21 restaurants just opened around the Sacramento region in March. See what’s on the menu
The Sacramento region’s dining scene continued to grow in March 2024, adding at least 21 new restaurants from Yolo to Placer counties.
Long-suffering bagel lovers rejoiced when a new bakery opened along Stockton Boulevard on March 16, while a Japanese hand roll bar, a Korean gimbap shop and an Armenian-influenced steakhouse all added new tastes to their surrounding neighborhood.
Twelve restaurants debuted in Sacramento proper, including five in the city center. Two restaurants opened in Elk Grove, while Roseville, Fair Oaks, Davis, Auburn, Rancho Cordova, Lincoln and Granite Bay all added one apiece.
Bodega Biandi (7984 California Ave., Fair Oaks): Peruvian native Franco Biondi opened his Fair Oaks Village tapas bar (heartier items include pastas, panini and flatbreads) on March 8, with wines from Italy, Spain and Napa Valley.
Buddha Bowls & Rolls (801 14th Street, Suite B, Sacramento): This pan-Asian Mansion Flats restaurant asks customers to pick their desired proteins (think Taiwanese sausage, lemongrass tri-tip or smoked five-spice chicken teriyaki) for spring rolls, bánh mì and noodle or rice bowls.
Cane Corner (8519 Bond Road, Suite 102, Elk Grove): Fresh-squeezed sugarcane juice and bubble tea bring customers to this Vietnamese-inspired cafe, while mango sago and durian-topped pandan waffles give them something to nibble on.
El Ronco Restaurant (6666 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento): A Mexican brunch and dinner spot in the thick of Little Saigon, El Ronco unveiled dozens of seafood entrees when it opened on March 23, including mussels a la Kora, tuna crudo and mango aguachile with a bivalve called atrina maura.
Forgotten Bakery (4650 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento): Honey-boiled bagels and Chilean-style handmade empanadas define Robby Naim and Paul Dollar’s south Sacramento bakery, which opened to long lines on March 16.
Hello Temaki (9261 Laguna Springs Drive, Suite 150, Elk Grove): Elk Grove’s first sushi bar specializing in high-end hand rolls opened March 16 in Laguna Pointe shopping center, stuffing nori with king crab, bluefin tuna and shiitake mushroom tempura with seven-spice aioli.
Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood Bar (8211 Bruceville Road, Sacramento): A New York-based, Southern-inspired seafood boil chain, Hook & Reel laid down its craft paper near Cosumnes River College to mark its first West Coast location.
Local Kitchens (2610 Arena Blvd., Suite 110, Sacramento): Six renowned restaurants began operating out of this North Natomas micro-food hall on March 27: Nash & Proper, The Melt, Square Pie Guys, Boba Guys, Nopalito Taqueria and Flavor Trippin’ by Turkey and The Wolf.
Pho Tasty (13312 Lincoln Way, Auburn): This restaurant in the foothills serves up Chinese and Vietnamese favorites such as pho, honey-walnut chicken and gua bao (steamed buns stuffed with duck, pork or filet mignon).
Pier 50 Sushi (1735 Arden Way, Suite 200, Sacramento): Fukumi Restaurant Group (owners of Its Sushi in Roseville and ramen shops in Roseville, Citrus Heights and Folsom) debuted its new all-you-can-eat sushi bar on March 18 in Market Square at Arden Fair, where Mikuni previously stood.
Seapot Hot Pot & Korean BBQ (6009 Florin Road, Sacramento): Florin Towne Centre’s newest restaurant, a Bay Area-based small chain, opened its first Sacramento location on March 3 with all-you-can-eat hot pot and Korean barbecue delivered on conveyor belts.
Seoul 1979 (3084 Sunrise Blvd., Suite 8, Rancho Cordova): While gimbap rolls and their sister food cup-bap are the focuses at this easygoing Korean spot, you’ll also find dishes traditionally sold by street vendors such as so-tteok-so-tteok (sausage-rice cake skewers) and hotteok (syrup-stuffed pancakes).
Shabu Shack (500 1st St., Suite 15, Davis): Richard Quang’s Japanese hot pot concept with locations in Elk Grove and South San Francisco (and a flagship opening on Capitol Mall next month) broke into Davis Commons shopping center on March 21.
Soli’s (424 Lincoln Blvd., Suite 204, Lincoln): Opened March 15 in Lincoln Brand Feeds Mall, Soli’s pairs panini, flatbreads and caramel-drizzled toffee cake with an extensive local beer list and weekly live music.
Sushi Paradise (1200 K St., Suite 7, Sacramento): Sushi Paradise replaced Osaka Sushi in downtown Sacramento’s main artery and altered the menu slightly, offering items such as chūtoro nigiri and yakisoba among its wealth of Japanese options.
The Cellar (1114 22nd St., Sacramento): Located inside The Jacquelyn in midtown and open to the public, The Cellar offers inventive cocktails, mocktails and wine along with small plates from Yusuf Topal, who owns Jayna Gyro in East Sacramento, Roseville and Emeryville along with Tarla Mediterranean Bar + Grill in Napa.
The Philly (915 K St., Sacramento): Customers first tasted Roberto Castro’s Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks from his food truck in 2019; now he’s opened a downtown Sacramento sandwich shop where Skip’s Fish & Chicken once stood.
V’s Paradise (1001 Front St., Sacramento): Vardan Sargsyan’s Old Sacramento steakhouse replaced Fat City Bar & Cafe in Old Sacramento with Armenian, Asian and classic American dishes from consulting chefs Tyler Bond and Joe Pruner, including Wagyu short ribs, lamb khorovats skewers and kabocha squash bisque with poached lobster and prawns.
VIP Cafe & Deli (1328 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento): A new cafe and small music venue in Woodlake, VIP serves soups, salads and sandwiches with drinks from Resilience Coffee, a single-origin Sacramento home roastery.
Yang Kee Dumpling (1470 Eureka Road, Suite 170, Roseville): Justin Yang’s second Chinese restaurant specializing in handmade dumplings (try the xiaolongbao, or maybe the black truffle mushroom crystal dumplings) opened on March 6 in Eureka Ridge Plaza, with more dim sum options than the location that debuted a year-and-a-half ago in Davis.
Yoshi Ramen (6869 Douglas Blvd., Granite Bay): Tonktoksu ramen with housemade chashu and 24-hour chicken-pork broth is the main draw to this Japanese restaurant in The Marketplace at Granite Bay shopping center, which also serves donburi and sushi rolls.
