The best restaurants in Chico, CA, according to local agent Kannon Christiansen, are 5th Street Steakhouse, Basque Norte, Farmers Brewing Co., Aztlan Mexican Restaurant and Ojiya Japanese Steakhouse. Chico also has a deep scene beyond those five, from Mexican food and pizza to burgers, sushi and Indian.
Kannon's top five
1. 5th Street Steakhouse, 345 W 5th St. My number one. An unbelievable environment, great service and top-tier food.
2. Basque Norte. The full experience of authentic Spanish-style food. Huge portions, great steaks, and simple food done very well.
3. Farmers Brewing Co., 1950 Market Place, Meriam Park. Great atmosphere and beer, and quality food for a brewery.
4. Aztlan Mexican Restaurant, Park Ave. An excellent Mexican grill with huge portions and great flavor.
5. Ojiya Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar. The original Chico experience. You can't beat the teppanyaki, and the food is good too.
These are my personal picks, not a ranking by ratings. More Chico restaurants are listed below.
Steak and fine dining
- 5th Street Steakhouse, 345 W 5th St. Fine dining.
- Basque Norte. Basque steakhouse.
- Crush. Italian and American, popular for date night.
- Lili's Brazilian Bistro, 140 Broadway St #142. Brazilian.
Mexican
- Aztlan Mexican Restaurant. Mexican grill on Park Ave.
- Tres Hombres. Mexican, with a patio.
- La Hacienda. Mexican.
- La Familia. Mexican.
- Sol Mexican Grill. Quick-service Mexican.
- Aca Taco. Known for burritos.
Pizza and Italian
- Grana. Italian and pizza.
- Franky's. Italian and pizza.
- Farm Star Pizza. Pizza.
- Sicilian Cafe. Italian and seafood.
Burgers and pubs
- Nobby's Burgers. Burgers.
- Burgers & Brew. Burgers and a bar.
- The Red Tavern. American.
- Farmers Brewing Co., 1950 Market Place. Taproom and restaurant at Meriam Park.
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Taproom. American food and craft beer.
Asian
- Priya. Indian.
- Cocodine. Thai.
- Ojiya Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar. Japanese.
- Big Tuna Sushi Bistro. Japanese and sushi.
More Chico favorites
- Meze Moon, 163 E 2nd St. Mediterranean.
- Wild Oak Café. Vegetarian.
How does food help you choose a Chico neighborhood?
Where you eat out most often should shape where you look. Downtown and the area around Chico State put many restaurants within walking distance. East Chico and North Chico have more drive-up and shopping-center options. Before you tour a home, eat nearby once and see how the area feels at dinner time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Mexican restaurants in Chico?
Aztlan, Tres Hombres, La Hacienda, La Familia, Sol Mexican Grill and Aca Taco are widely listed Chico Mexican restaurants.
Where can you get pizza in Chico?
Grana, Franky's and Farm Star Pizza all serve pizza, and Sicilian Cafe covers Italian dishes.
What is a good date night restaurant in Chico?
5th Street Steakhouse, Crush and Basque Norte are commonly recommended for date night.
Hours and menus change, so confirm before you go. Want a neighborhood recommendation based on where you like to eat? Call or text me at 707-672-6549. Happy to help. Listings compiled from public restaurant guides, October 2026.
Sources: