Here are 14 new mom-and-pop restaurant openings you may have missed in Fresno
Some new restaurants like to splash onto the scene with a big grand opening and giveaways.
Others prefer to dip a toe into the scene and ease their way in. They work out the kinks and ramp things up slowly.
Many of them have been steadily opening under the radar in recent months, particularly as the more than 30 closures of their longtime big brothers and sisters in Fresno grab the spotlight.
So here’s a look at 14 little mom-and-pop restaurants whose openings you may have missed. Since this is Fresno, it goes without saying that they include cuisines from all over the world, from a little Thai place to a Mexican restaurant that likes to have a good time.
In addition to hearty sit-down meals, there are places to drink coffee, boba, cocktails and beer. There’s fun food, too: Korean corn dogs rolled in toppings such as Cheetos, and little crispy dessert waffles in the shape of fish. Oh, and a beauty influencer just bought a downtown sushi restaurant.
And just in time for the holidays, there’s a new pie shop in town.
The Hub Eats & Drinks
Say the words “sports bar” and you might conjure up an image of cold steak fries or screaming sports fans.
Not here. Although The Hub is technically a sports bar — and restaurant — it’s got a family-friendly atmosphere and serves “elevated sports bar food.”
It opened in May in the Marketplace at El Paseo near Highway 99 and Herndon Avenue. It’s next to the movie theater with a patio that overlooks the playground.
It was opened by the people behind a local trucking firm and is the second location of The Hub. The first opened seven years ago in Natomas.
The menu by chef Alex Bautista has a lot more going on than you’d expect from a sports bar, with a little bit of everything from bar munchies to classy date-night dining.
“Even for your wife, when you say, ‘What do you want to eat and she says, ‘I don’t know,’ We have that here,” said manager Crystal Vargas.
The top seller is the spicy chicken pasta — pappardelle tossed in a cream sauce with roasted bell peppers and served with garlic bread.
The pizzas are popular, along with the lamb chops. There are also sandwiches, salads, fried pickles, barbacoa tacos and more.
The wings are also popular, with eight flavors ranging from mango habanero to ginger garlic. We asked the cook what his favorite thing on the menu was and he said the peanut butter wings. Something different, but a favorite of many.
And of course, there’s a full drink menu with beer, wine and cocktails. The owners are whiskey drinkers, so there’s an extensive collection of it.
The Hub also has brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays with cocktails. There’s indulgent dishes on the menu, such as a grilled cheese Benedict featuring poached eggs atop a grilled cheese sandwich.
And if you’re craving a twist on something on the menu, they’ll likely make it for you if they’re not too busy, Vargas said.
“We really do have a secret menu, but only the regulars know about it,” she said.
Details: The Hub is at 6443 Riverside Drive, suite 106. 559-746-9797.
Boba Luv
Boba Luv has been open around a year and a half, but new owners took it over in October, majorly changing things up. The shop is at Bullard Avenue and First Street, in the same shopping center as Save Mart.
New owners Mao Vang and husband Tousue Xiong remodeled the place and added food. They also added seating to make it more of a hangout.
“We renovated the whole entire space to create a vibe there for the young people, especially high school students and college students that are nearby,” Vang said. “It’s more like a coffee/study space.”
And now there’s food: popcorn chicken and shrimp, egg rolls, and hibachi bowls with chicken, shrimp or steak.
Of course there are lots of boba drinks. There are the traditional milk teas, fruit teas, smoothies and more.
Two highlights, according to Vang? The cucumber fresher is a spin on a traditional Hmong drink made with cucumber, water and sugar. Boba Luv’s version is mixed with lychee, the tropical fruit.
“It’s not too traditional. It’s a little sweet; a little American,” she said.
There’s also the raspberry fizz, one of the few fizzy drinks on the menu. It has fresh-made raspberry puree with grapefruit, sugar, carbonated water, mint leaves and raspberries.
Boba Luv is family run, with Vang’s siblings and parents working in the shop.
Details: Boba Luv is 1075 E. Bullard Ave., suite 105. 559-981-2687.
Eagle Sandwich Co.
This tiny locally owned sandwich shop opened in north Fresno over the summer honoring the United States of America, Clovis West High School and family.
The eagle in the name is a nod to both owner Arnold Karaoglan’s patriotism and the mascot of his alma mater. He’s a 2005 graduate of the school.
The sandwich shop is near Starbucks in the RiverView shopping center at Friant and Fort Washington roads.
Last week, The Bee published a full story about how the shop is also a tribute to his dad, who funded much of the business, but died several months before it opened.
As for the food, Eagle Sandwich Co. tries to offer something a little different than the standard sandwich place. Its French dip sandwich is the most popular seller, its au jus not a packet from a distributor, but the actual juices the roast beef is cooked in, along with bone broth, herbs and spices.
There are all the classic sandwiches, along with tri-tip and pastrami made with certified Angus steak, and a rosemary ham. One of the vegetarian sandwiches is made from large king oyster mushrooms sliced thin.
Details: Eagle Sandwich Co. is at 9423 N. Fort Washington Road, Suite 105. 559-319-6899.
Fusion Indian Cuisine & Bar
This Indian restaurant off Highway 168 and Temperance Avenue in Clovis is in the former Riley’s Brew Pub spot. But it’s totally different than its predecessor.
Opening about three months ago, the restaurant has been majorly remodeled. It’s a second location for the owner, who also has a smaller restaurant with a similar name at Sierra Vista Mall next to Chipotle.
The newer Fusion Indian Cuisine has a full bar and an upscale vibe with flowers and vines dangling from the ceiling.
It’s got lots of appetizers and bar food, including “chaat,” Indian street food. It’s also got a mix of flavors, with Mexican, American and Afghani influences.
Hence the tacos and sliders made with paneer (a cheese common in India) or chicken, and Indian nachos.
The most popular dish (and the one the servers order) is the “Fusion Favorite Afghani.” It’s chicken, onions and peppers smothered in cream sauce and served on a platter that’s part of a golden bicycle.
And if you want a hands-on dining experience, try the gol gappe, a dish of tiny deep-fried breaded spheres served atop shot glasses. You pour the tamarind and mint water into the sphere, which has veggies inside, and pop the whole concoction into your mouth.
The restaurant also has a daily lunchtime buffet and a private dining room that’s been glammed up with hanging chandelier lights and flowers.
Details: Fusion Indian Cuisine & Bar is at 2674 Owens Mountain Parkway. 559-882-1313.
The Layover
Most people will know this Fulton Street spot as the former Peeve’s Public House. Miguel Martinez was a customer there and is now running it as The Layover.
The intent is to make it a travel-themed pub. But it’s still in the process of getting its liquor license, so for now, it’s a lunch spot with pub food and a sober bar. It’s also open on evenings for special events, including live jazz nights the first Tuesday of the month.
It serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
“It’s nothing fancy,” Martinez said. “We have just what you would expect from a pub.”
There are burrito bowls, while the Angus burger is the most popular dish, along with all sorts of appetizers.
Since it can’t serve alcohol, it’s developing a bit of a reputation as a sober bar. It serves three nonalcoholic drinks, including the Horchatalada, made with horchata, pineapple and coconut, served over ice.
The travel theme stems from Martinez and his partner’s love of travel. The Layover broadcasts live images from 150 cameras around the world set to music. The pair have hosted tours in various cities, including Tokyo, through their website WeekAbroad.com and plan to promote them at The Layover.
Details: The Layover is at 1243 Fulton St. 559-236-8008.
On A Roll Sushi
The sushi restaurant attached to Mezcal Lounge in downtown Fresno recently reopened with a new owner: an online influencer with millions of followers who normally specializes in skincare and makeup.
Itati Lopez has 12.8 million followers on TikTok, a podcast on YouTube and is the CEO of Viyant Beauty. She bought On A Roll Sushi on Van Ness Avenue and Merced Street. The sushi spot had been closed for a few months and reopened last week with an all new look, menu, chefs and more.
Lopez wasn’t available for comment, but the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner most days and closed on Sundays.
The menu includes lots of sushi, and will have Mexican sushi according to her video. It already has some spicy options such as a Jalisco roll with crab meat, cucumber, avocado and hot sauce.
A grand opening will be announced soon.
Details: On A Roll Sushi is at 1306 Van Ness Ave. 559-264-1500.
The Pie Mamas
A single mom started The Pie Mamas in her home in 2021 and now it’s grown into storefront in a historic downtown building. The pie business had been selling its pies in three sizes (full, mini and baby) at farmers markets.
It opened earlier this month inside the T.W. Patterson building on Fulton Street. It’s baking at a kitchen inside the building.
Pies can be pre-ordered and the business will have some available during its open hours — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
Owner Anna Covarrubias named the business because she is a mom of a 10- and 11-year-old. Her sisters and mother, who are also mamas, often also help her out.
Pies come in several flavors, but she recommends the triple berry, which recently won best in show at The Big Fresno Fair.
Details: 966 Fulton St. 559/363-0203 or Orders.PieMamas@gmail.com
Mariscos El Centenario
This Mexican restaurant opened in recent months on Blackstone Avenue near Dakota Avenue. It specializes in Mexican seafood from the coastal Sinaloa region and lots of live music.
On the menu, you’ll find Mexican sushi, ceviche, tacos, menudo and lots of bar-style appetizers.
There are cocktails, beer, micheladas and more. Happy hour runs from noon to 8 p.m. daily, with different specials each day.
El Centenario opens for breakfast at 9 a.m. daily, and stays open til 2 a.m. Thursdays through the weekend.
This place is big on live music. They have it every Friday, especially the lively banda music. Keep tabs on its Instagram to see who’s coming.
Details: El Centenario is at 3874 N. Blackstone Ave. 559-705-6127.
Naju Tofu
This restaurant has tofu in the name, but it’s not some vegan restaurant serving quinoa and coconut water. Nope, this a Korean restaurant with plenty of meat on the menu.
Naju Tofu is at Cedar and Nees avenues and opened earlier this year.
Tofu is common in Korean cuisine. Here, you’ll find it in several kinds of soup, including beef, seafood and a mushroom and vegetable tofu soup with varying degrees of spice. Several kinds of bone broth soup are also on the menu.
There’s bulgogi, thin slices of marinated beef, and bibimbap, bowls of rice and beef or vegetables topped with an egg.
Details: Naju Tofu is at 8048 N. Cedar Ave. 559-314-8959.
Sacred Heart Coffee
Most people know this downtown coffee shop as the former Fulton Street Coffee, which closed a few months back as the previous owner moved out of town. The little coffee shop next door to the Warnors Theatre quickly reopened as Sacred Heart Coffee with new owners.
Nathan Olvera and Saul Pinedo have been serving up coffee (roasted by the previous owner) ever since. The cafe con leche is especially popular. It’s made with cold brew, brown sugar and sweet cinnamon. The menu also includes cappuccinos, matcha tea, lemonade and pastries.
The coffee shop has nothing to do with a local church of the same name, and it is not a religious coffee shop. But it reflects both the Mexican-American heritage the owners grew up with — such as the Catholic-influenced imagery of a flaming sacred heart — and the American traditional style of tattooing they both wear on their bodies.
Olvera used to work at a local family-run butcher shop before taking over the coffee shop and Pinedo has been in the coffee business for a while (though neither were involved in a dispute that led to a strike by employees last year).
Details: Sacred Heart Coffee is at 2011 Tuolumne St.
Sweet Ppang
Sweet Ppang opened last summer near Target at Shields Avenue and First Street near Golden Dynasty Chinese restaurant.
It’s mostly a taiyaki shop. That’s the little fish-shaped dessert waffle that’s a popular Asian treat. Served warm, it’s often stuffed with fillings such as Nutella.
You can also get larger ones filled with soft serve ice cream.
“Croffles,” croissants baked in a waffle iron and topped with your choice of goodies, are also on the menu.
Sweet Ppang is also a boba shop. Ppang means bread — as in sweet bread — in Cambodian.
Want to know more? Check out The Bee’s online story about how a couple created the business so their children could become entrepreneurs. Their three kids and nieces and nephews all work at the business.
Details: Sweet Ppang is at 3211 E. Shields Ave. 559-412-8831.
The Third Place/The Craft House
This restaurant in the newly remodeled building on Pollasky Street between Eighth and Ninth streets isn’t brand new, but has had some big changes lately. It originally opened this spring as The Third Place Global Eatery, with a food hall concept with a restaurant, a drink and dessert shop, and Crow & Wolf Brewery serving on the patio.
But that changed a few months later. It closed to upgrade the AC — and then lots of things changed.
That international restaurant is now gone.
The Craft House, which used to be a block away, is now inside The Third Place. It’s got a full menu of tacos, sliders, burgers and more, including vegan options.
Details: The Craft House is at 836 Pollasky Ave. 559-472-1113.
Thai Wok & Cafe
This little restaurant near Shaw and Marks avenues was supposed to be a boba shop, then a to-go restaurant and by the time it opened this summer, it was a full-fledged Thai dine-in restaurant. Thai Wok & Cafe is run by a recent college grad and a collection of loosely related workers, including a chef from Bangkok.
The chef brought the authentic flavors of the city with him in a search for a better life here, putting a twist on the food to appeal to an American palate. The menu has lots of rice, noodle and curry dishes, along with a full boba drink menu and Thai tea.
One highlight on the menu? The papaya salad.
“We actually don’t make it like others in town,” said manager Wilson Luu.
Even if you’ve had papaya salad before and didn’t like it, he encourages you to try it here. Many places serve a Lao-style papaya salad that’s darker and made with pungent fermented fish. Thai Wok’s is made with fish sauce, and is lighter and not so fishy.
A reluctant customer once tried it and loved it.
“He killed the entire plate,” Luu said.
Brand new to Thai food? Try the pad Thai, Luu says. Want something spicy? The drunken noodle.
Details: Thai Wok & Cafe is at 2746 W. Shaw Ave.
Yasss Fish Tacos
After two years of running a food truck, Yasss Fish Tacos opened its brick-and-mortar restaurant in late August at Marks and Ashlan avenues. As the name suggests, fish tacos are its most popular seller, said Sarahi Al-Rohani, who owns the business with her husband and kids.
But it’s got a lot more on the menu. Such as Korean corn dogs. The corn dogs are made from cheese, sausage, or half and half of each. They are rolled in various toppings, such as panko, Cheetos, Fruity Pebbles, ramen and more.
A large variety of fish tacos are on the menu, along with fish and chips, a fish sandwich and taquitos. On Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the restaurant sells $1 street tacos. And there’s a huge list of sauces to choose from.
The food truck’s fish taco won second place, judges’ choice, in the Taco Truck Throwdown two years ago.
The name Yasss Fish Tacos has two origins. Partially, it comes from the popular encouraging term, “Yas, queen.” But it’s also a reference to Al-Rohani’s husband’s first name, Yssin.
Details: Yasss Fish Tacos is at 3069 W Ashlan Ave. 559-414-7088.
This story was originally published November 23, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
