The North Fork Mono Casino planned to open this fall has revealed it will feature eight dining options at its massive site off Highway 99 in Madera.
There will be a steak and seafood, Mexican food, Asian food, pizza and burgers, according to a Monday announcement from the casino.
“Among them is Fresno favorite,” the announcement said, “bringing its celebrated flavors to a second location exclusively at North Fork Mono Casino.”
The casino, built by the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California, has not yet announced exactly when during October it will open — though it has been teasing its arrival for months on social media. The North Fork tribe began planning the casino more than 20 years ago but faced legal challenges in state and federal courts from anti-gaming groups and from the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, which operates the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino off Highway 41.
The tribe broke ground on the casino in 2024 and has continued with construction despite a 2025 state ruling against it, arguing its wins in federal court have authorized the operation. In June, the casino announced it would begin hiring for more than 1,500 jobs.
The casino will feature 2,400 slot machines and 40 table games. Next to the gaming floor, the food hall will feature six dining options. Beyond that, there will be a “fine dining” restaurant and a clubhouse.
Construction on the North Fork Mono Casino and Resort, which sits right off Highway 99 between the Avenue 17 and Avenue 18-1/2 exits, nears completion on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com Six options in upcoming Madera casino’s food hall
Central Fresno’s Fuego Taquería y Restaurante, known for its premium protein options for tacos, is opening its second location at the North Fork casino food hall. At the casino, Fuego Mexican Kitchen will offer prime ribeye and “surf n’ turf” tacos, according to the announcement.
Cafe Asia is described in the announcement as a “fast-casual café” that serves Asian comfort food. At the casino, it will serve pho, a popular style of Vietnamese soup, and bánh mì, a Vietnamese sandwich on a baguette. There will also be Vietnamese coffee, boba and fruit teas.
Chick Republic — a “go-to destination for crave-worthy chicken favorites,” the announcement says — will offer crispy tenders, wings, sandwiches, milkshakes and baked pastries. Apart from classic flavors, there will be “Korean-inspired twists” at the Chick Republic.
The food hall’s smash burger spot, called Smash Stack Burger, is described as a family-friendly option offering smash burgers made with high-quality ingredients. Besides smash burgers and fries, there will shakes and soft-serve ice cream at Smash Stack Burger.
Pizza Fiore will offer Neapolitan and Sicilian-style pies, whose crust textures are different from the standard delivery pizza. Pizza Fiore’s signature pies include jalapeño hot honey and taco-inspired specialties, according to the announcement. It will also offer pasta and salad.
Described as the casino’s “craft coffee bar,” Kopiah will use internationally sourced small batch-roasted coffee beans. Besides specialty coffee, Kopiah will also offer fresh-baked goods, juices, breakfast items, and all-day snacks, the announcement says.
Nopal montado is a dish made with grilled cactus and skirt steak and topped with cheese, tomatoes, onions and peppers at Fuego Taqueria y Restaurante in Fresno. The specialty plate is served with homemade tortillas, rice and beans. Craig Kohlruss ckohlruss@fresnobee.com ‘Fine dining’ restaurant, clubhouse at upcoming Madera casino
Beyond the options at the food hall, the North Fork casino will also feature a flagship restaurant and a clubhouse with a bar and dozens of TVs.
The restaurant, Manzanita Steakhouse, is described as a concept that will showcase “the best of Central California” with a chef-driven dishes based on locally-sourced ingredients, premium cuts and fresh seafood.
“This steakhouse will offer guests a unique fine dining option in Central California,” the casino’s announcement says.
At the Clubhouse 99, there will be 56 large-screen TVs and more than 20 types of beer on tap. The casino described the clubhouse as “the game-day destination.”
This story was originally published August 24, 2026 at 11:46 AM.
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Erik Galicia
The Fresno Bee
Erik is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, where he helped launch an effort to better meet the news needs of Spanish-speaking immigrants. Before that, he served as editor-in-chief of his community college student newspaper, Riverside City College Viewpoints, where he covered the impacts of the Salton Sea’s decline on its adjacent farm worker communities in the Southern California desert.
Dining and Cooking