30+ restaurants every Fresnan should know, from fine dining to tiny taquerias
Restaurants are so tied up in a city’s identity.
Their cuisines reflect the ethnicities of the people living there. They are the fancy places where we celebrate milestones and the hole-in-the-wall restaurants where we indulge in deliciousness no matter how desperately the dining rooms need redecorating.
When someone new moves to town, they often ask “Which restaurants do I need to try?”
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of restaurants that every Fresnan should know about. If you’re not interested in dining there, you should at least know about these places.
Note: This is not a list of the best restaurants in town. We’ll leave the reviews about where to eat out to you guys and to Yelp.com. And we know there will be restaurants we left off the list that you think should be on there. If you want people to know about your favorite restaurant, the best way to support it is to tell your friends about it — online or in person.
All restaurants are in Fresno unless otherwise noted.
Classy restaurants
Annex Kitchen is one of the top-rated restaurants in Fresno. Italian-inspired and using ingredients from local farmers, be sure to make a reservation. 2257 W. Shaw Ave.
Cracked Pepper Bistro is perhaps the nicest restaurant in town. Be sure to try its bread pudding. 6737 N. Palm Ave.
Elbow Room, a Fresno staple since 1955, is known for its steak, seafood, bar and patio with a roaring fireplace. Fig Garden Village.
Erna’s Elderberry House in Oakhurst is the only Central Valley restaurant with a four-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide. Not everyone can afford to eat there, but it’s a jewel of the Valley’s dining scene. 48688 Victoria Lane, Oakhurst.
Five Restaurant is a beloved favorite that recently reopened after a fire closed it for a year. 1110 E. Champlain Drive.
The Lime Lite has been around for more than 50 years. Seafood, steak, cocktails and more are on the menu. 1054 W. Shaw Ave.
Manhattan Steakhouse & Bar has a dark, old school vibe. Order a steak and check out the happy hour deals. 1731 W. Bullard Ave.
Max’s Bistro is a top restaurant with a creative menu and dining room. Get dessert and be sure to try the french fry trio (sweet potato, truffle fries and eggplant fries). 1784 W. Bullard Avenue.
Trelio is a tiny place in Old Town Clovis, with top-notch reviews and one of the best wine selections around. Reservations are a must. 438 Clovis Ave. #4, Clovis.
Mexican restaurants
Bobby Salazar’s is a name that’s synonymous with Fresno. There are too many restaurants to list here, but check out its website. (And another restaurant worth checking out owned by a relative? Sal’s Mexican Restaurant.)
Casa Corona, a nice sit-down Mexican restaurant, has two locations. 7044 N. Cedar Ave., 1724 W. Bullard Ave.
El Premio Mayor wins the people’s choice award at the Taco Truck Throwdown again and again. 3247 E McKinley Ave., 3139 N. Maroa Ave. or find its food truck via Instagram.
Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant is plunked in an oddly industrial neighborhood on Weber Avenue, but has a reputation thats draws customers from afar. 3020 N. Weber Ave.
La Elegante Taqueria is a downtown hole-in-the-wall with bars on the windows, but its tacos are often described as the best in town. It also has a food truck. 1423 Kern St.
Don Pepe Taqueria has some of the tiniest restaurants around, but they are always packed and regarded as authentic Mexican food. 4582 N. Blackstone Ave., 4950 N. Woodrow Ave., 7029 N. Ingram Ave. and 5085 E. Kings Canyon Road.
Robertito’s is the place for late-night Mexican food cravings. With drive-thrus and many locations open 24 hours, there are too many locations to list here. See its website.
Toledo’s Mexican Restaurant is a Fresno favorite. While the original with its quirky patio has been torn down and hasn’t reopened in its new location yet, you can still dine at the other three. 367 E. Shaw Ave., 6737 N. Milburn Ave., and 1125 Shaw Ave. in Clovis.
You should also know
AJ’s Armenian Cuisine is one of the best Armenian restaurants around. A low key place, the lamb chops have a reputation. 5048 N. Maroa Ave.
Benaddiction is a little rock ‘n’ roll-themed breakfast restaurant that’s usually packed. You can get an “eggs Benaddict” sandwich, a fat-bottomed grilled cheese or “drunken lullaby” pancakes with whiskey in them. 3015 W. Bullard Ave.
Central Fish Company is most known as a downtown fish market and grocery, but also has an informal restaurant section. 1535 Kern St.
Chef Paul’s Cafe downtown is a little place with a huge following — and limited lunchtime hours. It’s known for soul food like oxtail soup and chicken and waffles, and has been visited by celebrities like model Tyra Banks and comedian Joe Rogan. 952 F St.
DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant is probably the most well-known everyday Italian restaurant around, beloved by Fresnans. It has three locations in Fresno, plus restaurants in Kingsburg, Oakhurst and Madera. See website for locations.
Dog House Grill is another place that’s synonymous with Fresno. Across the street from Fresno State, it’s known for its tri-tip sandwiches and as a place to watch big sporting events. Be patient with parking and lines. 2789 E. Shaw Ave.
Heirloom in Park Crossing hasn’t even been open a year yet, but it seems to be Fresno’s hippest new restaurant. Its chef calls it a “farm-driven restaurant,” and goes far beyond the typical farm-to-table restaurant to serve locally grown ingredients. 8398 N. Fresno St.
Imperial Garden Restaurant always seems to be recommended when someone is looking for Chinese food recommendations. This sit-down restaurant has dim sum, soup dumplings, fish, roast duck, chicken feet and more on the menu. 6640 N. Blackstone Ave.
In-N-Out is a California institution. Check out the fast food restaurant’s not-so-secret menu and get a burger animal style (smothered in mustard, pickles, grilled onions and the restaurant’s signature spread). Avoid the fries. Check the website for locations.
Irene’s Cafe is a Tower District fixture. It’s a diner with a big menu. Its hefty breakfasts attract crowds on weekends and there’s great people watching from the patio. 747 E. Olive Ave.
Livingstone’s is a Tower icon. A fire closed it for two years, but the bar and restaurant is back and almost the same as it always: Dark, popular, and beloved. Be sure to order a Stockholm royale cocktail. 831 E. Fern Ave.
Me-n-Ed’s is another Valley institution. The Fresno-based pizza restaurant is something people who move away always like to get when they’re back in town. See website for locations.
Pho 75 #2 is a popular pho restaurant, but really, there’s tons to choose from. The Vietnamese soup is comfort food and Fresno does it well. 3127 E. McKinley Ave.
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Pismo’s Coastal Grill is a little taste of the coast in Fresno, with fresh seafood delivered daily. It’s owned by one of Fresno’s top restaurateurs, Dave Fansler, who also owns Westwoods Barbecue & Spice Co. in River Park and Yosemite Ranch. 7937 N. Blackstone Ave.
Tahoe Joe’s is a Fresno original (founded by Fansler, though he later sold them). Check out the steak. 7006 N. Cedar Ave.
Richards Prime Rib & Seafood an old school place with classic charm: a dim dining room, big leather booths, chatty waitresses, lots of steak and a full bar. 1609 E. Belmont Ave.
Sam’s Italian Deli and Market is a store, yes, but it’s also a deli known for its sandwiches. New Yorker hot pastrami, chicken Parmesan and other sandwiches are available, along with meats, cheeses, salads and desserts. 2415 N. First St.
SchoolHouse Restaurant & Tavern is an experience in itself. With roots reaching back to 1890, it really was a school house and later the Sherwood Inn Restaurant. It has a farm-to-table menu. 1018 S Frankwood Ave., Sanger.
This story was originally published January 6, 2020 at 9:48 AM.
