Highest-rated restaurants in Wilmington by diners
Highest-rated restaurants in Wilmington 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 Wilmington, 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. Two Guys Grille
- Rating: 4.5/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8254 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#29. The Keg and Egg
- Rating: 4.5/5 (172 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4039 Masonboro Loop Road Unit 1 A Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: American, Beer Bar, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Ceviche's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (622 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7210 Wrightsville Ave. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Latin American, Caribbean
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Pipeline Poke
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 102 Autumn Hall Drive Ste 130 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Poke, Hawaiian
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Three10
- Rating: 4.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 1022 North 4th St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Southern, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#25. The Second Glass
- Rating: 4.5/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1540 South 2nd St. Ste 110 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Spoonfed Kitchen & Bake Shop
- Rating: 4.5/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1930 Eastwood Road Ste 105 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries, Macarons
- Read more on Yelp
#23. The Green House Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1427 Military Cutoff Road Unit 106 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Vegan, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Fox's Hole In The Wall
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 124 Princess St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Bars, Sandwiches, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#21. The Fortunate Glass
- Rating: 4.5/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 29 South Front St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Wine Bars, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. The Crazy Mason - Wilmington
- Rating: 4.5/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 3608 Oleander Drive Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts, Waffles
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Pine Valley Market
- Rating: 4.5/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3520 South College Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Bagel King and Donuts
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 3228 North College Road Unit A Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Donuts, Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Aromas of Peru
- Rating: 4.5/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 417 South College Road Ste 22 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Peruvian, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#16. On Thyme Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 918 Castle St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Tacos, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#15. The Getaway Cafe and Provisions
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 109 Pier Master Pt Ste 110 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Sandwiches, Gluten-Free, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Casa Blanca
- Rating: 4.5/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7409 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Panacea Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4107 Oleander Drive Unit H Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Kombucha, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Milner's Cafe & Catering
- Rating: 4.5/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 311 Judges Road Ste 1A Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Our Crepes & More
- Rating: 4.5/5 (342 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3810 Oleander Drive Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Creperies, Desserts, French
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Savorez
- Rating: 4.5/5 (564 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 402 Chestnut St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Latin American, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Kapow Thai Street Food
- Rating: 4.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 1988 Eastwood Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Thai, Noodles, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Chicken Salad Chick
- Rating: 4.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 1131 A Military Cut Off Road Ste A Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Southern, Chicken Shop, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Tidewater Oyster Bar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8211 Market St. Unit DD Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#6. The Sorrow Drowner
- Rating: 4.5/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 19 South 10th St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Tiki Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Maine Lobster Roll Company
- Rating: 5.0/5 (146 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5202 Carolina Beach Road Ste 6 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Amanecer Cocina & Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 1616 Shipyard Blvd. Ste 20 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Kale Me Crazy
- Rating: 5.0/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6800 Parker Farm Drive Ste 100 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Wraps, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Folks Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1201 Princess St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Empanadas, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#1. The Half
- Rating: 5.0/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 510 1/2 Red Cross St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Sandwiches, Beer Bar
- 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.
