Our Story

Food brings the world together.

Some of the best memories of my life have happened around a table. I've made lifelong friends over a meal, stumbled into unforgettable restaurants while traveling, celebrated life's biggest moments with family, and shared conversations with complete strangers who didn't feel like strangers for long. No matter where I've been in the world, great food has always had a way of bringing people together.

That's what inspired Munchie Man.

It first came to life as a pop-up in 2023. I wanted it to be more than just a place to eat—I wanted it to feel like an art project. Instead of building a brand around myself, I created the character Munchie Man. He became the face of the project because I never wanted the focus to be on the person in the kitchen. The title chef can sometimes overshadow what really matters. To me, great hospitality has never been about ego—it's about making people feel welcome.

Now, in 2026, Munchie Man is opening its first home in Davis, California.

Everything you'll find here tells a story. The menu is inspired by my travels, the restaurants that left an impression on me, and the people and experiences that shaped who I am. In many ways, it's an autobiography told through food. Some dishes are inspired by places I've visited, others by people I love, and a few simply exist because they make me smile. And I hope they make you smile too.

My hope is that Munchie Man becomes more than a restaurant. I hope it's where you celebrate birthdays, meet friends after work, go on a first date, bring your family for lunch, or stop in by yourself and leave having met someone new. Community has always been just as important to me as the food on the plate.

Thank you for being part of the beginning of this journey. I can't wait to share Munchie Man with you.

— Christopher Fairman

Christopher Fairman is a Sacramento-born-and-raised restaurateur with more than two decades of experience in the food and hospitality industry. From managing neighborhood restaurants to bartending and serving at some of Sacramento's beloved farm-to-fork establishments, Christopher has spent his career learning every side of the restaurant business—and building a deep appreciation for the people, food, and community that make restaurants special.

His journey has included managing East Sacramento's The Shack, known for its focus on local beer, managing the high-volume Midtown Sacramento restaurant Pazza Notte, and working in various roles at local farm-to-fork establishments, including Magpie Café in Midtown.

But the idea for Munchie Man began to take shape in 2023, when Christopher began a weekly pop-up residency at SoCal's Tavern. Each week, he created rotating dishes inspired by some of his favorite food memories growing up, as well as the people, places, and flavors he and his husband, Jake, discovered during their international travels.

What started as a pop-up eventually became something much bigger.

After more than a year of working behind the scenes, Christopher is finally opening his first restaurant. About five months into the search, he discovered a space in Davis that immediately felt different. Christopher and Jake spent time getting to know the community and making sure Davis felt like the right home for Munchie Man. With every visit, they became more excited about the possibility of becoming part of the community.

For Christopher, opening Munchie Man is the culmination of years of hard work, persistence, and determination. One of the most important parts of this journey was building the restaurant independently, without partners, so he could bring his vision to life exactly as he imagined it.

Munchie Man is Christopher's funky little bistro inspired by his favorite restaurants, travels, memories, and experiences. But at its heart, it is about much more than food. Christopher wants Munchie Man to be a place where people can gather, connect, build community, and enjoy great food in a fun, welcoming atmosphere.

And when he isn't working on Munchie Man, Christopher can usually be found spending time with his husband, Jake, in East Sacramento, playing tennis, catching live music, creating in one of his many artistic forms, or traveling somewhere new and inevitably finding a little more inspiration for Munchie Man.

After more than 20 years in the restaurant industry, Christopher is finally building a place of his own—and he can't wait to welcome you in.