The 'New York Times' just dropped its list of 100 best restaurants of 2026 and we have thoughts

"The New York Times just debuted its annual ranking of the best 100 restaurants in NYC, crowning Paul Carmichael's Kabawa as the top spot for 2026. The listicle, "The 100 Best Restaurants in New York City, 2026," was released in two parts, with the final unveiling of the top ten dropping today. This marks the first curated ranking from newly appointed co-chief critic Ligaya Mishan, who stepped into the role last summer. Over the course of ten months, Mishan "scoured the city end to end," eating her way through hundreds of restaurants across all five boroughs in an attempt to narrow down the city's very best."

"For 2026, a whopping 33 restaurants made their debut on the list. Queens was especially well represented, with inclusions like one of Zohran Mamdani's favorite restaurants, Kabab King (100), streetside chalupa destination Chalupas Poblanas El Tlecuile (99) and the chicken and lamb tagines at Dar Lbahja (78). Other newcomers include Chinatown wine bar Lei (76), "Top Chef" winner Gregory Gourdet's Maison Passerelle (75) and Fidel Caballero's bold Mexican restaurant Corima (37), which also earned the distinction of serving the "best tortilla.""

"Three new restaurants cracked the top ten this year: Bayside Taiwanese spot Mama Lee (10), Hooni Kim's Long Island City tasting-menu restaurant Meju (4) and the $330-per-person kaiseki experience Yamada (2). Joining them were Semma from the Unapologetic Foods team (7), A"

The New York Times released its annual ranking of the 100 best restaurants in New York City for 2026, with Paul Carmichael’s Kabawa named the top restaurant. The list was revealed in two parts, with the top ten unveiled on the latest date. The ranking reflects work by newly appointed co-chief critic Ligaya Mishan, who spent ten months visiting hundreds of restaurants across all five boroughs. The criteria prioritize imagination, ambience, service, technique, passion, commitment, and deliciousness, with special attention to “New York-iness.” Thirty-three restaurants debuted, including several from Queens and new openings across boroughs. Three new restaurants entered the top ten: Mama Lee, Meju, and Yamada, alongside other established favorites.

Read at Time Out New York