Neighborhood Favorite: Amazon Grill

A nonprofit serves Brazilian takeout out of a former school cafeteria

Amazon Grill is operated by the nonprofit Brazilian Center for Cultural Exchange of Sacramento, which serves as a hub for the Capital Region’s Brazilian community.

Neighborhood Favorite: Elena’s Kitchen & Catering

A Carmichael deli offers a culinary tour of the former Soviet region

To walk along Elena’s deli counter is to explore the diversity of the former Soviet republics.

Neighborhood Favorite: Aria Afghan Restaurant

A former translator brings Central Asian flavors to North Highlands

Aria Afghan Restaurant in North Highlands serves a cuisine that hails from the crossroads of South and Central Asia, including one dish that takes over 10 hours to make.

Neighborhood Favorite: Chévere

A Salvadoran restaurant in Arden Arcade attracts a vegan fanbase

One year into the pandemic and two into its existence, Chévere has managed to hang on with a combination of flexibility and dedication to its craft.

Neighborhood Favorite: Naija Cuisine

Sacramento’s only Nigerian restaurant gets a boost from TikTok

Fufu is a West African staple food made from boiled, pounded cassava or other starches, and it’s trending on TikTok.

Neighborhood Favorite: South Area Market

Neighborhood Favorite is a new monthly web column that profiles independent restaurants around the Capital Region to showcase the diversity and resilience of our local food entrepreneurs. In the first installment, we visit one of Sacramento’s longest-standing Lao restaurants.