The rooms worth a reservation in Sacramento, from neighbourhood bistros to the new classics.
The restaurants worth the trip in Sacramento. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Kin Thai on 20th Street in midtown Sacramento is the city's only Michelin Recommended Thai room, sisters Napis and Napak's family Thai street kitchen.
Signature: Khao Mok Gai Tod, Kua Kling, Pou Nim Pad Phong Karee
Order: Khao Mok Gai Tod (Thai chicken biryani) and Kua Kling (Southern spicy pork)
Tip: Closed every second Tuesday of the month. Walk-ins at lunch are fine; book ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner.
Majka on 15th Street, midtown Sacramento, is Alex Sherry and Chutharat Sae Tong's Michelin Recommended naturally-leavened pizza counter and bakery.
Signature: Naturally leavened pizza, Sourdough focaccia
Order: The seasonal naturally leavened pizza, focaccia, and the morning pastry case
Tip: Limited indoor seating. Walk-up or pre-order via Toast. Bakery hours run morning into afternoon.
Pho Momma on Folsom Boulevard in Sacramento earned a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand, the city's most decorated pho counter with house pork wontons in the broth.
Signature: Pho, Pork wontons
Order: Beef pho with house pork wontons; the bone broth has the depth
Tip: Walk-in only, no reservations. Thursday to Sunday 11:00 to 20:30. The queue moves quickly.
Yue Huang on Truxel Road, Natomas Sacramento, is the Michelin Bib Gourmand Cantonese dim sum and live-seafood room, the best yum cha in the Valley.
Signature: Dim sum, Live seafood
Order: Cart dim sum at weekend brunch; the live Dungeness crab in season
Tip: Weekend dim sum runs 09:30 to 14:30 and queues. Book the dinner seafood room separately.
Zocalo on Capitol Avenue, midtown Sacramento, is the Michelin Recommended Mexican room set in a restored 1920s automobile dealership with Tlaquepaque artwork.
Signature: Ceviche, House tortilla tacos
Order: Avocado and serrano ceviche; the house-tortilla taco flight
Tip: Patio takes the lunch crowd; happy hour runs 15:00 to 18:00. Tequila list is the deepest in the city.
Hawks Provisions on Alhambra Boulevard, East Sacramento, opened 2015 as the sister room to Hawks Granite Bay. Michelin Recommended modern American with patio.
Signature: Burger, Wood-fired vegetables
Order: The dry-aged burger, the Wagyu tartare, wood-fired seasonal vegetables
Tip: Bar takes walk-ins; the patio books up summer weekends. Sister to the Granite Bay flagship.
Mother on K Street, midtown Sacramento, is the city's defining vegetarian counter, a fast-casual farm-to-fork room with a daily-changing seasonal menu.
Signature: Seasonal vegetable bowls, Farm-driven sandwiches
Order: Whatever the farms delivered that week, plus the seasonal grain bowl
Tip: Walk-in counter. Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 to 20:00, Friday and Saturday to 21:00. Closed Sunday and Monday.
OBO' on Folsom Boulevard, East Sacramento, is the Selland family's rustic Italian sister room to Ella, Wagyu meatballs and wood-fired pizza.
Signature: House pasta, Wood-fired pizza
Order: Pappardelle with short rib ragu, the wood-fired margherita
Tip: Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. Bar walk-in. Sister to Ella Dining Room.
Selland's on H Street, East Sacramento, is the family-owned daily counter from the Selland Hospitality Group, rotisserie chicken and wood-fired pizza.
Signature: Rotisserie chicken, Wood-fired pizza
Order: Rotisserie chicken, the seasonal pizza, the daily soup
Tip: Counter ordering, no reservations. Family-friendly. Also on Broadway in Land Park and at El Dorado Hills.
Selland's on Broadway in Land Park, Sacramento, is the family counter on the same block as The Kitchen, rotisserie chicken and farm-vegetable plates.
Signature: Rotisserie chicken, Sandwiches
Order: Rotisserie chicken, the seasonal grain bowl, the farm-vegetable sides
Tip: Counter ordering, no reservations. Quick lunch and dinner. Same block as The Kitchen flagship.
The Firehouse on Second Street in Old Sacramento is the historic 1853 brick firehouse turned fine-dining room with the largest wine list in the region.
Signature: Beef filet, Seared scallops
Order: The beef filet, the seasonal seared scallops, a bottle from the wine cellar
Tip: Jacket suggested for the dining room. Patio courtyard is the warm-weather option. Book a week ahead.
Iron Horse Tavern on 15th Street, midtown Sacramento, is a modern American tavern with reclaimed wood, copper bar and railroad-heritage decor.
Signature: Outlaw burger, Smoked brisket and cornbread waffle
Order: The Outlaw burger series, the smoked brisket and cornbread waffle, weekend brunch
Tip: Patio takes the late-afternoon sun. Weekend brunch from 09:00. Sister room in Folsom.
Tower Cafe on Broadway in Land Park opened Earth Day 1990, James Seyman global-fusion brunch room with palms-and-patio garden seating outside.
Signature: Famous French toast, Jamaican jerk chicken
Order: The award-winning French toast at brunch, Piag's Thai steak, Jamaican jerk chicken
Tip: Brunch queues Saturday and Sunday after 09:30. Patio with palms is the table to ask for. Open daily for breakfast through dinner.
Mayahuel on K Street, downtown Sacramento, is Ernesto Delgado Mexican fine-dining and tequila museum, Gabriel Romo murals and an agave list.
Signature: Tequila and mezcal flights, Family-recipe Mexican plates
Order: A tequila or mezcal flight; the family-recipe pozole and mole
Tip: Patio for dinner. Live music selected nights. Walking distance from the Convention Center and Capitol.
Brasserie du Monde on K Street, downtown Sacramento, is the polished 1930s-styled French brasserie, world-cuisine menu drawn on French technique.
Signature: Croque monsieur, Boeuf bourguignon
Order: Croque monsieur at lunch, boeuf bourguignon at dinner, the filet mignon sauce diane
Tip: Lunch Monday to Friday from 11:00. Walking distance from Golden 1 Center. Wine cellar runs deep.
The Porch on K Street in midtown Sacramento is the South Carolina Lowcountry-styled room, fat cornmeal fried shrimp and a bourbon flight list.
Signature: Cornmeal fried shrimp, Shrimp po' boy
Order: Cornmeal fried shrimp, the crab cake, fried green tomatoes and a bourbon flight
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Sunday brunch 09:00 to 14:30. Bourbon punch bowls for groups.
La Trattoria Bohemia on J Street in East Sacramento is the city Czech-Italian dining room, goulash and svickova with house pasta and Czech beer.
Signature: Goulash with dumplings, House pasta
Order: Czech goulash with bread dumplings, svickova roast beef, the daily pasta
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Czech beer on draft. Small room with a regulars' bar that fills fast.
Kru on Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento is Billy Ngo Japanese omakase room, the city destination sushi address with a deep sake list to go.
Signature: Omakase nigiri, Seasonal sashimi
Order: The chef's omakase nigiri course; the seasonal sashimi flight
Tip: Counter omakase requires advance booking. Sake pairings worth the upgrade. Closed Monday.
Origami Asian Grill on Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento is the pan-Asian counter from chef Billy Ngo group, ramen and Korean rice plates.
Signature: Ramen bowls, Korean BBQ rice plates
Order: The signature tonkotsu ramen, the bulgogi rice bowl, dumplings
Tip: Counter ordering, faster than Kru next door. Patio seating on Folsom Boulevard. Cocktails on offer.
Aiona on K Street in downtown Sacramento opened April 2026 as a live-fire pan-Mediterranean room, an open-kitchen grill setup with a 3,000-bottle wine cellar.
Signature: Whole branzino, Lamb souvlaki
Order: Whole branzino from the fire, lamb souvlaki, the mezze hummus and eggplant dip
Tip: Closed Sunday. Coral banquettes and an art deco mural by Mike Willcox. Advanced Sommelier curates the cellar.