While Fresno may not have the fancy television studios or multimillion-dollar tech companies that can be found elsewhere in California, the flourishing farms surrounding this city—the fifth-largest in the state—provide a unique opportunity for the culinary and bar scene, including Latin American restaurants.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 50 percent of Fresno City's 545,567 residents are Latinos, a demographic scenario reflected in the abundance of Latino-influenced eateries, upscale restaurants, and food trucks throughout the area.
Mexican cuisine predictably dominates in virtually every neighborhood with an abundance of tacos and taquerías. However, an extensive array of other options is also available, many of them drawing inspiration from the flavors of South America and the Caribbean.
Here are some of the top Latin American restaurants in Fresno, California.
Top 5 Latin American Restaurants in Fresno, California
1. Peruvian Food Restaurant: Señor Ají
This renowned Latin American restaurant serves modern dishes inspired by traditional Peruvian cuisine, blending together different ethnic influences including Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, and African elements. The menu features the classics 'anticucho,' 'papas a la huancaína,' 'ceviche,' and 'seco de res', among other options.
Señor Ají (or 'Míster Pepper,' in Spanish) was founded in 2016 in the heart of the Central Valley in Fresno, California, by Lilian Arizola and his husband, Chef Mauricio Arizola, a former petroleum engineer who had grown up learning to cook from his mom.
- 6701 N. Milburn Ave. Suite 130, Fresno CA
2. Latin American Food Restaurant: Sabor Cocina Latina & Bar
After years juggling four combined jobs while harboring the dream of owning their own restaurant, Alberto Torres and Santos Arevalo made a significant decision in 2014. They resigned, sold their home and invested everything they had to open up Sabor.
The restaurant officially opened its doors in 2015 under the name SABORmx, paying homage to the Mexican cuisine they served. Alberto's mother, Doña Eva, was invited to join their kitchen team.
In 2020, five years later, the establishment underwent a transformation, adding a more diverse array of culinary offerings from across Latin America and the Caribbean. This evolution was influenced, in part, by Arevalo's familial connection to El Salvador. Sabor Cocina Latina & Bar now features highlights such as Peruvian Lomo Saltado, Mexican Chile Relleno, and 'Yuca Frita,' a popular Salvadorian dish.
- 7845 N. Palm Ave. Suite 104, Fresno, CA 93711
3. Brazilian Food Restaurant: Texas de Brazil
"Texas de Brazil began with a dream in Porto Alegre," explains this restaurant on its website. Used to the rancher's life and feasting in the rodizio style native to Brazil, one of the founders envisioned bringing the churrasco culture north to the United States. He wanted to share this unique way of dining in which guests indulge in a parade of meats and food market vegetables.
The restaurant was first established in Texas, a cattle state that seemed the perfect location for the "gaucho" cuisine, but it quickly expanded. It now has over 50 locations in the U.S. You can expect succulent steaks grilled to perfection as well as Brazil's signature cocktail, the Caipirinha.
- 7634 North Blackstone Avenue, Fresno, California
4. Mexican Food Restaurant: Sal's
The story of Sal Salazar's Mexican Restaurant dates back to the summer of 1942 when Sal, then a farm worker, decided to shift from peach picking to realizing his dream of selling tacos and other Mexican dishes to local workers.
Over time, the venture evolved into a popular family restaurant renowned for its authentic Mexican cuisine. Today, his children carry on the tradition, maintaining the quality and authenticity by serving classic Mexican dishes with the finest ingredients in California.
- 7476 N Fresno St, Fresno, California
5. Mexican Food Restaurant: Carrillo's
Established in 2016, first in Clovis, Carrillo's restaurant is a Mexican eatery founded by a group of four siblings, guided by the wisdom and encouragement of their late beloved uncle, with whom they worked for over two decades.
Offering a warm and inviting atmosphere to both regulars and newcomers, Carrillo's embodies a genuine sense of family and community. The menu showcases specials such as tacos, enchiladas, and a distinctive deep-fried burrito, filled with beans, rice, cheese, and meat, topped with sauce, guacamole, and sour cream.
- 3761 N Hughes Ave, Fresno, California
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