Every year, The New York Times releases its picks for the best 50 restaurants across the United States.
In 2023, Iowa City restaurant Webster made the list. However, the 2024 list featured no Iowa restaurants, but five other spots in the Midwest were showcased for their innovative menus and dining experiences, elevating the food scene for the region.
More: The 27 essential restaurants in the Des Moines metro: 2024 edition
Here are the five best restaurants in the Midwest, according to the New York Times:
Asador Bastian, Chicago
Located in the River North neighborhood in Chicago, Asador Bastian is a chophouse with Basque influences from acclaimed Chef Doug Psaltis.
The New York Times says the restaurant’s steak is “the best in Chicago.” Asador Bastian was previously listed in the New York Times’ The 25 Best Restaurants in Chicago. While best known for its cuts of beef, The Times also highlights that the restaurant’s seafood selection is worth trying.
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Location: 214 W. Erie St., Chicago
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Distance from Des Moines: 335 miles or about 5 hours
Noori Pocha, Clawson, Michigan
Noori Pocha is located in Clawson, Michigan, about 14 miles north of downtown Detroit, serving authentic Korean dishes. Noori Pocha is attached to Noori Chicken, a fast-growing Korean fried chicken chain with several Michigan locations and others in the U.S.
While both places are connected, each has a different menu. “Walk through the door of Noori Pocha, and you’ll wonder if you’ve found a portal to South Korea without the jet lag,” the Times’ Sara Bonisteel wrote.
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Location: 1 S. Main St, Clawson, Michigan
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Distance from Des Moines: 606 miles or about 9 hours
Oro by Nixta, Minneapolis
Oro by Nixta originated from a takeout spot, which itself was an extension of a tortilleria. The restaurant has elevated the taco game in the Twin Cities.
It uses the traditional technique of nixtamalization to make tortillas and tamales, which serve as the vessels for various braised and roasted meats. “Imagine a taqueria with a tasting-menu restaurant’s ambitions and none of its pretensions,” said Brett Anderson from the Times.
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Location: 1222 NE Second St., Minneapolis
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Distance from Des Moines: 248 miles or about 3 hours and 45 minutes
Vinai, Minneapolis
Also located in the Twin Cities, Vinai serves Hmong cuisine, which is similar to Thai and Vietnamese food. However, head chef and owner Yia Vang takes a different approach to the fare, emphasizing chile and citrus flavors.
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Location: 1300 NE Second St., Minneapolis
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Distance from Des Moines: 248 miles or about 3 hours and 45 minutes
The Aperture, Cincinnati
The Aperture opened in the winter of 2024 and is a Mediterranean restaurant in the Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati. The rising favorite was lauded for “the kitchen’s firm grasp of Mediterranean cuisine, particularly its eastern rim,” according to Times writer Brett Anderson.
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Location: 900 E. McMillan St., Cincinnati
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Distance from Des Moines: 588 miles or about 8 hours and 30 minutes
What Iowa restaurants have made the New York Times’ Restaurant List in past years?
In 2023, The Webster, a fine dining establishment in Iowa City, made the New York Times’ Best Restaurant list.
The Webster, located at 202 N. Linn St., is owned and operated by Iowa City native Sam Gelman and his wife, Riene Gelman. The Iowa City restaurant opened in 2021 and has since become a fan favorite for its rotating seasonal menu that boasts American dishes.
USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year: He goes to Asia every year for inspiration. Now his Iowa restaurant was named among tops in the US
“Mr. Gelman’s food channels his experiences working as a top lieutenant in the chef David Chang’s restaurant group, which took him from New York to Toronto to Los Angeles,” said New York Times reporter Brett Anderson. “With its window-lined dining room and vibrant, Asian-accented, often locally sourced dishes, the Webster treats Mr. Gelman’s hometown as an asset and serves as a compelling enticement to visit this cosmopolitan corner of the Midwest.”
Recently, the restaurateur couple announced a new restaurant in Iowa City, Paper Crane Ramen Shop & Cocktail Lounge, which is anticipated to open in October. According to a news release, Paper Crane aims to provide an innovative and fresh dining experience and satiate “Iowa City’s growing demand for casual, approachable, yet expertly crafted dining options.”
How does The New York Times determine its best restaurants list?
According to the Times, its writers and editors spent 12 months traveling to nearly every state in the nation to create this year’s list.
USA TODAY Network reporters Susan Selasky and Keith Pandolfi contributed to this article.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: No Iowa restaurants make the New York Times’ best restaurants list
