Afghan pilaf and 72-hour pho: A dozen restaurants that opened around Sacramento in July

Restaurants open around Sacramento every month. The distribution of new places, though, made July special.

These 12 new restaurants opened around the Sacramento area in July. The list includes three in Elk Grove and three on the Sacramento grid, plus others in Davis, Rancho Cordova, Folsom, Roseville and Citrus Heights.

▪ BAD Bakers (8403 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove): You’ll find cereal-topped doughnuts, senorita bread and sausage rolls at this eclectic Filipino bakery, which has sister stores in Natomas, Folsom and Roseville.

▪ Del Taco (1517 Blue Oaks Blvd., Roseville): Roseville’s second Del Taco location opened July 22 with all the Crunchtadas, dollar deals and Fiesta Packs one would expect.

▪ El Rincon Mexican Restaurant (3030 T St., Sacramento): Shrimp dishes, birria burritos and weekend menudo are all on the menu at this restaurant that took over Tako Korean Food’s former space on July 15.

▪ Flame & Fire Brazilian Steakhouse (380 Palladio Pkwy., Suite 305, Folsom): This all-you-can eat upscale churrascaria already had Roseville and Bakersfield locations before opening in the Palladio Shopping Center on July 12.

▪ Got Plate Lunch (3084 Sunrise Blvd., Rancho Cordova): This casual Hawaiian spot started as a food truck in 2011 before opening its first brick-and-mortar location (Rancho Cordova marks the second) in Benicia in 2013.

▪ Greenhouse Cafe & Catering (8493 Auburn Blvd., Citrus Heights): Plants cover the walls at Greenhouse, creating a lush environment for customers to enjoy stuffed berry French toast or matcha lattes.

▪ Guads Tacos & Beer (231 3rd St., Davis): Local and Mexican beers are on the 15 taps at this well-lit Mexican restaurant near UC Davis’ campus, which stays open from 8 a.m. to 9:30 or 10 p.m. seven days a week.

▪ Pressed Record Cafe (1725 L St., Sacramento): Wash your hands clean of sandwich or salad residue before handling the vinyl collection in this record shop/cafe hybrid.

▪ Red Beret Vietnamese Restaurant (1720 J St., Sacramento): For all of south Sacramento’s Vietnamese restaurants, few have pierced the midtown/downtown area. The Le family’s Red Beret is an exception, though it’s now temporarily closed following a soft opening in mid-July.

▪ Rock & Brews (1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento): Backed by Kiss frontman Gene Simmons, Rock & Brews’ Cal Expo campus includes mini golf and batting cages in addition to pizza, burgers and 55 beer taps at the central restaurant.

▪ Royal Kabob & Gyro (9160 E. Stockton Blvd. Suite 130, Elk Grove): Come to this halal restaurant for items such as pide, a Turkish bread stuffed with lamb and cheese, and qabili palau, a carrot-raisin-meat pilaf that’s Afghanistan’s national dish.

▪ Sit Lo Saigon (7405 Laguna Blvd., Suite 170, Elk Grove): Pho broth simmers for 72 hours at Saigon Alley Kitchen & Bar owner Mymy Nguyen’s new project in Laguna Crossroads shopping center.