The cuisine of California reflects the diverse culture of California and is influenced largely by European American , Hispanic American ( Mexican , Latin American , Spanish ), East Asian and Oceanian influences ( Japanese , Chinese , Korean , Filipino , Vietnamese , Thai , Hawaiian ), and Western European influences ( Italian , French , Portuguese ), as well as the food trends and traditions of larger American cuisine .
40-694: The El Cholo Spanish Cafe is a Los Angeles restaurant serving Mexican food . Founded in 1923, the restaurant is credited with the introduction of the burrito to the United States in the 1930s. The restaurant has expanded to a chain with six locations in Southern California . It celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. In 1923, Alejandro and Rosa Borquez opened the Sonora Cafe at Santa Barbara Avenue and Moneta Avenue in Exposition Park , near where
80-535: A large population of Salvadorans ( pupusas are stuffed tortillas from El Salvador ). "Fresh-Mex" or "Baja-style" Mexican food, which places an emphasis on fresh ingredients and sometimes seafood, inspired by Baja California fare, is popular. El Pollo Loco , a fast-food chain that originated in Northern Mexico, is a common sight. Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill , Baja Fresh , Wahoo's Fish Taco , Chronic Tacos , Chipotle , Qdoba and La Salsa are examples of
120-559: A mild Mediterranean climate , and includes a variety of microclimates , as well as health-conscious diets and lifestyles. In Northern California, with wine country nearby, French , Italian , and Mediterranean inspired food is prominent, as well as Asian-inspired fare. Many of the restaurants, cafes, bistros, and grills use ingredients sourced from local growers and farmers' markets . A unique sourdough-style bread has its origins in San Francisco. The California coast , especially
160-449: A second location at 1107 Western Avenue at the western edge of the city (now Koreatown ). In 1931, the restaurant moved across the street to its current location. When it opened, the restaurant advertised that it specialized in "Spanish food", which was a whitewashed euphemism for Mexican food. It is credited with the first restaurant-style burritos in U.S. El Cholo is considered a forerunner of other Mexican restaurants. Carmen Rocha,
200-400: A steakhouse that serves Italian-American food, which includes their noted dish Joe's Special . While gastropubs are not unique to California, the concept of the gourmet hamburger is very popular. California-style pizza focuses on non-traditional pizza ingredients, such as fresh produce and barbecued meats. First popularized by Wolfgang Puck's Spago restaurants, it was later brought to
240-453: A waitress at El Cholo, is credited with introducing nachos to Los Angeles in 1959. The dish – made of layered tortilla chips , melted cheddar cheese , and slices of jalapeno peppers – was a recipe learned in her native San Antonio, Texas . The Borquez family has roots in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora , and the food offered by the restaurant (e.g. enchiladas , tamales , albondigas , chile rellenos , refried beans ) reflects
280-479: Is a region of California , in the northern San Francisco Bay Area , known worldwide as a premier wine -growing region. The region is famed for its wineries , its cuisine , Michelin star restaurants, boutique hotels , luxury resorts , historic architecture , and culture. Viticulture and wine-making have been practiced in the region since the Spanish missionaries from Mission San Francisco Solano established
320-411: Is abundant. Sardines , oysters , and salmon were formerly major industries in the state, before declines in fish stocks. The Chinook salmon is native to California and are known to spawn in local rivers, however they are considered an endangered species in 2023. As one of the U.S. states nearest Asia and Oceania , and with long-standing Asian American and Oceanian American populations,
360-494: Is famous for the tri-tip , a special kind of beef cut that can be grilled, baked, braised, or roasted. California's barbecue style is also influenced by the styles of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, brought by Dust Bowl migrants. Chicken, beef ribs, sausages, and steaks are also grilled or smoked in a barbecue pit. The barbecue sauce used in this state is tomato-based, as with all other western states. Santa Maria barbecue , however, uses no sauce, relying instead on
400-539: Is generally regarded as the combined counties of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Solano, and western parts of Yolo County. These counties contain the following American Viticultural Areas (AVAs): The six-county North Coast AVA overlaps with the Wine Country as defined here and also includes Marin County. In addition, the names of the counties themselves are legal for use as appellation names. The earliest prehistory of
440-502: Is prevalent on the Wine Country valley floors. The Wine Country has undergone a boom in tourism. In 1975 there were only 25 Napa Valley wineries; today there are well over 800 wineries in Napa and Sonoma Counties. Tourists come to the region not only for wine tasting , but also for hiking , bicycling , hot air ballooning , and historic sites, as well as the extensive culinary choices. Numerous notable chefs and restaurateurs are present in
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#1732858291785480-469: Is very influential and popular in California, particularly Southern California. Commercial taquería -style Mexican fast food, consisting of offerings such as burritos , refried beans , tortas , tacos , nachos , and quesadillas , is widely popular. Taquerías can be found throughout California. Traditional Mexican food , while not as common as commercial food, is still widely prepared and abundant in
520-499: The Coliseum now stands. In 1925, a guest came into the restaurant and drew a caricature that he called a 'El cholo ' – at that time referring to " field hands " of the Spanish settlers . Alejandro liked the image and changed that name of the restaurant to "El Cholo" with the drawing becoming its mascot . Alejandro and Rosa's daughter Aurelia, and her husband George Salisbury, later opened
560-506: The Napa River as well as in the Laguna de Santa Rosa - not only in the mainstems, but in many of the tributaries. These investigations have demonstrated a historical decline in spawning and habitat value for these species, primarily due to sedimentation and secondarily to removal of riparian vegetation since the 19th century. A variety of salamanders , snakes and frogs are also present in
600-533: The North Coast and Central Coast regions, is a source of seafood , which is a staple in the California diet. California produces almost all of the country's almonds , apricots , dates , figs , kiwi fruit , nectarines , olives , pistachios , prunes , and walnuts . It leads in the production of avocados , grapes , lemons , melons , peaches , plums , and strawberries . This agricultural diversity of California's Central Valley provides fresh produce in
640-512: The 1960s in the Mission District of San Francisco, California. It features a large size, the inclusion of rice, and is often cooked on the flattop. Gourmet bakeries and makers that had their start in California include: Gourmet cheese and dairy companies and makers that had their start in California include: Gourmet chocolatiers and manufacturers that had their start in California include: Wine Country (California) Wine Country
680-551: The Baja-style Mexican-American food trend. Fusion cuisine is quite popular in California. The emphasis of California cuisine is on the use of fresh, local ingredients which are often acquired daily at farmers markets. Menus are changed to accommodate the availability of ingredients in season. Some restaurants create a new menu daily. California chef Wolfgang Puck is known as one of the pioneers of fusion cuisine, popularizing such dishes as Chinese chicken salad at
720-556: The United States, and has contributed greatly to Northern California’s growth and establishment as a wine producing region. A diversity of aquatic and terrestrial organisms populate the Wine Country and its riparian zones . Winter-run Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tsawytscha ), Delta smelt ( Hypomesus transpacificus ) and steelhead ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) are the most prominent fishes . Researchers have studied anadromous fish-movements extensively in Sonoma Creek and in
760-584: The Wine Country include Santa Rosa , Healdsburg , Sonoma , Kenwood , Petaluma , Sebastopol , Guerneville , Windsor , Geyserville , and Cloverdale in Sonoma County; Napa , Yountville , Rutherford , St. Helena and Calistoga in Napa County; and Hopland and Ukiah in Mendocino County. Wine is also an important part of the economy in nearby Lake , Solano , and Yolo counties. Wine Country
800-539: The Wine Country involves habitation by several Native American tribes from approximately 8000 BC. The principal tribes living in this region included the Pomo , Coast Miwok , Wappo and Patwin , whose early peoples practiced certain forms of agriculture , but probably not involving the cultivation of grapes. During the Mexican Colonial period and after, European settlers brought in more intensive agriculture to
840-562: The Wine Country, including Thomas Keller , John Ash , and Sondra Bernstein. Besides the obvious winery attractions, the Wine Country is known for the Sonoma County coastline along the Pacific Ocean , the Russian River valley, redwoods , hot spring baths, petrified forests and other natural areas. The Wine Country tourism boom has its downside, exemplified by traffic congestion on State Route 29 , particularly on summer weekends, when
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#1732858291785880-500: The Wine Country, including growing grapes and wine production. Some of the historical events that led to the establishment of California as a state transpired in the Wine Country. In particular, the town of Sonoma is known as the birthplace of American California. Agoston Haraszthy is credited as one of the forefathers of the California wine industry in Sonoma by his planting of grapes in
920-719: The Wine Country. The federally listed as threatened California red-legged frog is present in the northern reach draining the south slopes of Annadel State Park . Several endangered species (mostly associated with the Napa Sonoma Marsh ) present include Ridgway's rail ( Rallus obsoletus ), California black rail ( Laterallus jamaicensis ), California brown pelican ( Pelicanus occudentalis ), California freshwater shrimp ( Syncaris pacifica ), salt marsh harvest mouse ( Reithrodontomys raviventris ), Suisun shrew ( Sorex ornatus sinuosus ), Sacramento splittail ( Pogonichtys macrolepidotus ). The above are endangered species with
960-570: The birthplace of the French dip sandwich in 1908: Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet and Philippe the Original . The Hangtown fry, is a type of scrambled eggs made of a concoction of eggs, bacon, and oysters. It was a Gold Rush-era invention popularized in Placerville and San Francisco, and it was considered an expensive luxury. A Mission burrito is a type of burrito that first became popular during
1000-508: The classic drive-in and modern drive-through restaurants. Fast food restaurant chains such as McDonald's , Jack in the Box , In-N-Out Burger , Carl's Jr. , Wienerschnitzel , Del Taco , Taco Bell , Panda Express , Original Tommy's , Fatburger , The Habit , and Big Boy were all established in Southern California. Regional fast-food menus differ, generally depending on
1040-510: The community. Louis Zamperini used memories of the restaurant to keep up his spirits while being held at a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp . The restaurant has expanded to six locations in Southern California, starting in 1962 with its second location on Whittier Boulevard in La Habra . Cuisine of California#Latino and Hispanic influence The main trends were influenced by a combination of Mediterranean climate , geography and geology of
1080-688: The ethnic Mexican American border communities of San Diego , the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the San Francisco Bay Area , and in Mexican-American enclaves throughout California. Examples of these foods include tamales , tortillas , tostadas , mole , menudo , pozole , sopes , chile relleno and enchiladas . In addition to Mexican food, California restaurants serve up nearly every variation of Central American food there is. For example, pupuserías are common in areas with
1120-454: The ethnic composition of an area. In Southern California, smaller chains like The Hat feature hamburgers, Mexican food, chili fries, and pastrami . In Northern California, smaller chains like Gott's Roadside feature Niman Ranch hamburgers with toppings like avocado, ahi burgers, salads, and they have a full wine bar with many local varieties; and the local chain Original Joe's is
1160-559: The exception of the splittail, steelhead and black rail, which are federally designated as threatened. Upland ecosystems drained include mixed California oak woodland , chaparral and savannah woodland . In these upland reaches one finds plentiful black-tailed deer , coyote , skunk, raccoon, opossum, wild turkey , turkey vulture , red-tailed hawk and occasionally bobcat and mountain lion . Prominent higher elevation trees include: Coast live oak , Garry oak , Pacific madrone , California buckeye , Douglas fir , whereas valley oak
1200-695: The first vineyards in 1812. There are over 1,700 wineries in the North Bay (according to Alcoholic Beverage Control of California), mostly located in the area's valleys, including Napa Valley in Napa County , and the Sonoma Valley , Alexander Valley , Dry Creek Valley , Bennett Valley , and Russian River Valley in Sonoma County . Wine grapes are also grown at higher elevations, such as Atlas Peak and Mount Veeder AVAs . Cities and towns associated with
1240-452: The flavor of the tri-tip and the slow live-oak fire over which it is cooked. Pork baby back ribs are popular for barbecue in the Western region in comparison to the popular use of spare ribs in the United States. Southern California's car culture and the population's reliance on automobiles for transportation throughout California's vast cities, has widely contributed to the popularity of
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1280-578: The lower Arroyo Seco Creek watershed of Sonoma County. In 2017, many portions of California's Wine Country were heavily devastated by wildfires, including the October 2017 Northern California wildfires . Founded in 1880, the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology is the most famous and established school for research and education in winemaking in the Northern California region and
1320-614: The masses by restaurants such as California Pizza Kitchen . Carne asada fries are a Mexican-American dish originating in the Chicano community in San Diego. The dish typically consists of french fries , carne asada , guacamole , sour cream , and cheese . Cioppino is an Italian-American seafood stew invented in San Francisco. It often features crab, shrimp, clams and firm-fleshed fish cooked with herbs in olive oil and wine, with onions, garlic, tomatoes and sometimes other vegetables. It
1360-556: The region's proximity to the ocean, its movie roots in Hollywood , its technology roots in Silicon Valley and the Napa wine country , as well as its major produce production. California used to be part of Mexico which influenced the state's food. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats – many of them organic – are commonplace. Their prevalence is driven by the local climate, which is largely
1400-431: The regional cuisine. Items on the menu note their times of introduction (e.g. flour tortilla [1923], chile con carne [1923], nachos [1959], chimichangas [1967], crabmeat enchilada [1971], and filet mignon tacos [2009]). The restaurant is also known for its green tamales. Its proximity to Hollywood made the restaurant popular with those in the entertainment industry, though its clientele represented all parts of
1440-568: The restaurant Ma Maison in Los Angeles. His restaurant Chinois in Santa Monica was named after the term attributed to Richard Wing, who in the 1960s combined French and Chinese cooking at the former Imperial Dynasty restaurant in Hanford, California . Barbecue has been a part of California cuisine since Mexicans cooked beef in pit barbecues on ranches since the 1840s. Santa Maria, California,
1480-652: The state tends to adopt foods from those national styles. The American style of sushi possibly began in California; the term " California roll " is used to describe sushi with avocado as a primary ingredient. East Asian confectionery such as mochi ice cream and boba have gained popularity throughout California and the United States, with many establishments that produce them beginning in California. Because of California's mostly colonial European Spanish roots, Mexican territorial history, and its original population consisting of Meso-Americans , Spanish colonizers and Mexican ranchers , Mexican and Spanish-origin cuisine
1520-606: The state. With less than 1% of the total farmland in the US, the Central Valley produces 8% of the nation's agricultural output by value. Sunset , a lifestyle magazine of the West published in California, has featured recipes that have influenced the cuisine of California, including the promotion of outdoor eating. In Northern California and the Central Coastal region , Dungeness crab
1560-524: Was being served in San Francisco as early as 1910 and was popularized in the 1930s in Fisherman's Wharf . A French dip sandwich, or beef dip, is a hot sandwich consisting of thinly sliced roast beef on a "French roll" or baguette that is usually served plain, but a variation is to top with Swiss cheese, onions, and a dipping container of beef broth produced from the cooking process (termed au jus, "with juice"). Two Los Angeles restaurants have claimed to be
1600-516: Was said to be created by immigrants in San Francisco from Genoa in the late 1800s. It is a type of Buridda and may be related to the Bourride and Bouillabaisse . Crab Louie is a type of salad that prominently features crab meat. The recipe dates back to the early 1900s and originates on the West Coast of the United States. The exact origins of the dish are uncertain, but it is known that Crab Louie
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