# California vacation: Jan 2026. Sacramento/SF/Berkeley **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [October 5, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703 "2025-10-05T20:59:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/21 "2025-10-06T17:30:53Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Since you like Mexican food, I highly recommend visiting the Mission District in San Francisco. It’s where the Mission burrito was invented. The Mission District is also worth visiting to see the fabulous assortment of murals in the neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/22 "2025-10-06T17:51:38Z")
For Mexican food in Sacramento I would have recommended Chando’s, except they closed all their restaurants a few months ago. It seems as though at least some of Chando’s food trucks are still active, though. When I had jury duty two years ago their food truck could be found daily in the Sacramento Law Library parking lot at 609 9th Street, a block north of the courthouse. But given their recent difficulties I do not know if that’s still true. ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/23 "2025-10-06T19:27:45Z")
It’s been 8 years now since we moved from Sacramento to southern Oregon, so I doubt any restaurant recommendations I could offer would be worth much. I can vouch for the fact that downtown and midtown are eminently walkable. I used to walk from my home near 34th/M Sts to the Old Sac waterfront and back all the time. If Tres Hermanas still exists (in whatever location), that was our favorite Mexican food. Zocalo had excellent food, but the setting was so noisy as to be unpleasant. Cafe Capricho at the corner of 33rd and Folsom is(was?) a casual, order-at-the-counter Mexican spot that was actually quite good. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/24 "2025-10-06T19:35:22Z")
I visited the California Academy of Sciences earlier this year and the Osher Rainforest was really impressive. [![](https://www.calacademy.org/sites/default/files/styles/manual_crop_large_1920x970/public/assets/images/exhibits/rainforest_3040x1902_exterior-dome-dsc04336-pano-edit_gl_cas_231117.jpg?itok=bAOCg9Sm&c=1215e3d528fd74e27338bbb3d4bd51ac) ](https://www.calacademy.org/sites/default/files/styles/manual_crop_large_1920x970/public/assets/images/exhibits/rainforest_3040x1902_exterior-dome-dsc04336-pano-edit_gl_cas_231117.jpg?itok=bAOCg9Sm&c=1215e3d528fd74e27338bbb3d4bd51ac) ---
**Author:** ![Timz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/25 "2025-10-06T19:37:46Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > maybe I’ll see the sun at least once. Expect clear skies at least half the time. We need more rain than we usually get. Do you like viewpoints? The 37 bus in San Francisco gets you within a 15-minute walk of [Twin Peaks](https://gigapan.com/gigapans/128633). If you go to UC Berkeley, the $1 shuttle bus from the east side of Evans Hall takes you to the 1300-ft level of the Berkeley Hills and a 30-minute walk gets you to views like [this](https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeoria/23102185336/sizes/k/) (tho the shuttle doesn’t run after dark). If you go to the top of the Campanile, try doing it at noon so you can watch the guy play the carillon. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/26 "2025-10-06T20:38:16Z")
Restaurants in or near Berkeley with Mexican and other spicy food Taqueria Talavera, 1561 Solano Avenue, Berkeley Excellent mole, both mole poblano and mole guajillo. I also love their posole and chilaquiles (which they serve only for breakfast) Casa Latina Bakery, 1805 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley Owned by the same people who own Taqueria Talevera. This place specializes in Mexican pan dulce. The rest of their menu is similar to Talavera’s, though they do have some other things, like empanadas. Las Cabañas, 1916 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley Much of their menu is standard Mexican fare, but their seafood is very good. It’s the only place in Berkeley I know of where you can get aguachiles. Mercado 925, 925 University Ave., Berkeley More upscale than the Mexican places I’ve already listed. Rose La Moon Thai Food & Desserts, 2228 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley No frills hole in the wall with excellent food. My favorite dishes include moo manao, Thai pork dry noodle soup, green papaya salad, iced lemongrass-pandan tea Wojia Hunan Cuisine, 917 San Pablo Ave., Albany Many of the dishes here really are spicy. Mother’s recipe (dried radish, cucumber, pickled beans, & pork), pickled green beans with minced pork, Hunan-style sauteed lamb, ma-po tofu with minced pork ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/27 "2025-10-06T20:52:10Z")
> [@Twoflower](#): > > If Tres Hermanas still exists (in whatever location) It does, on K Street in Midtown. A block from the aforementioned Golden Bear. I do not know is the OP is into the nightlife scene, but if they are that general area of Midtown around J and K streets would probably be the place to go. ETA: The lettered streets reminded me, the OP mentioned walkability. Not only is downtown Sacramento quite walkable (and midtown reasonably so as well), the streets are laid out on a very logical grid system with lettered streets running east-west and numbered streets running north-south. It’s virtually impossible to get lost. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/28 "2025-10-07T02:37:42Z")
BART stops running after Midnight? Wow, wonder how anyone gets across the Bay at night ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/29 "2025-10-07T02:45:07Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > There is better Chinese food in Sacramento than Frank Fat’s, although maybe not _Chinese-American_ food. Then again, there is much better Chinese food in Oakland’s Chinatown than in Sacramento. Very true! Save the Chinese for Oakland Chinatown. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/30 "2025-10-07T03:33:48Z")
Here are some recommendations for Oakland Chinatown restaurants, just in case you go there. Oakland Chinatown is pretty close to the Oakland Museum of California. All of these places are no-frills: Mr. Liu Noodle House, 358 11th St. Many noodle dishes. Pickled veggies shredded pork noodles and Chongqing style spicy noodles are a couple of my favorites. Some of their dishes really are spicy. Ming’s Tasty, 940 Webster St. The highest-rated dim sum restaurant in Oakland. Dim sum is best for groups of at least three people. Shan Dong, 328 10th St. #101 Best known for their hand-pulled noodles. Big menu. Gum Kuo, 388 9th St. #182, inside Pacific Renaissance Plaza One of those places with the ducks hanging in the window. Huge menu. Jook/congee/rice porridge. Noodle rolls. Smoked duck, bbq pork, roast pork. Huangcheng Noodle House, 911 Washington St. (technically in Old Oakland, but close to Chinatown) Specializes in knife-cut noodles. Chongqing street noodles, noodles with minced pork and eggplant, noodles with sesame oil. Food delivered to table by robot waiter. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/31 "2025-10-07T03:51:56Z")
Haight/Ashbury ain’t worth a warm bucket of spit. Everyone else has great ideas where to go. Thought I’d chime in with one that isn’t. Cause I roll like that. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/32 "2025-10-07T13:51:32Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Heading to the Bay Area, is it ridiculous for an adult to tour UC Berkeley? Not in the slightest. Whenever folks from out of town come to visit that’s a favorite adventure. There’s way too much to cover it all but it can be tailored to the specific interests of the group - art, architecture, the Botanical Garden is incredible, free concerts, views from the hills and the tower, exhibits everywhere related to the various departments, and do not miss the Main Library. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/33 "2025-10-07T16:10:14Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > If you look around Frank Fat’s when the legislature is in session, you see a lot of lobbyists on expense accounts. OTOH, if you go into any of these places, you see a lot of Chinese faces, many of whom I’d wager are first generation. I think I’m going to have to defend Frank Fat’s here. Based on this and the restaurants you recommended, it kind of sounds like you’re saying restaurants that serve “authentic” Chinese food are inherently better than restaurants that serve Chinese-American food (Or maybe that lobbyists have worse taste in restaurants than Chinese immigrants). To me, authentic Chinese restaurants and Chinese-American restaurants are two completely separate categories, neither better nor worse than the other, just _different_. Or to put it another way, Chinese-American food is it’s own thing, which itself can be quite good. And I think Frank Fat’s is probably the best version of that style of food. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/34 "2025-10-07T16:36:11Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I think I’m going to have to defend Frank Fat’s here. Based on this and the restaurants you recommended, it kind of sounds like you’re saying restaurants that serve “authentic” Chinese food are inherently better than restaurants that serve Chinese-American food (Or maybe that lobbyists have worse taste in restaurants than Chinese immigrants). To me, authentic Chinese restaurants and Chinese-American restaurants are two completely separate categories, neither better nor worse than the other, just _different_. Or to put it another way, Chinese-American food is it’s own thing, which itself can be quite good. And I think Frank Fat’s is probably the best version of that style of food. If you’re drawing a distinction between authentically Chinese food (and ‘authentic’ is a very slippery slope) and Chinese-American food, then you and I are essentially saying the same thing. “Authentic" Chinese food vs. Chinese-American food? Neither better nor worse, just different. Frank Fat’s does an outstanding job at Chinese-American food, possibly the best in Sacramento. You said FF’s did “high quality Chinese food”, and that’s where I draw the line. Good - maybe great - food that Americans have come to recognize as Chinese, but it ain’t the kind of Chinese food my (born in China) mom made, that’s for damn sure. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/35 "2025-10-07T16:44:58Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > You said FF’s did “high quality Chinese food”, and that’s where I draw the line. Fair enough. I just left the word “American” off there for the sake of brevity. I did call Frank Fat’s a Chinese-American restaurant in a previous sentence, so I figured it would be obvious that that’s what I meant. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/36 "2025-10-07T16:46:18Z")
We cool. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/37 "2025-11-01T07:54:26Z")
I’m not sure how to get there on public transit but check out Devil’s slide if you can. It’s a taste of Big Sur. You are part way up a huge cliff overlooking the ocean with waves crashing over big rocks. They converted a mile long stretch of highway one into a hiking trail. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2025, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703/38 "2025-11-16T02:39:43Z")
I went to the California Aerospace Museum today, and was very impressed. They have an outdoor collection of over 40 aircraft, as well as a bunch of indoor exhibits. > **[Aerospace Museum](https://www.aerospaceca.org/)** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vacation-jan-2026-sacramento-sf-berkeley/1023703.md?page=1)