8 California Restaurants Where The Sausage Steals The Show

A sausage made from rattlesnake and rabbit sits on a real menu in California, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

It comes with jalapeño peppers mixed in, and it’s described as buttery and mildly spicy.

That wild link is only the start. Another stop on this list grills around 15 kinds of sausage, including wild boar with apples and cranberries and a bacon-wrapped knockwurst.

A third serves its links in an outdoor garden full of picnic tables, with a vegan option for plant-based eaters.

I love that a meal this simple can travel from Bavaria to Morocco to Louisiana without leaving the state.

So I went looking for the spots where the sausage is the star and the bun is just the backup singer. Mustard fans, pretzel lovers, and curious eaters, which one would you try first?

1. Wurstküche, Los Angeles

Rattlesnake and rabbit in a sausage? At this downtown Los Angeles counter, that combo is a regular menu pick, not a dare.

The snake and rabbit link comes with jalapeño peppers and is described as buttery and mildly spicy. If that sounds a little too wild, the duck and bacon link with jalapeño makes a friendly gateway.

Classic fans are covered too. You can grab a bratwurst seasoned with coriander and nutmeg, a Polish-style kielbasa, or a Louisiana hot link with real heat.

Pork-free eaters can go for lamb with Mediterranean spices or chicken apple and spice. Plant-based diners get Veggiewurst from Beyond Meat, a Mexican chipotle link, and a smoked apple sage option.

Each sausage lands on a freshly baked roll with your pick of two toppings, like sweet peppers or caramelized onions. Then you choose from a lineup of mustards, which is half the fun.

Don’t skip the Belgian fries, sold in groot or klein sizes with dipping sauces. Groot means large, so plan your appetite accordingly.

Ordering works fast-casual style, so you order, pay, and then find a spot at the communal tables. The industrial room stays open until midnight most nights and until 1 AM on weekends.

One more perk sets this place apart. You can buy raw sausages, buns, and toppings to cook at home, which turns your backyard grill into a souvenir.

Address: 800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

2. Rosamunde Sausage Grill, San Francisco

Few sausage shops can blame their odd floor plan on a railroad. This Mission District grill sits on a former railroad right-of-way, which gives the room an unusual diagonal layout.

The sausages are the real headline, though. They’re homemade and nitrate free, made with free-range meat, and you can pick from roughly 15 varieties.

Spice seekers can grab the hot Italian or the smoked chicken habanero. Adventurous eaters might lean toward wild boar with apples, cranberries, and spice, or merguez made with lamb and Moroccan spices.

Then there’s the Mission Street Knockwurst, wrapped in bacon. It sounds like a neighborhood legend, and it tastes like one on paper too.

Links come on French rolls with toppings, or grilled with no bun at all. The Bavarian plates add sauerkraut, potato salad, and baked beans, with room for one or two sausages.

Currywurst fans get sliced sausage over fries with curry ketchup. There’s even a grilled sausage salad with greens, lentil salad, beets, and Gouda.

Toppings run from grilled onions and jalapeño slaw to spicy beef chili and mango chutney. A self-service station holds curry ketchup, spicy mustard, and Dijon, so go ahead and experiment.

Ordering happens at the counter, and seating is at long communal tables. A vegan hot Italian sausage seasoned with garlic and fennel means plant-based friends get a real link too.

Address: 2832 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

3. Copenhagen Sausage Garden, Solvang

A German-style sausage stop in a Danish-heritage village sounds like a geography quiz. In Solvang, it just sounds like lunch.

The name gives away the setup. It’s an outdoor garden with picnic tables, so your sausage comes with fresh air on the side.

Start with the Bavarian Pretzel Sausage Combo if you can’t pick one carb. Sausage plus pretzel is the kind of teamwork California deserves.

Kielbasa sits on the menu for fans of Polish-style classics. A plain hot dog is there too, which helps if you’re traveling with picky eaters.

Plant-based visitors aren’t stuck with side salads here. The garden offers a vegan sausage, so the whole group can order a link.

Want something besides a bun? Schnitzel is on the menu, and the mustard gets enough love to count as a highlight on its own.

The mood leans relaxed and social, with live music and even karaoke among the draws. Dogs are welcome inside and outside, so your pup can tag along.

Solvang pulls in plenty of day-trippers, and this spot fits nicely into a stroll down Copenhagen Drive. Free parking in a lot and on the street makes the stop even easier.

Sunday starts early at 10 AM, which is handy for a late-morning road trip snack. Weekday hours run from 11 AM, with Friday and Saturday open until 9 PM.

Address: 1660 Copenhagen Dr, Solvang, CA 93463

4. Wursthaus, Santa Ana

Bison isn’t the first meat most people picture in a sausage. In downtown Santa Ana, it shows up loaded with cheddar and jalapeño.

That bison link is one stop on a menu split between classic and gourmet sausages. You can play it safe with a smoked bratwurst or go bold with a spicy chicken mango sausage.

Cheese lovers should also look for the smoked cheddar bratwurst. Then there’s The Hung Sausage, which easily wins the prize for the menu name most likely to make you grin.

Sides keep things simple and satisfying. Belgian fries and a German style pretzel give you two crunchy, salty ways to round out the meal.

Ordering happens at the counter, and service tends to move fast. That makes it an easy pick for a quick lunch along busy 4th Street.

Plant-based diners get a full vegan menu. Nobody at your table has to settle for just fries, though nobody would blame them for trying.

The place also hosts live music and trivia nights. It’s a fun excuse to linger after the last bite of bratwurst and test your random knowledge.

Plan ahead, because the doors stay closed on Mondays. Friday and Saturday hours stretch to midnight, which is great news for Orange County night owls.

Parking is usually easy to find nearby. You’ll spot street parking and paid garages close by, so circling the block shouldn’t eat up your sausage time.

Address: 305 E 4th St #106, Santa Ana, CA 92701

5. Der Biergarten Midtown, Sacramento

State lawmakers handle the serious business in Sacramento. A short trip away on K Street, the serious business is German sausage.

Most of the action here happens outdoors. It’s an open-air hangout, and the seating is spread out with plenty of breathing room between tables.

The German sausage gets the most love, and it’s known for being juicy and full of flavor. If you can’t decide on one, the sausage platter lets you sample more than a single link.

The kitchen keeps the rest of the menu in classic comfort food territory. Small plates and desserts round things out when you want more than a bun.

Service is quick and casual, with no table service to slow things down. You order, grab your food, and claim a seat in the fresh air.

Bring the dog along if you have one. Pups are welcome both inside and outside, which makes this a handy lunch stop after a Midtown walk.

Hours start at 11 AM daily, so an early lunch is easy. Friday and Saturday nights run until 11:45 PM, giving late diners a solid sausage option.

Free wi-fi and a gender-neutral restroom add some easy comfort. Reservations aren’t taken, so just show up and find a spot.

Street parking can be tricky around here. Give yourself a few extra minutes, because that sausage platter is worth the hunt.

Address: 2332 K St, Sacramento, CA 95816

6. Wirtshaus German Restaurant, Los Angeles

Ping-Pong and currywurst make an unexpected pair. On La Brea Avenue, they share the same address.

This German restaurant brings table service to the sausage game. So instead of juggling a tray, you can sit back and let the platters come to you.

Currywurst is a big draw, served the authentic way. Käsekrainer, a sausage with cheese inside, is another favorite worth a try.

Pork bratwurst covers the classics. For something different, the buffalo chicken sausage puts a spicy American spin on the lineup.

Can’t choose? Order the Original Sausage Platter and let the kitchen settle the debate for you.

Sides deserve real attention here. Red cabbage, spaetzle, German potato salad, mashed potatoes, and potato pancakes give your sausages plenty of good company.

Save some room for apple strudel at the end. The pretzel schnitzel also tempts anyone who wants a crunchy detour.

Plant-based guests can order from a full vegan menu, including a vegan schnitzel. A kids’ menu and high chairs help families settle in, too.

Weekday doors open at 4 PM, while Friday through Sunday start at 11 AM. Reservations are accepted, which helps on busy weekend afternoons.

The outdoor patio welcomes dogs, and the Ping-Pong table keeps the mood playful. It’s a fun spot to bring friends who like a little competition with dinner.

Address: 345 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

7. Kaiserhof Restaurant, San Diego

Ocean Beach is known for surf and sunsets, not sauerkraut. Yet on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, a family-owned Bavarian tavern keeps German comfort food front and center.

Sausage fans should head straight for the 3-Wurst Meal. It brings three sausages with sauerkraut and potatoes, which covers your whole plate in one order.

The sausage platter also earns praise for being tasty and nicely sized. If you love links, this is the move.

Bratwurst sits among the German favorites, alongside Wiener schnitzel and Jäger schnitzel. The schweinshaxe pork leg is there for anyone feeling extra hungry.

Need something lighter on the side? Cucumber salad and fresh bread balance out the heavier dishes.

Happy hour here comes with free hearty snacks. Think meatballs, sausage with vegetables, potatoes, and fresh veggies, which is a pretty generous deal.

A fireplace adds a homey touch to the room. Desserts get high marks as well, so leave a little space.

Timing matters at this spot. The restaurant closes Monday and Tuesday, opens at 4 PM Wednesday and Thursday, and starts at noon Friday through Sunday.

Dinner reservations are recommended, especially on Saturday evenings. Dogs can join you at the outdoor seating, and a kids’ menu keeps younger diners happy.

Address: 2253 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107

8. Kathrin’s Biergarten, Rocklin

A pool table, a shuffleboard, and a Sausage Platter Feast walk into a restaurant. It sounds like a joke, but in Rocklin it’s just a normal night out.

The Sausage Platter Feast is the headliner for link lovers. It’s built for sharing, though nobody will judge you for keeping it all to yourself.

Authentic German cooking gives this place its reputation. Jägerschnitzel and sauerbraten join the sausages for anyone who wants a classic German dinner.

Start with the pretzel and cheese sauce. Red cabbage makes a tangy partner for the richer dishes, too.

Inside, a large bar and German-inspired decor set the tone. Outside, a pretty patio welcomes diners along with their leashed dogs.

Families get high chairs and a kids’ menu. Vegan and vegetarian guests have full menus of their own, so the whole crew can eat well.

Live music shows up on the calendar, and the TVs make it good for watching sports. Desserts are worth saving room for after all that sausage.

Rocklin sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills just outside Sacramento. That makes this an easy stop for anyone exploring Northern California.

Monday and Tuesday open at 4 PM, while the rest of the week starts at 11:30 AM. Reservations are accepted, curbside pickup is available, and free parking is usually easy to find.

Address: 4810 Granite Dr A1, Rocklin, CA 95677