15 Must-Try Restaurants in Santa Rosa: Where the Santa Rosa Locals Eat

February 6, 2023 by Alison Bentley

Updated on March 26th, 2024

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Located in the heart of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, CA, has some of the best in the region. From wineries to local and fresh produce, there’s plenty to celebrate about the city, including its food scene. And if you’ve been living in Santa Rosa for some time, you probably have a favorite restaurant that embraces the region’s offerings. But if you’re new to the area or just rented an apartment in Santa Rosa, you might be looking for a few new restaurants to try. Redfin has a list of 15 must-try restaurants in Santa Rosa to check out. You might just find your go-to spot.

#1: El Coqui Puerto Rican

Cuisine: Puerto Rican restaurant
Address: 400 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
El Coqui Puerto Rican’s Website

Situated in downtown Santa Rosa, El Coqui Puerto Rican is a fabulous spot to have an authentic Puerto Rican meal. With dishes like tostones, mofongo, Cubano sandwiches, jibarito, and sautéed prawns, there’s plenty to try on their menu.

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#2: Thai House

Cuisine: Thai restaurant
Address: 525 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Thai House’s Website

Serving freshly-made Thai food, Thai House’s Santa Rosa location is another option to add to your list of must-visit restaurants. You’ll find their menu offering spring rolls, golden tofu, pumpkin curry, peanut noodles, and holy basil fried rice.

#3: Mac’s Deli & Cafe

Cuisine: Deli and diner
Address: 630 4th St Ste 630, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Mac’s Deli & Cafe’s Website

A Santa Rosa staple since 1952, Mac’s Deli & Cafe has a lot of options for anyone looking for a new spot to check out. With breakfast and lunch items like pancakes, waffles, omelettes, hot pastrami sandwiches, patty melts, turkey dip, and salads, there’s something for everyone.

#4: Belly Left Coast Kitchen & Taproom

Cuisine: Bar and New American restaurant
Address: 523 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Belly Left Coast Kitchen & Taproom’s Website

Situated in the heart of Santa Rosa, you can find a variety of dishes at Belly Left Coast Kitchen & Taproom – anything from bacon wrapped dates, chorizo brussels sprouts, and chicken kale Caesar salad, to pork belly banh mi, Baja fish tacos, craft cocktails, and beer on tap.

#5: The Naked Pig Cafe

Cuisine: Breakfast spot
Address: 544 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
The Naked Pig Cafe’s Website

If you’re looking for a breakfast spot focused on local produce and sustainability that serves frittatas, waffles, and sandwiches, be sure to have a meal at The Naked Pig Cafe.

#6: Lococo’s Cucina Rustica

Cuisine: Italian restaurant
Address: 117 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Lococo’s Cucina Rustica’s Website

Another one of the numerous restaurants in Santa Rosa you should consider grabbing a bite at is Lococo’s Cucina Rustica. An authentic Italian restaurant, you can find their location in the Railroad Square Historic District and offering items like gnocchi, tagliatelle Bolognese, and veal marsala.

#7: Dierk’s Parkside Cafe

Cuisine: Cafe and American restaurant
Address: 404 Santa Rosa Ave Ste 201, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Dierk’s Parkside Cafe’s Website

Dierk’s Parkside Cafe, located in the Burbank Gardens area, has some awesome options for those looking for a breakfast and lunch spot serving meals like cinnamon sugar pull-apart bread, corn-beef hash, biscuits and gravy, vegetable hash, and oatmeal.

#8: La Rosa Tequileria & Grille

Cuisine: Mexican restaurant
Address: 500 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
La Rosa Tequileria & Grille’s Website

You can find La Rosa Tequileria & Grille serving a great selection of fresh Mexican options like wild mushroom quesadillas, pork posole, shrimp tacos, veggie burritos, coconut mariscos, and sizzling fajitas.

#9: Omelette Express

Cuisine: Breakfast spot
Address: 112 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Omelette Express’ Website

Serving Santa Rosa for over 45 years, Omelette Express is a great breakfast place whether you want one of their 21 types of omelettes, avocado toast, eggs benedict, or a charbroiled burger.

#10: Stark’s Steak & Seafood

Cuisine: Steakhouse
Address: 521 Adams St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Stark’s Steak & Seafood’s Website

Stark’s Steak & Seafood is a casual-upscale restaurant serving sustainable seafood like crispy calamari, Maine lobster, and Atlantic salmon as well as USDA Prime Certified beef and grass fed beef with a variety of sides. And don’t skip their desserts like Mama Janne’s cream cheese pie.

#11: Bird & The Bottle

Cuisine: New American restaurant
Address: 1055 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Bird & The Bottle’s Website

If you’ve recently moved to Santa Rosa and are searching for a modern tavern incorporating cuisines from around the world, you can find that at Bird & The Bottle. There’s plenty to choose from on their menu – think everything spiced fries, fried chicken sliders, matzah ball soup, tacos and lettuce cups, and miso black cod.

#12: El Patio Mexican Restaurant

Cuisine: Mexican restaurant
Address: 901 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
El Patio Mexican Restaurant’s Website

El Patio Mexican Restaurant has some amazing Mexican food like burritos with fish, rice and beans, and shrimp, carnitas and carne asada tacos, enchiladas, and combo plates, as well as daily specials and all-day breakfast burritos.

#13: The Spinster Sisters

Cuisine: New American restaurant
Address: 401 S A St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
The Spinster Sisters’ Website

A New American restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, The Spinster Sisters is the perfect place to grab a bite in Santa Rosa. While their menu changes frequently, you can find fresh garden salads, burgers and oysters on the half shell, and local cheeses.

#14: Sunny’s BoBa & More

Cuisine: Bubble tea shop
Address: 519 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Sunny’s BoBa & More’s Website

Sunny’s BoBa & More is a fantastic spot to stop by and grab a bubble tea in Santa Rosa. With milk tea, ice tea, smoothies, and slushies, there’s something to cool you off on a sunny summer day.

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#15: Jojo Sushi

Cuisine: Sushi restaurant
Address: 645 4th St Ste A, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Jojo Sushi’s Website

The last spot on our must-try list of restaurants in Santa Rosa is Jojo Sushi, a sushi spot serving everything from tempura and udon, to sashimi, teriyaki, and ramen, you’ll always find something new to try on their menu. And don’t forget to order some green tea ice cream.

Learn more about Santa Rosa

8 Beautiful Places to Go In Santa Rosa That Locals Rave About

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Alison Bentley

Alison is part of the content marketing team and enjoys writing about housing affordability and home interior design ideas. Her dream home is a cottage-style house with a chef’s kitchen and a cozy room to store and play vinyl records.

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