2 San Diego restaurants make Yelp’s Best New Restaurants of 2024 top 10

SAN DIEGO – Americans really like eating out in 2024. According to Yelp, food sales in America will hit a record $1 trillion in 2024, and many hungry diners are looking for new places to try in their city.

Each year, Yelp releases its list of the best new restaurants in the United States, based on data such as total volume and ratings of reviews on the platform, positive health reviews, and input from a Yelp trends expert.

Trends seen in the 2024 list include more restaurants with experimental cuisine and over-the-top food presentation. Six of the top 25 restaurants serve Japanese cuisine, including one in San Diego. Another trend is toward “approachable” dining with friendly staff and chefs, away from the fancy, stuffy environments that make people feel out of place.

Number one on the 2024 list was the viral Mediterranean restaurant Mēdüzā Mediterrania in New York City. The top 10 also includes two restaurants in San Diego, California.

Fourth on the 2024 list was Kinme Omakase, located in Bankers Hill next to Balboa Park, 2505 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103.

With only 10 seats available at a long wooden counter, your 10-course omakase meal is uniquely personal. At each of the two evening dinners, Kinme chefs interact with guests in the beautiful open marble kitchen, explaining the origins of each course as it is prepared. According to owner and creative director Shihomi Borillo, watching them create each piece is almost a theatrical experience.

According to a Yelper review: “With every bite, I wanted the melt-in-your-mouth, decadent flavor to last forever. When I say everything that was served was delicious, I mean it. From the seasonal vegetables to the butter toro, everything was of the highest quality. It was great to be served by the owner and chef. Everything was prepared and assembled in front of (us) in an intimate dining setting.”

Eighth on the 2024 list was Boujiemana, located at 3545 Aero Ct in San Diego’s Serra Mesa neighborhood. Ste. B, San Diego, CA 92123.

According to owner Samer Khouli, with its commitment to the community (3% of profits go to a different local nonprofit each month) and a joyful dining experience, BoujieMana is ultimately a place for people to socialize. “What sets us apart is the way our guests feel when they are here,” he says. The menu features decadent surprises like homemade hummus fermented for 48 hours, roasted octopus with chili oil and pistachios, and a 15-day dry-aged roast duck.

According to a Yelp review, “I’m usually very skeptical about a restaurant with so many 5-star reviews, but this place deserves all 5 stars. The space is beautiful inside and out. We ordered the chicken souvlaki sandwich with a side salad and it was amazing. The chicken was tender and everything was seasoned perfectly. The pita was light and fluffy and the salad dressing was the best I’ve ever had.”

Check out the full list of the 25 Best New Restaurants for 2024 here or search for the “best new restaurants” near you on Yelp.