Sometimes a warm smile and a cheery environment can nourish us as much as a good meal. You’ll experience all three at tiny Nopalitos, located on a busy corner in East Sacramento. Only open Monday through Friday, with limited hours at that, this welcoming, family-owned Tex-Mex eatery has nourished the hearts and stomachs of this pretty neighborhood for years. Folks with grumbly tummies visit the café in the morning for a plate of chile verde huevos rancheros or a breakfast burrito, and the lunch crowd lines up for the cafe’s great salads and tostadas. (Try the Tinga Chicken Tostada, a huge crispy flour tortilla filled with chipotle-stewed chicken, lettuce, housemade salsa and beans.) The soft tacos are excellent, featuring earthy corn tortillas stuffed with the meat of your choice (don’t miss the tender carnitas), salsa and beans; and the quesadillas are another fine choice—we like the Nopalitos quesadilla, crammed full of cheese, roasted poblano chilis, and cactus. The cafe’s décor couldn’t be simpler, with its plain, beige walls and faux marble plastic tables, but its charm lies in the quality of its food and its very real warmth. — Kira O'Donnell

Insider tip: The cafe offers house-baked bran muffins, coffee cake and brownies. All are excellent, especially when paired with a stout cup of coffee.

Payment methods: Cash and local checks only

Alcohol: Beer

Hours: Monday–Friday 6:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.