My first review of 2025! Sunshine Cafe is located on Stockton Blvd and about a block away from where I work so I finally checked it out today for lunch! I called ahead to see if they could make my order so it was ready when I arrived (30 minute lunch) and the lady who answered was super nice and helpful. We ordered the Japchae Noodle Dish with Beef and it came with white rice, pot stickers, kimchi and a side sauce. It was sooooo good and packed with flavor! The dish is massive - I ate half there and took the rest to go. I also have never tried glass noodles before, but I am definitely a fan now. The beef was nice and tender and the kimchi was spicy as well. The inside is tiny with a few tables and bar stool area that faces the outside windows - it's definitely a hole in the wall, but it is worth a visit for sure! They also offer other Korean dishes, burgers, sandwiches, salads and coffee! I've worked down the street for almost 2 years and drive by the Sunshine Cafe every morning and can't believe this was my first time! They made a regular out of me - I will be back very soon! read more

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Sweet mom-and-pop shop with an excellent salad. The dressing is amazing and pairs perfectly with the salad--it's definitely the standout item here. I've tried a few other dishes as well; they were good, but didn't quite stand out the same way. Very convenient if you work near UC Davis Medical Center, making it an easy and reliable lunch spot. read more

This mom and pop shop comes in really clutch when I'm hungry. I gotta say the food is made fresh to order every time and I had no issues with everything I had got the burger was amazing. My tuna melt was nice crunchy on the outside and cheesy on the inside. The service is really good. The seating not too many places to sit on the inside, but they do have outdoor seating. other than that I think the food is really good here. read more

Mom n pop place, they are always super nice and food is good. Owner is super sweet. It's a small area to eat in but cozy ambiance, and seating outdoors if you prefer, but all the traffic noise kinda sucks. read more

The Kobi sandwich is delicious. Great service and friendly staff. I just wish I lived closer!

I always have a great experience when I come to Sunshine Cafe! The staff are always very friendly and greet you warmly when you enter. Of note, they are open 7:00-3:30pm and also have daily specials everyday. You can call ahead to place an order or order there, and the food comes out fairly quickly. Items tried: - Japchae set: One of their signature dishes! This set comes with a large portion of japchae noodles, a few of their potstickers, rice, and kimchi. You can choose the protein that you want, and their beef is delicious. The whole set is all very tasty and I would get again. - Sunshine wrap with baked, breaded chicken: I was pleasantly surprised at how fresh this tasted, and it felt like a healthy meal since it was not overwhelmingly saucy or greasy. I loved the breaded chicken which was not super crunchy and had a great flavor overall. - Panini with turkey and side salad: The panini comes with protein, avocado, tomato, and caramelized onion which made the sandwich so delicious! You can choose turkey or breaded chicken for the protein, and it also comes with a side salad where you can choose the dressing. I love coming to Sunshine Cafe for a great and healthy meal, and they also have coffee and a breakfast menu if you come in earlier in the day. Definitely recommend! read more

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We love this hidden gem. Susie said they have been here for the past 17 years. Time surely has flown! They do cater mainly to the hospital workers bc their hours are M-F 7-330. No holidays or weekends. If you work at UCDMC then they will mostly likely be open during your day work hours. We have been retired for 9 years yet we still frequent here mainly ordering to go. There is space here to eat indoors & outdoors. Our favorite is their large chicken breast salad which is made fresh once you order it. My wife did decide to order their beef bulgogi & japchae combo with salad instead of rice. She loved it so much she didn't share it. She really loved those fried potstickers too! It's fine bc I ordered a beef bulgogi wrap which was ultimately so delicious as well. I ate it up all in one sitting. Woohoo! We always return back bc we love their food here. If you don't want to wait just call them ahead of time for your order & Susie will get it ready for you! Another favorite my wife favors is their Friday special of grilled salmon with rice & salad. Sunshine cafe is such a perfect name for this small family business bc of their awesome great tasting food & fabulous service they give you to be sure you are happy with your food! So tasty, delicious & consistent! We always will return! You can ultimately count on that. read more

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Us hospital folks love and depend on this little extension of our family. Diverse breakfast and lunch menu. Orders ready fast, always good food. Such a wonderful little fixture for our medical community, if only they sold alcohol. :I read more

Sunshine Cafe is a small, cute shop that is tucked right across from the UC Davis medical center. The staff here are very friendly, welcoming, and have such a unique menu. Food and drinks come out very fast. FYI they do not take AMEX here, but they take everything else like VISA. The items I ordered here were the Sunshine wrap and the Japchae set. I got Korean beef for both items and it was honestly a hit. Lots of umami and the portion was large as well for the japchae. I loved the addition of potstickers on it as well. The Sunshine wrap had plentiful of veggies that made the wrap so crunchy and fresh where I felt like I could eat 2-3 of them haha. The beef was superb and a nice addition to the wrap. Highly recommend. Overall, they have a lot of healthy food options and coffees to choose from. Even better is that they are all at a very affordable price. read more

Sunshine Cafe - inside - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

I'm a little biased. I love this place. Their burgers are awesome and their daily specials are too. Been going here for years. Seating is tight and they have a few tables outside but when it is windy it's not comfortable. The service always is friendly. I haven't been here for breakfast. Maybe it should be on my bucket list. read more

Great food, fast service, owners are cute husband and wife couple who are kind and warm.

During COVID, Sunshine Cafe is open for takeout orders only. Their outdoor seating is open, but it's only 3 or so small tables--good for a quick bite, but this is mainly a takeout type establishment to begin with, with fast service and the convenience of being on Stockton Blvd. This is a cute neighborhood cafe/deli that epitomizes your classic mom & pop, but with a Korean twist. They have your typical grill items like burgers, sandwiches, salads, etc. as well as some Korean and Korean-inspired dishes like Sesame Chicken, japchae (sweet potato glass noodles), and soba salads. While it is run by a super straightforward yet friendly Korean couple, a lot of the dishes are very much Americanized and lean more towards Asian fusion. For example, the kimchi is made from regular cabbage rather than napa cabbage; dumplings are deep-fried rather than pan-fried; and my Korean BBQ wrap had ranch and cheese in it, but was otherwise was a pretty authentic rendition of bulgogi. Their biggest advantage is being so close to the hospital. Your only other options in the area are Subway (a lot further up Stockton), and Broadway Cafe (much further down Broadway). The hospital used to allow visitors but is currently closed, allowing employees and patients only, so a place like this is really great if you don't want to hang around in the hospital just to grab food, whether you're employed by UCDH or not. However, Sunshine's hours are a little inconvenient and you can tell they are open to serve the hospital crowds (7am to 3:30, weekdays only). Their prices are a little on the high side. I usually pay around $13 for the japchae plate and $11 for the Sunshine wraps, but I'm happy to pay a little extra to support the lovely owners, especially during the pandemic, and to guarantee a fresh, tasty lunch! I also discovered they have a breakfast menu so you betcha I'll try to catch them before 10:30am one of these days! The japchae plate is soooo good. It comes with rice, a side salad, one fried dumpling, and a container of kimchi. Everything is so flavorful and tastes like homemade comfort food. I do think it comes with a little tooo much rice considering japchae normally shouldn't be so salty as to need that much rice. The kimchi, while not traditional, is also very tasty. Today I tried the KBBQ Beef Sunshine wrap for the first time. It is a pretty hefty size and is filled with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheddar, and ranch dressing. It is super westernized but still tasty. I think I could have done without so much ranch though, as it made it kind of soggy and way too salty. I'll ask for no ranch next time, and might try the orange chicken version! Since their menus are a little outdated/unclear online, I would suggest looking it up on Doordash but ordering over the phone--it has a pretty clear outline of their daily specials as well. Phone or in-person orders are recommended not just so they don't have to pay third-party app fees, but also because the actual menu prices are inflated on these apps. My wrap was $10.40 after tax and before tip, but on the apps they are $12.48, and that's before any service fees. If you are on the market for delivery however, Doordash is your friend, and they're on Menufy too. If you use Menufy, don't forget to use coupon 10OFF for 10% off orders of $15 or more! Also when I went in to pick up my order, there were paper signs advertising Udon noodle soup, which is definitely new. It's worth stopping in to see what off-menu items they have available. Will definitely be back just because of location and having a Korean food place so close to where I work. Fresh food and nice service--highly recommend! read more

Sunshine Cafe - Korean BBQ Beef Sunshine Wrap - too much ranch made it a bit salty, but overall yummy and VERY filling - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

Little hidden cafe next to the hospital. I had the turkey melt and it was good. Plenty of simple dishes here and the owner was very kind!

I used to eat at this cute, quiet cafe on my lunch breaks. The owners and staff are really friendly. I retired from UC Davis but must return to get some of the dishes I was so hooked on. I recommend the Soba Noodles and Asian Chicken Salad. read more

I was in the area for a conference, and I stumbled upon this little mom and pop Korean café down the street. When I arrived, I was surprised to see that there was a line out the door! Many of the patrons were dressed in scrubs, so it seems like this is definitely a popular lunch spot for people who work at the hospital across the street. Even though there was a huge line, it moved pretty quickly. The lady at the register was friendly but efficient! There are only about 20 or so seats to eat inside. They give you a number, and someone will call out your number when your order is ready. I ordered the Bulgogi Plate with white rice, homemade teriyaki sauce, and side salad. The bulgogi was so tasty! I opted for the House Sunshine Sesame Dressing with my salad, and that was really yummy as well! read more

Sunshine Cafe - Bulgogi Plate - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

I love this place. The workers here are ALWAYS beyond friendly. The woman that usually works the cash register always calls customers "sweetheart" and is always happy and smiling. Their food is simple and delicious. I come on my lunch breaks at the hospital to quickly scarf down food so it is SO nice how quick your order comes out. Highly recommend, this place and their staff are so amazing!!! read more

Sunshine Cafe - Wednesday's Special - Bi Bim Bap Dish - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

This is my favorite place and a secret little gem. The owners are so lovely and the food is so good. I dream of the Japchae noodles. It can be pricey but everything is fresh and delicious. read more

Love, love, love this hole in the wall, ma n' pop restaurant! I stopped in for a quick lunch and the food was absolutely delicious, bursting with flavor! I immediately ordered the Bulgogi Plate which consisted of tender, juicy pieces of meat, side salad with the house made sunshine dressing and perfect cooked white rice. Everything was delicious and the perfect quantity for the price. The customer service was very genuine and it seems like the owners knew everyone coming in. I would highly recommend that you stop in for some delicious food if you're ever in the area. read more

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The barbecue plate is amazing. Quick very friendly service ! Working at UC Davis , this is a go to

We were staying close by and stopped for lunch! It was so good and reasonably priced. We decided at 3 (they close at 3:30) to go back and get a to go meal to eat at our hotel for dinner later! Outstanding! read more

Great food and friendly people. Breakfast and lunch are both good and be sure to check out the daily specials.

Just started a new job in the same building. Haven't cooked for a week since I've been back from a business trip, so I decided to try here. For the past couple of days, I have been having lunch here, and it's been great! Sunshine is a great mom and pop shop. The owners pride themselves in their cuisine and their shop. Husband is always cleaning the outdoor seating and leaf blows the sidewalk in front of their shop. He definitely takes pride in ownership, and I appreciate that! I have ordered the Soba noodles, Japchae, and Potstickers (comes with salad and rice). They all average around $8-9 bucks, Veggies, whether cooked or raw, are always fresh. They have a simple menu, but it keeps the crowd coming. The husband and wife duo make a killing at lunch time. Their breakfast sandwiches are a little expensive though. A ham and egg on wheat cost me $5.99. I'll come by again on days when I'm too lazy to cook. The proximity is convenient for where I work! read more

Sunshine Cafe - Soba Noodles - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

Finally checked this place out for lunch one workday. I've heard a lot of good things about this cafe while I was a student the past two years, and now from co-workers. I went in on a Wednesday around 12 noon. Given the virus situation, the little restaurant wasn't busy at all. There was one person who had just picked up their order and was on their way out. I took a look at their daily specials, but ultimately opted for the Korean BBQ beef plate and the Korean BBQ beef wrap (something for lunch and dinner) to go. Both of these cost me around $23, a little pricey to me given the portion. The plate consisted of beef bulgogi over rice with a small side salad. The wrap was a tortilla with veggies and beef bulgogi wrapped inside. Same idea. Just different form. The beef bulgogi was tender and flavorful. The rice was a little overcooked in some parts. The veggies was just the basic garden salad -- fresh and crunchy. I would come back to support this little restaurant, but would order something different. They accept cash or credit card. Expect street parking. If you're at the UCD medical center, it's a short walk from the hospital (literally across the street). read more

Nice and quick even when super busy! I loved the onion rings, Korean bbq beef, and good caramel macchiato!

Good healthy food, made fresh by a cute older Korean couple. They have Korean inspired dishes as well as western food, and cheap lunch set menu. The food has always been of quality, never too greasy or oily. They have 2 fridges of drinks to choose from read more

Great spot for breakfast and lunch! They have the best breakfast sandwiches and burritos. For lunch, they have a the best Kobe sandwich, egg salad sandwich, and potstickers meal. Also, their tuna melt is so warm and gooey, perfect during cold weather. They have the best service, so kind. If you order ahead, you don't have to wait. read more

I've eaten here a number of times over the years, mainly because it's one of 3 eating establishments within walking distance of my job. It's a tiny café serving breakfast foods and a variety of lunch items, from the usual soups, salads, and sandwiches, to a number of Asian dishes (udon, potstickers, sesame chicken, and even bibimbap, on occasion). Menu looks good but what you actually get is very little in taste and quality. My friend always orders the chef salad and swears their vinaigrette dressing is the bomb. The meat and cheese are slivers of cold cuts, which never look appetizing to me on a salad. It is a good size portion though. I've had some of the Asian entrees and sandwiches, which have ranged from bland to average, but always never worth what I paid for. On my most recent visit, I had the the "sunshine sandwich" ($7), made up of chicken salad, cream cheese, and avocado. The chicken salad was mushy, not much avocado or cream cheese, pretty much nothing to make the sandwich stand out. That sad little sandwich and a regular drink cost $9.20! It's nice to at least have Sunshine Café as another lunch option in the area, but I think I'll stick to Subway. read more

Sunshine Cafe - Sunshine sandwich + regular drink= $9.20=Expensive!!!! - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

Sunshine Cafe is a solid business because it doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. Just a modest cafe with a simple menu of the same, reliable tasty eats that keep their customers coming back again and again. Located across from UC Davis hospital, they've earned the loyalty of many a hungry hospital worker. I don't work at the hospital but I live nearby. My coworker and I thought this would be a good spot to check out. After eating the orange chicken over white rice with a side salad, I felt more than happy with our choice. It was a simple meal for a very good price. The food came out quickly and we sat in the very small front patio section and listened to the ambulances go by. read more

Sunshine Cafe - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

Finding this place can be a bit hard since it is located on a very busy street and there are always a bunch of huge trucks parked around it. Parking is extremely difficult, but once you find it the walk itself is quite quaint. The place is only open during the lunch hours on certain days, which really work towards their benefit. They mainly serve the employees from the UC Davis Medical center and have many regulars. The woman at the front counter is great at her job and doesn't miss a beat. I ordered the Korean BBQ and was pleasantly surprised at its taste. I wasn't expecting much from a cafe but they did not disappoint. The plate came with the BBQ, rice, and a side salad. Don't let the size fool you ... the potion is actually more than enough to fill one up. The place does get pretty busy during its hours so I suggest to call ahead and to bring someone with you when you pick up your order. That way the extra person can run in to grab the food, while you drive around trying to look for parking ... yes, parking is that hard -- maybe more now than before due to the construction. read more

Sunshine Cafe - Korean BBQ Beef - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

The last few months I have driven by and see the doctors standing in a line. I had no idea it was this restaurant. What a great place close, yummy, and affordable. Had the special for Wednesday and already making plans to go back! read more

The best place for sandwiches, salads, and delicious rice plates. I have been going here since their first day of opening. Their breaded and baked sesame chicken is out of this world with an amazing homemade teriyaki sauce. I love mine over rice which comes with a side salad as well. Their ranch dressing and salad dressings are also store made and it is delicious as well. Here are your must haves: *Sesame Chicken Rice Plate *Potstickers with rice and it usually comes with a small miso soup. So yum together! * Sunshine Sandwich *JapChae Noodles *breakfast sandwiches *coffee is delicious as well! *BLT sandwich *House Salad read more

This place still had a Grand Opening sign up as of January 18, 2007, so they must have just opened when I lunched there. The line of customers for the La Bou down the street was reason enough to consider this as an alternative. They appear to have the same type of lunch fare as La Bou, i.e., soups, salads, sandwiches, grilled items (burgers, grilled cheese, steak sandwich), and some Asian items (sesame chicken or Korean BBQ beef over rice). I ordered the crispy chicken wrap which was passable but a little disappointing. The chicken wasn't crispy, they ran out of Ranch dressing so I had to make do with "Sunshine sauce", and the wrap wasn't rolled too tightly, so it kind of fell apart as I ate it. Prices are reasonable (most lunch items $5-$6), food is o.k., and although the place is experiencing birthing pains, it's an alternative to the sometimes overcrowded La Bou down the street. read more

Great place to grab lunch and go! Daily specials are always fresh and yummy! The potstickers are so good! They accept credit cards and you can call ahead to order! read more

Small cafe located across the street from UCDMC. Mostly serves American food such as soup, sandwiches, and salads. They do have some Americanized Asian items. I ordered the pot stickers and ended up with fried pot stickers. Real Asian pot stickers may be pan fried but not deep fried. Not impressed. I can see why people come here as it is one of the only dining establishment that is within walking distance from the hospital. Not many dining tables. read more

Sunshine Cafe is the hope that we all look for when your only other option is hospital cafeteria food. Located across from the UC Davis Medical Center and Shriner's Hospital, this cafe caters to many employees of the institutions. This tiny cafe is the epitome of simplicity and offers tasty sandwiches, rice plates, pot stickers, salads, various sides, coffee etc at affordable prices. It has not changed in years and doesn't try to be anything it is not. I often get the sesame chicken plate and it always tastes the same -- good. If you plan to drive here, don't. There is no parking. It is best to just walk if you are on campus or neighboring area. Also, if you like to actually enjoy your lunch time doing more than standing in line for food, get here early or a little after noon. The lines get really long during peak lunch hours. If you are lucky enough to find a table in the patio, I highly recommend. This cafe will certainly make sure you get through the rest of your day satisfied. read more

Sunshine Cafe - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

We live around the corner and visit Sunshine at least once a week for lunch! We've tried everything from the wraps, to the plates (Bulgogi, Sesame Chicken), to salads. The owners are so kind and warm, and everything is delicious, fresh, and fairly priced. read more

Sunshine Cafe is essentially the only independent business that is walking distance from the hospital. So, I've tried it numerous times despite the food being okay at best +Galbi sandwich is okay, but quite boring as it is mainly a pile of meat in bread. Would have liked some veggies in it to make the sandwich lighter and balanced -Sunshine sandwich is pretty actively bad... -Bibimbap is super boring, -Salads here make no sense The owners are super friendly and reasonably quick though, so there's that Rotating daily specials make Sunshine cafe a slightly better bet than the hospital cafeteria though for those who have to eat in this area frequently read more

Sunshine Cafe - Kobi sandwich ~$7 - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

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After working at the UCD med center for 1.5 months, I finally got to try Sunshine Cafe. This little place is Korean owned and sells a variety of sandwiches and Korean lunch plates. Each day they offer specials if you get tired of the regular menu. I ordered the Korean Beef Wrap - $7 (one of the Monday specials). Inside the wrap was korean bbq beef (bulgolgi), a ton of lettuce, cheese, tomato and a little bit of a creamy sauce (seasoned mayo?). Great place if you work at the med center and get tired of the hospital food. You can also call ahead of time to place your order if you are short on time. read more

Sunshine Cafe - Korean beef wrap - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

On my second day of work at UCDMC a coworker invited me to lunch at Sunshine Cafe. Sunshine Cafe is a small cafe but don't be fooled by their size; they are serving up big things. I decided to go with one of the Tuesday specials, the teriyaki chicken bowl ($6.49). Like my coworker said, the food was good and very fresh. The teriyaki chicken bowl came with 4 steamed vegetables (bean sprouts, broccoli, carrots and cabbage), rice and chicken. For $6.49 it was just the right amount of food. The cafe is small so seating may be limited during the peak lunch hour. Pro tip: Call in advance and order for pick up. Our food was ready upon arrival and we were lucky enough to score a seat inside. The staff was friendly and restaurant was clean. Sunshine Cafe opens at 7:00am for breakfast until about 10:30am. After that they dish out hot and cold sandwiches, specialty salads and various Asian influenced dishes (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) in their daily specials. Since I'll be working at UCDMC for the next few months I'm looking forward to trying the Korean BBQ Beef, Kobe Sandwhich and Soba noodles. read more

Fresh food and Excellent service! I can't believe I've worked across the street for years and only made my first trip here last week. I've been missing out. Portions are generous and made to order. I've eaten the Korean BBQ three times and the Bi Bim Bap once and I loved it all. They serve brown rice too, but it's a dollar more :( I will be consuming more of their menu in the near future and edit later. read more