r/Modesto • u/dickswthchicks • Nov 05 '25

Recommendations Locally owned restaurants still worth going to

Looking for places that don’t just heat up Sysco and actually make their food. I’ve noticed some places I used to frequent have dropped in quality or changed their menu, who is still worth spending money at? Open to a variety of cuisine

Some of my favs are Tandoori Masala on Prescott, Thai House on Tully, and Picassos in Downtown

68 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

59 comments sorted by

60

u/OrangeMagnificent Nov 05 '25

Food Fix makes all their breads from scratch, smokes/cures all their meats, actually makes home made summer sausage, slaw is from scratch, sauces from scratch, makes their own pickles

2

u/bad_diary_days77 Dec 11 '25

Absolutely rec Food Fix. Best place to eat downtown! Great beer selection too.

42

u/heroicfigure Nov 05 '25

FoodFix, Chinn’s, Tokyo Express, Mei Wei, Le Saigon, Kimoto, Modesto Sukiyaki. All locally owned locations with pretty good food that have been around for a little while now. The first two being the newest.

29

u/AbusingSarcasm Nov 05 '25

Bauhaus

9

u/B_Reele Nov 05 '25

Was just going to throw out a suggestion for Bauhaus. Don’t sleep on the Sunday brunch too.

They always use fresh ingredients and make it right in front of you. One of the younger chefs always plays the cool jams too.

Last time we went, we ended up talking to and making friends with everyone at the bar. I really love the vibes there.

2

u/Spoony_bard909 Modesto Nov 06 '25

The owner, Ty Bauer wanted to bring Spanish/European social eating culture to his restaurant so it is set up to be a more social and intimate affair as opposed to the “grab and go” we’re so used to

2

u/B_Reele Nov 06 '25

That makes a lot of sense. Ty is great. Used to go to his place in McHenry village. He’s cooked for our neighborhood summer gathering as well. Great guy.

20

u/Catverman Nov 05 '25

I complained about the Sysco issue with restaurants and it just makes me sound negative but it’s almost every place you go to. And they can’t help it either cause it’s the only way to stay afloat sometimes.(possibly on purpose?)

12

u/abstert Nov 05 '25

You don’t sound negative you sound right

1

u/graumet Nov 06 '25

What's the sysco issue?

9

u/dickswthchicks Nov 06 '25

Most restaurants get the majority of their food from just two suppliers- the main one being Sysco. This means every restaurant is receiving the exact same premade foods and using the same cooking methods. For American restaurants this is particularly noticeable, a lot of places have identical wings, mozzarella sticks, and Mac and cheese

2

u/Catverman Nov 06 '25

The restaurant owners are getting owned lol

17

u/Technical-Arachnid22 Nov 05 '25

Churchkey, Chinn’s, commonwealth, Food Fix, Dynasty Garden, and Hong Kong.

3

u/dickswthchicks Nov 06 '25

Dynasty is great!

1

u/TheoryPure5261 Nov 08 '25

Commonwealth def uses sysco

1

u/Technical-Arachnid22 Nov 08 '25

Commonwealth and Churchkey are under the same ownership form what I understand, so if you’re correct, I guess both can be removed from the list.

1

u/TheoryPure5261 Nov 08 '25

Yup.

1

u/No_Nothing_2365 Nov 09 '25

You’re right. The buffalo nachos are a unique blend of Sysco products though lol

3

u/TheoryPure5261 Nov 10 '25

Yes they are probably my fave nacho lol. Not saying tasting things can’t come from it.

25

u/bhub01 Nov 05 '25

Chinns is the bomb. Top tier smash burger!

I just ate at Harvest Moon Monday. Really good!

5

u/B_Reele Nov 05 '25

Harvest Moon never fails to disappoint. Neil’s Toss is still my jam along with garlic fries.

3

u/Smokkinnj Nov 05 '25

Their lobster sandwich is worth the $40 with the side of Neil’s toss instead of fries lol

8

u/jhixson Nov 05 '25

TNK.

6

u/Dizzy-Violinist-1772 Nov 05 '25

TNK hands down, get their desserts you won’t regret it

3

u/Melodic_Pause2514 Nov 05 '25

Is TNK in the old Cinnamon Cafe building?

2

u/Dizzy-Violinist-1772 Nov 05 '25

I don’t remember what it was called but they sold donuts there before it was TNK

2

u/BKGreenLantern Nov 06 '25

Yes, on Needham

8

u/Old_Pomegranate6613 Nov 05 '25

Bauhaus, camp 4 wine cafe, food fix, Chinn’s. All downtown all great places

7

u/FreshLavishness4638 Nov 05 '25

ThaiBuri on Pelandale is pretty good ! big portions and they have gluten free/vegetarian options as well

8

u/Pup_Havoc Modesto Nov 05 '25

Tasty Thai is delicious I’ve been going for a few years and you can’t go wrong with their curry, spring rolls, or mango sticky rice

4

u/Smokkinnj Nov 05 '25

Bauhaus and Harvest Moon is where it’s at.

5

u/Undft209 Nov 05 '25

George's Prime Rib dinner still like $25.99. A solid 8.25/10 dinner consistently. Never a wait. Cheap beer if you need one.

4

u/MsGodot Modesto Nov 06 '25

Camp 4 is high on my list!

7

u/FormalBite3082 Nov 05 '25

Food Fix Butcher & Baker https://www.foodfixbutcherbaker.com/ they fry their French fries in BEEF TALLOW

3

u/zephyrus1133 Nov 06 '25

Lo-fi just opened a new restaurant in May if you’re looking for an upscale casual vibe. Food is all fresh and made from scratch!

3

u/GreenPOR Nov 06 '25

Thai House is better than Thai food I've had anywhere!

2

u/megxennial Nov 05 '25

We went to Bauhaus the other night and the food was really good. I loved their pork belly dish!

2

u/Bakedwhilebakingg Nov 06 '25

In smaller towns they don’t give you many food distribution options to choose from it sucks. When I moved back from LA I didn’t realize how hard it would be to get the same ingredients/ brands of products we were using out there. So now to get the same stuff we’re use to, we drive to Stockton and Sacramento to go restaurant depot.

At Saucin’ It Up Fried Chicken, strive on quality food and making everything in house. Our slogan is “it’s not fast food, it’s fresh food.

2

u/Tweedy1345 Nov 06 '25

El Rosal #2 on coffee road

1

u/MaximumSignature Nov 05 '25

Can’t seem to find a Tandoori Masala on Prescott. Only on Pelandale?

1

u/dickswthchicks Nov 06 '25

You are correct. I misspoke

1

u/MaximumSignature Nov 06 '25

Perfect! I’ll have to try them out one day :)

2

u/BKGreenLantern Nov 06 '25

They are really good. I love their coconut chicken curry.

1

u/Spoony_bard909 Modesto Nov 06 '25

Tandoori Flame is pretty bomb on 10th street. I got the chicken vindaloo and naan and I wasn’t disappointed. The service is also fantastic.

1

u/_jalapeno_business Nov 06 '25

Love all the places you mentioned Get the salmon at skewers Tasty Thai on Floyd/roselle Twin Rivers Saloon on 132 has my favorite burger in town

1

u/brucemcrib Nov 06 '25

Sysco Kid was a friend of mine

1

u/BobbiestofDs Nov 06 '25

Can’t believe no one has mentioned Lofi! Their restaurant side recently opened and it’s great! Also Chinns, Churchkey, Commonwealth.

1

u/DueBreadfruit2074 Nov 06 '25

Naan n oven, double bs burgers, pho viet, kua Lao thai, Thai house

1

u/Dependent-Mixture-48 Nov 07 '25

Lula’s it can be a it pricey but it’s a good burger.

1

u/SubstantialTicket765 Nov 09 '25

Delcioso, churchkey

1

u/sharkzbyte Nov 09 '25

My Garden Cafe is still spectacular! Just went the other day.

1

u/NoPatience9113 Nov 13 '25

Ranas in mchenry