Thirtyfour Mexican Cantina, the downtown Sacramento restaurant that built a following on birria tacos, quesabirria and birria ramen, will permanently close on Oct. 23 after three and a half years in business at 1100 O St. Co-owners Evaleen Nambo and Serapio Nambo announced the closure on social media earlier this month, thanking customers for their support without explaining the reason behind the decision.
“Saying goodbyes is not easy, but we leave with hearts full of gratitude,” the Nambos wrote in their announcement, according to the Sacramento Bee. The restaurant echoed that sentiment, writing that it valued the shared meals, laughter and special memories built with customers over the years. The Bee's Emma Hall reported that Thirtyfour Mexican Cantina did not respond to an interview request in time for publication.
The restaurant's roots stretch back to 2020, when the Nambo family ran Tacos 34, a Sacramento pop-up taco vendor, according to a Yelp history of the business. The brick-and-mortar location at 1100 O St., Suite 5, opened in 2023, per whatnow.com. The name was a tribute to 34th Avenue in North Oak Park, where the family grew up, with Yelp noting that three generations of the Nambos have lived on that street.
A Menu Built Around Birria
Thirtyfour Mexican Cantina became known for its birria tacos, fish tacos, birria ramen and quesabirria tacos, with whatnow.com listing the Birria Taco Plate, Quesabirria Tacos and Spicy Birria Ramen among its signature offerings. Co-owner Serapio Nambo and his family also introduced all-you-can-eat Fridays at the restaurant, according to the Sacramento Bee. During its final week, the restaurant plans to scale back its hours, opening Monday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., per Yelp.
Part of a Broader Downtown Pattern
The closure adds to a string of Sacramento restaurant shutdowns that experts have linked to rising operating costs, thin customer spending and reduced downtown foot traffic. CapRadio reported that rising food, labor, rent and energy costs have squeezed restaurant margins across the city, and that many businesses respond by cutting staff and hours before closing altogether. The outlet also noted that the Greater Sacramento Economic Council's president and CEO estimated roughly 30,000 state workers being absent from downtown has stripped away the lunches, snacks and after-work drinks that once sustained nearby businesses.
Other Recent Sacramento Closures
Thirtyfour Mexican Cantina isn't the only Mexican restaurant in the area calling it quits this fall. Azul Mexican Food and Tequila Bar announced it would close its Midtown Sacramento location after 19 years in business, with owners Carlos and Luis Ulloa citing rising costs and declining business over the prior two years, according to CBS Sacramento. Azul's last day was Sept. 26. CapRadio separately listed V. Miller Meats, Track 7 Brewing, Device Brewing, Station 16 and Public House among the Sacramento-area establishments that have shut down in the past year.
For now, Thirtyfour Mexican Cantina's owners have given no indication of what comes next, leaving loyal customers with six days to order one more round of birria before the doors close for good on Oct. 23.
