Popolo’s Pizza in Madera Ranchos

December 1, 2025December 2, 2025 The Fresnan

A quick review of the new Popolo’s Pizza in the Madera Ranchos.

In case you missed it. Popolo’s had to move from Herndon & Blackstone long ago (not to mention the Shaw & Marks location) to Palm & Nees. They recently closed that location. But they have reopened in the Madera Ranchos.

Tucked way back in a kind of strip mall you would only find in the Ranchos. It’s at 37272 Avenue 12, in the heart of the Rancho business strip, behind the Sinclair gas station.

RUNDOWN OF MADERA RANCHOS POPOLO’S

The space is much smaller than any of their previous spots. And it’s a quick-serve, order-at-the-counter style, now, which isn’t terrible, really.

The food tastes the same. Signature dough and dishes mostly remain. Pizza is still great.

popopos-pepperoni-pizza-806x1024 Popolo's Pizza in Madera Ranchos

One glaring food difference is… no salad bar. Sadness. The Herndon & Blackstone salad bar was legend. Palm & Nees was ok. No salad bar in the Ranchos.

I get it, though, if they put in a salad bar, they would have to take out two tables. And they need all the tables they can get there. They still have salads and will make one how you want it, and that’s cool. But it’s a bummer the salad bar is gone.

There is also no video game room like previous iterations. There is one standup, though, with multiple games, so there is at least something. It might be nice to find a space for one skill/prize game, as a better nod to the old games.

Also, something I feel they could do is find at least ONE booth (if not more) that is like one of the booths back at the Blackstone location. You could fit a few smaller ones in that space, and it would be rad. I hope that is something they figured out in the future.

WHAT ABOUT THE BEER!?

They still have it! The old Popolo’s was one of Fresno’s leaders in getting Craft Beer on draught, an early adopter. They still have some of it, nothing major, but enough basics for you if you want a decent beer with your pizza.

So, if you are missing Popolo’s food, the drive out to the Ranchos is worth it – even without a booth or salad bar.

What is up with that taco truck line at Shaw & Maroa!?

September 30, 2025October 3, 2025 The Fresnan

UPDATE: My friend Joshua Tehee did a write-up in the Bee about this place, and it softens my stance on it some. Apparently, this truck relocated here, like, moved up here and hired locals. Instead of what I believed was that they just had an extra truck up to Fresno from L.A. to make it off us. Still interesting how we are getting so fired up about a truck not from here.

The corner of Maroa & Shaw has been the hot topic around the Fig area of town.

The truck pictured above is often brought up at Out Of The Barrel and around Fig Garden. Everyone is amazed at the lines and wondering what the hell?!

It’s called Tacos El Cabezon.

The word is they came up from Los Angeles (Bell Gardens) because the market was too saturated down there, and they tried their luck here. Turns out it was a good decision.

Yeah, I want to try this truck out, it sounds really good.

But, sorry, it pisses me off that an L.A. Mexican food truck can come up to the taco capital (Fresno, yo!) and be so popular. What the hell, Fresnans?

I wonder how they would do at the Taco Truck Throwdown?!

A great comment came in on Fresno!Fresno! by Mark & Patti:

IMG_9410-1024x523 What is up with that taco truck line at Shaw & Maroa!?

I love this idea. Sadly, though, for it to work, the L.A. people can never find out the truck is from Fresno.

Gazebo Gardens Is a Needed Fresno Space

August 1, 2025August 6, 2025 The Fresnan

Feeling thankful to have Gazebo Gardens around. It’s pretty damn unique and borders on something necessary for a city.

I am not talking about the nursery/plant aspect of it either. I am talking about the third space feature for friend and family groups.

In case you don’t know, Thursday – Saturday evenings Gazebo Gardens nursery turns into a beer garden & food truck court. Complete with seating and some shade.

There are very few places you can meet up with people without having to reserve or hawk a big table, or worry if “all of your party is here yet”.

Just show up around a time. Eat, don’t eat. Drink beer, don’t drink. Kids can wander around. You can wander around. It’s great.

Sure, I get tired of it too, like any place. I am here to appreciate the looseness of it all, and there isn’t much of that out there.

Related: As I sat on Shields yesterday waiting for a train to pass, I caught a little bit of the blues coming from Gazebo

Why The In-N-Out Owner Moving From California, Fries Me Off

July 30, 2025July 31, 2025 The Fresnan

The fries at In-N-Out suck. They just do. But they are unique to In-N-Out. I have always enjoyed them for that. They may not be great, but they are all In-N-Out’s.

The uniqueness of In-N-Out: The vibe, restaurant setup, California chain, simple food menu, super friendly staff, the secret menu, and yes, the fries.

Sadly all that is tainted because the nepo baby owner, Lynsi Snyder, (who didn’t come up with a damn ass thing that In-N-Out is successful for) has decided California is too lame and is creating an office in Tennessee so she can move her family there because California is “SOOOO harrrd guuuuyyyyz”

in-n-out-snyder-1024x1016 Why The In-N-Out Owner Moving From California, Fries Me Off

“Raising a family is not…easy here. Doing business is not easy here.” says the billionaire nepo baby.

Dude, California MADE you! You became iconic because of us. You are rich as shit because we bragged about you to everyone not in California. Brought all the people visiting to your dad’s restaurant.

I had always admired In-N-Out for being at or near the top of pay for fast-food workers. It seems that was dad’s policy, not the nepo do nothing daughter’s. She would rather move somewhere whiter where she can pay employees less. Let’s be real.

It always comes back to more when you are so rich you don’t know what else to do.

“That’s just business!” some will say. I say that is just bullshit. It’s just fucking greed.

Disrespectful to the people (Californians) who got you where you are today. So little is respected anymore.

How hard could it be to live your life out as a billionaire in the greatest state in the country? Dear God.

The basket of fries pictured above was the first time I went to the Blackstone & Nees In-N-Out. My go-to is Blackstone & Ashlan. I can’t say I will never go to an In-N-Out again because of this betrayal; that would be unrealistic.

But I will hate myself a little bit when I do. Just like Lynsi should be doing right now.

Casa Corona Closing the Wrong Casa Corona

December 19, 2024January 22, 2025 The Fresnan

We are flush with good Mexican restaurants in Fresno. So the closing of the Bullard & West Casa Corona is low on the loss scale. But it still sucks.

It’s a good location in a nice shopping center, good bar (although they could have done better with the beer selection), good neighborhood atmosphere and the history of it being once El Torro Tambien and still looking like it inside.

The decision to close was one of downsizing for the owners, not wanting the work of running two locations. But why keep the Cedar & Herndon and drop Bullard & West, because… no offense to Cedar but the Bullard one was kinda way better, IMO.

But whatevs, I assume the Cedar lease is cheaper and that’s the one they have had longer so, I get it.

Hopefully, another good local restaurant will get in that space and kill it.

Meanwhile, this is happening across the street:

https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe447e715-88f4-4078-a729-5de953887bb7_4032x3024 Casa Corona Closing the Wrong Casa Corona — This building will be having Wine Wednesdays every day, soon enough.

Related: Across the street, someone is making that odd white building into a wine bar. Yep, people will be bouncing between the Manhattan bar, the new wine bar, and Max’s across the street, it will be NW Fresno debauchery.

So watch out.

Good Coffee Shops In Fresno

December 17, 2024January 22, 2025 The Fresnan 4 Comments

Good Coffee Shops in Fresno!

For you, I wanted to have a list up on The Fresnan, of the good coffee shops in Fresno, so you can know where to go if you’re new or find a new place to go if you’re getting bored of your current coffee place.

I compiled this list through suggestions, ratings and reviews on various sites, and firsthand knowledge. As far as I know, these are all local (best Starbucks or Dutch Brothers in Fresno is a whole other post).

So here we go, if you click the name it should take you to their Google map location:

I am sure there are other good coffee shops in Fresno, but these seem to be the best-rated among locals.

Please get out there and explore, see if you can make a new favorite. Feel free to comment on this post about the ones listed, or leave a comment on the one you feel should be on here.

Enjoy the caffeine!

-Mike

P.S. I don’t want to leave out some good tea places as well: