You can literally eat out once a day in Manteca for four months and not visit the same restaurants — although that count will soon include the city’s sixth McDonald’s.
The count of options is well past 120 if you include Mexican supermarkets with in-store taquerias, grocery stores with delis including the new Save Mart that will have an in-store restaurant, ice cream shops, and Jamba Juice-style place and coffee shops such as Bean & Leaf where you can get a light lunch and such.
“I love eating out,” said Councilman Mike Morowit who might just qualify as the City Council’s foremost dining out expert.
That’s thanks to his work schedule — and that of his wife’s — that makes having dinner somewhere in town a three to five times a week endeavor. And that is on top of fundraising dinners.
“There’s way more options for dining than there were two to three years ago,” Morowit said. “That is especially true of the last 18 months.”
Since the start of 2025, Manteca has added its first Mediterranean-style dining option, Italian restaurant, a Filipino restaurant, three pizza places — including Gold Dust, Retro Pie, and a second Mt. Mike’s — a yogurt shop, a Philly cheesesteak an Asian fusion offering, as well as multiple New Mexican, Thai, and Indian options. The list also includes three specialty bakeries and desserts places and additional locations of Chick-fil-A and others.
There have been at least 12 new dining additions in the past 18 months that includes locations where an existing concern switched hands and the menu significantly changed.
And more dining options are on the way.
Cajun Crack’n seafood is coming to Orchard Valley to join seven existing dining options.
Nation’s Giant Burgers, Paris Baguette Bakery & Cafe, as well as Jersey Mike’s Subs have signed leases at the Manteca Crossing at Atherton Drive and Airport Way.
And there is also a bakery coming to the 100 block of North Maple Avenue in downtown.
Riasat cafe/bakery/catering is preparing to open on North Main Street to offer a different take in Indian cuisine for Manteca.
“We are (the city) looking for other restaurants,” Morowit said.
That includes chain restaurants on city-owned property next to the Sizzler on Daniels Street and Living Spaces on Atherton Drive.
“When the family entertainment zone (the 100-acre city-owned endeavor between Great Wolf and Big League Dreams) gets going, that will open the floodgates,” Morowit predicted.
Morowit knows that people keep asking for Texas Roadhouse and Olive Garden, among others.
“They have very specific location requirements,” Morowit said.
The city’s economic development staff has been working with private sector developers to see what can be done to meet those requirements now that Manteca is on the verge of crossing the 100,000 resident mark.
The city is also working on developing homegrown restaurants and dining options.
Two examples of that are through the small business loan program the city operates as well as its Culinary Launchpad Program.
The launchpad program will lease an almost 100 percent equipped food truck-style trailer supplied by the city for a year to the entrepreneur that comes out on top in an application process that closes May 4.
The goal is after a year for the selected entrepreneur to be ready to transition into their own food truck or else open a brick and mortar restaurant location.
Noni Vita Ravioli & Delicatessen on Mellon Avenue tucked into a corner of the Manteca Industrial Park has secured a city small business loan to purchase equipment for its kitchen to produce raviolis for sale in supermarkets.
Noni Vita qualifies as one of the countless mom and pop restaurants that some apparently overlook when they contend there is no place to eat in Manteca.
“I’m not quite sure why some people keep saying that,” said Morowit of Manteca not having places to eat.
He suggested they drive around and take a closer look at what is being offered currently in Manteca.
“People get into their comfort zones,” Morowit said.
And while it is true a drive will come cross more second locations — a Chipotle Kitchen on Atherton Drive west of Main Street will be completed this year — they will also see a Rocky’s Cheesesteak has opened near Home Depot, Texas Breakfast & Lunch a few doors down from the West Yosemite Save Mart, and endless little gems that have been serving food for years such as Frank’s Cafe on Maple Avenue, The Mangy Moose on East Yosemite Avenue, and Besitos Fine Cuisine as well as the Deaf Puppy Grill & Bar in downtown.
“There’s more’s coming,” Morowit said. (But) there is already a lot here.”
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
