Fast Pizza at the Pizza Press

If you're in a hurry and have a craving for pizza, you can check out The Pizza Press at the DOCO area of Sacramento. These fast fired pizzas have been very popular in recent years and The Pizza Press is another addition to these restaurants popping up everywhere you look. I guess their claim to fame is that one of their famous locations is right next to the Disneyland resort area. Big whoop.

Food -
I love pizza, and the fast fired variety is nice to have... on occasion. These pizzas are usually smaller and lighter tasting than a regular pizza. The crust is usually pretty thin and crispy due to the method by which these pizzas are cooked. It's certainly its own genre of pizza that is out there for the world to enjoy. I, for one, prefer a standard pizza than one of these, but I certainly will not complain if I'm in the mood for pizza and I want one as fast as possible.

Like all the other restaurants like this, you get to select whatever ingredients you want on your pizza or you can choose a menu item with toppings already suggested. I always go with the choose-your-own variety as I like to craft the pizza myself. I'm not sure if it was just the worker who was making my pizza this day, but she put A LOT of cheese on my pizza. I'd say the cheese to crust ratio was 1:1! It was a bit much for me as these places tend to skimp a bit on the cheese.

Overall, I'd say the toppings offered at The Pizza Press are of a slightly higher quality than places like Blaze or Mod Pizza. The meat selection especially looked more authentic. I'm usually not very impressed with the sausage and pepperoni they have at fast fired places, but the selection here looked fairly appetizing.

The most surprising thing about the pizza here is actually the crust. I found the crust to be quite a bit softer than I thought it would be. There was some chew to it that made it a little hardier and filling.

There isn't much else other than the pizza to eat. You can order breadsticks, a salad, or some sweet treat offerings, but if you're coming to The Pizza Press, you're coming for the pizzas!

Service/Atmosphere - 
I found the servers during my visit to The Pizza Press to be friendly enough. Since this restaurant is basically a Chipotle for pizza, you don't really interact with the workers too much other than the initial pizza order and paying for the food down the line at the register.

As for the atmosphere, the restaurant is well furnished and fun to eat at. There are both booths and long tables to choose from, and the dining room area is quite large. The decor around The Pizza Press is all newspaper themed so you see lots of black and white pictures as well as even an old typewriter on display.

Price -
Fast fired pizzas are known to be less expensive than their pizza brethren. You'll be spending about ten bucks for a pizza. I'd say that The Pizza Press' prices are slightly above other fast fired restaurants. Is it worth the little extra? I suppose so... but only for the nice vibe and slightly better ingredients.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
Since this restaurant is at the DOCO, make sure you park in the retail only parking lots and get a validation for your ticket.

When ordering pizza, don't be afraid to ask the workers to make whatever pizza you like. I often have half the pizza red sauce and the other half white sauce. There are all sorts of combinations you can put together in different portions of the pizza - so get creative and get exactly the tastes you want to get!

My rule of thumb is always to be moderate when making a pizza. Piling everything you can on top will not necessarily make the pizza better.

Bottom Line - 
The Pizza Press is a nice pizza option if you're at the DOCO for some shopping or to visit the Golden One Center. If you're really craving pizza, this is really the only spot to be at for a reasonable price. The ingredients are of good quality and the choice to put whatever you want on it is always nice!

Letter Grade

B-

I always go for a pretty traditional style of pizza.

Each pizza is made right in front of you.

This typewriter really goes with the newspaper theme of the restaurant.

You can finish off the pizza creation with a drizzle of sauce.

Fast fired pizzas tend to have pretty thin crusts - these were surprisingly softer though.

Nostalgic vibes are all around this restaurant.

McDonalds Could Do Better Than These Donut Sticks

Food Review -
On my way to work I decided to grab some breakfast at McDonalds. I love McDonalds (mostly for lunch and dinner), but I was excited to try a new item on the menu - Donut Sticks. I have been eagerly waiting for McDonalds to come out with a sweet breakfast item. They have things like the fruit and yogurt parfait and the McGriddle sandwiches, but neither of those is your traditional breakfast pastry. You can also select the pancakes, but on the go they are pretty hard to eat. So that's why these donut sticks really peaked my interest. And for under $2 for six, it wasn't too expensive to give them a shot.

The donut sticks have an interesting shape to them. They aren't long, but they aren't too girth-y either. It's an odd shape that doesn't really scream 'donut' at you save for the sugary coating of sugar. I found that these donut sticks had an excellent taste but a texture that left me wanting.

Whatever sugar combination they put on the outside of these things is really well done. It's not overly sweet and it makes your taste buds want more. The outside has a delicate flavor that I felt was balanced well. My main qualm with the donut sticks was in the texture. They just aren't donut-like enough for me. I mention in my video that there is just too much chew to it. Donuts should really just melt in your mouth - especially fried donuts like what this is going for. The outside part of the donut stick is a bit too hard and bread-y. I found myself chewing a lot more than I wanted to.

I hear that dipping this in some hot coffee may be the trick to unlocking the potential of this new McDonald's item. I may have to investigate this option in a future visit. As it stands now, I'd say that McDonalds Donut Sticks are a very run-of-the-mill average menu item. They don't grab my attention like they should and they don't leave me craving them at a later time.

It is, however, the only pastry-like item on the McDonalds breakfast menu, so if you've been wanting something a bit different that what you've been getting at McDonalds, then this may be a nice option to add to your quick breakfast on the go!

Letter Grade

C

Fire Wings are FIRE!

Fire Wings locations can be found all across the Sacramento area, and they stretch all the way to San Mateo too! This local buffalo wing chain gives places like Buffalo Wild Wings and Wing Stop a run for its money. Their wings have unique flavors with a huge amount of options for sides. Fire Wings is a chicken wing lovers dream come true!

Food -
Fire Wings is all about the wings, of course. And yes, they are the star of the show there. The menu at Fire Wings has an impressive line-up of traditional wing flavors and non-traditional flavors. You can get your standard buffalo wing, but also mango habanero, BBQ, lemon pepper, and Louisiana rub, but there are also unique choices like Malaysian curry rub, dragon flavor, Korean kick, and even a peanut butter wing. And that's not even the half of it; there are many more flavors. It can be a daunting task to select off the menu the first time you come.

I would say you really have to find the flavors you like in order to enjoy your experience. Having gone many, many times I have discovered the sauces and rubs that are my standard orders. For me, I like mango habanero, BBQ, Louisiana rub, and lemon pepper. The Malaysian curry is nice as well, but it's not something I usually pick up. Both the sauced and dry rub wings are great. They are cooked very well and the chicken isn't too fatty (like at Wing Stop).

Other people may have a different opinion, but my least favorite flavors are the standard buffalo flavor and the dragon flavor. Sadly, the buffalo flavor doesn't have the buffalo taste you know and expect. I really can't place my finger on it - but it is definitely 'off'. I've tried to order it many times, but always ended up disappointed. As for dragon... it has too much of a fish sauce flavor profile to it. I guess if you like fish sauce, it might be right up your alley, but for me I just couldn't vibe with it.

I always make sure to order bone in (and often get flats only for $1.50 more). I am not a fan of the boneless wings here. They are too dry for me on the inside and are too big. I know it's weird to say that food is too big, but the size of them is not ideal for boneless wings. I got them a few times to give them a shot but ended up just forcing myself to eat them to finish.

As for sides, they have a ton! You can select regular or seasoned fries, or for an upcharge get a ton of different things. They have jalepeno poppers, cheese sticks, garlic noodles, and rice. You can also go with veggie sticks, but I'd select a hot food item over those and add them later as they aren't too pricey. Better to order them separate than get them over a more expensive side item. All the sides are decent, but not great. In particular I think the fries could be A LOT better. To me they are just an item to fill you up rather than enjoy.

Coming soon will be chicken sandwiches to the menu. That looks to be a pretty nice add to the menu. As of this review my local Fire Wings did not have it live yet.

Service/Atmosphere - 
The atmosphere at all the Fire Wings locations I've been to have been modern and well furnished. It definitely has a new feel to it rather than some of the older established restaurants of the same type. There is usually a large community style to sit at running down the middle of the restaurant with tables around the rest of the restaurant. Sports are usually playing on the variety of screens that are all around the dining area. It's fun and festive.

I've had very good service every time I've been to a Fire Wings location. Recently, I've been ordering online so that once I get to the restaurant I can just pick up my food. Chicken wings can take a while to cook, so if you know what you want, ordering ahead is a smart idea!

Price -
Buffalo wings have never been a very cheap type of food to dine on. I like getting 10 wing combos, which is over ten bucks - but you get a side and a drink with it. If you're looking to save money, they have select days where you can get their boneless wings at 60 cents per piece.

I'd say the pricing here is in-line with what you would have to pay at the other chain buffalo wing places. If you're looking to get full, you will probably have to pay a bit more as chicken wings usually don't fill you up unless you eat a bunch of them!

Special Tips and Recommendations -
I recommend trying the peanut butter wings. I know it sounds totally weird, but the flavor profile of the wing is like satay. If you know what that is, it's a pretty traditional Asian flavor that works very well with meat. These wings do not taste like Skippy. So don't be afraid of them - you might actually really enjoy this unique item on the menu! And like I mentioned already, order online! It makes things a whole lot easier.

Bottom Line - 
I really like Fire Wings. It does have items that could be better (namely the sides), but they punch hard where it counts - the chicken wings. They serve up well-cooked, flavorful wings that will make your taste buds happy once you find the styles you like!

Letter Grade

B

The menu is broken up into three sections - classic, dry rub, and fusion.

Ten sauced up wings - BBQ (left)/Mango Habanero (right)

Plain fries and a drink.

Their garlic noodles are very garlicy.

You can spot the dry rub.

Dine in or eat out. Up to you!

The Garden of Eat'n is just like the Garden of Eden!

Roseville is a great location for food. Many of the large chain restaurants are there, but amongst them are little gems like the Garden of Eat'n. It's an unassuming restaurant in a strip mall shopping plaza that boasts deliciously fresh flavors sourced locally. I found this restaurant on Yelp after doing a bit of shopping. I'm so glad I stopped in!

Food -
Garden of Eat'n is a sandwich and wrap place that offers up salads and mac n' cheese as options too. The menu boasts many interesting items that will leave you with a difficult decision on what to get. On my visit to the Garden of Eat'n I eventually decided on their tri-tip and bacon after some serious deliberation in my head. I also ordered their El Diablo mac n' cheese on the side as I rarely see mac n' cheese on menus.

The wrap was excellent and really did taste fresh. You can watch it being made as you cue up in line to the register like they do it at subway. You have a choice between many varieties of wraps. They have spinach, garlic herb, wheat, chipotle, and a gluten free option as well. I went with the garlic herb. I usually am not a fan of wraps, but this one was great. The tortilla wasn't too thick and the vegetables were nice and crunchy. The bacon added some extra flavor and texture making the wrap really sing. This was one of the best wraps that I have personally ever had. The only thing I would change the next time would be to omit the red onions. They really did their red onion thing and left an onion aftertaste for a while.

Garden of Eat'n makes their own sauce for their wraps and sandwiches, but I suggest asking for less sauce if you don't like a ton of it in your food as I found the portion of sauce to be on the higher side. I was ok with it, but others may prefer a more moderate approach.

As for the mac n' cheese, I would say that it is good but not great. To me, great mac n' cheese is really gooey with lots and lots of smooth cheese and soft pasta. The mac n' cheese at Garden of Eat'n was a spiral pasta with a bit of chew on it. It tasted healthier than I wanted it to taste. The good thing, however, is that the portion size for the mac n' cheese is quite large so you can order this as an entree without anything else.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention their awesome soda machine. They have Stubborn Soda on tap. It's a craft soda with unique flavors such as (my favorite) pineapple cream soda. It's fun to pull the lever and pour yourself a drink from it. I'm always impressed when places have options other than the usual.

Service/Atmosphere - 
The atmosphere of Garden of Eat'n is like that of a Subway restaurant. When you walk in you'll see a place to line up to order your sandwich as well as the area where they make your food in front of you. It's not the newest or trendiest looking place, but it certainly gets the job done. It's about what you would expect for a sandwich spot.

The Garden of Eat'n is a popular place to eat in Roseville as evidenced by the amount of people that were there to get food. I was there slightly after the rush hour, but people were still constantly coming in the doors.

I found the service to be on par with what you would expect from any restaurant. The workers were pretty busy making sandwiches and wraps so it was difficult for them to really stop and offer any extra niceties. And that's totally ok as they had a job to do.

Price -
Expect to pay between nine and twelve dollars for a sandwich or wrap. I'd say the pricing is average to a little above average for sandwiches. I would consider Garden of Eat'n a more premium sandwich maker so I find what they ask to be reasonable. The prices really aren't that much higher than what places like Togos and Jersey Mikes ask for nowadays.

The mac n' cheese is around six to eight dollars and comes with a good sized portion. I'd say adding it on as a side would be a bit too much, but it would be a good filler meal for a little cheaper than ordering a sandwich.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
I definitely recommend getting the drinks in-house here as their soda fountain is unique. You just don't find these craft sodas on tap in your typical restaurant. Give each flavor a try to see which one you like the best.

Bottom Line - 
Garden of Eat'n is a gem of a place to get fresh sandwiches and wraps. For people who are near the Roseville location, I would consider it a go-to place anytime I was looking for a tasty lunch either eating in or getting it to go. I'm definitely a fan and wish I were closer so I could come more!

Letter Grade

A-

El Diablo mac n' cheese.

Mendocino Farms is Sac's Trendiest Sandwich Place

Sacramento is not the city that comes to mind when you think of trendy restaurants. There are a lot of stellar places in Sacramento, but very few have that 'wow' factor when you come in. Well, Mendocino Farms has it in spades. This sandwich market, as they call it, serves up amazing takes on sandwiches and salads in an environment you'd expect to find in a city like LA, SF, or SD.

Food -
When you enter the restaurant you are greeted by a server and a large menu. The menu is full of sandwich and salad selections. So many, in fact, that it is hard to make a quick decision as there are so many items that look amazing. I asked the server what she recommended and she said that the "Not So Fried" Mary's Chicken was a popular sandwich to get. I was just about to go for it when I spotted the Mendo's Original Pork Belly Banh Mi. Having to choose between pork belly and chicken is a no brainer for me so I went with the Banh Mi. My wife Jenn went for the chef's special avocado toast and split pea soup.

Heading to the register we had the option of getting some cold side dishes. Rather than having to guess what would be the best item, you are actually able to sample any sides you like before making a decision to select one. I thought this was so cool. I gave the spicy potato salad a try as well as the pesto pasta shells. Both tasted great but the spicy potato salad was calling my name. Good thing I had the chance to sample as there was a really good chance I would have chosen the pesto over it.

While waiting for our food to arrive I went over to the soda fountain. I was impressed to find that the sodas on tap were all natural craft sodas! Each looked worthy to try but the cream soda jumped out at me as it boasted bourbon and vanilla flavor. And when I had a sip, I knew it was the right choice for me.

After a short wait our food was delivered to our table. The quality of the items was apparent when they put the plates down. My wife's avocado toast wasn't the little slice of bread that they serve at many cafes for a ridiculous amount of money. This one was topped to the brim with fresh ingredients. After eating just half of her sandwich she felt like she was getting full.

I had the same feeling with the Banh Mi. The flavors were on-point and totally filled me up. I wasn't as hungry coming into the restaurant so that was why it filled me up quickly, but it was a very, very good sandwich.

The sides were equally great! I already sampled the potato salad so I knew it was good, but my wife's split pea soup was one of the best I have ever had. It was creamy and had the perfect smokey flavor that this classic dish should have. I was impressed.

We actually ended up taking a menu home because we wanted to study it for the next time we go. It is a seasonal menu so it could possibly change. We'd better go back quick to give the winter dishes a try before they are gone!

Service/Atmosphere - 
I found the service at Mendocino Farms to be excellent. Our servers greeted us with a nice smile and were helpful in recommending items for us to try. When I went to try some of the sides for a sample, the server there was very willing to let me try whatever it was that I wanted. I felt that the staff have been well trained to make sure that the customers have a good experience.

As for the atmosphere, this is where Mendocino Farms skyrockets away from other Sacramento restaurants. The dining area is very trendy with modern touches all over. The decor is all white and premium woods with magazine worthy furnishings. There is even this crazy 'grass' seating area where the seat and seat backing is grass. It's like a huge wall of grass! I can't explain it in words. You just have to go and see it to really know what I'm talking about!

For kids, there's a kids corner where they have their own little chairs and things to do.

You want some nice Instagram pics? This is the place to get them!

Price -
Sorry, there's no five dollar foot longs here. Just about every sandwich is around the ten to eleven dollar mark. And same goes for the salads. Mendocino Farms is a premium restaurant so the prices don't surprise me. Keep in mind that the prices are for sandwiches only and you'll need to buy sides, chips, and drinks separately. You can, however, get a blue plate special which is a half sandwich with seasonal soup or deli side for about the same as a full sandwich.

I went a little crazy today at Mendocino Farms and got two sandwiches, two sides, a drink, and a bag of chips for a total of about thirty six bucks. I'm sure you won't spend that much, but that's how much it was for our order.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
When coming here, make sure that you pay for parking! The parking spaces in front don't have meters, you have to know to go over to the machine and pay that way. You'll also need to know your license plate number as it will ask you for it. It's a little bit of a pain, but I guess its not that bad. But I can see people in a hurry or who don't pay close attention may forget to pay and get ticketed.

Bottom Line - 
Mendocino Farms is right at the top when it comes to getting an amazing modern eating experience in Sacramento. The menu items are fresh and well-thought out. If you want a premium sandwich and don't mind the higher price, Mendocino Farms is a must-go!

Letter Grade

A

My Bahn Mi up-close and personal.

A side of spicy potato salad.

Avocado toast with a side of split pea soup.

Bourbon and vanilla flavored cream soda.

Dill pickle flavored potato chips.

Mendocino Farms' way of doing things.

Jack in the Box Burger Dippers: JUST STAY AWAY!

Food Review -
Jack's Burger Dippers are a fascinating concept that doesn't hit the mark that they are going for. I suppose if they had done it right, it would not be a cost effective item to sell off a fast food menu. What we end up getting are these strange tasting, mushy sticks that leave you not wanting more.

For a fast food item, these Burger Dippers are pretty pricey. You get four sticks for $3. These come in a small fry sleeve and, according to the picture on the menu, should be dipped in ranch or ketchup. Sadly, I didn't get a dipping container - but I did at least ask for some ketchup packets at the window while I was there. I'd say the dip is essential as without it, the Burger Dippers leave an unpleasant aftertaste that will haunt you for a while.

In my video below, I was unsure if I should call the taste of this item fake... but it really is. These burger dippers have a fake burger taste. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but they seem like they have just been smothered in some sort of artificial burger seasoning. That's really the entire taste of the Burger Dipper. And that flavor isn't very good.

In terms of texture, the whole thing is just a mushy mess. The outside isn't particularly crispy. It has the texture of a lightly breaded chicken nugget. There isn't much to get your teeth into. In fact, I have no idea what it is my teeth are getting into anyways. Is this supposed to be meat inside?

This item falters in every area.

If I were to create an item like this, I would use real hamburger meat on the inside with onion and pickle, ketchup and mustard, then wrapped with something like a pretzel bun or have the whole thing battered like a corndog. What this is just sucks!

This will hopefully be a limited run item that will soon never see the light of day ever again.

Letter Grade

F -

I Love Wieners... How 'bout You? Come here for the Best in the Sacramento Area!

Finding a good hotdog place can be pretty challenging. It's the kind of food that you think of at a baseball game, but not something you go to a restaurant and get. Well, the dogs at Ruffhaus Hot Dog Co would change anyone's mind as they serve up the best hog dogs in the Sacramento area. Ruffhaus is a place I would be willing to make a special trip to, and I have done so!

Food -
The main star of Ruffhaus Hot Dog Company is obviously the hot dogs. And they have a TON of them to select from. The menu is full of mouth watering selections. Choices include classics like the Chicago dog that comes with a beef frank, mustard, Chicago relish, tomato, onions, pickle spear, sport peppers, celery salt, and a poppy seed bun as well as more specialized dogs like the Cali which comes with chicken apple sausage, avocado, tomato, pickle spear, arugula, Monterey Jack, sun dried tomato and a whole wheat bun. As you can tell from the descriptions, each dog is absolutely loaded with ingredients. The dogs are meals in-and-of-themselves with the amount of toppings on them!

There are seriously too many amazing choices on the menu that Ruffhaus will definitely absolutely require multiple visits. Even if you are not a huge hot dog fan, I can confidently say that there would be something of interest for you to try off the menu here.

As for sides, select from french fries of many varieties (garlic, sweet potato, chili cheese), onion rings, mac & cheese, slaw, or a nice side salad.

Besides having a loaded up hot dog menu, Ruffhaus is no one-trick pony. Their appetizers and other items offered are pretty unique and impressive as well. Want a Scotch Egg? Well that's on the menu. What about tator tots made with cheddar cheese and chives served with rosemary lemon aioli? Yup, that's on the menu. Gyros? That's on the menu too!

For beer lovers and those who enjoy a drink now and again, Ruffhaus Hot Dog Company is also a pub and tavern. There are lots of suds on tap for you to wash down your amazing meal. For the kids, you can get milk, OJ, soda, or apple juice.

Service/Atmosphere - 
I am a big fan of the environment that Ruffhaus has for its main dining area. The restaurant is filled with eclectic tavern items that transport you to another place. It's fun to just look at all the items that fill up the walls of the restaurant. Think Applebees but not corporate at all.

While Ruffhaus is a sit-down restaurant, it's the kind of place where you order at the counter when you first arrive. You'll see a large chalkboard menu above with the selections you can make. They'll give you a number and they'll bring the food out to you when it is ready.

Price -
The prices at Ruffhaus for hotdogs range from about seven to nine dollars. That may seem high for a simple hot dog, but keep in mind that these hot dogs are anything but simple. You'll be getting a very premium hot dog experience that rivals any other hot dog you've probably ever had. It's hard to compare hot dog pricing when Costco sells them with a drink for under two bucks, but the sausages and toppings they use here at Ruffhaus are really top of the line and I'd say worth it for the experience.

With drinks and sides I'd be looking at spending upwards of fifteen to twenty dollars a person depending on the amount of food you'd like to try. For me, I always end up spending a bit extra because I'm always in the mood to try more of the menu here.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
Some hot dog purists insist that hot dogs should only have mustard on them and maybe some sauerkraut. If you've not had a hot dog in this traditional way I suggest you give it a shot! It is certainly delicious and you'll have that feeling of having a hot dog the way it was meant to be. For me, I'm happy with that version of the hot dog, but I am equally happy doctoring it up for some wild flavor combinations too. Make sure you read over the menu and get the dog that your stomach is calling out for!

Bottom Line - 
I live about an hour away from Ruffhaus Hot Dog Co, but there are days when I'm willing to make the trek out there just to enjoy one of their hot dogs. It really is that good! If you live closer to El Dorado Hills, you owe it to yourself to come here and enjoy a really... really... really... delicious hot dog!

Letter Grade

A

Fries are pretty awesome here.

I love hot the wiener is longer than the bun.

Your eyes do not deceive you, that is crispy bacon in there.

Photo worthy wieners.

Bring a friend and enjoy the big dogs.

E Tea & Super Pan make a SUPER DUO in Downtown Sacramento

It's rare when something a bit different hits the scene - I love it when it happens... especially if it's good! And that's exactly what E Tea and Super Pan bring to Sacramento. Asian food done in a unique way that sets it apart from all the other places in town. 

Food -
E Tea and Super Pan occupy the same building. E Tea is the boba cafe portion of the space while Super Pan gives patrons a sit-down experience with a full menu of food items. E Tea drink menus are given out when at Super Pan so don't worry that you can get E Tea drinks by dining in at Super Pan. They got you covered!

Let's talk about E Tea first. E Tea is your standard boba drink place but with their own unique creations for you to try. I love that the menu features their fun drink selection and describes exactly what's in it. The menu really gives you a good baseline of what to expect, and if you want to add or take out anything from the drink, you can! My personal favorite drink is the Almond Queen. I've never had anything like it before. It's an almond (Asian style) flavored drink that isn't tea. It comes with almond pudding and boba - but I skip the boba. IT'S SO GOOD! The almond pudding is so amazing in this drink. My only complaint is that it isn't perfectly smooth. If they somehow got it to be that way I would totally be in love.

Super Pan is where things get really cool, or should I say hot! The reason why the restaurant is called Super Pan is because the main dishes are served on these scorching hot pans. The meat inside is still raw when they bring it to you. The idea is for you to finish the cooking on the pan and then eat the food when it is at its perfect cooking level for you. Now that's a sweet concept.

When you look at the menu, you might find it a bit strange as the meat shown there is RAW. Just know that you will have to finish the cooking! It's just the way it is!

The dishes can come with rice or noodles with a selection of meats like beef, chicken, and salmon. The price of these plates range from about ten dollars to fifteen dollars on the high end. You can also select a sauce to go with the dish. Each sauce is unique and I'm sure you will find one that suits what you are looking for on a visit to Super Pan.

Ramen is also offered at around the ten to twelve dollar range. It's a fair price and the portion of ramen is typical of other places. The presentation of the ramen is a bit average and doesn't look mouth watering, but the broth it comes with is seasoned well - actually, surprisingly nice! The noodles themselves are excellent as well. The only disappointment when it came to the ramen was the pork. It was really large and the texture was too tough.

Appetizers like covered fries, chicken wings, and the like are available for a nice pre-meal warm up or late evening snack. You can even get takoyaki here! It's octopus (you're welcome). Craving some hot pot? Well that's here too! Like I said, Super Pan has a nicely varied menu with a great selection of different items to choose from.

Service/Atmosphere - 
I have to really comment on the servers here. The ones we had tonight were simply amazing. They were kind, courteous, and accommodating. These guys really took care of us and got us everything we needed - especially with our baby in tow. Their professionalism was appreciated greatly. I was sure to tip them nicely for their excellent work.

The overall atmosphere of E Tea and Super Pan is modern. It's a little rough around the edges, but with a little fixing up I think this place could be top notch in the atmosphere department. One thing I do like is the sectioned off parts of the dining room. It makes the restaurant feel more private for the diners that come in. But I suppose that comes at a price as without the partitions there may have been room for more tables.

Price -
E Tea and Super Pan comes in at a moderate price level. Expect to pay around twelve to sixteen dollars to eat here. If you'd like a boba drink to go with your meal then add a few more dollars to that estimate.

Portion size at E Tea is typical of all boba places, but Super Pan has a little less when it comes to the meal portion. I finished my entire hot pan of food and I definitely could have eaten some more.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
Pay attention to the sign just outside the entrance to the restaurant. If you're looking to save a little money, you can check out the different specials of the day. These are regular menu items that have a little discount to them on different days of the week. These specials aren't mentioned by the servers inside, so make sure that they know you want the specially priced item when you go there. Oh yea, and also make sure you order it during the hours the special is available.

As E Tea and Super Pan are located in downtown, parking can be difficult to find on crowded days. The restaurant and cafe are very close to the Sacramento Convention Center so if you attend an event there, you may want to slip in here for a meal or quick drink.

Bottom Line - 
There's a lot to like about E Tea and Super Pan. The concept of the duo restaurants is really good and the food is tasty too. A few enhancements to the food could really make this location a star in the Sacramento food scene.

Letter Grade

B+

Ramen (non-spicy version).

Certainly not the prettiest ramen I've seen.

Baby approves of the boba drinks from E Tea.

Get a hot drink. Get a cute cup.

The Almond Queen give me joy!

I-Shanghai is a SURPRISE Asian Restaurant in Old Sac

Xiaolongbao. They have it in Sacramento. And not in a place that you'd think of getting it either. These tasty broth filled dumplings can actually be found in Old Sac. Yes... you heard me right OLD SACRAMENTO HAS IT. And you know what? The xiaolongbao and other dishes there are pretty darn legit.

Food -
I-Shanghai serves up Shanghai-style dishes, most notably xiaolongbao. If you're unfamiliar with what that is, let me tell you! Xiaolongbao are these dumpling things that are basically pockets of soup broth with some meat (pork is a popular option) inside. They are best when fist served so make sure you eat them right away. Just beware that they will be piping hot! When you bite into the dumpling the broth will come out giving you a unique eating experience! The most notable place to get xiaolongbao is a place called Din Tai Fung. It's a very famous chain that is pretty pricey. The xiaolongbao at I-Shanghai don't quite match the quality of Din Tai Fung's, but it doesn't match the atmospheric price either. For a nicely priced version of xiaolongbao, these are great.

The rest of the food items here are familiar Chinese dishes that range for all over China. There's fried rice, veggie and meat dishes, as well as a variety of soups. Everything we ordered tasted great - I didn't have any complaints regarding the food at all. It was either what I expected or even better than I thought it would be. The dishes that came out of the kitchen showed a bit more care in how it was prepared - and that comes through in the taste. Each dish also was presented nicely, which is a nice change from some places that just plop the food onto a plate and serve it out to you.

I-Shanghai also serves up dim sum, but I wasn't able to try it on my visit here. I'll have to return and see how the dim sum stacks up to the other places around Sacramento. I'm actually very eager to give this a shot since I was so impressed with the quality of the other menu items that I ordered.

Service/Atmosphere - 
It is sooooo easy to miss I-Shanghai if you're walking through Old Sac. It is literally a hole in the wall! When you're on front street, all you see is a door with some Chinese food menus next to it. There is a sign above that indicates that the restaurant is there, but it is oh-so-easy to pass by without seeing it. When you enter, you walk down this narrow stairway until you get to the real entrance to the restaurant. The restaurant is surprisingly big and clean and well decorated. If there was any restaurant to not judge by its 'cover' it would be I-Shanghai. The dining area has a modern Chinese vibe that isn't cheesy like the Chinese restaurants of old.

In terms of service, the waitress was very nice and patient. We came at a very off hour so there were very few people eating at the restaurant with us and the we had her entire attention as we dined. I have heard that service can be quite slow though when the restaurant is at peak operating hours. And that doesn't shock me as the food here is excellent. I can see a lot of folks coming here to eat!

Price -
I found the prices at I-Shanghai to be pretty reasonable. Many of the entrees were around the eight to ten dollar mark - which is very typical of Chinese dishes. Appetizers run around five to seven dollars while the xiaolongbao go from about twelve to fifteen dollars. Keep in mind the that xiaolongbao comes in a big bamboo steamer basket and will be plenty to share - it's definitely not a 'for one' type of dish to get.

Special Tips and Recommendations -
Of course my recommendation for I-Shanghai would be to get the xiaolongbao. Select dishes that you like to eat off the menu and get a basket of xiaolongbao for the table to share and enjoy. I think that's the best way to go. Also, I would make sure to come at a time that is off peak as I hear on peak hours can be a pretty long wait time.

Bottom Line - 
I-Shanghai is a gem of a Chinese restaurant in Old Sacramento. It's a surprising place that delivers real Asian flavors and tastes, and is one of the only places in Sac to offer some legit xiaolongbao. This restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

Letter Grade

A

This is what the xiaolongbao looks like.

Beef noodle soup.

Fried rice.

Duck.

Mushrooms over Chinese Greens.

Watch them make the dumplings.