What Fresno Bee food stories are the most popular?
The answer might surprise you.
Now that the year is more than half over, we decided to look at which stories were the most popular with subscribers.
Turns out you guys have Champagne tastes — at least when it comes to reading about food — even though we’re a city known for having more of a beer budget.
We’re talking about pageviews from subscribers only, something we look at to see what kinds of stories the people who fund our journalism like to read.
Of the top restaurant stories so far in 2026, four of them were about high-end places.
The No. 1 story was a poll asking readers to vote for the most high-end restaurant in Fresno.
To avoid redundancy, we rolled the follow-up story about the winner, Tabachines Cocina, into that spot too, since it ranked right up there anyway. We did the same for Horn Barbecue, which had two stories in the Top 10 (though it doesn’t fit the high-end label).
Stories about most expensive meals in Fresno and upscale restaurant Cracked Pepper adding breakfast and brunch also made the list.
Just missing the list at No. 11 was our story about the opening of Bulle, with the headline, “Caviar and a $45 cocktail. Take a tour of Fresno’s newest high-end restaurant.”
People like to read about high-end restaurants, apparently. Talk about them. Debate them. And see our photos and videos of inside — especially if they don’t plan on going there.
Many of these stories were accompanied by hearty conversations on social media about who can afford to eat at these restaurants and whether Fresno can support these businesses.
Another takeaway from the list of the top-read stories?
Subscribers like to read about closures.
Three of the stories on the list involved closing restaurants.
It’s a reminder that if you like a local business and want it to stick around, you need to support it.
When you look at the list of stories as a whole, one thing is clear: This town loves its local restaurants.
So keep eating. Keep reading. We’ll keep writing.
In the meantime, tell us what food or restaurant stories you would like to read about by emailing reporter Bethany Clough at bclough@fresnobee.com.
The Fresno Bee’s Top 10 food stories of the yearTabachines Cocina, the most high-end restaurant in town: Update: See who Fresnans say is the most high-end restaurant in Fresno, Clovis and Fresno’s ‘most high end restaurant’ and the childhood in Mexico that inspired it 
A plate of beer-battered Alaskan halibut tacos are photographed at Tabachines Cocina, located on the southwest corner of Herndon and Palm avenues in Fresno. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
2. Horn Barbecue: Horn BBQ is open. Here’s a look inside the famous chef’s first Fresno restaurant and Trouble at Fresno’s Horn Barbecue? Employees say they are going unpaid, quitting
Fresno native and acclaimed barbecue chef Matt Horn checks on barbecue meats on the smokers at Horn Barbecue on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
3. Another Fresno-area brewery closes. ‘I’m just sitting there by myself for hours’
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Mike Sumaya, left, and his wife Natalie Sumaya, own Incinerati Brewing Company. They are pictured in this Bee file photo from Oct. 1, 2019 in downtown Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
4. Owner of Annex Kitchen opening new style of restaurant in north Fresno
Strada, an Italian sandwich shop, is opening next to another of Jimmy Pardini’s restaurants, Annesso Pizzeria, in the Park Crossing shopping center at Friant Road and Audubon Drive. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
5. Four Fresno-area restaurants announced closures this month. What’s going on?
Take 3 x Grumpy Burger Lady’s is one of four restaurants that announced its closure in January of 2026. Owner Des Washington is pictured in this file photo from Dec. 11, 2024. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
6. This upscale Fresno restaurant is now serving brunch. So, what’s on the menu?
Fresh blackberries alongside Bread Pudding at Vatche Moukhtarian’s new Cracked Pepper Cafe, photographed Tuesday, March 10, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
7. This new Chinese restaurant in Fresno stems from love for food and family business
Alan Wong opened Dragon Wok, a fast casual Chinese restaurant that’s been in a soft opening stage since October 2005. The restaurant is located in the southeast corner of First and Herndon avenues. BRYANT-JON ANTEOLA banteola@fresnobee.com
8. With Casa Corona out of northwest Fresno, a new local Mexican restaurant moves in
A new restaurant is moving into the former Casa Corona at Bullard and West avenues. Papi’s Mex Grill will be opening its third location in the former Casa Corona this summer. Photographed Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
9. A $444 steak? What’s the most expensive meal at a Fresno-area restaurant?
The entrance to the new PM Lounge, shown Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
10. Long-vacant Fresno building finally has renter. When will Sierra Nut House open?
Sierra Nut House has signed a lease to move into the structure formerly the home of High Sierra Grill and before that, Tony Roma’s, at Bullard and West avenues. Photographed Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
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The Fresno Bee
Bethany Clough covers restaurants and retail for The Fresno Bee. A reporter for more than 20 years, she now works to answer readers’ questions about business openings, closings and other business news. She has a degree in journalism from Syracuse University and her last name is pronounced Cluff.