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    Esmeralda's Cafe

    4.3 (114 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Order Esmeralda's Cafe Takeout or Delivery

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    ESMERALDA'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Esmeralda's Cafe

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    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.

    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!

    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.

    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.

    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.

    chicken pesto panini
    Mia A.

    Me and my best friend always come here after school. The food is always so good!! and the service is amazing! get the ice coffee its delicious.

    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.

    Enchiladas

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    4 months ago

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

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    Cafeteria 15L

    Cafeteria 15L

    3.9
    (4k reviews)
    10.4 mi
    $$

    Our server was very friendly and the food was fantastic. My picky niece said the Mac and cheese…read morewas the best she ever had and the hamburger I got was excellent. Wonderfully cooked and it was tender. The premium price for the hamburger was worth it. The chicken sandwich my nephew had was fantastic and he was a huge fan of the s'mores. Everyone in our party enjoyed what they had. Highly recommend

    Was in Sac for a concert and stopped by Cafeteria 15L for their happy hour. The place is huge with…read moreoutdoor and indoor seating. The happy hour prices were reasonable and had so many great options. Can't say for certain about the parking situation because it was a close walk from our hotel. We ordered 2 mocktails, the watermelon sugar and basil berry fizz. Both drinks were super sugary and tart, which I ended up diluting with water. Still refreshing and tasty, but I think it was a bit overkill on sugar. For our mains, we tried the rigatoni bolognese, trio of fries, and chicken tenders. All food and drinks for under $50! The portions were massive, especially the trio of fries, which I was not expecting. The sweet potato fries were a bit soggy compared to the other 2, which were significantly crispier. The chicken tenders were ok and probably the least exciting thing we ordered haha. On the other hand, the bolognese was by far the standout! Flavorful, rich, creamy and the cheese pull from the pasta was to die for. Our server was super cool and patient with us, as it was our first time coming here. Totally recommend checking this place out with a group of friends to enjoy happy hour.

    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
    $$

    Went on a Saturday for brunch with three other people and when I asked the wait time, the host took…read moreawhile to seat us, even though I said we were ok with outside. At the end, we ended up seating outside and all the time wasted could have been to help other people. Our server was friendly, but since we were outside she would take awhile to come outside. The meatloaf was a big plate and my husband could not finish it. He did say it was a bit salty. The shrimp and grits were great (would recommend). My son's chicken tenders were great as well and looked homemade and not like it came from a frozen bag. There is paid parking around the area. It was a 60 degree day but with jackets on, the weather felt amazing. When we had stepped into the restaurant it had felt too stuffy, so I am glad we got to seat outside.

    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
    Inside
    Inside
    Porch salad
    Porch salad
    Grilled Brie

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    Grilled Brie
    Old Soul

    Old Soul

    4.1
    (1k reviews)
    10.3 mi
    $$

    AMAZING!!! I'm a barista and I really love to go to coffee shops and get know other Baristas. Also…read moreto have a place where I'm not working and enjoy the ambiance. Old Soul at 1716 L is like home to me. It's the place I always want to be when I'm not living the craziest life possible. I'm OBSESSED with their kieche and as annoying as I'm sure it is I always have to ask if mushrooms are in it because of allergies. Not one staff member ever makes me feel bad about asking. Want to give a couple shout outs to the stellar team if I don't mention your name your still so great! Reese, probably one of (the coolest humans you'll ever meet) remembered me from my second entrance in the building and always makes the best coffee. They go above and beyond in customer service asking about my acting and hobbies. Always pleasant and working hard. Tiff is an absolute gem and has gone above and beyond by remaking my order when it was accidentally taken by the wrong customer immediately. She is kind and welcoming at every visit. Overall I don't have a lot of places I feel comfortable being. Old Soul is one of them and has a special place in my heart. Thanks for always making me feel seen, serving amazing food, and helping me stay alive with a great coffee no matter what the drink or season.

    What's the point of offering online ordering if employees refuse to make the order until the…read morecustomer personally reminds them? I waited over 30 minutes for two drinks that took roughly three minutes to prepare. The employee only started making them after I asked whether my order was ready. Her explanation was that they don't make online orders until customers show up because some people never come, or because ice might melt. That's not how mobile ordering works. The entire reason people order ahead is so the drinks are ready when they arrive. Instead, my order was apparently ignored while I stood there waiting with no communication whatsoever. If customers are expected to announce themselves before their order will even be started, that should be clearly stated when ordering. Otherwise, this is just wasting people's time and defeating the purpose of the service entirely. Extremely frustrating experience.

    Photos
    Pumpkin Spice Latte
    Pumpkin Spice Latte
    Amazing coffee shop: a hidden gem.  Photo by Monterey Films LLC
    Amazing coffee shop: a hidden gem. Photo by Monterey Films LLC
    Amazing coffee shop: a hidden gem.  Photo by Monterey Films LLC

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    Amazing coffee shop: a hidden gem. Photo by Monterey Films LLC
    Zebra Club

    Zebra Club

    3.5
    (359 reviews)
    10.5 mi
    $

    I finally stopped into Zebra Club at 9:30am on a Saturday to catch up with a big group of people…read more The bar was already hopping, and it looked like there was a previous group hanging out after watching early morning sports on the TVs. I ordered a Guinness and we moved to the back area as our group grew too large to have at the small front tables. They have breakfast and lunch available and had an impressive menu for what I thought was just a bar. We asked our server what she recommended and she said the waffle fries and French toast are great. While we passed on the French Toast (this time- I'm more of a savory breakfast person) we did get waffle fries ($7) and their Zebra Special ($15.50) that comes with two eggs, meat (ham, bacon or sausage), hash browns, and choice of toast. We paid a little extra to get a biscuit with gravy instead of toast. We also ordered jello shots for the group and it was very fun having morning jello shots with breakfast. They have a lot of televisions here and seem to serve as a watch party destination for a lot of sports fans. They also have an outdoor area, which is great for groups, but we also noticed that the small of people smoking wafted into the inner dining area from outside which was a drawback for me. The staff here was so nice and attentive and we had so much fun with our group here. Would highly recommend checking them out.

    The stars are to only represent the food and the cook Mike. I've heard so much about the tacos that…read morewe decided to stop in for Father's Day. Well, the meat was cold and it seemed like all that was done was fry the tortilla. We explained the food was cold and instead of ensuring the meat was warm, Mike stuck the food in the microwave - with the lettuce, tomato, and cheese! Now the server, Shana, gets 5 stars. She was understanding and apologized when we said the meat was cold AND after it was put into the microwave. I feel like Shana knows customer service.

    Photos
    Zebra Club
    Bar on a kings game night.
    Bar on a kings game night.
    Bar with 7 or more tvs.

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    Bar with 7 or more tvs.
    Bacon & Butter

    Bacon & Butter

    4.3
    (5k reviews)
    9.8 mi
    $$

    Happened to be in the area a couple weeks ago so we had to try it given all the hype we've heard…read moreabout it. Let me say we were not disappointed. The food was delicious: I had the pear and pecan French toast and my wife had fried green tomatoes egg Benedict which she found super yummy. Their multiple line check-in and wait system where you line up again in a separate line once texted, process is an admittedly a bit clunky but I also surprisingly found it be very efficient. We went in on a Friday mid-morning and the wait for 2 was only about 15-20 minutes. I was blown away by how nice it was on the inside, it's a lot bigger and more modern than you would expect from seeing it on the outside. I'd say there are about roughly 25-35 tables combined inside and outside, so don't be discouraged if the line looks long. I promise it's not the hole in the wall it seems on the outside - it's really roomy on the inside! The food also comes out SUPER quick and the wait staff is super attentive and friendly. The only thing that I didn't quite understand was their pricing on their brewmosa. It's listed as $10 and it includes a PBR and only a splash of OJ but if purchased separately full cup of OJ and a can of PBR they're listed at $4 a piece. So I was a little bit confused and asked the waiter who was equality admittedly puzzled. I ended up buying the separate items and making my own brewmosa. I will say it was quite delicious! Their OJ is freshly squeezed which is a big big plus! Anyways I would highly recommend this place and we hope to be back soon if we find ourselves back in the area!

    Recently visited on a week day, and it was busy! For brunch we wait about 20 min for a table of 4…read more Make sure you have everyone in your party there once you are called, or else you will not be seated. Parking can get hard to find especially during peak hours. This place was packed! After our wait, we were tended to immediately. Our party ordered a few items, and the wait for our food was a bit long. Although everything was good, I felt like it could be better. The hot chicken sandwich wasn't hot at all, and the sausage breakfast sandwich was a lot with the biscuit. All in all, we enjoyed our visit.

    Photos
    At the bar/counter
    At the bar/counter
    Peaches & cream french toast
    Peaches & cream french toast
    Burrito

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    Burrito

    Esmeralda's Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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