Best of Flavor 2021
Flavor & The Menu’s 2021 “Best of Flavor” edition is a collection of 100 menu inspirations from our readers, showcasing the flavor-forward innovation taking place in menu development today.
Chicken Liver and Spring Pea Ravioli Doppio Lyla Lila | Atlanta
Chicken Liver And Spring Pea Ravioli Doppio with Marsala, Vidalia onions, mint, ricotta, egg,...
Smoked Oyster & Artichoke Dip Echo at the King and Prince | St. Simons Island, Ga.
Smoked Oyster & Artichoke Dip with Boursin and Georgia Gouda, served with French baguette slices...
Be Well Salad California Avocado Commission
MIXT greens, avocado, chickpeas, quinoa, lentils, carrots, edamame, cucumbers, scallions, fresh...
Brisket Horn Barbecue | Oakland, Calif.
Brisket with optional sides: mac & cheese, pit beans, collards, potato salad, slaw...
Crab Tostada Benedict Tinta | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Crispy-fried white corn tortillas topped with refried beans, smashed avocado, crab salad and a...
Pollo Chilango Mi Vida Restaurante | Washington, D.C.
Pollo Chilango with pickled vegetables, crushed tomato salsa and roasted corn esquites...
House Lacto-Fermented Giardiniera Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar | Chicago
Pickled vegetables, poached garlic and onions, and olive oil ...
Garlic and Cheddar Biscuits Soby’s New South Cuisine | Greenville, S.C.
Garlic and Cheddar Biscuits with paprika, garlic powder and nutmeg ...
Texas Brisket-Egg Sandwich Einstein Bros. Bagels | Based in Lakewood, Colo.
Cage-free fresh-cracked griddled eggs, smoked beef brisket and cheddar with smoky chipotle aïoli on...
Curry Nikutama Udon Marugame Udon | Locations in Hawaii, Texas and California
Curry Nikutama Udon with Japanese curries, beef, caramelized onions, a soft-poached egg, tempura...
Housemade Ricotta Causwells | San Francisco
Housemade Ricotta with olive oil and rosemary honey, served with lavosh ...
We Have The Blues Salad Grill Concepts / U.S. Highbush Blueberry Commission
Romaine hearts, mixed greens, red onions, feta, honey-toasted almonds, blueberries and a...
Crispy Curly Pepperoni Pizza Mountain Mike’s Pizza | Based in Newport Beach, Calif.
Signature pepperoni on housemade dough with tomato sauce and whole-milk mozzarella...
Newk’s Q Sandwich Newk’s Eatery | Based in Jackson, Miss.
Grilled chicken breast, Ammerländer Swiss, bacon and signature white barbecue sauce, on French...
Pork Belly Grilled Cheese Slater’s 50/50 | Based in Anaheim, Calif.
Thick-cut pork belly, pimento cheese, jalapeño-bacon jam and pickled red onions on toasted sourdough...
Pabil Chicken Taquitos Yellowbelly | St. Louis
Pibil Chicken Taquitos with housemade garlic ranch, salsa verde and Cotija cheese Photo credit:...
Turkey Dipper Lion’s Choice | Based in St. Louis
Turkey Dipper: roasted turkey, Provel cheese, flatbread and marinara sauce ...
Meat and Cheese Farm Board Fern Street Wine Bar & Kitchen | West Palm Beach, Fla.
Rotating selection of cured meats and cheeses served with fresh honeycomb, blood orange mostarda,...
Taco Kit ATX Cocina | Austin, Texas
Build-your-own al pastor and achiote-lime chicken tacos, served with heirloom corn tortillas, Cotija...
Banana Cream Napoleon RPM Seafood | Chicago
Banana Cream Napoleon with warm caramel, phyllo, banana filling and vanilla whipped cream...
Pulled Pork Thepla Tacos Aurum | Los Altos, Calif.
Pulled Pork Thepla Tacos with sour cream, micro greens and pickled red onions Photo credit: Hardy...
Mustang Burger Ford’s Garage | Based in Tampa, Fla.
Half-pound grilled black Angus, pimento cheese spread, arugula and Fresno chile jam on brioche...
Vege Fi Burger BurgerFi | Based in North Palm Beach, Fla.
Fried patty of fresh vegetables, quinoa, lentils, caramelized onions, fontina, herbs and red wine...
La Bomba Toro Toro | Miami
Strawberry ice cream and cream cheese mousse with fresh berries and almond cookie crumbles in an...
Bacon Smashed Hatch Chile Burger Buffalo Wild Wings | Based in Atlanta
Hand-smashed patties seared with bacon, American cheese, Hatch chile peppers, caramelized onions,...
Chimichurri Bowl Dave & Buster’s | Based in Dallas
Grilled asparagus, roasted cauliflower, avocado, pickled red cabbage, tomato- basil bruschetta and...
Newman’s Jewban Kush Hialeah | Hialeah, Fla.
Pulled pork, corned beef, Swiss cheese, pickles, sauerkraut, yellow mustard and Russian dressing,...
The South Beach Lapidus Bar at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach | Miami Beach, Fla.
Crème brûlée ice cream with chocolate wafer clusters and Havana Club rum ...
Beer Battered Cod Sandwich Roy Rogers | Based in Frederick, Md.
Natural-cut cod fillet in Yuengling beer-infused batter, with American cheese and tartar sauce on a...
Pizza Burger Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer | Based in New York
Pizza Burger with marinara sauce, fried mozzarella and shaved Parmesan Photo credit: Black...
Lambstrami Sandwich The Venetian Resort | Las Vegas
Shaved lamb pastrami, coleslaw, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and sautéed peppers and onions on a...
Khao Tod Nam Sod Chao Baan | St. Louis
Smashed deep-fried rice cakes with chiles, fish sauce and lime, served with pork sausage, ginger,...
Cedar Plank Chocolate Brownie S’mores Smokecraft Modern Barbecue | Arlington, Va.
Cedar plank-smoked brownie, milk chocolate bar, marshmallows, graham cracker, Grand Marnier-infused...
Grilled Salmon with Turmeric Quinoa Pilaf Farmer’s Table Express | Based in Boca Raton, Fla.
Grilled Salmon With Turmeric Quinoa Pilaf and steamed asparagus ...
Slow Cooked Lamb Shank Persian Basket Kitchen & Bar | Johns Creek, Ga.
Slow Cooked Lamb Shank with Persian spices, caramelized onions, saffron, fava beans and dill basmati...
Goat Curry Palm&Pine | New Orleans
Goat Curry with fideos, topped with cilantro, green onions, mango yogurt and “crunchy snacks”...
Spiced Pineapple Mezcal Margarita Puttshack | Atlanta
Montelobos Espadin mezcal tequila, Hanson Habanero vodka, pineapple syrup, fresh pineapple juice,...
Avery Island Salad Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux | Based in Baton Rouge, La.
Spring mix topped with shrimp, apple, blue cheese, candied pecans, bacon crumbles and Tabasco-pepper...
Omelette Evangeline C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar | Atlanta
Three-egg omelette, mushrooms, cheddar, fried shrimp and Cajun hollandaise, served with Brabant...
Whiskey Cake Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar | Based in Dallas
Toffee torte, bourbon anglaise, spiced pecans and housemade vanilla whipped cream ...
Chicken Karaage Blind Pig Kitchen + Bar | Two locations in Orange County, Calif.
Chicken Karaage with shishito peppers, wasabi aïoli, furikake and charred lemon ...
Thai Dyed Pie George Trois | Winnetka, Ill.
Passionfruit-lemongrass curd and pandan crumble with dehydrated Thai basil meringue and...
Gobhi Bezule Miirch Social | Fullerton, Calif.
Crispy cauliflower, coconut milk, mustard seeds and curry leaf ...
Mediterranean Bowl Modern Market Eatery
Grass-fed flank steak, cauliflower rice, chimichurri, red onion, cucumber, Kalamata olives, romaine...
Enzo Ferrari White Whiskey Sazerac Modena | Washington, D.C.
Stone-ground white whiskey, absinthe, lemon verbena-hibiscus simple, Peychaud’s bitters...
Family Taco Kit Mission Taco Joint | Based in St. Louis
Featuring cochinita pibil, birria, marinated grilled chicken, wood-fired portobellos, vegan “meat”...
Key Lime Pie Bars Magnolia Bakery | Based in New York
Graham cracker crust filled with Key lime custard and topped with sweet whipped cream and lime zest...
Roasted Kabocha Squash Proxi | Chicago
Roasted Kabocha Squash with coconut milk glaze, fried shallots and garlic, fresh cilantro and slices...
Chicken N’ Biscuits Table Mountain Grill & Cantina | Golden, Colo.
Jalapeño-cheddar biscuits topped with Santa Fe hot chicken, poached eggs and pork chili, served with...
Thai Fighter Dog Haus | Based in Pasadena, Calif.
Spicy Thai currywurst topped with wild arugula, pickled jalapeños and spicy basil aïoli, served on...
Green Chorizo Quesadilla Xilonen | Brooklyn, N.Y.
Green Chorizo Quesadilla with smoked pecans, roasted mushrooms, avocado and black bean salsas...
Wahoo in Corn Elvie’s | Jackson, Miss.
Wahoo In Corn with corn-squash-zucchini succotash and a corn-jalapeño purée ...
Hot Chicken Sandwich Hurricane Ray’s Hot Chicken | Locations in Temecula and Fallbrook, Calif.
Fried chicken thigh, spicy “mud” sauce, housemade coleslaw, pickles and comeback sauce on brioche...
Mumbai Mariachi Bowl Immigrant Food | Washington, D.C.
Spice-rubbed steak with spinach, roasted potatoes and peppers, corn, feta, mango chutney, spiralized...
Kulcha Chalupa Taco Desi Contemporary | Campbell, Calif.
Kulcha Chalupa Tacos with butter chicken and vinegared onions ...
Deli Benedict TooJay’s Deli, Bakery & Restaurant | Based in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Sliced pastrami or corned beef, poached eggs, hollandaise, Swiss, tomato and scallions on rye...
Bento Box Osaka Cocina Nikkei | Based in Miami
Bento Box with nigiri, makimono and sashimi [byline_and_pub_date...
Hot Chicken Buns Otaku Ramen | Three locations in Nashville
Hot Chicken Buns with Kewpie mayo slaw and a dill pickle on steamed bao buns ...
Pretzel Bites Culver’s | Based in Prairie du Sac, Wis.
Pretzel Bites with Wisconsin cheddar cheese sauce ...
Xocolatl Maize Cocktail Chao Pescao | San Francisco
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 100-proof bourbon, Nixta Licor de Elote, Aztec chocolate bitters and a...
Pan-Roasted Halibut Cheeks Water Grill | Locations in Southern California and Las Vegas
Pan Roasted Halibut Cheeks with artichoke hearts and Parmigiano-Reggiano ...
Jalisco Summer Cantina la Mexicana | Somerville, Mass.
Silver tequila with a sour mix of hibiscus, prickly pear and red jalapeño purées and lime juice...
Cinnamon Roll Russell’s Café & Bakery | Two locations in Missouri
Cinnamon Roll with a dollop of cream cheese icing ...
Roasted Cauliflower Village Tavern | Based in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Roasted Cauliflower with romesco sauce, toasted almonds, pine nuts, garlic, capers, chives and...
AVOrita Casa del Toro | New York
Reposado tequila, housemade avocado cordial, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, agave syrup and a salt rim...
Short Rib Ropa Vieja R House | Miami
Short Rib Ropa Vieja with roasted red pepper sauce ...
Landwer Family Meal Café Landwer | Two locations in Boston
Hummus bowl with falafel, pita, chicken shawarma, schnitzel, vegan stir-fry, Nutella rozalach and...
Wasabi Mashed Potatoes Yūgen | Chicago
Wasabi Mashed Potatoes with wasabi oil, fried allium and chive tips ...
Crispy Rice Salad The Honey Paw | Portland, Maine
Crispy Rice Salad with sour sausage, baby kale, roasted peanuts and a fried egg Photo credit: Ryan...
Chia-Lime Pudding Modern General Feed + Seed | Two locations in New Mexico
Chia-Lime Pudding with black sesame-coriander granola, passionfruit curd and macerated raspberries...
BBQ Chicken-Bacon-Ranch Pizza Your Pie | Based in Athens, Ga.
BBQ Chicken-Bacon-Ranch Pizza with barbecue sauce and mozzarella cheese, topped with chicken, bacon,...
Chicken Poblano Lona Cocina & Tequileria | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Suprema de pollo, papas rajas, poblano béchamel ...
Miyazaki A5 Wasabi Steak Burger Hall | New York
Waygu beef patty and steak slices, wasabi leaf, béchamel, Gorgonzola, provolone, housemade sansho...
Braised Lentil and Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie Idaho Potato Commission / Alamo Drafthouse Cinema | Austin, Texas
Braised Lentil & Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie with bourbon-braised lentils, portobello mushrooms,...
Roasted Chicken Café la Vie at Le Méridian | St. Louis
Roasted chicken with sweet corn soubise, Ozark Forest mushrooms, Boursin agnolotti and dark poultry...
Coconut Taco Gracias Madre | Two locations in California
Battered coconut meat, Mexican kimchi, carrot aïoli, micro greens ...
Big Red Torta Taco Bamba | Based in Falls Church, Va.
Spiced crispy chicken, pickled chiles, Chihuahua cheese, “Rooster Sauce,” lettuce, tomato, pickles...
Spice-Rubbed Korean Short Ribs Mac’s on Main | Grapevine, Texas
Spice-Rubbed Korean Short Ribs with smoked Gouda grits, roasted carrot, mushrooms and micro greens...
Queso Frito Pincho | Based in Miami
Fried queso blanco, offered throughout the menu, including in the Fritanga Burger with cabbage slaw...
Grilled Red Snapper Fillet National Mango Board
Grilled Red Snapper Fillet with mango-Sriracha butter over mango-rice madras, raisins and almonds...
Pepperoni Pizza Meatball Sub Firehouse Subs | Based in Jacksonville, Fla.
Italian meatballs, marinara, provolone, crispy pepperoni and Italian seasoning on a toasted garlic...
Impossible Taco Salad Rubio’s Coastal Grill | Based in Carlsbad, Calif.
Plant-based ground meat, black beans, romaine, roasted corn, salsa fresca, tortilla strips, avocado...
Lebanese Labneh Dip National Honey Board
Lebanese Labneh Dip with za’atar-spiced honey drizzle, served with honey-grilled pita Photo credit:...
Jalapeño Ranch Fried Chicken Taco Taco John’s | Based in Cheyenne, Wyo.
Fried chicken, lettuce, cheddar and jalapeño-ranch, wrapped in a flour tortilla ...
