Restaurants in Folsom

Perry and Sophia Potiris opened the Original Perry's in 1968 at the local Arco station. The eatery, then known as Trukadero, was the first of Arco's coast-to-coast chain of truck-stop diners. When lines began to form for their fluffy omelets, fried chicken, and gravy-smothered meatloaf, Perry and Sophia opened Mr. Perry's in 1973. They placed it just across the way, preferring to compete with themselves than a brood of pancake-flipping octopuses. While both eateries have similar menus, Mr. Perry's has a more upscale edge. When Perry and Sophia decided to retire from the restaurant world, they turned over the reins to a longtime employee who began his own career with them as a busboy at age 16.

Tiled floors, a stool-lined counter, and a jukebox pumping out tunes from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s all combine to drive home the vintage, midcentury vibe of The Original Mike's Diner. The menu echoes this theme with its selection of down-home comfort foods that range from slow-cooked yankee pot roast and housemade meatloaf with gravy to the charbroiled Big Bopper burger with bacon, onion rings, and barbecue sauce. Regardless of the time of day, the chefs cobble together platters with iconic breakfast staples, including housemade corned-beef hash with eggs and stacks of hotcakes with decaffeinated orange juice.

Hailing from Brazil, where he witnessed his Japanese mother bind sushi at home, Taka Watanabe sharpened his sea-fare-swaddling skills under the tutelage of a Japan-born sushi expert. At Taka's Sushi, Californian twists wheedle their way into a menu that offers nigiri topped with fresh-water eel or Spanish mackerel, depending on the season and the fish's hectic schedule of social appearances. Chopsticks shuttle sushi such as the Ziggy roll—a soy-wrapped cocoon bulging with deep-fried soft-shell crab and a fiery garlic-avocado sauce—and seared duck from plate to palate.

The chefs at Sushi Unlimited combine their eye for artistry with fresh ingredients to create sushi rolls and hearty entrees. Their signature rolls pay homage to elements of nature as well as local sports teams. For instance, chefs pack the Raiders roll with deep-fried shrimp and spicy tuna before hacking it into pieces with a cutlass and serving it on a wooden plank. As for traditional cooked dishes, the culinary team charbroils fresh salmon steaks for teriyaki plates and deep-fries tempura-style shrimp and vegetables.

At the Davis location, a red accent wall behind the bar vivifies the selection of Japanese sake and beer. The Folsom restaurant boasts a marble-topped sushi bar and wooden columns painted in a whimsical purple. Dotted with flat-screen televisions, the Roseville location has a casual vibe.