The year (and the decade!) is coming to an end already and it’s time to reflect back on some of my most memorable eats and drinks. Our growing drink page on Instagram had me trying all kinds of new drinks this year. Downtown-based shops Roots Coffee and Simpleton Café have both found a home in my little coffee-loving heart. I’m a sucker for a café that has great drinks, but equally great food. The different toasts on the menu at Roots Coffee are all pieces of art, which is definitely perfect for those IG photos. And their housemade biscuits at Simpleton are out of this world!

Some of my favorite meals this past year have all been from new family owned shops. I always prefer supporting local businesses since the food tastes even better with that extra ingredient of love. The authentic food and welcoming staff are the perfect blend at Fixins Soul Kitchen in Oak Park. The crispy and juicy fried chicken entrees are the stars of the menu, but don’t skip on those sides – that beautiful blueberry butter paired with the waffles or the rich country gravy easily sets them apart from the rest. Ramen is coming up on the food scene here in Sacramento. It’s better late than never, I mean Sacramento has “ramen” in its name already! My latest go-to is Maru Ramen Bar in Elk Grove, which shares the same owner as their boba counterpart next door, Moo Moo. How could you go wrong with a one-stop shop for ramen AND milk tea?! Even if ramen isn’t your jam, they have some killer snacks like the loaded bulgogi fries or fusion flavored chicken wings. 

The perfect ending to any good meal, and any good year like 2019, is dessert! My standout pick of the year goes to Yume Gelato. Their unique flavors on rotation have me wanting to drive out to East Sac everyday! If you follow them on Instagram, you can see what their daily flavor will be as soon as it’s ready. If you’ve got that major sweet tooth and need your sugar fix in the morning too, Elk Grove Donuts is the perfect stop on the way to work. Donuts topped with Reese’s Puffs, filled with Butterfinger, flavored with ube cream, they really have it all.

2019 was great for the foodie scene in Sac this year. Our town has grown immensely! I can’t wait to see what else we have up our sleeves in the new decade! 

 

The Ultimate Map of 2019 Food & Drink Openings

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December