10 Sacramento spots for great food: From dim sum to Mexican-Japanese fusion and steak

Sacramento is renowned for its diverse and rich culinary landscape. From a Sacramento taco truck beloved by Kings’ star De’Aaron Fox, to an Asian gastro bar started by a group of friends in their 20s, the region offers something for everyone. Lesser-known gems include Lam Kwong Deli’s traditional dim sum, the unique fusion of Mexican and Japanese at Octopus Baja, and underrated Italian dishes from Ippolito’s Trattoria.

The roundup below is intended to give you a glimpse into Sacramento’s restaurant scene. For more, go to sacbee.com/food-drink or subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

No. 1: This Sacramento taco truck has a spot in Kings star De’Aaron Fox’s heart — and on his shoes

De’Aaron Fox loves Banzitos Tacos so much, he made it known on the court. The Sacramento Kings’ star point guard wore custom turquoise-and-yellow Under Armour shoes inspired by Banzito’s logo for a March 7 game against the San Antonio Spurs. Following the Kings’ win, Fox stopped by the Cali-Latin taco truck — parked outside Golden 1 Center for the night — to enjoy his usual order. | Published March 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Benjy Egel

No. 2: Sacramento dim sum spot serves affordable, traditional food all day. ‘The best, hands down’

Tucked on a quiet residential block near Southside Park, a deli is whipping up authentic dim sum and American-style Chinese food at an affordable price. | Published March 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brianna Taylor

No. 3: This one-of-a-kind Mexican seafood restaurant just opened in midtown Sacramento

Ernesto Delgado’s new restaurant isn’t quite like anything else in Sacramento’s dining scene — especially when it comes to the method of cooking. | Published March 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Benjy Egel

No. 4: This Woodland Chinese restaurant is said to be the oldest in the US. It has new-found fame

Chicago Cafe has endured two World Wars, myriad financial swings and more than a century’s worth of changing palates. | Read Full Story by Benjy Egel

No. 5: New Sacramento sushi and ramen spot is gaining popularity for its tacos. See how it’s done

In April, the roughly 1,000-square-foot restaurant held its soft opening. Now, it’s gaining popularity. | Published May 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brianna Taylor

No. 6: Armenian American steakhouse opens in historic Old Sacramento building

Look for Wagyu short ribs, a specialty Caesar salad and kabocha squash seafood bisque. | Published March 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Benjy Egel

No. 7: The best Mexican food in the US may be at this Sacramento-area eatery. What I ate for $25

Reporter Brianna Taylor walked into the restaurant with a big appetite and a limited budget. Here’s what happened. | Published Sept. 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brianna Taylor

No. 8: New Asian gastro bar aims to bring a culinary experience and nightlife to Elk Grove

A new restaurant, bar and club called Z-Town Asian Gastro Bar is coming for nightlife in Elk Grove. | Published Jan. 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Marcus D. Smith

No. 9: This Mexican-Japanese fine dining restaurant is opening in midtown Sacramento

It’ll replace Good News Wine Bar in the MARRS building. | Published July 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Benjy Egel

No. 10: This is the Sacramento region’s most underrated Italian restaurant, readers say

Ippolito’s Trattoria is the Sacramento region’s most underrated place to eat for Italian food, according to Sacramento Bee readers. | Published Sept. 7, 2024 | Read Full Story by Benjy Egel

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.

This story was originally published September 15, 2024 at 5:00 AM.