We regularly get asked about the best restaurants near Colfax, CA – and this list covers the essential spots you need to know in 2026.
The Local Café
$ | (530) 365-7438 | WEBSITE
The Local Café is a bakery pretending to be a coffee shop. Well, not exactly – but the avocado toast and the cookies are the standout items here. If you’re not in the mood for those, the freshly baked pastries are also quite good, and there are plenty of them available.
The avocado toast is essentially an elevated version of a breakfast classic, topped with a sliced hard-boiled egg, olive oil, micro greens, lemon juice, and bacon on thick seeded wheat French bread, and the cookies are ideal for when you’d like to end your meal with something sweet. Plus, you can enjoy your meal on one of the two large outdoor decks.
Dine n Dash Restaurant & Bar – Colfax
$ | (530) 346-1000 | WEBSITE
Dine n Dash is a pretty ideal local spot with very good, down-home food and an atmosphere similar to a casual gathering at a friend’s place (where there’s a cool vibe in the air). So if you haven’t been lately, you should head over to Colfax and remind yourself. Get some veggie scramble with fresh vegetables fried up with a couple eggs, or if you’re in the mood for something hearty, order a burger or club sandwich.
The space is clean and accessible, so be sure to enjoy the patio, and see if you can convince someone to join you for a meal.
Red Frog
$ | (530) 346-1010 | WEBSITE
Once upon a time, it was very difficult to find a decent spot in Colfax – and if you wanted to grab a satisfying cheeseburger with a cold brew, you had to settle for whatever was around. But now this place has been open for a while, and it’s the only bar in town. So it’s much easier to get a seat. Stop by with a friend, split some excellent fries before your burger arrives, and plan on taking in the nice view after you finish eating.
Snapdragon Provisions
$ | (530) 920-0804 | WEBSITE
Snapdragon Provisions is a newer spot, but it already gets busy. And there are two reasons for that: 1) the food is truly delightful, and 2) the space is pretty cozy. That’s why, even on a weekday morning, it can be tough to snag a table here. But it’s pretty easy to grab something to go, so go ahead and do that for breakfast or any other time you want some tea and pastries. Which is always, probably.
Il Pizzaiolo | Wood-Fired Pizza
$ | (530) 388-8412 | WEBSITE
If you have a neighborhood pizza spot, you want it to be like Il Pizzaiolo. It’s been a family favorite for years, and the dining room is cozy and clean like a trattoria. This place also serves reliably excellent things like wood-fired pizza and fresh salads. Along with its authentic Italian approach, Il Pizzaiolo basically wrote the playbook on how to make a genuine pizza experience in Colfax, and they’re still doing it better than all the imitators.
Shang Garden Chinese Restaurant
$ | WEBSITE
Shang Garden Chinese Restaurant is a bright, spacious place with very good Chinese food in Colfax. It’s also the only Chinese option within minutes. And for all of these reasons, it’s become very popular. Now it’s more of a reliable spot you use to feed a crowd when you don’t mind taking home ample leftovers. The dining room has a nice facility and a large parking lot, and – despite the fact that this place is no longer a hidden gem – the food is still very good.
The gigantic portions of beef with broccoli, hot & sour soup, orange chicken, and beef chow fun come in large styrofoam containers, and the friendly staff ensures a pleasant experience at reasonable prices.
Madi’s Mexicali Stop
$ | (530) 512-5069 | WEBSITE
Madi’s Mexicali Stop opened its doors in early 2025, meaning this is the rare roadside spot that’s definitely been praised by every traveler passing through Colfax since then. Since then, the place has maintained its momentum, and it’s easy to walk in and grab a table most days – which is something you should do. The hearty dishes like the pozole and Mom’s enchiladas are still exceptional, and the simple space tucked conveniently off the highway is perfect for a satisfying pit stop.
The friendly staff, affordable prices around $12-18 per entree, and that well-stocked salsa bar with fresh, delicious options make for an enjoyable meal, often with leftovers for later. Eating outside on pleasant days further enhances the experience.
T J’s Roadhouse
$ | (530) 346-1040 | WEBSITE
T J’s Roadhouse has been around for a while now, so it technically isn’t “new” – but it still gets busy just about every morning. They also don’t take reservations, so you might have to wait for a parking spot. This search might take anywhere from 5 minutes to 15 minutes, but there’s an option to park at the neighboring hotel, and a meal here is worth it.
The classic diner breakfast is both very good and reasonably priced, and you can get a $12 banana bread pudding with ice cream to go with your Teriyaki Swiss mushroom burger and pesto fries (both of which you need to order).
Taco Bell
$ | (530) 346-7528 | WEBSITE
You’ve probably been to Taco Bell. Maybe you even ate there years ago when it was just a drive-thru. If you haven’t stopped by recently, you should know that it’s still very, very efficient. The ordering kiosks are still a great way to start your meal, and the vegetarian options should be on your tray as well. And if you see the drive-thru line moving quickly, use it. Just be aware that this place still gets busy and doesn’t have table service.
That said, grabbing a quick bite on a Saturday afternoon no longer feels like a chaotic hassle (that smells a bit off).
McDonald’s
$ | (530) 346-6088 | WEBSITE
McDonald’s is like that reliable but also surprisingly decent and consistent place you hit after a string of disappointing fast-food joints: familiar, quick, not super fancy, and even pretty satisfying. The food at this Colfax spot is essentially American with some classic fast-food staples, so you’ll find items like the steak egg and cheese bagel, and the McDouble with no ketchup, extra pickles, and a soft serve cone. All of it is really convenient, and legitimately familiar.
Buzz Thru Joe’s
$ | (530) 346-7977 | WEBSITE
Buzz Thru Joe’s is a charming local spot ideal for any situation when you want delicious food and drinks in an un-fussy environment. This Colfax gem is a great alternative to larger chains, but Buzz Thru Joe’s is still the most special of the local options. Bring the kids or make it a road trip pit stop, and enjoy treats like the grilled pork sandwich called Bahn Mi and the caramel buzz freeze with chunks of toffee.
It gets pretty busy here on weekends, but weekday visits are easy to manage, and you can usually get through the drive-through without too much of a wait.
Beach Hut Deli
$ | (530) 512-5081 | WEBSITE
When Beach Hut Deli first opened, it was one of the key cool spots near Colfax – with lots of people talking about how it served the area’s best sandwiches. So naturally, no one could get through the line without waiting a good while for their order. Nowadays, the food is still excellent (get the Malibu sandwich), and while you’ll probably encounter a line, it won’t be a plan-ruining one.
The space is lively and loud with TVs playing, but it’s a fun place for a quick lunch (or a casual meal when you don’t really need a quiet atmosphere anyway).
Main Street Pizza/The Basement on Main St.
$ | (530) 346-8200 | WEBSITE
One of our favorite pizza spots near Colfax is right on Main Street just a couple blocks from the old train station, and it’s called Main Street Pizza/The Basement on Main St. It’s a cozy little space with warm lighting and exposed brick walls, and we’ve had luck recently walking in without calling ahead and getting a table there. Get the loaded pizza, the finger-licking wings, their one standout salad – the huge family house salad with garlic fries.
It’s a generous portion, but if you ask nicely, they might split it for you. In other words, you have no excuse not to try this.
Pizza Factory
$ | (530) 346-8788 | WEBSITE
Pizza Factory is exactly what it sounds like: a straightforward spot for pizza. The name might not suggest anything fancy, but don’t let that fool you—the food here is genuinely satisfying. They make everything fresh in the open kitchen, and we’re particularly fond of the all-you-can-eat salad bar with its many options and the pizzas that cater to various dietary needs like vegetarian and lactose intolerant.
This Colfax location never seems to get as packed as it could be, which is something you should definitely take advantage of for your next family gathering or event.