Flame & Fire Bakersfield Best Restaurants

The Best Restaurants in Bakersfield

By Mei Chen

Bakersfield isn’t the kind of place that gets a lot of culinary hype. But after many meals in this city, I realized Bakersfield doesn’t need the hype. It’s got a food scene that knows exactly what it is—unpretentious, deeply satisfying, and unapologetically bold. Whether it’s a plate of smoky barbecue or farm-fresh creations that make you rethink carrots, the food here feels as real as the city itself. Here are restaurants that prove Bakersfield is worth every bite.

Flame & Fire Brazilian Steakhouse Bakersfield

1. Flame & Fire

Yes, Bakersfield has a Brazilian steakhouse, and yes, it's worth it. Flame & Fire Brazilian Steakhouse is where you go when you want to commit to the full experience: skewers of meat endlessly paraded around your table. Pro tip: go in hungry because they’re not shy with the portions. This is one place where gaucho pants wouldn’t feel out of place.

2. Zama Latin American Cuisine

Zama is where Bakersfield shows off its modern side. The décor feels like it was plucked from a trendy downtown, but the flavors are deeply rooted in Latin traditions. The Peruvian ceviche is tart and zesty, the kind of dish that wakes up your taste buds. Pair it with a mezcal cocktail that’s smokier than a campfire, and you’ve got a night out that’s both polished and fun.

3. Locale Farm to Table

Locale feels like it was built for Instagram, but don’t let the pretty plating fool you—this place is all about the flavors. The vegetables are so fresh they might still have dirt on them, and the dishes are a love letter to Bakersfield’s agricultural roots. Try the carrot soup, which somehow manages to make a root vegetable taste like a three-course meal. This is farm-to-table done right.

4. The Padre Hotel

The restaurant inside The Padre Hotel is where locals go to eat, drink, and admire how they’ve managed to make a building that’s over a century old feel hip again. The Brimstone Bar offers everything from craft cocktails to inventive small plates, and let’s just say, it’s a far cry from the cowboy steak and whiskey scene of yesteryear.

5. Vatos Tacos Grill & Cantina

The tacos at Vatos are little bundles of joy wrapped in handmade tortillas. The birria taco is juicy enough to require a napkin for every bite, and the shrimp taco has just the right kick to keep things interesting. Add a few margaritas—because of course you’re having margaritas—and you’ve got yourself a fiesta in taco form. It’s lively, loud, and exactly how tacos should be served.

Prime Time BBQ, Butcher Shop, & Catering Bakersfield

6. Prime Time BBQ

This is barbecue with a capital B, the kind of place where the smoke clings to your clothes long after you leave. Prime Time’s brisket is a revelation—tender, with just enough bark to keep you gnawing on the edges. They’ve got a butcher shop in-house, so you can take home your own stash of perfectly marbled meat, though it’s hard to imagine anyone leaving with leftovers.

7. Chef’s Choice Noodle Bar

When in doubt, noodles. Chef’s Choice has managed to perfect the casual, upscale balance without being, well, pretentious. It’s where you can tuck into a steaming bowl of pho or slurp down pad Thai without spending your whole paycheck, and the variety on the menu means you’ll never get bored.

8. Pho Hut

Pho Hut is a warm bowl of comfort on a Bakersfield evening. The broth is rich enough to feel indulgent but not heavy, and the noodles are springy and perfect for slurping. Add in some fresh herbs and jalapeños, and you’ve got a dish that feels like a hug in soup form. If you’re lucky, you’ll snag a spot near the window to watch Bakersfield’s low-key hustle go by while you eat.

9. Luigi’s

This family-run spot has been dishing out Italian comfort food since 1910. But it’s more than nostalgia that brings people back to Luigi’s Restaurant & Delicatessen—think homemade pasta, massive portions, and sandwiches that are just this side of divine. Grab a bottle of wine from the deli while you're there.

Don Perico Mexican Restaurant Bakersfield

10. Don Perico Mexican Grill & Bar

Don Perico is the kind of place where you’ll eat like you’ve been invited to a family reunion, if that family happens to make top-notch fajitas. The sizzling platters come out with a cloud of aroma that’ll make everyone in the restaurant turn and stare, and the margaritas are the size of a birdbath. It’s been around for decades, and it feels like everyone in Bakersfield has a story about a celebration here.

11. Donna Kaye's Cafe

Donna Kaye’s doesn’t try to be anything but what it is: the best breakfast spot in town. The biscuits are fluffy, the gravy is peppery, and the coffee comes in cups that never get below half-full. Order the chicken-fried steak, and you’ll feel like you just stepped into a Norman Rockwell painting. It’s simple, hearty, and exactly what you want when you’ve got a day of exploring Bakersfield ahead.

12. Noriega's

Eating at Noriega’s feels like stepping into a time capsule, but instead of dusty antiques, it’s full of Basque-style lamb stew and comfort food like chicken and waffles. The communal tables make you instant friends with strangers, and the family-style dining turns every meal into an event. This place is a Bakersfield institution, and for good reason—where else can you leave feeling like you’ve eaten an entire country’s worth of food?