To me, Sacramento is a good city to visit and a great city to live in. That’s how I feel about the food scene, too.

Most weekend travelers won’t seek out the magnificent gumbo at Tori’s Place in Del Paso Heights or a deliciously messy sandwich from Bodega Kitchen & Cocktails in Greenhaven. It’s those who have put roots down here, even if they don’t extend that far, who get to seek out and enjoy the best of the best.

Whether you’re a longtime resident, a relative newcomer or just passing through but want to eat like a local, let this be your guide to the Sacramento area’s top 50 restaurants. All were reviewed by me, Sacramento Bee food and drink reporter Benjy Egel, from December 2021 through October 2022 — along with dozens more that didn’t quite make the cut. For more information on the review process, click here.

Browse, bookmark and bite into the best of Sacramento’s food scene. I’ve also added five “readers choice” restaurants, crowd favorites that weren’t initially selected but got the most votes in a post-publication poll. Enjoy!

This story was originally published November 18, 2022 at 5:00 AM.