6 Of The Best Places To Eat In Fresno Today

Fresno, California is known as the heart of California’s agricultural region, which means it has a great food scene. Whether you live close by or are simply visiting, this list will help direct you to some of the best places to eat in Fresno today. There are a number of farm-to-table eateries, local taquerias, and some classic barbeque joints. Spend an afternoon seeing the beautiful sights of this central California city, and then book your reservation at one of these spots. No matter what you’re in the mood for, Fresno’s likely got it. Read on to learn more.

In this post, we’ll do a deep dive into some of the best places to eat in Fresno today. Learn about the histories of these restaurants and their menu offerings. We’ll talk price points and cuisine styling. By the end of this, you’ll know exactly where you want to go when you’re hankering for some food in the beautiful city of Fresno, California. 

The Annex Kitchen 

257 West Shaw Ave, Fresno, CA 93711

The Annex Kitchen in Fresno serves Italian-inspired fare using locally sourced ingredients. This farm-to-table restaurant highlights the beauty of central California produce. They offer a classic lunch and dinner menu as well as the option for a private dining experience. In a separate dining room, diners will enjoy a 4-course family-style meal off their seasonal menu. Let's take a look at what dinner at The Annex Kitchen involves. Start off with marinated olives ($6), arancini, burrata ($17), braised meatballs ($18), steamed mussels ($20) and assorted charcuterie ($22). Fresh salads feature arugula with radicchio, bacon, and avocado, and kale with pecorino ($19-$20).

There's classic wood-fired pizza and handcrafted pasta. Try spicy soppressata with Calabrian honey ($20), or carbonara with fontina ($21). Enjoy butternut squash agnolotti with crispy sage, bucatini, lamb ragu tagliatelle, and roasted chicken pancetta (between $24-$30). They have braised beef short rib ($47), and a ribeye in a porcini rub ($53). There are also chicken, salmon, and other steak options available alongside polenta, french fries, and grilled broccolini ($7-$9). Save room for the affogato ($10), chocolate budino pudding, peach crisp, or ricotta donuts (all between $13/$14). No wonder The Annex Kitchen is one of the best places to eat in Fresno, CA.

Libelula

1154 Broadway St., Fresno, CA 93721

Libelula is another farm-to-table option in Fresno, California. It was voted the “Best Downtown Restaurant” in both 2022 and 2023 and has a seasonal menu full of local ingredient goodness. The newest one, featured on their Instagram features handcrafted sandwiches the likes of apples and brie, sriracha, maple chicken, yuzo kosho crab, and agave maple (between $15-$17 USD). There's a hot Italian beef sandwich, a BBQ bacon burger, a vegan torta, and an apple, cheddar, and arugula bacon sandwich ($15-$18). Try small plates like saucy tots, squash toast, curried potatoes, and more ($13-$15). Specialty dishes include spicy Thai mac & cheese, mushroom bulgogi tacos, and polenta bolognese ($15-$18). These seasonal goodies are well worth a try next time you're looking for the best places to eat in Fresno.

Westwoods BBQ and Spice Co.

 8042 North Blackstone Ave, Fresno, CA 93720

Westwoods BBQ and Spice Co. serves traditional, and nuanced BBQ with local and fresh ingredients. Try their rib plates, chicken dishes, and seafood options. These are offered alongside their starter plates, signature sandwiches, and tri-tip plates. Start with jalapeño cornbread ($5/$9), Texas toast with garlic butter and green onions ($7), pit brisket nachos with pico de gallo ($17), and applewood bacon cheddar fries ($12). There are cheeseburger sliders ($13), crispy chicken wings ($15/$21/$27), fried pickles ($11), and beer-battered onion rings ($12).

Tri-tip dishes include the Santa maria steak smothered in BBQ sauce, horseradish and bleu cheese ($16), slow-roasted tri-tip ($17), pulled pork ($14), and several different brisket dishes (between $17-$18). Try honey hot chicken ($14), surf & turf BBQ shrimp, or beer-braised shallots ($27). Chef's platters feature pulled pork, ribs, bacon-wrapped chicken, house sausage, and buffalo chicken sliders ($39), a platter of side dishes ($32), and cedar plank salmon ($26).

The Lime Lite 

1054 West Shaw Ave, Fresno, CA 93711

The Lime Lite serves New American fare with organic produce. This upscale dining spot has been open for some 55 years, led by current owner Brandon Smittcamp. Many of the ingredients come from Smittcamp's family farms. The menus in turn are shaped by the seasonal availability of certain crops. The Lime Lite also works with farmers and local markets to get the best in fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, and fish. Let's take a closer look at some of the menu offerings.

Summer starters include garlic pub fries, calamari strips, sure & turf grilled ponzu steak, Dungeness crab cocktail, and stonefruit burrata ($10-$36). There's prime rib with whipped potatoes ($40), wood-fired ribeye ($42), wagyu New York with roasted broccoli ($75), and a number of lamb and other cuts of beef. Try the maple shoyu salmon ($33), coconut-crusted halibut ($44), seared diver scallops ($46), and pan-roasted chicken ($29). And finally, end your night on something sweet with The Lime Lite‘s strawberry shortcake ($12), bread pudding with baklava and white chocolate, or brownie s'mores with vanilla ice cream and Kahlua creme anglaise ($12).

Campagnia Bistro

1185 E Champlain Dr., Fresno, CA 93720

Campagnia Bistro in north Fresno offers upscale food in a casual setting. This bistro boasts awards like the Fresno Bee's “best brunch” award between 2011-2018, the Open Table' Diner’s Choice Award, and a “Restauranteur of the Year” award in 2007 from the California Restaurant Association. Appetizers feature mozzarella and sundried tomato pesto bruschetta ($14), eggplant caprese ($16), and pork, and shrimp potstickers ($16). There's seared ahi tuna ($18), fried calamari ($17), sausage meatballs ($17), and white prawns in an orange tarragon glaze ($19).

Pizzas include classic Margherita ($16), fennel sausage ($19), roasted pear, and Thai garlic shrimp ($18/$19). Try the chicken Milanese ($25), grilled ribeye ($49), lamb rack chops ($46), short ribs ($34), pork chops ($30), and an Angus burger ($19). Fish includes pan-roasted halibut ($35), and grilled salmon with vegetables ($32). There are also numerous pasta dishes including spaghetti with garlic parmesan crostini ($26), lemon garlic shrimp with angel hair ($27), 3-cheese corn ravioli ($24), chicken linguine ($26), penne napoli with pancetta ($24), and lamb bolognese ($26).

Taqueria Don Pepe

4582 North Blackstone Ave, Fresno, CA 93726

Taqueria Don Pepe is a staple Mexican spot and absolutely one of the best places to eat in Fresno, California. They offer seafood plates like shrimp and fish tacos, Spanish tortas, super burritos, carne asada and marinated pork. There are super quesadillas with BBQ pork, beef tongue, tripe, chili verde, and other savory fillings. Try the tostadas with beef asada, ceviche, and buche buche. There are also enchiladas, super nachos, or combination plates. Taste the shrimp botana and octopus coctel, with mojo de ajo, diabla, fried fish, fish filet, veracruzana, and zarandeados. Sides include refried beans, avocado, sour cream, Mexican cheese, and all kinds of other toppings. Taqueria Don Pepe is amazingly affordable and delicious, so be sure to visit on your next trip to Fresno.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock.com.