The following is from City of Treats, a food and drink newsletter by Abridged senior food editor Benjy Egel. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.
Nothing made college me envious like seeing photos of my classmates who, while studying abroad in Europe, popped into Germany for Oktoberfest. The raucous tents filled with long tables, the lederhosen and dirndl bought for the occasion, the liter steins of Paulaner — all of it made me want to teleport to Munich for a late September weekend.
Technically, Munich’s Oktoberfest ended Sunday after two weeks of debauchery. We’re in the middle of Sacramento-area iterations, though. While local German restaurants Der Biergarten, Prost Beer Hall and Kathrin’s Biergarten have all already celebrated, the following Oktoberfest celebrations are still on tap:
- Sacramento Turn Verein (3349 J St., Sacramento) on Oct. 9-10
- Saktoberfest (Cal Expo) on Oct. 9-10
- Oktoberfest at The Fat Rabbit Public House (825 Sutter St, Folsom) on Oct. 10
- Gold County Rotary Oktoberfest (Regional Park in Auburn) on Oct. 17
- Davis Sunrise Rotary Club Oktoberfest (Central Park in Davis) on Oct. 17
- Ben Ali Oktoberfest at Ben Ali Shrine Center (3262 Marysville Blvd., Sacramento) on Oct. 17
- Rotary Club of Folsom Oktoberfest (Folsom Community Center) on Oct. 27
Not your cup of tea (or stein of lager)? This City of Treats can also serve as your guide for where to find a great shrimp burrito, what vegan dip or appetizer to bring to your next party or which local butcher shop just expanded to El Dorado Hills.
Let’s dig in.
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Benjy’s Bites
La Soga Taqueria | 7233 East Parkway, Sacramento | 916-427-6327
La Soga Taqueria’s adherence to its ranchero theme (a “soga” is a thick rope used to lasso cattle) shows up in the faux horse heads, coiled rope and wrought iron decorating its walls. But it’s more than gimmicks at this Mexican restaurant off Florin Road near Highway 99. La Soga does the little things well, a good sign at any taqueria, from thoroughly seasoned rice and beans to a salsa bar limited to three kickin’ varieties.
A wealth of meat options can tuck into housemade corn tortillas, including chopped-up milanesa topped with salsa rojo or messy-but-delicious chile colorado ($3.50 per taco). Yet shrimp stars across much of the menu, including in the flagship La Soga super burrito ($14.75). Interspersed with rice, beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, onions, salsa and bell peppers, it’s a strong contender in my continuous hunt for a go-to Sacramento burrito.
Egel’s Nest
I live, play and cook in this community just like you. This recurring section is a window into my life outside of restaurants and bars, always with a food and/or drink angle.
Harvest season is in full swing, from Apple Hill’s core growers to vineyards dotting the Delta around Clarksburg. Cultures around the world rejoice their agricultural reapings with different traditions, and I spent Friday night celebrating the Jewish holiday Sukkot with about 20 friends in Downtown Sacramento.
We circled up to shake lulav and etrog (palm fronds and citron) one by one, asking for protection of the natural world, before beating willow branches against the ground — a rain dance, but only for the right amount of rain at the right time, please and thank you. Then we headed inside for dinner, including a delightful Moroccan cod-chickpea-couscous stew, some Sellands Cafe & Bar salads and a plum tart.
I made a vegan appetizer platter of peppers stuffed with white beans, chard and bulgar, roasted in a tomato-paprika sauce and finish with a toum-inspired garlic-lemon drizzle. Copied from Faith Kramer’s cookbook “52 Shabbats: Friday Night Dinners Inspired by a Global Jewish Kitchen,” that labor of love (if you could call it that) fortuitously finished just in time for our cleaners’ monthly visit.
In the news
The Sacramento Kings tipped off the 2026-27 preseason on Monday, and unveiled new Legends Hospitality chef Rod Cuadra’s creations at a media event last week. Cuadra, who helped open Golden 1 Center 10 years ago before decamping for finer dining in Napa, has spearheaded a concessions program that may be the arena’s best yet. A rotisserie chicken sandwich, black bean burger and smoked turkey leg with housemade barbecue sauce all wowed me and PBS KVIE Chief Visual Journalist Martin Christian.
Feijoas (fay-JOH-ahs) originated in South America, boom in New Zealand and grow well around the Sacramento Valley. You’ll see these small green fruits, also known as pineapple guavas, at area farmers markets from late September through December, and can get a free tree for your yard through a SMUD program. Keyla Vasconcellos has the story.
With eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers and tomatoes still readily available at Sacramento-area farmers markets, Zoe Barrie whipped up a Cooking in Season recipe for a dip based on the French dish ratatouille. Inspired by a “pot de ratatouille” she had in Paris this summer, it’s entirely vegan and is as simple as chopping, roasting and blending.
Aviator’s Restaurant has taken off from Sacramento Executive Airport after three decades, and landed inside Sky Port Restaurant & Bar in Elk Grove. The family-friendly diner is now operating out of Sky Port, which opened last year with the design and uniforms of a luxury Boeing 747.
Missing the music, crowds and costumes of Aftershock (or suffering from FOMO after not scoring tickets)? Becky Grunewald’s list of five on–brand Sacramento restaurants and bars remains relevant all year long. Stop by a metal-playing alternative spot for vegan brunch, channel your inner Jugalo at a clown-themed diner or take the stage yourself at Midtown’s most popular karaoke bar.
Happening this week
- FiiZ Drinks and Kings Meats both just opened in the El Dorado Hills Town Center. The former marks the first California location for a Utah-based dirty soda chain; the latter is an expansion of El Dorado County’s most popular butcher shop, which began in Diamond Springs.
- Japanese café Shiro Noir debuted Oct. 1 inside Downtown Davis’ Hilton Garden Inn. Sandwiched between Japanese restaurants Hikari Sushi & Omakase and Show Izakaya, it serves coffee, matcha and wine.
