Piedra
Piedra, CA · Food & Drink
The Fresno Bee
Why this restaurant's name is confusing people. Tacos El Gordo is now open in Fresno
The name of a new Fresno restaurant is causing some drivers to do a double take when they pass it. Tacos El Gordo opened in late September on Ashlan Avenue, next to Save Mart near Cedar Avenue. But it’s not that Tacos El Gordo. To explain, the Tacos El Gordo many people in central California are familiar with is the one that started in San Diego and has several locations in Las Vegas. One, on the Las Vegas Strip is open until 4 a.m. and has a huge rotating trompo in the window roasting meat for al pastor tacos. “That’s super popular,” customer Deron Walker of Fresno said. “There’s a lot of people (who) know it. It’s a whole experience.” Lines are separated by what meat customers want on their tacos . That’s not what opened in Fresno. Our Tacos El Gordo is a locally owned restaurant named after the owner who got the nickname El Gordo when he was working at all the Toledo’s Mexican Restaurants locations. Cashier Laura Contreras has fielded questions about the name. “We’re not associated with them at all,” she said. “I like to always say we’re better than them. That’s a strong statement, but
The Fresno Bee
Coffee pop-up getting permanent home in Fresno's Tower District; part of a larger renovation
A new coffee shop is headed for the Tower District — and Tower regulars may already have tried its coffee. Mirror Coffee , a pop-up shop operated by Katie Friesen for three years inside Moto Delicatessen & Bodega , plans to open a full cafe in the same building as the former Spokeasy bar that burned two years ago. The coffee shop is taking over the space on the opposite end of the building on Van Ness Avenue, which was once occupied by Jazzy’s Jeans N Things. Mirror Coffee is expected to be open by the end of the year or early next year. Friesen is a fixture on the Tower coffee scene. She started in the business at the Starbucks on Olive Avenue, worked at Gazebo Gardens’ coffee shop, and used to be part owner of the Revue before it became Component Coffee . She’s also the roaster for Alchemist Coffee Lab . The Spokeasy building The building in Van Ness Village, between Olive and McKinley avenues, is perhaps best known for the popular bar Spokeasy. The building had a fire two years ago and the bar has been slowly but steadily working toward reopening . It’s a similar
The Fresno Bee
Top stories: Snack recall. Valley election results. Is Starving Artist closed? Grocery tenant
Voters across five San Joaquin Valley counties cast ballots this week in races that will shape Sacramento and Washington representation, while north Fresno saw major shifts at the RiverView Shopping Center. A popular toddler snack sold nationwide was pulled from shelves over a choking hazard that federal regulators called potentially fatal. Here is a quick look at what readers followed most closely in The Fresno Bee this week. Here are top stories of the week: How did the Central Valley vote? See live 2026 election results across five counties — Voters in Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Madera and Merced counties cast ballots Tuesday in races for Congress, the California Legislature, county and city offices, school boards and local ballot measures. Unofficial results are being updated as county election officials continue counting. Vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day may be counted if received by Nov. 10, and counties must certify results by Dec. 3. Empty for years, a north Fresno grocery gets a new renter. Who is it? Why the delay? — After seven years sitting empty, the former Lassens Natural Foods & Vitamins space at the RiverView Shopping Center has a new tenant: Mulligan’s Sports Bar & Indoor Golf. The spot
fresnoland.org
Has Mike’s Grill changed? 17 years on, Fresno’s tri-tip sandwich master says no.
One of Fresno’s best sandwiches comes from one of its smallest restaurants. That was just one discovery from our recent search for the best tri-tip sandwich in Fresno. Mike’s Grill on Cedar just south of Herndon occupies a 150-square-foot kiosk that looks like a former Fotomat, and actually began as a Lehman’s Lock and Safe (and later became a Cingular Wireless). But for 17 years, they’ve been serving what some may consider Fresno’s best tri-tip sandwich.
The Fresno Bee
Coffee shop at Fresno's Campus Pointe adds something different. See the new store
Inside Look is a Fresno Bee series where we take readers behind the scenes at restaurants, new businesses, local landmarks and news stories. Running a coffee shop wasn’t enough. So Sumer Rasheed, co-owner of Collect Coffee Bar , decided to open a store next to her coffee shop at Campus Pointe at Fresno State selling some of her favorite things. And it’s not just a store. It’s an experience. Customers can go olive oil tasting. They can make their own perfumes and candles. Children can blow off steam in a kids play area while their parents shop or sip a latte. And more interactive features are coming soon. The store, called Zaytoona , will celebrate its grand opening from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m Saturday. If Zaytoona sounds familiar, it’s because Rasheed and her husband, Jamal Taha, used to run a store of the same name at River Park. It closed several years ago. Now it’s reopen — with some changes — and connected to neighboring business, Collect Coffee Bar, via an open archway. The play area for children with toys and a miniature kitchen is open to customers of either business. Rasheed and her husband bought Collect Coffee several
midvalleytimes.com
Exchange a ‘Pint for Pancakes’ at local blood centers
CENTRAL VALLEY – The Central California Blood Center is bringing back its second annual Pint for Pancakes campaign, partnering with Huckleberry’s and Black Bear Diner to give the community a delicious reason to donate blood this holiday season. From Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, all blood donors who...
familydestinationsguide.com
Merced Sun-Star
Dunkin' opens first Merced location. See what's on the menu, take a look inside
A new coffee shop has officially opened in Merced. After announcing plans to come to the city in October 2025, Dunkin’ is now serving coffee, doughnuts and breakfast items at a new location. Here’s where to find the new coffee shop — and what’s on the menu: Where is new coffee shop in Merced? Dunkin’ opened at 805 South Coffee St. in Merced’s Gateway Marketplace shopping center. The coffee shop is among the several businesses expected to join the retail development, including HomeGoods, TJ Maxx and Five Below. Costco Wholesale is also planning to relocate to the shopping center. What is Dunkin’? Dunkin’ is one of the largest coffee and doughnut chains in the country. The coffee company was founded in 1950 by William Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts. Since then, the chain has expanded to more than 14,000 locations worldwide . What’s on the menu at the new Dunkin’ in Merced? Dunkin’ is known for its coffee, doughnuts and breakfast offerings, with a menu that includes hot coffee , iced drinks, cold brew and espresso beverages. Customers can choose from a variety of flavors, including caramel, butter pecan and vanilla. Hot drinks are available in 12-ounce, 16-ounce and 20-ounce cups,
KMPH.com
Veteran-owned Dog Shack opens a new permanent location
FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The Dog Shack, which started as a food truck, has a new permanent location in Fresno. The Dog Shack held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday for its new permanent location inside the Fresno Zippy Mart on Herndon Avenue. The Dog Shack is known for their...
The Fresno Bee
Popular Indian grocery store is expanding with restaurant in Fresno. See where
A popular Indian grocery store is expanding in Fresno, bringing a taste of home closer to more local families. Shan-E-Punjab plans to soon open a second supermarket and restaurant in West Fresno. “While there are a few food markets and eateries nearby, we are eager to offer another quality option for residents in West Fresno,” store owner Satnam Singh said. On a recent weekday morning, Singh worked diligently at his office computer while steady waves of shoppers browsed the aisles of the store and restaurant patrons filled the dining area, surrounded by the warm aroma of traditional Indian curries. Here’s what local shoppers can expect at the new Shan-E-Punjab: How did Indian grocery store get its start? Shan-E-Punjab is dedicated to bringing authentic Punjabi flavors to the Central Valley through “home-style cooking and warm hospitality,” the store said on its website. In addition to a South Asian market stocked with “a wide selection of spices, staples and specialty products,” Shan-E-Punjab features an on-site restaurant serving “fresh, flavorful dishes” such as lentil curries, tandoori chicken and samosa, store representatives said. What began as a passion for traditional cuisine has grown into a trusted market and dining staple. Singh’s father, Sukhdev Singh,
The Fresno Bee
5 ways to enjoy Fresno's Taco Truck Throwdown 15 at Chukchansi Park this weekend
Expect downtown Fresno to be crowded this Saturday night as Taco Truck Throwdown 15 , a celebration of Fresno’s food scene, returns to Chukchansi Park. Here are five ways to enjoy the event: With an open mind This year, 22 competitors are going head-to-head to compete for two prizes: the Judge’s Choice Award and the People’s Choice Award. Between 12,000 and 15,000 people attend the Taco Truck Throwdown every year. Mike Osegueda, the founder of Street Eats and organizer of the Taco Truck Throwdown, said that a lot of previous years’ winners are now judging the competition, which means there’s room for some new blood to claim the crown. “Odds are, we’re going to have some new champions,” Osegueda said. “The field seems wide open.” The food trucks owners each choose what they think is the best taco to represent their food, which means that all sorts of tacos will be available Saturday. “Some people will get a little more adventurous sometimes,” Osegueda said. “It is up to the truck to showcase what it is that they do well. You give us what you think your best thing is.” The full list of competitors is here. With a michelada Tacos
shsclarion.net
Fair Food Favorites: Worth the Hype?
As the Selma FFA students migrated to the Big Fresno Fair this year, we found ourselves surviving off of overpriced fair foods, caffeine, and a dream. Now, don’t get me wrong, as much as I might complain, my Fair diet over the past two weeks was completely by choice. At the same time, me as well as the rest of the FFA show-team have reserved the right to give and take credit when due.
allamericanatlas.com
5 Best Restaurants in Clovis, California You Need to Try Before Everyone Else Finds Them
Clovis, California — a city where the Sierra foothills roll gentle and golden, where the air is sweet with the scent of orange blossoms and the laughter of families echoes from shaded porches. Here, the streets are stitched with memory and migration, from old-town brick facades to the new neighborhoods where dreamers plant roots. Clovis is a patchwork — of ranchers and teachers, of Hmong and Hispanic families, of students, artists, and old-timers who remember when the rodeo was the biggest show in town.
hoodline.com
Shan-E-Punjab Plans Second Fresno Store, Restaurant for West Clinton Avenue
Shan-E-Punjab, the Fresno grocery chain known for its South Asian market and attached restaurant, is opening a second location in West Fresno at 2811 West Clinton Ave. The Singh family, who run the business, have remodeled a 3,700-square-foot space that previously housed Indian Market, and they're aiming to bring dine-in and takeout dining, plus an outdoor patio, to a neighborhood the family says has long supported their original store.
The Fresno Bee
New Fresno food in October: Clovis matcha, Yemeni coffee, smashburgers and more
October loaded the Fresno food map with new openings worth lining up for — a Syrian-pastry cafe pulling 8,000 date lattes in two months, an L.A. matcha chain finally landing in Clovis, three Yemeni coffee shops expanding across town and the next move from the group behind Heirloom, Otherside and Saizon. Here’s the month at a glance, bookmark-ready. Rumi Coffee is the sleeper hit of the Northwood corner The foodie glow-up at Alluvial and Fresno Street is real. Rumi Coffee opened in July from the owner of Fabiano Coffee Roasters, serving Syrian baklava, tiny edible birds nests, fig labneh toast and lattes built around cardamom, rose water and orange blossom. The top seller: a golden date latte with date syrup that drinks like caramel. “I don’t think anyone else has a date latte in Fresno,” owner Hamed Alghazali said. The shop sold 8,000 in two months. Same corner: Dumpling U , the TikTok-viral soup dumpling spot that opened in January and still pulls crowds for its hand-folded xiao long bao and beef rolls. House of Kebab just added a Greek street-food section with slab-of-feta Greek salads, a no-bake “lazy cake” and hummus topped with filet mignon. Yemeni coffee is officially