establishments such as Somssi in New York, Creepies in Chicago, Maydan Market in Los Angeles, Rye Bunny in Washington, D.C., and Restaurant Naides in San Francisco, according to Eater.

The selected restaurants represent a range of culinary styles, including Hungarian food in Pittsburgh, family-style Italian dining in Philadelphia rooted in 1950s traditions, and Southern cuisine in Denver, all noted for their commitment to making diners feel at home, Eater reported.

One highlighted restaurant, Akoya Omakase in Kansas City, offers high-quality sashimi and nigiri with unique flavor accents. Chef Peter Hoang personally sources fish from Tokyo, ensuring premium ingredients, and provides affordable options like miso-butter-accented crab nigiri, Eater detailed.

In addition to restaurants, Eater introduced a new category for 2026 recognizing the best new bakeries in America. These bakeries showcase excellence in pastry, bread, and sweets, reflecting personal expression and innovative flavor combinations, Eater said.

Among the bakeries, Bad Butter in Chicago stands out with its popular offerings such as focaccia with scallion furikake, twice-baked almond croissants, and a spicy harissa monkey bread with labneh and olive oil. The bakery's menu changes seasonally and attracts long lines, Eater described.

These awards were selected by Eater's team of editors and scouts, who traveled across the country to identify notable new dining and baking establishments in 2026.

What we're watching: How these new restaurants and bakeries influence dining trends and community engagement in their respective cities moving forward.