A Foodie’s Guide to Ethnic Cuisine in Stockton, California
Exploring Stockton’s ethnic food scene, one delicious bite at a time...
If we are what we eat, then Stockton locals are most certainly an eclectic bunch. In addition to the natural bounty afforded by California’s San Joaquin Valley, Stockton includes a diversity of ethnic cuisine you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in the region. Just after the city was incorporated in 1850, a large population of immigrant gold-seekers moved to Stockton.
These early settlers came from various parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Pacific Islands, Mexico, and Canada. And today, foods from around the world can be enjoyed thanks to Stockton’s diverse food scene. Whenever you’re hungry and whatever you’re hungry for, this ethnic-food roadmap will take you (and your taste buds) around the world for some of the best cuisines right here in Stockton. Sampling the world’s finest cuisine is easy in Stockton, where a diverse cultural history is made up of the finest ingredients. Whether you’re downtown near the water or shopping the Miracle Mile, a little bite of Stockton is just around the corner.
Important side note: For the largest grouping of diverse ethnic cuisine in Stockton, make your way to Stockton Flavor Fest—going down May 17-19, 2024 at the Weber Point Events Center. For more info, click here!
With that said, here’s a sampling of Stockton's diverse ethnic eats...
Chinese
If you feel like traveling to the Far East, Chinese food in Stockton is a great place to start. With so many restaurants to choose from, you’re sure to find something that suits your palate and your budget.
Located South of Lincoln Center, tucked behind a service station, the outside of Yen Du Restaurant is unassuming; step inside and the smells wafting from the kitchen woks tell an entirely different story. For more than 20 years, this popular establishment has served classic Sichuan, Peking and Hunan cuisine with ingredients sourced locally whenever possible. Grab your chopsticks and dig into classics like beef with broccoli and sweet-and-sour pork; or venture from the ordinary and explore something new, like Sichuan tea-smoked duck! Great prices make this a tasty spot to enjoy with family or a large party.
Looking for Chinese food with some sizzle? Dave Wong’s Restaurant on March Lane is your date-night destination and a long-time Stockton favorite. The interior is a posh, contemporary lounge complemented by a heavy wood bar and mood lighting. Menu offerings include great vegetarian options as well as traditional proteins like kung pao chicken and shiitake beef.
Click here for China Palace, Chow To Go, East Garden, and ALL the Chinese cuisine in Stockton.
Indian
A tour of India truly begins with its cuisine, which is a potent rainbow of aromatic spices. Indian food in Stockton is no exception, and for a great bargain, you can fill up at Shan-E-Punjab and bring back your own spices to boot. This Indian grocery is a working kitchen serving up hot plates of every Indian variety, including an assortment of fried dumplings called pakora, as well as traditional curries, noodles, basmati rice, and more. It’s all here and most menu offerings are less than $8.
For a more formal dining experience, don’t miss Royal Indian Cuisine & Banquet on Pacific Avenue. This restaurant pairs a casual, family-friendly dining room with elegant Indian cuisine. Tandoori specialties exceed expectations here, cooked inside a traditional clay oven with yogurt and spices.
Click here for Maharaja, Swagat, and ALL Indian cuisine in Stockton.
Mexican
No trip to Stockton would be complete without a culinary adventure south of the border. Here you’ll find much more to explore than quesadillas and nachos; Octavio's for example is a family-owned establishment with more than 60 different tequilas! Be sure to stop by on a Sunday for brunch from 11-3, as they serve up some delicious breakfast tacos. Those tacos of course would go well with a tasty beverage or two. Stockton is home to over 50 other Mexican restaurants and food trucks.
Click here for La Palma, Mi Ranchito, Nena's, and ALL Mexican cuisine in Stockton.
Italian
Believe it or not, Italian cuisine only gets better in Stockton. With such fresh produce from the valley, Stockton has great natural resources to inspire some of Italy’s most popular dishes.
Mezzo works hard to use only the very best quality ingredients in all its Italian and Mediterranean creations while focusing on farm-to-fork ideology and sustainable food practices. From seasonal butternut squash gnocchi to traditional rigatoni Bolognese, you’ll love the elegant dining area and themed cocktail menu.
Since 1976, Angelina’s Spaghetti House has been an establishment for fine occasions and exceptional Italian fare. The gorgeous dining area is sophisticated and elegant, which is a perfect complement to the kitchen’s traditional approach to Italian cooking. Handmade pasta is the star of the show and combines with fresh sauces to make a bounty of main courses like spaghetti with pesto or ravioli with roast beef.
Click here for De Vega Brothers, Gian's Deli, and ALL Italian cuisine in Stockton.
Japanese
Is it edible art or just your favorite sushi roll? With good sushi, it’s sometimes hard to tell.
Misaki Sushi & Bar is a great Japanese restaurant to explore if you’re headed downtown. Check out its most popular rolls like the Hammer Roll: shrimp tempura, snow crab, avocado, yellowtail, unagi, tuna, and two secret sauces topped with scallions and masago (fish roe). Enjoy other offerings like udon noodles in soup or gourmet boats for larger parties.
For another uniquely Japanese experience, Domo Japanese Sushi Bar and Grill in Lincoln Center has a little bit of something for everyone. The interior is an impressive 8,000 square feet of teppanyaki grills, cozy booths, and a bar/lounge area. Teppanyaki is a style of Japanese cooking that includes mixed meats or fish with vegetables cooked on a hot steel plate in the center of the dining table. This unique culinary experience is great for parties or fun family events.
Click here for Sho Mi, Cocoro, Masa Contemporary, and ALL Japanese cuisine in Stockton.
Filipino
Papa Urb’s Grill in downtown Stockton is Filipino food with a twist. Expect to see all your favorite dishes like lumpia, Filipino-style spring rolls, and sinigang (sweet and sour soup), as well as less traditional tastes like adobo quesadillas and Papa Urb’s fried chicken wings in signature sauce. After the success of its first restaurant in Tracy, the second shop opened in Stockton’s lively downtown. Today, if you’re craving flavors of the Philippines and don’t want to break the bank, Papa Urb’s Grill is the best place to eat.
Click here for Pampanga's, Rolling Lumpia, and ALL Filipino cuisine in Stockton.
Korean
Take a deep breath. If it smells like something is fermenting, that’s because it is. Korea’s most notorious side dish, kimchi (fermented cabbage with seasoning), is the centerpiece of so many wonderful tastes and aromas inside Seoul Soon Dubu. Located along Stockton’s Miracle Mile, Seoul Soon Dubu is a fully interactive food performance, and you’ve got a front-row ticket. Here, food is made to order and most of it you cook yourself. Traditional Korean BBQ is cooked at the table. Beef, pork, or chicken is grilled and served along with several tiny sides like pickled radish, hot peppers, and kimchi. Come here to enjoy an exaggerated meal spread out over a few hours. Pop open some soju and you’ve got yourself a party!
German
In the mood for some German cuisine? Can you smell the schnitzel? To fill this craving for a taste of West Germany, German Guys German Restaurant is here for you. Located in Waterloo, you can choose from numerous sausages, schnitzels, stuffed cabbage rolls, Gulasch, and more. They have favorites like Bavarian white sausage and house sausage with sauerkraut that will leave your mouth watering even after you’ve devoured them.
Thai
One of the numerous Thai options in Stockton is Thai Me Up, nestled in on the Miracle Mile. On their Pad Thai selection, your delicious protein picks include shrimp, beef, chicken, and fried pork belly. Plus, there is the tasty option of kicking off your meal with basil wings. And, for all the veggie-loving friends, their papaya salad is a super healthy, flavor-filled choice. Other superb Thai options in Stockton include Siamese Street Restaurant and Bangkok Restaurant, among others. There’s no wrong choice for Thai food here.
Click here for Green Papaya, Royal Siam, and ALL Thai cuisine in Stockton.
Jamaican
CJ’s Jamaican & BBQ Kitchen is well known for the outstanding dishes it serves. At CJ’s, famous dishes like jerk chicken ribs, Jamaican beef patties, curry chicken, rice ‘n’ peas, mac & cheese, loaded potato casserole, and vegetable medley are the types of entrees dreams are made of. Each savory bite will make you thankful more and more that you chose to stop in for a meal. Head over now and indulge yourself, because CJ has a seat waiting for you now.
Vietnamese & Cambodian
Bayon Restaurant serves up both Vietnamese and Cambodian dishes for you to sit back and enjoy. Located on Grand Canal, Bayon cooks up a delicious marinade grilled pork that can be dipped in the spicy chilli paste, or you can grab a bowl of pho for a lighter but just as flavorful meal. If it's just Vietnamese cuisine you're looking for, Saigon Bowl Noodle House in Downtown has you covered. Their menu includes boba teas, pho bowls, rice bowls, banh mi sandwiches, rolls, and more. This locally-owned spot makes you feel right at home as they fill your appetite.
Click here for Banh Mi, Binge, Mac Pho, and ALL Vietnamese & Cambodian cuisine in Stockton.
Halal
For those seeking food prepared according to Halal traditions, you've got a few great choices in Stockton. Halal New African Cuisine says it all in their name. Typically spotted on the corner of El Dorado and Sperry, this food truck seres up delicous oysters, hush puppies, shrimp, fish, and coleslaw that locals have been raving about. The Chimulita Gourmet Grub food truck on Pacific Avenue specializes in combining comfort food from different cultures. They've got their special Chimulita—corn tortillas dipped in Colima inspired red sauce, grilled with melted cheese and your choice of protein, topped with cabbage, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, comeback sauce, Mexican crema and your choice of salsa and cotija cheese. Also, Desi Grill on North Lower Sacramento Road features naan, chicken tikka masala, lamb karahi, goat briyani, chicken tikka boti, vegetable samosas, and so much more.
Mediterranean
Papapavlo's Bistro & Bar offers up a delicious mix of Mediterranean delights. Open for lunch and dinner, they serve filling varieties of pasta, steaks, kabobs, casseroles, and more. Plus, they have an elegant patio dining experience for all seasons and a large full-service bar—where you can watch the chefs at work right before your very eyes. Established in 1989, this spot has been a Stockton staple for quite some time and continues to be one of our city's popular spots. What more could you ask for?
Click here for Go Falafel, Yasoo Yani, and ALL Mediterranean cuisine in Stockton.
Explore more options on our Stockton Dining Page.
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