Sacramento’s most underrated Japanese restaurant is this South Land Park spot, readers say

Akebono has plied Sacramento-area diners with sushi, ramen and bento boxes for nearly 25 years between two locations. It’s not the flashiest restaurant in today’s dining scene but Sacramento still loves it.

The Sacramento Bee’s readers voted Akebono as the capital region’s most underrated Japanese restaurant in a recent poll, edging out 35 other nominees.

A stone’s throw from Mahoroba Japanese Bakery and Oto’s Marketplace in South Land Park, Akebono’s generous portions and homey digs have drawn people to 4960 Freeport Blvd. for years. A 1,000-square-foot expansion in 2014 helped cement it as a banquet destination for celebrating families.

Restaurateur Sai Wong initially opened Akebono in 2000 in Granite Bay, where it lasted 10 years. The surviving location opened in 2007, five years before Wong launched Ryujin Ramen House in midtown Sacramento.

Akebono earned 9.7% of The Bee poll’s 134 responses, just ahead of Hana Tsubaki Restuarant (9%). The East Sacramento institution at 5006 J St. has been owned by the same family since its founding in 1978, and reopened in July after a year-and-a-half shutdown due to a fire.

Nagato Sukiyaki (6.7%) in Arden Arcade, Chef Frank Japanese Cuisine (6%) in North Natomas and Yoshi Japanese Restaurant (6%) in Elk Grove rounded out the top five vote-getters.