Highest-rated restaurants in Salinas by diners

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January 31, 2025
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Highest-rated restaurants in Salinas 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 Salinas, 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.

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#30. The Beerded Bean

- Rating: 4.3/5 (189 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 210 Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Breweries
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#29. The Growers Pub

- Rating: 4.3/5 (421 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 227 Monterey St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Steakhouses, American, Bars
-

#28. First Awakenings

- Rating: 4.3/5 (960 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 171 Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
-

#27. Patria

- Rating: 4.3/5 (587 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 228 Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Wine Bars
-

#26. Salinas City BBQ

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1892 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 700 West Market St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Barbecue, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
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#25. Cantonese Express Food

- Rating: 4.3/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 928 Park Row Salinas, California
- Categories: Chinese
-

#24. Burrito King

- Rating: 4.3/5 (145 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8 Midtown Lane Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
-

#23. Avatar Indian Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (607 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1568 Constitution Blvd. Salinas, California
- Categories: Indian
-

#22. Della-Rose Deli

- Rating: 4.4/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1309 Abbott St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, Salad
-

#21. El Charrito

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1559 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 122 West Market St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
-

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#20. Tacos El Grullense

- Rating: 4.4/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Kern St. And Roosevelt St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
-

#19. Altura Lounge and Bistro

- Rating: 4.4/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 66 West Alisal St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Pizza, Cocktail Bars, Sicilian
-

#18. El Zacatecano

- Rating: 4.4/5 (423 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 655 East Alisal St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
-

#17. Mangia - Eat on Main

- Rating: 4.5/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 328 Main St. Ste A Salinas, California
- Categories: Italian
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#16. Haiku Hawaiian BBQ

- Rating: 4.5/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1253 North Davis Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Hawaiian, Barbecue
-

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#15. El Canaston

- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 796 Northridge Drive Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
-

#14. T & A Cafe Home of Kleinfeldt Family BBQ

- Rating: 4.5/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1 Harris Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Barbecue, Sandwiches, American
-

#13. Emma's Bakery and Cafe

- Rating: 4.6/5 (89 reviews)
- Address: 1182 South Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Cafes
-

#12. Panaderia Tres Hermanos

- Rating: 4.6/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 545 East Alisal Ste D Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
-

#11. Thanh Loi Noodles

- Rating: 4.6/5 (213 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1940 North Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Vietnamese, Noodles, Soup
-

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#10. Culturas Hidalgo & Oaxaca Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (397 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 473 East Market St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
-

#9. Jaquez Fast Food Service

- Rating: 4.7/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 923 East Market St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Food Stands, Mexican
-

#8. Tacos Guadalajara 831

- Rating: 4.7/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 170 Harrison Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
-

#7. El Colibri Restaurant and Deli

- Rating: 4.7/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 343 Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Burgers, Sandwiches, Mexican
-

#6. Royal Deli And Bakery

- Rating: 4.7/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 952 Park Row Salinas, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Delis
-

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#5. Khao San Thai Kitchen

- Rating: 4.7/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1255 North Davis Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Thai, Noodles, Chicken Wings
-

#4. Steinbeck House Restaurant

- Rating: 4.8/5 (230 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 132 Central Ave. Salinas, California
- Categories: American, Venues & Event Spaces, Historical Tours
-

#3. El Chilacatazo

- Rating: 4.8/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 337 Monterey St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
-

#2. Sushi Hut

- Rating: 4.8/5 (184 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 616 East Boronda Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Poke, Soup
-

#1. Sabor Latin Fusion

- Rating: 4.9/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 1126 South Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Caterers
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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.

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