One of the most culturally diverse cities in America, the 2015 US Census reported more than 100 languages are spoken in Sacramento County. Small portions of a historic Chinatown and Japantown remain within the central city. In South Sacramento, Little Saigon is a profusion of Vietnamese markets and restaurants. Large Asian, Russian, and Middle Eastern communities settled throughout Sacramento bringing cultural riches beyond your wildest dreams. This fusion of cultures translates into a wide array of delicious specialty markets and eateries. You can experience the world in Sacramento one bite at a time. Made-from-scratch goods are fresh and easy on the pocket.
Babylon City Market
1745 Watt Avenue, Sacramento; (916) 486-777
This Mediterranean specialty market, bakery and café features halal meats, dairy, produce, spices, and traditional Iraqi breads prepared right before your eyes. You’ll swoon over fresh-baked samoon stuffed with chicken shawarma, pickled onions, garlic and tomatoes. Kabobs, falafel, chicken tikka, and hummus are all available to eat-in or takeout. Ask about the anise cookies.
KP International Market
10971 Olson Drive, Rancho Cordova; (916) 853-8000
A map and tour guide might help you navigate this 80,000-square foot gastronomic trip around the world. A food court, bakery, and a dizzying assortment of culinary delights from America and Asia to Jamaica and Russia. Come hungry! Temptations include steaming seafood ramen, plump piroshki, and Korean barbecue. Bring your passport! The Disneyland of ethnic markets, this is an all day affair. Afternoons and into the wee hours, a patio bar is all part of the voyage.
La Esperanza
5028 Franklin Boulevard, Sacramento; (916) 455-0234
Expect a line, especially on holidays. Family owned and operated, generations of locals queue-up for fresh tamales, carnitas, salsa, bolliolos, très leches cake, churros and colorful conchas. Fresh tortillas are still warm and a screaming $1.30 for two dozen. The ceviche—shrimp, tomato, cilantro, lemon and jalapeño —is to die for. There’s a full takeout menu at the deli market and all the fixings for tamales. Brightly colored piñatas adorn the ceilings of this Sacramento favorite, open 365 days a year!
New World Bakery
1713 - 10th Street, Sacramento; (916) 446-9472
Good fortunes are found here. For 26 years, the sweet aroma of Sacramento’s best fortune cookies has greeted customers. Prepared fresh Monday-Friday, three dozen cookies are only $2 a bag from this closet-sized factory. Watch as the cookies—one-by-one—move along, drop, fortune follows, and cookie magically folded. Now that’s some good fortune. Trivia: Fortune cookies were invented in San Francisco!
Oto’s Marketplace
4990 Freeport Boulevard, Sacramento; (916) 424-2398
If you’re craving Asian squid salad, Wagyu beef or seasoned octopus this is the place. For nearly 60 years, Oto’s has specialized in Japanese and Asian foods. Sushi Master Ray Yamamoto whips out Futomaki and Inari Combos and Dice-K Rolls. Available to eat in or takeaway, sushi and bento boxes vanish quickly. The tchotchke selection of cups, bowls, cookware and utensils is fabulous. The market features local produce.
Sidebar:
Mahoroba Japanese Bakery –Japanese pastries, Kobe Cream Delight, Sweet Red Bean, and more. Heaven on earth. 4900 Freeport Boulevard, Sacramento.
Sampino’s Towne Food – Old-world Italian deli and market.
1607 F Street, Sacramento
My Sacramento Linda Nakatami – Osaka-Ya
Linda Nakatami has mochi in her blood. A much sought after Japanese sweet, all mochi is not created equal. You’ll get few arguments that Osaka-Ya is Sacramento’s best. Located on 10th street for decades, Linda’s parents acquired the business in the 1960s; the original store was in the old J-Town. Later, shave ice brought Osaka-Ya a new fan base. Born and raised in Sacramento, Linda lived in Japan for less than a year before returning home to help with the family business and hopes future generations follow.
People who know about us come here. We’ve been shipping to Denver for more than 40 years and deliver to Stockton every week. We’re the only manju (another popular Japanese confection) store in Sacramento. No machines – it’s all done by hand. We make several mochi flavors; our peanut butter mochi has been extremely popular. Generations of the same families come here - now great-grandkids are enjoying mochi. My mom decided to sell shave ice after an uncle gifted us a machine. We make all of our own syrups and each year we add new flavors. Tigers Blood—cherry, pineapple and orange—is the most popular. Kintoki is a traditional ice filled with sweet red beans. You can also add ice cream inside. The shave ice window is open May-October, sometimes later depending on the weather. There’s always a line.
This is all I know how to do; I started working here when I was 12. I don’t want the tradition to drift away. My mom was the mastermind and she worked very hard. I want it to live on because of my parents.