{"id":415156,"date":"2026-07-28T13:20:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T13:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/415156\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T13:20:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T13:20:18","slug":"fresno-loves-talking-about-high-end-dining-top-food-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/415156\/","title":{"rendered":"Fresno loves talking about high-end dining. Top food stories"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What Fresno Bee food stories are the most popular?<\/p>\n<p>The answer might surprise you.<\/p>\n<p>Now that the year is more than half over, we decided to look at which stories were the most popular with subscribers.<\/p>\n<p>Turns out you guys have Champagne tastes \u2014 at least when it comes to reading about food \u2014 even though we\u2019re a city known for having more of a beer budget.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n<p>Of the top restaurant stories so far in 2026, four of them were about high-end places.<\/p>\n<p>The No. 1 story was a poll asking readers to vote for the most high-end restaurant in Fresno.<\/p>\n<p>To avoid redundancy, we rolled the follow-up story about the winner, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tabachinescocina.com\/\">Tabachines Cocina<\/a>, into that spot too, since it ranked right up there anyway. We did the same for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hornbarbecue.com\/\">Horn Barbecue<\/a>, which had two stories in the Top 10 (though it doesn\u2019t fit the high-end label).<\/p>\n<p>Stories about most expensive meals in Fresno and upscale restaurant <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/crackedpepperbistro.com\/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=22859258636&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAqsP8KTVA7StLJciL5cC4zQITjynd&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwmozTBhAeEiwAkEGZzj7QUGTzaXtVaZUwMZOphCW-_rF8VjZYRQ6MD-GJqWswNtnBH_7zmBoCmrsQAvD_BwE\">Cracked Pepper<\/a> adding breakfast and brunch also made the list.<\/p>\n<p>Just missing the list at No. 11 was our story about the opening of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bullerestaurant.com\/\">Bulle<\/a>, with the headline, \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/bethany-clough\/article315409784.html#storylink=cpy\">Caviar and a $45 cocktail. Take a tour of Fresno\u2019s newest high-end restaurant<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>People like to read about high-end restaurants, apparently. Talk about them. Debate them. And see our photos and videos of inside \u2014 especially if they don\u2019t plan on going there.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Another takeaway from the list of the top-read stories?<\/p>\n<p>Subscribers like to read about closures.<\/p>\n<p>Three of the stories on the list involved closing restaurants.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a reminder that if you like a local business and want it to stick around, you need to support it.<\/p>\n<p>When you look at the list of stories as a whole, one thing is clear: This town loves its local restaurants.<\/p>\n<p>So keep eating. Keep reading. We\u2019ll keep writing.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, tell us what food or restaurant stories you would like to read about by emailing reporter Bethany Clough at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/mailto:bclough@fresnobee.com\">bclough@fresnobee.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Fresno Bee\u2019s Top 10 food stories of the yearTabachines Cocina, the most high-end restaurant in town: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/bethany-clough\/article315592278.html#storylink=cpy\">Update: See who Fresnans say is the most high-end restaurant in Fresno, Clovis<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/bethany-clough\/article315690334.html#storylink=cpy\">Fresno\u2019s \u2018most high end restaurant\u2019 and the childhood in Mexico that inspired it<\/a>                                          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FRS_Tabachines_2.JPG\"   width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" title=\"FRS_Tabachines_2.JPG\" alt=\"A plate of beer-battered halibut tacos are photographed at Tabachines Cocina, located on the southwest corner of Herndon and Palm in Fresno, which has been voted in a poll by Fresno Bee readers as the highest-end restaurant in town.\"\/>                                                                                    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                                                                                        <\/p>\n<p>2. Horn Barbecue: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/article314407755.html#storylink=cpy\">Horn BBQ is open. Here\u2019s a look inside the famous chef\u2019s first Fresno restaurant<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/bethany-clough\/article315028361.html#storylink=cpy\">Trouble at Fresno\u2019s Horn Barbecue? Employees say they are going unpaid, quitting<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                                          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FRS_horn_bbq_002.JPG\"   width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" title=\"FRS_horn_bbq_002.JPG\" alt=\"Fresno native and acclaimed barbecue chef Matt Horn checks on barbecue meats on the smokers at Horn Barbecue on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.\"\/>                                                                                    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                                                                                        <\/p>\n<p>3. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/bethany-clough\/article315438396.html#storylink=cpy\">Another Fresno-area brewery closes. \u2018I\u2019m just sitting there by myself for hours\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                                          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FRS_EPZBEER_INCUBATOR03 (1).JPG\"   width=\"1200\" height=\"819\" title=\"FRS_EPZBEER_INCUBATOR03 (1).JPG\" alt=\"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.\"\/>                                                                                    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                                                                                        <\/p>\n<p>4. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/bethany-clough\/article314809382.html#storylink=cpy\">Owner of Annex Kitchen opening new style of restaurant in north Fresno<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                                          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FRS_Strada2_02.JPG\"   width=\"1200\" height=\"731\" title=\"FRS_Strada2_02.JPG\" alt=\"Strada, an Italian-style sandwich shop, is opening next to another of Jimmy Pardini's restaurants, Annesso Pizzeria, in the Park Crossing shopping center at Friant and Audubon.\"\/>                                                                                    Strada, an Italian sandwich shop, is opening next to another of Jimmy Pardini&#8217;s restaurants, Annesso Pizzeria, in the Park Crossing shopping center at Friant Road and Audubon Drive.                                                                                            CRAIG KOHLRUSS                                                                            ckohlruss@fresnobee.com                                                                                        <\/p>\n<p>5. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/bethany-clough\/article314491873.html?link_source=ta_first_comment&amp;taid=697e063ac3f4e40001f6dbf4&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawTQpABwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWpOeTJSZlczaURkdkVEb1hzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe7-g1Ed9u41tJmE2a2x2KH7kseUu8PXMDI3bGLOqWZiR307fwGMcbgJ2X2wQ_aem_IZMYzbSBO9t8GbvTpi17jQ\">Four Fresno-area restaurants announced closures this month. What\u2019s going on?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                                          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FRS_EPZ_TAKE3_RETURNS_01.jpeg\"   width=\"1200\" height=\"811\" title=\"FRS_EPZ_TAKE3_RETURNS_01\" alt=\"Take 3 x Grumpy Burger Lady\u2019s 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.\"\/>                                                                                    Take 3 x Grumpy Burger Lady\u2019s 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                                                                                        <\/p>\n<p>6. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/bethany-clough\/article314986144.html#storylink=cpy\">This upscale Fresno restaurant is now serving brunch. So, what\u2019s on the menu?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                                          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FRS_EPZ_CRACKEDPEPPER_05.JPG\"   width=\"1200\" height=\"755\" title=\"FRS_EPZ_CRACKEDPEPPER_05.JPG\" alt=\"Fresh blackberries alongside Bread Pudding at Vatche Moukhtarian's new Cracked Pepper Cafe, photographed Tuesday, March 10, 2026 in Fresno.\"\/>                                                                                    Fresh blackberries alongside Bread Pudding at Vatche Moukhtarian&#8217;s new Cracked Pepper Cafe, photographed Tuesday, March 10, 2026 in Fresno.                                                                                            ERIC PAUL ZAMORA                                                                            ezamora@fresnobee.com                                                                                        <\/p>\n<p>7. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/article314239657.html#storylink=cpy\">This new Chinese restaurant in Fresno stems from love for food and family business<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                                          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_352_fitted.jpeg\"   width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" title=\"IMG_352_fitted.jpeg\" alt=\"Alan Wong opened Dragon Wok, a fast casual Chinese restaurant that\u2019s been in a soft opening stage since October 2005. The restaurant is located in the southeast corner of First and Herndon avenues.\"\/>                                                                                    Alan Wong opened Dragon Wok, a fast casual Chinese restaurant that\u2019s 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                                                                                        <\/p>\n<p>8. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/bethany-clough\/article314595641.html#storylink=cpy\">With Casa Corona out of northwest Fresno, a new local Mexican restaurant moves in<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                                          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FRS_EPZ_PAPIS_BULLARD_02.JPG\"   width=\"1200\" height=\"768\" title=\"FRS_EPZ_PAPIS_BULLARD_02.JPG\" alt=\"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 before this summer. Photographed Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 in Fresno.\"\/>                                                                                    A new restaurant is moving into the former Casa Corona at Bullard and West avenues. Papi&#8217;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                                                                                        <\/p>\n<p>9. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/bethany-clough\/article315661233.html#storylink=cpy\">A $444 steak? What\u2019s the most expensive meal at a Fresno-area restaurant?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                                          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FRS_EPZ_PMLOUNGE_INSIDE_02.JPG\"   width=\"1200\" height=\"747\" title=\"FRS_EPZ_PMLOUNGE_INSIDE_02.JPG\" alt=\"The entrance to the new PM Lounge, shown Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Fresno.\"\/>                                                                                    The entrance to the new PM Lounge, shown Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Fresno.                                                                                            ERIC PAUL ZAMORA                                                                            ezamora@fresnobee.com                                                                                        <\/p>\n<p>10. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"Follow nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/living\/food-drink\/bethany-clough\/article314188292.html#storylink=cpy\">Long-vacant Fresno building finally has renter. When will Sierra Nut House open?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                                          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FRS_EPZ_SIERRANUTHOUSE_02.JPG\"   width=\"1200\" height=\"725\" title=\"FRS_EPZ_SIERRANUTHOUSE_02.JPG\" alt=\"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.\"\/>                                                                                    Sierra Nut House has signed a lease to move into the structure formerly the home of High Sierra Grill and before that, Tony Roma&#8217;s, at Bullard and West avenues. Photographed Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 in Fresno.                                                                                            ERIC PAUL ZAMORA                                                                            ezamora@fresnobee.com<br \/>\n        Related Stories from  Fresno Bee<\/p>\n<p>                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/profile\/218450980\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/columnmug.jpg\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" alt=\"Profile Image of Bethany Clough\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n                    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>                <a class=\"author-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/profile\/218450980\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bethany Clough<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                    The Fresno Bee<\/p>\n<p>            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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What Fresno Bee food stories are the most popular? The answer might surprise you. Now that the year&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":415157,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[112,114,113],"class_list":["post-415156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fresno","tag-fresno","tag-fresno-headlines","tag-fresno-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=415156"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415156\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/415157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=415156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=415156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=415156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}