2021 is underway after a perilous year for the restaurant industry like nothing we’ve experienced before. Despite a pandemic, lockdown restrictions and economic distress, the Sacramento region saw 198 new food and drink spots bravely open up last year. That’s 40 less than 2019 but still impressive under the circumstances.

Depending on the business concept and other factors, it can make sense to bet on opening in 2021 despite the current climate we’re in. Some of the brave restaurants opening up in 2021 that we are looking forward to are as follows:

R&B Tea, named after Taiwanese owners Rex and Bruce, is a bubble tea franchise with more than 500+ locations in Asia. They’ve started opening up shops here in California recently and their upcoming location on Arden way is expected to be the first here in the Sacramento region. Some of their noteworthy milk teas include Brown Sugar Boba Milk, Hokkaido Milk Tea and Horchata Milk Tea.

Moonraker Mill House is an ambitious plan by highly-rated Moonraker Brewery. Despite a pandemic, they’re blazing full speed ahead and it just might pay off. Their new addition will be located on 16 acres of property in Cameron Park and features a large outdoor space, brewery, taproom and farm-to-fork restaurant. This is shaping up to be an experience worthy of being called a destination in it’s own right.

Biker Bar Cafe is one part bike shop, one part coffee house and one part plant-based eatery. This well diversified portfolio of goods and services that was conceived pre-pandemic is already starting to pay dividends. While the food and drink portion of the concept has yet to open, the bike shop opened their doors in September. This will allow them to build up rapport in advance of opening the full concept.

Huong Lan – Folsom offers noodles, rice plates, grab-and-go food items and is most well known for their Vietnamese sandwiches. Huong Lan branches out into Folsom with a location that offers a drive-thru experience which seems to be a good fit for them. Not only do you have the convenience and safety of staying in your car but you’ve also got a menu, bánh mì in particular, that lends itself well to those who are on-the-go.

PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans is well known for their PJ’s Original Cold Brew Iced Coffee. We were the first to report on the planned opening of this location back in July of 2019. This is the first entry to the Sacramento area by this franchise which boasts over 100 locations mostly in the Southern US.

As eager as we all are to forget 2020 and look ahead to what’s to come, let us not forget to continue supporting our local independent food and drink locations. Here’s a post from Southpaw Sushi with some thrifty ideas on how we can offer our patronage:

And by the way, if you haven’t had the opportunity to experience the menu from veteran sushi chef Lou Valente, you are missing out!

Without further adieu, here is Sacramento’s definitive list of food and drink openings for 2021. As 2021 rolls on, this list will continue to grow and take shape with new locations and opening dates as more data becomes available so keep checking back.

Map of 2021 Food & Drink Openings

2021 Food & Drink Openings List