Local restaurants hit the spot

Indian Restaurants

Pizza Twist (735-B Texas Street): A pizza restaurant with traditional Indian twists of flavor, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. It is found in downtown Fairfield, next to Saffron Indian Cuisine, and it only takes about six minutes to get there from Armijo High School. It’s open from 11 am to 9 pm daily and they offer both dine-in and take-out. The food they offer is traditional pizza as well as Indian/fusion pizza and you have the option to create your own pizza. They also have halal pizza and plant-based pizzas. They have samosas, naan, pasta, cheesy bread, and wings. For dessert, they have a pizza brownie, a pizza cookie, and a tiramisu cup. The restaurant is rated very well at 4.6 stars. Prices are between $11 and $30.

Saffron Indian Cuisine (739 Texas Street): It’s only about a seven-minute walk from Armijo. It is closed Mondays, but it is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm. It’s rated 4.4 stars. They have dine-in and take-out. For appetizers, they have spicy chicken wings, chicken, fish, and vegetable pakoras and samosas. Appetizers are from $7 to $19. They serve lamb specials, vegetable specials, and chicken specials for entrees, all served mild, medium, or hot with rice. They also have seafood dishes served with rice, Thai specials, biryanis served with a side of raita, and tandoori. Entrees are from $15 to $31. They have soups, salads, and breads including naan. They also have yogurt shakes and chai Indian tea. For dessert, they have kulfi, kheer, ras malai, and gulab jamun.

Amar Indian Cuisine (1121 Texas Street): An Indian buffet found at the end of downtown Fairfield, across the street from Bank of America. They are open from 11 am to 9 pm daily and it only takes about twelve minutes to walk there. They serve rice, noodles, naan, other breads, curry, soups and salads, and chaat as well as appetizers such as samosa, pakora, tikka, lamb seekh kabab, and more. There are vegetarian and vegan options for a lot of foods. They have dine-in only, no take-out. The ratings are pretty good at 4.4 stars. Main meals and appetizers are $12.99 – $16.99 while breads, salads, and soups are $2.50 to $11.99.

Soul Food Restaurant

Chez Soul (711 Madison Avenue): After passing Alejandro’s Taqueria and Baja Ice Cream in downtown Fairfield, turn into Madison Street and keep walking until you see it. It’s rated 4.5 stars and only about a ten-minute walk. They offer both dine-in and take-out. They are closed Monday and Tuesday but are open from Wednesday-Friday 11 am to 7:30 pm; Saturdays they are open from noon to 7:30 pm; Sundays they are open from noon to 6:30 pm. Some of their popular foods include house salad, gumbo, pork chops, ribs, brisket, oxtails, deep-fried fish and chicken, oysters, and chicken thighs and legs. They also have chicken and waffles, meatloaf, jambalaya, shrimp, crawfish, snapper, catfish, hamburgers, and grilled chicken breast sandwiches. They also have cornbread. For desserts, they have pecan pie, peach cobbler with or without ice cream, vanilla ice cream, turtle cheesecake, cakes, sweet potato pie, and a few more. Their prices are from $11 to $30.

Thai Restaurants

Million Thai (825 Texas Street): Owned by a family from Thailand, this restaurant is found next to Mediterranean Food Center. They are open from 11 am to 9 pm Monday
through Saturday, and from noon to 8 pm on Sunday. They offer both dine-in and take-out and they are rated 4.5 stars. It’s about an eight-minute walk. For a select few appetizers and meals that are part of the lunch set menu, you can have one appetizer and one main meal for $12.99, but if you choose not to have an appetizer, your meal is $11.99. The foods that they offer include tofu, rolls, curry, soup, salad, garlic fish, chicken wings, calamari, pork belly, spicy seafood, pan-fried noodles, fried rice, eggplants, beef broccoli, garlic chicken, orange chicken, Thai bbq, salmon, and many more. Offered desserts include sticky rice with mango, sticky rice with ice cream, vanilla ice cream, or fried banana with ice cream. Their prices range from $11 to $30.

American Restaurants

Dave’s Giant Hamburger (1055 North Texas Street): If you exit through the parking lot near Sam Yeto, turn on Utah Street and follow that street until you reach Dave’s. It’s only about a four-minute walk from Armijo. Prices are between $3.50 and $8.95. They are open from 10 am to 6 pm and they offer both dine-in and take-out. Reviews rate Dave’s very well, it’s rated 4.6 stars. The food they offer is hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chili cheeseburgers, chili, and grilled cheese. While they don’t offer fries as a side because of economic reasons, they do have tater tots. For dessert, they have pies, ice cream, malts, and shakes. They have a lot of different flavors for shakes and malts such as strawberry, Oreo, vanilla, chocolate, peppermint, coffee, pumpkin spice, mango, and many more. I recommend getting a cheeseburger and a strawberry shake. Dave’s has been the go-to hamburger spot for people in Fairfield ever since it was first opened in 1963 by Dave Heim, who unfortunately passed away in December of 2006. However, his legacy still lives on through his restaurant owned by his daughter, Lesa Gonzalez.

IHOP (1601 North Texas Street): An American breakfast, lunch, and dinner restaurant, although it is primarily known for its breakfast. It is found across the street from CJ Fusion and it is in the same parking lot as Grocery Outlet and CVS. They are open from 7 am to 10 pm Monday through Thursday, and 7 am to midnight Friday and Saturday. It’s rated 3.9 stars and they have dine-in only. It’s a bit of a longer walk, at 16 minutes, but that’s not too bad. They have pancakes, crepes, omelets, breakfast and lunch burritos (either served in a burrito or on a plate), French toast, waffles, burgers, chicken sandwiches, melts, and many more. For desserts, they have milkshakes. Prices are between $11 and $30.

Monsoon Burger (321 Texas Street): An American burger place across the street from the Armijo tennis courts and Mandarin Restaurant. It’s open from 11 am to 9 pm daily and it’s only about a six-minute walk. It’s rated 4.5 stars and they offer both dine-in and takeout. They have appetizers and salads, gourmet poultry and garden burgers, gourmet burgers, hot dogs, fish & chicken, with root beer floats and milkshakes for desserts. Their normal sides are French fries or carrot sticks but you can upgrade to onion rings, whipped potato salad, curly fries, garlic fries, or sweet potato fries. Their prices are from $11 to $30.

Italian Restaurants

Evelyn’s Big Italian (704 Texas Street): An Italian restaurant in downtown Fairfield. They are open from 11 am to 10 pm and it’s only about a six-minute walk from Armijo.
They have full-sized pizzas or pizza sold by the slice, salads, chicken, seafood, gnocchi pastas including spaghetti, ravioli, tortellini, ziti, lasagna, and many more. They offer both dine-in and take-out. They are rated 4.3 stars. Their price range is from $11 to $30.

Three Restaurant (721 Texas Street): An Italian Restaurant in downtown Fairfield
across the street from Evelyn’s. They have live R&B music every Friday from 5 to 8 pm and they are open from 11 am to 8 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Friday and Saturday they are open from 11 am to 8:30 pm. They are closed on Mondays. Lunch is served from 11 am to 4 pm and they have an espresso bar with breakfast and pastries open from 11 am to 5 pm. Three Restaurant was recommended by Restaurant Guru in 2021. They serve burgers, sandwiches, chicken, and fish. They also have soups, salads, French fries, garlic bread, potato salad, and sweet potato fries as sides. They have desserts open starting at 11 am. Their desserts include cheesecake, brownies, gelato, and bread pudding. They only offer dine-in. The restaurant is rated 4.5 stars and it is about a 6-minute walk. Their prices are from $11 to $30.

Chinese Restaurants

Mandarin Restaurant (219-C Texas Street): A Chinese restaurant a little past Monsoon Burger and across the street from the Armijo tennis courts. It is closed Sunday and Monday but it is open from 11 am to 8 pm Tuesday-Friday, and 3 pm to 8 pm on Saturdays. It’s rated 4.3 stars and they offer both dine-in and take-out. They have vegetarian food such as Mixed Vegetables Deluxe (spicy) and other foods that contain tofu, bamboo shoots, broccoli, and mushrooms. They have many options for chicken such as boneless wings, orange chicken, and sesame chicken. They also have many spicy foods. They have pork, beef, seafood, rice, chow mein, and crispy noodles as well. It’s only about a six-minute walk to get there. Their prices are from $11 to $30.

China Palace Restaurant (715 Jackson Street): After passing Famous Creations, Million Thai, and Joe’s Buffet, you should turn onto Jackson Street and keep walking until you see it. It is rated 4.3 stars and it’s only about an eight-minute walk. They offer both dine-in and take-out. They are open from 11 am to 8 pm but they are closed Sundays. They have a lot of pork and chicken options as well as seafood, steak, and beef options. They also have soup, eggplant, squid, phoenix dragon, and scallops. They have chow mein, chow fun, egg foo yong, chop suey, vegetables, fried rice, and noodle soup.

Japanese Restaurants

Yo Sushi (1430 North Texas Street): A sushi restaurant across the street from Star Gas Station and in the parking lot of Smog King. It’s rated 4.4 stars and they offer both dine-in and take-out. It’s only about a nine-minute walk from Armijo. They are open from 11 am to 9 pm Monday-Thursday; Friday and Saturday they are open from 11 am to 9:30 pm. Sunday they’re open from 9 am to 9 pm. They have sushi, sashimi, nigiri, sunomono (Japanese cucumber salad), teriyaki bowls, katsu/tempura, rolls, and udon/donburi. Their prices are from $11 to $30.

CJ Fusion (201 Travis Blvd.): This restaurant offers Japanese food, Chinese food, chicken, seafood, sushi, and soup. It’s about nine minutes from Armijo. They offer both dine-in and take-out and they are rated 4.2 stars. They mostly have rolls but also offer a bento box, sashimi, and Chinese dishes served with rice. They are open from 11 am to 9 pm Wednesdays through Mondays, but they are closed on Tuesdays. It’s across the street from IHOP and Grocery Outlet. The price range is between $11 and $30.

Mexican Restaurants

Taqueria Los Alteños (1127 North Texas Street): A Mexican restaurant found next to Dave’s. They have asada and pork chile verde plates, a breakfast burrito and a breakfast plate, nachos, caldo de res, tortas, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and even a salsa bar. They are open from 9 am to 6:40 pm daily. They offer both dine-in and takeout and it’s only about a five-minute walk. Prices range between $3.10 and $10.95. It’s rated fairly well at 4.3 stars.

Los Molcajetes Mobil Mexican Food (1313 North Texas Street): A food truck serving Mexican food in front of E-Z Tires. To get there, you would go the same way as you would to get to Dave’s. It’s only about a 12-minute walk. It’s open from 9 am to 1 am daily and it’s rated 3.8 stars. They have tacos, burritos, enchiladas, molcajetes, aguachiles, carne asada, and quesadillas. Their prices range from $11 to $30.

Guadalajara Fruit Bar (811 Texas Street): A Mexican dine-in and take-out restaurant across the street from Gordon’s Music and Sound, rated 4.4 stars. It is about a nine-minute walk from Armijo and open from 11 am to 7:30 pm Monday-Friday, Saturday 10 am to 7:30 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 7 pm. Their price range is under $10. They have tacos, tortas, burritos, platillos, mariscos, jugos naturales, flautas, quesadillas, nachos, carne asada fries, and tacos dorados. They also have a fruit bar with bionico, Mangonada Guadalajara, fresas con crema, diablito, pico de gallo, and raspados. They also have Mexican sodas. Their desserts include flan, tres leches cheesecake, and cheesecake.