Top restaurant stories in Sacramento, CA, this September

The curated articles showcase new restaurant openings, closures, and transformations in the capital region.

A Peruvian bistro debuted on J Street, with Chef Alfredo Vega introducing dishes like lomo saltado with a Californian twist. Elsewhere, a bakery in South Land Park, Tai Pan Bakery, sold out its handmade dim sums on opening day. Meanwhile, the Enchanted Forest Dining Experience, a fantasy-themed eatery in Placerville, announced its closure after nearly six years, due to a building sale. Additionally, a popular Placerville diner continues to serve a legendary Gold Rush-era dish despite its divisiveness. These stories capture a city where culinary tradition meets innovation and change, illustrating Sacramento’s dynamic food scene.

Braised oxtails, collard greens and mac and cheese from Colo’s Southern Cafe are freshly made to order. By Camila Pedrosa

NO. 1: 11 NEW CAPITAL REGION EATERIES BROUGHT GLOBAL TASTES TO SACRAMENTO IN AUGUST

In August, new Sacramento-area restaurants went from pop-up to brick-and-mortar spots while others rose from the ashes as the summer came to a close. | Published September 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Camila Pedrosa

Naked Coffee’s roastery, at 3527 Broadway in North Oak Park, is up for sale, with the fate of the business still uncertain, according to real estate broker Kimio Bazett of Turton Commercial Real Estate. By Jack Brock

NO. 2: OAK PARK COFFEE SHOP’S FUTURE UNCLEAR AFTER ITS BUILDING GOES UP FOR SALE

Naked Coffee in North Oak Park may be at riskof closing after the business’s owners put the building up for sale. | Published September 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Camila Pedrosa

NO. 3: NOODLE SHOP SET TO REPLACE SHARI’S CAFE AND PIES IN THE POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD

A popular noodle chain in China is coming to Sacramento, replacing Shari’s Cafe and Pies in the Pocket neighborhood. | Published September 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Camila Pedrosa

Guests dine on Tower Bridge during the Tower Bridge Dinner on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. By HANNAH RUHOFF

NO. 4: PHOTOS: SACRAMENTO FOODIES BASK IN REGION’S BOUNTY AT 2025 TOWER BRIDGE DINNER

The Tower Bridge once again became Sacramento’s largest and most unlikely dining destination Sunday night, hosting the Tower Bridge dinner to celebrate the state’s farm-to-fork offerings. | Published September 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Ruhoff

The Buttercup Pantry, 222 Main St. in Placerville, has a vintage truck parked in front of the building, advertising “homemade pies,” “country cooking” and the infamous Hangtown Fry. By Camila Pedrosa

NO. 5: PLACERVILLE DINER STILL SERVES A LEGENDARY GOLD RUSH-ERA DISH. WOULD YOU TRY IT?

It’s a dish steeped in Gold Rush history — and depending on your palate, it might be one of the most unusual, or flat-out off-putting, meals in California cuisine. | Published September 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Camila Pedrosa

Pastries are displayed during the soft opening of Tai Pan a dim sum restaurant in Sacramento on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. By HECTOR AMEZCUA

NO. 6: TAI PAN BAKERY DEBUTS IN SOUTH LAND PARK WITH HANDMADE DIM SUM SELLOUT

From open to close on its first day in business, Tai Pan Bakery Dim Sum was packed with a line stretching out the door. | Published September 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Camila Pedrosa

Paititi Peruvian Bistro opened at 2001 J St. in Boulevard Park on Tuesday, September 9, serving traditional Peruvian fare and Californian twists on the cuisine. By Camila Pedrosa

NO. 7: PERUVIAN CHEF BRINGS TOP-NOTCH CULINARY EXPERTISE TO SACRAMENTO’S J STREET

A brand new Latin American restaurant quietly opened its doors in one of Sacramento’s busiest areas. | Published September 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Camila Pedrosa

The exterior of Enchanted Forest Dining Experience, 372 Main St. in Placerville, advertises its food and drink offerings alongside its live Irish music. The restaurant is slated to close after October 12 after the building was sold and its owner asked the restaurant to leave.

NO. 8: A PLACERVILLE EATERY FEATURED ON FOOD NETWORK WILL BE CLOSING IN OCTOBER

A fantasy culinary destination in Placerville featured on the Food Network is set to close in the coming weeks. | Published September 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Camila Pedrosa

Local Kitchens at 2610 Arena Blvd., Suite 110, in Natomas. The San Francisco-based company will open a third Sacramento-area location on Tuesday, March 27, 2024. The micro food hall features cuisine from Nash and Proper, Square Pie Guys, The Melt, Boba Guys, Flavor Trippin’ by Turkey and The Wolf, and Nopalito Taqueria.

NO. 9: GHOST KITCHEN OPERATION CLOSES LOW-PERFORMING NATOMAS OUTPOST

Ghost kitchen operation Local Kitchens permanently closed its Sacramento location in early September after a year in business. | Published September 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Camila Pedrosa

Customized pizzas are all the same price at Pieology, so pie fans can pile on as much or as little as they like.

NO. 10: A ROSEVILLE CHAIN PIZZERIA CLOSED, AND ITS UNIT MAY ALREADY HAVE A NEW TENANT

Pizza chain Pieology quietly closed one of its Sacramento-area locations, with a new eatery potentially slated to take over its unit. | Published September 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Camila Pedrosa

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