One of Sacramento’s most popular dim sum spots reemerges

When my brother would visit on his return from serving in the Coast Guard abroad, our weekend tradition was to wake up early on Saturday, grab some dim sum to go and hit a local brewery to soak up the sunshine with some delicious bites and craft beers.

But as the coronavirus spread, many of Sacramento’s favorite mom-and-pop businesses were forced to close, including one of our favorites: ABC Bakery, a beloved dim sum and sweet shop in South Sacramento.

So it was much to my delight when the bakery announced its reopening on Friday, May 1, on Facebook, which was met with many comments of support and shared more than 200 times.

Located behind the Bel-Air on Florin Road, ABC Bakery’s reputation for delicious grab-and-go dim sum has made it one of Sacramento’s most popular spots for more than a decade.

Known for its assortment of Chinese-style steamed dumplings and fresh-baked breads and pastries, the family-owned bakery has switched its usual operations to call-in orders and pick-up only. Peruse the menu here, call the bakery to place an order, leave a phone number and choose a pick-up time. Walk-ins are no longer allowed. At a place where the line usually snakes through the tiny lobby, out the door and down the side of the building, that’s a good call for social distancing.

I’ve personally missed ABC’s round, golden-baked pork buns. The dough is chewy and soft, and as soon as you tear into it, little puffs of steam escape before revealing the sticky, sweet-and-sour pork filling. If you know, you know.

Here are more of my favorites:

Har gow: shrimp wrapped in a thin, pleated, translucent pouch.

Shumai: an open pocket of seasoned ground pork wrapped in dough.

Shrimp balls: minced shrimp wrapped in a crunchy, golden-fried nest.

Baked or steamed pork buns: golden-baked or steamed dough stuffed with sweet-and-sour pork.

Hot dog buns: buttery, soft and chewy dough in a four-leaf clover shape with hot dog pieces brushed with butter and green onions.

Egg tarts: mini, creamy egg custard tarts.

Shumai and har gow aren’t listed on the menu the bakery posted to Facebook, but both were available when I called to place my order. And I may or may not have finished my second pork bun by the time this was published. Apologies to my brother.

ABC Bakery
1309 Florin Road, Suite F
(916) 421-4259
Call-in orders only, no walk-ins

New hours:
Tuesday – Sunday
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.