Lexington is home to 3 of Yelp’s best KY restaurants right now. Where to find them
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lexington restaurants occupy three top spots on Yelp’s October 2025 state list.
- Dad’s Favorites Deli ranks No. 1 statewide with 460+ reviews, 4.8 stars.
- Maria’s and Big Kahuna earn top-five spots, noted for tamales and katsu.
Lexington is known for its locally owned and often family-run restaurants that can’t be compared to generic, corporate chains. If you’ve been to one Chipotle, you’ve been to every Chipotle, but there’s only one Dad’s Favorites Deli.
Several Lexington spots are also among Kentucky’s favorite restaurants.
That’s according to reviewers on popular site Yelp, which features the 100 most popular restaurants in the state each month. In October, several Lexington establishments cracked the top 10 highly-rated restaurants in the Bluegrass State. Here’s what to know about Lexington’s three highest performing eateries.
No. 5 Maria’s Mexican Cuisine
Located at 1079 East New Circle Road, Maria’s Mexican Cuisine takes pride in serving “the best tamales in town.”
The spot has 228 Yelp reviews with an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Among the 100 most popular Kentucky restaurants reviewed by Yelpers in the month of October, Maria’s Mexican Cuisine ranks at No. 5.
Formerly called Farm Market, it’s been recognized as one of the best places in Kentucky for low-cost but delicious meals, according to a 2024 analysis of Yelp reviews. It’s been open for more than a decade, though this hidden gem is easily overlooked while zipping down New Circle Road.
The restaurant’s owner, Maria Gonzalez, focuses on a small menu of quality dishes she prepares herself. Reached by phone Thursday, Gonzalez said she follows a golden rule in her cooking: She doesn’t serve anything she wouldn’t want to eat.
“I try to give the best about what I’m making for the people, because this is what I want for me, too,” Gonzalez said.
Her regular customers like the tacos, ceviche, chicken with mole sauce, and of course, her tamales.
“I have chicken, beef, pork, jalapeño cheese and jalapeño beans,” Gonzalez said.
She also takes pride in offering an inviting space. Her customers often like to complete jigsaw puzzles while grabbing a bite to eat, she said.
“Everybody’s welcome,” Gonzalez said.
If you go, Maria’s hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
No. 4 Big Kahuna Hawaiian BBQ
Now with two locations, this popular Lexington restaurant is one of the few places you can experience Hawaiian barbecue in the Bluegrass State. Along with its original location at 904 Liberty Road, just off Winchester, Big Kahuna opened a second location this year at 3101 Clays Mill Road.
Big Kahuna has a dedicated following, as evidenced by its Yelp feedback. With more than 360 reviews, its overall rating on the website is 4.7 out of 5 stars. That makes it the No. 4 most popular restaurant in Kentucky reviewed by Yelpers this month.
According to owner Harrison Ginsberg, Big Kahuna’s biggest draw is the katsu plate, a dish that reflects the Japanese influence on Hawaii. The Lexington spot’s take is a panko-fried pork cutlet dressed in spicy mayo with a sweet soy and housemade chili sauce. It’s typically served with sticky rice and a side of macaroni salad.
Another customer favorite is the teriyaki chicken, with marinated and grilled chicken thighs and similar sides — all for only about $10.
The value Big Kahuna offers lies where quality meets price, Ginsberg said.
“You can get a plate from $9 to $14, which is a lot of food, and everything’s cooked to order,” he said. “Most of our sauces and food are made in house … We don’t cook the food until you order it.”
The restaurant itself has a laid-back, local feel to it, which is by design, Ginsberg said. It strives to be the furthest thing away from gray, generic corporate chains.
“Chipotle and Jersey Mike’s have their place, but it’s very cookie cutter,” he said.
If you do check it out, Big Kahuna’s hours are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, according to hours for both locations listed on the restaurant’s website. It’s closed Monday.
No. 1 Dad’s Favorites Deli
If you imagine the quintessential hidden gem dining destination in Lexington, Dad’s Favorites Deli easily comes to mind.
Tucked away in the Garden Springs Shopping Center at 820 Lane Allen Road, there’s often a long line of customers who come for the sandwich shop’s daily specials.
Dad’s Favorites is known to have a cult-like following. It currently ranks as the No. 1 most popular restaurant in Kentucky reviewed by Yelpers for October.
With more than 460 reviews on the website, Dad’s Favorites has a nearly perfect score of 4.8 out of 5 stars. In 2024, it was recognized as one of the 10 best independent restaurants in the country.
Fans regularly line up out the door for specials like the Rushmore, available only Thursday and Friday. It features homemade chipotle cheddar cheese spread, sliced roast beef, BBQ sauce, bacon and fried onion straws on toasted ciabatta bread, and is served with a beer cheese dipping sauce. Other sandwich specials rotate throughout the week.
Dad’s Favorites has its roots in cheese spreads, and it also offers homemade soups, including a tomato basil.
The deli was celebrated 15 years in business Oct. 10. Reached by phone that afternoon, owner James “Dad” Caudill said the family business served hundreds of people. It marked the occasion by selling branded T-shirts at cost, Caudill said.
Asked what contributes to the deli’s success, Caudill stressed a focus on quality and hospitality.
“I just tell everybody that we’re distinctively different. Everything’s made fresh. We’re only open four hours a day, 20 hours a week, and it’s Monday through Friday,” Caudill said. “When you come in, we treat everybody like family, like we want to be treated.”
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