The 10 Best Restaurants On Fresno's West Side

Right in the center of California lies the city of Fresno, the fifth largest city in the state and cultural hub of the Central San Joaquin Valley. With over 80 different nationalities represented, the city is home to some of the best cuisine each culture has to offer. On Fresno’s West Side alone, visitors will find a host of excellent dining options for authentic fare, including Chinese and Italian.

Diana's Restaurant

Restaurant, American, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern

Diana’s Restaurant is a small, friendly, family-owned place serving traditional Persian and Armenian cuisine. With delectable favorites like the koobideh, kebabs, and baklava that are all warm and freshly made, Diana’s has distinguished itself as the best place to go in Fresno for Persian and Armenian food. If you’re lucky, you might even get the chance to meet Diana herself. She’ll happily offer advice on the menu and her husband can give you tips on how to make your own baklava at home.

Triple A Burger

Right in the heart of the west side of Fresno, down the street from Edison High School, lies Triple A Burger, self-proclaimed ‘Home of the West Side Special.’ The popular West Side Special consists of a juicy quarter pound beef patty topped with a generous helping of pastrami, a split hot dog, a fried egg, lettuce, and tomatoes all between two soft hamburger buns. The special even includes crispy crinkle-cut fries and a drink. They also have a number of Asian-inspired dishes and a wide variety of ice cream and milkshakes, but the burgers are what this place is best known for.

Ding Ho Kitchen

Restaurant, Chinese

Many consider Ding Ho Kitchen to be the best Chinese take-out restaurant in all of Fresno thanks to its excellent service, fast cooking, and delicious food. The owners are friendly, and the authentic and plentiful Chinese food is great for family gatherings. Some of the most popular dishes are the Mongolian beef, the won ton soup, the pot stickers, and the orange chicken. They are open every day of the week, and if you call ahead, your food is usually ready within 15 minutes.

Parma Ristorante

Restaurant, Italian

If you are looking for an elegant restaurant with a romantic feel and authentic Italian cuisine, you need look no further than Parma Ristorante. Here, you can sit on the beautiful outdoor patio and enjoy fresh handmade pasta, cheese, breadsticks and wine. Visitors especially love to finish off their meals with the decadent chocolate mousse. The best part of dining at Parma is meeting the owner, Elena, who makes sure to talk to every guest and often provides people with little extras to go along with their meals.

La Kebrada Mexican Restaurant

Restaurant, Mexican, Seafood, Vegan

A small restaurant with a patio that transports you to another country, La Kebrada has become a favorite among Mexican food lovers in the area. With their juicy and tender fajitas, costillias con chile, pechuga de pollo (grilled chicken breast sautéed in a creamy sauce made with fresh garlic and cilantro), and homemade chile verde, people from everywhere know they can get some of the best authentic Mexican food at this restaurant. Everything is served with warm, handmade corn or flour tortillas, and they also serve many popular seafood dishes, along with vegetarian and vegan plates.

Rudy Jr's Chicken Man

Restaurant, American

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Although the outside might look a little shady, Rudy Jr’s Chicken Man is one place you do not want to miss. Chicken Man has become an authentic Fresno landmark. Rudy and his father have dedicated their lives to great food, drinks, and service. Their fried chicken, with its crispy outside and soft juicy inside, is unparalleled, and the tender ribs are also extremely popular. This restaurant is a little taste of the American South on the West Coast.

Al's Cafe

Cafe, Restaurant, Mexican, American

Nearly 20 years ago, Al Contreras opened Al’s Cafe in Fresno, introducing the city to many recipes from Mexico and his hometown located halfway between Mexico City and Guadalajara. Since then, it has grown in popularity thanks to its word-of-mouth reputation among loyal customers and travelers alike. The warm family atmosphere and enormous portions make it a local favorite for breakfast and lunch, and the tasty carne asada nachos, chile verde, and breakfast omelettes keep visitors coming back.

The Annex Kitchen

Restaurant, Italian, Contemporary

At The Annex Kitchen, Chef Jimmy Pardini has brought his rustic Italian cooking to a recently renovated family restaurant. His specialties are hand made pasta, wood fired pizza, wood grilled meats, and hand crafted cocktails. With its trendy decor, excellent service, and exceptional food, The Annex Kitchen is a fantastic place for dinner with friends. Using only fresh and in season ingredients, the restaurant’s pastas, pizzas, and meats are heralded by people both near and far.

Pete's Teriyaki House

Behind Tahoe Joe’s Steakhouse in northwest Fresno lies the hidden gem known as Pete’s Teriyaki, serving up delicious beef or chicken teriyaki and vegetable tempura six days a week. Many loyal customers come multiple times a week for the special fried chicken plate in particular, as it also comes with fluffy white rice and crispy vegetable tempura. The portion sizes are huge and the food is all cooked very fast, all for a great price! You can even get extra of their homemade sauce at a low price if you want to add more to your food or take it home.

Flower City Restaurant

Restaurant, Chinese

For over 15 years, Flower City Restaurant has been serving great quality authentic Chinese food to Fresno. Their soy-based sauces keep their dishes from ever being too oily, a common complaint with Chinese restaurants. It is a small quiet place located next to a barbershop, with a few tables where you can sit and dine. Even if your order to go, they will pack your boxes to the fullest. The service is quick and and the staff is friendly.

About the author

Catrina Pang

Catrina is an aspiring editor and recent graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles with degrees in both English and Psychology. Her passion for the written word is only matched by her love of adventure and trying new things. She enjoys volunteering, hiking, dancing, drawing, and making music videos in her free time, and her goal in life is to own a library like the one in Beauty and the Beast. One day, she hopes to be able to travel to France so that she can practice her French and eat all of the delicious food.