The best restaurants in Sacramento.

The Kitchen at 915 Broadway treats dinner as a shared event. Every table is seated at the same time, guests pass through the working kitchen on the way in, and the evening runs in two acts with an intermission between them. Diners describe six main courses, a run of small bites at the start, and extra dessert items that are not on the menu.

Oysters come up most, served in different styles and with a carrot habanero hot sauce, and the cookie is a favorite finish. Handkerchief pasta carbonara, Brentwood corn risotto, and gnocchi get praise too. Diners call the pacing and hospitality the strongest part of the night, and the room invites guests to ask questions and take part.

Getting in takes planning. Reservations are released online at the start of each month for the following month, and diners say tables of four or six are easier to land than tables for two. The restaurant sits next to a coin laundry, and the restaurant makes jokes about it, so the plain exterior is part of the story. Anniversaries and birthdays are common reasons to book.

Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine sits at 3135 Folsom Blvd, near Alhambra, in a building it shares with OBO's. The street view is plain, but inside is a calm modern room with wood tones, mood lighting, and an open kitchen where diners watch the chefs work. Many pick the sushi bar for the conversation with the chefs.

Nigiri leads what diners order, and the A5 wagyu nigiri is described as soft and buttery. A fifteen piece chef's choice plate, sashimi, oysters, lobster, and the warm mushroom salad all get mentioned, along with named rolls such as the Sunshine, Tesla, and Firecracker. Diners also say the prices felt reasonable for the quality of the fish.

Plan the visit. Bar seating opens at four in the afternoon, while the dining room and sushi bar open at five, with one table near the bar held for walk-ins on a first come basis. Reservations are advised, especially for birthdays, which come up often. Diners also describe the staff as helpful and friendly.

Bacon & Butter sits on Broadway in a residential stretch across from an elementary school, and it is a full brunch kitchen before it is a burrito stop. The menu leans on grilled cheese benedict, waffles, biscuits and a cinnamon roll that diners bring up often. The breakfast burrito sits among the savory plates, and diners who order it call it great.

Portions are the other thing diners notice. Plates are described as huge and generous, and once the order goes in, the food comes out quickly. One table praised the eggs Benedict, the avocado toast and the biscuits and gravy in the same meal as the burrito.

The line is the real planning item. Weekend waits have run long, the waitlist is taken in a line outside, and street parking fills fast. Diners who came midweek around lunchtime found seats at the counter with no line. That is the time to go, order the burrito, and let the visit match the praise.

Fixins Soul Kitchen at 3428 3rd Ave in Oak Park serves Southern comfort food in a room with booths, tables, bar seating, and a patio. Diners describe the mood as an indoor backyard family reunion, with music up and tables full. Paintings of historical figures and shirts for sale add a nod to Black history and culture.

Fried chicken is the dish named most, and many order it smothered. Chicken and waffles, macaroni and cheese, shrimp, gumbo, biscuits, and charred okra round out the table, and fried fish with corn fritters has its fans. Hot chicken also shows up in diner orders. Service gets steady credit for being attentive from the first drink order.

Weekend lunch can bring a wait for a table, so a reservation helps. The room is loud, with music turned up high, which suits a lively night better than a quiet conversation. The patio is another place to sit when the dining room is full.

Mulvaney's B&L at 1215 19th St occupies a former fire station, and diners point to the exposed brick, tall ceilings, and the main dining area, called the Apparatus Bay. Drinks in the bar area before dinner are a common start. The kitchen cooks a rotating seasonal menu built around local farms and ranches.

Dishes diners name include the house-smoked salmon with Irish brown bread, hand-pulled mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes, rabbit mole with homemade flour tortillas, and a double-cut pork chop. Steak, the burger, and the soup also get praise, and the homemade ding dong finishes the meal for some. Counter seats let guests watch desserts being garnished.

Dinner service runs until ten, which helps late arrivals. Reservations are common for birthdays and anniversaries, and the patio gives another seating choice. Diners advise confirming the day's hours when booking, since one found online listings that showed the restaurant closed on a day it was open.

Heat Shabu at 2416 18th St, Suite E, is a hot pot restaurant that some diners call the best in the Sacramento area. The room is small and clean, and it opens at five in the evening, so groups tend to arrive a little early. Staff are described as friendly and knowledgeable about allergies, including nuts and peanuts, though sesame is in use.

The unlimited option comes with a choice of rice or ramen, a vegetable plate with tofu and mushrooms, and pork, lamb, and beef, and it includes American Kobe beef. A wagyu tier costs more. Kobe beef sashimi and albacore sashimi appear among the starters, and fried chicken and wings round out the appetizers. Diners name the BBH broth as a reason they return.

The vegetable selection is on the small side, and one group found some broths light on flavor, so it pays to ask staff which broth suits the table. Reservations help for larger parties, and birthdays and group dinners are common.

Ryujin Ramen at 1831 S St in Midtown is a small shop that keeps the feel of a traditional ramen house, with booths that turn over quickly. Diners describe a fast kitchen, short waits even at peak hours, and a crowd that mixes couples, families, business lunches, and people after a workout.

Tonkotsu bowls lead, and diners name the black garlic ramen, the kuro tonkotsu, the karamiso, and the spicy ramen. One regular orders the red ramen with corn added. Noodles are described as firm, spicy bowls as not overpowering, and each broth as distinct. Fried rice and a kids ramen also come up.

Service earns steady praise for being helpful and accommodating. Vegetarian and vegan options are mentioned, and parking comes up often, so allow a few extra minutes to find a spot in Midtown. Takeout is also an option for diners who want the bowl at home.

The Morning Fork at 1111 21st St in Midtown took over the spot where the Lucky Cafe stood, and it has run since mid-2019 as a retro-style diner with booths, counter seats, and room for groups. Diners bring out-of-town visitors here, and weekend lines are part of the routine.

Breakfast leads. Chicken and waffles, eggs benedict, biscuits, pancakes, fried steak, and the sage fried chicken come up often, along with a breakfast burger and a breakfast sandwich. Tables are stocked with hot sauces, condiments, and a salt and pepper grinder, and some diners mention vegan and gluten-free options.

Lines get long, but there is plenty of outdoor seating for the wait and a staff member managing the sign-up list. A diner reports weekend hours that run until four in the afternoon, which helps late risers. Street parking nearby is a short walk from the door.

Tower Cafe at 1518 Broadway sits between Midtown and Land Park and has been the brunch pick of many Sacramento diners. The interior mixes thrift store and temple decor, and the garden patio feels like a peaceful jungle with enough space between tables.

French toast gets the most praise, thick and soft with a crisp outside and not too sweet. The Santa Fe blueberry cornmeal pancakes, Oaxacan eggs with mole, and eggs tower round out the breakfast side. Lunch and dinner plates draw fans too, including the Thai steak salad, fish and chips, and the borracho burger.

Waits are the common complaint, and diners suggest reserving ahead if possible. Staffing can limit how fast tables are seated at peak times, and sitting outside is a pleasant option while tables clear. Parking is limited near Broadway, so allow time to find a space.

Ella Dining Room & Bar at 1131 K Street is one of the places Sacramento diners choose for a special night. The room feels warm and thoughtfully designed, with lighting and music set low enough for conversation. A wine cellar and bar anchor the space, and it stays lively without becoming hard to talk in.

The lobster gnocchi earns the loudest praise, with diners calling the pillowy gnocchi the best they have had. Other dishes draw attention too: beef tongue with arugula and egg, crispy fried half chicken, salmon, steak, and oysters served with a ramekin of mini pickles. Some diners suggest ordering several small plates and skipping a main course.

Plan ahead. Birthday and anniversary tables fill the dining room, reservations are advised, and a few diners report long waits on busy nights. Happy hour is popular, and the wine program and house gin and tonic both get kind words. Prices lean upscale.

Paesanos at 1806 Capitol Ave holds a corner in Midtown with covered, heated outdoor seating that welcomes dogs. The dining room is big, loud, and active, and diners describe an old-town room that suits dates and groups alike.

Pizza is named most, including the Gorgonzola and the Sicilian, and the fried ravioli is a popular starter to share. Pasta dishes like the fettuccine arrostiti, spaghetti carbonara, pork fusilli, and pesto ravioli draw praise, with meatballs, tomato basil soup, and tiramisu on the side. Gluten-free pasta and a vegan pizza are on the menu.

Seating is first come, first served for most visits, so waits of twenty to forty-five minutes show up on busy Saturday nights. Parking is tight near the corner, and diners advise leaving time to find a space. Lunch visits and kids pizza orders are easy here.

Zócalo at 1801 Capitol Ave opened in the mid-2000s as the first of its four locations, and the Midtown original still draws crowds to a lively room with ornate lanterns and a busy patio. Diners come for brunch, dates, and birthdays.

Tacos lead the orders, especially the Baja fish tacos, and the mole enchiladas, burritos, garlic shrimp, and pozole also come up. Brunch brings chilaquiles that one diner rates close to a favorite from San Francisco. Chips arrive with salsa and a black bean dip at no charge.

Happy hour runs daily in the afternoon, and margaritas are the drink diners mention most. Slow service during happy hour is the one note repeated, so patience helps. The room is loud, and the patio fills quickly on nice evenings.