El Novillero
El Novillero has been a mainstay of the Sacramento Mexican food scene for decades — it celebrated 50 years in business last July . Known for its classic décor and even more classic menu based on recipes passed down through generations of the Davalos family , the restaurant still makes everything from scratch every day from fresh , local ingredients . The carnitas a la tampiqueña are a crowd favorite , served with a cheese enchilada , rice , beans , avocado slices , pico de gallo and tortillas .
La Esperanza Bakery
Founded in 1969 by patriarch Salvador Plasencia and now run by second- and third-generation family members , La Esperanza Bakery offers stunning customized cakes for all occasions , including quinceañeras and weddings , as well as tres leches cakes and the widest variety of pan dulce pastries available in Northern California . ( Plasencia famously said his goal was to create a “ community filled with love , unity and pan dulce .”) Also check out the La Esperanza deli , supermarket and Los Jarritos café along Franklin Boulevard .
January 2021 | comstocksmag . com 101