Two new Sacramento-area restaurants earn Michelin awards for tasty, affordable food
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Sacramento’s Michelin stars
Of the 13 Sacramento restaurants to receive Michelin accolades in the 2019 guide, all but one had locations in downtown, midtown or East Sacramento. Will the 2021 guide expand?
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Natomas dim sum emporium Yue Huang and Nixtaco, a Mexican restaurant in Roseville, are the two newest Sacramento-area restaurants to receive Michelin Bib Gourmands, the French tourism company announced Wednesday.
Bib Gourmands are reserved for very good, inexpensive restaurants, where two entrees and wine or dessert can be had for $40 or less before tax and tip. Forty-five restaurants between greater Sacramento, San Diego, Los Angeles, the Central Coast, the Bay Area and Orange County newly earned Bib Gourmands on Wednesday.
Patricio Wise and Cinthia Martinez began hosting supper clubs in Monterrey, Mexico, then opened their own restaurant there before moving to Roseville in 2010.
Wise is the chef at Nixtaco, which the couple opened at 1805 Cirby Way, Suite 12 in 2015, while Martinez provides business support and takes care of their three children. It was written up in Food & Wine in 2019, and dubbed the home of “Northern California’s best tacos” by SF Gate last week.
“This unassuming taqueria, tucked into a strip mall in Roseville, is a sweet little spot that packs big flavor punch,” Michelin’s inspector wrote about Nixtaco. “The salsa bar alone — featuring five outstanding varieties, including a smoky peanut chipotle and tangy salsa verde — is reason enough to warrant a visit.”
Yue Huang opened in Natomas Village Center in 2016 and quickly developed a reputation as one of Sacramento’s best places for dim sum and Chinese dinners. Michelin recognized it last year as the lone Sacramento-area restaurant on a list of 25 “new discoveries.”
“This Cantonese restaurant is a hidden treasure,” the inspector wrote. “The dim sum selection features the standard array of steamed, baked and fried delights; however, diners are bound to also run across a range of more interesting items.”
Yue Huang owners C.K. Chan and Hui Ling Pan signed a new five-year contract for the restaurant at 3860 Truxel Rd. in July, the Natomas Buzz reported. That building previously housed Johnny Carino’s.
It’s not yet clear whether Canon and Frank Fat’s will receive Bib Gourmands again, as they did in the inaugural 2019 California Guide. Mother, a third Bib Gourmand selection from 2019, closed in early 2020.
The 2020 California Guide was then canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. A full list of Michelin stars, Bib Gourmands and Plates (reserved for simply good restaurants) will be released Tuesday.
This story was originally published September 22, 2021 at 9:01 AM.