Eight new restaurants, food trucks open in Fresno with summertime treats to cool you down
We’re deep into the hottest part of the year in Fresno, and that means, some days it’s just too hot too cook.
And even if you dine out, a heavy steak or pasta sometimes isn’t that appetizing when we’re in a heatwave.
So it’s a good time to point out that the Fresno area has several new restaurants and food trucks opening, and many of them offer food or drink that’s perfect for a sweltering Fresno day.
From ice-cold popsicles to a hot dog with a locally brewed beer, to fresh-made juices and boba tea, here’s what summertime treats these new businesses are offering.
Boba tea and other drinks
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MinTea, a boba tea shop, opened its second location Monday. The newest one is at Cedar and Shepherd avenues, next to Vons.
Its original location opened about a year ago at the northeast corner of Fowler and Ashlan avenues.
There is boba, of course, the little chewy balls of tapioca in the drink sucked up through a fat straw. You can get the boba in all kinds of iced tea.
But if boba isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other refreshing drink options, including Vietnamese iced coffee, fruit-flavored teas, and traditional milk teas in flavors like strawberry, jasmine green tea and matcha.
Toppings like fruit-flavored jellies (flavored chewy bits in rectangle shapes) can be added to drinks, along with fruit bits, several types of boba or chia seeds.
Smoothies are also on the menu.
Although the Clovis location has food like popcorn chicken, the Fresno location does not yet.
Hot day recommendation: The house tropical iced tea, which comes with pineapple, strawberry and peach flavors, and bits of fresh strawberry, mango, peach, kiwi and lychee, a small tropical fruit. It also comes with rainbow jelly.
Details: The Fresno MinTea is at 8951 N. Cedar Ave. Hours: 11 am. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
MilkT Society is a new tea shop serving all kinds of tea, with workers who frequently bust out in song on their karaoke machine.
The first is open at Cedar and Nees avenues, and four more are coming to the Fresno area. Opening in the next few weeks are locations at West Shaw and Feland avenues, and another at Peach Avenue and Kings Canyon Road.
One is also headed for Herndon and Clovis avenues in about four months and a Madera location is next.
MilkT serves boba, fruit and milk teas, with the milk teas made with a soy-based nondairy creamer. There is also black tea, green tea, and matcha tea, along with smoothies.
The menu also features refreshers, which are noncaffeinated drinks that are packed with bits of fruit and basil seeds.
Korean corn dogs (hot dogs with breading, cheese and toppings) are coming to the menu soon.
Hot day recommendation: The Garden of Eden refresher tea, which is packed with bits of fresh strawberries, mango, watermelon and basil seeds.
Details: The only MilkT Society that’s open now is at 7975 N. Cedar Ave. in Fresno. Hours: Noon to 9 p.m. daily.
Paletas
Paleteria La Jalpita is a tiny 2-month-old mom-and-pop place just getting its start east of downtown on Ventura Avenue (across the street from Ventura TV).
It’s basically three coolers full of paletas, the Mexican-style popsicles that come in all kinds of flavors. They sell for $1 each or 15 for $12.
Grab a plastic basket and fill up with whatever flavors you like and take them back to the family or office. (There’s no tables or chairs to enjoy them there yet, though they’re coming.)
There are paletas dipped in chocolate, milk-based paletas (like the strawberry cheesecake flavor) and the traditional dairy-free, fruit-based ones like strawberry, watermelon and mango.
Owner Javier Romero (who did the blue faux marbled floor of the business) gets the paletas from his parents’ company La Jalpita in Washington, named after the city in Mexico, Jalpa.
Romero plans to add cocktail-inspired paletas and aguas frescas (drinks made from fruit popular in Mexico and central America).
Hot day recommendation: The cucumber paleta. Beware it’s spicy though as there’s Tajín (a seasoning made with chiles and salt) in it.
Details: 3626 E. Ventura Ave. Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 559-233-4302.
Hot dogs and beer
Rocket Dog Gourmet Brats & Brew has started a food truck and most days it’s parked near a brewery. That means you can get a hot dog or other munchies and wash it down with a freshly brewed ice cold lager.
The truck has been parking on the same property as Amalgamation Brewing Co., which has the same owners as Rocket Dog, on Santa Fe Avenue, just south of Herndon and Milburn avenues.
The revamped carnival concession trailer offers a limited version of Rocket Dog’s restaurant menu, including french fries and hot dogs, like the popular Danger Dog. That’s a bacon-wrapped all-beef dog with ketchup, mustard, mayo, grilled onions and peppers on a bun.
“Fries are a good option if you just want to sit and drink your beer, and snack on something with your friends,” said owner Sarah Lisitsin, who adds that you can bring food into the brewery, which is cooled with fans and swamp coolers.
Hot day recommendation: Pair a beer with the Buffalo blue fries, french fries with Buffalo sauce, ranch, mozzarella and blue cheese.
The truck is there most Wednesdays through Saturdays from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Details: Amalgamation is at 6585 North Santa Fe Ave. 559-375-1771.
Donuts and drinks
Liv’s Donuts’ newest location is open, serving donuts, but also some drinks to cool you down.
The original location is still at Herndon and Fowler avenues. Liv’s second location opened a few weeks ago at Sommerville Drive and Perrin Avenue, in the same shopping center as Starbucks.
Liv’s sells classic donuts and specialty donuts, like ones topped with Oreos, peanut butter cups and cereals like Fruity Pebbles. A maple bacon bar with bits of bacon on top is also a popular option.
Breakfast sandwiches are available too, like ham, cheese and egg on a croissant.
Liv’s also makes smoothies, with or without boba. They come in flavors like taro, mango, coffee and caramel latte.
Hot day recommendation: Any donut paired with a smoothie.
Details: Liv’s Donuts is at 9525 N. Sommerville Ave. Hours: 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 559-765-2805.
Juices, acai bowls, salads, etc.
Nekter Juice Bar sells juices made on the spot from fruits and vegetables with names like “toxin flush” and “watermelon cooler”. There are also bottled drinks, smoothies, and bowls. The bowls come with a base of fruit, like acai berries blended with other fruit, or dragon fruit or greens like kale and spinach.
Everything is organic and sweetened with ingredients other than sugar, said manager Samantha Baeza.
It’s the first location of the Southern California-based company in Fresno.
Hot day recommendation: The orange crush smoothie made with orange juice, strawberries and agave nectar, Baeza says. To make it extra refreshing, ask for fresh pineapple to be blended into it.
Details: Nekter is at 7723 N. Blackstone Ave. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily.
Jugo Salad & Juice Bar finally opened its third location after a year of delays due to Covid-19. This one is at Herndon and Milburn avenues.
It specializes in cold-pressed juices, salads (build your own or from the menu), avocado toast, and smoothies. There are also bowls on the menu made with a base of blended acai berries or pitaya (dragon fruit).
Juices are made from all kinds of fruits and veggies. A fun one to try: The “blu dream,” which is actually blue from the spirulina in it.
Hot day recommendation: The acai bowl is a healthy alternative to ice cream, said owner Lewis Everk. The acai blend is sweetened with dates and customers pick toppings like banana, coconut, mango and berries.
Details: The newest Jugo is at 1845 Herndon Ave. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Loving Seed is food truck made from a 1954 vintage trailer serving smoothies and acai bowls with a twist.
Business partners Justin Henry and Jennifer Perea met at the gym and decided to open Loving Seed together.
Their acai bowls come in both healthy and dessert versions.
The healthy acai bowls come with fruit, hemp seeds and red goji berries, for example.
The dessert-style bowls include Nutella and Oreo bowls.
Loving Seed also sells smoothies, raw juice and “wellness shots.”
“It’s good for people who are health conscious, but if you just like acai and you want a treat, it’s perfect for that too,” Perea said.
Hot day recommendation: A smoothie, like the “hella green” or the “cool strawberry.”
Details: Follow Loving Seed on Instagram or Facebook for its schedule. Lately, you can find Loving Seed at the Clovis Community Medical Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, and at the Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays.
This story was originally published July 21, 2021 at 8:35 AM.
