Sacramento Cheap Eats 2026: Best Ten-Dollar Lunches

Eat well in Sacramento for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.

Cheap eats worth seeking out

Pho Momma ★ 4.8

Vietnamese$east-sacramento

Pho Momma on Folsom Boulevard in Sacramento serves a Michelin Bib Gourmand pho under $18, the best-value Vietnamese counter with house pork wontons.

Try: Pho with house pork wontons

9555 Folsom Boulevard, Suite A, Sacramento, CA 95827

Mother ★ 4.7

Californian$midtown

Mother on K Street, midtown Sacramento, is the city's defining vegetarian counter under $20, daily-changing California farm-to-fork bowls and sandwiches.

Try: Seasonal vegetable bowls and farm sandwiches

2319 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95816

Selland's Market-Cafe ★ 4.5

Seafood$east-sacramentoMon-Thu 11:00-08:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-09:00, Sun 11:00-08:00

Selland's H Street counter in East Sacramento serves rotisserie chicken under $17, a walk-in family room from the team behind Ella Dining Room and OBO'.

Try: Rotisserie chicken and seasonal sides

5340 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95819

Squeeze Burger K Street ★ 4.4

Burgers$downtown

Squeeze Burger on K Street, downtown Sacramento, serves the signature third-pound patty with a fried cheese skirt under $12, the local institution.

Try: Squeezeburger with cheese skirt

1630 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Chando's Tacos Arden Way ★ 4.4

Taqueria$arden

Chando's Tacos on Arden Way is the family street-taco counter under $12, the relaunched Sacramento chain with stone-ground tortillas since 2010.

Try: Street tacos and NorCal burrito

863 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 95815

Petra Greek Midtown ★ 4.3

Greek$midtown

Petra Greek on 16th Street, midtown Sacramento, serves chicken and lamb gyros under $16, the family-run Greek counter on the 16th Street strip.

Try: Gyro plate and lamb wrap

1122 16th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Pho Bac Hoa Viet South Sac ★ 4.6

Vietnamese$south-sacramento

Pho Bac Hoa Viet on Stockton Boulevard serves family-run beef pho and bun bowls under $15, a Vietnamese commercial corridor counter, open daily.

Try: Beef pho and bun rice noodle bowls

6645 Stockton Boulevard, Suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95823

Tres Hermanas ★ 4.2

Mexican$midtown

Tres Hermanas on K Street, midtown Sacramento, serves Northern Mexico plates under $16, the sister-run family room since 1996 with chile rellenos.

Try: Chile relleno and pork burrito

2416 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95816

Pho Saigon Stockton Boulevard ★ 4.1

Vietnamese$south-sacramentoSat 09:00-22:00

Pho Saigon on Stockton Boulevard in Sacramento Vietnamese corridor serves long-simmered beef pho under $15, the neighborhood counter open daily.

Try: Beef pho and Vietnamese coffee

5304 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95820

Vampire Penguin Old Sacramento ★ 4.0

Taiwanese$old-sacramento

Vampire Penguin in Old Sacramento at 2nd Street serves the signature shaved snow bowl under $10, the original 2013 storefront of the now-national chain.

Try: Shaved snow bowl with toppings

1026 2nd Street, Suite B, Sacramento, CA 95814

Book food experiences in Sacramento

City Cruises Sacramento: Cocktail River Cruise

Water activity1.5 hours4.3 from 83 reviewsfrom $40

Enjoy a cocktail cruise along the Sacramento River as you sip on delicious drinks. Cruise under the Tower Bridge and soak in the views of the city skyline on an unforg...

Check dates and book

Sacramento: Rainbow Pasta Making Class With a Local Chef

2 hours5.0 from 1 reviewsfrom $75

Join Chef Maggie in Sacramento for a hands-on pasta-making class. Learn to make colorful pasta from scratch using natural ingredients and enjoy a homemade marinara sauce.

Check dates and book