January is when our winter comforts really kick in: cozy cardigans, woolly socks, and rich, hearty meals. You know, the kind of cuisine that has the power to warm the cockles of your heart and make you feel weirdly sentimental when you eat it. We put our knowledge to the test and compiled the region’s best comfort foods, from grilled cheese and spaghetti & meatballs to stroganoff, mac and cheese (of course), and much more. Cozy up and bring your appetite-we’re going on an adventure to carb city; population: you. 

The Forester

Historic atmosphere is a bonus when it comes to the enjoyment of one’s comfort food, and The Forester has old-timey vibes in spades. Located in what was the Antler Club at the turn of the century and owned by the family who ran the beloved St. Pauli Inn, the restaurant is steeped in history and deeply understands comfort food. Their Beef Stroganoff is the Eastern European classic of your fondest memories, tender stewed chuck in a rich sour cream and mushroom sauce and served over spaetzle. This, folks, is winter noshing at its finest. 4110 Carson Road, Camino, 530-644-1818, foresterpubandgrill.com

Grilled cheese—comfort food or emotional support meal? Discuss. I put forth that humble grilled cheese is the best cure for minor ailments, breakups, hellish coworkers, stubbed toes, and bad vibes. REALLY good grilled cheese is a mood-changer on a tectonic level. The Independent adds some warming heat to their Chipotle Grilled Cheese made with toasty, golden sourdough, white cheddar cheese, hatch chili pepper jack cheese, chipotle aioli, caramelized onions, and chopped bacon. Spicy, gooey, toasty, and delish! 629 Main Street, Placerville, 530-344-7645, independentplacerville.com

In the overly crowded, noodle-based comfort food hierarchy, Pad Thai hovers in the top tier. It’s a culinary patchwork quilt of ingredients, deceptively simple in its makeup but complex in its blend of flavors and textures. And unlike many of the comfort foods in this feature, it isn’t heavy so you can eat LOTS of it (says me). Thai Paradise has perfected the comforting symphony of delicious, pan-fried rice noodles tossed with sweetly tangy sauce, green onions, crunchy bean sprouts, tofu, and egg all topped with the satisfying textural crunch of ground peanuts. 2770 East Bidwell Street, Suite 100, Folsom, 916-984-8988, thaiparadisefolsom.com; 4361 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 110, El Dorado Hills, 916-939-0389, thaiparadiseedh.com

Mac and cheese is the culinary version of a weighted blanket. One of winter’s most wonderful comfort foods, it soothes the soul (and stomach), and much like a blanket, usually ends with a long nap. Head to Mode Brewing & Kitchen for some of their Grown-Up Mac & Cheese made with smoked gouda (hello), fontina, cheddar, and parmesan (that’s four cheeses, folks!) with toasted garlic breadcrumbs (wowee zowee). Settle in for a bowl of this deliciousness and odds are your winter blues are sure to subside. 9110  Greenback Lane, Orangevale, 916-510-1509, modebrewing.com 

Lasagna is a culinary hug. No, not red-sauce-ricotta lasagna: REAL Italian lasagna. Like the Lasagna Tradizionale Toscana at Vaiano Trattoria with fresh pasta layers smothered in sugo (meat sauce) and béchamel sauce (creamy goodness), topped with parmesan. Warming, rich, filling, and full of so much flavor, you’ll swear there must be more to this than simply meat sauce, pasta, and cheese. If you’re lacking for hugs in your everyday life, then eat a plate of this lasagna and bada-bing, bada-boom, culinary hug. 7160 Douglas Boulevard, Granite Bay, 916-780-0888, vaianotrattoria.com 

This probably outs me as being old, but whenever I think of chicken pot pie, I think of the song from the ’90s TV show Just Shoot Me!: “Chicken-Pot, Chicken-Pot, Chicken-Pot Piiiiiie.” Just me? Anyway, if it’s the soothing comforts of pot pie that you seek, look no further than Max’s Restaurant & Bar. Tucked inside a Holiday Inn, they’re kind of an unofficial comfort food go-to, and their Chicken Pot Pie is no exception: tender chicken enrobed in a rich, creamy sauce with potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, and mushrooms, topped with golden flaky pastry. Hello, gorgeous. 110 Grass Valley Hwy, Auburn, 530-888-6100, maxsauburn.com

Beef short ribs are like Steely Dan. (Hear me out.) To the casual listener they seem like basic “yacht rock,” but close listening reveals complexity (and sarcasm) and complex, layered music. The Red Wine Braised Short Ribs at Bacchus House Wine Bar & Bistro are as painstakingly crafted as The Dan’s 1977 Aja album (with 100% less sarcasm). Slow-braised, off-the-bone tender beef, served with a red wine pan jus, potato purée, sautéed fresh wild mushrooms, and sweet peas, I know you’ll love them better. 1004 East Bidwell Street, Suite 100, Folsom, 916-984-7500, bacchushousebistro.com

Corned beef and cabbage should be enjoyed more than once a year, for it truly is excellent comfort food. The Boxing Donkey understands the value and importance of year-round Corned Beef ‘N’ Cabbage, and we’re all better people for it. Their tender, slow-cooked shredded corned beef comes paired with buttered sautéed cabbage, mouth-watering mashed potatoes, homemade mustard aioli, and toasty garlic French bread. Available to be enjoyed at any time of the year: soul-crushingly terrible fake Irish accent, green beer, or green shirt not required. 300 Lincoln Street, Roseville, 916-797-3665, theboxingdonkey.com

Ramen is a perfect comfort food, and an exercise in focus. You can’t mentally check out or half of it ends up spilled down your front. But it also comforts like no other. Hisui Sushi, a Folsom favorite for sushi rolls, keeps folks coming back for their excellent ramen. The Shoyu Ramen—a soy sauce-based broth with a rich umami flavor, served with fresh handmade noodles, pork, seasoned egg, vegetables, and a kamaboko fish cake (aka, the cute pink and white slices)—is the must-try. Remember to stay focused: Your personal moment of comfort food Zen awaits! 25004 Blue Ravine Road, Suite 107, Folsom, 916-985-7778, hisuisushi.com 

It’s funny how the simplest things become difficult in the wrong hands. Biscuits and gravy are maybe one of the simplest, most comforting meals, but so easy to get wrong. Tough, small, hockey-puck biscuits, unseasoned gravy (shudder)…it’s a minefield out there. Katrina’s Café has been serving breakfast to Auburn locals since 1977. That’s almost 50 years, so it stands to reason that what they DON’T know about Biscuits & Gravy isn’t worth knowing. No curveballs, no pretension, no overthinking: just perfect fluffy biscuits and a rich, flavorful sausage gravy. Every time. 456 Grass Valley Hwy, Auburn, 530-888-1166, katrinasauburn.com

The places with the coldest winters are really crushing it when it comes to the best comfort foods. Eastern Europe has comfort foods on lock: stuffed cabbage, pierogies, latkes, stroganoff, goulash. Goulash is the national dish of Hungary, the best answer to the question “Do I like paprika?” and the perfect winter comfort stew, and it’s a big favorite on the menu at CrepeTown Café & Grill. Their Goulash boasts tender, delicious slow-cooked beef in a thick, flavorful paprika stew, served with spaetzle (traditional noodles) or potatoes. Pro tip: Choose the spaetzle—you won’t be disappointed. 4064 Mother Lode Drive, Shingle Springs, 530-677-5993, crepetowncafe.com

Carnivorous comfort foods come in many forms, but prime rib, hands down, is one of the god-tier comfort foods for meat lovers. When cooked perfectly, it should be tender, juicy, and melt in your mouth—and always be paired with perfect vegetable sides, including, but not limited to, mashed potatoes. Sienna makes their fan favorite Prime Rib on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only, and it’s worth waiting out the week to get it. The 14-ounce cut of delicious prime rib comes served with loaded mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and au jus. Carnivores assemble! 1480 Eureka Road, Roseville, 916-771-4700; 1006 White Rock Road, Suite 200, El Dorado Hills, 916-941-9694, siennarestaurants.com

What’s better than soup in the winter? A soup that’s full of “stuff” and big enough to share, like wor wonton soup, one of the underrated and quiet menu heroes of a Chinese restaurant. And the Wor Wonton Soup at Folsom Palace is a true menu hero: delicate wontons full of chicken and shrimp in a light, flavorful broth chock-full of vegetable delights like Chinese bok choy, oyster mushrooms, cauliflower, napa cabbage, chayote squash, carrots, and green onions. Order yourself a large bowl, and you’ll have enough to share with two or even four, depending on how hungry you are! 1169 Riley Street, Folsom, 916-983-8880; 3941 Park Drive, Suite 10, El Dorado Hills, 916-936-0808; 5450 Sunrise Boulevard, Suite E, Citrus Heights, 916- 963-8888, folsompalace.com 

Growing up in Australia, where dedicated fish & chip shops are as common as cafés, my love language has naturally become “fish & chips and a bottle of malt vinegar.” Fish, potatoes, batter, and salt all packaged into a perfect delivery system: truly the perfect comfort food. Bar 101 is your go-to for the flaky golden deliciousness of the Fish & Chips variety. Their hand-dipped cod is beer-battered and deep-fried to golden brown with “chips” (fries here in America) and house-made tartar sauce. Don’t forget to sample the craft beer on tap, too! 101 Main Street, Roseville, 916-774-0505, bar101roseville.com

Translated as “rooster with wine,” Coq Au Vin originated as a rustic way to make a tough piece of chicken flavorful, with a long, slow braise in wine and a few handy root vegetables. It’s a deeply satisfying, flavorful, and warming stew, and you can find it at Allez! Their velvety red wine stew features tender slow-braised chicken with carrots, pearl onions, and mushrooms and comes with your choice of side: roasted red potatoes, garlic mash potatoes, saffron rice, garlic butter green beans, or mixed roasted vegetables. Tip: Mash is always the answer. 4242 Fowler Lane, Suite 101, Diamond Springs, 530-621-1160, allezeldorado.com

Rotisserie chicken might conjure up visions of sneaking midnight mouthfuls by open refrigerator light, and a whole generation of children who think that rotisserie chickens only come from Costco. But trust me, there’s nothing like restaurant-cooked rotisserie chicken to remind you just how good chicken can be. Head over to Land Ocean and try their spectacular Wood-Fired Rotisserie Chicken: Rocky’s all-natural chicken, rotisserie-cooked over a wood fire until tender and juicy, served with creamy mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and a rich chicken jus. Costco? I don’t know her. 2720  East Bidwell Street, Folsom, 916-983-7000; 1151 Galleria Boulevard, Suite 241, Roseville, 916-407-5640, landoceanrestaurants.com 

The Scotch egg is a marvel of creative simplicity. Wrap a boiled egg in pork sausage, roll it in breadcrumbs, and deep fry the whole thing. Voila. A snack so good you’ll want to eat a great many of them. And you can at The Monk’s Cellar. Their Scotch Egg comes soft-boiled with house-made pickled red onions, Monk’s spicy mustard, and garlic aioli. (Make sure you order more than one serving; trust me, they’re that good.) Pair it with a pint of one of their signature English ales or stouts, and thank me later. 240 Vernon Street, Roseville, 916-786-6665, monkscellar.com

When you lack an abuela to make you authentic albondigas (aka, Mexican meatball soup), the next best thing is the Sopa De Albondigas at La Rosa Blanca. This deeply flavored soup of seasoned meatballs simmered in a tomatoey broth of peppers and spices is the definition of comfort food, and downright delicious for reasons that are hard to explain but roughly summarize as “if you know, you know.” La Rosa Blanca’s menu also includes menudo and pozole, so you could ride out all of January on their magic array of comfort soups. And why wouldn’t you? 402 Natoma Street, Folsom, 916-673-9085, larosablancafolsom.com

Cream, parmesan, and fettuccini. Are there three better words in the English language? In Italian it becomes two magical words: fettuccini alfredo. Restaurant-quality alfredo can be truly life-changing, or at the very least reset the universe on a really bad day, which of course is the known superpower of good comfort food. Try Papa Gianni’s Ristorante for a plate of classic, incredibly creamy alfredo goodness; if you’re looking to get your five-a-day, try their Fettucine Alfredo Primavera loaded with broccoli, carrots, zucchini, and peas. It’ll cure what ails you. 3450 Palmer Drive, Cameron Park, 530-672-2333,papagiannis.net

Shout-out to the first Italian immigrant who made a plate of spaghetti marinara and thought “this needs meatballs.” Spaghetti and meatballs is to Italian Americans as corned beef and cabbage is to Irish Americans: steeped in the immigrant experience. Homesick migrants creating new interpretations of dishes that remind them of home and sharing them with the community. Visconti’s Ristorante has been serving the region since 1992 and is the perfect place to come for a real-deal plate of comforting Spaghetti & Meatballs, made with only the freshest, finest ingredients. 2700 East Bidwell Street, Suite 700, Folsom, 916-983-5181, viscontisristorante.com

There’s a famous bad review of Yosemite National Park that has since been turned into a meme: “Trees block view and there are too many gray rocks.” Reading online reviews of French onion soup reminds me of this. “Too much cheese.” “The bread is too soggy.” Listen. The French understand three things: soup, bread, and cheese. If you’re questioning that, you’re questioning life itself. Anyway. Go to Milestone, order the entirely scratch-made French Onion Soup and luxuriate in the absolute joy of true comfort food done exceptionally well. 4359 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 116, El Dorado Hills, 916-934-0790, milestoneedh.com

Eating dumplings is my version of meditating (#namaste). There’s just something about the handmade doughy delights that’s truly comforting. Pay a visit to Yummy Dumplings, where you’ll find delicious Chinese Dumplings, either boiled or pan-fried (pot sticker) wrapped in tender dough. Because they love you, you can order in batches of 10. Try the fan favorite kimchi pork but don’t sleep on the pork and chive or the chicken and shrimp. There’s no bad choice here. They also have a menu filled with Chinese entrées so you can settle in for a full meal or remain dumpling focused. 3950 Cambridge Road, Suite 6, Cameron Park, 530-387-7551, yummy-dumplings.res-menu.com

Meatloaf is a combination of perfect comfort food and culinary danger zone. It’s almost always good, but everyone thinks their mom’s is the best and therefore they may be less satisfied with any other version. So, putting meatloaf on your menu is very much a planting-of-the-flag move: This Is Good Meatloaf. Range Kitchen & Tap has planted such a flag with their Mom’s Meatloaf, a tender and flavorful secret recipe that’s fast become a fan favorite. Served with delicious garlic mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and rich wild mushroom gravy, one bite and you’ll quickly concede that Momma Range sure knows her way around a meatloaf. 1420 East Roseville Parkway, Suite 160, Roseville, 916-865-4317, rangeroseville.com

Newsflash: the Brits REALLY love sausages. Bangers and mash cuts to the chase: pork sausages and mashed potatoes. Boom. Done. According to Wikipedia, it was voted Britain’s most popular comfort food in 2009. The Fat Rabbit Public House has styled their menu around classic British “pub grub” specialties including the classic Bangers & Mash: two English-style sausages, served with mashed potatoes, buttered peas, and house-made gravy (aka, English-style brown gravy). If you’re truly pining for the White Cliffs of Dover, try bangers and beans: served with English-style baked beans and a sourdough roll. 825 Sutter Street, Folsom, 916-985-3289, thefatrabbitpublichouse.site

Gumbo is a bowl full of love. While the ingredients are simple, the cooking process requires the kind of time and patience that you don’t give to just any dish. You have to really want folks to enjoy your gumbo to go to the trouble of making it. Q1227 specializes in what they call “modern comfort” food, and they draw on the New Orlean’s style for their namesake Q1227 Gumbo with a dark roux and a thick, stew-style consistency, combining the essential “holy trinity” (onions, bell peppers, and celery), with smoked turkey, chicken, shrimp, and basmati rice. Stop by and grab a bowl for the soul. 1151 Galleria Boulevard, Suite 1175, Roseville, 916- 899-5146, q1227restaurant.com

by Sharon Penny

The Forester photo by Jyo Bhamidipati ©stylereadersmedia. The Independent photo by Marielle Thoma.  Thai Paradise photo by Taylor Allred ©stylereadersmedia. Mode Brewing & Kitchen photo by Tracy Davis. Vaiano Trattoria photo courtesy of Vaiano Trattoria. Max’s Restaurant & Bar photo by Marcie Hopp. Bacchus House Wine Bar & Bistro photo by Breanna Brooks @breanna.eats. The Boxing Donkey photo courtesy of The Boxing Donkey. Hisui Sushi, Katrina’s Café, and CrepeTown Café & Grill photos by Jyo Bhamidipati ©stylereadersmedia. Sienna photo by Taylor Allred ©stylereadersmedia. Yummy Dumplings photo by Dante Fontana ©stylereadersmedia. Visconti’s Ristorante photo by Gino Creglia. Range Kitchen & Tap photo courtesy of Range Kitchen& Tap. Milestone photo  courtesy of Milestone. Q1227 photo by Taylor Allred ©stylereadersmedia. The Fat Rabbit Public House photo  by Jyo Bhamidipati ©stylereadersmedia.