Sacramento Essentials

By Kris Bordessa, FrontDoor.com | Published: 2/24/2009

Hawaiian Style Grill on Laguna Boulevard serves up island-style plate lunches.

Food and Drink Essentials: The Best Places To...

BUY GROCERIES

Trader Joe's
5 locations in the Sacramento area
This small grocer specializes in reasonably priced natural and hard-to-find foods, promising that their eggs are always cage-free and their private label products are never made with genetically modified foods. Need another reason to shop TJ's? Check out their wine and beer selection. Offering budget-wise beverages for those who imbibe, you'll find "two buck Chuck," a light-on-the-pocketbook wine made exclusively for Trader Joe's by Charles Shaw; it's shelved alongside a large selection of quality beer and wine.

GET BRATS

Morant's Old Fashioned Sausage Kitchen
5001 Franklin Blvd.
916-731-4377
A longtime Sacramento business, Morant's features handcrafted sausage, served up with a side of German. It's common for customers to order their fresh or dried sausages in the native language of the owner. In addition to sausages, you'll find old-fashioned hot dogs, lunchmeat and cheeses.

GET FRESH

Sunday Farmer's Market
Corner of Eighth and W streets
Find in-season fruits and vegetables, along with honey, baked goods and herbs, at the Sunday Farmer's Market. Get there early for the best selection (and to avoid the summertime heat), but if you're looking for a bargain, keep an eye on the vendors who are packing up, they'd rather sell it cheap than cart it back to the farm.

GRAB SOUP AND A SANDWICH

La Bonne Soupe
920 Eighth St. between I & J
916-492-9506
This downtown hole in the wall is a one-man show, with each meal prepared by owner and Frenchman, Daniel Pont, as it's ordered. It's common to find lines stretching out the door, so save this stop for an unhurried day. Seating space is at a premium, but if the weather's nice, enjoy your meal as take-out at nearby City Park Plaza, only a block away.

TASTE THE ISLANDS

Hawaiian Style Grill
8259 Laguna Blvd.
Elk Grove
916-478-7316
Owned and operated by former Oahu local boys, Hawaiian Style Grill serves up a little aloha with their island-style plate lunches. This place is nothing fancy; it's a cafeteria-style joint and meals are served in takeout containers (leftovers are likely with the regular size portions!). Chicken katsu, teriyaki or lau lau are, of course, served with "two scoops rice." Visit Friday night for the informal pau hana (end of work) Hawaiian music jam session.

INDULGE YOUR SWEET TOOTH

Gunther's Ice Cream
2801 Franklin Blvd.
916-457-6646
Since 1949, the iconic neon Jugglin' Joe sign has been tossing scoops of ice cream at this sweet spot and never misses. This Sacramento landmark serves up fresh ice cream made on site, with a side of nostalgia. Hot summer nights bring locals out to cool down with a cone, a milkshake or a real fruit freeze.

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