The Char Market — Restaurant in Rancho Cordova

I recently had the pleasure of dining at The Char Market, located at 4717 Whitney Ave in Carmichael, CA, and it was an experience I won't soon forget. From the moment I stepped into this unassuming 'hole in the wall,' I was greeted with the warm hospitality of Noal, the co-owner, whose service was nothing short of exemplary. The atmosphere, though intimate with its roughly ten two-person tables, felt welcoming and cozy, a perfect setting for the culinary adventure that awaited.

My taste buds were tantalized by the wonderful Mexican food, each dish bursting with authentic flavors that spoke of traditional cooking methods and recipes passed down through generations. The Charro Beans, a delicious cowboy staple, were a standout for me, their rich and savory taste perfectly complementing the meal. But the true star of the show for me was the CharTacos two taco meal – a delightful offering that allowed me to choose my preferred meat, paired with rice that was seasoned to perfection and the delicious Charro cowboy beans.

As I savored each bite, I couldn't help but appreciate the simplicity and freshness of the ingredients that came together to create such a symphony of flavors. Despite the restaurant's modest size, the quality of the food and the level of service provided a dining experience that could rival any high-end establishment. It's a place where the food takes center stage, and the passion for Mexican cuisine is evident in every dish served.

I left The Char Market with a full stomach and a heart full of joy, already planning my next visit to indulge in the flavors that had captured my palate. It's a hidden gem that I'm grateful to have discovered, and I look forward to many more meals at this charming spot that proves some of the best dining experiences come from the most...

This place is so good and this time the reviews truly lived up to their rating! We just returned home, and I couldn’t wait to rate and praise this restaurant. This isn't a generic, boring, boilerplate Mexican restaurant... these guys know what they're doing and they are performing it at a high level. Their menu is small but that allows them to focus on what they do best, creating super tasty food. My wife and I loved the charred flavor of everything. This was my first time eating bone marrow... and by itself it was nice, BUT with the steak, cheese, and garnish it was a perfectly tasty bite of food! My wife had the steak plate. The steak was tender and juicy, with a nice added flavor that came from it marinating in chimichurri sauce for a long time. We loved every bite of food that came with our entrees. The rice was so moist and flavorful, and the charred zucchini was a nice departure from the boring, steamed, variety. We greatly enjoyed our food, repeatedly nodding our head in delight and unexpected shock at stumbling into a new restaurant that excited us the way this place has. Talking with the owners informed us just how much thought, effort, and passion they put into their food. The interior of the place is kind of rustic and we would have rather had cushioned seating… but when the food is this good it barely matters. We VERY HIGHLY recommend this place, and we will...

I'm not sure where the Bee gets off labeling this place anything other than unsanitary. While waiting for order we noticed a few things. The two kitchen entrances are on either side of the bathroom entrance, both kitchen entrances have fabrics curtains in each doorway riddled with stains. Through the curtain you can see the chicken holding refrigerator, and kitchen staff actively dripping raw chicken juice on the floor. Which is in path of the bathroom, second kitchen area, front kitchen area as well as dining area. IE the floor is covered in chicken juice. Ok let's talk food. Char did live up to its name as the food was blackened. "Signature bone marrow plate" was full of ground bone. 27 dollars for like a tablespoon of marrow is a great deal be sure to get this, especially if you like spitting little hard bits. The beans (I may be wrong but I'm just gonna put it out there) tasted like they may have been cooked is some sort of seafood or clam stock, so if your allergic to shellfish maybe ask the worker). I would avoid asking the children staff and possibly finding an adult. The guy at the counter did mention how hard he works, multiple times. Which is probably why their health score on yelp...