Location: Chico
Top Restaurants in Chico
Most Popular Restaurants in Chico
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 86,187, reflecting an increase of 26,233 from the 59,954 counted in the 2000 Census. The city is a cultural, economic, and educational center of the northern Sacramento Valley and home to both California State University, Chico and Bidwell Park, the country's 26th largest municipal park and the 13th largest municipally-owned park. Bidwell Park makes up over 17% of the city.
Things to do in Chico
1. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Taproom
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 652 reviews
At the Sierra Nevada Taproom and Restaurant you’ll find the ultimate counterpart to our award winning ales and lagers. Stop by to sample one of our 19 beers on tap accompanied by artfully prepared gourmet meals and dishes made with local, seasonal, sustainable ingredients. From fresh produce grown in the Sierra Nevada Estate Garden and bread baked on site with spent brewer’s grain to artisanal meats, cheeses and our very own Sierra Nevada beef, you can expect only the highest quality and greatest taste from farm to table.
Reviewed By TomGauthier - Reno, Nevada
It had been many years since we last visited and the brewery had expanded ten-fold. But the main attraction remains Sierra Nevada brews. We discovered three new IPAs. Highly hopped beer is our favorite and SN did not disappoint. The gift facility is also nice, roomy and friendly.
2. 5th Street Steak House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 311 reviews
We are a locally owned neighborhood restaurant in Downtown Chico. We feature USDA Prime Beef, market fresh seafood, homemade desserts, extensive wine list and full bar. We have a banquet facility available for private events as well as outdoor patio seating (weather permitting).Please call us for more information or visit our website or facebook page.
Reviewed By Laura H - El Dorado Hills, California
We started with warm French bread and butter, then, a fresh organic spinach salad with cheese sprinkles and candied nuts. We also had prime rib with garlic butter mashed potatoes. The cabernet tasted perfect with the meal. For dessert we had a raspberry sorbet. Everything was delicious. The service was fast and attentive.
3. Nobby's Burgers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By 1hnorth1 - Chico, California
Nobby's has the best cheeseburger anywhere!!! The cheese is melted all the way around the outside of the burger too - it's kind of crispy & is oh so good! It's like a gourmet cheeseburger, but at a very reasonable price. Very small place, but worth it to wait & eat in your car if there's no seating available. We eat there almost weekly.
4. Leon Bistro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 121 reviews
One of Chico's finest dinner restaurants.Open for dinner Wed. through Sat. at 5 pm.
Reviewed By JoelZ195 - Chico, California
A wonderful restaurant to impress guests or celebrate a special occasion; and to highlight the local produce, game, and other delicacies of our region. In addition to a plethora of creative appetizers and salads, the main menu is perhaps the most expansive and distinctive in this part of California. In addition to fruits de mer (including but not limited to scallops, halibut, calamari preparations, and salmon), their steaks and lamb, as well as elk and rabbit are exceptional. A range of burgers and some exquisite soups top round out the menu. I highly recommend not over indulging early in the game; the desserts are creative works of art, and servings are adequate for two or three "normal" people. Leon's has been in this location for many years, and after my meal last night, I wish to formally apologize to the owner and chef, as well as the wait staff, for not frequenting this establishment more often. I promise to make amends in the coming year!
5. Crush
Overall Ratings
4 based on 195 reviews
Crush Dining Room and Lounge, a restaurant beyond any local experience, offering a unique combination of the traditional and the contemporary. Specializing in traditional Italian Flavors mixed with fresh, local, seasonal ingredients creates a vibrant menu of dishes that embrace the energy and atmosphere of the restaurant. The atmosphere is contemporary and chic with soft lighting and an oversized lounge that makes each guest feel like part of the excitement. Savor the fusion of market fresh foods to a wine list with over 100 selections guaranteed to meet the most discriminating palette. Come enjoy and treat yourself to an unforgettable dining experience.
Reviewed By Jerry C
Not the usual Italian, Italian menu. Entrees are quite varied from the classic ingredients and presentation. Our Caesar salad clearly not Italian – more like California Cuisine look/taste. The bruschetta plated with a lump of cheese with a few, small cooked tomatoes sitting on top of the lump for self-spreading on toasted Baggett slices. Bolognese with home made pasta sells the idea that its been cooked for 6 hours – unfortunately the pasta was as well. A tasty chicken dish with Italian name but unique look. Happy hour fills the restaurant with happy chatter, busy times and slow service. Wines not cheap. It’s Chico’s high end dining.
6. Mom's
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 115 reviews
Reviewed By jeft - Lake Oswego, Oregon
It appears designed to be a hangout for University students and their families adjacent to campus and in the downtown. It achieves this very well. Lots of very well prepared comfort food with something for everybody. Friendly and welcoming wait staff.
7. Morning Thunder Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 84 reviews
Reviewed By JoelZ195 - Chico, California
Forget Mel's Diner and those other retro chains. This is the real thing, down to the oval dining room, formica and nylon upholstered diner chairs, color scheme, and the full range of meal options. Many meals are available here, but I think that folks would tell you that this is the quintessential breakfast spot in Chico, though two or three other places also provide great a.m. experiences. The lines are impossible on the weekends, so go for a before-9 a.m. seating during the week. Service and seating were prompt and respectful; fast coffee; great selection on dishes, some full meals as low as $5.50 or up into the teens. I thought they were great, and will return.
8. Priya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 66 reviews
Reviewed By Welsh2 - Chico
Priya, like Cocodine, is one of those very special dining places. With so many average restaurants in Chico, here is somewhere you can get that special meal: Indian and very tasty. If you have family or friends visiting who are looking for a unique experience, try Priya.
9. Smokin' Moe's Barbecue
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 107 reviews
Reviewed By Judy B - Chico, California, United States
Love this place. Best bar-b-q around. Like, being back in the South. If You enjoy good Bar-B-Q Smoking' Mo's is the place to go. Just Say Mo's!
10. Red Tavern
Overall Ratings
4 based on 109 reviews
Based on influences from all over the world, the Red Tavern menu is renewed every season. Our cuisine is New American and we utilize the freshest, locally-grown, seasonal and organic produce and meats. Our dining room is upscale, yet comfortable and charming. Our large patio is absolutely stunning. It features a bocce court, twinkling lights, and mature trees. We offer an extensive wine list, which is balanced with New and Old World wines from both largely-popular wineries to small, interesting boutiques. We offer over one hundred selections at any given time to include wines locally-produced. Our talented bartenders create exciting signature cocktails based on classic recipes but often with a twist while utilizing seasonal fruit, vegetables and herbs. Come to Red Tavern to dine, drink and play.
Reviewed By Mike O - St. Helena, California
Five old guys from Chico State met to reconnect and catch up. To cap the evening we needed a restaurant that could accommodate us and enable us to yak, while satisfying our varied palates. I'd been to the Red Tavern on a couple of previous visits and concluded it would meet our specs. It most certainly did, from the comfortable seating on the patio to the charming and efficient service to the excellent fare. Zero complaints, and all agreed we had made the right choice.
