By admin 
Looking for a truly memorable dining experience?
Two California spots rank among the “most outrageous” restaurants in the nation, according to Yelp.
Read more What are the best states for summer road trips? Count California out, study says
The popular review website recently went searching for the best “over-the-top” eateries in the United States in 2026, from a crystal-studded grotto and an underwater spot to a spy-themed speakeasy and a coffee bar aboard a British double-decker bus.
“These aren’t your average dining spots,” Yelp writer Kathy Passero wrote. “They’re full-blown adventures where the food, decor and atmosphere are equally unforgettable.”
According to Yelp, these restaurants are “worth going out of your way for.”
Here’s where to go in California:
Is there a trailer park restaurant in California?
According to Yelp, one of California’s most outrageous restaurants is a subterranean bar in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter where diners gather in a delightfully “tacky trailer-park setting” to enjoy “whimsically named cocktails” and “old-school comfort food.”
Trailer Park After Dark opened in 2017 with one goal in mind —to “give San Diego a place to let loose without the fuss,” the restaurant said on its website.
“Think themed trailers you can rent for your crew, drinks with names you’ll laugh at before you even taste them, and comfort food that hits like a backyard cookout,” Trailer Park After Dark said.
The menu ranges from chicken wings and loaded tater tots to burgers and hot dogs, with build-your-own s’mores for dessert.
In addition to tasty food and “damn good” drinks, Yelp reviewers praised the “hilarious” decor and “fun and creative” vibe.
Yelp reviewer Lindsey F. of San Diego called Trailer Park After Park “genuinely the coolest spot I have ever been to!”
“The theme is so creative and literally transports you into another world,” she wrote.
Read more Folsom encampment cleanup could bring temporary traffic holds, trail closure
How do I get reservations to Hollywood’s Magic Castle?
Yelp also singled out The Magic Castle in Los Angeles, a Victorian mansion that has served as the headquarters of the Academy of Magical Arts since 1963.
“Dining at this Hollywood Hills spot is a spellbinding experience … if you can conjure up an invite,” Passero wrote, noting that the private club is usually open only to members and their guests. You can also dine there if you stay at the adjacent Magic Castle Hotel.
Yelp reviewers said the reservation-only restaurant, which enforces a strict dress code, has “a cool old-Hollywood vibe” with “fun, surprises, and delights around every corner.”
This includes everything from up-close illusions to full-blown stage shows.
In addition to brunch and , The Magic Castle offers a with classic cocktails, salads, soups and entrees such as prime rib, pork chops and citrus rosemary chicken.
“A night at The Magic Castle is always a fun time,” Yelp user Nikki B. of South Pasadena wrote in her 5-star review. “Everyone should have the opportunity to experience it at least once.”
Where are the most outrageous restaurants in the U.S.?
According to Yelp reviewers, these 10 restaurants are the most outrageous in the United States:
- Aquarium Restaurant in Houston
- The Conchee in Leesburg, Virginia
- Trailer Park After Dark in San Diego
- Grand Canyon Caverns Crystal Restaurant in Peach Springs, Arizona
- SafeHouse Milwaukee in Milwaukee
- Blackout Dining in the Dark in Las Vegas
- Gayle’s Broadway Rose in New York City
- The Magic Castle in Hollywood
- Double D’s Coffee & Desserts in Asheville, North Carolina
- Casa Bonita in Denver
How did Yelp rank the top 10 eateries?
To create its top 10 lists, Yelp highlights restaurants and other spots that are “currently most popular with Yelp users in that area,” Cece Rulon, senior public relations coordinator at Yelp, previously told McClatchy Media.
Rankings are “based on a combination of factors like overall rating, number of reviews, recent reviews, recent ratings and recent pageviews,” Rulon said.
In this case, Yelp said it “compiled a list of 10 outrageous restaurant experiences, where the restaurant received top ratings from Yelp users.”
Read more What does Gov. Gavin Newsom have to gain politically from state workers’ return to office?