Review date: May 30, 2026
Parkside Taphouse
Address: 115 W 3rd St, Chico, CA 95928, United States
Coordinates: 39.7293139, -121.8396694
Review
Sometimes the best restaurant discoveries happen completely by accident.
Last week my pregnant daughter and I were walking through Chico on our way to sushi when a smell stopped us both in our tracks. We looked at each other and agreed we’d be back. A week later we returned with her boyfriend and brother, and judging by the amount of food that ended up on our table, we came ready to rumble.
From the moment we walked through the gate, Parkside felt welcoming. The outdoor patio has a great vibe, the hostess greeted us warmly, and we were seated quickly. It feels like one of those places where you can show up in jeans, order a beer, and still feel like you’re treating yourself.
Now for the important part: we absolutely lost all self-control with the appetizers.
The ahi bites were my pick and ended up being one of the stars of the night. Crispy wontons topped with ahi, avocado, and just enough heat to keep things interesting. Every bite started smooth and finished with a little kick. The beer cheese pretzels were exactly what you hope for: soft, warm, pillowy pretzels paired with a rich beer cheese that had me reaching back for “just one more bite” about six times. The jalapeño poppers surprised me. The blackberry BBQ sauce sounds unusual on paper, but it worked beautifully, giving the smoky bacon and cream cheese a sweet little zing. My favorite appetizer may have been the Brussels sprouts. Crispy, tender, and moistened with a blackberry drizzle, they delivered a sweet-and-savory explosion that had the whole table stealing bites from each other.
Then came the entrées.
The taco bowl was packed with carne asada, rice, black beans, avocado, cotija cheese, salsa, and crunchy tortilla chips. Every forkful had a little bit of everything going on. I ordered the brisket bowl, which arrived looking like comfort food and the flavor was tremendous, I couldn’t finish it. Tender smoked brisket piled over fried rice with vegetables, crispy wontons, cotija cheese, and a sweet-spicy gochujang sauce that tied it all together. The rice bowl with added brisket may have been the sleeper hit of the evening. When they say add brisket, they don’t mean a few pieces. They mean giant, smoky slabs of brisket that looked like they escaped from a Texas barbecue joint and landed in Chico. Even the simple house salad was fresh, crisp, colorful, and paired perfectly with the balsamic vinaigrette.
By the end of dinner we were stuffed, laughing, and already talking about what we’d order next time.
Great food, generous portions, friendly service, and an atmosphere that makes you Feel right at home.
Additional Google review details
- Price per person: $20–30
- Food: 4/5
- Service: 5/5
- Atmosphere: 5/5
- Noise level: Quiet, easy to talk
- Group size: Suitable for all group sizes
- Wait time: No wait
- Recommendation for vegetarians: Somewhat recommend
- Vegetarian offerings: Vegetarian menu or section
- Parking space: Plenty of parking
- Parking options: Paid parking lot, Paid street parking
- Parking: Downtown CHICO’s always a rodeo to park at
- Kid-friendliness: Very kid friendly except for the alcohol
- Wheelchair accessibility: The tables were well spaced apart, so wheelchairs would slide right through
- Can you share more about these topics?: Vegetarian options, Parking, Kid-friendliness, Wheelchair accessibility