The best restaurants in Lawrence
44 restaurants we’ve checked and stand behind — with the story on each one. Not a ranking; a record.
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Pinned in Lawrence today
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Two pinned places a day in Lawrence — $10 here, $25 adds the newsletter. List your business →Paid placements are always marked.
Pokéloha
RestaurantsWhen you want something that tastes like summer in a bowl, Pokéloha delivers Hawaiian inspired poké bowls and sushi burritos built with…
Pokéloha
RestaurantsStanley James Smokehouse
RestaurantsLocally owned Stanley James Smokehouse turns out wood‑fired, in‑house smoked ribs, brisket, pork, chicken, sausage, and burnt ends with…
Stanley James Smokehouse
RestaurantsNagoya Japanese cuisine
RestaurantsNagoya Japanese Cuisine keeps things fresh and unfussy with clean flavors, crisp presentation, and playful rolls like Pink Lady and Spicy…
Nagoya Japanese cuisine
RestaurantsMilton's Café
RestaurantsMilton's Café is that chill, storied nook locals claim as their own, serving diverse breakfast-and-lunch plates, legit baked goods, and…
Milton's Café
RestaurantsGlobal Cafe
RestaurantsWhen you need a cozy, no-fuss morning, Global Cafe leans into Southwestern and Latin American comfort with arepas, burritos, and fluffy…
Global Cafe
RestaurantsWine Dive + Kitchen
RestaurantsWine Dive + Kitchen does the upscale-comfort thing right with a hanger steak you’ll think about later, a legit wine list, and cocktails…
Wine Dive + Kitchen
RestaurantsGenovese | Italian
RestaurantsGenovese | Italian is a locally owned, chef driven spot in historic downtown serving handmade pastas and other handcrafted plates with the…
Genovese | Italian
RestaurantsCafe The Mani 더마니 | Korean
RestaurantsWhen the week calls for serious comfort, Cafe The Mani 더마니 brings big flavors, big portions, and 100% Korean vibes. Load up on Korean BBQ,…
Cafe The Mani 더마니 | Korean
RestaurantsConcept 23 Sushi & Seafood Boil
RestaurantsConcept 23 Sushi & Seafood Boil blends Japanese staples with Louisiana Cajun seafood in a way that just works. Expect crisp sushi pizzas, a…
Concept 23 Sushi & Seafood Boil
RestaurantsZen Zero
RestaurantsFrom Thai to Nepalese, Zen Zero nails the weeknight craving with house favorites like pork or veggie momos, silky Panang curry, and a…
Zen Zero
RestaurantsThe Basil Leaf Café
RestaurantsThe Basil Leaf Café keeps Lawrence happily carb-loaded with handmade pastas, classic Italian comforts, and hearty portions in a low-key…
The Basil Leaf Café
RestaurantsRunza Restaurant
RestaurantsFast-food chain known for namesake German sandwiches, plus burgers, onion rings & crinkle-cut fries.
Runza Restaurant
RestaurantsWingstop
RestaurantsCasual counter-serve chain serving a variety of chicken wings & sides.
Wingstop
RestaurantsBig Mill
RestaurantsBig Mill does Detroit-style pies with those caramelized cheesy edges, plus legit burgers, wings, and cocktails in a laid-back spot that…
Big Mill
RestaurantsLimestone Pizza•Kitchen•Bar
RestaurantsLimestone Pizza•Kitchen•Bar turns out Neapolitan-style pies alongside American eats and legit cocktails in a modern spot with a patio…
Limestone Pizza•Kitchen•Bar
RestaurantsHawaiian Bros Island Grill
RestaurantsFast-food chain dishing up plate lunches and other Hawaiian comfort fare in a laid-back setting.
Hawaiian Bros Island Grill
Restaurants92 Chicken Lawrence
Restaurants92 Chicken Lawrence keeps it casual with small plates and quick bites, including Korean fried chicken that hits the spot. Easy to share,…
92 Chicken Lawrence
RestaurantsQ39 - Lawrence
RestaurantsQ39 - Lawrence turns out competition-quality brisket, burnt ends, and those braggy “Best Wings on the Planet,” all with chef-driven polish…
Q39 - Lawrence
RestaurantsSbarro Lawrence
RestaurantsHit Sbarro Lawrence when you need that Original New York slice without the flight. Hand-stretched dough, San Marzano style sauce, and 100%…
Sbarro Lawrence
RestaurantsSet Em Up Jack's
RestaurantsSet Em Up Jack's keeps Lawrence cheering with a 22-foot HD big freakin' screen, 36 TVs, and daily specials from Burger Monday to Fish…
Set Em Up Jack's
RestaurantsChick-in Waffle
RestaurantsChick-in Waffle turns the classic chicken-and-waffle thing into a bold, Lawrence-friendly habit, with hand-breaded, fresh-never-frozen…
Chick-in Waffle
RestaurantsPapa Keno's Pizzeria
RestaurantsPapa Keno's Pizzeria nails that hand crafted East Coast style with iconic giant slices, dough made fresh daily, and locally sourced…
Papa Keno's Pizzeria
RestaurantsThe Roost
RestaurantsFor those mornings when you want real deal eggs, pastries, and coffee that actually wakes you up, The Roost nails it with a locally owned,…
The Roost
RestaurantsSable Kitchen + Bar
RestaurantsSable Kitchen + Bar brings cozy, intimate vibes, fresh flavorful plates, and a wine list that feels curated by a friend who actually knows…
Sable Kitchen + Bar
RestaurantsGaia Sushi
RestaurantsGaia Sushi keeps it fresh with sushi, hibachi, and teriyaki made with the freshest ingredients, a lineup that actually works for mixed…
Gaia Sushi
RestaurantsPizza Shuttle
RestaurantsPizza Shuttle has been a locally owned staple since 1984, slinging creative specialty pies and single-topping cream cheese wonders with…
Pizza Shuttle
RestaurantsLulu's Latin Food
RestaurantsLulu's Latin Food is that low-key Lawrence spot for Mexican and other Latin American plates with a proper margarita to match. When you want…
Lulu's Latin Food
RestaurantsLittle Saigon Café
RestaurantsWhen you want a steaming bowl that tastes like someone’s grandma actually cares, Little Saigon Café keeps it simple with traditional…
Little Saigon Café
RestaurantsCulinaria
RestaurantsCulinaria nails that cozy, neighborhood vibe with bright, Mediterranean-inspired plates, a thoughtfully curated wine list, and classic or…
Culinaria
RestaurantsBurgers By Biggs
RestaurantsBurgers By Biggs grinds brisket, inside round, and ribeye fresh daily for juicy patties, with hand-cut fries and old-school shakes that hit…
Burgers By Biggs
RestaurantsThe Burger Stand at the Casbah
RestaurantsWhether you crave a gourmet burger, cheeky hawt doggz, or a legit vegetarian lineup, The Burger Stand at the Casbah backs it up with fries…
The Burger Stand at the Casbah
RestaurantsBiemer's BBQ
RestaurantsBiemer's BBQ nails the classics with tender brisket, fall-off-the-bone ribs, and pulled pork that doesn’t need sauce, just an appetite.…
Biemer's BBQ
RestaurantsToppers Pizza
RestaurantsChain restaurant making pizza with unusual toppings, plus wings, offered at counter or via delivery.
Toppers Pizza
Restaurants715 Restaurant
Restaurants715 Restaurant leans Tuscan but keeps it local, building plates from Kansas farm ingredients in a room that actually makes you want to put…
715 Restaurant
RestaurantsWhataburger
RestaurantsCirca-1950 fast-food chain for counter-serve burgers, some stacked with multiple patties.
Whataburger
RestaurantsSlim Chickens
RestaurantsCounter-serve chain specializing in chicken dishes, plus Southern sides & desserts served in jars.
Slim Chickens
RestaurantsMeadowlark Wine Bar
RestaurantsMeadowlark Wine Bar mixes a natural-leaning wine list with shareable, seasonal plates and a few smart cocktails, all dialed for Lawrence…
Meadowlark Wine Bar
RestaurantsHog Wild Pit Bar-B-Q
RestaurantsCounter-serve BBQ chain serving ribs, brisket & pulled pork in a low-key atmosphere.
Hog Wild Pit Bar-B-Q
RestaurantsRudy's Pizzeria
RestaurantsRudy's Pizzeria is about options, from spicy red wine or pesto sauce to wheat or thin St. Louis crusts, plus dairy-free cheese and a…
Rudy's Pizzeria
RestaurantsTokyo Sushi
RestaurantsWhen the craving hits, Tokyo Sushi nails it with fresh sashimi and high-quality rolls that balance classic and creative without wrecking…
Tokyo Sushi
RestaurantsThe Big Biscuit
RestaurantsCasual, family-friendly outlet known for biscuits and gravy but also serving a wide variety of pancakes.
The Big Biscuit
RestaurantsMass St. Fish House & Raw Bar
RestaurantsCraving briny, just-right oysters and seafood that actually tastes like the coast? Mass St. Fish House & Raw Bar is your friendly…
Mass St. Fish House & Raw Bar
RestaurantsBigg's BBQ
RestaurantsBigg's BBQ keeps it classic Lawrence with brisket, pork, chicken, and sausage smoked over hickory, finished with just a whisper of sauce so…
Bigg's BBQ
RestaurantsJuniper Hill Farm & Table
RestaurantsWood-fired Pizza Nights at Juniper Hill Farm & Table hit that sweet spot between backyard hang and chef flex. Farm-sourced produce,…
Juniper Hill Farm & Table
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