Casa Tulum – Sacramento Restaurants

(Last UPDATED 10/10/2023) Description and review of Casa Tulum, a family-owned Mexican restaurant located on Alhambra Boulevard in Midtown/East Sacramento. NEW:  See “Update” below.  Casa Tulum closes its doors.

Original Post

Casa Tulum has been on my list of “must try” restaurants since husband and wife team Chef Auturo and Martha Vargas opened the restaurant in 2019.  The restaurant is located in the building that had previously housed the Sacramento Co-Op Cooking School.

SacramentoRevealed.com – All Things Sacramento (from a personal perspective)

I have heard very good things about the restaurant from several people I know.  Mentioned in particular were the Sunday Brunch, the mole, and the Sangria.

COVID-19 Curbside Pickup

The Casa Tulum on-line menu offers curbside pickup for breakfast, lunch and dinner as follows:

• Order breakfast or lunch by 10:00 a.m. to pickup between 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
• Order dinner by 4:00 p.m. and pick-up between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Menu/Takeout Dinner

While I was checking out the on-line menu I noted that many of the items can be prepared to meet vegetarian or vegan requirements.  Take note my vegetarian and vegan friends!

I called in my order, and arranged to pick up my meal at 5:00 p.m.  When I inquired about paying in advance, I was asked to pay when I made the pick-up.

I had gone back and forth between the Antojitos (small bites) and Comidas (meals).  Having heard so many good things about the mole, I decided to order the Mole Negro Plate (two legs of chicken smothered with mole, black beans and rice) ($20.00).

Casa Tulum is very much a family affair.  When I arrived I was warmly greeted by the co-owners son who waited on me.  Due to the current surge in COVID-19 cases, Sacramento restaurants are once again limited to take-out and outdoor dining.  That being the case, I asked about the back patio and he offered to show it to me.  It is a very attractive space.

Chef Auturo came out of the kitchen and also greeted me, saying that he hoped I enjoyed his mole in response to my comment that it had been highly recommended.

My order was piping hot, and as I drove home a whiff of the mole escaped its packaging, whetting my appetite.

Review

When I arrived home I discovered that the makeup of my order differed somewhat from the menu description.  The dish was “smothered in mole” as advertised, and was served with rice but there were no black beans.  However, the lack of beans was made up for with the addition of a third chicken leg – so no complaints here.  Additionally, the order included four corn tortillas.

Now I am no mole expert, but I found the sauce to be very tasty – rich with complex flavors.  The chicken legs were tender, to the point the meat was falling off the bone.

To Sum Up

To sum up, I love to dine al fresco, and I look forward to the day when we can all again safely do so (hopefully in the not too-too distant future).  Sunday Brunch on the Casa Tulum patio sounds delightful to me.

See related blob posts: 2020 Restaurant Review Recap and  Sacramento Ethnic Restaurants

UPDATES

(10/10/2023) The Sacramento Business Journal reports that Casa Tulum has closed its doors – and that all of its assets are for sale.  I regret having to move Casa Tulum to: Walk Down Memory Lane.

(UPDATED 10/19/2020)  Broken restaurant webpage link deleted.

Comments on Casa Tulum?

What has been your experience at Casa Tulum?  Do you have a favorite dish to recommend?

Casa Tulum Snapshot:

• 1914 Alhambra Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95816
• (916) 996-2879
• Hours: Wednesday (11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.); Thursday & Friday (11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.); Sunday (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) Closed: Monday, Tuesday, Saturday.  Note:  Hours/days vary, call to confirm
• Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly
• Outdoor Patio
• Street Parking

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