20 new restaurants opened around Sacramento in May. Here’s what you need to know

Craving something new in the Sacramento area’s dining scene? Check out these 20 restaurants that debuted in May.

Three restaurants opened on Broadway alone — a down-home Creole spot, a Nepalese dumpling and curry house and a queer-run ice cream shop with a cheeky name. Roseville and Elk Grove also added two restaurants apiece, while Carmichael, Davis, El Dorado Hills, Folsom and Cameron Park all had one addition.

Bella Cucina (2380 Watt Ave., Suite 130, Sacramento): Italian classics including penne arrabiata, chicken piccata and spaghetti alla puttanesca comprise the menu at this Country Club Plaza restaurant, which replaced Star Dumplings.

Bibi’s Mexican Grill (1948 Sutterville Road, Sacramento): Best known for enchiladas and tacos dorados at its food truck, Gold River restaurant and ghost kitchen in the River District, Bibi’s began dishing out quesabirria tacos and “powerhouse burritos” across the street from William Land Park on May 23.

Capital Kabob House (1121 White Rock Road, El Dorado Hills): The replacement for Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant, Capital Kabob House began serving Middle Eastern and South Asian dishes such as nihari (Pakistani beef stew) or ferni (Afghan cardamom-pistachio custard) on May 20.

Citizen Capitol Craft House (1201 J St., Suite 111, Sacramento): Hawaii-based Tropics Restaurant Group (owners of Hoptology Beer Lab + Kitchen in midtown Sacramento and Big Island Burritos and Tropics Island Grill & Alehouse in Camino) unveiled their ritziest concept yet on May 24, introducing smoked wagyu brisket and maitake-ricotta tortellini where Loyal Legion had been in downtown Sacramento.

Creole Soul Restaurant & Bar (2026 Broadway, Sacramento): Sisters Anita Peters and Verlyne Smith enlisted chef James Baker to turn out Louisiana favorites such as shrimp and grits, red snapper and peach cobbler at the former Sancho’s Mariscos & Mexican Food.

Everest Curry (1728 Broadway, Sacramento): Chili chicken, samosa chaat and steamed dumplings called momo define this Nepalese restaurant, which opened May 7 on Broadway.

Gondo Fusion (2790 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento): Silvia Rodriguez’s Cuban-Mexican concept started as a food truck, expanded to The Line ghost kitchen hub and debuted its first brick-and-mortar restaurant on May 13, bringing plantain-and-mojo-pork burritos and dairy-free strawberry horchata to North Oak Park.

Green Grill (1020 16th St., Suite 17, Sacramento): Rajbir Randhawa’s midtown Sacramento restaurant opened May 15, and mostly serves vegan and gluten-free dishes — aloo tikka chaat, say, or mung bean burgers — as at sister locations in Rancho Cordova and Granite Bay.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar (250 Gibson Drive, Suite 140, Roseville): Kyoto-made broths and true wasabi help this user-friendly Japanese chain attract repeat customers to its 63 U.S. locations, including this new one in Highland Village shopping center.

Licked (3400 Broadway, Suite 100, Sacramento): Strapping Store owner Susan Stewart opened this queer-friendly ice cream parlor on May 8 across from her North Oak Park gift shop, with flavors such as Zanzibar chocolate and London fog from Wisconsin-based Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Co.

Namaste Natomas Indian Cuisine (1850 Del Paso Road, Suite 4, Sacramento): North Natomas’ new Indian restaurant has a deep menu with options for all — green gram flour crepes native to the state of Andra Pradesh, say, or a fried chicken majestic starter with roots in Hyderabad.

Oishi Express (9170 Elk Grove Florin Road, Suite E, Elk Grove): Sushi rolls and poke bowls define the food menu at this welcoming Elk Grove boba shop/Japanese restaurant, including the flagship Oishi Roll (tuna, salmon and avocado inside, yellowtail, avocado, roe, spicy mayonnaise and wasabi on top).

Rockyaad Jamaican Restaurant & Entertainment (7609 Fair Oaks Blvd., Suite A, Carmichael): Carmichael’s first Caribbean restaurant is a much-anticipated hub for oxtails, jerk pork, ital stew and more.

Rosa Madera (7521 W. Stockton Blvd., Sacramento): An elevated, Michoacán-focused concept that opened its second location (and first in Northern California) near Sacramento’s southern border, Rosa Madera has developed a following in Santa Ana for its “shooter flights” as well as gorditas de chicharron and carne en su jugo.

Taj Grill Indian Cuisine (9500 Greenback Lane, Suite 33, Folsom): Approachable and easygoing, Taj Grill’s tandoor-cooked meat skewers, biryani and copious vegetarian options make customers feel at home in Yadvinder “Lucky” Virk’s restaurant.

Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta (3305 Northgate Blvd., Sacramento): Originally opened in Roseville in 2021, Taqueria La Nueva Vallarta’s second location serves up comforting Cali-Mex favorites including California burritos, fries topped with camarones a la diabla and al pastor tacos with cheese skirts and bits of pineapple shaved off the trompo.

Tous Les Jours (9400 Fairway Drive, Suite 120, Roseville): Taro cream bread and honey-cheese mochi pancakes share menu space with croque monsieurs and croissant sandwiches at this South Korea-based bakery chain, which opened its first area location in Fairway Creek shopping center on May 14.

Tule Coffee House (9098 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove): Leah Van Osten’s Old Town Elk Grove cafe has a range of sandwiches to go with caffeinated drinks, including a mortadella breakfast sandwich and a lunchtime panini with zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, grilled onions and roasted red bell peppers.

Valenz Mexican Kitchen (3275 Coach Lane, Suite B, Cameron Park): Antonio and Verenice Valenzuela originally opened Valenz Tacos as a pandemic-era pop-up before bringing quesadillas, burritos, tacos and more to Fondue 152’s former home on May 10.

Yummy Fusion (229 G St., Davis): A Chinese noodle house, boba shop and all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue spot with tabletop grills in downtown Davis, Yummy Fusion opened on May 2 where MT BBQ House had previously been.