FresYes!

If you have been reading my blogs here at FresYes for a while, you know there are a few things I absolutely love to share with you: incredible local food, businesses that pour their heart into what they do, and traditions that bring our community together. As we head into Easter weekend, I wanted to shine a spotlight on a limited-time offering from one of our favorite local gems that perfectly combines all three.

Another brand-new business has opened its doors – this time, a classy new cocktail bar with a crisp lineup of both classic and modern cocktails, and superb aesthetics to accompany them. The Golden Hour opened on Valentine’s Day weekend to a full reservation list and has been going strong ever since.

There’s something about this point in the year that feels like a small turning of the corner. Even though we’re still in winter, the days are starting to stretch out just a bit. The sun hangs around longer in the evenings, the air feels a little lighter, and suddenly the idea of getting outside doesn’t sound so far-fetched.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so if you’re looking to make a reservation or book an experience, now’s the time! Fresno (and our nearby neighboring communities) really have some fantastic offerings for you to choose from this year, and I wanted to highlight a few of my personal favorites in time for you to score your spot.

Fresno Foodie friends, I am so excited to tell you all about the amazing restaurant a friend and I got to check out for the first time today. We have an amazing new xiao long bao spot of our very own to enjoy across from Target in the former Boston Market building on Bullard, between Blackstone and 41.

Award-winning pitmaster, Fresno native Matt Horn has officially opened Horn Barbecue at Cedar and Ashlan in the Granite Park Center, and I had the chance to get an early look and taste. Short version: this isn’t just another BBQ spot. This is destination-level barbecue, and it absolutely changes the conversation around smoked meats in the Central Valley. Before you even walk inside, there’s a moment. Out front, the bull statues immediately catch your eye and make for a killer photo op.

Friends, I have to say I think 2026 is going to be a great year for Fresno restaurants and eating well! The year has only just begun, and I already have a list forming in my phone of new places I am looking forward to trying. This week’s new find is Teriyaki Madness in Marketplace at El Paseo, near Herndon and 99. Fresno’s Teriyaki Madness opened December 19 as the first location in the city.

January in Fresno doesn’t ask for attention. It shows up cold, foggy, and a little slower than the rest of the year. The holidays are over. The calendar is blank again. And for generations, this has been the month Fresno gets back to work. It turns out, January has always mattered more here than most people realize. In January of 1965, Fresno experienced its first full month of life with Fulton Street closed to cars.

Another day, another lunch to be had, Fresno friends! Today I lucked out because my son was home from college and able to meet me for lunch. I wanted to try somewhere I had never eaten before, and this time, Harry’s Hen House was the destination. If you look Harry’s Hen House up on Google Maps, you might see a West Shaw address listed as temporarily closed. Don’t be deterred. Harry’s is very much open, just in a new northwest Fresno location inside the Save Mart shopping center at Bullard and West.

You may have noticed a pattern in my recent blog articles. I have fallen in love with shopping at vintage stores. While I enjoy thrifting and antiquing, vintage shopping is a special experience in and of itself. The offerings are typically curated, sometimes centered around specific eras or aesthetics, which means you are not digging endlessly to find something special. Prices also tend to land in a sweet spot.