Twinkling Mexican lanterns inside Centro Cocina Mexicana in Midtown.

Take your tastebuds on a trip around the world without ever leaving Sacramento. This blog post is filled with all kinds of global cuisine, some of them are traditional authentic and others are inventive fusion foods.

We moved to Sacramento in 2017 and we’ve seen California’s capital city become a coveted foodie destination with so many new restaurants opening up. I have to constantly be updating my Sacramento guides because the city is growing so fast!

Because Sacramento is known as America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, many of the restaurants use locally sourced produce and ingredients. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with the quality and freshness when dinning out in Sacramento.

Bombay Bar & Grill in Midtown

One evening my husband brought home a large order of takeout from Bombay Bar. It consisted of Lamb Biriyani, Garlic Basil Naan, Traditional Lamb Curry and Tandoori Chicken. I wouldn’t normally order a lamb dish but this is one of the few places that makes very tender and delicious lamb meat. I would definitely try more items on their menu!

Curry Up Now

This popular Indian food chain takes classic street foods and gives them a modern twist. They have Indian-style burritos, tikka masala ravioli and so many more fusion foods. They also have a large selection of vegan and vegetarian foods. The Sacramento location is inside the Ice Blocks Building in the R District.

Thai Basil

Thai Basil is a Midtown Thai restaurant and a great place for a sit-down date night meal. Their food is traditional and authentic Thai and they serve all the favorites such as noodle dishes and curries. They recently added a vegan menu too.

Estelle French Bakery & Pâtisserie

Estelle has two modern and airy French bakeries in Sacramento - one Downtown and another on Arden Way. They bake fresh bread and pastries along with serving brunch and lunch. Their beautiful bakery boxes also make for excellent gifts.

Oba Kitchen Japanese Restaurant

My standard order at Oba is vegetable tempura, the Golden California Roll and veggie egg rolls. I’ve only had them for takeout but they do have a restaurant with seating on Broadway.

Lowbrau

Lowbrau is a modern German pub serving traditional bratwurst and specialty meats prepared at Block Butcher Bar. They also serve German bier and other alcoholic drinks. It’s a very popular weekend brunch spot and it’s centrally located in Midtown on 20th Street.

Pasty Shack in East Sacramento

I’ve been to England several times but I hadn’t tried a traditional English pasty until I moved to Sacramento. Pasty Shack is a small local shop has been a family-run business since the 1950’s. They have a very simple menu consisting of several flavors of pasties, apple turnovers and slaw.

If you’ve never tried a pasty, it can be best described as a baked pastry shell stuffed with savory seasoned meat and vegetables. I’ve been told that their Friday special Chili Verde pork is their most popular flavor and it sells out quickly.

English Fish and Chips in Sacramento

While I had never tried English pasties during my travels in the UK, I have had fish and chips many times while abroad. In Sacramento there’s two spots I know of dedicated to fish and chips:

Cape Cod Fish & Chips on Folsom Blvd in East Sacramento.
H Salt Fish & Chips on 16th in Midtown.

La Flor' Salvadoran Pupusas Gril

La Flor is a hole in the wall Salvadoran take-out restaurant that makes traditional pupusas. We will call in a large order of pork, beef and jalapeño and cheese pupusas and enjoy them throughout the week.

If you’ve never had pupusas before, they are savory cornmeal griddle patties stuffed with meat, cheese, veggies, etc. Similar to a Mexican tamale, just in a different shape.

Saigon Alley Kitchen + Bar

Last month I just had a happy hour lunch with a friend at Saigon Alley in Midtown. We ate a vegan vermicelli bowl, beef pho and passionfruit soda with basil seeds. The food was very fresh and yummy, and the staff was also extra welcoming and friendly. Highly recommend them!

Shahrzad Fine Persian Cuisine

I used to work for a Persian family and they would host big dinners with freshly made traditional Persian. I don’t remember the names of any of the dishes but they were all delicious. Persian foods are flavored with spices such as saffron, currants, tahini and peppers.

Ono Hawaiian BBQ

My husband’s first introduction to Hawaiian food was during our trip to Oahu a couple years ago. He loved the Hawaiian ribs, BBQ beef, macaroni salad and rice we ate on the islands. In Sacramento you can find the same authentic Hawaiian foods at one of the many Ono Hawaiian restaurants.

Kathmandu Nepali & Indian Restaurant

Nepali food is a rare find but for Sacramento locals it’s just a short drive to Davis to enjoy these delicacies. From the menu you can order Tibetan style pan fried noodles, vegetable momo, Nepali samosa and more.

Petra Greek Cuisine

My husband and I went to Santorini in 2015 and we ate our way through the Greek islands. To get our Greek food fix in Sacramento we go to Petra’s. This restaurant is always hustling and bustling and it’s mostly due to their infamous tzatziki spread and pita bread, chicken souvlaki and tyrokafteri (also known asFiery Feta). Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

They have locations in Midtown, Golden One Center and Folsom.

Frank Fat’s Chinese Cuisine

Frank Fat’s is a very long-standing restaurant in Sacramento. They’re the oldest family-owned restaurant in Sacramento and date back to the 1930’s. Located downtown just a few blocks away from the State Capitol building, they serve modern Chinese food in an upscale setting.

Masullo Pizzeria

Located in Land Park, Masullo is an upscale pizza spot serving wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza and complimentary Italian dishes. The ambiance is especially inviting for a pizza joint with modern furnishings and elevated design.

Ice Cream & Donuts in Sacramento

I have an entire guide dedicated to ice cream, donuts and sweets in Sacramento. There’s definitely an ice cream food scene with so many vintage-style family owned ice cream parlors. And then of course donuts have taken on a life of their own with inventive new flavors and unexpected toppings.

La Cosecha by Mayahuel Mexican Food

When we moved to Sacramento La Cosecha was probably the first restaurant we dined at. I remember it was a warm evening with music playing, people dancing on the patio dance floor, twinkling lights and of course delicious Mexican food. La Cosecha is located inside Cesar Chavez Plaza and it’s a great area to walk around and explore on-foot.

Hook & Ladder New American

Hook & Ladder is much like many of the New American foodie spots that have recently opened up in Sacramento - they take classic comfort foods and put a new spin on them. Hook & Ladder loves to make deconstructed “Jenga style” food presentations on a plate (scroll up to see what I mean).

SOUTH - American Southern Comfort Food

At South they’re serving much more than just fried chicken. On the menu you’ll find southern favorites such as cheese grits, hush puppies, jambalaya, cornbread, fried shrimp, pecan pie and sweet tea. See photos from our visit below.

Dumpling House in Midtown

Another newcomer in 2020 to the Sacramento foodie scene is the Dumpling House on J Street in Midtown. This casual take-out spot makes traditional pot stickers, pork buns, dumplings, noodle dishes, egg rolls, etc. They have good vegetarian options too.

Centro Cocina Mexicana

A great date night spot in Midtown is Centro Cocina. They have a whimsical vibe with colorful twinkling Mexican lanterns and lights. The food is elevated traditional Mexican food with mole dishes, tamales, tacos and burritos.

Sibling by Pushkin's

I always try to include food options for those with dietary restrictions and Pushkin’s serves a lengthy menu with gluten-free and vegan foods. Centrally located in Midtown on Capitol Ave, this is a popular weekend gathering spot.