Market rankings · California

Sit-down restaurants in California

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

Listings: 100,104; 26,048 chain locations (26%)
Official establishments: 31,333; −1.9% since 2019
Household spending a year: $61.8B; On food away from home
Listings per 10k households: 73.9; 21% above the U.S.
Spending per listing: $617K; 7% below the U.S.
Rank among states: #44 of 51; Market score 34 · Lower middle

A site report maps the sit-down restaurants 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 100,104 sit-down restaurants on map listings as of September 2026. Of those, 26,048 are chain locations, or 26%, against 29% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 73.9, 21% above the U.S. rate of 61.3.

Households in California spend about $61.8B a year on food away from home, or $4,559 per household, 12% above the U.S. average. Spread across 100,104 sit-down restaurants, that is $617K per restaurant, 7% below the U.S. figure of $664K. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only sit-down restaurants.

Official counts show 31,333 businesses with payroll classed as full-service restaurants in California in 2023, down 1.9% from 2019. That is one for every 432 households, against one for every 500 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 1.5% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 1,732 SBA-backed loans worth $1.2B have gone to businesses classed as full-service restaurants in California.

Among the 50 states and DC, California ranks #44 for sit-down restaurants, with a Groundwork market score of 34 (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 (66).

Every market in California for sit-down restaurants

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 sit-down restaurants by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Yuba City, CA	81	258	41.7	$935K	+3.3%	#14 of 387
2Stockton-Lodi, CA	77	1,321	53.9	$797K	+5.5%	#22 of 387
3Merced, CA	66	406	47.2	$750K	+5.1%	#75 of 387
4Vallejo, CA	64	871	55.3	$816K	+0.6%	#87 of 387
5Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	58	8,730	60.2	$700K	+3.5%	#128 of 387
6Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	54	5,508	62.5	$712K	+3.2%	#158 of 387
7Hanford-Corcoran, CA	54	237	53.8	$679K	+1.0%	#161 of 387
8Fresno, CA	49	2,286	61.8	$621K	+3.2%	#203 of 387
9Chico, CA	48	447	53.7	$693K	−0.5%	#210 of 387
10Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	47	1,824	65.1	$735K	−1.5%	#212 of 387
11Bakersfield-Delano, CA	47	1,640	57.6	$643K	+2.3%	#216 of 387
12Visalia, CA	47	831	58.0	$636K	+2.4%	#217 of 387
13San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	45	5,400	79.4	$725K	−0.6%	#227 of 387
14Modesto, CA	45	1,078	60.6	$659K	+0.7%	#231 of 387
15Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	44	1,246	65.2	$717K	−0.4%	#235 of 387
16Redding, CA	41	376	52.8	$717K	−0.3%	#268 of 387
17Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	41	657	67.8	$715K	−4.7%	#269 of 387
18San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	35	8,880	75.8	$619K	−0.6%	#311 of 387
19El Centro, CA	34	303	61.0	$548K	+1.1%	#317 of 387
20San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	31	14,762	84.6	$630K	−2.4%	#339 of 387
21Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	29	1,126	75.3	$602K	−1.4%	#351 of 387
22San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	26	895	81.7	$544K	0.0%	#358 of 387
23Napa, CA	25	426	85.6	$568K	−3.3%	#361 of 387
24Salinas, CA	25	1,036	78.2	$566K	−1.5%	#362 of 387
25Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	24	37,674	83.7	$534K	−2.6%	#368 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching California, ranked for sit-down restaurants by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Susanville, CA	66	33	35.7	$980K	−13.1%	#98 of 538
2Clearlake, CA	66	111	41.2	$853K	−0.6%	#103 of 538
3Truckee-Grass Valley, CA	64	198	46.2	$932K	−0.4%	#115 of 538
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA	58	127	58.4	$738K	+0.9%	#185 of 538
4Red Bluff, CA	53	103	41.6	$846K	−1.7%	#229 of 538
5Sonora, CA	46	114	50.2	$779K	−4.0%	#309 of 538
6Crescent City, CA	41	49	51.5	$697K	−4.4%	#360 of 538
7Ukiah, CA	28	218	62.6	$587K	−3.5%	#474 of 538
8Eureka-Arcata, CA	25	334	60.8	$576K	−3.4%	#496 of 538
9Bishop, CA	24	68	84.6	$451K	−4.4%	#503 of 538

Counties

Counties in California, ranked for sit-down restaurants by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Yuba County, CA	86	101	35.3	$1.1M	+8.2%	#55 of 2,405
2San Benito County, CA	72	113	55.0	$891K	+8.6%	#326 of 2,405
3San Joaquin County, CA	69	1,321	53.9	$797K	+5.5%	#413 of 2,405
4Riverside County, CA	64	4,476	57.7	$748K	+5.0%	#582 of 2,405
5Madera County, CA	64	247	54.4	$705K	+7.4%	#590 of 2,405
6Merced County, CA	63	406	47.2	$750K	+5.1%	#636 of 2,405
7Contra Costa County, CA	62	2,368	57.1	$906K	+0.3%	#652 of 2,405
8Placer County, CA	60	1,057	66.9	$734K	+8.9%	#758 of 2,405
9Solano County, CA	59	871	55.3	$816K	+0.6%	#777 of 2,405
10Lassen County, CA	58	33	35.7	$980K	−13.1%	#800 of 2,405
11Sutter County, CA	58	157	47.2	$846K	−0.7%	#809 of 2,405
12Yolo County, CA	58	468	61.0	$711K	+3.1%	#830 of 2,405
13Nevada County, CA	57	198	46.2	$932K	−0.4%	#845 of 2,405
14Kings County, CA	57	237	53.8	$679K	+1.0%	#875 of 2,405
15Lake County, CA	56	111	41.2	$853K	−0.6%	#894 of 2,405
16Sacramento County, CA	52	3,491	61.1	$702K	+2.0%	#1,100 of 2,405
17Kern County, CA	50	1,640	57.6	$643K	+2.3%	#1,186 of 2,405
18Tulare County, CA	50	831	58.0	$636K	+2.4%	#1,188 of 2,405
19Mariposa County, CA	49	36	47.9	$770K	−1.2%	#1,212 of 2,405
20El Dorado County, CA	49	492	64.6	$740K	+0.6%	#1,221 of 2,405
21Calaveras County, CA	49	106	57.5	$701K	+2.8%	#1,231 of 2,405
22San Bernardino County, CA	49	4,254	63.0	$649K	+1.9%	#1,239 of 2,405
23Fresno County, CA	49	2,039	62.8	$611K	+2.6%	#1,245 of 2,405
24Butte County, CA	48	447	53.7	$693K	−0.5%	#1,276 of 2,405
25Stanislaus County, CA	48	1,078	60.6	$659K	+0.7%	#1,279 of 2,405

Show all 58 counties

Counties in California, ranked for sit-down restaurants by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Marin County, CA	47	698	67.8	$821K	−2.9%	#1,295 of 2,405
27Ventura County, CA	47	1,824	65.1	$735K	−1.5%	#1,308 of 2,405
28Amador County, CA	47	96	59.7	$681K	+3.2%	#1,321 of 2,405
29Tehama County, CA	46	103	41.6	$846K	−1.7%	#1,343 of 2,405
30Santa Clara County, CA	45	5,287	80.2	$722K	−0.9%	#1,414 of 2,405
31Sonoma County, CA	44	1,246	65.2	$717K	−0.4%	#1,452 of 2,405
32Shasta County, CA	44	376	52.8	$717K	−0.3%	#1,453 of 2,405
33Tuolumne County, CA	40	114	50.2	$779K	−4.0%	#1,610 of 2,405
34Santa Cruz County, CA	40	657	67.8	$715K	−4.7%	#1,620 of 2,405
35San Diego County, CA	39	8,880	75.8	$619K	−0.6%	#1,692 of 2,405
36San Mateo County, CA	37	2,255	85.3	$669K	−2.5%	#1,756 of 2,405
37Alameda County, CA	37	4,761	79.6	$656K	−2.6%	#1,762 of 2,405
38Colusa County, CA	37	48	63.9	$588K	−0.1%	#1,775 of 2,405
39Imperial County, CA	37	303	61.0	$548K	+1.1%	#1,780 of 2,405
40Del Norte County, CA	34	49	51.5	$697K	−4.4%	#1,866 of 2,405
41Glenn County, CA	34	55	56.1	$626K	−2.6%	#1,879 of 2,405
42Santa Barbara County, CA	34	1,126	75.3	$602K	−1.4%	#1,886 of 2,405
43Trinity County, CA	33	26	46.6	$698K	−2.3%	#1,911 of 2,405
44Orange County, CA	33	9,393	86.7	$570K	−1.1%	#1,926 of 2,405
45San Luis Obispo County, CA	32	895	81.7	$544K	0.0%	#1,978 of 2,405
46Napa County, CA	30	426	85.6	$568K	−3.3%	#2,046 of 2,405
47Monterey County, CA	30	1,036	78.2	$566K	−1.5%	#2,047 of 2,405
48Los Angeles County, CA	28	28,281	82.8	$522K	−3.0%	#2,122 of 2,405
49Mendocino County, CA	23	218	62.6	$587K	−3.5%	#2,245 of 2,405
50Siskiyou County, CA	22	108	56.6	$592K	−4.5%	#2,265 of 2,405
51San Francisco County, CA	22	4,680	128.6	$417K	−5.6%	#2,282 of 2,405
52Humboldt County, CA	21	334	60.8	$576K	−3.4%	#2,288 of 2,405
53Inyo County, CA	21	68	84.6	$451K	−4.4%	#2,296 of 2,405
54Mono County, CA	19	89	154.9	$287K	−5.4%	#2,338 of 2,405
55Plumas County, CA	16	63	78.2	$472K	−5.9%	#2,362 of 2,405
Modoc County, CA	Not scored	15	45.9	$716K	−2.9%
Sierra County, CA	Not scored	11	90.2	$387K	−4.0%
Alpine County, CA	Not scored	5	114.9	$401K	−11.6%

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

Questions

How many sit-down restaurants are in California?

Map listings as of September 2026 show 100,104 sit-down restaurants in California. 26,048 of them (26%) are chain locations. The listings count restaurants of every cuisine, pizza included. Official counts show 31,333 businesses with payroll classed as full-service restaurants in 2023, down 1.9% from 2019. Official counts also show 5,420 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 100,104 sit-down restaurants on map listings, it comes to $617K per restaurant. That spending covers all food away from home, which sit-down restaurants share with other businesses in the trade. 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 sit-down restaurants?

California has 73.9 sit-down restaurants per 10,000 households, 21% above the U.S. rate of 61.3. Spending per restaurant is $617K, 7% below the U.S. figure of $664K. At the U.S. ratio of sit-down restaurants to household spending, California would have about 93,073, against 100,104 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 432 households, against one for every 500 across the U.S. The official count fell 1.9% from 2019 to 2023, against +1.5% for the U.S.

Which market in California has the highest market score for sit-down restaurants?

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 66 (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 34 for sit-down restaurants (lower middle), #44 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 sit-down restaurants 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.

Restaurants and cafes173,915 listings
Fast food and sandwich shops17,525 listings
Pizza9,414 listings
Coffee shops and cafes19,992 listings
Bakeries and dessert shops15,896 listings

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