The NBA recognized 10 Black-owned businesses in Sacramento. See who made the league’s list
The NBA has created a list highlighting several Black-owned restaurants in every city with an NBA team in an initiative to continue the league’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
According to data from the National Restaurant Association, four out of 10 restaurant businesses nationwide are owned by people of color, and just 9% are Black-owned. The 2022 report showed that 58% of restaurants in California are owned by people of color with 4% of the state’s restaurant having Black owners.
Each day during Black History Month, the NBA has released 10 eateries to visit in each of their 28 markets including Sacramento.
The following is the list of Sacramento restaurants that were featured in the NBA’s spotlight, in case you missed it.
Colo’s Soul Food & Seafood
2326 Del Paso Blvd., Old North Sacramento
Colo’s, short for Cora Lorraine’s, was opened by Kevin and Tamar McCree in 2014. It was once a “to-go” stand in South Oak Park, but it’s transformed into a full-fledged brick-and-mortar operation. The establishment is a favorite for comfort food such as oxtail, yams, fried chicken, catfish, shrimp and grits.
Gumbo King
2201 Northgate Blvd., Suite F, River Gardens
Gumbo King has been open in North Sacramento’s River Gardens’ neighborhood for a year and they’ve already captivated the appetites of Sacramentans. Owned by Chef Tom and Chef Aaron, Gumbo King provides a ‘royalty experience’ in soul food and seafood dining.
Louisiana Heaven
6623 Valley Hi Drive, Valley Hi/North Laguna
Louisiana Heaven is a family-owned and operated restaurant with soul food, barbecue and seafood plates. Ancestral recipes have been passed down, bringing Southern culture to the capital region. The restaurant reopened in south Sacramento in 2019 after Lashunda Cormier operated the restaurant between 2008 and 2010 in Elk Grove.
Maestro Coffee House
2069 Arena Blvd., Suite 130, Natomas Crossing
Maestro Coffee House, which has been open for 13 years, is in the shadow of the former Sleep Train Arena. Their slogan is “sip…sit…enjoy…” and their inviting atmosphere offers everything including coffee, tea, smoothies, pastries and desserts.
Mo’Betta Finger Foods
3751 Stockton Blvd., West Tahoe Park
Mo’Betta Finger Foods is introducing Sacramento residents to a one-stop shop for chicken wings, alligator nuggets, frog legs, gizzards, seafood mac and cheese and many other delectable items. They use fresh, high-quality ingredients and make authentic dishes from scratch.
Nash & Proper
1023 K St., downtown Sacramento
9080 Laguna Main St. Suite 2, Elk Grove
10357 Fairway Drive, Roseville
500 FIrst St., Suite 13, Davis
Nash & Proper was founded by Chef Cecil Rhodes II and Jake Bombard in 2018 when the two came together to market Rhodes’ gourmet Nashville hot chicken-inspired “sammich.” The deep-fried boneless chicken thigh is served on a buttered bun with slivered pickles, vinaigrette cabbage-jalapeno slaw and a tangy, spicy mayonnaise. In addition to its four locations, the duo also has an extremely popular food truck.
Palace African Restaurant & Food Services
2645 El Camino Ave., Suite A, Arden Arcade
The Sacramento area’s first African international restaurant brings flavors African cultures through exquisite dishes. Palace serves international and traditional plates mixed with American styles.
Queen Sheba
1704 Broadway, Land Park
Queen Sheba provides a unique, African dining experience through vibrant colors, rich spices and healthy ingredients. For over a decade, this Ethiopian cuisine has offered a wide array of vegetarian, vegan-friendly, gluten-free options and meaty favorites. They offer signatures such as injera, a pancake-like flatbread with a slightly spongy texture.
Q1227 Restaurant
1465 Eureka Road, Suite 100, Roseville
Quentin “Chef Q” Bennett opened his Roseville restaurant on his 50th birthday in December 2019. It’s how he came up with the name. Patrons can enjoy items like pan-seared scallops with crab hash cakes, sauteed spinach in garlic beurre blanc and “modern comfort food like” bacon-wrapped meatloaf, wild mushroom risotto or jambalaya.
Tori’s Place
1525 Grand Ave., Del Paso Heights
Tori’s Place is the blue shack known for its gumbo. For over a decade, owner Victoria Haggins has had customers consistently lined up for dishes like the fried chicken combo featuring hot water cornbread and green beans. From the yams, to the mac and cheese, as well as the red snapper, Tori’s Place adds its own flavor to soul food favorites.
This story was originally published February 15, 2023 at 4:12 PM.