The cuisine of California reflects the diverse culture of California and is influenced largely by European American, Hispanic American, East Asian and Oceanian influences, and Western European influences, as well as the food trends and traditions of larger American cuisine.
In-N-Out Burgers, doing business as In-N-Out Burger, is an American regional chain of fast food restaurants with locations primarily in California and to a lesser extent the Southwest from Oregon to Texas. It was founded in Baldwin Park, California, in 1948 by Harry (1913–1976) and Esther Snyder (1920–2006). The chain is headquartered in Irvine, California, and has expanded outside Southern California into the rest of California, as well as into Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, and Idaho, and is planning expansions into New Mexico and Tennessee. The current owner is Lynsi Snyder, the Snyders' only grandchild.
Captain Ds, LLC. is an American fast casual restaurant chain that specializes in seafood and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The chain was founded as Mr. D's Seafood and Hamburgers by Raymond L. Danner Sr. on August 15, 1969, in Donelson, Tennessee. The chain is currently owned by private-equity firm Centre Partners. Captain D's has more than 500 locations in the United States.
Landry's, Inc., is an American, privately owned, multi-brand dining, hospitality, entertainment, and gaming corporation headquartered in Houston, Texas. Landry's, Inc., owns and operates more than 600 restaurants, hotels, casinos, and entertainment destinations in 35 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The company also owns and operates numerous international locations. The company is owned by President & CEO Tilman Fertitta.
Rubio's Coastal Grill, formerly known as Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill and Rubio's Baja Grill, is an American fast casual "Fresh Mex" or "New Mex" restaurant chain specializing in Mexican food, with an emphasis on fish tacos. As of 2024, Rubio's operates, licenses, or franchises 86 restaurants in Arizona, California and Nevada. It previously had locations in Colorado, Florida and Utah. The chain announced store closings and a bankruptcy filing the same year with plans to sell itself to lenders. It is headquartered in Carlsbad, California.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, known also as L&L Drive-Inn or colloquially as L&L, is a Hawaii-themed franchise restaurant chain based in Honolulu, Hawaii, centered on the plate lunch.
Bob's Big Boy is a casual dining restaurant chain founded by Bob Wian in Southern California in 1936, originally named Bob's Pantry. The chain's signature product is the Big Boy hamburger, which Wian created six months after opening his original location. Slicing a bun into three slices and adding two hamburger patties, Wian is credited with creating the original double-decker hamburger.
Wahoo's Fish Taco is a U.S.-based restaurant chain that offers Mexican food mixed with Brazilian and Asian flavors. Categorized as a "fast casual restaurant", the quality and preparation time of its food is between that of a fast-food restaurant and a more formal restaurant. Wahoo's provides many vegetarian and some vegan options, such as tofu, banzai veggies and brown rice, and also provides a kids' meal menu. They serve wahoo fish in their tacos, as well as Mahi-mahi.
Seafood City is an American supermarket chain that specializes in Filipino food and products. It was founded in National City, California as Manila Seafood and is headquartered in Pomona, California. It has American locations in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, Texas, and Washington, and Canadian locations in Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba.
The Tadich Grill is an American seafood restaurant located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1849, it is the oldest running restaurant in California. Based in the Financial District, the restaurant is located at 240 California Street. The dining experience features Croatian-style cooking techniques that include grilling seafood over mesquite- and charcoal-broilers for varying flavor profiles and uniform broiling.
WCW Nitro Grill was an American professional wrestling-themed steakhouse owned by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) that opened on May 22, 1999 at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Paradise, Nevada. It was built at a cost of $2 million. Professional wrestlers frequented the restaurant when they were touring in Las Vegas. The restaurant hosted weekly watch parties for WCW Monday Nitro and WCW Thunder as well as occasional autograph signings with members of the WCW roster. It closed on September 30, 2000 just six months before most of WCW's holdings were sold to the World Wrestling Federation in 2001. The dining room was 16,000 square feet and could seat 350 people. After the Las Vegas location opened, there were tentative plans to open more Nitro Grills across the United States, although none were ever announced.
Island Pacific Supermarket, also known as Island Pacific Seafood Market, is a Filipino-American supermarket chain that operates 17 stores in California and Nevada. Headquartered in Walnut, California, the chain sells fresh seafood, meat, and produce, specializing in Filipino cuisine, though it also sells American staple foods.
La Salsa is a chain of fast-casual Tex Mex restaurants founded in Los Angeles, California in 1979, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona and is owned by Canadian franchisor MTY Food Group. The chain emphasizes fresh ingredients, and each restaurant features a self-serve salsa bar.
Slapfish is a fast casual seafood restaurant chain founded by Andrew Gruel. Headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, as of 2018 there are over 11 locations in the Southwestern United States, with new locations opening in other states including Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas.
SomiSomi Soft Serve & Taiyaki is an American chain of independently owned and operated franchised stores based in Los Angeles, California. They primarily serve Korean Bungeo-ppang paired with soft serve, known together as ah-boong.
Fatima's Grill is a restaurant specializing in Lebanese and Mexican fusion cuisine. First opened as a taco stand in 2016, its main location is presently located at 7840 Firestone Boulevard in Downey, California, part of the Gateway Cities region of Los Angeles County.
King's Seafood Company is a family-owned and operated restaurant and seafood distribution company based in Costa Mesa, California, with restaurants in California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Washington. The company's restaurants include Water Grill (7), King's Fish House (12), three steakhouses, and Pier Burger.
Dave's Hot Chicken is an American fast casual restaurant chain specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken.
Santa Monica Seafood is an American foodservice distribution company serving the Southwestern United States. It exclusively distributes seafood at a wholesale price and has ten physical stores.
