The Abridged version:
- The area around Sacramento State is teeming with student-friendly restaurants, from late-night eats to cute brunch spots.
- Recent Sac State grad and longtime Sacramento resident Chris Woodard has a dozen recommendations, with insider tips for all.
- Most restaurants on this list are relatively affordable, with a couple of splurges for date nights or parent visits.
College life means late nights, empty wallets and insatiable appetites, all fueled by caffeine and aspirations.
Fortunately, Sacramento State students are in a prime position to learn about all the buzz, with plenty of restaurants near campus and student housing worth a short trek or losing that prime parking spot. As a longtime Sacramento resident and recent Sac State graduate, I offer this advice: to maximize your Sac State experience, reject its reputation as a commuter school and get involved not only with the campus, but the underdog city that surrounds it.
These restaurants, bars and coffee shops are uniquely appropriate for Sac State students. There are cozy study spots, affordable eats that you can stretch, late-night craving satisfiers, ready-to-wow date spots and places for your mom to take you when she visits. Put those pinkies to the sky, and let’s fly in.
Buzzing on a Budget
Bento Box
Do you love saving leftovers to avoid cooking dinner after a long day of studying? Do you hate when the different foods on your plate touch each other? Look no further than Bento Box.
This Sacramento chain boasts two locations near Sac State, one just outside of each campus exit, and offers an easily customizable selection of Japanese cuisine. With over 10 protein options, Bento Box has something for the whole study group. The price may seem daunting at first, but the portion sizes and readily portable containers make Bento Box an easy meal to grab for lunch and eat throughout a long study session.
Hints from the hive: Bring that student ID with you: Bento Box offers a 10% discount to Sac State students. Also, if you have a sushi craving on campus, do yourself a favor and avoid the University Union offerings. Buzz over instead to Bento Box, where they offer similarly priced rolls at significantly better quality.
Bento Box: 1420 65th St. | 916-400-4829 | 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
2449 Fair Oaks Blvd. | 916-485-1376 | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
Urban Plates
After three straight days of chicken tenders and energy drinks, your body is bound to crave a vegetable. Luckily, this fresh new restaurant (opened in January) can satisfy both desires. Urban Plates promises meals from scratch with quality ingredients and offers many health-conscious options in addition to burgers and chicken tenders. Another location is scheduled to open next month near UC Davis’ campus (that’s right, we got it first, Aggies!).
My favorite midbudget meal, the Mediterranean chicken bowl, bursts with seasoning and stays juicy thanks to an incredible lemon sour cream. A fresh mint salad with tzatziki rounds it out.
Hints from the hive: If you find yourself enjoying Urban Plates, the Plate Pass is a must. The $5 a month plan gives you 20% off entrees and drinks, cutting a double cheeseburger and fries to just $12.50. Those savings also apply to Urban Plates’ family meals, which feed four people. With the pass, you can split a steak dinner with your dormmates for about $15 a person.
Urban Plates: 2080 Fair Oaks Blvd. | 916-963-8221 | 11 a.m.-9:15 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Bee My Date
The Green Room
The Green Room is a gastropub with an ambiance and setting as delicious as its food – and for older students, some of the most tasty and unique cocktails in the city. Although they specialize in small plates and drinks, don’t be afraid to try their burger, and ask about the seasonal offerings that are constantly updated based on fresh ingredients. Their signature Golden Burger stacks two smashed patties with the usual suspects, but Green Room adds its own flair by using arugula instead of lettuce or spinach, giving the burger a slight herbal taste that matches the ambiance.
The Green Room’s main appeal stems from their Golden Hour, a two-hour daily discount period from 4-6 p.m. and all day on Tuesdays. The time and prices of Golden Hour make the Green Room the perfect date spot after those pesky afternoon classes you regret enrolling in. The friendly wait staff and plant-filled interior provide plenty of Instagrammable photo opportunities to help you and a special someone bond quickly over an afternoon snack.
Hints from the hive: Order the elote wings – you won’t regret it. A throne and neon sign outside the bathroom make for a fun photo op while you wait.
The Green Room: 3839 J St. | 916-475-1801 | 4-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday
Bennett’s American Cooking
Bennett’s has three locations in the greater Sacramento area, and each has its own identity. The Sacramento restaurant serves as a fancy-yet-affordable dining site that’s more accessible than other upscale offerings in the city and remains chill, but classy. A normal night out at Bennett’s may reflect the cost of Sacramento’s finer dining, but this location has won over students’ hearts with two incredible weekly specials.
Upperclassmen can enjoy a beautiful date night each week with Wine and Dine Mondays, splitting two entrees, two salads and a bottle of wine for $65. There’s also Bubbles and Brunch Weekends, where two brunch entrees, a bottle of champagne and juice for mixing mimosas runs $49. A pessimist might assume most of the $30+ entrees are excluded from these deals, but they’d be wrong. A large portion of the restaurant’s entrees and wine list is offered in the specials, allowing you to have a drinks-included fine dining experience at a fraction of the cost.
For dinner, the ahi poke delivers a light yet filling meal with fresh avocado and a sensational sesame ginger dressing that elevates it above a typical poke bowl. On weekends, the corned beef hash packs a hearty breakfast perfect for students who usually skip that meal during the week. No matter what you order for brunch, the smashed potatoes will complete the plate.
Hints from the hive: Weekend brunches and Wine and Dine Mondays can get a bit busy. Book a reservation if possible.
Bennett’s American Cooking: 2232 Fair Oaks Blvd. | 916-515-9680 | 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
Post-Curfew Pollination
Angry Chickz
Sacramento’s food scene is no stranger to Nashville hot chicken, but this California chain stands out by keeping its doors open until midnight. Just a short distance from campus, Angry Chickz is perfect for lunchtime escapes from campus or post-event munchies.
While hot chicken sandwiches are the flagship, the Angry Mac keeps me as a regular customer. A bowl of french fries is covered in macaroni and cheese, then topped with two chicken tenders and Angry Chickz’s signature sauce at the spice level of your choice. This carb overload triumphs in late-night cuisine, and Angry Chickz’s old-timey diner feel adds a bit of Americana pizzazz to your late-night adventure.
Hints from the hive: If you haven’t had Nashville-style chicken before, be wary that “hot” means HOT. You may want to start with “medium” or “mild.” Ramping up to “angry,” the scale’s highest mark, requires a waiver.
Angry Chickz: 5801 Folsom Blvd. | 916-228-4689 | 10 a.m.-midnight daily
Bollywood Pizza
Indian fusion pizza and late-night slices aren’t exactly new, but Bollywood Pizza sets itself apart by catering directly to students. The shop stays open until 4 a.m. every day and sits just a short walk from Hornet Stadium, outlasting and outtasting the nearby corporate pizza chains.
Maybe you already swear by butter chicken or tikka masala, but try the tandoori chicken pizza – it pairs beautifully with creamy garlic sauce and brings just enough spice for a late-night meal. There’s fusion beyond pizza too, including plenty of vegan and vegetarian choices such as masala potatoes or sahi paneer pasta. Whatever you order, visit the restaurant in person to catch in-store specials and a great selection of beer on tap.
Hint from the hive: There are many ways to beat the Sacramento heat. Bollywood Pizza’s $5 mango lassi is one of the best.
Bollywood Pizza: 6601 Folsom Blvd. | 916-758-8975 | 10 a.m.-4 a.m. daily
Blue House Korean BBQ
Not every late-night spot needs to be a quick bite or a greasy burger. Sometimes you have friends who can’t be bothered to show up at a normal dinner hour, but you still need a meal worthy of celebrating the moment. Blue House stays open until midnight, making it the perfect place for a birthday dinner for a group of misfit friends or a late-night celebration after an electric game at Hornet Stadium.
Blue House has two of the main things Korean barbecue fans look for: tabletop grills and unlimited bulgogi to slap on said grills. Sides such as kimchi fried rice and four flavors of french fries separate it from other KBBQ joints. Every all-you-can-eat meal comes with a variety of banchan, or side dishes, and you can order more at any time.
Hints from the hive: Blue House Korean BBQ also serves as a great date spot. If you feel a bit anxious about carrying on a conversation, cooking together is an excellent ice breaker. Just be careful not to eat too much!
Blue House Korean BBQ: 1030 Howe Ave. | 916-646-2004 | 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-midnight Thursday-Saturday
When Parents Come to Visit
Allora
Hornets don’t need to fly far to experience Sacramento’s Michelin-recommended wonders. Allora combines upscale Italian cuisine and Sacramento’s farm-to-fork mindset, with several sommeliers on staff to bring Mom her new favorite wine.
Allora invites customers to craft three-, four- or five-course tasting menus, offering some choice within a prix-fixe structure. Co-owner Elizabeth-Rose Mandalou is Sacramento’s first female advanced sommelier, capable of pairing any meal with a wine from Allora’s rich cellar. Add it all up, and it’s one of Sacramento’s finest dining destinations.
Hints from the hive: The multicourse meals offer vegan and vegetarian options, helping ensure everyone in your party enjoys the fine-dining experience.
Allora: 5215 Folsom Blvd. | 916-538-6434 | 5-8:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Bacon & Butter
The Green Room’s owners, siblings Billy Zoellin and Amber Michel, first arrived on the scene with Bacon & Butter in 2012. Lines form quickly outside the Tahoe Park brunch favorite, particularly on weekends, but it’s worth the wait for famously fluffy pancakes and housemade sausage.
If you’re going to B&B for the first time, trust that their biscuit sandwich is all the introduction that you need. Regardless of order, expect a portion size that will have you asking for to-go boxes.
Hints from the hive: If you take the family on a Sunday before they leave town, you might be able to trick them into leaving their leftovers with you before heading out on the road.
Bacon & Butter: 5913 Broadway | 916-346-4445 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday
Zócalo
My dad discovered YouTube on his TV and spent hours learning about tequila’s history and how it’s made. As a result, he turned into a tequila snob, which made gift-giving for him much easier. When he visited me at Sac State, we went to Zócalo for both their expansive tequila and mezcal selection and their tampiqueña, a steak and enchilada dish that showcases the best of the restaurant.
From the food to the atmosphere, Zócalo spotlights Mexico’s rich, diverse cuisine in a slightly elevated setting full of intentional design. If you’re looking for a place to start, you can’t go wrong with their Michoacán-style carnitas.
Hints from the hive: Zócalo’s location in The UV shopping center is uniquely equipped for handling larger groups. If you are celebrating with the whole family or a large group of friends, I recommend moving Zócalo up the priority list.
Zócalo: 466 Howe Ave. | 916-252-0303 | 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
Espresso Yourself
Temple Coffee Roasters
Temple’s name rings out in the Sacramento coffee community, for education as much as service. The menu may lack the boosted blends to which we’ve grown accustomed, but the Mexican mocha adds plenty of spice and flavor to their carefully brewed coffee beans. In addition, each location sells most of the ingredients and features how-to guides to recreate that cup at home.
Students are serious about their work, and Temple is serious about their coffee. If you just want some caffeine to boost your day, that’s fine. But Temple invites customers to dive into coffee science, ethical sourcing and precise brewing, which may just change your perspective on the beverage. Few Sac State lectures will be as fun as the H Street location’s coffee classes from 1-2 p.m. the first and third Friday of each month, where experts teach different brewing techniques and discuss beans’ flavor profiles with enthusiasts.
Hints from the hive: While the closest Temple to campus (there are eight across the region) has ample study space, this caffeine cathedral does get quite busy. If you’re easily distracted, try bringing headphones or a friend to keep you focused.
Temple Coffee Roasters: 2600 Fair Oaks Blvd., Suite 101 | 916-974-7404 | 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
4201 H St. | 916-382-4145 | 6 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
Tupelo Coffee House
Similar to how I divided my professors, Tupelo divides its menu by The Usuals and The Unusuals. The Usuals offer traditional drinks (cappuccinos, macchiatos, flat whites) fueled by sister roastery Naked Coffee. The Unusuals get a little zanier: Believe it or not, you can get some satisfaction from the Keith Richards, a double shot of espresso mixed with iced cola.
Tupelo stands apart from Temple thanks to its cozy interior, which is perfect for a long study session. It’s also conveniently located next to a SacRT bus stop – Sac State students can ride the city buses for free – making Tupelo an easily accessible study space when you get sick of the library’s fluorescent lights.
Hints from the hive: If you want to try something new, let the Wisteria Iced Latte call your name – it sweetens things up with a hint of lavender, unlike the “Desperate Housewives” on the street sharing that name.
Tupelo Coffee House: 5700 Elvas Ave. | 916-538-6124 | 7 a.m.-11 p.m. daily