Are we missing out? Here are the top restaurant chains not in the Fresno, Clovis area
What restaurant chains would you like to see come to the Fresno region? Vote in our poll
Fresno and Clovis have plenty of locally owned restaurants — good ones, too — but we also love to get excited about chain eateries.
Several new chains are opening in town that Fresnans are plenty excited about, like The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, The Human Bean, and of course, the Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers fast food restaurants.
But many big restaurants are still not here. And Fresnans seem to love to daydream about what they’d like to see come to Fresno.
So we thought we’d take a look at what isn’t here.
We looked at the top restaurant chains nationwide, measured by sales in the United States – a common measure of success in the restaurant world –, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
There are many that aren’t here, but don’t feel too bad about missing out. Most are here already. Out of the top 50, only 11 don’t have a presence in Fresno.
Here’s the top ones that aren’t in Fresno and Clovis, and a little about why not.
Chain restaurants not in Fresno
1. Dunkin’. Locations: 9,000+. The coffee and donut shop has shortened its name from Dunkin’ Donuts to just Dunkin’. It has locations in Madera and Hanford but none in Fresno or Clovis.
But that’s likely to change — and hopefully soon. The franchisee who owns the rights to develop Dunkins in the area said he is close to finalizing a lease for a Fresno-area location. But since it’s not a done deal yet he won’t say where.
Give it another month or two, said franchisee Aharon Aminpour.
2. Dairy Queen. Locations: 5,700+. Dairy Queen — or its newer, bigger concept, DQ Grill & Chill — is such a staple in California, it may seem odd that there aren’t any left in Fresno or Clovis.
We’ve had several locations here in years past, including the one in the Manchester Center food court. But all have closed. Even the location in Los Banos many Fresnans would stop at on their way out of town has closed.
The restaurant is opening a new location in Modesto later this year, but has no plans for any new restaurants in Fresno or Clovis, a representative said.
3. Whataburger. Locations: 800+. This is the 26th biggest chain by sales in the U.S. and is based in Texas. With distinctive orange roofs, the chain is known for its burgers.
Most Whataburgers are in the South, along with Arizona and New Mexico. None are in California.
4. Cracker Barrel. Locations: 660+. The national restaurant with all-day breakfast, a country store, and white rocking chairs out front has history in Fresno.
It’s never had a location here, but it once came close. In 2017, the restaurant signed a lease for a spot in the Marketplace at El Paseo, the shopping center near Highway 99 and Herndon Avenue.
But in a rare move, it decided not to come. The company ended up opening a location in Victorville, and now has seven locations in California, including in Sacramento and Rocklin.
Cracker Barrel was the No. 2 most requested business in our poll about what businesses Fresnans want to see open here. The company said it was “always considering opportunities for new locations,” but had no news to share about a location in central California.
5. Hardee’s. Locations: 1,500+. Hardee’s is a fast food chain known for its burgers and biscuits. It’s mostly in the eastern half of the U.S.
But there’s a good chance you’ve had their food. Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. have the same parent company and the chains are almost identical.
The restaurants have the same font and smiling little star logo. The menus are very similar too, though Carl’s Jr. has the Green Burrito and Hardee’s has a Red Burrito.
6. Zaxby’s. Locations: 900+. This chain specializes in chicken — chicken wings, chicken “Fingerz,” and salads.
Most of its restaurants are in the southeast. None are in California.
7. Culver’s. Locations: 800+. Wisconsin-based Culver’s is a fast food chain, with most of restaurants in the Midwest. The chain also stretches as far west as Idaho and Arizona, and has locations in the southeastern U.S.
None are in California.
The restaurants are known for their Butterburgers (named after their buttered buns) and their frozen custard.
8. Longhorn Steakhouse. Locations: 500+. This Florida-based steakhouse has most of its restaurants in the East.
It opened its first California location in Rancho Cucamonga in 2020. It’s owned by the same parent company as Olive Garden.
9. Golden Corral. Locations: 390+. Fresnans have long yearned for this buffet restaurant. It actually had a location years ago on Shaw Avenue in Clovis.
It now has hundreds of restaurants in 43 states, including locations in Modesto and Bakersfield.
Three years ago, Golden Corral told The Fresno Bee that it had a franchisee looking for a spot to open here and would “absolutely” have a restaurant in Fresno.
But since COVID-19 has changed everything, especially with buffet restaurants, do those plans still stand?
Golden Corral didn’t return messages before our deadline. Despite one of its largest franchisees filing for bankruptcy, and some California restaurants not fully reopening, the company is still opening new locations.
10. Bojangles. Locations: 760. Another fast food chain, Bojangles specializes in fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits.
The restaurant has locations in 14 states, mostly in the southeast. None are in California.
11. Waffle House. Locations: 1,900+. Known for staying open during hurricanes, this popular restaurant barely missed the top 10 in terms of sales, of restaurants not currently in Fresno.
While seemingly ubiquitous in other parts of the country, particularly the Deep South and some parts of the Midwest, according to the company’s website the closest location to Fresno would be in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Unless you’re on a road trip through “The Grand Canyon State” or traveling out-of-state, that All-Star Special will have to wait.
Honorable mentions
Church’s Chicken. Locations: Nearly 900. While Church’s ranks No. 65 in terms of sales by Nation’s Restaurant News, some would be surprised it doesn’t have a location in Fresno, given that it boasts 53 restaurants throughout California, including one in Bakersfield, while Stockton and Sacramento each have two locations, according to the company’s website.
Hooters Known for UFC viewing parties and wings, Fresno’s Hooter’s closed in 2019. Although the reasons it left were unclear, the chain generally has stagnated in recent years and the number of locations have decreased.
Other popular restaurants seen elsewhere throughout the country, but not in Fresno, include McAlister’s Deli, Steak ‘n Shake and Bob Evans.
This story was originally published February 23, 2022 at 9:21 AM.
