Food & Drinks

Celebrating local flavors

This article was published on 10.11.18

Chico's already eclectic food scene is really growing. Mobile kitchens have rolled in to join the mix of restaurants, cafes and eateries, and an explosion of tap rooms and breweries has provided even more options for the discerning palate. Taking home a Best Of honor is more challenging than ever! This year, there are some noticeable upsets in Best Local Restaurant (Chico), Best Chef and Best Burger categories—plus, a newcomer on the scene came in and snagged the title for Best Craft Beer Selection. Cheers to all the restaurant owners, chefs, servers and brewers who make it so fun—and delicious!—to eat out.

Local restaurant – Chico

FIRST Place: Japanese Blossoms

2995 Esplanade, Ste. 104, 891-9022

SECOND Place: 5th Street Steakhouse

345 W. Fifth St., 891-6328

THIRD Place: Leon Bistro

817 Main St., 899-1105

Local restaurant – Oroville

FIRST Place: Safire

Gold Country Casino, 4020 Olive Highway, 538-4560 ext. 1324

SECOND Place: Tong Fong Low

2051 Robinson St., 533-1488

THIRD Place: Feather Falls Brewing Co.

3 Alverda Drive, Oroville, 533-3885

Local restaurant – on the Ridge

FIRST Place: Black Bear Diner

5791 Clark Road, 877-0877

SECOND Place: Mamma Celeste’s Gastropub & Pizzeria

5522 Skyway, 877-1190

THIRD Place: Casa de Paradiso

5667 Clark Road, 877-4107

New restaurant (opened in the last year)

FIRST Place: La Salles

229 Broadway, 487-7207

SECOND Place: OM Foods

142 Broadway, 965-5263

THIRD Place: The Lab Bar & Grill

250 Cohassett Road, Ste. 10, 894-5729

Food server

FIRST Place: Christina Souza

Kalico Kitchen, 2396 Esplanade, 343-3968

SECOND Place: Laura Baume

Japanese Blossoms, 2995 Esplanade, Ste. 104, 891-9022

THIRD Place: Ronnie Hartman,

Christian Michaels Ristorante, 192 E. Third St., 894-4005

Chef

FIRST Place: Jeramie Sabelman

Japanese Blossoms, 2995 Esplanade, Ste. 104, 891-9022

SECOND Place: Ann Leon

Leon Bistro, 817 Main St., 899-1105

THIRD Place: Caleb Jones

Red Tavern, 1250 Esplanade, 894-3463

Caterer

FIRST Place: Bacio Catering, Carry Out & Biz Box

1903 Park Ave., 345-7787

SECOND Place: Roots Catering & Restaurant

3221 Esplanade, 891-4500

THIRD Place: Special Times Catering

2500 Floral Ave., Ste. 10, 892-2837

Cheap eats

FIRST Place: La Comida

954 Mangrove Ave., 345-2254

SECOND Place: Gordo Burrito

1295 E. Eighth St., 809-1211

THIRD Place: Aca Taco

133 Broadway, 894-0191; and 1000 W. Sacramento Ave., Ste. D, 343-0909

Craft beer selection

FIRST Place: The Commons Social Empourium

2412 Park Ave., 774-2999

SECOND Place: The Chico Taproom

2201 Pillsbury Road, Ste. 114, 774-2943

THIRD Place: Sierra Nevada Taproom & Restaurant

1075 E. 20th St., 345-2739

Date-night dining

FIRST Place: Crush

201 Broadway, Ste. 200, 342-7000

SECOND Place: 5th Street Steakhouse

345 W. Fifth St., 891-6328

THIRD Place: Red Tavern

1250 Esplanade, 894-3463

Fine dining

FIRST Place: 5th Street Steakhouse

345 W. Fifth St., 891-6328

SECOND Place: Leon Bistro

817 Main St., 899-1105

THIRD Place: Red Tavern

1250 Esplanade, 894-3463

Kid-friendly dining

FIRST Place: Kalico Kitchen

2396 Esplanade, 343-3968

SECOND Place: Round Table

964 Mangrove Ave., 343-4254; 2201 Pillsbury Road, 891-1200; and 2027 Forest Ave., Ste. 20, 342-7265

THIRD Place: Hudson’s Gastropub

2760 Esplanade, Ste. 100, 636-4562

Patio

FIRST Place: The Pour House

855 East Ave., 893-3000

SECOND Place: Parkside Tap House

115 W. Third St., 636-4239

THIRD Place: La Salles

229 Broadway, 487-7207

Take-out

FIRST Place: Happy Garden

180 Cohasset Road, 893-2574

SECOND Place: Tong Fong Low

2072 E. 20th St., 898-1388

THIRD Place: La Hacienda

2635 Esplanade, 893-8270

Breakfast

FIRST Place: Cafe Coda

265 Humboldt Ave., 566-9476

SECOND Place: Sin of Cortez

2290 Esplanade, 879-9200

THIRD Place: Mom’s Restaurant

209 Salem St., 893-3447

Brunch

FIRST Place: Nash’s Restaurant

1717 Esplanade, 896-1147

SECOND Place: Cafe Coda

265 Humboldt Ave., 566-9476

THIRD Place: Mom’s Restaurant

209 Salem St., 893-3447

Lunch

FIRST Place: T. Tea Bar & Fusion Cafe

250 Vallombrosa Ave., Ste. 200, 895-8100; and 555 Flying V St., Ste. 1, 809-1545

SECOND Place: Broadway Heights California Cuisine

300 Broadway, 899-8075

THIRD Place: The Banshee

134 W. Second St., 895-9670

Small bites (apps/tapas)

FIRST Place: Wine Time

26 Lost Dutchman Drive, 899-9250

SECOND Place: Crush

201 Broadway, Ste. 200, 342-7000

THIRD Place: Christian Michaels Ristoranté

192 E. Third St., 894-4005

Munchies

FIRST Place: The Banshee

134 W. Second St., 895-9670

SECOND Place: Midnite Munchies Delivery

321-4511, midnite-munchies.com

THIRD Place: Aca Taco

133 Broadway, 894-0191; and 1000 W. Sacramento Ave., Ste. D, 343-0909

Bakery

FIRST Place: Upper Crust Bakery & Eatery

130 Main St., 895-3866

SECOND Place: Tin Roof Bakery and Cafe

627 Broadway, Ste. 170, 892-2893

THIRD Place: Lovely Layers Cakery

131 Meyers St., Ste. 120, 828-9931

Diner

FIRST Place: Cozy Diner

1695 Mangrove Ave., 895-1195

SECOND Place: Morning Thunder Cafe

352 Vallombrosa Ave., 342-9717

THIRD Place: The Roost Cafe

1144 Park Ave., 892-1281

Local coffee/tea house

FIRST Place: Naked Lounge

118 W. Second St.

SECOND Place: Bidwell Perk

664 E. First Ave., 899-1500

THIRD Place: T. Tea Bar & Fusion Cafe

250 Vallombrosa Ave., 895-8100; and 555 Flying V St., Ste. 1, 809-1545

Spot to satisfy your sweet tooth

FIRST Place: Shubert’s Ice Cream & Candy

178 E. Seventh St., 342-7163; and 1950 E. 20th St., Ste. C-203, 809-4151

SECOND Place: Upper Crust Bakery & Eatery

130 Main St., 895-3866

THIRD Place: Sweet Chico Confections

121 W. Third St., 332-9866

International cuisine

FIRST Place: Priya Indian Cusine

2574 Esplanade, 899-1055

SECOND Place: Cocodine Thai Cuisine

2485 Notre Dame Blvd., Ste. 250, 891-1800

THIRD Place: Inday’s Filipino Restaurant

1043 W. Eighth St., 520-2593

Asian cuisine

FIRST Place: Happy Garden

180 Cohasset Road, 893-2574

SECOND Place: Cocodine Thai Cuisine

2485 Notre Dame Blvd., 891-1800

THIRD Place: Tong Fong Low

2072 E. 20th St., 898-1388

Italian cuisine

FIRST Place: Italian Cottage

2234 Esplanade, 343-7000; and 2525 Dominic Drive, 342-7771

SECOND Place: Crush

201 Broadway, Ste. 200, 342-7000

THIRD Place: Sicilian Cafe

1020 Main St., 345-2233

Mexican cuisine

FIRST Place: Sol Mexican Grill

3269 Esplanade, 342-4616

SECOND Place: La Hacienda

2635 Esplanade, 893-8270

THIRD Place: Casa Ramos

2490 Fair St., 893-5050; 216 East Ave., 894-0119

Vegetarian cuisine

FIRST Place: OM Foods

142 Broadway, 965-5263

SECOND Place: T. Tea Bar & Fusion Cafe

250 Vallombrosa Ave., 895-8100; and 555 Flying V St., Ste. 1, 809-1545

THIRD Place: Live Life Juice Co.

220 Broadway, 566-3346

Street food

FIRST Place: Gordo Burrito

Eighth and Pine streets, 809-1211

SECOND Place: Drunken Dumpling Food Truck

Various locations, 282-2038

THIRD Place: Gnarly Deli

Various locations, 519-1488

Barbecue

FIRST Place: Smokin Mo’s BBQ

131 Broadway, 891-6677

SECOND Place: Kinders Meats & Deli

221 Normal Ave., 342-3354

THIRD Place: Uncle Skinny’s BBQ

300 Broadway, 570-4313

Burger

FIRST Place: Nobby’s

1444 Park Ave., 342-2285

SECOND Place: Burgers and Brew

301 Broadway, 879-9100

THIRD Place: Burger Hut

3211 Cohasset Road, 342-4555

Burrito

FIRST Place: Aca Taco

133 Broadway, 894-0191; and 1000 W. Sacramento Ave., Ste. D, 343-0909

SECOND Place: Gordo Burrito

1295 E. Eighth St., 809-1211

THIRD Place: Sol Mexican Grill

3269 Esplanade, 342-4616

Ice cream/ frozen yogurt

FIRST Place: Shubert’s Ice Cream & Candy

178 E. Seventh St., 342-7163; and 1950 E. 20th St., 809-4151

SECOND Place: Jon & Bon’s Yogurt Shoppe

300 Broadway, 899-9580; 1722 Mangrove Ave., 899-0484; and 2485 Notre Dame Blvd., Ste. 450, 965-5275

THIRD Place: La Flor de Michoacán Paletería y Nevería

1008 W. Sacramento Ave. Ste. C, 893-9999; 1354 East Ave., Ste. K, 774-2219; 668 Mangrove Ave., 774-2461

Lemonade

FIRST Place (tie): Fresh Twisted Café

156 Eaton Road, Ste. E, 809-2489

FIRST Place (tie): Sweet Cottage

513-2044

THIRD Place: Live Life Juice Co.

220 Broadway, 566-3346

Pho

FIRST Place: Pho C & C

3211 Cohasset Road, 892-1415

SECOND Place: Noodle House

605 Mangrove Ave., Ste. 130, 345-2022

THIRD Place: Vietnam Bistro

788 East Ave., 909-706-1258

Pizza

FIRST Place: Celestino’s

101 Salem St., Ste. V, 896-1234; and 1354 East Ave., Ste. V, 345-7700

SECOND Place: Farm Star Pizza

2359 Esplanade, 343-2056

THIRD Place: Woodstock’s Pizza

166 E. Second St., 893-1500

Place for poke

FIRST Place: Halo Hawaiian BBQ & Poke Bar

1354 East Ave., Ste. P, 592-3898

SECOND Place: Lucky Poke

119 W. Second St., 487-7048

THIRD Place: LemonShark Poké

501 Main St., 774-2976

Sandwich

FIRST Place: Spiteri’s Deli

971 East Ave., 891-4797

SECOND Place: Fast Eddie’s Sandwich Shop

1175 East Ave., 342-8555

THIRD Place: Ike’s Place

648 W. Fifth St., 924-3171

Sushi

FIRST Place: Japanese Blossoms

2995 Esplanade, Ste. 104, 891-9022

SECOND Place: The Rawbar

346 Broadway, 897-0626

THIRD Place: Big Tuna Sushi Bistro

1722 Mangrove Ave., 345-4571

Taco

FIRST Place: Aca Taco

133 Broadway, 894-0191; and 1000 W. Sacramento Ave., Ste. D, 343-0909

SECOND Place: Gordo Burrito

1295 E. Eighth St., 809-1211

THIRD Place: Sol Mexican Grill

3269 Esplanade, 342-4616

Local winery – regional (Butte/Glenn/Tehama)

FIRST Place: New Clairvaux Vineyard

26240 Seventh St., Vina, 839-2200

SECOND Place: Almendra Winery and Distillery

9275 Midway, Durham, 343-6893

THIRD Place: LaRocca Vineyards

12360 Doe Mill Road, Forest Ranch, 899-9463

Locally produced food – regional (Butte/Glenn/Tehama)

FIRST Place: Live Life Juice Co.

220 Broadway, 566-3346

SECOND Place: PipeVine Chocolate

pipevinechocolate.wixsite.com/chico

THIRD Place: Lundberg Family Farms

5311 Midway, Richvale, 538-3500

Local brewery – regional (Butte/Glenn/Tehama)

FIRST Place: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

1075 E. 20th St., 893-3520

SECOND Place: Secret Trail Brewing Co.

132 Meyers St., Ste. 120, 487-8151

THIRD Place: British Bulldog Brewery

892-8759