By: KAMBRIA PRADO
Staff Writer
Whenever I travel to bigger cities, even just to Fresno, I am always reminded of how little our town actually is. I often compare Visalia to other towns in California saying, “I wish we had these stores in Visalia” or “I wish we had all these restaurants”. Although I still do wish Visalia had more to offer, there are some hidden gems when it comes to good places to eat.
One of my favorite places to eat is Thai Basil. They serve Thai cuisine that you know is fresh. They are located in Mary’s Vineyard right off Noble Avenue, before Lovers Lane. My go-to meals from there are the fresh tofu spring rolls, the chicken satay, and the tum yum soup. Anything on the menu is delicious. They even have a dessert that I always get when it is in season, called mango and sticky rice, which is exactly what it sounds like. Thai Basil never disappoints me and actually is better than a lot of other Thai restaurants I have been to in other cities. If you like Thai food, you have to try out Thai basil.
The ultimate sushi spot in Visalia, and probably the best sushi I have ever had, comes from Sushi Kuu which is on Main Street. Even if you aren’t a fan of sushi they have other meals that are delicious as well. This place is always busy which shows that it is loved by many. The chefs are so nice as well as all the servers. No other sushi in Visalia compares.
Next up, also on Main Street, is Bistro di Bufala. This restaurant is an Italian restaurant that has some of the best oven-fired pizzas I have ever had. Along with their pizza, they have delicious pasta dishes, salmon, and steak. I also cannot forget to mention their amazing cakes for dessert, my favorite being their pistachio cake!
These are just some of my favorite places to eat in Visalia, I am still expanding the list. Definitely go out and try these restaurants!