The Abridged version:
- You can still find filling, tasty meals for $10 or less at these Sacramento-area restaurants and food stands.
- Grab Tijuana-style tacos on Mack Road, nibble on kimbap in Southside Park or load up on a sandwich from East Sacramento’s favorite grocery store.
- Read through Keyla Vasconcellos’ list, then add another at the bottom.
Dining out keeps getting pricier, but Sacramento still has plenty of memorable meals for less than $10. These 11 dishes show the region’s everyday strengths, spanning long-running neighborhood institutions, tiny takeout counters and busy strip mall favorites.
The lineup crosses several cuisines and corners of the metro area, pulling together comfort staples, quick lunches and unfussy plates that locals return to again and again.
Each dish earns its spot by nailing the fundamentals, whether that’s a crispy taco, a tightly rolled kimbap or an overstuffed bánh mì. Together they’re proof that some of Sacramento’s most satisfying meals remain within economic reach.
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Bánh mì at Duc Huong Sandwiches
Inside Đức Hương, the line forms quickly and the staff moves even faster, slicing crunchy baguettes and layering pâté, pickled vegetables and herbs with assembly-line precision. Everyone has a favorite order, whether it’s the cold cut combination or one of the pork variations.
Small bánh mì start around $3.25 and large versions cost $6. Add a $2 side of pâté chaud, a warm, buttery puff pastry filled with pork, to your order. Regulars call ahead to skip the wait and request the garlic bread upgrade for extra zing. It remains one of Sacramento’s most reliable foods, served from one of the many unassuming strip malls on Stockton Boulevard.
$3.25 small / $6 large | 6821 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento | Vegetarian option: yes
Nut burger at Sunflower Drive-In
Sunflower Drive‑In has spent decades feeding Fair Oaks, turning out vegetarian classics long before meatless eating was mainstream. The menu leans on whole grains, fresh vegetables and housemade nut patties, making it one of the healthier drive‑in stops in the region. Prices have crept up over the years, but two longtime staples still land under $10.
The Nut Burger, priced at $9.79, is the one to order. Its patty, ground from nuts and grains, comes on a whole‑wheat bun stacked with a mayonnaisey sauce, onions, pickles, tomatoes, romaine and sprouts. Make sure to get extra sauce in case it feels dry halfway through. The Nutty Taco, at $9.49, brings the same spirit in a different form, seasoned and folded into a corn tortilla with cheese, hot sauce and greens. And with most of the rest of the menu landing under $12, it’s a spot where eating well doesn’t break the bank.
$9.79–$11.29 | 10344 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks | Vegetarian option: yes
Enchilada and tamale combo at La Esperanza
When you ask locals where to get tamales, La Esperanza is often the answer. The Franklin Boulevard grocery store, bakery and deli rarely slow down, with to-go boxes moving quickly across the counter, especially before the holidays.
If you’re already ordering tamales, turn it into a full lunch plate with rice and beans. La Esperanza has plenty of other combo options, but the enchilada and burrito pairing is a solid midday power-up. The enchilada comes coated in bright red sauce, and adding carnitas — another house specialty — for a little extra is something you should absolutely do.
$7.50, or $8.99 with rice and beans | 5028 Franklin Blvd., Sacramento | Vegetarian option: yes
Slices at Pizza Supreme Being
By midday, Pizza Supreme Being fills with lobbyists and Capitol staffers grabbing a quick lunch before heading back across L Street. The Midtown shop can get crowded, but the line moves and the slices keep moving.
The naturally leavened sourdough pies come out crispy and sturdy enough without collapsing. Order the pepperoni and you get the small cups that curl and crisp. Even mixing it up — say, a cheese slice and a Hawaiian — still keeps you under $10. The focaccia-style square slices, cut thick with cheesy edges and unique toppings like lap cheong (a sweet Chinese sausage), run $7 and can easily stand in for two triangular slices depending on hunger.
$4.50–$7 per slice | 1407 14th St., Sacramento | Vegetarian option: yes
Corti special at Corti Brothers
Corti Brothers is a Sacramento institution packed with shelves of imported pasta, olive oil and hard-to-find pantry staples from around the world. Step inside and your eyes go everywhere at once. If you’re only coming here to grab a sandwich, walk past the bread section and the sea of wines and you’ll see the massive deli counter straight ahead.
Customers buying sandwiches do not take a number. Instead, they fill out a paper slip, checking off bread, cheese and garnishes before sliding it across the counter. The Corti Special is $8.49 and remains the best value on the board. You choose the bread, cheese and garnishes and the deli chooses the meats, layering Italian cold cuts high before wrapping the sandwich tightly in paper. The hot sandwiches are also worth ordering, though most push past $10, especially the chicken parmesan with marinara, mozzarella and pesto on a sourdough roll.
$8.49 and up | 5810 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento | Vegetarian option: yes
Tijuana-style tacos at Taqueria Los Perrones
Thanks to a burst of viral attention on social media, Taqueria Los Perrones has become a go-to late-night stop for street-style tacos. The business operates out of several street vendor setups across Sacramento, so check Instagram before heading out to confirm the right spot. Its $1 Tijuana-style taco promotion runs Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Mack Road setup, where lines can stretch well past an hour, especially later in the evening.
The small tacos are served on fresh corn tortillas with cilantro, onion and creamy green salsa, with meat options like asada, lengua, al pastor and cabeza. At $1 each in the middle of the week, they remain one of the region’s best late-night values. The same proteins can also be ordered as mulitas, burritos or quesadillas. On Tuesdays, the big draw is a cheesy torta that comes buy one, get one with your choice of meat at $15. It’s a popular pick for anyone looking to stretch their dollar. There’s also a stuffed baked potato loaded with meat and toppings for those who want something even heartier.
$1 tacos on Wednesdays, $3 on other days | 4495 Mack Road, Sacramento | Vegetarian option: limited
Stewed pork rice bowl at Taiwan Best Mart
Taiwan Best Mart is part small grocery, part takeout counter, with a couple of tables for anyone who wants to linger. Tucked near Southside Park, it’s an easy spot to grab lunch and walk it over to the shade. The shelves carry Taiwanese snacks and frozen dumplings, while the kitchen turns out rice bowls, bento boxes and noodle soups throughout the day.
The stewed pork rice bowl comes in at $10, with most of the others hovering around $11. Purple rice is topped with tender pork, pickled mustard greens and a rich sauce that works its way into every bite. If you’re craving something comforting and familiar, this is the place — the bowl tastes closer to a home‑cooked meal than something pulled from a restaurant line.
$10 | 2219 10th St., Sacramento | Vegetarian option: yes
Trash burrito at Roundhouse Deli
Roundhouse Deli is already in motion by 9 a.m., orders being called over the counter and white paper bags lining up for pickup. The Trash Burrito is the heavy hitter, packed with sausage, eggs, potatoes, beans, jalapeños and two kinds of cheese, rolled tight without falling apart and priced at $7.25.
Roundhouse has three locations, Roseville and Elk Grove and the Alhambra Boulevard shop, which sits just south of East Sacramento. Breakfast runs from 7 to 10:30 a.m. and most of the breakfast burritos stay under $10. After that, burgers and sandwiches take over, including their popular smoked tri-tip sandwich and tacos, though those favorites push past the $10 mark.
$5.50–$10.99 breakfast burritos | 1914 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento and 8450 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 200, Elk Grove and 604 Church St., Roseville | Vegetarian option: limited
Whitey’s special burger at Whitey’s Jolly Kone
The Whitey’s Special stacks two smashed patties with bacon and melted American cheese, iceberg lettuce spilling out of a paper wrapper. Whitey’s Jolly Kone follows the same playbook that has kept this West Sacramento walk‑up stand busy since 1963.
At $7.65, the cheeseburger feels like it slipped through a time warp — ordered at the window and eaten outside at one of the picnic tables tucked in the shade. And if a burger isn’t calling your name, most of the supporting cast still come in under $10, including chicken sandwiches, chili dogs and breakfast burritos. This item made Abridged’s top 13 burgers list.
$7.65 | 1300 Jefferson Blvd., West Sacramento | Vegetarian option: yes
Kimbap at Southside Super
Southside Super is a tiny 12-seat diner near Southside Park, run by friends Phuong Tran and Seoyeon Oh. It’s easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it, nestled in a small storefront where Vietnamese and Korean dishes are cooked the way the owners grew up eating them at home.
Head to the deli case, split between hot and cold options. The $8 kimbap is a great place to start: sliced into neat rounds, similar to sushi in shape, with fillings like bulgogi, tuna salad or Spam. There are other easy lunch options, from bulgogi japchae to rice bowls and even an egg salad sandwich, but the kimbap keeps things simple and under $10. Grab a seat outside or carry it over to Southside Park.
$7 and up | 921 V St., Sacramento | Vegetarian option: yes
Crispy tacos at Zebra Club
Zebra Club opens at 6 a.m., making it one of the few Midtown bars where you can catch a game on a European schedule. The TVs are on early, and breakfast plates like two eggs any style or pancakes come out just as steady as the mimosas.
If you’re there late at night and need something to soak up a couple drinks, the three crispy ground beef tacos are the move. They cost $7 and if you want a fourth, add one for $2.50 and it still keeps the total in single digits. For a divey bar with strong drinks, Zebra is a great way to end the night (or start the day, depending on your vibe).
$7 for three tacos | 1900 P St., Sacramento | Vegetarian option: yes
Keyla Vasconcellos is a Sacramento-based freelance journalist.