ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The seventh annual Elk Grove Restaurant Week kicks off on Jan. 10, offering the opportunity to try delicious local eateries at a discounted price. 

The event is organized by the local non-profit Explore Elk Grove and sponsored by Sky River Casino. More than 40 restaurants are participating in the event, offering discounts and special prix fixe meals for participants to enjoy. 

“A restaurant week is sort of a staple of any high performing city these days and Elk Grove is no different,” Elk Grove Economic Director Darrel Doan wrote in an email.  

Doan said the city has worked diligently to foster a strong culinary scene. 

He noted Brick House, Boulevard Bistro and the Sheldon Inn as noteworthy eateries, and said the city has seen an “explosion of elevated, chef-driven, unique offerings” from restaurants like Pig Latin, Slow & Low and Kajiken, among others.

“I think Elk Grove is having its dining moment right now,” Doan said. “We’ve always had a better dining scene than people give us credit for with great locally owned restaurants…”

Some of the participants in Restaurant Week include Sky River Casino’s SR Prime Steakhouse, Dragon Beaux and 32 Brews Street. Others include Todo Un Poco, West Coast Taco Bar, Earl of Sandwich, Prost Beer Hall, Sheldon Inn and Sal’s Kabob and Gyro Grill. 

The full list of participants can be found on Explore Elk Grove’s website.

The hope, said Casey Fabbri, marketing and events manager for Explore Elk Grove, is to help drum up sales during a traditionally slow winter slump for the restaurant business while also highlighting the city’s culinary offerings.  

“We really try to get new restaurants involved so they know that this is happening,” Fabbri said. “It is a great opportunity to get business during the slower periods; it’s a great opportunity to get their name out there.” 

The way it works is by downloading an online app from Explore Elk Grove’s website where all the participating restaurants are listed. A four-digit code will be provided at each business to gain access to the discounts. 

The restaurants decide what kind of discount, if any, they’d like to offer. Some offer discounts upwards of 25% and buy-one-get-one-free deals, while others simply sign up as a check-in location. 

Passholders with more than five check-ins will win a custom salad shaker, while anyone with 10 or more check-ins will have the option to pick from a list of prizes. 

“I would say it’s a nice mix and a nice variety,” Fabbri said. “It’s a nice spread of new and older restaurants.” 

Restaurant week is also partnering with the Elk Grove Food Bank. Every check-in and redemption with the mobile pass will result in a monetary donation to the food bank. Community donation bins can also be found throughout Elk Grove to help support the food bank. 

Recommended donations include canned proteins and stews, peanut butter, shelf-stable milk and pet food. 

Fabbri said the event has grown over the past few years, with an 89% increase in passholders since 2023. The majority of the passholders are from Elk Grove, but Fabbri said it’s “really awesome to see” some 20-30% come from outside of the city.

Sal Safi owns Sal’s Kabob and Gyro on Laguna Boulevard and has participated in every restaurant week since its inception. He said the event has led to a boon for his family-owned eatery. 

“Every single time they have this restaurant activity our business goes above what it is,” Safi said. “It is going great already, but it goes above and beyond.” 

He said the event helps to highlight Elk Grove’s growth as a food hub. 

“You drive down the highway, it’s a whole new Elk Grove,” Safi said.  

Larry Hoang opened Hello Temaki in March on Laguna Springs Drive with two partners and agreed with Safi, noting that Elk Grove’s food scene has seemingly exploded over the past few years, offering a more robust selection of food options than some may realize. 

“You don’t have to travel far,” Hoang said. “It shows that Elk Grove does have a diverse food variety.” 

Elk Grove Restaurant Week is Jan. 10-19 at participating locations. For more information, go to exploreelkgrove.com.