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    The Char Market

    4.6 (496 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order The Char Market Takeout or Delivery

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    THE CHAR MARKET ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Char Market

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    Yummy tacos...
    Joe E.

    Bone Marrow tacos yes! Staff is very friendly here. Only improvement would be some different toppings per each protein choice;)

    Chicken taco plate
    Lisa B.

    Tex Mex type taco. Ordered a chicken taco plate and beef taco plate. Should have requested corn tortillas, but it comes with flour. Meat was tender and tasty. Chopped iceberg lettuce and a refreshing lime-ish salsa‍ chipotle type sauce. Side of Tex Mex beans and rice. Ordered a side of elote/Mexican street corn. Tasted like canned or frozen corn, with a soupy sauce. Not my fav, but my family liked it. A few tables inside, and pretty empty when we came on a weekend.

    Super Burrito menu offering as of September 2025
    Belinda C.

    Servers and owners are friendly and easy to chat with. The medium sized restaurant has tables for 2 and 4. 6 inch taco wrappers, so the tacos are big and packed full. Most of the food is prepared on a barbecue grill. You can see the smoke rising behind the restaurant. My favorite menu items are the Carnitas Taco and Shrimp Taco. The Carnitas is so juicy and flavorful. While dining in, I'd ask customers what their favorite usual order is. Two have told me the Shrimp Plate. You can order the tacos a la carte. The $4 Charro Beans are tasty, but I thought the portion was small. PRO TIP: You can order the Steak Taco with Bone Marrow melted on top. During my last visit, the grilled veggies was butternut squash. The server Justin was recommending that with the bone marrow melted on top. On my next visit, I plan to try the Birria Tacos with Consome. The Char Market was #3 on Yelp's Best Mexican Food in 2024. Restaurant is hoping to open a 2nd location in Roseville.

    David L.

    My friend took me to this hole in the wall. She said the food is great here. We came on a Saturday and there was a lot of parking. I think there was only one car in the lot. It was lunch time. I entered and there was a couple of guys sitting in the back. It is a small place. They BBQ the meat outside in the back. I asked what should I try since I have never been here. He said that the tacos were the best and the nachos. I got the taco plate with one chicken and one steak. It came with rice and beans. The beans were great tasting and so was the chicken and the steak . both cooked nicely and juicy. The price was a little high for a small place but I liked it a lot. My friend got the taco salad with steak and she loved it. It's a nice little place and if I'm in the area again I will stop by again.

    Birria tacos plate
    Sou L.

    My first time visiting The Char Market! The restaurant is small and jammed packed at noon on a Thursday. Seating is limited but plenty of parking available! The cashier was friendly and clam despite the long line forming as soon as we got there. I ordered the Birria Taco plate. The flavor was okay. I would visit again to try their bone marrow plate . Another guest ordered it and it looked really good.

    Shrimp Char Plate
    Jessica S.

    My family and I tried this place on a Sunday afternoon. Food was tasty. I ordered the Shrimp Char Plate which was cooked great. We also got chips and guac to share. The chips had a seasoning that I enjoyed and chips tasted homemade. The guac had very large chunks of tomatoes and lacked some flavor. My husband raved about the beans and said they were delicious! Despite the food being great this establishment needs some attention. The plates were chipped and everywhere was dirty. Maybe they were short staffed? Also, accurate prices should be stated on the menu. Our bill was $10 more than the prices listed on their paper menu card at the register. After reading another review on here I realized the prices were not up to date. Overall, I can tell the owner takes pride in the food, but not so much the cleanliness or the details that could really make this place be top notch.

    Loaded steak nachos
    James B.

    Ambiance: Who cares about ambience when the food speaks for itself? This place can be described as a "hole in the wall" that is really clean! Very small; about 6 tables. Service: The people are friendly and helpful with picking something good to eat or slight customization (you won't need any). Food: OMG! I wish they were closer to me. The food is amazing. We ordered a chicken taco, elote, and loaded nachos with steak. All of it was delicious and flavorful! You do not need or want any extra sauce on it. The chicken taco was a s oft tortilla with all the fixings. The chicken has that char flavor; so you must like it a little charred. The loaded steak nachos was the bomb. Flavorful, creative, and just enough for two. It left me wishing I had more. The elote was very delicious. My one and only criticism is why it the cob in half and call it an order of two. Corn is cheap! Walk, run, ride the bus, or drive to The Char Market and you will not be disappointed!

    1 chicken taco and 1 shrimp taco with beans and rice
    Jenna P.

    The Char Market may be small, but it delivers big on flavor. The menu is simple and straight to the point. No frills, just solid, delicious food. The chicken was the standout for me. It was incredibly juicy with that perfect charred flavor that makes you want to order seconds. It made for amazing tacos and an equally satisfying plate served over grilled zucchini. The shrimp tacos were another win. Flavorful, perfectly cooked, and well-seasoned. The only slight miss was the steak, which wasn't as tender as I hoped, but still had great flavor. And I have to give a special shout-out to the beans. They were packed with a bold tomato salsa-like flavor that really stood out. Customer service here is next level. The owner took the time to share his story about starting with food trucks, and you can tell he pours that same heart into running this spot. He even noticed our tacos were smaller than usual and surprised us with two extra tacos in a to-go box, completely on the house. That kind of care and attention to detail goes a long way. Only thing missing? A cold cerveza to go with it all. But honestly, that's just me being picky. This spot is officially in our regular rotation for when we want a good meal and don't feel like cooking.

    Receipt to our order
    Adriana Z.

    Hello Hello! Truly just found myself a GEM! At entry I was greeted by a nice gentleman, the music they had going fit the location and definitely had me locked in. I had actually found them on Yelp & luckily they were less than a mile away. I ordered myself the Char Nachos (Steak) w/ the crema on the side, w/a coke to pair it up nicely. My goodness! These are by far my favorite nachos I have ever ordered at any restaurant. The steak was so tender and not fatty whatsoever and I loved that they put a plentiful serving given it is a bit pricey but very worth it. He kindly brought us a habanero salsa once we asked for a little bit of spice, the salsa was delicious and offered the kick I needed to these nachos. My girl ordered the Char Taco Plate (Shrimp) which included a delicious side of rice and char beans. The rice was some form of a cilantro lime rice but had an extra flair to the taste, meanwhile the beans were complimented w/meat and cheese. The shrimp taco was cooked to perfection and the seasoning was very flavorful, adding the habanero salsa was definitely the cherry on top. I was pleasantly surprised that we found this location and it being so close to my girlfriends house makes that PERFECT. The service was quick and very kind which I appreciate since it was our first time there. I will definitely be coming back whenever in the area.

    YUMMY TACOS!
    Anissa R.

    My fabulous Char Market! Coming from someone who is highly critical of anything Mexican food related, I'm a big fan of Char! We happened to be in the area one evening and of course, had to stop at Char (we were lucky to have tried them during a Yelp event previously). We opted for the yummy steak tacos and they were just as good as the first time we had them. Solid food and friendly staff. The tortilla is charred (no pun intended) nicely with flavorful meat and toppings. Tasty beans and fluffy rice. They hustle and get it out quick. It's in a very unassuming parking lot next to a dance studio; you can almost miss it if you drive too fast. But it's so worth it! We will stop by every time we're in the area!

    Jared S.

    God Bless The Char Market!!! BEST tacos in the game. And it's really not even close!!! Ranked by Yelp as having the THIRD best Mexican food in the United States I can attest that that list was not a fluke and is completely accurate! And whomever is first and second must be putting gold flakes in their tacos because I'm not sure how ANYTHING and ANYWHERE can beat 'Char Market'! Just remember that 'Char Market' is very unassuming!! You would never expect this place to have GOAT Mexican food! They are located in Carmichael off Whitney and in-between Mission Ave and Foster Way. The restaurant is kind've in a weird, older area with not much going on in around it. Think older suburbs. And it is definitely a trek coming from Sacramento. But trust me when I say it is absolutely worth it just to get to indulge in these tacos!!! Tuesday was my second time visiting The Char Market. My wife and I came for a Yelp Elite event last summer. But we were in the area so hitting up 'Char Market' was a MUST! My wife and I arrived around 6pm. The ambiance here isn't anything crazy, as it is a small restaurant inside a cul-de-sac. They have a giant California flag to the left which I love (I'm SUPER proud to be a Californian these days, for obvious reasons) and there's about 6 or so tables to sit at. 'Char Market' really is more of a takeout place in my view, but considering how far it is from where we live it makes sense for us to dine-in. Staff were very friendly! As had been the case last year. My wife and I both ordered their 'CharTaco plate' and went with steak for our protein. This includes two tacos, rice, and charro beans. As I remembered from the Elite event, they bring out food FAST here. I'm talking within five or so minutes! When our meals were brought I made sure to SAVOR each bite. I'm a notoriously quick eater, but I "slowed" myself down to really enjoy that "char" flavor. I've never seen tacos "charred" like at this restaurant. The tortillas ALONE would be fantastic to eat, let alone blanketing the perfect amount of steak, lettuce, and cheese. Their steak bangs and is incredibly tender! I have no idea how they season it but 'Char Market' should lock their recipe book in Fort Knox! P.S. I've been DREAMING about these tacos since Tuesday... yes they are THAT good. Incredibly unique! Their rice is also fantastic. I always say you can tell if a restaurant is 5 Stars based off their rice. And 'Char Market' lives up to that and then some! And their beans... DELICIOUS. Flavor on flavor on flavor!! In addition, I don't know what 'Char Market' puts in their in their crema sauce but it is OUT OF THIS WORLD good. The perfect amount of "tanginess" and it compliments everything perfectly. It's been two days and I want to go back. Next time I want to try their bone marrow as I know fans rave about it on Yelp. In a nutshell, 'The Char Market' just is THAT place. The spot you have to go to regardless of the distance. Yes it's in a weird area. Yes the ambiance is nothing to write home about. HOWEVER, I still say they're the best tacos I've ever had. Bar none. Anybody who gave this place less than 5 stars needs to get their head checked! For real! Lol. A++++++++. Just go already (and take me with you!)

    Mel L.

    Great neighborhood spot to eat a good meal. We have tried everything on the menu and our favorites are the chicken plate and the marrow plate. I love the flavor of the chicken and the tortillas they serve with the plates are really good. The portions are plentiful and the sauce drizzled on the plates is flavorful without overtaking the dish. They have my favorite flavor of Jarritos (guava) which is a huge plus. They just added loaded potatoes and burritos to the menu and I can't wait to try both. Definitely a hidden gem. I recommend checking them out if you're in the Carmichael area.

    Nachos

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    2 months ago

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    5 days ago

    Ordered out for dinner. Had their steak tacos and they were good. Rice and beans were excellent as well.

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    22 days ago

    The bone marrow plate was next level! One of the best restaurants in the city hands down.

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    4 months ago

    $20 for two street tacos. Come on man. Good flavors. But at this price you better come already full

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    Ask the Community - The Char Market

    We have a group of 8 coming Saturday night before a show at Jesuit. Will it be possible to get seating fairly quickly?

    Best to get there a little early as there is limited seating and it is very busy most of the day

    Is char market dog friendly?

    No. All seating is indoors.

    Is anything vegetarian?

    They have elote and rice and beans but the beans have beef in them I believe.

    Is there indoor seating?

    Yes there is indoor seating.

    View All 5 Questions

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    Corti Brothers - Make your own (turkey & salami)

    Corti Brothers

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    6.6 miEast Sacramento
    $$

    It's been years since I've been here. I was craving a sandwich so of course I had to stop by Corti…read moreBros. There was a large crowd waiting for their sandwich. When you first get there, you need to get a form and fill it out. Once you're done, you put the form on the black form holder. Then you wait for your name to be called. I browsed the store while waiting for my sandwich. They let us sample chili that day. By the time I came back, my sandwich was ready. The sandwich was massive. You definitely should try their corti bros special. They get to decide what meat you'll get for the day. Definitely would come back for a loaded sandwich that's under $10. The parking lot can be chaotic because it gets busy here.

    Was hanging out with my oldest for the afternoon and went to get a sandwich. Not from the area so I…read morechecked YELP and found Corti Brothers store and said the food pics looked good and decided to give them a try. When you enter the store the deli counter is to the left. You begin your order by filling out a small piece of paper which tells the sandwich makers what to put on your sandwich. Once your selections are made place the paper on a small black plate at the end of the counter right next to where you filled out order sheet. I usually go with a turkey, bacon and avocado sandwich with pepper jack for the cheese. They have all of the usual fixings expected at a deli shop. Just circle what you want and wait for them to call your name. What made the sandwich stand out was the generous portion size and the fresh bread. The Dutch crunch actually crunched!!! They have tables and chairs outside to the left of the entrance to sit and eat. The store opened in 1947 and the food was excellent. Will most definitely be back when I am in the town!!

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    Corti Brothers
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    Italian Cuts Sandwich

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    Banh Mi Mi

    Banh Mi Mi

    4.2(185 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    Here I am almost a year later since I've last been here…read more I can say there is a huge improvement in the inventory and stock of ingredients. I was able to order the crispy pork banh mi this time. I did want to add in pate, but they were out of that. So I just got the sandwich the way it's made. It was toasted and the pork was really crispy. I enjoyed the sandwich. It comes with a side of sauce, which I poured into the sandwich. Customer service was good. Our order was taken quickly, but we waited about 15 minutes for 3 sandwiches. No one was here when we entered, but a few customers came in after we ordered. The restaurant is still the same. I think the fridge with drinks was added since I was least here since I don't remember that being there last time. There is still plenty of seating outdoors and a few tables inside. Overall, I would give it 4 and a half stars, bit still round up since I think there is still potential here. I will have to try their shakes again next time.

    ------------I want to clarify a few things, because your response doesn't reflect what I…read moreexperienced. Your employee did cough into her hand and continued preparing food without changing gloves. You weren't present, so unless you've reviewed camera footage, I don't appreciate being told I'm misrepresenting what happened. I have no reason to make something like that up, and it was concerning to witness. And I can promise I would not say that if I did not SEE that. She probably didn't realize she even did it. Separately, I understand that surfaces are cleaned regularly, but during the time I was waiting, I observed gloves being used to touch multiple surfaces (including the register and prep areas) and then used again to handle food without being changed. That's a basic food safety issue and, frankly, it was off-putting and it doesn't matter how often you clean your counters, it's gross. per CA retail food code, gloves need to be changed if other surfaces have been touched. Have you ever gone to a subway or other sandwich shop and seen the people take the order put gloves on, make the sandwich, then take the gloves off? that's the way it should be done if not staying at the prep station. I am not sure why I ever have to explain this to you on a review on Yelp. Also, regarding the order: when two of the three sandwiches were requested without jalapeños, it's not acceptable for the one that did include jalapeños to only have a single piece. I do not understand how you are trying to justify my review by even stating that two sandwiches didn't have them. and why does it matter which sandwich had the paper stuck to it? they were all soggy and cold which is why the paper was sticking to it. At this point, it's less about the initial experience and more about the response. It doesn't feel like the concerns were taken seriously, which makes it hard to feel confident giving your business another try, which I really wanted to do. That's disappointing, because I genuinely wanted to enjoy and support your restaurant. and if your business is slammed, perhaps the wait times on online ordering should be updated to reflect this.------------ I'm really disappointed to be writing this review. I had heard great things about this place from a friend who comes here often, and I was genuinely excited to try it--especially since I love bánh mì. Unfortunately, the experience fell short from the start. I live about 25 minutes away and ordered ahead, arriving a few minutes after my scheduled pickup time. I still had to wait an additional 10 minutes for my sandwiches, and then another 10 minutes for the pork spring rolls. What really prompted this 2-star review, though, was what I observed while waiting. The staff was working quickly, but I did not see anyone change their gloves during the entire time I was there. One employee handled the register, touched multiple surfaces, and continued preparing and wrapping food without changing gloves. Another employee repeatedly wiped her nose on her arm and even coughed into her hand before continuing to make sandwiches. It was honestly very off-putting and raised serious concerns about food safety. When I was handed my order, I was told the pork spring rolls weren't ready because they are made to order--which is understandable--but I was confused why they hadn't been started earlier since I had already placed and paid for my order. By the time I got home, the sandwiches were cold, soggy, and the paper had stuck to the bread. My partner said the flavor was okay, but noted there was barely any jalapeño, which was disappointing since that's a key part of a good bánh mì. I truly wanted to like this place, but between the hygiene concerns, wait times, and food quality, it was a frustrating experience. I hope management addresses these issues, especially around cleanliness and food handling, because that's something customers should never have to question.

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    Banh Mi Mi - Aesthetic

    Aesthetic

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    The Char Market - sandwiches - Updated May 2026

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