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Smoothies, tacos and pizza: Find these unique restaurants and bars around Sacramento

Stories by Sacramento Bee journalists, with AI summarization

Sacramento boasts a diverse and flavorful food scene, highlighted by unique restaurants and bars that add color to the city's culinary landscape. Whether it's the taco truck beloved by a local NBA star or the inventive nail salon that doubles as a cocktail lounge, Sacramento's eateries offer a fresh take on dining experiences.

From Moonshine & Co.'s blend of manicures and margaritas to Nopalitos' accolade as California's best cheap eat, these establishments showcase local flair and innovative concepts. Additionally, smoothies from Green Smoothie Co. and sushi tacos from Engawa Fusion further enrich Sacramento's vibrant food culture.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Banzito’s Tacos owner Adam Saldaña stands with the Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox as the beam shines above Sacramento.

NO. 1: THIS SACRAMENTO TACO TRUCK HAS A SPOT IN KINGS STAR DE’AARON FOX’S HEART — AND ON HIS SHOES

Truck owner Adam Saldaña has now catered Kings parties and Fox’s major life events. | Published March 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Benjy Egel

The moonflower, a $12 color-changing coconut and lavender concoction for release, peace and spiritual attunement, is ready to serve at Moonshine & Nail Bar in Curtis Park on June 12, 2024.

NO. 2: LOOKING FOR A MANICURE AND A MARGARITA? THIS SACRAMENTO NAIL SALON HAS YOU COVERED

The natural nail salon (no acrylics or UV gel polishes) has a strong selection of wine and cocktails, with hard kombucha and cider on tap. | Published June 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Benjy Egel

Nopalitos Southwestern Café is filled with southwestern decor in East Sacramento on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2019.

NO. 3: LOOKING FOR CHEAP EATS IN CALIFORNIA? SACRAMENTO RESTAURANT WAS RANKED BEST IN THE STATE

CashNetUSA picked the top spots in all 50 states for budget-friendly bites. | Published July 31, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brianna Taylor

Urban Roots’ newest beer is Hat Trick, a hazy IPA brewed in collaboration with Sacramento Republic FC.

NO. 4: SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC HAS AN OFFICIAL BEER WITH A LOCAL BREWERY. HERE’S WHERE TO FIND IT

“It’s a great intro beer, great intro style for people who are not super into craft beer because of (its) low bitterness and high flavor,” the brewmaster said. | Published May 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Benjy Egel

A coffee drink served at AC Hotels by Marriott. The lodging chain will open a new location at 905 7th St. in downtown Sacramento in March 2024.

NO. 5: SACRAMENTO’S NEWEST COFFEE SHOP SERVES BREAKFAST TACOS ON HOMEMADE TORTILLAS. WHERE IS IT?

The menu includes pupusas and cornmeal jalapeño and cheddar scones. | Published June 3, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jacqueline Pinedo

Purple Tree Café employee Tone Martinez rings up a customer’s order on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at the cafe, which is housed inside the MIND Institute at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. Martinez, who is on the autism spectrum, works up to nine hours a week at the cafe. Many of the cafe’s employees have mental, physical and/or developmental disabilities

NO. 6: AT THIS SACRAMENTO CAFE, YOU CAN SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY BUYING VEGAN PASTRIES

Most pastries are wheat-free in addition to being vegan, such as peanut butter-chocolate chip cookies and coconut macaroons, and all cost less than $4. | Published June 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Benjy Egel

Taco Tonkatsu, $10, includes pork cutlet, cucumber, cabbage, avocado, mustard and honey sauce on a seaweed shell at Engawa Fusion restaurant on Stockton Boulevard in south Sacramento on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

NO. 7: NEW SACRAMENTO SUSHI AND RAMEN SPOT IS GAINING POPULARITY FOR ITS TACOS. SEE HOW IT’S DONE

In April, the roughly 1,000-square-foot restaurant held its soft opening. Now, it’s gaining popularity. | Published May 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brianna Taylor

Pizza Guys’ signature combo pie includes Italian sausage, ground beef, dry salami, peppers, mushrooms, olives and more.

NO. 8: THIS SACRAMENTO KINGS STAR HAS JUST SIGNED ON TO BE ‘PIZZA GUY’ FOR THIS REGIONAL CHAIN

Former Kings players Isaiah Thomas and Ben McLemore hawked Pizza Guys pies in hard-to-forget TV commercials throughout the early 2010s. | Published July 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Benjy Egel

Brady Bisgaard sells green smoothie to Jessica Gunderson at the Midtown Farmers Market in Sacramento on July 27, 2024. Gunderson recently moved to Sacramento from Oakland and said the Midtown Famers Market is one of her favorites.

NO. 9: THIS SACRAMENTO SMOOTHIE COMPANY HAS A TWIST: IT SELLS ONLY ONE KIND OF SMOOTHIE

Green Smoothie Co. sells only one kind of smoothie at farmers markets from Folsom to Sacramento to Napa. | Published August 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Irene Milanez

Xiaolongbao soup dumplings filled with crab, garlic noodle shrimp and garlic green beans at Journey to the Dumpling on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Elk Grove.

NO. 10: THE SACRAMENTO AREA’S HOTTEST ASIAN RESTAURANTS ARE OPENING IN ELK GROVE. HERE’S WHY

At least 13 new Asian restaurants opened in the Sacramento County city from January through September. | Published November 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Benjy Egel Irene Milanez

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.