Best of Sacramento 2014: Food & Drink Readers Choice Poll Winners

Chando’s Tacos won best tacos.

Chando’s Tacos won best tacos.

photo by steven chea

Best chef

1. Michael Thiemann

Mother, 1023 K Street; (916) 594-9812; www.mothersacramento.com

2. Billy Ngo

Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine, 2516 J Street; (916) 551-1559; www.krurestaurant.com

3. Jason Azevedo

Mighty Tavern, 9634 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Fair Oaks; (916) 241-9444; www.mightytavern.com

Best food truck

1. Chando's Tacos

various locations, www.chandostacos.com

1. Drewski's Hot Rod Kitchen

857 Third Avenue, (916) 502-0474, www.drewskis.com

2. Krush Burger

1151 Galleria Boulevard in Roseville, (855) 578-7403, www.krushburger.com

3. Wicked 'Wich

(916) 365-3775, https://twitter.com/wichonwheels

Best spot for happy hour

1. Shady Lady Saloon

1409 R Street, (916) 231-9121, http://shadyladybar.com

2. Ella Dining Room & Bar

1131 K Street, (916) 443-3772, www.elladiningroomandbar.com

3. The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar

2718 J Street, (916) 706-2275, https://theredrabbit.net

Best Indian

1. Bombay Bar and Grill

1315 21st Street, (916) 441-7100, www.bombaybarngrill.com

2. Kathmandu Kitchen

1728 Broadway, (916) 441-2172, www.kathmandukitchen.com

3. Pooja Indian Grill

1223 Merkley Avenue in West Sacramento, (916) 375-8906, www.poojaindiangrill.com

Best spot for sandwiches

1. The Sandwich Spot

various locations, www.thesandwichspot.com

2. Dad's Sandwiches

1310 S Street, (916) 448-3237, www.dadssandwiches.com

3. Corti Brothers

5810 Folsom Boulevard, (916) 736-3800, www.cortibros.biz

Best baked goods

1. Freeport Bakery

2966 Freeport Boulevard, (916) 442-4256, www.freeportbakery.com

2. Ettore's European Bakery and Restaurant

2376 Fair Oaks Boulevard, (916) 482-0708, www.ettores.com

3. Rick's Dessert Diner

2401 J Street, (916) 444-0969, www.ricksdessertdiner.com

Best Mediterranean/Middle Eastern eats

1. Opa! Opa!

5644 J Street, (916) 451-4000, www.eatatopa.com

2. Petra Greek

1122 16th Street, (916) 443-1993, www.petragreek.com

3. Anatolian Table

6815 Lonetree Boulevard, Suite 105 in Rocklin; (916) 772-3020; 2319 K Street, Suite B; (916) 737-5767; www.anatoliantable.com

3. The Kabob House

Tank House won best barbecue.

photo by steven chea

1726 Fulton Avenue, (916) 485-0163, www.kabobhousefulton.com

Best Mexican food

1. Tres Hermanas

2416 K Street, (916) 443-6919, www.treshermanasonk.com

2. Zocalo

1801 Capitol Avenue, (916) 441-0303, www.zocalosacramento.com

3. Vallejo's Restaurant

1100 O Street, Suite 8; (916) 498-1744; www.vallejosrestaurant.com

Best tacos

1. Chando's Tacos

various locations, www.chandostacos.com

2. Taqueria Jalisco

330 16th Street, (916) 446-4834

3. La Fiesta Taqueria

1105 Alhambra Boulevard, (916) 454-5616, http://lafiestataqueria.com

4. La Favorita Taqueria 5940 Florin Road, (916) 391-5544

Best new restaurant

1. Mother

1023 K Street, (916) 594-9812, www.mothersacramento.com

2. Block Butcher Bar

1050 20th Street, (916) 476-6306, http://blockbutcherbar.com

3. Lou's Sushi

2801 P Street, (916) 451-4700, www.lousushi.com

3. Thai Canteen

1501 16th Street, Suite 109; (916) 382-9196; www.canteensac.com

Best outdoor patio

1. Tower Cafe

1518 Broadway, (916) 441-0222, www.towercafe.com

2. LowBrau

1050 20th Street, (916) 706-2636, www.lowbrausacramento.com

3. Der Biergarten

2332 K Street, (916) 346-4572, http://beergardensacramento.com

Best pizza

1. Zelda's Gourmet Pizza

1415 21st Street, (916) 447-1400, www.zeldasgourmetpizza.com

2. Hot Italian

1627 16th Street, (916) 444-3000, www.hotitalian.net

3. Chicago Fire

various locations, www.chicagofire.com

Best place to get a beer

1. LowBrau

1050 20th Street, (916) 706-2636, www.lowbrausacramento.com

2. Pangaea Bier Cafe

2743 Franklin Boulevard, (916) 454-4942, http://pangaeatwobrews.com

3. Burgers and Brew

various locations, www.burgersbrew.com

Best brewery

1. GoatHouse Brewing Co.

600 Wise Road in Lincoln, (916) 740-9100, www.goathousebrewing.com

2. Rubicon Brewing Company

2004 Capitol Avenue, (916) 448-7032, www.rubiconbrewing.com

3. New Helvetia Brewing Co.

1730 Broadway, (916) 469-9889, www.newhelvetiabrew.com

Mother won best chef, best vegetarian eats and best new restaurant.

photo by steven chea

Best barbecue

1. Tank House BBQ and Bar

1925 J Street, (916) 431-7199, http://tankhousebbq.com

2. Sandra Dee's Bar-B-Que & Seafood

601 15th Street, (916) 448-6375, www.sandradeesbbq.com

3. Fahrenheit 250 BBQ

7042 Folsom Boulevard, (916) 476-4508, www.fahrenheitbbq.com

Best brunch

1. Tower Cafe

1518 Broadway, (916) 441-0222, www.towercafe.com

2. Fox & Goose

1001 R Street, (916) 443-8825, www.foxandgoose.com

3. Bacon and Butter

5913 Broadway, (916) 346-4445, www.baconandbuttersac.com

Best burger

1. Burgers and Brew

various locations, www.burgersbrew.com

2. Willie's Burgers

2415 16th Street, (916) 444-2006, www.williesburgers.com

3. The Squeeze Inn

1630 K Street, (916) 492-2499, www.thesqueezeinn.com

Best coffee

1. Temple Coffee

various locations, www.templecoffee.com

2. Old Soul Co.

various locations, www.oldsoulco.com

3. Insight Coffee Roasters

various locations, www.insightcoffee.com

Best dive bar

1. Mercantile Saloon

1928 L Street, (916) 447-0792

2. Q Street Bar & Grill

2013 Q Street, (916) 443-5555

3. The Hideaway Bar & Grill

2565 Franklin Boulevard, (916) 455-1331, www.facebook.com/sactohideaway

Best cocktails

1. Shady Lady Saloon

1409 R Street, (916) 231-9121, http://shadyladybar.com

2. The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar

2718 J Street, (916) 706-2275, https://theredrabbit.net

3. Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co.

1630 S Street, (916) 442-4885, http://hookandladder916.com

Best place for late-night eats

1. Ink Eats & Drinks

2730 N Street, (916) 456-2800, www.inkeats.com

2. Burgers and Brew

various locations, www.burgersbrew.com

3. Willie's Burgers

2415 16th Street, (916) 444-2006, www.williesburgers.com

Best place for meat-free eats

1. Mother

1023 K Street, (916) 594-9812, www.mothersacramento.com

2. Sunflower Drive In

10344 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Fair Oaks, (916) 967-4331, www.sunflowernatural restaurant.com

3. Andy Nguyen's Vegetarian Restaurant

2007 Broadway, (916) 736-1157, www.andynguyenvegetarian.com

Best place for something sweet

1. Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates

1801 L Street, Suite 60; (916) 706-1738; https://gingerelizabeth.com

2. Rick's Dessert Diner

2401 J Street, (916) 444-0969, www.ricksdessertdiner.com

3. Freeport Bakery

2966 Freeport Boulevard, (916) 442-4256, www.freeportbakery.com

Best frozen treats

1. Gunther's Ice Cream Shop

2801 Franklin Boulevard, (916) 457-6646, www.gunthersicecream.com

2. Leatherby's Family Creamery

2333 Arden Way, (916) 920-8382, https://leatherbys.net

3. Vic's Ice Cream

3199 Riverside Boulevard, (916) 448-0892, www.vicsicecream.com

Best sushi

1. Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine

2516 J Street, (916) 551-1559, www.krurestaurant.com

2. Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

various locations, www.mikunisushi.com

3. Lou's Sushi

2801 P Street, (916) 451-4700, www.lousushi.com

Best Thai

1. Thai Basil

2431 J Street, (916) 442-7690, www.thaibasilrestaurant.com

2. Siam Patio Thai Cuisine

9830 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Fair Oaks, (916) 844-2102, www.siampatiothai.com

2. Taste of Thai

1628 Broadway, (916) 444-5598

2. Thai Canteen

1501 16th Street, Suite 109; (916) 382-9196; www.canteensac.com

3. The Coconut Midtown

2502 J Street, (916) 447-1855, www.coconutmidtown.com

Best affordable eats

1. Chando's Tacos

various locations, www.chandostacos.com

2. Jimboy's Tacos

various locations, http://jimboystacos.com

3. Shoki Ramen House

1201 R Street, (916) 441-0011; 2675 24th Street, (916) 454-2411; http://shokiramenhouse.com

Best pho

1. Pho Bac Hoa Viet

3110 Bradshaw Road, (916) 361-3888; 602 E. Bidwell Street in Folsom; (916) 817-8588; www.phobachoaviet.com

2. Star Ginger Asian Grill & Noodle Bar

3101 Folsom Boulevard, (916) 231-8888, www.starginger.com

3. Harry's Cafe

2026 16th Street, (916) 448-0088

Best dumplings

1. Frank Fat's

806 L Street, (916) 442-7092, www.fatsrestaurants.com

2. New Canton Restaurant

2523 Broadway, (916) 739-8888

3. Dim Sum House

2631 Broadway, (916) 456-6688