Sacramento’s Best Restaurants: A Guide to 20 Unmissable Spots
Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine
By Mei Chen | March 18, 2025
There’s something about Sacramento that makes you want to eat. Maybe it’s the smell of fresh produce wafting in from the Delta, or maybe it’s the fact that this city has finally shaken off its reputation as a pit stop between San Francisco and Tahoe. Whatever it is, I’ve spent years eating my way through Sacramento, and let me tell you: the food here is worth sticking around for. From Michelin stars to neighborhood joints that feel like home, here are 20 restaurants that prove Sacramento has arrived.
1. Kru
3135 Folsom Blvd | Website | Instagram
Let’s start with Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine, because if you’re not talking about Billy Ngo, are you even talking about Sacramento’s food scene? This East Sac sushi spot is where you go when you want to impress someone—or just yourself. The Edomae-style nigiri is a revelation, and the omakase experience feels like a masterclass in what sushi can be. You’ll leave lighter in the wallet but heavier in awe.
2. The Kitchen
915 Broadway | Website | Instagram
The phrase “dinner and a show” usually conjures images of cruise ship buffets and dinner theater murder mysteries. The Kitchen, however, elevates the concept to an art form. This Michelin-starred Broadway district staple serves a six-course tasting menu that changes with the seasons, but you’ll always find plenty of playful touches and top-tier ingredients. Chef Kelly McCown and his team turn the kitchen into a stage, engaging diners with their meticulous plating and well-rehearsed patter. The open kitchen means you’re not just eating the food—you’re watching it come to life. It’s part fine dining, part theater, and one of the few places in town that truly justifies the price tag.
3. Hook & Ladder
1630 S St | Website | Instagram
Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co. doesn’t just serve food; they serve vibes. Housed in a historic building near Broadway, this spot nails farm-to-table with dishes like roasted chicken that taste as good as they look on Instagram. And their craft cocktails? Let’s just say they’re worth the Uber ride home.
4. Origami Asian Grill
4801 Folsom Blvd | Website | Instagram
Tucked near CSUS, Origami is what happens when Michelin-starred chefs decide to have fun. The beef udon pictrued here could compete with Tokyo’s best, and the Asian-fusion plates—like char siu pork belly—are unapologetically bold. It’s casual enough for a weeknight but good enough to make you question why you ever settled for instant noodles.
6. Allora
5215 Folsom Blvd | Website | Instagram
Sacramento’s dining scene has a way of making you rethink what you thought you knew about certain cuisines, and Allora does it with Italian. There’s no checkered tablecloths or gut-busting plates of spaghetti here—this is a sleek, modern space in East Sacramento with a laser focus on seafood and housemade pasta. For the best overview of what they do, go for the tasting menu, with choices of three, four, or five courses. And while the menu rotates, there are favorites that remain, like the Carne Cruda pictured here, served with tartufata, garlic toast, egg, and caper. The wine list is just as much of a draw, with a deep dive into Italian varietals you won’t find at your neighborhood trattoria.
7. Revolution Winery & Kitchen
2831 S St | Website | Instagram
Midtown’s Revolution isn’t just a winery; it’s a love letter to Sacramento’s farm-to-fork ethos. Chef Gina Genshlea pairs house-made wines with dishes that taste like they were plucked from her backyard garden that morning. The beet salad alone might convert even the most devout carnivore.
8. Frank Fat’s
806 L St | Website | Instagram
You don’t last 85 years in downtown Sacramento without doing something right. Frank Fat’s is where Chinese-American cuisine meets California politics—literally. The honey walnut prawns are legendary, and if you leave without trying the banana cream pie, we can’t be friends.
10. Magpie
1601 16th St | Website | Instagram
Farm-to-fork isn’t a trend at Magpie; it’s the whole reason the place exists. This Midtown spot has been championing local ingredients since before it was cool, and the menu changes frequently to keep up with what’s coming out of the ground. One day you’ll get a vibrant salad stacked with citrus and avocado, the next a sandwich so perfectly balanced it makes you question why you ever tolerated bland deli meats. There’s nothing flashy about the space—just wood tables, an open kitchen, and a bar where you can sip a well-made cocktail while pretending you don’t have emails to answer.
11. Adamo’s
2107 P St | Website | Instagram
There’s something about Adamo’s that feels like stepping into a neighborhood joint in Rome, if Rome were located in Downtown Sacramento. It’s cozy, it’s unpretentious, and the food just happens to be some of the best Italian in town. The pasta is the real draw here—silky sheets of lasagna, fluffy gnocchi, and ravioli filled with whatever happens to be in season. It’s the kind of place where you come in intending to order something light and leave wondering how you ate that much pasta in one sitting.
12. Selland's Market-Café
915 Broadway | Website | Instagram
Selland’s is like that friend who always shows up on time and never disappoints. Their Broadway location serves up gourmet comfort food—think wood-fired pizzas and perfectly cooked salmon—that feels like a hug on a plate. Bonus points for their rotating seasonal specials.
13. Mikuni
1530 J St | Website | Instagram
Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar isn’t just a restaurant; it’s practically an institution in Sacramento. While I’m more of a regular at the Elk Grove location, the Midtown location draws crowds for creative rolls (hello, Train Wreck) and an atmosphere that feels more nightclub than sushi bar—perfect for when your dinner plans need some energy.
15. Fizz
615 David J Stern Walk | Website | Instagram
Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar is where you go when life calls for celebration—or when Tuesday calls for champagne. This Midtown bar serves sparkling wines by the glass alongside small plates that feel fancy but not fussy. It’s bubbly in every sense of the word.
16. Cafeteria 15L
1116 15th St | Website | Instagram
Cafeteria 15L in heart of downtown feels like your cool aunt who knows how to cook. The menu ranges from truffle mac and cheese to fried chicken with waffles, all served in a space that somehow makes “industrial farmhouse” feel fresh again.
17. Mulvaney’s B&L
1215 19th St | Website | Instagram
If there’s a restaurant that embodies Sacramento’s love affair with local produce, it’s Mulvaney’s. Housed in a charming brick building in Midtown, it’s been doing the whole farm-driven, ingredient-first thing long before it became a buzzword. The menu changes regularly based on what’s fresh, but you can always count on a well-cooked steak, a thoughtful vegetarian dish, and a dessert that makes you regret not leaving more room. It’s the kind of place where the staff remembers your name, the kitchen knows how to cook a perfect medium-rare, and the bottle list makes you wish you knew more about wines.
19. Iron Horse Tavern
1800 15th St | Website | Instagram
Iron Horse Tavern in downtown is what happens when gastropubs grow up. The industrial-chic space serves elevated bar food—like this crispy fried chicken with buffalo sauce and creamy bleu cheese mayo—alongside craft cocktails that don’t skimp on the booze or creativity.
20. Tony's
1131 J St | Website | Instagram
If you’re missing dearly departed Solomon’s, Tony’s Delicatessen & Catering in downtown Sacramento might just fill the void. Tony’s serves up classic deli sandwiches with a focus on fresh ingredients and generous portions. Whether it’s their pastrami on rye or a turkey club piled high with all the fixings, Tony’s delivers the kind of comfort food that feels like a warm hug. Bonus: they offer takeout and in-store dining, making it an easy option for a quick lunch or a leisurely bite.
