These 40+ new restaurants have opened around the Sacramento area during the pandemic

It’s hard to think of a worse time to open a new business, particularly one as social as a restaurant. But contracts were signed and rent must be paid.

More than 40 new restaurants have opened in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and El Dorado counties over the last four months despite the coronavirus pandemic’s economic and social detriments. All are currently open for takeout and some for outdoor dining.

• AL-Maidah Pakistani & Indian Cuisine (1407 Howe Ave., Sacramento): The Halal restaurant in Arden Arcade is the rare Sacramento-area Southeast Asian eatery with a weekend breakfast menu.

• Atom Burger (722 K St., Sacramento): The build-your-own burger restaurant is one of Adam Pechal’s three “ghost kitchen” concepts, along with Cali Bird and Tuli Bistro, available for pickup or delivery from Tiger.

• Bambu Garden (1090 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Suite 100, Roseville): Placer County’s newest Chinese restaurant has weekday lunch specials such as Szechuan tofu, cashew chicken or sweet-and-sour pork for less than $10.

• Cali Bird (722 K St., Sacramento): Another downtown ghost kitchen, Cali Bird serves fried or grilled chicken in sandwiches, salads or as wings.

• Capriotti’s (4060 Douglas Blvd., Granite Bay): While the Las Vegas-based sandwich chain has traditional cold cuts and even Wagyu beef, it also sells subs made with plant-based meats such as an Impossible cheesesteak.

• Chando’s Tacos (5644 J St., Sacramento): Lisandro “Chando” Madrigal’s fifth taco shop replaced Opa! Opa! in East Sacramento in mid-July.
• Chulla’s Cafe (4845 Watt Ave., Suite A, North Highlands): African history expert Tamba Keifa’s first restaurant features coastal cuisine from around the world as well as American classics.
  
  
• Coyote Bar & Kitchen (185 Placerville Road, Suite 150, Folsom): Dos Coyotes Border Cafe founder Bobby Coyote opened a Southwestern sports bar with pizzas where Broderick Roadhouse previously stood.
  
  
• Crab N Spice (7411 W Stockton Blvd., Suite 150, Sacramento): The Cajun-inspired seafood restaurant owners opened their first Northern California location and third total in early June.

• Flames Eat Drink Chill (1067 C St., Suite 138, Galt): Flames, which has a sister restaurant in Auburn, has a menu split between fried sports bar fare and Indian food, occasionally intersecting to create dishes like the buffalo chicken naan wrap with raita, cucumber, tomato, onions, cilantro and two types of chutney.

• Fondue 152 (3275 Coach Ln., Suite B, Cameron Park): The European-style fondue restaurant with hard-to-find meats opened first for takeout and plans to offer four-course patio dining sometime in September.

• J. Wild’s Livery & Feed (614 Sutter St., Folsom): Eric Schnetz closed Chicago Fire to open this barbecue restaurant and bar named for the first commercial property known to operate on the northeast corner of Sutter and Riley streets.
• Junoon — Flavors of India (3672 J St., Sacramento): Roy and Bobbie Singh, who previously owned Barista Brew Cafe in Davis, opened their north Indian restaurant in mid-July where Cielito Lindo Mexican Gastronomy once was.
• Kau Kau! (1111 24th St., Sacramento): Cider House’s food menu has been replaced by this pop-up’s with Hawaiian dishes, including poke, saimin and haupia.
  
  
• Madar (2654 Marconi Ave., Sacramento): Madar offers a modern take on Afghani street food with items such as the chapli kabob burger, served with with yogurt mint chutney, grilled tomato and arugula on a brioche bun.
• Majka Pizzeria & Bakery (1704 15th St., Sacramento): Alex Sherry and Chutharat Sae Tong met while working at Berkeley’s famous Cheese Board Pizza, and opened their vegetarian sourdough pizzeria in midtown at the end of June.
  
  
• Mario’s Early Toast (1950 Douglas Blvd., Suite 7A, Roseville): Mario’s Early Toast’s extensive menu includes sections of health-conscious items, Mexican dishes and 25 types of mimosas.
• Maydoon (1501 16th St., Suite 111, Sacramento): The first Persian restaurant on Sacramento’s grid is run by father-son duo Mohammad and Idean Farid, who ran M. Shahrzad Fine Persian Cuisine in Rancho Cordova for 17 years before selling it in May.
• Mexico Lindo (3375 Bass Lake Rd., El Dorado Hills): Ceviche, chile verde, pozole and market-price rib-eyes all have their place on this Sierra Ridge Shopping Center restaurant’s menu.
• Mi Tierra Taqueria (1251 Baseline Road, Suite 150, Roseville): This Mexican restaurant near the Main Street/Foothills Boulevard intersection offers 19 different seafood dishes in addition to burritos, tacos, combo plates and breakfast items.

• Mr. Greek Donair & Kebab (8128 Delta Shores Circle, Suite 110, Sacramento): Skewered meats are the backbone of this fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant, which opened in late July in Delta Shore shopping center.

• Pho Vung Tao Bay (5880 Antelope Road, Citrus Heights): This Vietnamese restaurant’s name references a coastal city about two hours from Ho Chi Minh City known for its 105-foot-tall statue of Jesus.

• Pieology Pizzeria (7600 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 110, Elk Grove): Pieology’s build-your-own pizza concept has outposts in south Sacramento, Arden Arcade, midtown, Rancho Cordova, Roseville and Folsom.

• Reds’ Bistro (3645 Taylor Road, Loomis): Chef Chris Townsend emphasizes locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients in his family’s upscale corner bistro with a brick exterior.
• Roosters Breakfast & Mimosas (5493 Carlson Drive, Suite D, Sacramento): Customers can choose from a menu of skillet dishes, omelets, crepes and more at this River Park restaurant.
• Scorpio Coffee (1905 16th St., Sacramento): This Japanese-inspired coffee shop has a few food items, like furikake-seared tuna with nori/wasabi aioli, wasabi peas and lime juice on toasted milk bread or seasonal greens.
• Skip’s Fish & Chicken (6530 Florin Road, Sacramento): The local fast-casual fry shop also has locations in downtown Sacramento and Arden Arcade.

• SMIC’s Sip & Quip (1200 K St., Suite 8, Sacramento): SMIC’s serves locally-sourced happy hour bites such as flatbreads, loaded tater tots, and charcuterie boards a short walk from the state Capitol where Downtown & Vine once stood.

• Snug Jr. (1521 L St., Sacramento): Unable to operate The Snug as a bar under COVID-19 restrictions, the de Vere’s Irish Pub owners began selling burgers and breakfast items as a pop in the R Street Corridor instead.
• Song Pa Korean Restaurant (3643 Bradshaw Road, Suite J, Sacramento): Song Pa prides itself on its yukgaejang, a spicy soup made with beef, scallions, japchae, bean sprouts and other vegetables.
• Steve’s Pizza (3700 J St., Sacramento): The 42-year-old local chain opened its East Sacramento location where a Subway had been.
• Stirred, Not Shaken (710 Main St., Woodland): This is the second location for Stirred, Not Shaken, which sells 23 different types of cookies as well as coffee drinks.
• Taqueria Los Compadres (3270 Mather Field Road, Sacramento): This Mexican restaurant, which replaced a La Bou sandwich shop, also has locations on Fair Oaks Boulevard and in Elk Grove.
• Teriyaki Grill (2808 Zinfandel Drive, Suite D, Rancho Cordova): The fast-casual Japanese restaurant offers sushi and build-your-own bento boxes in addition to namesake grilled marinated meats in salads, bowls and combo plates.
• The Olive Branch (10239 Fair Oaks Blvd., Suite B, Fair Oaks): Former Hawks beverage director Jordan Anderson and chef de cuisine Edward Lopez run this cafe, which sources produce from local farms such as Rancho Roots and serves espresso drinks made from Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters products.
  
  
• Tres Cazuelas Taqueria (4960 County Rd. 99-W, Dunnigan): The only locally-owned restaurant in its remote Yolo County town, Tres Cazuelas is one of the few places in the area to sell pellizcadas, or small fried masa appetizers similar to sopes.
• Tuli Bistro (722 K St., Sacramento): Pechal’s former midtown restaurant, which closed in 2014, was reopened as a ghost kitchen on July 30.
• Urban Grill & Salad (10947 Olson Dr., Suite 411, Rancho Cordova): Salads, rice plates and wraps are all under $10 at this fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant.
• Vegan Deadly Sins (900 15th St., Sacramento): The pop-up inside E-Tea serves plant-based takes on Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes.

This story was originally published July 18, 2020 at 5:00 AM.