Highest-rated restaurants in Columbia, Missouri by diners
Highest-rated restaurants in Columbia, Missouri 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 Columbia, 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. D. Rowe's Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (185 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1005 Club Village Drive Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: American, Barbeque, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#29. MOD Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 21 Conley Road Unit U Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Fast food, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Coffee Zone
- Rating: 4.0/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 11 North 9th St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Mediterranean, Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Le Bao
- Rating: 4.5/5 (123 reviews)
- Address: 1009 Park Ave. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Chris McD's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1400 Forum Blvd. Ste 6 Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Steakhouses, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Mad Cow
- Rating: 4.5/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 503 East Nifong Blvd. Ste I Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: New American, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Range Free
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 Orr St. Ste 101 Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Cafes, Gluten-Free, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Big Daddy's BBQ
- Rating: 4.5/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1205 North Garth Ave. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Barbeque, Southern, Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Delia's Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (72 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 North 10th St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Pho Quan Viet Cuisine
- Rating: 4.5/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1301 Vandiver Drive Ste J Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Vietnamese, Chinese, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Big Mama's Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (56 reviews)
- Address: 3510 Interstate 70 Drive Southeast Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Cafes, Desserts, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Carlito's Cabo - North Columbia
- Rating: 4.5/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 12-A Business Lp 70 East Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican, Peruvian
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Main Squeeze
- Rating: 4.5/5 (243 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 28 South 9th St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Vegetarian, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Barred Owl Butcher & Table
- Rating: 4.5/5 (259 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 47 East Broadway Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Butcher, American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Cajun Crab House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (97 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 308 Business Loop 70 West Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Seafood, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp
#15. G & D Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.5/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2001 West Worley St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Steakhouses, American, Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Tiger Chef
- Rating: 4.5/5 (86 reviews)
- Address: 907 Rain Forest Pwy Ste 101 Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#13. B&B Bagel
- Rating: 4.5/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 124 East Nifong Blvd. Ste A Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#12. QuikTrip
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3211 Clark Lane Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Gas Stations, Convenience Stores, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Tortilleria El Patrón
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 711 Vandiver Drive Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Med Mex Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 2609 East Broadway Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Flyover
- Rating: 4.5/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 212 East Green Meadows Road Ste 9 Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Pretzels, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Ellianna's Donut Shop
- Rating: 4.5/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1105 Grindstone Pkwy Ste 101 Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Just Jeff's Street Food
- Rating: 4.5/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 701 Business Loop 70 West Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Food Stands, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Taqueria Don Pancho
- Rating: 4.5/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3907 Peachtree Drive Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Goldie's Bagels
- Rating: 5.0/5 (46 reviews)
- Address: 114 South 9th St. Ste 102 Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Delis, Bagels
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Café Poland
- Rating: 5.0/5 (221 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 807 Locust St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Polish, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Los Comales Mexican Restaurant & Store
- Rating: 5.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 3510 I-70 Southeast Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Beet Box
- Rating: 5.0/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 602 Fay St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Penn Station
- Rating: 5.0/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 203 East Nifong Blvd. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Cheesesteaks, fast food, Sandwiches
- 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.
