Market rankings · California

Restaurants and cafes in California

Every metro area, small-town market and county in California, ranked by the Groundwork market score for restaurants and cafes, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 173,915; 55,039 chain locations (32%)
Official establishments: 79,696; +3.9% since 2019
Household spending a year: $61.8B; On food away from home
Listings per 10k households: 128.4; 17% above the U.S.
Spending per listing: $355K; 4% below the U.S.
Rank among states: #43 of 51; Market score 33 · Lower middle

A site report maps the restaurants and cafes on map listings around any address in California by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

California has 173,915 restaurants and cafes on map listings as of September 2026. Of those, 55,039 are chain locations, or 32%, against 34% across the U.S. That is 128.4 per 10,000 households, 17% above the U.S. rate of 109.8.

Household spending on food away from home in California comes to about $61.8B a year: $4,559 per household, 12% above the U.S. average. That works out to $355K per restaurant, 4% below the U.S. figure of $371K.

Official counts show 79,696 businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in California in 2023, up 3.9% from 2019. That is one for every 170 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 3,371 SBA-backed loans worth $1.9B have gone to businesses classed as restaurants and other eating places in California.

Among the 50 states and DC, California ranks #43 for restaurants and cafes, with a Groundwork market score of 33 (lower middle). Of the 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Yuba City metro area scores highest (81). Of the 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Susanville area scores highest (67).

Every market in California for restaurants and cafes

Download the ranking (CSV)

Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in California, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching California, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Yuba City, CA	81	464	74.9	$520K	+3.3%	#11 of 387
2Stockton-Lodi, CA	69	2,489	101.5	$423K	+5.5%	#65 of 387
3Merced, CA	68	729	84.7	$418K	+5.1%	#73 of 387
4Vallejo, CA	67	1,544	98.0	$460K	+0.6%	#77 of 387
5San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	56	8,773	129.0	$446K	−0.6%	#146 of 387
6Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	55	15,275	105.3	$400K	+3.5%	#153 of 387
7Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	55	9,900	112.3	$396K	+3.2%	#154 of 387
8Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	51	3,192	113.9	$420K	−1.5%	#183 of 387
9Hanford-Corcoran, CA	49	413	93.8	$390K	+1.0%	#195 of 387
10Redding, CA	45	693	97.3	$389K	−0.3%	#218 of 387
11Modesto, CA	42	1,900	106.8	$374K	+0.7%	#244 of 387
12Fresno, CA	42	3,998	108.0	$355K	+3.2%	#245 of 387
13Visalia, CA	41	1,451	101.3	$365K	+2.4%	#250 of 387
14Chico, CA	39	843	101.2	$367K	−0.5%	#264 of 387
15Bakersfield-Delano, CA	39	2,928	102.8	$360K	+2.3%	#265 of 387
16San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	38	24,646	141.3	$378K	−2.4%	#272 of 387
17San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	36	15,547	132.7	$354K	−0.6%	#286 of 387
18Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	35	1,291	133.2	$364K	−4.7%	#291 of 387
19Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	27	3,338	174.8	$268K	−0.4%	#344 of 387
20Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	26	61,655	137.0	$326K	−2.6%	#346 of 387
21Salinas, CA	25	1,865	140.8	$315K	−1.5%	#355 of 387
22El Centro, CA	24	529	106.6	$314K	+1.1%	#360 of 387
23Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	24	2,331	155.8	$291K	−1.4%	#361 of 387
24San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	24	2,190	200.0	$222K	0.0%	#363 of 387
25Napa, CA	22	1,872	376.2	$129K	−3.3%	#368 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching California, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Susanville, CA	67	67	72.5	$483K	−13.1%	#98 of 538
2Red Bluff, CA	65	178	71.8	$489K	−1.7%	#117 of 538
3Truckee-Grass Valley, CA	62	444	103.6	$416K	−0.4%	#149 of 538
4Clearlake, CA	60	252	93.5	$376K	−0.6%	#170 of 538
5Crescent City, CA	57	88	92.4	$388K	−4.4%	#189 of 538
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA	53	267	122.7	$351K	+0.9%	#236 of 538
6Sonora, CA	40	256	112.8	$347K	−4.0%	#374 of 538
7Eureka-Arcata, CA	24	665	121.1	$289K	−3.4%	#492 of 538
8Bishop, CA	22	129	160.4	$238K	−4.4%	#506 of 538
9Ukiah, CA	20	523	150.1	$244K	−3.5%	#516 of 538

Counties

Counties in California, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Yuba County, CA	86	179	62.5	$606K	+8.2%	#52 of 2,405
2San Benito County, CA	70	209	101.6	$482K	+8.6%	#405 of 2,405
3Contra Costa County, CA	64	3,869	93.4	$555K	+0.3%	#585 of 2,405
4San Joaquin County, CA	62	2,489	101.5	$423K	+5.5%	#685 of 2,405
5Merced County, CA	60	729	84.7	$418K	+5.1%	#766 of 2,405
6Placer County, CA	60	1,914	121.2	$405K	+8.9%	#769 of 2,405
7Solano County, CA	59	1,544	98.0	$460K	+0.6%	#791 of 2,405
8Riverside County, CA	59	7,943	102.4	$422K	+5.0%	#802 of 2,405
9Madera County, CA	58	450	99.2	$387K	+7.4%	#849 of 2,405
10Lassen County, CA	56	67	72.5	$483K	−13.1%	#903 of 2,405
11Tehama County, CA	55	178	71.8	$489K	−1.7%	#940 of 2,405
12Nevada County, CA	53	444	103.6	$416K	−0.4%	#1,051 of 2,405
13Sutter County, CA	52	285	85.6	$466K	−0.7%	#1,083 of 2,405
14Sacramento County, CA	52	6,111	107.0	$401K	+2.0%	#1,097 of 2,405
15Yolo County, CA	52	891	116.2	$374K	+3.1%	#1,108 of 2,405
16Marin County, CA	51	1,207	117.2	$475K	−2.9%	#1,116 of 2,405
17Santa Clara County, CA	51	8,564	129.9	$445K	−0.9%	#1,122 of 2,405
18Kings County, CA	48	413	93.8	$390K	+1.0%	#1,269 of 2,405
19Ventura County, CA	47	3,192	113.9	$420K	−1.5%	#1,302 of 2,405
20Lake County, CA	47	252	93.5	$376K	−0.6%	#1,312 of 2,405
21Shasta County, CA	46	693	97.3	$389K	−0.3%	#1,345 of 2,405
22San Bernardino County, CA	46	7,332	108.6	$377K	+1.9%	#1,356 of 2,405
23El Dorado County, CA	46	984	129.2	$370K	+0.6%	#1,357 of 2,405
24Del Norte County, CA	45	88	92.4	$388K	−4.4%	#1,390 of 2,405
25Tulare County, CA	45	1,451	101.3	$365K	+2.4%	#1,403 of 2,405

Show all 58 counties

Counties in California, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26San Mateo County, CA	44	3,663	138.5	$412K	−2.5%	#1,435 of 2,405
27Stanislaus County, CA	44	1,900	106.8	$374K	+0.7%	#1,449 of 2,405
28Kern County, CA	44	2,928	102.8	$360K	+2.3%	#1,461 of 2,405
29Fresno County, CA	44	3,548	109.3	$351K	+2.6%	#1,465 of 2,405
30Alameda County, CA	42	7,927	132.5	$394K	−2.6%	#1,520 of 2,405
31Butte County, CA	42	843	101.2	$367K	−0.5%	#1,529 of 2,405
32Calaveras County, CA	40	246	133.4	$302K	+2.8%	#1,631 of 2,405
33San Diego County, CA	39	15,547	132.7	$354K	−0.6%	#1,651 of 2,405
34Colusa County, CA	38	86	114.5	$328K	−0.1%	#1,709 of 2,405
35Mariposa County, CA	38	98	130.5	$283K	−1.2%	#1,718 of 2,405
36Santa Cruz County, CA	37	1,291	133.2	$364K	−4.7%	#1,733 of 2,405
37Orange County, CA	36	15,617	144.2	$343K	−1.1%	#1,782 of 2,405
38Amador County, CA	36	288	179.0	$227K	+3.2%	#1,806 of 2,405
39Glenn County, CA	35	100	101.9	$345K	−2.6%	#1,824 of 2,405
40Trinity County, CA	34	55	98.5	$330K	−2.3%	#1,871 of 2,405
41Tuolumne County, CA	32	256	112.8	$347K	−4.0%	#1,938 of 2,405
42Monterey County, CA	31	1,865	140.8	$315K	−1.5%	#1,981 of 2,405
43Sonoma County, CA	31	3,338	174.8	$268K	−0.4%	#1,996 of 2,405
44Imperial County, CA	30	529	106.6	$314K	+1.1%	#2,028 of 2,405
45Los Angeles County, CA	29	46,038	134.8	$321K	−3.0%	#2,065 of 2,405
46Santa Barbara County, CA	29	2,331	155.8	$291K	−1.4%	#2,076 of 2,405
47San Luis Obispo County, CA	27	2,190	200.0	$222K	0.0%	#2,141 of 2,405
48San Francisco County, CA	23	7,980	219.2	$244K	−5.6%	#2,233 of 2,405
49Napa County, CA	23	1,872	376.2	$129K	−3.3%	#2,242 of 2,405
50Siskiyou County, CA	21	214	112.2	$299K	−4.5%	#2,270 of 2,405
51Humboldt County, CA	19	665	121.1	$289K	−3.4%	#2,302 of 2,405
52Mono County, CA	19	168	292.5	$152K	−5.4%	#2,316 of 2,405
53Inyo County, CA	18	129	160.4	$238K	−4.4%	#2,331 of 2,405
54Mendocino County, CA	17	523	150.1	$244K	−3.5%	#2,347 of 2,405
55Plumas County, CA	15	134	166.4	$222K	−5.9%	#2,369 of 2,405
Modoc County, CA	Not scored	35	107.1	$307K	−2.9%
Sierra County, CA	Not scored	21	172.3	$203K	−4.0%
Alpine County, CA	Not scored	12	275.9	$167K	−11.6%

Markets with fewer than 5 restaurants and cafes on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many restaurants and cafes are in California?

Map listings as of September 2026 show 173,915 restaurants and cafes in California. 55,039 of them (32%) are chain locations. The listings count every restaurant, cafe, bar, bakery and food truck. Official counts show 79,696 businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in 2023, up 3.9% from 2019. Official counts list 14,862 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in California spend on food away from home?

About $61.8B a year, or $4,559 per household. That is 12% above the U.S. average (an index of 112, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 173,915 restaurants and cafes on map listings, it comes to $355K per restaurant. It is estimated from the incomes of the 13,548,091 households in California and national spending patterns by income.

How does California compare with the U.S. for restaurants and cafes?

California has 128.4 restaurants and cafes per 10,000 households, 17% above the U.S. rate of 109.8. Spending per restaurant is $355K, 4% below the U.S. figure of $371K. At the U.S. ratio of restaurants and cafes to household spending, California would have about 166,577, against 173,915 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 170 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. The official count rose 3.9% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.0% for the U.S.

Which market in California has the highest market score for restaurants and cafes?

Among 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Yuba City metro area scores highest, at 81 (high). Among 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Susanville area scores highest, at 67 (upper middle). Among 55 scored counties in California, Yuba County scores highest, at 86 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. California scores 33 for restaurants and cafes (lower middle), #43 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in California. It maps the restaurants and cafes on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

Sit-down restaurants100,104 listings
Fast food and sandwich shops17,525 listings
Pizza9,414 listings
Coffee shops and cafes19,992 listings
Bakeries and dessert shops15,896 listings

Screening a site or an acquisition in California?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

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