Best of Sacramento 2016: Food & Drink readers’ picks
Best affordable eats
1. Chando’s Tacos
various locations, http://chandostacos.com
2. Shoki Ramen House
1201 R Street, (916) 441-0011; 2530 21st Street, (916) 454-2411; http://shokiramenhouse.com
3. Willie’s Burgers
2415 16th Street, (916) 444-2006, www.williesburgers.com
Best baked goods
1. Freeport Bakery
2966 Freeport Boulevard, (916) 442-4256, http://freeportbakery.com
2. Ettore’s European Bakery and Restaurant
2376 Fair Oaks Boulevard, (916) 482-0708, www.ettores.com
3. Pushkin’s Bakery
1820 29th Street, (916) 376-7752, www.pushkinsbakery.com
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. Momo’s Meat Market
5780 Broadway, (916) 452-0202, www.momosmeatmarket.net
Best brewery
1. Track 7 Brewing Co.
3747 W. Pacific Avenue, Suite F; 826 Professor Lane, Suite 100; (916) 520-4677; http://track7brewing.com
2. Oak Park Brewing Co.
3514 Broadway, (916) 660-2723, www.opbrewco.com
3. Sactown Union Brewery
1210 66th Street, Unit B; (916) 272-4472; www.sactownunion.com
Best brunch
1. Bacon & Butter
5913 Broadway, (916) 346-4445, http://baconandbuttersac.com
2. Tower Cafe
1518 Broadway, (916) 441-0222, http://towercafe.com
3. Fox & Goose
1001 R Street, (916) 443-8825, http://foxandgoose.com
Best burger
1. Burgers and Brew
various locations, www.burgersbrew.com
2. Broderick Roadhouse
various locations, www.broderick1893.com
3. Squeeze Inn
various locations, www.thesqueezeinn.com
Best chef
1. Adam Schulze, The Waterboy
2000 Capitol Avenue, (916) 498-9891, www.waterboyrestaurant.com
2. Billy Ngo, Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine
3135 Folsom Boulevard, http://krurestaurant.com
3. Billy Zoellin, Bacon & Butter
5913 Broadway, (916) 346-4445, www.baconandbuttersac.com
Best Chinese
1. Frank Fat’s
806 L Street, (916) 442-7092, www.fatsrestaurants.com
2. Mayflower Chinese Cuisine
3022 L Street, (916) 737-2222
3. Temple Garden
5701 Broadway, Suite A; (916) 739-1039; www.templegardensac.com
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, http://theredrabbit.net
3. Bottle & Barlow
1120 R Street, (916) 379-7719, http://bottleandbarlow.com
Best coffee
1. Temple Coffee
various locations, http://templecoffee.com
2. Old Soul Co.
various locations, www.oldsoulco.com
3. Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters
various locations, www.chocolatefishcoffee.com
Best dive bar
1. Mercantile Saloon
1928 L Street, (916) 447-0792
2. The Zebra Club
1900 P Street, (916) 442-3972, www.zebraclubbarsacramento.com
3. The Hideaway Bar & Grill
2565 Franklin Boulevard, (916) 455-1331, www.facebook.com/sactohideaway
Best doughnut shop
1. Marie’s Donuts
2950 Freeport Boulevard, (916) 444-5245
2. Baker’s Donuts
5880 Florin Road, (916) 392-8466
3. Sweet Dozen
5207 Madison Avenue, (916) 344-2000, www.sweetdozen.com
Best food truck
1. Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen
(916) 502-0474, www.drewskis.com
2. The Culinerdy Cruzer
(916) 512-0221, www.nerdytruck.com
3. Bacon Mania Truck
(916) 934-2674, http://baconmaniatruck.com/NorCal
Best frozen treats
1. Gunther’s Ice Cream Shop
2801 Franklin Boulevard, (916) 457-6646, www.gunthersicecream.com
2. Vic’s Ice Cream
3199 Riverside Boulevard, (916) 448-0892, www.vicsicecream.com
3. Leatherby’s Family Creamery
2333 Arden Way, (916) 920-8382, https://leatherbys.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 Korean
1. Oz Korean BBQ
3343 Bradshaw Road, (916) 362-9292, www.ozkoreanbbq.com
2. YD House
8979 Folsom Boulevard, (916) 366-6698
3. Aura Korean & Japanese Restaurant
1401 G Street, (916) 930-9988, www.eataura.com
Best Mediterranean/Middle Eastern
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. Cafe Morocco
1221 Alhambra Boulevard, (916) 731-4637
Best Mexican
1. Tres Hermanas
2416 K Street, (916) 443-6919, www.treshermanasonk.com
2. Zocalo
1801 Capitol Avenue, (916) 441-0303, www.zocalosacramento.com
3. El Novillero
4216 Franklin Boulevard, (916) 456-4287, http://elnov.com/
Best new restaurant
1. NixTaco
1805 Cirby Way, Suite 12 in Roseville, (916) 771-4165, http://nixta.co
2. Empress Tavern
1013 K Street, (916) 662-7694, www.empresstavern.com
3. Fish Face Poke Bar
1104 R Street, (916) 706-0605, www.fishfacepokebar.com
Best outdoor patio
1. Midtown BierGarten
2332 K Street, (916) 346-4572, www.beergardensacramento.com
2. Tower Cafe
1518 Broadway, (916) 441-0222, www.towercafe.com
3. Paragary’s
1401 28th Street, (916) 457-5737, www.paragarys.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. Coriander Vietnamese Restaurant
1899 Alhambra Boulevard, (916) 456-0888, www.savorycoriander.com/
3. Star Ginger Asian Grill & Noodle Bar
3101 Folsom Boulevard, (916) 231-8888, www.starginger.com
Best pizza
1. Hot Italian
1627 16th Street, (916) 444-3000, www.hotitalian.net
2. OneSpeed
4818 Folsom Boulevard, (916) 706-1748, www.onespeedpizza.com
3. Chicago Fire
various locations, www.chicagofire.com
Best place for breakfast
1. Lucky Cafe
1111 21st Street
2. Awful Annie’s
Various locations, www.awfulannies.com
3. Cornerstone
2326 J Street, (916) 441-0948, www.facebook.com/Cornerstone-Restaurant-149406445098731
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. Andy Nguyen’s Vegetarian Restaurant
2007 Broadway, (916) 736-1157, www.andynguyenvegetarian.com
3. Sunflower Drive In
10344 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Fair Oaks, (916) 967-4331, www.sunflowernaturalrestaurant.com
Best place for something sweet
1. Rick’s Dessert Diner
2401 J Street, (916) 444-0969, www.ricksdessertdiner.com
2. Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates
1801 L Street, Suite 60; (916) 706-1738; https://gingerelizabeth.com
3. Freeport Bakery
2966 Freeport Boulevard, (916) 442-4256, www.freeportbakery.com
Best place to get a beer
1. Pangaea Bier Cafe
2743 Franklin Boulevard, (916) 454-4942, http://pangaeatwobrews.com
2. Burgers and Brew
various locations, www.burgersbrew.com
3. Capitol Beer & Tap Room
2222 Fair Oaks Boulevard, (916) 922-1745, www.capitolbeer.com
Best place to sip wine
1. Old Sugar Mill
35265 Willow Avenue in Clarksburg, (916) 744-1615, http://oldsugarmill.com
2. 58 Degrees & Holding Co.
1217 18th Street, (916) 442-5858, www.58degrees.com
3. Revolution Wines
2831 S Street, (916) 444-7711, http://rev.wine
Best place to watch sports
1. Firestone Public House
1132 16th Street, (916) 446-0888, http://firestonepublichouse.com
2. De Vere’s Irish Pub
1521 L Street, (916) 231-9947, http://deverespub.com/?loc=Sacramento
3. University of Beer
1510 16th Street, (916) 996-4844, https://theuob.com
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 spot for sandwiches
1. Dad’s Sandwiches
1310 S Street, (916) 448-3237, www.dadssandwiches.com
2. Corti Brothers
5810 Folsom Boulevard, (916) 736-3800, https://cortibrothers.com/
3. Roxie Deli & Barbeque
various locations, http://roxiedeli.com
Best steakhouse
1. The Firehouse Restaurant
1112 Second Street, (916) 442-4772, www.firehouseoldsac.com
2. Jamie’s Broadway Grille
427 Broadway, (916) 442-4044, www.jamiesbroadwaygrille.com
3. Sutter Street Steakhouse
604 Sutter Street in Folsom, (916) 351-9100, www.sutterstreetsteakhouse.com
Best sushi
1. Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine
3135 Folsom Boulevard, http://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 tacos
1. Chando’s Tacos
various locations, www.chandostacos.com
2. Taqueria Jalisco
330 16th Street, (916) 446-4834
3. NixTaco
1805 Cirby Way, Suite 12 in Roseville, (916) 771-4165, http://nixta.co
Best Thai
1. The Coconut Midtown
2502 J Street, (916) 447-1855, www.coconutmidtown.com
2. Thai Basil
2431 J Street, (916) 442-7690, www.thaibasilrestaurant.com
3. Bangkok @12 Thai Restaurant
900 12th Street, (916) 443-5588, www.bangkok12restaurant.com