More than 30 restaurants in Sacramento will participate in the 21st annual Dine Downtown event featuring curated menu items at affordable prices starting January 9 through 19.
The event, which began in 2005, aims to support local restaurants during the slow start of the year by offering three-course meals at a set price of $45.
The 30-plus restaurants participating, located in Old Sacramento, Midtown, and Downtown, offer a variety of cuisines from vegan and gluten-free options to steakhouses and ramen bars.
Dine Downtown began in 2005 as a way to support local restaurants during the slower period after the holidays and New Year, according to Business Development Manager at the Downtown Partnership, Andrew LaFrance.
“[Dine Downtown] was a way to create a new experience where people could go to some of our higher-end restaurants throughout the community and experience their cuisine, but at a set price,” LaFrance said.
LaFrance mentioned that the event “incentivizes” people to try a restaurant that they normally wouldn’t visit. He said the partnership has raised over $7 million for the restaurant community since they started.
“This is kind of an economic stimulus, if you will, to encourage the public to go and support their local restaurants…” he said. So it’s been a really positive way to benefit these restaurants, year after year.”
One dollar from every three-course meal will be donated to Opening Doors, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping immigrants, refugees and survivors of human trafficking.
What restaurants are preparing
The Firehouse Restaurant located at 1112 Second Street in Old Sacramento is one of the restaurants that is a part of the Dine Downtown event.
Marketing manager Kris Carpenter said the restaurant has participated in Dine Downtown for a long time and they’ve done so since January is typically the slowest time of the year.
“It’s a great way to showcase the food, let people come in and see the ambience at a price point that’s, you know, significantly lower than we’d normally charge for three courses,” he said. “It’s also a charity aspect of it, which is great as well.”
The Firehouse Restaurants Dine Downtown menu includes Arcadian mixed greens, a choice of either Braised Mary’s Chicken, Pan-seared local Black Cod, and your dessert options of either a Vanilla Crème brûlée or Chocolate Mousse Cake.
Normally, the restaurant charges $109 for a three-course meal from the chef.
The Firehouse Restaurant Dine Downtown food items that will be available this Friday, January 9, 2026.Photo courtesy of The Firehouse Restaurant
Kodaiko Ramen & Bar, located on 718 K Street in Downtown Sacramento will also participate in Dine Downtown.
The restaurant has been at the location since 2019 and specializes in handmade ramen. Their menu also has appetizers, rice bowls, sandwiches and fried chicken.
Head chef and co-owner, Takumi Abe, said Kodaiko Ramen & Bar has participated in Dine Downtown as a way to bring attention to the restaurant.
Abe said every year they choose a theme for the menu with this year being winter.
“We chose a citrus theme, because citrus is in season right now, so all the dishes have some element of highlighting citrus in them,” he said.
The Kodaiko Ramen & Bar Dine Downtown menu includes Kushiyaki, which is citrus marinated tuna, Lemon Chanterelle Ramen and Calamansi Creamsicle Semifreddo, which is an ice cream sandwich for dessert.
“The ramen that we’re going to serve the main course is actually a vegetable broth and mushroom broth that we’re making especially for this event,” he said. “It’s going to be served with foraged mushrooms, roasted foraged mushrooms, pork belly and a herb and preserved lemon condiment.”
Abe hopes people can find the time to visit the restaurant during the event.
“We definitely want people [to] come in here with an open mind and looking to have fun,” he said. “I think this is a good place. You’re going to get some hot soup, and when the weather is cold, so great.”
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