Sacramento’s Dynamic Dining Scene: August 2025 Review
August 2025 was a particularly active month for the Sacramento region’s culinary landscape, witnessing a significant influx of new restaurants while also marking the departure of a few beloved establishments. From unique cultural flavors to innovative dining experiences, these shifts highlight the continuous evolution and vibrant nature of our local food scene.
Sacramento’s Culinary Expansion: 11 New Spots to Explore
The capital region welcomed eleven new eateries throughout August, showcasing an impressive array of global cuisines and fresh concepts across Sacramento, West Sacramento, Elk Grove, Granite Bay, and Roseville.
West Sacramento & Arden Arcade
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Birdies Social Club (805 Riverfront St., West Sacramento): Opened on August 20, this golf-themed bar and lounge offers large indoor golf simulators alongside a menu of burgers, tacos, and brunch drinks, perfect for a fun outing.
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Captain Buffet (1000 Howe Ave., Arden Arcade): Taking over a former Cracker Barrel on August 4, this Asian fusion buffet presents a vast selection of stuffed sushi rolls and popular meat and vegetable dishes.
Sacramento City & South Sacramento
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Brick Cafe (3311 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento): The Amiri family, also behind Brickland, launched this new cafe within their East Sacramento restaurant on August 31, offering Afghan-inspired coffee, matcha drinks, and sweet desserts made with Temple coffee beans.
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Cane Corner (6825 Stockton Blvd., Suite 230, south Sacramento): Expanding its presence on August 24, this sugarcane juice cafe opened its second capital region outpost, serving refreshing flavored sugarcane beverages, Vietnamese coffee, and other sweet treats.
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Caribbean Fire Grill (8109 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento): This Haitian restaurant transitioned from a pop-up to a standalone location on August 29, bringing authentic island tastes with combo plates featuring beef, pork, red snapper, and traditional soups.
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Maria’s Paella (701 16th St., Sacramento): From a successful farmer’s market pop-up, Maria Perez opened her brick-and-mortar storefront this month, also taking over Lulu’s Commercial Kitchen to support other small food businesses.
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The Porch Restaurant & Bar (1815 K St., Sacramento): Remarkably, this midtown Southern food restaurant reopened on August 29 after a July fire, celebrating with a reopening event and launching a new Sunday night dinner service.
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Wushiland Boba (2018 Sutterville Road., Suite 116, Sacramento): The Taiwan-based bubble tea chain debuted its first Northern Californian branch in Sacramento on August 2, offering classic milk and fruit teas alongside unique ice cream boba drinks.
Elk Grove, Granite Bay & Roseville
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Buckos N Mares (3443 Laguna Blvd., Suite 150, Elk Grove): Located within The Alley entertainment venue, this Western-themed speakeasy faced an early setback with a temporary closure due to permit issues shortly after its grand opening.
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Kiku Japanese Cuisine (5550 Douglas Blvd., Suite 200, Granite Bay): Offering an upscale experience, this new sushi restaurant features omakase and sukiyaki dinners, including a $135 prix fixe “chef’s choice” menu available by reservation.
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Le Tesh Wine Lounge (219 Vernon St., Roseville): Certified sommelier Amitesh Diyal uncorked this new lounge in downtown Roseville, presenting niche wines from across the globe and offering wine club memberships and monthly tastings.
Saying Goodbye: Restaurants and a Grocery Store Close Their Doors
While August brought many new ventures, it also marked the end for three food establishments in the Sacramento area, including two restaurants and one grocery store.
| Name | Type | Location | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colo’s Southern Cafe | Soul Food Restaurant | 2326 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento | Closed after five years, owners hint at a new venture. |
| Kau Kau | Hawaiian Restaurant | 855 57th St., Suite C, Sacramento | Owner closed due to location challenges; a new Japanese restaurant, Genki Kitchen, is planned for September. |
| Grocery Outlet | Grocery Store | 2801 Zinfandel Drive, Rancho Cordova | One of two locations closed after over three decades of service, following a liquidation sale. |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many new restaurants opened in the Sacramento area in August 2025?
The Sacramento capital region saw 11 new eateries launch in August 2025. - What types of cuisine were introduced this month?
New additions included Haitian, Afghan-inspired, Asian fusion, upscale Japanese, Southern American, American grill, and Taiwanese boba. - Were there any notable closures in August?
Yes, Colo’s Southern Cafe (soul food), Kau Kau (Hawaiian restaurant), and one of two Grocery Outlet locations in Rancho Cordova closed. - What happened with Buckos N Mares in Elk Grove?
The Western-themed speakeasy temporarily closed shortly after opening due to permit issues discovered by the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department. - Is the former Kau Kau location remaining vacant?
No, the owner expects to open a new Japanese restaurant called Genki Kitchen in the same East Sacramento unit in September.
This dynamic August underscores the ever-changing and resilient spirit of Sacramento’s food and business community. Make sure to visit these new local spots and support the entrepreneurs who are continuously enriching our city’s diverse offerings.
