Davis eats around the UC calendar and the farmers market schedule, and this list leans into that: counter-service rooms where students and Woodland farmhands land at the same table, plus a couple of strip-mall finds worth the detour off campus. Nothing here needs a tasting menu to earn its spot.
Compare all 9 restaurantsNeighborhood · price · score · first order
In the same order as the guide. Scores are out of 10; dollar symbols show the listed price tier.
Pizza by the slice or the pie, ordered at the counter and carried to a patio or a booth. The room runs big, which makes it a default for groups, though regulars note portions beat precision here and slice sizes swing from one visit to the next. Skip it during a big match unless there is a seat already claimed.
The combo bowl with warm bread is the order, built fast at the counter with a friendliness that keeps students coming back on repeat. Greek yogurt gets called out alongside the souvlaki as a reason to return. Price stays low, service stays quick, and it works as a solo lunch or a group stop between classes.
Blueberry French toast anchors the brunch menu at this downtown Davis counter-service room, with eggs benedict and a grilled chicken sandwich rounding out the lunch shift. Parking downtown takes patience. Order at the register, expect a wait during weekend brunch, and check the tab since a service surcharge has drawn complaints from regulars.
What to order
Blueberry French Toast, Eggs Benedict, Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Hawaiian deli-style poke, not the assembly-line bowl chain version, sets this counter apart, and it is reportedly the only spot in Northern California running that specific style. The ahi poke draws comparisons to bowls eaten in Hawaii itself. It sits out near farmland, which makes the quality more of a surprise the first time through the door.
Falafel pita and a mix of beef, lamb, and chicken over rice come loaded with grilled onion, cucumber tomato salad, and sauce in portions that punch above the price. The downtown Davis room stays uncrowded even at peak hours, with fast counter service and fresh ingredients doing the heavy lifting on weekday lunches.
Sam's Mediterranean Cuisine at 301 B Street in Davis has been part of student life at UC Davis for decades, and diners return for the same reasons. The chicken shawarma on pita is soft, flavorful and well seasoned, and the mixed shawarma over rice is called a top pick for eating in town. The meat is halal.
Sauces matter here. Diners order both, and the homemade hot sauce is a favorite. Falafel is praised as some of the best anywhere, and the pita stays tender without turning soggy. Tomatoes and vegetables arrive fresh, and the staff accommodates requests, such as swapping yogurt for extra rice.
Practical notes: several diners call it good value near campus, with a patio for sunny days. A diner noted it is cash only. Service comes up repeatedly as friendly, and the family behind the counter remembers regulars. A few diners were let down by the kabob salad, so shawarma and falafel are the safer orders.
Insider tip
Diners advise bringing cash, and the patio is a pleasant spot on a nice day near campus.
Pra ram with beef, original pad Thai, and massaman curry with salmon form the regulars' rotation, paired with a Thai iced tea or a Dark and Stormy off the bar list. The patio is the draw on a mild evening, built for a Friday dinner with a friend more than a stroller-heavy family outing.
What to order
Pad Thai, Massaman curry with salmon, Pra ram with beef
Spicy tan tan ramen carries a broth rich enough to anchor the menu, but the room also runs curry and, unexpectedly, a well-liked carbonara. The lineup shifted from a yakitori-only concept to this broader format, which now covers ramen, rice plates, and squash fries under one roof. Seating moves fast even as the lunch crowd builds.
The Lion King roll is the reason to return to this strip-mall counter, backed by an expansive menu and fish quality that regulars call top notch. This is a la carte sushi, not all-you-can-eat and not a poke or boba stop, so the tab runs higher than nearby quick-service competitors. Worth it for the roll alone.
Personal pizzas and a spinach salad give this neighborhood room range beyond the pie, and the room stays clean and orderly through a lunch rush. Service gets singled out by name, with a manager credited for keeping orders accurate and on time. A dependable stop for anyone new to Davis hunting a straightforward pizza night.
What to order
Personal pizza, Spinach salad, Cheese pizza
1260 Lake Blvd, Ste 113, Davis, CA 95616 · (530) 758-1111
Based on the Insider Score, Huku Japanese Bistro and Good Friends Hawaiian Poke rank at the top of this list for food quality in their categories, sushi and poke respectively. No restaurant pays to be listed here or to rank higher; the score comes from the review record alone.
Where can I find good pizza near me in Davis?
Woodstock's Pizza and Lamppost Pizza both cover the neighborhood pizza slot in Davis, with Woodstock's built for groups and counter-service speed and Lamppost running a calmer, family-friendly room. Neither restaurant paid for placement; both are ranked on their Insider Score.
What is a good spot for brunch in Davis?
Cafe Bernardo downtown is the brunch pick on this list, known for its blueberry French toast, though parking downtown takes some circling and diners should check the bill for an added surcharge. The Insider Score reflects the full review record, not a paid placement.
Is there good sushi in Davis that is not all-you-can-eat?
Huku Japanese Bistro fills that gap, running an a la carte menu built around quality fish and creative rolls like the Lion King roll rather than a buffet format. It ranks highly on the Insider Score, which is generated from the review record and not influenced by advertising.
The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Reyna writes the best-of lists that send you somewhere specific tonight: the taquerias, the brunch lines, the burger counters, and the suburban rooms worth the drive. Her rankings start with the review record and end with an order.
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