Restaurants With The Absolute Best Soup In The U.S.

There's nothing quite like a bowl of soup on a cold day. The broth feels as if it runs through your veins and warms you to the core, leaving your body temperature and mouth smiling wide. Heck, the weather doesn't even need to feel cold to enjoy soup. It's simply a perfect way to kick off any meal at a restaurant before the entrees make their appearance. While the other guests in your party might opt for a salad or some other handheld munchable to start their meal, you just can't go wrong when you see a great selection of soup on the menu. It's the ideal diving board to help launch you into the pool of dinner you're about to experience.

Unfortunately, some places just don't offer up a solid soup selection, and that's a huge letdown when you walk in ready to grab a spoon and cannonball into a hearty bowl of broth. That's why you should always check out the menu before you haul yourself somewhere. But, even scoping out a menu doesn't guarantee you'll feel completely satisfied with the options. So, we've compiled a list of places that do offer some of the best tasting bowls of soup in the country. Grab a cape, because you're about to enter the wonderfully delicious world of soup-er heroes.

The state of Florida, as you can imagine, has a ton of restaurants. However, only one of them can proudly say they're the Sunshine State's oldest restaurant and the largest Spanish restaurant in the world. That place is Columbia Restaurant. The very first location was opened in 1905 in Tampa's Ybor Harbor by a Cuban immigrant named Casamiro Hernandez Sr., and since then, the Hernandez family has established several other locations around Florida. Throughout its history, Columbia Restaurant has served some of the world's most popular athletes and entertainers, such as Babe Ruth, Bruce Springsteen, Marilyn Monroe, and Stephen King.

Obviously, an incredible menu gets people talking and keeps people coming back, and Columbia Restaurant certainly has one. Some of the best items on the menu are the soup options. The Spanish bean soup is still made using the original recipe from Casamiro Hernandez, Sr.; it's a hearty bowl of simmered garbanzo beans with smoked ham, thick chunk of spicy chorizo, and potatoes. If you're looking for something cold and refreshing, their gazpacho Andalucía is a bright puree of tomatoes, green peppers, onions, cucumbers, and garlic, topped with toasted Cuban croutons that offer a great crunch.

If you're thinking about planning a trip to Colorado and want to stay at a resort that offers a really cool old-fashioned dining experience, look no further than The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. The gastropub, Golden Bee, whisks patrons back to 19th-century England. According to the website, the entire pub was actually transported from the United Kingdom panel by panel, so you literally are visiting a place with rich English history. Every night, the crowd inside sings along to songs played on the piano while they toss back a huge selection of British beer and enjoy fantastic cuisine.

While the menu teems with amazing options, you'd be making a huge mistake skipping over the soups. There are only two, French onion and cheddar ale, and you're going to want to direct your attention to the latter. The soup starts with pounds of Tillamook white cheddar in a big pot. Then, in goes a hefty pour of Bristol Beehive Ale, mustard, veggies, and a little bit of Tabasco for a kick that cuts through the richness of the cheddar. Garnish with caraway seeds, rye croutons, and even more cheese for a bowl of soup that'll warm your soul on even the coldest Colorado day.

You may cringe at the thought of thawing out a block of frozen soup. How could something from the freezer taste as good as a freshly-made dish at a restaurant? Well, La Soupe in Cincinnati, Ohio, flips the script on frozen soup by offering absolutely incredible options that taste just as good, if not better, than what you may find in some restaurants. Started in 2014 by Suzy DeYoung, who was disgusted with how much food waste existed in the world, La Soupe rescues perfectly good produce and creates delicious and nutritious meals for its community. 

La Soupe offers a plethora of soup options, and you'd be hard-pressed not to find something on the menu that intrigues you. There's beef picadillo with salami and a slew of vegetables in a rich broth, buffalo turkey chili for those who want a spicy kick, creamy tarragon mushroom, an umami-packed egg drop with tofu, and Thai tofu curry with peanut sauce and ginger (just to name a few of the options). While you're visiting for soup, you may as well grab some other frozen goodies that La Soupe offers. Come for the incredible soup, and leave with an array of delicious treats.

If you've had Detroit-style pizza — meaning the extra-deep, extra-crunchy pie was cooked in a rectangular pan — you have Buddy's Pizza to thank. Created in 1946 at Buddy's Rendezvous Pizzeria on the city's east side, Buddy's pies quickly became famous for their unique style, featuring toppings placed directly on the pizza dough as opposed to the tomato sauce (which is added after both the toppings and cheese). The pizza is such a hit that USA Today actually placed Buddy's Pizza on its list of pilgrimage-worthy pies. But, there's another reason to take a trip to any one of the several locations, and you'll be surprised to know it's not for the pizza.

Go for the minestrone soup. That's right, this place serves a mean bowl of minestrone, and according to the menu, has been for 75 years. That's a long time to wow people with one dish, but there's a great reason for it. First, it's much thicker than an average minestrone, which means it's more filling. It's loaded with zucchini, celery, carrots, cannellini beans, onions, potatoes, and macaroni noodles, and the base is a rich and well-seasoned broth. So, go to Buddy's for the pizza, and don't forget the soup.

Chef and owner of Five & Ten, Hugh Acheson, described his restaurant this way: "Five and Ten is, and was always meant to be a place to revel in great food and drink, and where the patron would, quite simply, be happy." No frills or gimmicks are associated with this Athens, Georgia restaurant, founded in 2000 and going strong. The menu is "an open interpretation of Southern food, melding Georgia cookery with French and Italian influences I learned growing up," Acheson says. With Executive Chef Will Cantrell, he's dedicated to serving the best Southern-inspired cuisine possible, so guests not only obsess over the flavors but return.

While the menu at Five & Ten is exceptional, starting out your meal with a soup is a smart choice, and you realize that as soon as you try the potato and leek. The chunks of potatoes literally melt onto your tongue, and the leeks offer a sweet garlicky flavor to the rich seasoned broth. But, it's the lardons and crème fraiche that complete the symphony of flavors, creating a seesaw of hot and cold flavors you absolutely have to experience.

Described on its site as a "student union for adults," Cafe Patachou offers "a world class breakfast and lunch experience that includes dishes prepared with premium ingredients from scratch and to-order, a commitment to sourcing local and often organic products, refreshingly personal yet professional service by a well-trained team, and Café environments that are vibrant and alive." Founder Martha Hoover opened several eateries in Indianapolis, including Café Patachou (opened in 1989), and she's been building a culinary empire ever since. Her accolades include a 2020 James Beard Foundation nomination for Restaurateur of the Year, the title of Empire Builder of the Year from Eater, and a spot on Restaurant Hospitality's Top 25 Coolest Concepts list. Martha Hoover knows exactly what she's doing.

One of the reasons why Hoover draws crowds to Cafe Patachou is her tomato artichoke soup. The menu says the soup has been "served daily since 1989," and you'll realize why it's so popular. The bright flavor of fresh tomatoes meshes with the creamy texture of artichokes to create a rich broth you'll write home to mama about. The soup is topped with fresh-grated parmesan cheese and house-made croutons that add the perfect salty kick.

If you're heading out to Idaho, be sure to make reservations at Idaho's Sun Valley resort. And don't miss its fabulous restaurant, Gretchen's. This wonderful spot is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, year round. During the summer, you can dine on a beautiful terrace, and in winter, say cosy inside, with glorious views of the slopes. 

Gretchen Fraser, Sun Valley's owner, has a lot more than just an awesome resort under her belt. She holds the title as the very first American to win an Alpine Olympic Gold Medal. But, when she's not hitting the slopes, she's in charge of a resort that spoils its guests with delicious food. One signature dish is the elk chili, a savory soup made from ancho chilis, great northern beans, green onions, sour cream, sprinkled white cheddar, and smoky elk meat. The chili is always on the menu, along with another option that changes daily. 

In 2006, Executive Chef Ronald Lee opened Soup Thyme, an all-soup establishment in Monroe, Connecticut. When you visit this gen in Fairfield County (as you should), you may find yourself scratching your head as to which soup to order, and seeing as there are so many enticing options, that makes total sense. But, there's one soup that stands out above the rest and should not be missed: the chicken pot pie. 

It is everything you love about an actual pot pie, teeming with chicken and veggies, except that you can eat it with a spoon. Tender chunks of celery and carrots in a thick broth full of juicy heaps of pulled chicken — the perfect comfort food. But what about the flaky crust? Fear not, as pieces of the buttery pastry are added on top. This soup leaves you wondering why more of your favorite dishes aren't edible with a spoon.

There's a reason certain kinds of cuisine are labeled as "soul food." There's just something about them that hugs your core and takes you on a mental journey to someplace comfortable and familiar. A place where you feel safe and at home. That's exactly the feeling that Ippudo wants customers to feel when they visit one of their New York City spots. A hot bowl of ramen, according to the website, "contains that special something — the trifecta of soup, noodles, and toppings — that brings forth the cosmos and transcends all culinary ethnicities and nationalities." Whoa, that's deep stuff. But, take a trip to Ippudo and you realize that it's completely accurate.

Ippudo offers seven types of ramen. If you're looking for a kick, order the karaka spicy. A rich tonkotsu pork broth mixed with a special hot paste and garlic oil holds thin house-made ramen noodles and tender fall-apart slices of chashu (pork belly). There are also several vegetarian options that use tofu. And, you can add a hefty dollop of Ippudo's secret "Umami Dama" paste on any of the dishes for an addictingly savory flavor profile you have to experience yourself to believe.

When you stroll through the bustling streets of New York City, you pass so many tiny noodle shops that your head spins. It feels as if you can't walk more than a block or two without seeing one. With the options, it may be hard to choose which one to enter. But one unassuming Vietnamese noodle and sandwich shop that is definitely worth your time and money is Saigon Shack in downtown Manhattan. It's the kind of place you'd walk by a thousand times without thinking anything of it, but do yourself a favor and make sure to visit.

What you're going to want to order is a bowl of pho, the classic Vietnamese noodle soup. The options are endless, and no matter what you choose, you'll be more than satisfied. Order the Classic Beef Pho for thinly sliced raw beef that gently cooks in the hot broth as you eat. You can also get juicy pieces of brisket, oxtail, or spicy short ribs in your flavor-packed bowl of broth. The broth is imbued with the flavors from the meat and veggies, and the noodles, themselves, are a thing of beauty. 

No one goes to Las Vegas to avoid indulgence. That's the whole reason for the place. The vibrantly colored hotels hypnotize you with their dazzling lights, the buffets tempt your belly, and colorful characters strolling the strip make for an overly indulgent experience. That's probably why French chef Guy Savoy decided to open a fancy-schmancy restaurant inside Caesars Palace. Restaurant Guy Savoy will set you back a bit of money (be warned), but hey, you're in Vegas.

Everything on the menu here screams fancy, and seeing as you're in Vegas, it's more than appropriate. In order to start your meal in the most decadent way possible, look no further than the soup. The artichoke and black truffle makes for a mind-numbingly delicious way to experience what Guy Savoy has to offer. Blended slow-cooked artichoke hearts create a creamy broth, and shaved black truffles perch on top. If that's not enough, the soup also comes with flaky house-made toasted mushroom brioche slathered in black truffle butter. It's impossible to take a bite of this dish and not fall into a soup-induced celestial daze.

If you're traveling to Kohler, Wisconsin, visit The Horse and Plow, a local tavern with a big following. This casual pub is located inside the historic American Club Resort, which was built in 1918 to house immigrant men who worked at the famed plumbing manufacturer, Kohler Co. The pub is known for its collection of micro-brews and European beers.

And there's only one option on the menu to start with: the beer and cheese soup. Wisconsin is one of the top cheese-producing states in America, so the state means business when it comes to cheddar, Swiss, and pepper jack. The soup is made using the three types of locally-produced cheese, and the concoction of gooey greatness is cut with another of Wisconsin's favorites, locally-brewed beer. Topped with croutons for a welcome crunch, this rich and velvety soup is a filling treat. Beer cheese is no longer just for dipping pretzels, and it's all thanks to the culinary artists at The Horse and Plow.