I visited these popular Sacramento-area spots on a $25 budget. Here are my top 5
With a new year comes an opportunity for new adventures, new restaurants and a chance to visit new businesses.
I took the time to reflect on previous coverage as a Sacramento Bee reporter.
As a transplant to California, I had a lot to learn about the City of Trees and all the experiences the area has to offer.
In the past year, I explored the Sacramento area in search of affordable experiences for our “On a Budget” series, which highlights local businesses without breaking the bank.
Here’s a look back at some of the best spots in and around the Sacramento area that I’ve visited on a $25 budget:
Thick pupusas and comforting flavors
Prior to moving to the area, I had spent a few years in Washington, D.C. which is known for its vibrant Salvadoran community.
Though I was excited to move back to the West Coast, I knew I would miss the Salvadoran cuisine I had started to rely on.
Lucky for me Pupusa Central filled that void and brought comfort to me in the form of generous portions, thick pupusas and delicious plantains.
The Gardenland Salvadoran restaurant at 3408 Northgate Blvd., Suite 1, stands out for its menu. It focuses on authentic Salvadoran food including soups, corn tamales, traditional sandwiches such as panes con pollo and pastelitos de carne which are pockets of deep-fried dough filled with seasoned meat.
The restaurant also serves up a variety of traditional Mexican dishes including tacos, burritos, carne asada fries and quesadillas.
Drink options include passion fruit juice, sodas, agua frescas, horchata, coffee and Kolashanpan, a carbonated Salvadoran beverage that’s similar to cream soda.
Prices for individual dishes at Pupusas Central range from $3.95 to $19.95, and plates average around $10. Drink prices range from $1.50 to $3.99.
There are two desserts available: arroz con leche for $5.50 and empanadas de platano for $9.95.
The Sacramento restaurant is designed with families in mind and has a children’s menu that includes simple items such as quesadillas, chicken nuggets and fries.
Prices of kids’ meals range from $4.95 to $8.99.
The food portions at Pupusas Central are large, as if lovingly served by my grandmother. It’d be difficult for anyone to leave this restaurant hungry.
I spent a total of $20.19 before tip and tax at Sacramento’s Pupusas Central.
For that price, I got enough food to easily feed two people. I ordered a pupusa combo meal that included two bean-and-cheese pupusas and a side of beans, red rice and pickled cabbage for $11.95.
I also got a plate of fried plantains, or, platanos, that came with a hearty side of red silk beans, Salvadoran-style sour cream and a piece of fresh cheese for $4.99.
Finally, I ordered a cup of hibiscus-flavored agua de jamaica. I ordered the smallest cup size, 20 ounces, for $3.25.
Affordable Afghan flavors, cozy environment
In July, I visited the Aria-Afghan Restaurant, 5601 Watt Ave., Suite 2, in North Highlands. The restaurant sits between Superb Pizza and Peenoy Philippine Grocery.
The menu provides a variety of traditional meat-based options, including chicken koobideh, beef chapli kabob and lamb shank served with rice, raisins and carrots.
The restaurant offers a few vegetarian options, including veggie manto — steamed dumplings — and sabzi veggie, a spinach-based dish with rice.
Drink options include bottled water and canned sodas including Sprite, Pepsi and Coca-Cola.
Prices for individual dishes at Aria-Afghan range from $8.50 to $20.
The restaurant also offers party platters that can feed eight to 20 people. Prices for these platters range from $125 to $260.
Additionally, customers can order family platters ranging from $90 to $100. Each serve about five to nine people, depending on the selection.
Customers can also purchase side dishes including regular rice, qabili rice and green sauce. Prices range from $6 to $9.99. Drinks cost $2 each.
I spent a total of $25.99 before tip and tax on dinner at Aria-Afghan Restaurant, just 99 cents over my $25 budget.
I ordered a plate of veggie manto — 10 steamed dumplings filled with mushrooms, cabbage, onion and spices and topped with garlic yogurt, split peas and dried mint — for $13.99.
I also got a plate of borani badajan vege, featuring baked eggplant topped with garlic yogurt and sprinkled with dried mint served with a hearty side of seasoned rice and bread. That cost $12.
Aria-Afghan Restaurant’s plates are large, carefully curated and perfect for celebrations.
This is a place for families and friends to gather and share food in an inviting and intimate setting.
Unlimited pinball at an Old Sacramento spot
In September, I visited Capital Pinball Parlor at 117 J St., in Sacramento, which is surrounded by brick buildings, wooden slate porches and tall, western-style swinging doors.
The arcade offered fun games for patrons of all ages. But by far, my favorite aspect was that the business acted as a kind of museum for this timeless game.
During my visit, customers could choose from a blonde ale, red lager, Modelo beer or hard kombucha lemonade.
You can also select snacks from a vending machine with some candy and chip options.
Another vending machine at the parlor serves up a variety of soda and juice options including Mountain Dew, coffee and Coca-Cola.
The parlor offers three choices of play for customers. For $5, patrons can play unlimited pinball for 30 minutes.
You can get an hour of unlimited pinball for $10, or an entire day for $15.
If you want to play as much as you want, the $15 is the best bang for your buck. You can even take a short break and walk around Old Sacramento.
Prices for food range between $1 to $3 depending on the snack. Drink prices range from $1 to $3.
I spent a total of $18 before tip and tax at Capital Pinball Parlor — and got an evening full of fun.
For $10, I got to play an hour worth of pinball. I also ordered a 16-ounce Kyla hard kombucha lavender lemonade for $8.
I would highly recommend Capital Pinball Parlor to anyone.
It’s a place that parents, teens, children, single adults and people on dates can all enjoy.
Old fashion treats at an historic scoop shop
I visited the historic Gunther’s Ice Cream on a hot August day.
The scoop shop at 2801 Franklin Blvd., in Sacramento, is surrounded by picnic tables and it was filled with bouncing children, parents enjoying classic sundaes and groups of teens trying different flavors.
On a large wall of the Curtis Park shop is an expansive menu of ice cream flavors, fruit freezes, milkshakes and sundae options.
You can also select frozen treats from a display case, including chocolate-covered bananas, cheesecake slices on a stick and ice cream sandwiches.
Offerings change from time to time to highlight in-season fruits.
In addition to dessert, Gunther’s Ice Cream serves a variety of hot dogs and sandwiches including egg salad, turkey and peanut butter and jelly.
Drink options include soda, milk, hot tea and coffee.
Prices for sweet, frozen treats including fruit freezes, milkshakes and ice cream range from $2.30 to $17.82, with menu items averaging around $7.
Those looking for frosty treats other than ice cream can buy frozen bananas, ice cream sandwiches, bon bons and cheesecake on a stick for prices ranging from $2.03 to $10.13.
Prices for food at Gunther’s Ice Cream range from $1.35 for a bag of chips to $13.16 for a turkey sandwich. Drinks cost $3.44 to $3.85 each, depending on the size.
Gunther’s Ice Cream has spent nearly a century cementing its reputation. After my visit, I must say it rightly deserves the praise.
Champagne and duck fat fries for $25?
In June, I visited Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar, 615 David J. Stern Walk, Suite 105, in downtown Sacramento for their happy hour.
The happy hour runs 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and runs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The main menu includes sliders, salads, caviar and an artisan charcuterie and cheese board, while the happy hour menu is focused on appetizers such as french fries and crab cakes.
However, the extensive drink menu is where Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar truly shines. It features a selection of wines, cocktails and non-alcoholic spirits, as well as flights and champagne by the bottle.
Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar offers seven drink options for happy hour, including French sparkling blanc de blanc, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay.
Each drink is priced at $10 a glass. Prices for individual plates range from $4 to $13.
I spent a total of $18 before tip and tax at Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar.
I ordered a glass of French sparkling blanc de blanc glass from the happy hour menu for $10, along with a side of duck fat fries.
The fries cost $8 during happy hour rather than $16 as usual.
