If you’re not traveling this summer, you can still find new experiences in Sacramento. Here’s a list of restaurants that we bet you haven’t tried.

Burgers and Pizza

The Habit Burger Grill

  Located at 1431 Howe Ave., Habit Burger is a perfect spot for a cheap, good burger ($2.95), salad, or sandwich. They offer alternatives to meat, like veggie burgers and salads. The Octagon  staff recommends it for the great service and milkshakes that are perfect for triple-digit weather. 

Sunflower Drive-In

Located at 10344 Fair Oaks Blvd., this small burger joint, recommended by teacher Doug Wallis, offers a wide variety of vegetarian “fast” food. Sunflower’s specialties are nut burgers, (patties made from chickpeas and an assortment of nuts) and other all-natural dishes.

Zelda’s Gourmet Pizza

Zelda’s (1415 21st St.) is recommended  by Mock Trial coach Jeanine Boyers for its great pizza and “unique, old-school atmosphere.” Zelda’s small pizzas range in price from $9.50 for a cheese to $14.95 for an everything, which includes sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, green pepper, onion, and anchovies. 

Cafés

Uptown Café

Teacher Joel Rickert suggests Uptown Café (1121 Del Paso Blvd.) for its “home-cooked comfort foods at great prices.” He especially likes the “piping hot biscuits and gravy, Monte Cristos, omelets and other artery blockers.”

Ethnic Food

Queen Sheba Restaurant

The affordable and delicious Ethiopian cuisine at Queen Sheba (1704 Broadway) is a must-try. 

“Getting to eat with injera (pancake-like bread) instead of a fork makes the meal really fun,” said junior Marco Siragusa, who recently enjoyed Doro Wat (a spicy chicken stew-style dish) at the restaurant.

Midtown-East Sacramento Taqueria

Teacher Jane Batarseh recommends the Taqueria (3754 J St.) for its burritos. 

“They ask you what you want to order in Spanish; so you know it’s good,” she said. 

Prices are lower than Chipotle’s, with meat burritos starting at $5.10. The interior is comfortable with friendly workers and sports on flat-screen TVs. The food is authentic, and they have outdoor seating.

Chaat Café 

Teacher Ron Bell likes this Indian chain, which has a restaurant at 2721 Del Paso Rd. and a recently opened branch in downtown Davis at 217 E St. 

Bell said the food is excellent and reasonably priced. The curry dishes, which come with Basmati rice or plain naan, are only $7.99 or $8.99. His favorite dish is the tandoori chicken (chicken marinated in yogurt and tandoori spice).

Rodrigo’s Mexican Food

Teacher Glenn Mangold recommends the specials menu at Rodrigo’s (9411 Madison Ave.), which includes $3 burritos with unlimited chips and salsa. Unlike most taquerias, Rodrigo’s has a 24-hour drive-through window.