Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Visalia area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Visalia area by diners
Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, French Laundry, unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chefs' tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Visalia area using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#24. Tahoe Joe's
- Rating: 2.7/5 (344 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4015 West Caldwell Ave. Visalia, California
- Categories: Steakhouses, Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#23. El Tarasco Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 2.8/5 (335 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 208 West Main St. Ste 9 Visalia, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Cool Hand Luke's
- Rating: 2.9/5 (372 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1470 Cherry Court Tulare, California
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Double LL Steakhouse & Saloon
- Rating: 2.9/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 401 East Center Ave. Visalia, California
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Gozen Japanese Restaurant
- Rating: 3.3/5 (542 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1115 West Caldwell Ave. Visalia, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Teppanyaki
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Fugazzis
- Rating: 3.4/5 (409 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 127 West Main St. Visalia, California
- Categories: Diners, American, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Tommy's Restaurant
- Rating: 3.4/5 (351 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 130 North Encina St. Visalia, California
- Categories: New American, Lounges, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Crawdaddy's
- Rating: 3.4/5 (399 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 333 East Main St. Visalia, California
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Howie and Sons Pizza
- Rating: 3.5/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2430 South Mooney Blvd. Visalia, California
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Strings Italian Cafe
- Rating: 3.5/5 (313 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1971 West Caldwell Ave. Visalia, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Bravo Farms Visalia
- Rating: 3.6/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 500 West Main St. Visalia, California
- Categories: Cheese Shops, Barbecue, Chocolatiers & Shops
- Read more on Yelp
#13. California Fish Grill
- Rating: 3.9/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2253 South Mooney Blvd. Visalia, California
- Categories: Seafood, Fish & Chips, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Brewbakers Brewing Company
- Rating: 3.9/5 (693 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 219 East Main St. Visalia, California
- Categories: American, Seafood, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Davorn's Place Lao - Thai Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (837 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 400 North Willis St. Visalia, California
- Categories: Laotian, Thai, Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Vintage Press
- Rating: 3.9/5 (581 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 216 North Willis St. Visalia, California
- Categories: American, Desserts, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Elderwood
- Rating: 4.0/5 (518 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 210 North Court St. Visalia, California
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. La Piazza Ristorante Italiano
- Rating: 4.0/5 (310 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1600 East Tulare Ave. Tulare, California
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Salles Café
- Rating: 4.0/5 (193 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2082 North J St. Tulare, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Thai Basil Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (352 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1423 East Noble Ave. Visalia, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Pita Kabob & Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (825 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 227 North Court St. Visalia, California
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Mediterranean, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Bistro Di Bufala
- Rating: 4.2/5 (478 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 208 West Main St. Visalia, California
- Categories: Mediterranean, Italian, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Braised Kitchen And Catering
- Rating: 4.3/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1323 East Prosperity Ave. Tulare, California
- Categories: Caterers, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Component Coffee Lab - Visalia
- Rating: 4.4/5 (600 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 513 East Center Ave. Visalia, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Korean Chili
- Rating: 4.4/5 (371 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2089 East Prosperity Ave. Tulare, California
- Categories: Korean, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
