Highest-rated restaurants in Boston 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 Boston, 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. Flavor Boom! Milk Street
- Rating: 4.6/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 155 Milk St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Fast food
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#29. Rick's 11a Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 11 Elkins St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea
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#28. The Greek Gyro
- Rating: 4.7/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 88 Peterborough St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Greek, Mediterranean
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#27. Via Cannuccia
- Rating: 4.7/5 (112 reviews)
- Address: 1739 Dorchester Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Italian, Desserts
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#26. Carmella's Market
- Rating: 4.7/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 86 Cottage St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Cheese Shops, Delis, Grocery
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#25. Eagle Hill Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (46 reviews)
- Address: 65 Meridian St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Juice Bars & Smoothies
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#24. Cafe Bonjour
- Rating: 4.7/5 (974 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 55 Temple Place Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
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#23. BalaMao
- Rating: 4.7/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 433 Washington St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Thai
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#22. Ethiopian Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (79 reviews)
- Address: 377 Centre St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Ethiopian, Vegetarian
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#21. Stardust - Inspired Mediterranean
- Rating: 4.7/5 (78 reviews)
- Address: 1753 Centre St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Mediterranean, Persian/Iranian, Greek
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#20. Third Cliff Bakery
- Rating: 4.7/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3531 Washington St. Ste 103 Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
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#19. Waverly Kitchen & Bar
- Rating: 4.7/5 (88 reviews)
- Address: 231 Bunker Hill St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Breakfast & Brunch, Tapas/Small Plates
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#18. Mei Mei Dumplings
- Rating: 4.7/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 58 Old Colony Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Cooking Classes, Dim Sum
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#17. Lulu Green
- Rating: 4.7/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 246 West Broadway Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Vegan, Cafes, Cocktail Bars
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#16. Moon Bar
- Rating: 4.7/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 129 Columbus Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
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#15. Bono Restaurant And Catering
- Rating: 4.7/5 (59 reviews)
- Address: 271 Meridian St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Latin American, Mexican, Tapas Bars
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#14. KChickin
- Rating: 4.7/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 86 Peterborough St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Japanese, Korean, Chicken Wings
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#13. Sunny Girl
- Rating: 4.7/5 (62 reviews)
- Address: 252 Commercial St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Delis
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#12. Laughing Monk Cafe
- Rating: 4.8/5 (57 reviews)
- Address: 168A Brighton Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Thai
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#11. 311 Boston
- Rating: 4.8/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 605 Tremont St. Ste G Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Japanese
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#10. Peruvian Taste
- Rating: 4.8/5 (49 reviews)
- Address: 78 Arlington Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Peruvian, Desserts, Breakfast & Brunch
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#9. Momo Masala
- Rating: 4.8/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2 Perkins St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Indian, Himalayan/Nepalese
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#8. Mister Q Cafe
- Rating: 4.8/5 (68 reviews)
- Address: 283 Main St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Cafes, Desserts, Sandwiches
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#7. Mo'Rockin Fusion
- Rating: 4.8/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 100 Hanover St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Moroccan, Mediterranean, fast food
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#6. Madhouse Cafe
- Rating: 4.8/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 24 Blue Hill Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Cafes
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#5. Mood Restaurant & Cafe
- Rating: 4.9/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 115 Salem St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Mediterranean, Breakfast & Brunch
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#4. Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House
- Rating: 4.9/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 21 Hudson St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Hot Pot, Japanese
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#3. Birdies Hot Chicken
- Rating: 4.9/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 267 Washington St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Chicken Wings
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#2. Florenza
- Rating: 4.9/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 164 Sumner St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Sandwiches, Gelato, Pizza
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#1. Wa Shin
- Rating: 5.0/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 222 Stuart St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
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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.