With the entire culinary world at our fingertips, one thing we New Yorkers are gonna do is check out a list ranking the best restaurants–and lucky for us, Yelp loooooves to showcase culinary greats, whether that be the nation’s best taco spots (of which three are in NYC!), the most photographed pizza places in the U.S. (are you really a New Yorker if you don’t have at least one photo of pizza on the gram?), the best bagel shops in NY (all of which should be in NYC!), and the best new restaurants of 2024 and 2023.
And, well, we hope you’re hungry because they’re not stopping there!
Each year Yelp also releases an annual list of the best U.S. restaurants overall, showcasing fast-casual eateries to fine-dining establishments and everything in between, and the 2025 iteration is in! Let us preface this by saying New York City only made the list twice, which, in our opinion, is abhorrent, but hey, it’s just two more reservations to make this weekend!
Cha Menya, Queens (#66)
Coming in at #66 is Cha Menya, located on Northern Blvd in Douglaston–Little Neck. If you haven’t heard of it you’re likely not the only one; it’s certainly a Queens hidden gem. But if authentic Japanese flavors are your sorta thing this spot should definitely be on your radar.
Cha Menya offers handcrafted ramen, but they’re going beyond what you’d expect. The one dish that got them on the map is their Matcha Ramen, a unique dish made with rich chicken paitan broth with matcha, seasonal greens, menma (bamboo shoots), chicken chasu, and ajitama (soft-boiled eggs that are marinated in a soy-based sauce).
Yelp user Jason L. stated:
TEA/RAMEN lovers must come! The matcha ramen is absolutely amazing, flavorful and hearty especially with the chicken slices simmering in the matcha tea broth. For tea we got a pot of Yuzu Matcha and it was delightful:) Staff is friendly and the atmosphere is small/cozy. You won’t find ANY other place that does it like Cha Menya.
According to SnackPass, owner Kai recommends starting with the breaded enoki mushrooms or his twist on hamachi if you’re looking for something lighter. He then insists the classic ramen is a must-try–the broth is cooked for at least 10 hours, so you just know it’s packed with flavor–or the matcha tea ramen if you’re an adventurous eater! For a more exclusive bite, try the tsukemen, or dipping noodles, of which only 10 bowls are made a day.
Or you could always just sit down and allow the aroma of freshly made noodles and rich broths filling the air to guide you on what to order! (P.S. these are some of our other fav places to get ramen in NYC!)
📍 251-20 Northern Blvd, Douglaston–Little Neck
⭐️ 4.6 stars on Yelp
🍜 Popular dishes: Matcha Ramen, Classic Ramen, Hojicha Ramen
Aunts et Uncles, Brooklyn (#72)
Aunts et Uncles is a lifestyle shop and plant-based café founded by husband-and-wife team Mike and Nicole Nicholas. The duo combine their St-Lucian, Trinidadian, and Vincentian heritage to create a unique blend of nutritious, delicious plant-based food and a relaxed retail space.
Walking in, you’ll actually feel like you’re hanging out in your friend’s living room–you can grab yourself a cortado or cold brew to sip on as you browse clothing, pantry items, books, and more in the shop. Then, sit down for a meal–this is where the magic happens.
Choose from a Lobster Roll made from hearts of palm, their So Simple Chicken Samich, made with crispy oyster mushroom, Sweet Potato Oatmeal Porridge, or more. The ingredients they’re using to mimic meat and seafood isn’t anything new, but it’s highly extraordinary.
Yelp user Cid N. wrote:
[Brooklyn] We Go Hard! Love going to places where locals thrive. By locals I mean NYC and the Caribbean Diaspora. I’ll keep it short and sweet- I met the owners on a mid-afternoon brunch excursion. I believe this was around the time it just opened. I was met with sweetness and care. Food was delectable. The space itself is colorful and makes me want to relax around. I’ve been here several times over with my family and we all love it. Brooklyn staple for sure! I’ll be back for more for sure!
📍 1407 Nostrand Ave, Flatbush
⭐️ 4.5 stars on Yelp
🍜 Popular dishes: Lobster Roll, Au Burger, All Green Everything
To determine Yelp’s Top 100 Restaurants of 2025, the team uses data generated from its community submissions. They consider both the rating and the volume of the reviews and then narrow down the list with the expertise of its community managers and Trend Expert. See for yourself which other restaurants were chosen for Yelp’s Top 100 Restaurants Of 2025!