America's farm-to-fork capital
Roughly a quarter of the nation's food is grown here — and you can taste it right at the source.
Top-rated local restaurants
Javi's Taco Shack
All Day Combos · Visalia
Kirkman's VIP Pizza
Build Your Own · Exeter
K Seoul Bowl
Rice Bowls · Visalia
Mz Glow's Kitchen
Tacos · Visalia
Fugazzis Visalia
Appetizers & Sides · Visalia
El Nuevo Tlaquepaque
Combination Plates · Exeter
Mikes Crazy Loaded Papas
Main Dishes · Dinuba
Willies Cafe
Burritos · Reedley
Featured local spots with their own websites & online ordering, top-rated first. Browse all 38 Central Valley restaurants & menus →
Straight from the source
Follow a blossom drive, taste America's oldest Port, and load up at roadside stands in the country's most productive farmland.
Fresno County Blossom Trail
A free, self-guided drive of roughly 60 miles through almond, stone-fruit and citrus orchards in full bloom — peaking late February to early March.
Madera Wine Trail
Nine family-run wineries in the Sierra foothills near Yosemite's gate — one of America's oldest grape regions, famous for award-winning Port-style wines.
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The "World's Fruit Basket"
Reedley and the surrounding towns grow ~99% of U.S. raisins. Load up on peaches, nectarines and nuts at U-pick farms and roadside stands.
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Almond Country
California grows about 80% of the world's almonds — nearly all from Valley orchards. Tour working ranches and taste fresh olive oil and nuts.
Farmers Markets
Peak-season produce, picked that morning, in Fresno, Clovis, Visalia, Bakersfield and the smaller ag towns year-round.
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Foothill & Delta Wine
From the Madera AVA to the historic old vines around Lodi at the Valley's northern edge, there's far more to California wine than the coast.
The Valley's many kitchens
Generations of immigrants — Basque, Hmong, Armenian, Mexican and Portuguese — have made this one of California's most delicious and diverse regions.
Basque · Bakersfield
Family-style feasts of soup, beans and lamb. Wool Growers (since 1954) and James Beard–honored Noriega's carry a sheepherding tradition dating to 1893.
Hmong · Fresno
Fresno has one of America's largest Hmong communities. Find papaya salad, Hmong sausage and sticky rice at bustling markets and family restaurants.
Armenian · Fresno
Rooted in 1880s immigration — shish kebab, lahmajoun and dolma, plus the 100-year-old Valley Lahvosh cracker-bread bakery downtown.
Portuguese · Turlock
Azorean dairy families brought Holy Ghost festas, sopas and sweet bread — celebrated each year at the San Joaquin Valley Portuguese Festival.
The Valley's craft beer scene
Revitalized downtowns have brought a wave of independent breweries and taprooms — many pouring within walking distance of dinner.
- Fresno — Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co. & Full Circle Brewing near Chukchansi Park
- Visalia — Brewbakers Brewing Company, known for its Sequoia Red
- Bakersfield — Temblor Brewing Company & Lengthwise Brewing
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Taste your way across the Valley
Follow a food trail or plan a farm-to-fork weekend built around the harvest.