Highest-rated restaurants in Merced 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 say they rarely or never try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, according to a from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—67% of Gen Zers and 40% 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 social media or online restaurant reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google. The TouchBistro survey found that 52% of Gen Zers have opted to try a new restaurant due to positive feedback on social media, and 67% of millennials have gone to a new dining spot solely because of favorable reviews online.
New restaurants in particular tend to garner a lot of online attention. About 50,000 new restaurants open each year in the U.S., and that number continues to rise. An analysis by Yelp published in June 2024 found that from May 2023 to April 2024. But some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established eateries that customers have been visiting for decades.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Merced, according to reviews from diners as of January 2025. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews and a 3.0 rating were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
#30. Joe On the Go Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2806 G St. Merced, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
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#29. Jantz Cafe & Bakery
- Rating: 4.2/5 (510 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3361 G St. Merced, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
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#28. Coconut Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (231 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3368 North State Hwy 59 Ste North Merced, California
- Categories: Laotian, Thai, Seafood
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#27. 88 Bao Bao
- Rating: 4.2/5 (75 reviews)
- Address: 3564 G St. Merced, California
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Dim Sum, Ramen
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#26. Table 59
- Rating: 4.2/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3360 North State Hwy 59 Ste H Merced, California
- Categories: Italian, New American
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#25. Gateway Pizza N Subs
- Rating: 4.2/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1220 V St. Merced, California
- Categories: Pizza
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#24. El Palmar Taqueria
- Rating: 4.2/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1127 Martin Luther King Jr Way Merced, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
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#23. Lupian's Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (115 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3355 G St. Merced, California
- Categories: Mexican
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#22. H & W Drive In
- Rating: 4.3/5 (520 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 121 West 16th St. Merced, California
- Categories: Burgers, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Sandwiches
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#21. Rainbird
- Rating: 4.3/5 (149 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 609 West Main St. Merced, California
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Wine Bars
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#20. Pretty Good Burger
- Rating: 4.3/5 (140 reviews)
- Address: 439 West Main St. Merced, California
- Categories: Burgers
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#19. Kabab City
- Rating: 4.3/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 125 East Yosemite Ave. Space D Merced, California
- Categories: Mediterranean
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#18. Toni's Courtyard Café
- Rating: 4.3/5 (731 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 516 West 18th St. Merced, California
- Categories: Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch, American
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#17. Tacos Al Mando
- Rating: 4.4/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 900 Martin Luther King Merced, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
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#16. Thai Star
- Rating: 4.4/5 (176 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 57 West Alexander Ave. Merced, California
- Categories: Thai
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#15. Yummy Thai
- Rating: 4.4/5 (71 reviews)
- Address: 2961 Beachwood Drive Merced, California
- Categories: Thai
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#14. Marco's Tacos
- Rating: 4.4/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 99 East Donna Drive Merced, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
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#13. Richwood Meat
- Rating: 4.4/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2751 North Santa Fe Ave. Merced, California
- Categories: Meat Shops, Delis
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#12. Donut King's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (261 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 260 West Main St. Ste A Merced, California
- Categories: Donuts, Sandwiches, Bubble Tea
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#11. El Sabor De Oaxaca
- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 900 Loughborough Drive Ste East Merced, California
- Categories: Mexican
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#10. Vinhos
- Rating: 4.6/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 427 West Main St. Merced, California
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Wine Bars
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#9. Lover's Deli
- Rating: 4.6/5 (57 reviews)
- Address: 426 West Main St. Merced, California
- Categories: Sandwiches, Pizza, Delis
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#8. Carniceria Y Taqueria Superior
- Rating: 4.6/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1725 West Hwy 140 Merced, California
- Categories: Mexican, Latin American
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#7. Royal India Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.6/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 3040 Park Ave. Ste E2 Merced, California
- Categories: Halal, Indian, Vegan
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#6. Scotts Diner
- Rating: 4.6/5 (263 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2015 East Childs Ave. Merced, California
- Categories: Diners, American
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#5. Mariscos El Nacho
- Rating: 4.6/5 (61 reviews)
- Address: 1560 Yosemite Pkwy Merced, California
- Categories: Mexican
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#4. Little Oven Pizza
- Rating: 4.6/5 (506 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 433 West Main St. Merced, California
- Categories: Pizza
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#3. Masala Express
- Rating: 4.7/5 (157 reviews)
- Address: 560 West Olive Ave. Merced, California
- Categories: Indian
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#2. Jenny Nicole's Old School House Bakery
- Rating: 4.7/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2649 Canal St. Merced, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries, Coffee & Tea
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#1. Asian Style Kitchen
- Rating: 4.8/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 601 East Main St. Merced, California
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Food Trucks
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 318 metros.
