Best Restaurants in Walnut Creek, CA: 20 Local Favorites

Monday 26 October 2026·By Support Local Near Me

The best restaurants in Walnut Creek, CA are concentrated downtown, within a few blocks of Locust Street, North Main Street and Broadway Plaza. Highlights include Roman-style pinsa at Montesacro, dumplings at Dough Zone and Dumpling Hours, Peruvian rotisserie chicken at Limon, and steaks at Ruth's Chris. Each pick below links to its listing, with the address, hours and photos.

Browse every listing on our restaurants in Walnut Creek page.

Italian restaurants in Walnut Creek

Montesacro - Walnut Creek (1686 Locust St): a Roman pinseria serving pinsa, the oval Roman-style flatbread, along with antipasti, pasta and grilled lamb.
Melo's Italian Table (1360 Locust St): a downtown Italian spot with indoor and outdoor seating that's popular for both dinner and takeout.
Il Fornaio (1430 Mt Diablo Blvd): an upscale Italian restaurant with fresh pasta and bread from its own in-house bakery.
Rocco's Ristorante Pizzeria (2909 Ygnacio Valley Rd): a long-time local favorite on Ygnacio Valley Road for pasta in homemade sauces and pizza, in a room full of retro decor.

See all Italian restaurants in Walnut Creek.

Dumplings, sushi and Asian food

Dough Zone Dumpling House Walnut Creek (1320 Locust St): small plates of freshly made dumplings, noodles and pancakes. The dan dan noodles are a regular recommendation.
Dumpling Hours (1389 N Main St): a casual dumpling house with soup dumplings, chive pancakes and pan-fried pork buns.
Hakashi Sushi Bar & Grill (1385 N Main St Ste C): a sushi bar with creative specialty rolls and a kitchen menu that goes beyond sushi.
Peony Garden (1448 S Main St): a polished Pan-Asian restaurant known for shareable small plates.

Peruvian, Latin and Mexican food

Limon (1524 Locust St): a lively, casual Peruvian restaurant built around rotisserie chicken.
Parada (7001 Sunne Ln): Peruvian dishes from rotisserie chicken to ceviche, with a popular patio.
Lita (1602 Bonanza St): a Caribbean and Latin restaurant with ceviche, jerk chicken tacos and empanadas.
Tacos Walnut Creek (1690 Locust St): an unpretentious counter-service taqueria for tacos, fajitas and other Mexican classics, plus beer.

See all Mexican restaurants in Walnut Creek.

Steak, seafood and something healthy

Ruth's Chris Steak House (1553 Olympic Blvd Bldg. E): the steakhouse chain known for steaks served sizzling in butter, in an elegant dining room.
Pacific Catch (1305 S Main St): a casual seafood restaurant with fresh, lighter bowls and plates.
True Food Kitchen (120 Broadway Ln Ste 1044): a health-focused restaurant at Broadway Plaza with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, plus cocktails.

Burgers, pizza and comfort food

Gott's Walnut Creek (1275 S Main St): creative burgers, beer and wine at a relaxed order-at-the-counter spot with picnic tables.
Mona's Burgers & Shakes (1574 Palos Verdes Mall): elevated burgers, craft beer and milkshakes with sidewalk seating.
Chicken Pie Shop (1251 Arroyo Way): a casual restaurant known for chicken pot pies made fresh daily.
Pinky's Pizza & Pub (2085 N Broadway): a long-running pizza pub with big-screen TVs for game days.
San Francisco Creamery (1370 Locust St #1372): an old-school ice cream parlor with shakes and sundaes, plus American comfort food.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best area for restaurants in Walnut Creek?

Downtown Walnut Creek. Locust Street and North Main Street have most of the independent restaurants, and Broadway Plaza has well-known chains such as True Food Kitchen.

What are the best Italian restaurants in Walnut Creek?

Our picks are Montesacro for Roman-style pinsa, Melo's Italian Table, Il Fornaio for fresh pasta and bread, and Rocco's Ristorante Pizzeria on Ygnacio Valley Road.