Heirloom is still the people’s restaurant. Saizon is back. And In-N-Out keeps beating everybody’s local burger.
The Fresno Chapter of the California Restaurant Association hosted hundreds of restaurants and guests from across the Central Valley Tuesday to honor local restaurant industry leaders and celebrate the best in the business.
The Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards, held at Table Mountain Casino Resort on Tuesday, March 24, honor the top restaurants, breweries, wineries and even food suppliers in more than 40 categories.
Heirloom had a big year and a repositioning. Last year they won Best Fast Casual. This year they didn’t win that category, but bounced back by sweeping Best Appetizers, Best American and the People’s Choice Award.
Saizon dominated fine dining, winning both Best Fine Dining and Best Outdoor Dining after coming up dry in last year’s awards.
In-N-Out won Best Burger, reclaiming the prize after losing out last year.
Ampersand Ice Cream flipped from winning Best Dessert last year to winning Best Hospitality this year, with La Boulangerie taking Dessert.
School House Restaurant & Tavern moved from Best Burger last year to Most Romantic.
It was also a family affair in the culinary awards: Mauricio Arizola of Señor Ají Peruvian Kitchen took home Chef of the Year, while Lilian Arizola claimed Rising Star — echoing the father-son Everk story that made headlines at the 2024 ceremony.
“The Best of the Valley is one of my favorite events because it highlights one of California’s most dynamic and diverse restaurant communities,” said Jot Condie, president and CEO of the California Restaurant Association.
The ceremony recognized Sam Toledo with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Hall of Fame inductees Bob Farrar and Franco and Virginia Paolilli.
Toledo opened his namesake restaurant in Fresno in 1991, and currently operates three Toledo’s Mexican Restaurant locations in Fresno. He began working professionally in restaurants not long after traveling alone from Mexico to the United States at age 14. Three generations of Toledos now work in the family restaurant business.
Hall of Fame inductee Farrar works as a Realtor, and is also a former multi-unit restaurant operator of more than 28 branded restaurant concepts. He also designed more than 300 commercial kitchens and is a former director of food services at Fresno State.
Franco and Virginia Paolilli opened Ovidio’s Ristorante Italiano in Fresno in 1979. Virginia comes from the restaurant family behind DiCicco’s, where Franco worked at the First Street and Shaw Avenue location after immigrating from Italy. Their son Rocco Paolilli owns and operates Ovidio’s, which recently celebrated its 45th anniversary.
For more than 30 years, the Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards has showcased the region’s dining scene by recognizing outstanding restaurants in various categories, according to a news release. Nominations for the 2026 awards, selected by fellow restaurateurs and the dining community, opened on Jan. 1.
Below are the winners in more than two dozen categories:
Best Fast Casual: Butterfish
Best Family Dining: Sal’s Mexican Restaurant
Best Fine Dining: Saizon
Best Watering Hole: Mad Duck Craft Brewery
Best Food Truck: Harry’s Mexican Grill
Best Banquet/Catering Services: Table Mountain Casino Resort
Best Hotel/Casino Dining: Table Mountain Casino Resort
Best Outdoor Dining: Saizon
Best Breakfast: The Train Depot
Best Pizza: The Annex Kitchen
Best Sushi: Tamari Robatayaki & Whisky Bar
Best Steak: 13 Prime Steak
Best Burger: In-N-Out
Best Deli: MOTO Delicatessen & Bodega
Best BBQ: Mega Texas BBQ
Best Bakery: YAVA Bakery
Best Seafood: Wassabi On Fire
Best Appetizers: Heirloom
Best Dessert: La Boulangerie
Best Local Winery: Toca Madera Winery
Best Local Coffee Shop: Otherside Cafe
Best Craft Cocktail: The Red Room
Best Local Brewery: Crow & Wolf Brewing Co. Taproom
Best Chinese: Four Seasons Chinese Restaurant
Best Japanese: Sakura Chaya
Best Italian: The Annex Kitchen
Best Mediterranean: Phoenician Garden Mediterranean Bar and Grill
Best Mexican: Toledo’s Mexican Restaurant
Best Indian: Indian Kebab Palace
Best American: Heirloom
Date Night (Most Romantic): School House Restaurant & Tavern
Best Hospitality: Ampersand Ice Cream
New on the Scene (Best Newcomer): Willow Osteria
Best Night Life: The Standard Restaurant & Nightclub
Beverage Supplier of the Year: High Desert Distributing
Supplier of the Year: US Foods
Chef of the Year: Mauricio Arizola (Señor Ají Peruvian Kitchen)
Restaurateur of the Year: David Wong
Rising Star: Lilian Arizola (Señor Ají)
People’s Choice Award: Heirloom