LGBTQ-Friendly Restaurants in the US: Where Good Food Meets Genuine Welcome

23/10/2025

Editor:

Olena Kosonogova

Author:

Olena Kosonogova

Olena Kosonogova (she/her), is PR Manager and a writer at Fiorry. Olena has a background as a psychologist and social work specialist, offering her a distinct viewpoint in her position. She effectively oversees public relations and produces insightful content. Based on her experience, she has a unique insight into human interaction and the significance of effective communication. When not busy with her profession, Olena loves her free time and balancing it out with tennis, taking her out and about, and a game of good chess that will challenge the mind.

Want to find LGBTQ-friendly restaurants in the US? Honestly, that shouldn’t feel like a gamble. But we know it can come with some level of anxiety. Will the host use your correct pronouns? Will the bathroom situation be awkward? Will other diners stare? 

But don’t worry. Incredible places to eat exist across the country where you can just be yourself, enjoy amazing food, and not spend the entire meal bracing for microaggressions.

We’ll take a look at some of them in this guide.

What Makes a Restaurant Truly LGBTQ and Trans Friendly

Now, let’s talk about what separates genuinely inclusive restaurants from those just checking diversity boxes. 

At the very least, a truly LGBTQ-friendly restaurant has gender inclusive bathrooms—either single-stall all-gender facilities or clearly marked support for people using the restroom that matches their gender identity.

The vibe also matters enormously. You shouldn’t feel like the only queer person in the room or like you’re on display. The best spots have built community—you’ll see other LGBTQ folks there naturally, not because it’s “pride month special night.” 

If you’re exploring San Francisco’s legendary LGBTQ scene, meet trans San Francisco communities often share their favorite spots where they actually feel comfortable being themselves.

PR Manager

Olena Kosonogova

Restaurants that truly understand inclusion don’t just serve us—they celebrate us, creating spaces where we can exist fully without explanation or apology

The Top LGBTQ-Friendly Places to Eat in the US

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. Here are the top trans and LGBTQ-friendly restaurants that should be on your radar in the US. 

From weekend brunch with overnight oats and harissa hash to date night dinner featuring small plates like ghost chili marinara or Italian sub croissants, these LGBTQ-friendly restaurants offer incredible menus. 

You’ll find everything from comfort food like red grits and BBQ sriracha burgers to elevated dishes with cilantro yogurt and bee pollen. Many feature live music, cocktails, and dessert options like parsnip cake and cotton candy.

And hey, while you’re planning which spots to hit, why not find someone to join you? Download Fiorry, our trans dating app to connect with other trans folks who love good food as much as you do—whether you’re looking for a dining buddy, a romantic date, or just someone who can give you the inside scoop on which restaurants are genuinely worth the hype. 

n/naka & n/soto — Los Angeles, California

4566 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016

n/naka, awarded two Michelin stars and featured in Netflix’s Chef’s Table, is the ultimate destination for fine Japanese cuisine, opened by chef Niki Nakayama who runs the restaurant with her wife and sous chef, Carole Iida-Nakayama. This isn’t just an LGBTQ-friendly restaurant—it’s an LGBTQ-owned fine dining institution that’s reshaped how people think about kaiseki in America.

Niki is world-renowned for introducing kaiseki, a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner, to a wider audience, with her modern interpretation inspired by California. The 13-course menu constantly changes, but one dish remains: the signature spaghettini with abalone, pickled cod roe, and truffles. 

At $310 per person, it’s a splurge, but you’re experiencing world-class cuisine from a queer couple pushing culinary boundaries.

Via Carota — New York City, New York

51 Grove St, New York, NY 10014

Chefs and partners Jody Williams and Rita Sodi opened Via Carota in the West Village in fall 2014, and the restaurant has become not only a neighborhood staple but a local institution thanks to its old-world-inspired Italian menu, rustic decor, and the community they’ve built. This place captures what great queer hospitality looks like—unpretentious, delicious, genuinely welcoming.

Williams and Sodi also run I Sodi, Bar Pisellino, and The Commerce Inn in the West Village, creating a mini-empire of excellent Italian food where LGBTQ people are the norm rather than the exception. New York’s dining scene is vast, and TS date NYC communities connect you with people who can share insider knowledge about which spots truly walk the walk on being trans-friendly versus just marketing themselves that way.

The Abbey Food & Bar — Los Angeles, California

692 N Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Founded by David Cooley in the early 90s, The Abbey in West Hollywood has been hailed worldwide as an iconic queer space, starting as a small outdoor coffeehouse and now offering a full menu, multiple rooms, and four bars. The Abbey is unapologetically gay, and that’s exactly why it’s become an institution.

What makes The Abbey special is its uncompromising commitment to being a queer space first. This isn’t a restaurant trying to appeal to everyone—it’s specifically for you, and that focus creates genuine safety and community. 

The gender inclusive atmosphere means you can bring a first date here without worrying about weird vibes, and if you’re navigating Sacramento’s scene, Sacramento trans communities often look to LA for inspiration on creating similar inclusive dining spots.

The Ruby Fruit — Los Angeles, California

3510 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

The Ruby Fruit is the first permanent lesbian bar to open in LA since 2017, now with a full lunch and dinner menu, operating as a brightly-colored restaurant and wine bar in a Silver Lake strip mall. This spot matters because lesbian bars are disappearing nationwide, and having spaces specifically for queer women and trans folks creates community that general LGBTQ spaces sometimes can’t replicate.

The Ruby Fruit proves that places to eat can serve underserved communities while still being excellent and appealing broadly. You don’t have to be a lesbian to enjoy great wine and food, but knowing this space was created for and by queer women creates a different energy. It’s support in action—showing up to these spaces keeps them alive. 

Ursula — Brooklyn, New York

44 Malcolm X Blvd, Brooklyn, NY 11221

Owned by Chef Eric See, the acclaimed restaurant relocated from Crown Heights to Bed-Stuy in 2023, with a stunningly turquoise and pink dining room that visually transports you to New Mexico. The design itself makes a statement about what queer spaces can be—unapologetically colorful, deeply intentional, and beautiful in ways that challenge expectations.

Open as early as 8 a.m. a few days a week, it’s perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The flexibility of service times makes it accessible regardless of your schedule, and the intentional curation extends to every detail. This is what thoughtful inclusive hospitality looks like—not just welcoming LGBTQ people, but actively centering marginalized voices in every aspect of the business.

Socalo — Santa Monica, California

1920 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Located minutes from the beach, Socalo serves delicious SoCal Mexican food from iconic chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, known as the “Too Hot Tamales” after taping 400 episodes of their Food Network show. These two have been openly gay culinary pioneers for decades, winning Julia Child and James Beard awards while refusing to hide who they are.

What Feniger and Milliken represent matters. They’ve been out and successful since before it was remotely safe or career-smart to do so. Supporting their restaurants means supporting queer visibility in an industry that’s always had LGBTQ folks behind the scenes, but hasn’t always let us be visible. Their success paves the way for younger queer chefs to be open from the start. For those exploring diverse cities, Atlanta trans dating and Detroit TS communities benefit from seeing what’s possible when queer folks succeed visibly and refuse to compromise.

Cubbyhole — New York City, New York

281 W 12th St, New York, NY 10014

In existence since 1994, Cubbyhole is a beloved fixture of NYC nightlife and remains a welcoming destination for queer women, having renovated in 2022. With few lesbian bars remaining in the city, Cubbyhole’s survival and thriving speaks to its importance to the community. The mix-and-match furniture and ceiling festooned with lanterns give the bar a playful vibe, creating an atmosphere that’s fun without being overly polished.

What makes Cubbyhole important is its specificity—it’s explicitly for queer women and trans folks, creating space that general LGBTQ bars sometimes can’t replicate. The energy is different when a space is designed for you rather than just tolerating you. NYC’s trans scene benefits enormously from having spots like this, and trans in US platforms help people discover which cities have the best infrastructure of truly inclusive spaces.

Casita del Campo — Los Angeles, California 

1920 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Located in Silver Lake since 1962, this family-owned restaurant delivers a dining experience that’s just as cheerful as its bright pink exterior. With two outdoor patios and a beautiful dining room, Casita del Campo is perfect for a casual, festive lunch or dinner serving deliciously authentic Mexican food with tasting menus.

The vibrant atmosphere and family-run warmth mean you’re getting genuine hospitality without pretense. Silver Lake’s artsy, queer-friendly vibe extends to this colorful spot where good food and inclusive values have gone hand-in-hand for over 60 years. Seattle’s scene has similar stories—tgirls Seattle communities often highlight long-standing LGBTQ-friendly businesses worth supporting.

What to Look for in LGBTQ-Friendly Dining Spots

Beyond these specific recommendations, knowing what to look for helps you find dining spots in any city. Check if they have gender inclusive bathrooms—this is often listed on websites or you can call ahead. Look for LGBTQ ownership or management, which usually (though not always) correlates with better staff training and genuine understanding of community needs.

Read reviews from other LGBTQ folks—platforms like Yelp and Google reviews often include mentions of whether a space felt safe and welcoming. Social media can be revealing too—do they post about Pride year-round or just in June? Do they engage with local LGBTQ organizations and causes? These details indicate whether inclusivity is marketing or actual values.

Actress

Angelica Ross

The restaurants that truly get it don’t wait for Pride month to show support—they’re embedded in queer community year-round, showing up when it’s not trending

Ask other queer people where they actually go. If you’re exploring mainstream dating apps too, trans dating Tinder strategies often include asking potential dates about their favorite restaurants as a way to gauge their familiarity with inclusive spaces.

Making Every Meal Count

Food brings people together, and when restaurants center queer and trans experiences, they become more than just businesses—they become community anchors. Whether you’re looking for meet trans near me connections or just want a good meal in a comfortable environment, these spaces serve multiple needs simultaneously.

And speaking of connections—finding these amazing restaurants is even better when you have someone to share them with. Fiorry helps you connect with other trans folks in your area who can recommend their favorite spots, join you for dinner, or even become your next date.

Download Fiorry to meet people who understand why finding truly inclusive dining matters and who are always down to try that new queer-owned restaurant everyone’s talking about. Because great food tastes even better when you’re sharing it with someone who gets you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of food can I expect at these LGBTQ-friendly restaurant3s?

The variety is incredible—from tasting menus at n/naka’s Michelin-starred kaiseki to comfort food like potato soup and pork chops at casual spots. You’ll find inventive dishes like beef pho kolaches, duck pastrami, ricotta gnocchi, and scallion pancakes. Many offer weekend brunch with creative options, while others specialize in local ingredients and seasonal menus. Expect everything from king crab claws to sweet plantains, depending on the restaurant’s cuisine focus.

Are these restaurants good for date night?

Absolutely! Many of these spots are perfect for date night, from intimate settings at Via Carota to vibrant scenes at The Abbey. Whether you want upscale dining with tasting menus or casual vibes with bacon jam crostini and craft cocktails, there’s something for every dating style. The inclusive atmosphere means you can relax and focus on your date rather than worrying about judgmental stares.

Why are lesbian bars like Cubbyhole and The Ruby Fruit important?

With remaining lesbian bars disappearing nationwide, spaces like these provide crucial community anchors for queer women and trans folks. They offer more than drinks—they’re places where you can be yourself, meet others, and maintain vital LGBTQ cultural spaces.

What signature dishes should I try at these restaurants?

Don’t miss the cayenne fried chicken, golden milk pancakes for weekend brunch, soul taco with sweet plantains, or Wusong Road’s scallion pancakes. Try ricotta gnocchi, duck pastrami sandwiches, beef pho kolaches, or Italian sub croissants. For dessert, the parsnip cake and cotton candy are local favorites.

Are there LGBTQ-friendly restaurants outside major cities?

Yes! Salt Lake City has LB Kitchen (co-owned by Derek Kitchen and wives), Oklahoma City features chef Jason Berry’s spot, and Wilton Manors near Fort Lauderdale offers seaside seafood. Fire Island’s Cherry Grove and R House provide intimate lesbian bar experiences with live music, comfort food, and feminist bookstore vibes in smaller towns.