They’re here, they’re queer, they’re in the kitchen: LGBT+ food businesses
Sacramento consistently ranks among the most diverse cities in the country, and that applies across all stripes. In particular, the city has long been a magnet for the LGBT+ community.
The epicenter of the queer community is in Lavender Heights, centered on the intersection of K and 20th Streets, where there are several gay-owned bars and restaurants, as well as the Sacramento LGBT Community Center.
But the community is not confined to that area. Queer-owned bars and restaurants flourish elsewhere in Sacramento and throughout the region, from Davis to Lodi to Nevada City.
Moreover, not all LGBT+ owned businesses are food service. Some of the area’s best food products are made by members of the community.
To commemorate Sacramento Pride this weekend, we’ve identified more than 40 LGBT+-owned businesses throughout the Sacramento region. Did we miss any? Be sure to let us know.
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A taste of LGBT+ Sacramento
Anchor & Tree Coffee Roasting Company
Address: 1412 16th St., midtown
Donovan and Casey Albert launched Anchor & Tree Coffee Roasting Company at the end of 2022, and opened their downtown cafe at 1412 16th St. in January 2024. They use high-tech self-contained coffee roasting machines to roast their beans to precision.
“There’s no propane or natural gas application and it’s all self-contained. So it compresses any of the natural carbons, has a water reservoir and captures the chaff. And it has the most consistency because it is all self-cooling as well,” Donovan Albert said.
The Alberts have expanded the operation, having taken over cafe operations at the Crocker Art Museum as of February.
Zelda’s Original Gourmet Pizza
Address: 1415 21st St., midtown
Across the city, Sacramentans know Zelda’s Original Gourmet Pizza is the hottest place to get an authentic Chicago deep dish pie. Founder Zelda Breslin launched her shop in 1978, after gaining culinary pizza training at a Chicago pizzeria. Breslin died in 2006, according to previous Bee reporting, and her family took over the restaurant in her stead. In 2024, the family sold the restaurant to Jon Stevenson and Beau Cornell.
Chicagoans have a deep reverence for the thick, unique pizza style, and Cornell and Stevenson said visitors from the Windy City have claimed Zelda’s is the most authentic version of the pie in California. “It’s the same recipe, that hasn’t changed (since opening in 1978)” Cornell said. “We would’ve been fools to change the recipe.”
Teneral Cellars
Address: 1050 20th St., Suite 110, midtown
Midtown got a new community-based destination last year as Plymouth-based Teneral Cellars opened its tasting room and lounge in the MARRS Building on 20th Street. The opening marks a new beginning for the winery, which launched an Amador County tasting room in October 2020.
In the months since taking control of the storefront, owners Jill Osur and Lisa Orrell have revamped it into a convivial meeting space. Unlike their former Amador operation, it’s meant to be more than just a venue to taste and purchase wines.
“It’s a tasting room and lounge,” Osur said. “So not just for tastings, but for people to come hang out, which is why during the week, we want to be doing things like trivia nights and open mic and karaoke nights.”
Teneral Cellars is the official wine sponsor for Sacramento Pride this year.
Alchemist Kitchen spins food business gold
Several of the businesses identified are graduates of the Alchemist Microenterprise Academy (AMA), a 12-week business training course that teaches the basics of starting a food business. Topics include financial literacy and legal business structures to recipe development and safe food handling.
The program helps propel startup businesses, many of which are minority-owned. Since its inception in 2019, AMA has had 232 graduates. Jacob Sacks, director of economic development for Alchemist CDC, estimates that 20 percent of them were LGBT+-owned, as well as 64 percent being woman-owned and 75 percent being entrepreneurs of color.
One graduate is Dee Siazon of Real Mojo Foods, which recently won a Good Food Award for its Hot-N-Zesty Semi Sweet & Spicy Pickle Chips. Siazon decided to turn a childhood memory of making pickles with her family into a viable business.
Today, Siazon’s pickles can be found at the Sacramento Natural Food Co-op, the Davis Foods Co-op, Corti Brothers, the Kitchen Table locations, Allspicery in East Sacramento and tiny but mighty Superette Market in Land Park. Her Hot-n-Zesty Semi-Sweet & Spicy Pickles recently won a Good Food Award.
Thank you for being a friend
Allyship means a lot to the community, and several businesses go above and beyond to support it.
The Mercantile Saloon
Address: 1928 L St., midtown
While owned by a straight man, The Merc, as it’s commonly known, has long been a popular hangout for the gay community, not least for its strong drinks.
Alma Wine Bar
Address: 1200 S St, Ste B, downtown; almawinebar.com
Owner Melissa Sanchez is a supporter of the community, and will be serving up wines at the upcoming Les Get It fundraiser event on Sunday, June 28th at 2223 10th St.
Scott’s Seafood on the River
Address: 4800 Riverside Blvd., Little Pocket; scottsseafoodontheriver.comscottsseafoodontheriver.com
According to Outword Magazine Fred Palmer, the owner of Scott’s, Alan Irvine, is extremely gay supportive and has hosted numerous events for both Outword and the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce (see below).
Tipsy Putt
Address: 630 K St. #120, downtown; tipsyputt.com
Husband and wife team Brandon and Jennifer Robinson own the mini golf-centered sports bar, which hosts weekly drag bingo with local queen Apple Adams. This month, the spot is offering special drinks for Pride.
Kitchen428 Restaurant & Mojo’s Lounge
Address: 428 1st St., Woodland; mojoskitchen428.com
Owner Christy Hayes has hosted drag nights — despite some outside pressure from unfriendly individuals — and contributes to LGBT+ charities.
Shangri-La
Address: 7960 Winding Way, Fair Oaks; shangrilafairoaks.com
When owner Sommer Peteterson moved back to Fair Oaks after living in San Francisco, she wanted to create a safe space for her “queerdos,” so she made them a paradise.
Where to find LGBT+ businesses
WIth more visibility than ever before, queer-owned businesses are out and proud.
Sacramento boasts a Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, where businesses can register and increase their awareness via the member directory. The organization hosts monthly networking mixers, as well as monthly drag bingo every first Thursday of the month at Mango’s at 1930 K St. in midtown.
For over 30 years, Outward Magazine has delivered news and features for and by the community. While it no longer publishes in print, you can still read its 24 issues a year online.
A newcomer is the mobile app Everywhere Is Queer, a worldwide directory of self-registered LGBT+-owned and allied businesses, right at your fingertips.
Be sure to check out Bee reporter Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado’s newcomer’s guide to Sacramento’s LGBTQ bars, churches, drag shows and more.
This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 4:39 PM.
