There\u2019s the barbecue joint you smell before you see, the sports bar with options for every customer, the tropical rooftop bar with burgers and fruity cocktails. Read through these selections, then add what you think was missed at the bottom.<\/p>\n
With tickets, concessions and merchandise already costing families a pretty penny, this guide leans toward more affordable options. If money isn\u2019t much of an object, Camden Spit & Larder<\/a> and Ella Dining Room & Bar<\/a> are nearby and excellent.<\/p>\n These 11 restaurants are all open for dinner, but be warned: many get slammed right before a Golden 1 Center event. Show up by two hours before game time if you want to be safe.<\/p>\n Cari\u00f1o<\/p>\n 729 J St.<\/p>\n A pink-walled verdant oasis on a rough block of J Street, Cari\u00f1o<\/a> stands out from its surroundings (and wealth of stellar surrounding Mexican restaurants such as La Cosecha<\/a>, Cilantro\u2019s<\/a> and Taqueria El Burrito<\/a>). Owned by sisters from Mexico City, its dishes are made with a little extra cari\u00f1o (an affectionate Spanish word for \u201ccare\u201d), as the neon sign says. It\u2019s particularly notable for its Mexico City-born dishes, of which you\u2019ll find at nearby competitors.<\/p>\n Molletes are a prime example. Normally served as an open-faced sandwich, this version features soft telera bread sliced into breadstick-like pieces and smothered in Monterey jack cheese, refried bean spread, pico de gallo and cotija. Cari\u00f1o\u2019s care is also clear in a nuanced mole negro that\u2019s simultaneously bittersweet and fruity, a plate-scraping sauce covering chicken enchiladas. Grab a colorful pot of cafe de olla to keep cheering through the night.<\/p>\n Sauced BBQ & Spirits<\/p>\n 1028 7th St.<\/p>\n Sauced BBQ & Spirits\u2019<\/a> Downtown Sacramento location, one of five for the Livermore-based brand, greets customers at DoCo\u2019s mouth with the smell of smoke. Even with a huge dining room (and a menu to match) and a decently large patio, ticketholders often fill all seats before a game, dipping into the whiskey-based bar or sampling house-brewed Sauced Pig beers.<\/p>\n They come for North Carolina-style pulled pork cut through with a vinegary mop sauce, sweet potato casserole punctuated by crisp black skins, candylike brisket or pork belly burnt ends when available and hefty burgers when not. The quartet of standout barbecue sauces on each table (mustardy Georgia Gold, sweet and tangy Pig Candy, Kansas City-style Tin Roof and Hot Tin Roof) are worth naming a restaurant after. The Tin Roof, mixed with ranch dressing, shows up in the Hella Cali salad as well, a lighter option with blue cheese, avocado, onion strings and the option of smoked chicken.<\/p>\n Beach Hut Deli<\/p>\n 711 K St.<\/p>\n Beach Hut Deli<\/a> was founded in 1981 by then-19-year-old Troy Feist, not far from the shores of Folsom Lake. Today, it\u2019s amassed more than 40 locations across California, Nevada and Oregon. Many are independently franchised, including Sean Hook\u2019s outpost on Ali Youssefi Square across from Downtown Commons, which opened in 2020. With a thatched roof interior and faux surfboard tables, it\u2019s leaned into the beachy vibe, buoyed by a carefully-crafted beer list and $4.50 Coronas. <\/p>\n Many Beach Hut Deli sandwiches come lathered with cream cheese, including the flagship Surfin\u2019 Bird, which runs anywhere from $8.25 to $24.50 depending on size. Layers of turkey (other versions have ham or roast beef) pile into a pliable French roll with avocado, salty bacon and a slew of ubiquitous veggies. Unlike other locations, this one also has a separate vegan menu, which leans on realistic substitutes from The Butcher\u2019s Son<\/a> as well as jackfruit and tempeh. Impossible Meats<\/a> shows up only alongside imitation provolone in a faux chicken parm, which disguises any lingering taste or texture differences under a blanket of marinara sauce.<\/p>\n Lotus Thai Cuisine<\/p>\n 425 J St.<\/p>\n Tucked away in the sunken courtyard of Sacramento\u2019s Historic Chinatown Mall, Lotus Thai Cuisine<\/a> is a pain to park near \u2014 but perfectly on the walking route for any fans taking Amtrak to a Golden 1 Center event. It\u2019s not just supporters, either: Linkin Park and their support crew spent $3,000 on food at Lotus before their show last year, according to a restaurant manager. If you have the time, spend a few minutes walking around the center, which includes the Ping Yuen Senior Community<\/a> apartments and a memorial to fallen Chinese railroad workers.<\/p>\n With a slightly shorter menu than sister restaurants Sai Varee Thai Cuisine<\/a> in The Pocket and Baan Noodles & Rice<\/a> in South Land Park, food comes out quickly \u2014 and in the case of the $14 boat noodle soup, should be eaten quickly, lest the rice noodles soak up the savory broth for you. Panang is the most popular curry, a cozy dish for winter evenings filled with bell peppers and lovely hits of Thai basil.<\/p>\n Tipsy Putt<\/p>\n 630 K St., Suite 120<\/p>\n Want to test your own athletic ability before the Kings take the court? Hole up at Tipsy Putt<\/a>, DoCo\u2019s indoor mini golf course, for a round of nine, a shuffleboard-inspired game called \u201c1-2 Putt\u201d and 28 drink taps, along with cocktails ranging from the \u201902 Playoffs (whiskey, Coke and sad memories) to the Beam Team (tequila, blackberry, ginger and lemon).<\/p>\n Putting through a diminutive Tower Bridge replica is the golf course\u2019s highlight; on the culinary menu, it\u2019s the chicken al pastor vampiro tacos (three for $17 with rice and beans, or $10 sans sides on Tuesdays) coated in a chili rub and wrapped in cheese-skirted tortillas. A hearty Mexican chopped salad packed with pepper jack cheese and pepitas can be served with that chicken, carnitas or barbacoa, but vegetarians will be happy with the chickpea option and creamy cilantro dressing. The house lager, Mulligan Light is just $5 per pint before Kings games; pair it with an order of wings (eight for $12, 20 for $24) covered in a salty-spiced rub for bar bite bliss.<\/p>\n Kodaiko Ramen & Bar<\/p>\n 718 K St.<\/p>\n The final boss of packed pregame restaurants, Kodaiko Ramen & Bar<\/a> has a strong claim for not just the top downtown ramen, but the best in the Sacramento region \u2014 the \u201cSac Ramen Kings,\u201d as their T-shirts read. The brick-walled basement joint is owned by the same crew as Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine<\/a>, including chef Takumi Abe, and serves up slurp-worthy bowls alongside stellar cocktails. Kodaiko doesn\u2019t take reservations, but you can get in line online<\/a>, and doing so may be your only chance to get tonkotsu before tipoff.<\/p>\n In a bucket, as an appetizer with yuzu-Taj\u00edn dipping sauce or as part of a peach-and-noodles salad, the juicy chicken karaage is a must-order. The ramen is split into classics below $20 (the mushroom paitan and shoyu with chicken are my two favorites) and custom creations such as a recent chicken-lemon base, succulent shrimp, dancing bonito flakes and three outstanding shrimp-miso butter dumplings. Need a sweet treat to beat a feeling of defeat? A rotating ice cream sandwich offers flavors such as taro, strawberry milk tea or calamansi.<\/p>\n Foundation Restaurant & Bar<\/p>\n 400 L St.<\/p>\n There\u2019s truth in Foundation Restaurant & Bar\u2019s<\/a> name: it feels time-tested beyond its 13 years, a stepping-stone to the modern dining scene like many San Francisco restaurants of old. A dark, weathered wooden bar, cushy booths and a back area with sports on a large TV play host to a crew of regulars, with friendly service and happy hour specials to keep them coming back.<\/p>\n Even at a slightly toney place such as Foundation, a good fry cook matters a lot. Green beans coated in a sumptuous breading, garlic fries, calamari \u2014 all come every bit as crispy as one would want without being overcooked in the middle. The $34 braised beef short rib is fall-apart tender in a red wine pan sauce, and a surprise addition of pesto benefited the crackly margherita flatbread flecked with Parmesan whispers. On a bar menu split into classics and contemporaries (plus a couple mocktails), the passion fruit margarita shines.<\/p>\n Yard House<\/p>\n 405 K St., Suite 100<\/p>\n A national chain with locations in Roseville, Elk Grove and Folsom, Yard House<\/a> is a sports bar designed to appeal to everyone. The vegan, the carnivore, the adventurous and the diet-conscious can all happily order off this DoCo restaurant\u2019s menu, which spans from chicken wings with a Gardein<\/a> imitation meat substitute to globetrotting fusion entrees and burgers made with a proprietary USDA Prime beef blend. There are dozens of taps, 32-ounce pours in glasses half a yard tall and collaborations with major craft breweries, yet robust cocktail, wine and mocktail programs make sure the beer-averse won\u2019t be left behind.<\/p>\n A long list of sizable appetizers peaks with Miguel\u2019s queso dip, created by corporate chef Miguel Mata. Ribbons of guajillo chili oil and roasted poblanos balance a creamy blend of cheddar, pepper jack and queso blanco, which is torched and served with tortillas and chips. The Korean BBQ cheesesteak fluidly melds its different ingredients together as well, its tender shaved rib-eye drawing in melted white American cheese, kimchi and a streak of gochujang inside a hoagie roll. The newly introduced Maui salmon salad stands out as a lighter option, particularly for its bright sesame-lime dressing and rice chunks fried into croutons.<\/p>\n Shabu Shack<\/p>\n 606 L St.<\/p>\n An artificial tree full of cherry blossoms greets customers as they walk into Shabu Shack<\/a>, a Japanese hot pot spot across L Street from the arena (additional locations in Elk Grove and Davis). Inside, staff bearing t-shirts with the restaurant\u2019s name in the Kings\u2019 2000s logo zip from the dining room to the patio, firing up tabletop stoves and dropping off plates of raw meats and vegetables. From there, the customer is the chef, slipping those ingredients into bubbling broths for a quick boil.<\/p>\n You can do so for about $25 per person, or splurge on all-you-can-eat options ($43, or $86 with premium meats, all appetizers and bottomless beer and sake). Popular broths include a tingling Sichuan, a savory miso or a Thai-inspired tom yum, with variable levels of heat and divided bowls allowing tables to boil two at a time. Pick from thin slices of American Wagyu, lamb or seafood, choose your noodles and get to cooking and slurping.<\/p>\n Darling Aviary<\/p>\n 712 K St.<\/p>\n Matt Byrd and Bobby Falcon (yes, those are their real names) launched The F<\/a>l<\/a>amingo House<\/a> in midtown with Amadeu Goncalves and Christian Tolen, then expanded west down K Street to open Darling Aviary<\/a> in October 2020. The similarly avian-themed bar boasts an eye-catching metal peacock, a disco ball spinning inside a human-sized birdcage and framed paintings of different species. But if the weather cooperates, most guests simply walk through the lounge en route to The Nest, Darling Aviary\u2019s rooftop bar that peers out at Golden 1 Center.<\/p>\n The Nest has a second bar for food and drink orders, including the velvety Fallen Fig cocktail with tequila, allspice liqueur, oat milk, pumpkin spice blend and fig jam. Burgers center around patties somewhere between typical and smashed, like the jammy, funky River City Wrangler with smoked Gouda, sweet pickled jalape\u00f1os, fried onions and housemade chipotle barbecue sauce. Happy hour from 4-6 p.m. includes a $7 mini version of the Phoenix Fries (curly fries topped with garlic, Gouda, chili oil and ranch) and an expedited pregame menu gets fans out the door as soon as needed.<\/p>\n The 7th Street Standard<\/p>\n 1122 7th St.<\/p>\n The 7th Street Standard<\/a> is a step nicer than other restaurants on this list, but pregame is the best time to go, as fans wearing Kings gear get 20% off food. Located on the ground floor of Hyatt Centric hotel, it\u2019s been helmed by executive chef Ravin Patel and chef de cuisine Pedro Depina since opening in 2021.<\/p>\n The upscale California cuisine changes with the seasons, but chicken tandoori lollipops are always available as a strong appetizer, the well-spiced meatballs skewered and served between tikka masala and cilantro yogurt sauce. The miso-glazed, market-price fish ($38 for California-caught chinook salmon on my visit) was cooked to a buttery perfection over a bed of forbidden rice with punchy side of bok choy. Sneak up to the Clayton Club<\/a>, a sixth-floor rooftop bar with bites, if you can\u2019t get a table downstairs (or have time for an extra cocktail).<\/p>\n![\"mole](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Carino-2-1024x576.jpg\")
Cari\u00f1o\u2019s mole enchilada plate. (Benjy Egel)<\/p>\n![\"BBQ](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/sauced-1024x576.jpg\")
A combo plate featuring pork belly burnt ends, smoked brisket and pulled pork at Sauced BBQ & Spirits. (Tyler Bastine)<\/p>\n![\"deli](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/DSC08447-1024x576.jpg\")
The Sunrise Sandwich at Beach Hut Deli in Downtown Sacramento. (Tyler Bastine)<\/p>\n![\"curry\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Lotus-Thai-1024x576.jpg\")
Lotus Thai Cuisine\u2019s panang curry with chicken. (Benjy Egel)<\/p>\n![\"tipsy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/DSC08392-1024x576.jpg\")
Tipsy Putt in Sacramento on Oct. 21, 2026. (Tyler Bastine)<\/p>\n![\"ramen\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/DSC08365-1024x576.jpg\")
A bowl of citrus shio chicken ramen at Kodaiko Ramen & Bar. (Tyler Bastine)<\/p>\n![\"beef](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Foundation-1024x576.jpg\")
Foundation Restaurant & Bar\u2019s braised beef short rib entr\u00e9e. (Benjy Egel)<\/p>\n![\"queso\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Yard-House-2-1024x576.jpg\")
Miguel\u2019s queso dip at Yard House in Downtown Sacramento. Benjy Egel<\/p>\n![\"hot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Shabu-Shack-1024x576.jpg\")
Shabu Shack\u2019s hot pot setup with Sichuan and miso broths. (Benjy Egel)<\/p>\n![\"fallen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Darling-Aviary-1-1024x576.jpg\")
Darling Aviary\u2019s Fallen Fig cocktail. (Benjy Egel)<\/p>\n![\"salmon\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/b61e4458-2b4d-4a31-8dd5-533d911b1d75-1024x576.jpg\")
California-caught chinook salmon with forbidden rice and bok choy at The 7th Street Standard. (Benjy Egel)<\/p>\n