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    Esmeralda's Cafe

    4.4 (117 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    Esmeralda's Cafe Photos

    ESMERALDA'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Esmeralda's Cafe

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    Chilaquiles Green with over hard eggs

    We enjoyed our dining experience at Esmeralda's. The food was good and the atmosphere was nice with us bringing our 18month old. The staff were very friendly.

    Huevos Rancheros on a tortilla and topped with chorizo.
    Randy B.

    We ate breakfast there two days in a row while visiting the area. It has American and Mexican style food and we had the Mex. The Mex was spot-on with flavor and authenticity. Meals NOT loaded with onions or rice or beans as fillers. The meat and salsa flavors were perfect. I had decaf coffee and it was very good, as well. The entire restaurant was clean and much better than a fast food place. Our server was happy and friendly. The ambiance was nice. There was soft Spanish music playing. The menus were CLEAN, and so were the tables and chairs and floor. There were fresh-cut flowers placed here and there. Nice breakfast!

    Chilaquiles with Carne Asada
    Rosa R.

    Service was great, got seated right away and there is plenty of seating for large parties. The price of the food is very reasonable and they have a good variety of options to choose from. I got the carne asada chilaquiles with red sauce, they were delicious! My toddler got the egg and toast with fresh fruit, which was fresh and sweet. Would definitely recommend and return to this restaurant.

    Chili verde omelet
    Ann L.

    Open for almost a year, this latest strip mall dining spot in Sacramento has it all going on. It was so refreshing to hear two women walk in and say I've heard such great things about this place. It echoed exactly what I have been reading as well. The menu had tons of outstanding options. My husband chose to go to the Mexican breakfast route and I chose a standard American lunch. Both were delicious. Service was absolutely outstanding, and the place was about as spotless as it gets. Sadly, there is little signage so if you don't know it's there, you might not know it's there. Fortunately, you all now know it's there!

    Carne asada
    Julie B.

    We stopped in to try this new cafe, which is conveniently located near Carmichael. The staff were very friendly and accommodating and also gave suggestions on some of the dishes. I ordered the carne asada, and it was more than enough to fill me up with leftovers to take home for later. I like that you can order either breakfast or lunch at any time because I am not much of a breakfast eater, but my friend chose breakfast instead. This is definitely a great place for great food and great value.

    Chipotle Eggs Benedict with country potatoes.
    Suzanne T.

    A friend and I decided to go for Saturday morning breakfast, and I have been meaning to try this spot for awhile. It's a quarter mile, basically walking distance from me. It's tucked away in a 4-business strip mall on Madison Ave near Manzanita. There is additional parking and an entrance in the rear which was very convenient. It was around 11 am, and the restaurant was pretty busy. The decor is simple and uncluttered, and the vibe very relaxed. I saw a lot of families with children, so it's very family-friendly. Our server was very personable and polite. I always like to ask for recommendations or what they would choose from the menu. She got us started with drinks. They have a nice selection of flavored mimosas, which I wasn't expecting. I started with a mango mimosa, which was delicious! The menu has a really good selection of traditional breakfast and lunch food, but with lots of Mexican additions. My friend ordered the ribeye steak and eggs, and I ordered the chipotle Eggs Benedict. We both selected country potatoes instead of hash browns. He also added a pancake. He was hungry! Now, do you want the good news or the bad news first? I like ending my experiences smiling, so let's start with the bad. Now, the bad isn't terrible here. My friend had egg shell in their eggs, making him not want to continue to eat them. Now, it happens, not a huge deal, but we know how cautious we get once that first shell crunch happens. You really aren't enjoying your food. You are basically trying not to bite down hard on another shell piece. The second negative was the steak. We were not sure if it was actually ribeye or not. The texture and chew was all wrong. Maybe the cut was off, we are not sure, it just didn't have the correct mouth feel of a medium rare ribeye. Now, let's get to the good news. My chipotle eggs Benedict was fantastic! It was an English muffin layered with spinach, turkey, avocado, and a perfectly poached egg covered in the most delicious chipotle hollandaise sauce. I thought the unique combination really turned out to be a winner. To end this review, we did mention the eggshell and steak issues to our server, though we fully intended to pay for our meal. She thanked us for letting her know and said she would share our feedback with the chef. When our check came, it came with a 20% discount! Wow! Esmeralda's is a class act! I will be returning, but my dish was so good I will be fighting with myself to try something new on the menu.

    Homemade Biscuit
    Janet W.

    We have wanted to try this restaurant for a while and are so happy we finally were able to. Very clean, friendly staff, and delicious food. We went for breakfast and will surely for lunch another day.

    Cynthia L.

    Excellent attentive service. Open welcoming atmosphere. Delicious food. I had the chicken fried steak with scrambled easy and crisp hash browns. Made to perfection. The homemade cinnamon roll was supposed to be to go, so warm lite with just the right amount of sweetness...never made it to the box. I'll be back so much I want to try. I like the menu is Mexican and American I was told weekend brunch is super busy.

    Breakfast burrito with bacon and hash browns on the side.
    Ana J.

    I saw the great reviews for this place and decided to stop to pick up some breakfast. I made the mistake of not checking their prices before I went there, but after seeing the breakfast burrito was $17.99 I decided to get one to share. I asked 3 times for extra salsa on the side. The burrito was freshly made so it took a bit but when I got home to see the size of the burrito, I was very disappointed. It was good, but not worth the money I paid. The hash browns were only a bit brown on the top and the rest were soggy and not really done. There was no salsa inside and we only got one salsa on the side. When I left I noticed there was a Taqueria across the street. I wish I would have gone there instead.

    Marisol R.

    Cute family owned business. Food was good. It was so busy but the girls did great serving all and getting food out under pressure of all eyes on them. Definitely worth going. I love to support family business and if you do too go check them out.

    Chilaquiles con carne asada.
    Maggie G.

    A true gem. This is my partner and I's go to since we moved to the area early this year. I've tried chilaquiles at multiple restaurants and am always disappointed. This place does them perfectly!! I crave them all the time. Dulce de Leche pancakes are to die for. Fluffy, warm, soft. I take my family here every time they visit and have them try the pancakes and chilaquiles. Presentation is beautiful, taste is authentic - they make everything from scratch, squeeze the oranges, legit spicy salsas, etc. Clean, fast service. Owners are so nice.

    Sausage egg Benedict
    Monica G.

    My husband and I came to check out this new spot. Is Mexican American type of food. I'm not mad at it. Was the food delicious? Yes it was. Huevos rancheros was super good. It has chorizo and it had a lot of flavor. The sausage egg Benedict it was ok. The sausage didn't have a lot of flavor and the hollinadse it look like it was broken wasn't silkily and smooth like I order another place. Overall it was ok. The last was really nice and very welcoming and we came in she smile which is very refreshing. This place has a lot of room and well set. Do I recommend this place? Yes I do.

    chicken pesto panini

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    A great family style restaurant, with amazing food, great service, and wonderful music. A must visit for family and friends!

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    The Morning Fork

    The Morning Fork

    4.3
    (1.7k reviews)
    10.1 mi
    $$

    Friendly staff Food was fresh and flavorful…read moreParking is challenge but the breakfast is worth it.

    I would give ZERO stars if that were an option. Our experience today at The Morning Fork was…read moreincredibly disappointing and, quite frankly, unacceptable. The restaurant itself was already VERY loud, with customers talking, laughing, and enjoying themselves. We actually appreciated the atmosphere because, as parents of a toddler, it made us feel more comfortable dining there as a family. Shortly after receiving our food, my toddler became upset and started crying. The OWNER approached my husband and asked him to REMOVE OUR CHILD FROM THE RESTAURANT. My husband, being the respectful person he is, complied and took her outside. At first, I was confused about why he had suddenly left until he called me and explained what the owner had told him. We had JUST received our food. At that point, I asked our server to remove the untouched items from our bill. I made it clear that I was more than willing to pay for anything we had already touched or consumed, but I was not comfortable continuing to give my business to an establishment whose owner had just asked my husband to remove our toddler. The owner then approached me, and I explained how inappropriate and upsetting I found the situation, especially considering how loud the restaurant already was. I could barely hear my own daughter over the overall noise in the restaurant. Her response was that "people were looking at me," which is why she asked my husband to take our daughter OUTSIDE. That response was extremely disappointing. She is a TODDLER. Toddlers sometimes cry. We were not allowing her to run around the restaurant, destroy anything, or behave dangerously. She was simply upset and crying. If noise was truly the issue, then why was our child singled out in an already extremely loud restaurant? What makes the experience even more uncomfortable is that we already felt we were greeted rudely by our first server. I do want to recognize the gentleman who was calling names for the tables. He was very kind and welcoming, and I appreciated his professionalism. As for the owner, I am extremely disappointed that someone who owns a restaurant would treat paying customers and their child this way. Families with young children deserve to know what kind of environment they are walking into. If children, or the normal behavior that occasionally comes with having toddlers are not welcome in your establishment, that should be clearly communicated to customers before they sit down and order food. We will not be returning, and I hope no other family is made to feel as unwelcome and embarrassed as ours was today.

    Photos
    Bustling interior on a Sunday morning
    Bustling interior on a Sunday morning
    Breakfast sandwich
    Breakfast sandwich
    The morning coffee at The Morning Fork

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    Cafeteria 15L

    Cafeteria 15L

    3.9
    (4k reviews)
    10.4 mi
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    I've been to Cafeteria 15L a few times now, so whenever I'm in town, I try to make it a habit to…read morestop by. Breakfast usually isn't my favorite, but for this place, I'll gladly make an exception! The staff is always friendly, and I usually make a reservation just in case. The ambiance is relaxed, and the staff stays on top of everything without being overbearing. There's also a nice variety when it comes to both the food and drinks. This visit, I went with the Florentine Benedict, and it did not disappoint. The sauce was smooth and flavorful, and the poached egg was cooked perfectly. My drink was refreshing and definitely warranted during this heatwave! Another great visit to Cafeteria 15L. Until next time--thanks for another great experience!

    It was a busy evening and we had excellent service. The watermelon heirloom salad was delicious…read morealthough there was very little tomato. The prime rib was very thin cut, and the horseradish sauce was very light would not order this again. The rotisserie chicken salad was very basic would not order again. The chicken and waffles were absolutely delicious. The country gravy is not our thing, so it was on the side. The cinnamon butter that came with it made it extra delicious and the syrup was great too. The Seabass was absolutely terrible. It tasted like really overdone cod and the crab coating just tasted like burnt flour base crust. This was a severe disappointment. I ordered asparagus on the side which was cooked the way they did in the 1950s to a point of mush and what was another severe disappointment. The chocolate bomb was absolutely delicious. I have to say when I come again, I will stick to my usual Thai steak salad as it is always incredibly good and for the main course, I will probably order that chicken and waffles again too!

    Photos
    Inside dining area
    Inside dining area
    Cafeteria 15L
    Cafeteria 15L
    Brick Chicken

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    Brick Chicken
    The Porch

    The Porch

    3.7
    (2.1k reviews)
    10.2 mi
    $$

    Love love love this place. Service is A1 always. However,…read moreDomingo is by far my favorite employee. He is so attentive and on top of it. He goes above and beyond. I will be coming back for the food and because of Domingo. We ordered beignets and biscuits. I recommend both but the biscuits are my favorite with the honey butter that comes with it. I got the Porch Mary Bloody Mary and it was good wish it came with a slice of bacon though. For my entree I ordered the ham Benedict. It's not my first time here and definitely won't be my last. Definitely great spot with great vibes and filling bomb food. I didn't get any pictures of my food because it was so good that I just dug in.

    Brunch today was at The Porch which is a Southern brunch right in Midtown Sacramento. The staff was…read morewarm and welcoming. We were seated outside which was lovely, especially given the weather and the slight breeze. I appreciate that they offer an option for reservations. Many brunch places do not do those nowadays, which I hate. Every brunch requires a coffee. I appreciate that they do lattes here, rather than just hot or iced coffees. They had some unique syrups, such as bourbon caramel and praline. The syrups were on the more subtle side, which some people prefer. I am not one of those people, but it was a good latte for a breakfast/ brunch spot. I wish there was more ice tho.  The skillet cornbread with sharp cheddar, creamed corn & garlic, honey butter & house made seasonal jam on the side was a great starter dish. I enjoyed the garlic and cheese. The temperature/ toastiness of this was yummy.  We couldn't decide between the cornbread and the sticky bun, so the only obvious solution was to order both. The topping of the sticky bun was delicious. It was almost pecan pie adjacent.

    Photos
    Indoor seating
    Indoor seating
    Porch salad
    Porch salad
    Grilled Brie

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    Grilled Brie
    Iron Horse Tavern

    Iron Horse Tavern

    3.9
    (3.6k reviews)
    10.8 mi
    $$

    One of my favorite hangs after giving blood, or before a show downtown…read more Ordered a nice Beer and the Prime Rib Dip sandwich. Place wasn't as crowded as I expected, so it was rather quiet and cozy inside Service was spot on, fast and friendly. Beer was cold and refreshing and the sandwich was very tasty, with a good ratio of meat to bread. It came with a nice beefy au jus for dipping that added an extra layer of flavor You can order fries or salad as a side, or upgrade to some other choices, but I went with a nice salad that complimented the sabdo.

    Came here for brunch and was blown away by how delicious the food was! We ordered their Tavern…read moreBurger with fries, Thai Steak salad and two cold brews. I was honestly shook by how tender that steak was. It was seasoned well and paired nicely with the thai salad. The dressing they use reminds me of a fish sauce based dressing found in many southeast Asian dishes but here it was not too pungent or overpowering. It was honestly perfect! The burger was also nicely done. We had ours with Gruyère cheese and avocado, beef cooked medium rare. 10/10. Our waitress was also super nice and attentive. She sat us outside in the shade and made us feel welcome. She even shared a couple other spots to try out while we're in Sacramento. I can tell that this place gets packed out. I really liked the vibe of the interior and feel this would a solid spot to watch sports and eat "refined" bar food. We'll absolutely be back!

    Photos
    Opening at 11:00 AM very friendly staff! Looks promising!!
    Opening at 11:00 AM very friendly staff! Looks promising!!
    Awww potato fries
    Awww potato fries
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    Fried Chicken Burger
    Bacon & Butter

    Bacon & Butter

    4.3
    (5.1k reviews)
    9.8 mi
    $$

    Yes please!!!!!!!!!!! This our second time visiting…read moreSacramento and our second time eating at Bacon & Butter. The food, drinks and ambiance are the best in town. Service is straightforward, staff is nice and accommodating. Tip: their donut of the day was amazing. And the perfect combo with a black cup of coffee.

    Came for a birthday brunch. We arrived around 10 AM and was told the wait was about an hour. We…read moredecided to wait and noticed around 11 AM the line and wait was a lot shorter on this particular day. Our group ordered a variety of items and most were happy with their orders once they received what they ordered. One friend ordered hard eggs with a side of fruit but was served runny eggs with a side of potatoes. As soon as the server was notified, it was corrected. Eggs were still a little too runny for her, lol. Hubby and I shared a chicken and waffles and burrito. It's a vegan burrito, but decided to add cheese. We enjoyed both plates, specially enjoyed the complexity of flavors in the chicken and waffle with the fig syrup. Will say portions were huge. He ordered the old-fashioned, which was initially very buzzy. About halfway into it figured out it wasn't stirred, leaving all the sweetness on the bottom and booze on top. We opted for the first available table, which was outside. Could use a few more umbrellas for better sun protection, but we managed. Overall good experience, would be nice if they took reservations. Not sure if I'd do it again due to the long wait and everything was very good, but not exceptional.

    Photos
    At the bar/counter
    At the bar/counter
    Lemon blueberry pancakes - seasonal.
    Lemon blueberry pancakes - seasonal.
    Peaches & cream french toast

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    Peaches & cream french toast

    Esmeralda's Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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