Highest-rated restaurants in Topeka 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 said they rarely, if ever, try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, and 5% say they never do, according to a survey of more than 2,600 diners from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—56% of Gen Zers and 47% 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 online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.
Some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established spots that customers have been visiting for decades, but some may be brand new. More than 10,000 new restaurants opened in 2023, up 5.7% from 2022, according to a report from BentoBox. The states that saw the most new restaurants open up in 2023 were Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but new locales are popping up all over the U.S.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Topeka, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily reflect each restaurant listed.
#30. North Star Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.0/5 (103 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1100 Northwest 25th St. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Taco El Sol
- Rating: 4.0/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2124 Southeast 6th Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Cook's American Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1936 Southwest Gage Blvd. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Glory Days Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2811 Southwest Wanamaker Road Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Globe Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.0/5 (95 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 117 Southeast 10th Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Pizagel's Pizza & Bakery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2830 Southwest Fairlawn Road Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Bakeries, Pizza, Bagels
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Chez Yasu
- Rating: 4.0/5 (72 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2701 Southwest 17th St. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#23. The Shack Bar & Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2842 Southeast 29th St. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#22. The Burger Stand
- Rating: 4.5/5 (349 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2833 Southwest 29th St. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Burgers, Vegetarian, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Banjo's Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5824 Southwest Topeka Blvd. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#20. El Taquito Express
- Rating: 4.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5141 Southwest 29th St. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Doughboyz Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 1312 North Kansas Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Pizza, Karaoke
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Wok & Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 400 Southwest 29th St. Ste U Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#17. El Centenario
- Rating: 4.5/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1306 South Kansas Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Harold's Prize Package Store
- Rating: 4.5/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1420 Southeast 6th Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Burgers, American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Juli's Coffee and Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 911 South Kansas Ave. Downtown Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Jorge's Cantina Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 837 Southwest Fairlawn Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Tacos El Mexicano
- Rating: 4.5/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2002 Southeast California Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. The Steam Engine
- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5660 Southwest 29th St. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#11. The White Linen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (44 reviews)
- Address: 112 Southwest 6th Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: French, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Los Mandiles Rojos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 1003 Southeast Quincy St. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Paradise Donuts
- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1620 Southwest 6th Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#8. The Wheel Barrel
- Rating: 4.5/5 (273 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 925 North Kansas Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Bars, Soup, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Brew Bank
- Rating: 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 822 South Kansas Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Brewpubs, New American, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Monsoon Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (253 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2040 Southwest Wanamaker Road Ste 104 Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Olive Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 935 South Kansas Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Chuckburger
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2318 Southeast 6th Ave. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Lonnie Q's BBQ
- Rating: 4.5/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3150 Southeast 21st St. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Milk and Honey
- Rating: 5.0/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 2200 Southeast 29th St. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Jong's Thai Kitchen
- Rating: 5.0/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 800 Southwest 12th St. Topeka, Kansas
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 331 metros.
