Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in South Wales

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in South Wales? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Crispy Duck

4.9

4.9 (378)

£26 to £40

Chinese

Cardiff

About the restaurant

The Crispy Duck is an award winning pan-asian restaurant offering an upmarket dining experience combining flavours from across Asia. Set in the heart of the city, The Crispy Duck has been a local favourite since its launch in 2011. Inspired by the melting pot of cultures across Asia, The Crispy Duck draws from comforting Malaysian family classics like Beef Rendang to beautifully handcrafted Japanese Sushi.

Sourcing our ingredients as close to home as possible and using authentic wok-fired and charcoal roasting techniques helps our dishes capture the flavours and aromas of authentic Asian cooking. Vibrant colours, crisp and fresh flavours underpin the philosophy of our cooking. Set in an elegant but simple dining room equipped with a fully stocked bar, we invite you to sample our range of Asian beers and extensive wine selection. An independent family-run business since our inception, The Crispy Duck offers a welcoming and inventive new take on pan-asian cuisine.

Top review

Lynne

Dined on Jul 15, 2025

Absolutely Fabulous.. Only wish we’d found this place e years ago … The food was soooo soooo good, tasty and all cooked fresh … Looking forward to retuning with our family and friends …

Butterflies Bar & Kitchen

4.9

4.9 (1591)

£25 and under

Steakhouse

Pontypool

About the restaurant

Multi-award winning restaurant situated in the heart of the World Heritage Town of Blaenavon.
Originally built in 1832 as the Cross Keys Hotel we have been serving the locals of Blaenavon and beyond for almost 200 years.

We are well known across South Wales for our award winning steaks and hearty portions

Voice awards - Best chef 2018
Voice awards - Best Sunday lunch 2019
Voice awards - Best steaks 2019
Welsh hospitality awards - Best Welsh restaurant 2021
Welsh restaurant awards - Best in South Wales 2023
Best commercial garden - 9 consecutive years
Best Restaurant in Wales 2024
Current Finalist Best Restaurant in Wales 2025

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 3 days ago

What a beautiful restaurant! Staff were all super friendly and attentive, food was absolutely amazing and we all had the best evening. We came to celebrate our daughter’s 17th Birthday and the waitresses were more than happy to bring out her dessert with candles in and sing to her. We will be returning very soon. Thank you xx

Pizzeria Villaggio

4.8

4.8 (962)

£25 and under

Pizzeria

Cardiff

About the restaurant

The spirit of Pizzeria Villaggio can be traced back to our traditional roots in Campobasso. A humble town filled with beautiful people in Southern Italy. Pizzeria Villaggio has been run by the Palladino family for the past 35 years. Borrowing our grandparent's recipes and adopting their love of good simple food combined with the Italian/Welsh values of creating a great family atmosphere, for all age groups has attributed to our success and longevity. In our pizzeria, there is a great range of carefully selected pizza and pasta dishes. We also run a daily specials menu that uses the finest, locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

Top review

Owen

Dined on Jul 15, 2025

Best pizza in Cardiff and great value. Service excellent.

Discover more

Popular dish

Lasagne

Yakitori1

4.8

4.8 (1042)

£25 and under

Japanese

Cardiff

About the restaurant

Yakitori1 is a fresh take on traditional Japanese food. Inspired by Japan’s fast-paced restaurants and communal nature, we set out to bring the fresh, vibrant flavours of Japan to all.

Simple goodness
We create simple, delicious food in a place where all are welcome.

Proud to be local
We hero local ingredients and fresh produce.

Made for sharing
We believe in the power of food to bring people together.

Top review

John

Dined on Jul 18, 2025

Always an amazing dining experience here. Food and service was top notch as always.

Janet's

4.8

4.8 (857)

£26 to £40

Chinese

Pontypridd

About the restaurant

Janet's Pontypridd is a premier and authentic Restaurant that has been proudly serving the Pontypridd area since 2019. Since then, our mission has been to provide high-quality food for all those that wish to combine fun and enjoyable ambiance with skilful cooking into one extraordinary dining experience. We are committed to putting Pontypridd on the map as a food destination.

Top review

Dilwyn

Dined 5 days ago

We took two of our grandchildren out for a special lunch, a very memorable experience for the four of us. Thank you Janet’s a day out to remember !

IL FIORE

4.8

4.8 (154)

£26 to £40

Italian

Chepstow

About the restaurant

We are a small independent family run Italian restaurant in the heart of Chepstow, with indoor and alfresco dining areas. We here at il Fiore believe that a good meal has to be cooked from scratch by using only the finest and freshest ingredients, enjoy a classic carbonara cooked with locally sourced eggs or even a pizza made with our homemade pizza dough. You can find us opposite st Mary’s church in Chepstow where there is also a public parking. Everyone of all ages are welcome at il Fiore you can even bring along your furry little friends

Top review

Alison

Dined 2 days ago

1st time here after usually going to another local Italian. Service fast and friendly. Very attentive. Really nice food with good sized portions.

The Shed Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (290)

£26 to £40

British

Swansea

About the restaurant

Hiraeth; a term unique to Wales and Welsh culture, an intangible pull on the heart that conveys a deep sense of belonging, the desire to return to the place of one’s birth, to come home. For The Shed Restaurant and Executive Chef Jonathan Woolway, our place in the world is happily Swansea.
Composed along the expanse of Swansea Bay, flanked by the Gower Peninsula and Brecon Beacons, within striking distance of the fertile valleys, coastal plains and farmland of West Wales, the Waterfront City of Swansea sits at the beating heart of nature’s larder. Bounties of the season from land, sea and pasture are at our fingertips.
Our daily changing menus reflect a constant creative evolution, making use of local produce at the very place and moment of their seasonal prime. This begins in the kitchen and is realised at the table; Egalitarian, convivial and accessible to all. Full in heart and generous of spirit.

Top review

Sarah

Dined 5 days ago

Wonderful meal at the Shed. Food was lush, lovely flavours that you don’t get to taste everywhere. Service was very efficient, friendly and welcoming. I only wish we were local as we would definitely go again if so. Great for a special meal.

Pho Cardiff

4.6

4.6 (533)

£25 and under

Vietnamese

Cardiff

About the restaurant

Pho Cardiff is a healthy Vietnamese restaurant with loads of vegan and gluten free options.

We specialise in phở, the Vietnamese noodle soup and also serve delicious curries, rice dishes, wok-fried noodles, and fresh salads too. Our starters such as summer rolls and spring rolls are perfect for sharing with friends and family. We also offer an entirely gluten free dessert menu with dishes like Pandan waffles, condensed milk ice cream and a Vietnamese affogato.

Over a third of our menu is vegan, and nearly all of it is gluten-free, so we are a great destination for people who follow those particular dietary restrictions. We are also accredited by Coeliac UK.

Aside from our lovely food we offer a brilliant range of healthy juices, as well as delicious wine and beer, and a fantastic cocktail menu too.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Ps, we are dog friendly so your 4-legged friends are always welcome.

Top review

Yessenia cristina

Dined on Jul 15, 2025

Service and food very good , staff was very friendly .

Gaucho Cardiff

4.7

4.7 (919)

£26 to £40

Steakhouse

Cardiff

About the restaurant

The Legacy Menu | 31 years | 3 courses | £31

You asked, we listened. We’re overjoyed to welcome back the unmissable Legacy Menu for the entirety of July & August. To pay homage to our rich history, we will be relaunching a special nostalgic menu featuring iconic dishes that have defined Gaucho’s journey. The menu includes highly requested plates from across our history, all in celebration of our 31st anniversary.

At Gaucho Cardiff, every detail is crafted to enchant. The venue effortlessly blends sleek industrial design with cultural sophistication, creating an atmosphere of sultry glamour that’s both inviting and unforgettable. Whether you’re here for a business lunch, an afternoon cocktail, or an indulgent dinner, the setting elevates every moment.

Top review

Abby

Dined on Jul 12, 2025

A very quick but enjoyable experience. Staff friendly and chateaubriand beautiful

Discover more

4.7

4.7 (588)

£25 and under

Italian

Cardiff

About the restaurant

The spirit of Pizzeria Villaggio can be traced back to our traditional roots in Campobasso, a humble town filled with beautiful people in Southern Italy. Pizzeria Villaggio has been run by the Palladino family since opening in 1986. Borrowing our grandparent’s secret recipes and adopting their love of good authentic food, combined with the Italian values of creating a great family atmosphere for all age groups, has contributed to our success and longevity. We have a dedicated & friendly team who are passionate about using high-quality ingredients to produce delicious Italian food.

Top review

Helen

Dined on Jul 11, 2025

Great evening. Food and wine wonderful Highly recommended

Discover more

Popular dish

Lasagne

Explore Diners' Choice best of South Wales

Explore more Diners' Choice lists