Best Restaurants: Redding, CA
Expertise Provided By: Stephen Metzger
Moonstone Bistro
Specializing in locally grown and sustainable meats, seafood, and produce—as well as in not taking itself too seriously. Rotating seasonal menu. Also: event-themed fixed-price dinners—Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, winemakers’ special, and others.
Peter Chu’s Skyroom
Located at the Redding Airport, this is a longtime favorite of locals for quality Chinese (Mandarin) food. Try the Chef’s Special Prawns and the Broccoli with Cashews.
Vic’s Branding Iron
Just south of Redding in Cottonwood, Vic’s is the real McCoy. Local ranchers and cowboys fill up on pancakes and eggs, monster sandwiches, and steaks and prime rib while their cattle dogs wait in pick-ups in the parking lot adjacent to the stockyards.
Buz’s Crab Shack
Fresh fish in the northern nether reaches of the Central Valley? You betcha! Since 1968, in fact—fresh fish flown in regularly. Fish and chips, clam chowder, cod, salmon, Dungeness crab (in season). Also a huge fish market.
Senor Rosa’s
Delicious Mexican food served in a little roadside taqueria. Particularly good quesadillas and steak tacos. There might be a bit of a wait—each dish, including chips, is cooked to order—but it’ll be worth it.