Photo by Grace Davis

What I love most about Elk Grove is the diversity of its people. Every single resident has a different cultural background and story that they bring to the table. This means that Elk Grove is the home of multiple types of activities, retail stores, and — in the case of Café Yum — restaurants.

Café Yum Authentic Indian Restaurant is a family-owned business established in 2020 bringing healthy, authentic Indian food to Elk Grove residents. Located off of Elk Grove Boulevard, Café Yum’s cuisine is fresh, flavorful, and made completely from scratch. This is perfect for foodies like me!

Atmosphere

Photo Credit: Sunny Le

While Café Yum offers a delivery service of $5.99 for a bill over $12.00, I had to pick up my food because I live outside the 5-mile delivery radius. When I arrived, I was immediately met by the cashier who had my food bagged and ready to go. All the food was covered with plastic wrap so I felt safe bringing it back into my home. The aroma of garlic and spices wafting from the bag lasted the whole drive back. It smelled delicious.

The Food

I was pleasantly surprised by the rather large menu. There were several vegetarian and vegan options as well as multiple meat-based meals. Everyone in my party was satisfied with the variety. When I went to order, I was given the option of mild, medium, or spicy for each dish. I appreciated the customization aspect.

Vegetable Samosa

Photo Credit: Sunny Le

To start, I ordered the vegetable samosas off of the vegetarian appetizer menu. One order came with two samosas and two dipping sauces. The first dipping sauce was sweet and spicy while the second sauce was fresh with a subtle sweetness. The samosa itself had a very soft and flaky crust that opened up to reveal tender, well-seasoned vegetables. Finally, I thoroughly enjoyed the crust to vegetable ratio and would absolutely order these again.

Butter Chicken Makhani

Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice and Naan

After hearing my boss rave about this dish, I knew I had to try it. The butter chicken absolutely lived up to the hype. The chicken was almost fork-tender and drenched in silky smooth tomato cream sauce. When I took a bite, the sauce melted onto my tongue, painting the flavorful spices throughout my mouth. I decided to go with mild spice so I could best taste each flavor, and this was the right move. Each herb and spice popped! My whole party absolutely loved this dish and all agreed that it was very kid-friendly.

Chana Masala

Photo Credit: Grace Davis

When I go out to eat, I almost always lean towards the vegetarian options. So when I called Cafe Yum, I asked the staff member to suggest her best vegetarian option. She told me the Chana Masala, and I’m so glad she did. In this particular dish, chickpeas take the place of meat. Also, the chickpeas were extremely tender and very flavorful. There is a variety of herbs that give the sauce extra seasoning and a bit of spice. Finally, paired with the light, fluffy rice, this will leave everyone happy.

Garlic Naan

Photo Credit: Sunny Le

To finish the meal, I ordered a serving of the garlic naan bread. Naan is an oven-baked flatbread that is often served in Indian cuisine. The bread was generously covered in herbs and garlic, but the flavor was not overpowering. While I would have liked it to be a bit thicker, the bread was perfect for mopping up the sauce left on my plate.

Overall

Café Yum did not disappoint. They were well priced, fresh ingredients, and gave generous portions. Moreover, the food was hot and ready to go even after I got home, and I did not feel any need to warm it back up. This place was a hit among my party, and we absolutely plan on becoming regulars. So make sure to give Café Yum a try when you decide to eat out next. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.