Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America 2025 just dropped — and Bill Esparza sits down with Esquire Food & Drinks Editor Jeff Gordinier for a deep dive into the year’s most exciting openings, the big national trends, and why fun is the defining theme of 2025 dining.

In this episode of Taqueando with Bill Esparza, Bill and Jeff break down how the list came together, the philosophy behind spotlighting joy and playfulness in restaurants, and the surprising Los Angeles selections that made the cut. They get into the rise of vibey, unpretentious dining, why chefs are loosening up after years of austerity, and what it means for Mexican food, West Coast cooking, and the broader national scene.

Jeff shares behind the scenes insights from reporting the list, the dishes that genuinely moved him, and the restaurants pushing American dining forward.

If you care about restaurant culture, national trends, gastronomy, or how LA stacks up in the national conversation, this interview is essential listening.

Keywords: Best New Restaurants in America 2025, Esquire food list, Jeff Gordinier, Bill Esparza, Los Angeles restaurants, Mexican food, dining trends 2025, fun restaurants, Taqueando podcast, food journalism, restaurant list debate, LA dining.