For 37 years, Food & Wine has traveled across the country in search of the Best New Chefs. And we think we’ve done a pretty good job over those nearly four decades of discovering top talent, with alumni like Daniel Boulud, Nancy Silverton, Tom Colicchio, Nobu Matsuhisa, Kwame Onwuachiand Stephanie Izardjust to name a few. This year, we’re taking it to the next level with the debut of the Food & Wine Best New Chefs Restaurant Guidehelping you, our valued readers, discover even more exceptional dining venues to try.

So, what is the guide? It’s a chef-driven resource on our site that highlights America’s most exciting dining experiences. It was created with the help of 66 Best New Chef alumni from classes spanning from 1990 to 2024 to showcase a broad range of perspectives, cuisines, and dining styles. We asked each Best New Chef to recommend up to three local restaurants they enjoy, helping diners discover their next great meal.

And man, did they deliver.

The guide features an impressive 335 restaurants, including those run by our Best New Chefs and their favorite spots in their hometowns. Specifically, 127 of these are operated by Best New Chefs, while the remaining 208 are personal recommendations, so you can trust they are all excellent. The 10 cities included are Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

The guide also includes insider details, including each chef’s “Perfect Order,” so you can order exactly like them. It’s also very easy to navigate, as it’s organized by city and can be filtered by style — from timeless classics and special occasion spots to food trucks, late-night eats, and more — making it simple to find the exact bite you’re craving. There’s even a “Perfect Match” tool that helps you find your ideal restaurant, no swiping right required.

“At Food & Wine, we believe food is about more than what’s on the plate — it’s about discovery,” Food & Wine’s Editor in Chief Hunter Lewis said. “We aim to cut through the noise and connect diners with the people, places, and flavors that are shaping American dining today. The Food & Wine Best New Chefs Restaurant Guide is a city-by-city passport to hidden gems, must-try dishes, and buzzy new openings that will thrill all comers.”