25 restaurants opened around Sacramento in May. Where to get tacos, tequila and Spanish wine
May brought some of the Sacramento region’s most interesting restaurant openings in recent memory, including a 17,000-acre farm taphouse, a Latin American refuge and a boundary-pushing midtown Korean spot.
Folsom, Elk Grove and Cameron Park all added two restaurants, while Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, Galt and Carmichael gained one apiece.
These 25 restaurants opened around greater Sacramento in May:
Aladdin’s Grill (2320 Sunrise Blvd., Rancho Cordova): Butter chicken shawarma wraps, lamb gyros and Philadelphia cheesesteaks are the items to get at this fast-casual Middle Eastern restaurant.
Anchored Eats: The Shack (500 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom): Ruby and Rebecca Shields and Ben Shirley debuted Anchored Eats as a floating “food boat” in 2021, and took over the Granite Bay Main Beach concession stand for their first stable restaurant on May 27.
Buck’s Fizz Restaurant & Tap (650 Fulton Ave., Sacramento): Kostas Panayotakopoulos closed and remodeled his deli/market Greek Food Imports to open Buck’s Fizz with more of a pan-European bend and focus on beer.
Buddha Belly Burger (1901 S St., Suite 100, Sacramento): Andy Nguyen, known for his namesake vegetarian restaurant on Broadway, opened this vegan burger and bowl spot where Ramen House Raijin once stood.
Bueno Cafe (400 T St., Sacramento): Art Vallejo and Carlos Talamantes, partners in Southside Park staple Vallejo’s Restaurant, held a May 13 grand opening for this coffee shop with pan dulce and paninis.
Cakes by Jeff the Chef (405 K St., Suite 210, Sacramento): Stockton native Jeff Taylor opened his first brick-and-mortar bakery, which focuses on cheesecakes, on May 27 in Downtown Commons.
Chef Frank Japanese Cuisine (2281 Del Paso Road, Suite 110, Sacramento): Frank Zhu, formerly of BF Miyabi in Roseville, opened his North Natomas restaurant with an omakase bar and à la carte Japanese options on May 27.
El Boritracho (7054 Sunrise Blvd., Citrus Heights): Bella Luz’s restaurant in Copperwood Square shopping center specializes in Puerto Rican, Honduran and Salvadoran food, including pupusas, mofongo and baleadas Hondureñas (flour tortillas filled with refried beans, cotija, eggs and a choice of meat).
Gai ‘N Rice (2745 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 150, Elk Grove): Sonya Chen and Kade Phian’s original South Land Park restaurant closed in October after a fire, but the sisters started serving Thai chicken and rice in new Elk Grove digs on May 27.
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream (2820 Del Paso Road, Suite 600, Sacramento): This old-fashioned ice cream parlor with more than 45 flavors opened its fourth area location on May 30 in Natomas.
Hidden Dumpling House (2801 P St., Sacramento): Danni Kan expanded her Chinese restaurant from Elk Grove after a year to fill the vacancy left by Midtown Sushi.
Hot Bunz (8251 Bruceville Road, Suite 150, Sacramento): This smashburger spot, which prides itself on never using frozen meat, first opened in Rancho Cordova last year before debuting near Cosumnes River College on May 26.
India Gate Cuisine (1905 Capitol Ave., Sacramento): The Bains family, owners of Bains Marinated Meat Shop in south Sacramento, opened this North Indian and Indo-Chinese restaurant with a lunch buffet.
Jersey Mike’s Subs (5154 Arden Way, Carmichael): Thank franchisees Carol, Daniel and Todd Russi for bringing Jersey Mike’s to Carmichael, the 15th area location for this 67-year-old sandwich chain.
Leatherby’s Family Creamery (2455 Iron Point Road, Folsom): This 41-year-old Sacramento family fixture opened its fifth ice cream parlor on May 29, with savory options such as burgers and sandwiches as well.
Mendocino Farms (4730 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento): This Los Angeles-based salad and sandwich chain chose South Land Park for its second Sacramento location, joining a sister restaurant in midtown’s Ice Blocks development and another in Roseville, with Arden Arcade and Folsom locations to come.
Moonraker Millhouse (3501 Robin Lane, Cameron Park): Auburn-based Moonraker Brewing opened its 17-acre farm with an attached restaurant and taproom on May 20.
Nyla’s Kitchen (520 N Lincoln Way., Suite 2, Galt): Pakistani cuisine is the focus at this southern Sacramento County restaurant, though there are Mexican dishes such as chicken enchiladas as well.
Pig Latin (9631 E. Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove): Must Be Nice Hospitality, which runs The Others Club in Elk Grove and Playfield 76 in Reno, opened this inventive tacos-and-tequila spot on May 16.
Pocha House (1910 Q St., Sacramento): Daniel Ngo and Julie Han’s midtown Korean restaurant and cocktail bar opened May 22 where Highwater had previously been, serving up dishes such as spicy pork bulgogi and “kimchi karbonara.”
Raising Cane’s (3348 El Camino Ave., Sacramento): This Louisiana-based fried chicken chain known for its pink dipping sauce opened its fifth area restaurant (but first within city limits) on May 4 in Arden Arcade.
Rey Mimosa Breakfast & Lunch (3300 Coach Lane, Suite D8, Cameron Park): Ramon Reynosa’s brunch spot in Burke Junction shopping center whips up benedicts, omelets and more to go with a range of mimosas.
Roscoe’s Bar & Burgers (2007 K St., Sacramento): This two-story, LGBTQ-friendly burger bar in Lavendar Heights filled Sidetraxx’ former space with drag brunch, piano nights and clubby dancing.
Solomon’s Vinyl Diner (730 K St., Sacramento): Former South co-owner N’Gina Guyton is the new chef at the new Solomon’s, a former Jewish delicatessen that’s been turned into a reimagined, experimental diner by the people behind Tiger Restaurant & Lounge.
The Nook (3610 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento): Joe Holmberg’s Spanish-oriented wine bar and tapas lounge replaced Célestin’s Restaurant in East Sacramento with items such as tinned fish in oil and roasted artichokes with grilled lemon aioli.
