Two recent coffee additions serve more than coffee. Zoe Coffee & Tacos pairs excellent dishes from Mexico and El Salvador with traditional coffee shop fare. The Coco Cafe draws on its Thai roots. Both expand what coffee shops can be.
Zoe Coffee & Tacos, opened in June 2024, is a fantastic little shop tucked into a corner of Poverty Ridge in Midtown.
A stone’s throw from the construction site where The Sacramento Bee stood, this tiny spot makes the most of its footprint. Once, it was part of the Bee’s delivery truck garage.
Owner and chef Josue Acosta recalls his Salvadoran roots to make excellent pupusas, tacos and more.
Zoe’s breakfast tacos, loaded with eggs, cheese, potato and bacon, are the signature, served with homemade salsas from mild to blazing. One taco is enough for breakfast, but you’ll want two.
Served on handmade tortillas, the tacos keep the crowds well fed. Excellent coffees, with beans from Camellia Coffee Roasters, stand out.
Whether you like a traditional drip, cappuccino or the cortado (my favorite), every cup is made with care. The joyous, goofy staff brightens the bleakest winter morning.
Pupusas are a filling lunch option. Masa discs loaded with beans, cheese and choice of meat are more delicate than you might think. The flavors meld. The punchy Salvadorian slaw called cortido is a perfect acidic sidecar. House-made salsas make the dish sing.
New offerings include posole on weekends and tamales dished up in various flavors. They go fast.
The space at 22nd and S streets is minimalist and welcoming. Regardless of the weather, you’ll find neighbors walking dogs and stopping for espresso.
And unlike many restaurants and coffee shops, Zoe’s social media presence is far more than a listing of specials. The staff is an entertaining group to follow.
One mile away in Southside Park, the team at The Coconut on T, one of the city’s best Thai restaurants, opened a coffee shop. The Coco Cafe took over the space held by South, the fried chicken phenom.
Like Zoe, The Coco Cafe makes delicious coffees. Coco works with beans from Temple Coffee Roasters.
Food at Coco carries an international flare. The kitchen does solid work with dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, France and New Orleans, alongside traditional American brunch and lunch.
The simple Thai dish khao man gai is steamed chicken breast, garlic, ginger, rice, sliced cucumber and a pungent garlic, soy and basil broth. A warming treat on a cold day, it’s a meal for any appetite.
You can resolve hunger cravings with a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, classic fried chicken sandwich or salmon filet with ratatouille.
The site is large and stark with whitewashed walls, light woods and little adornment. Having opened in November, Coco is a work in progress. But given the Coconut team’s skill and three successful local restaurants, Coco will fire on all cylinders sooner rather than later.
Zoe Coffee & Tacos is at 1829 22nd St.; zoecoffeeandtacos.com. The Coco Cafe is at 2005 11th St.; (916) 942-9295.
Greg Sabin can be reached at saceats@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
