{"id":402989,"date":"2026-07-18T01:59:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T01:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/402989\/"},"modified":"2026-07-18T01:59:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T01:59:13","slug":"little-leaf-bar-restaurant-fresnos-top-french-fries-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/402989\/","title":{"rendered":"Little Leaf Bar & Restaurant: Fresno\u2019s top french fries spot"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Inside Look is a Fresno Bee series<\/a> where we take readers behind the scenes at restaurants, new businesses, local landmarks and news stories.<\/p>\n

Drive by the building in northwest Fresno and the sign on the building says Little Leaf Tea<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But inside there\u2019s a heck of a lot more than tea going on:<\/p>\n

A restaurant, a high-end whiskey bar, tea cocktails that are getting trendy in bigger cities and the best french fries in Fresno<\/a>, according to Fresno Bee readers who voted in our poll.<\/p>\n

Little Leaf Bar & Restaurant is a small spot, tucked between Kuppa Joy and D Hou Chinese restaurant at the northwest corner of Bullard and Palm avenues.<\/p>\n

It used to have the space on the corner that Kuppa Joy now occupies. But there seems to be some confusion about whether Little Leaf is still there ever since it left the corner space and consolidated the tea business into the restaurant and bar in 2022, said owner George Widjaja.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe regulars, people around here, they still know,\u201d he said. \u201cBut since we don\u2019t have the corner space anymore, a lot of people (go) \u2018Oh, I didn\u2019t know they were still there.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

So we figured it was the perfect time to delve into the surprising history of this spot \u2014 and tell you about those french fries.<\/p>\n

The best french fries in Fresno \"Kimchi Kimchi fries from Little Leaf Bar & Restaurant, photographed Wednesday, July 15, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com <\/p>\n

The menu has regular fries, garlic-Parmesan, truffle and Tokyo fries. Those last ones are topped with Japanese mayo, barbecue sauce and furikake<\/a> seasoning.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s the kimchi fries that are the star of the show here.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there is 10 people that come into the store, at least six or seven people are going to have the kimchi fries,\u201d Widjaja said.<\/p>\n

They are skinny shoestring fries topped with kimchi \u2014 a grilled pickled cabbage \u2014 and Sriracha mayo, a Korean gochujang aioli, furikake seasoning and green onions for $13. Customers can add the optional bulgogi, thinly sliced Korean-style beef, for an extra charge.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt bursts in your mouth,\u201d Widjaja said. \u201cIt has a spicy, sweet and creamy and a little lit picklish … flavor.\u201d<\/p>\n

The menu \"The The ramen burger is seen at George Widjaja’s Little Leaf Bar & Restaurant, photographed Wednesday, July 15, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com <\/p>\n

Little Leaf started as a tea spot in 2009. It sold, and still does sell, hot and cold drinks and loose-leaf tea.<\/p>\n

In 2013, the space next door was empty and Widjaja and his business partner decided to open a bar. But a bar needs food and they didn\u2019t want to do the same appetizers every bar does, he said.<\/p>\n

So they opened a vegetarian restaurant. It lasted about two weeks when it became clear that wasn\u2019t what customers wanted.<\/p>\n

They pivoted.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is something a little bit different,\u201d Widjaja said of the menu. \u201cWe don\u2019t do mozzarella sticks or onion rings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, it\u2019s \u201cmodern cuisine.\u201d Think American, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and more.<\/p>\n

His partner, friend and chef Stephen Moenadi died at age 26 of a heart condition a few years after the restaurant opened. Some of the more elaborate dishes left the menu with him, such as the coffee-crusted grilled pork loin.<\/p>\n

But the business continues its creative streak.<\/p>\n

One popular seller is the ramen burger. Its bun is made with ramen noodles formed into bun shape and served with a burger patty and a sunnyside up egg. And that beef bulgogi \u2014 available as a plate, burrito, taco or in a bowl \u2014 is the most popular seller.<\/p>\n

Little Leaf started serving lunch about three years ago.<\/p>\n

The bar \"George George Widjaja’s Little Leaf Bar & Restaurant at Palm and Bullard avenues was named as the source of the best fries in town. Photographed Wednesday, July 15, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com <\/p>\n

The bar with its dim lighting is usually on the quiet side.<\/p>\n

It specializes in high-end whiskeys, with more than 100 whiskeys and bourbons available.<\/p>\n

And there are tea-based cocktails.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s an apple-cran vodka drink, for example, made an organic cranberry apple tea mix and vodka.<\/p>\n

Although Little Leaf has been doing tea cocktails for years, the cocktails started getting popular<\/a> in Southern California and the Bay Area and on TikTok<\/a> a couple years ago.<\/p>\n

There are a handful of TVs, but Little Leaf isn\u2019t so much of a sports bar as a \u201cgolfer bar,\u201d Widjaja said.<\/p>\n

They get a lot of golfers as customers, he said.<\/p>\n

But really?<\/p>\n

\u201cMine is just a normal neighborhood bar and restaurant,\u201d Widjaja said.<\/p>\n

Details: Little Leaf is at 6011 N. Palm Ave. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Closed Sundays.<\/p>\n

\"George George Widjaja, owner of Little Leaf Bar & Restaurant, holds a plate of french fries at his fusion restaurant, bar and teahouse at Palm and Bullard avenues. Photographed Wednesday, July 15, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com \"George George Widjaja’s Little Leaf Bar & Restaurant offers a darkened, quiet atmosphere in Fresno. Photographed Wednesday, July 15, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com \"George George Widjaja’s Little Leaf Bar & Restaurant is located in the Opus I center at Palm and Bullard avenues. Photographed Wednesday, July 15, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com \"George George Widjaja’s Little Leaf Bar & Restaurant, shown Wednesday, July 15, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com \"George George Widjaja, owner of Little Leaf Bar & Restaurant, holds a plate of his kimchi fries, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
\n Related Stories from Fresno Bee<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Bethany Clough<\/a><\/p>\n

The Fresno Bee<\/p>\n

Bethany Clough covers restaurants and retail for The Fresno Bee. A reporter for more than 20 years, she now works to answer readers\u2019 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.\n <\/p>\n