Bud’s Buffet, the downtown Sacramento lunch staple that went dark in 2020, has quietly flipped the lights back on under new ownership, trading its old-school deli sandwiches for a halal-focused, build-your-own Tex-Mex setup. A soft reopening is already underway ahead of a July 1 grand opening, with the menu now centered on tacos, burritos and burrito bowls piled over rice and beans. The revamped concept is aimed squarely at downtown office workers trickling back to their cubicles and at nearby banquet business, with a refreshed dining room dressed up in mirrors, chandeliers and Chiavari chairs.
New Owners, Same Name
The Bud’s name now belongs to Waqar Khan and his sons Haroon and Asad, who also run nearby event venues and restaurants, according to Bud's Buffet. The family plans to use the kitchen as a hub for downtown catering while still serving walk-in lunch crowds and says its background in event management guided the dining room’s makeover. The restaurant’s site lists Bud’s as part of a broader family of brands that includes Town & Country Event Center and the Downtown Office & Event Center just across 10th Street.
Halal Tex-Mex Menu
Instead of lining up for carved roast beef, customers now start by picking their base — taco, burrito or burrito bowl — then choose rice, beans, proteins and house-made salsas. Abridged reports that burritos and bowls are priced at $15 and tacos at $7. The outlet also notes that the meats are hand-slaughtered halal and that toppings include guacamole and queso. Operators are positioning Bud’s as a straightforward lunch solution for state workers returning to downtown offices under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s July 1 return-to-office plan, per The Sacramento Bee.
Renovation and Event Capacity
The building at 1016 10th St. had sat empty for more than five years. Abridged reports the space previously had a “leaky roof, moldy walls, broken air conditioning and a rat infestation” before the Khan family stepped in. The owners say the updated room, now outfitted with mirrors, chandeliers and Chiavari chairs, will double as an event space that can host roughly 50 to 100 people. With the Downtown Office & Event Center across the street, the restaurant is slated to help handle catering for the family’s other properties.
When to Go
According to Bud's Buffet, the restaurant is keeping weekday lunch hours and offering late-night service on Fridays and Saturdays, and it lists contact information online for catering and reservations. The owners have circled July 1 for the official grand opening and say some of the former sandwich favorites could return once operations settle in. For downtown workers and event planners, the rebooted Bud’s is meant to function as both a quick lunch option and a behind-the-scenes partner for private events.
