As long as people keep eating at restaurants, organizations are going to keep ranking them. Whether it’s Michelin, the James Beard Foundation, 50 Best, or industry publications like this one, best-of lists make it easier than ever to decide where to eat at home and abroad. The latest best-of list is North America’s 50 Best Restaurants, the just-announced offshoot from William Reed, the group that also publishes The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and similar lists for bars and hotels.
This is the organization’s first time ranking restaurants specific to the North American continent, following other geography-specific lists dedicated to Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa.
The top-50 list will be unveiled at a live awards ceremony later this year, with the date and location to be announced in the coming months.
North America’s 50 Best Restaurants will highlight the best restaurants across the United States, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean. Mexico is already included in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, which was established in 2013, so it will remain in that category and not be eligible for ranking in North America’s list. Cuba and Dominican Republic will also remain part of the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking.
Winners seen on stage during the World’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony in 2024. Photo credit: 50 Best
Winners seen on stage during the World’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony in 2024. Photo credit: 50 Best
A handful of U.S. restaurants have made the World’s 50 Best list over the years, including Eleven Madison Park in New York City, which took the top spot in 2017. Just two stateside restaurants made the top-50 list last year. Atomix, the high-end Korean concept in New York, ranked sixth in the world in 2024, and SingleThread, a kaiseki-style spot in Healdsburg, Calif., ranked 46.
The dedicated North American list is a chance for more restaurants to get recognized for their food and hospitality.
“North America has a thriving and diverse restaurant scene, which is constantly changing and evolving — its wealth of culinary traditions and influence cannot be understated,” William Drew, director of content for North America’s 50 Best Restaurants, said in a statement. “We believe that there is an opportunity to honor restaurants across the region, which includes Canada and parts of the Caribbean in addition to the U.S., and inspire food-lovers to seek out new experiences.”
Drew added that the results will reflect “the most memorable restaurant experiences across the region, celebrating immense talent and hard work, and providing a credible guide for discerning diners.”
The rankings are derived from restaurant experiences collected from a panel of 300 anonymous voters. According to 50 Best, voters are comprised of chefs, restaurateurs, food & beverage journalists, educators, and well-travelled gourmets. Academy Chairs, selected for their expertise in particular areas, oversee eight sub-regions across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.
There’s no fee to participate, and restaurants don’t need to fit any special criteria. Voters simply share their best restaurant experiences, of any kind, across the polling period. But while any restaurant is technically eligible to be recognized, 50 Best has historically recognized high-end restaurants with tasting menus and artful plating.
