6 Of The Best Places To Eat In Sacramento Today

On top of being the capital city of California, Sacramento has truly so much to sightsee, visit, and try out while you visit. Some of the best places to eat in Sacramento today include several Michelin-recognized and Michelin-rated restaurants. There are also taquerias that have been around for ages and a hidden gem of a Chinese eatery. Enjoy some classic Southern food, a ramen bar, and more! Whether you call Sacramento your home or are just here for a visit, be sure to add these places to your list. That way, after a long day of sightseeing, (the Crocker Art Museum, anyone?) you’ll know exactly where to lead your crew. Even if you're solo, these are great spots to have a tasty bite. Keep on reading to learn more about some of the best places to eat in Sacramento.

In this post, we’ll talk all about the menu options and price points. You’ll learn some of their histories, about their chefs, and how long they’ve been on the Sacramento food scene. Whatever kind of food you're in the mood for, if it's not on this list, there’s still a good chance it can be found. After all, Sacramento is California’s capital. Happy reading! And California eating!

Localis

2031 South St., Sacramento, CA 95811

Localis is one of two restaurants in Sacramento with a one Michelin Star rating. Localis is run by chef Christopher Barnum-Dann, who uses locally sourced ingredients for a creative, and engaging menu. Enjoy your Localis experience at the Chef's counter, or in the beautiful dining room. It will cost $197 per person for a 12-course meal, and an unforgettable evening. There is no menu available online, due to the seasonal nature of the ever-changing tasting menu. However, Michelin raves about the potato rosti dish featuring piped uni mousse. There's also an octopus tentacle entree served with polenta and a preserved lemon, brown butter sauce. Judging from the incredible pictures featured on the website, it's no wonder this is one of the best places to eat In Sacramento. The Michelin judges think so too!

The Kitchen Restaurant

915 Broadway #100, Sacramento, CA 95818

The other Michelin-starred restaurant is Sacramento's The Kitchen Restaurant. This fine dining eatery earned one Michelin star for high-quality cooking in 2023 and also has the AAA five-diamond classification. They have one seating per evening, and the menu features six courses plus hors d’oeuvres and mignardises. The menu changes seasonally, centered around ingredient availability and the whole experience costs $185 per person before taxes. The Kitchen Restaurant is led by the executive chef Kelly McCown. McCown brings his culinary training and time working in other Michelin-starred restaurants to the works. Guiovanni Sarmiento is the Chef de Cuisine. The whole Kitchen team brings their all to this great Sacramento dining experience.

The current menu for fall starts with local figs, focaccia, and prosciutto di Parma. Taste deer meadow steelhead, with butternut squash, or chestnut and pear ravioli with chanterelle and maitake mushrooms, and butter-roasted chestnuts. The next courses feature raw oysters, and rockfish ceviche with Asian pears, ginger, and passion fruit. Save room for rock shrimp “coctel” with tostones and tomatillos. Enjoy savory mille-feuille with Kabocha pumpkin, truffle fonduta, and burgundy truffles. Or taste a perfectly cooked venison loin with wild juniper, matsutake mushrooms, fuji apples, and Earl Grey tea. For dessert try the white chocolate clafoutis cake with apples, wild pecans, and white corn. After dinner enjoy more mignardises, also known as “bite-size” desserts.

Q1227 Restaurant

1465 Eureka Rd., Suite 100, Roseville, CA 95661

Right outside of Sacramento in a little spot called Roseville, sits Q1227 Restaurant. It's well worth a mention on this list of the best places to eat in Sacramento, even though it's truthfully just outside. According to Eater, the likes of former President Bill Clinton have enjoyed an evening at this restaurant. Named for its chef's name and birth date, it is led by Chef Q Bennett. Q1227 has been serving California-inspired fare since 2019. Be sure to try the chicken fried lobster bites, the toasted orzo pasta salad, and the pan-seared scallops and crabcakes with spinach and beurre blanc.

The first section of the menu, entitled “comforting starters,” features artichoke beignets, pork belly tidbits with maple glaze, and ahi tuna nachos. Try the lamb Wellington, black-eyed pea hummus, or garlic cheese loaf. There's Q1227 gumbo, tomato basil soup, grilled octopus, crab louie, and fresh salads. Sharable veggies include roasted rainbow carrots, collard greens, and Brussels sprouts chips. Taste whole roasted cauliflower, mac and cheese, Szechuan okra, or coconut curry mussels.

There are three flatbreads, and entrée options like Southern fried chicken, seared Atlantic salmon, hangar steak, shrimp and grits, and whole flash-fried branzini. Try the burger, house meatloaf, ribeye cap, and numerous other main dishes full of flavor, and the creative use of local ingredients. Larger sharing dishes include a grilled seafood platter, a bone-in ribeye with truffle herb butter, and a rack of lamb with mushroom, and leek ragout. For a true Q1227 experience, try the 3-course pre-fixed menu.

Kodaiko Ramen & Bar

718 K St., Sacramento, CA 95814

Craving some great ramen? Try out Kodaiko Ramen & Bar which uses fresh and local ingredients to make traditional Japanese ramen. Enjoy toppings like raw egg, pork belly, chicken, veggies, garlic confit or other kinds of noodles. Taste fresh pork tonkotsu with pork belly chasu ($17), mushroom paitan with cashew cream ($17.50), and citrus shio with chicken chansu ($16.50). Enjoy several shoyu dishes, both meat and soy-based, and tonkotsu with pork and fish broth, roasted garlic, and lots of toppings ($20). There are shrimp dumplings in miso butter ($25), spicy pork mabo ($18), and miso ground pork with crispy noodles and lime ($18). Get a side of house kimchi and pickled vegetables ($7), karaage Japanese fried chicken with a yuzu tajin mayonnaise ($12/$28), nori fries ($8), or crispy Brussels sprouts ($9).

Taste the fresh sushi handrolls ($7), albacore carpaccio ($15), tofu with tomato jam, ponzu, and onions ($9), chicken katsu ($10), or shrimp toast with kewpie mayonnaise ($12). There are some great salads, and several fusion sandwiches well worth trying out. For something sweet, order the honey-nori cheesecake sando with macaron, and sesame powder ($9). No wonder this is one of the best places to eat in Sacramento, all the menu options look incredible!

Yue Huang Restaurant

3860 Truxel Rd., Sacramento, CA 95834

Yue Huang Restaurant in Sacramento is a Michelin-reviewed spot! It has a Bib Gourmand award for good quality cooking at an affordable price. Located in the Natomas shopping center, Yue Huang Restaurant serves Cantonese dim sum. Michelin recommends the sticky-rice shrimp balls, and the walnut and red bean paste stuffed steamed buns. Enjoy steamed, baked, fried, and pan-fried dim sum options. There is also a section for traditional congee rice stew, and classic Chinese soups (wonton, hot & sour, crab meat & fish maw). Try traditional veggie dishes, chicken feet, duck chin, and walnut honey shrimp. Larger plates feature roasted duck, honey BBQ pork, Peking duck, and black pepper short ribs. For their full menu, check out the website, or visit in person for the true Yue Huang Restaurant experience.

The Porch Restaurant & Bar

1815 K St, Sacramento, CA 95811

The Porch Restaurant & Bar offers a Southern comfort food experience in central California. Enjoy the charm and hospitality of the South, served with a steaming side of local, organic traditional recipes. The fare takes inspiration from Cajun, and Creole styles of cooking, preventing classic dishes with great ingredients. The Porch Restaurant & Bar focuses on its sustainability by using biodegradable products and eco-friendly processing. They source their produce locally and work with regional suppliers for meats, famred seafood and free-range chicken. Let's take a closer look at their menu.

For starters try out fried tomatoes ($14), grilled brie ($17), beignets ($13), skillet cornbread ($13), mac & cheese ($14), and cajun-fried beets ($12). There's breaded catfish ($13), all kinds of fresh salads, buttermilk-fried chicken ($28), the porch burger ($18), the brisket meatloaf ($25), and catfish and jambalaya ($23). Enjoy classic shrimp & grits ($19/$28), vegan cajun stir-fry ($21), and other Southern classic goodies. Save room for a side of buttermilk business, herb mashed potatoes, candied yams, and cheesy grits. You'll have to go in person to check out the delicious dessert offerings.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Norcal_kt/Shutterstock.com.