2 Bits Express Brings Big Flavor to Marysville
Jul 01, 2025 04:36PM ● By Shamaya Sutton
Located on the ground floor of the Caltrans building in downtown Marysville, 2 Bits Express offers public access despite its office setting—just look for the "2 Bits Express" sign and café entrance banner. Photo by Shamaya Sutton
MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Tucked away inside the Caltrans building on B Street in downtown Marysville, 2 Bits Express might be one of the area’s best-kept secrets. But owner Shiney Kang wants people to know: this spacious breakfast and lunch spot is open to everyone.
“For some reason people think it's off limits or only for Caltrans, but we are open to the public,” said Kang, who has been a Yuba-Sutter resident since 1975.
Despite its hidden-in-plain-sight location, the eatery has built a steady following, thanks in part to Kang’s lifelong passion for food and hospitality. Though his path to restaurant ownership wasn’t a straight line, the seed was planted quite early
“Right out of college, we were starting a family, and I needed to get a job,” Kang said. “There was a restaurant that just opened in Yuba City, Ruthy’s. I started over there with Steve Shelton, the owner back then, as a dishwasher. Then I got into serving food, and I just fell in love with the whole restaurant business.”
A selection of fresh-baked muffins greets customers at the counter of 2 Bits Express in Marysville. The café has been recognized as a Blue Zones Project-approved establishment for promoting healthy menu choices. Photo Courtesy of Celeste Brown
Eventually, Kang knew he needed a more stable income and took a job with the U.S. Postal Service. But he didn’t leave the restaurant world behind entirely.
“I just loved it so much. Throughout my career, I kept telling myself that when I retire I would like to own a restaurant.”
After retiring from his position as postmaster following 28 years of service, Kang made good on that promise. In 2017, he purchased the original Two Bits Café in Yuba City. Just two years later, he opened a second location. 2 Bits Express, in Marysville.
Managing both restaurants proved challenging, especially while trying to prioritize family life. In 2020, Kang made the decision to sell the Yuba City location and focus solely on the Marysville café, which offers more manageable hours. A key part of that transition was the addition of a familiar face, Chef Jose, whom Kang met decades earlier at Ruthy’s.
“The chef who was working at Ruthy’s, Jose, who is my chef now at the Marysville location, I always told him that I’d love to have him work for me someday,” said Kang. “I never knew it was going to happen, but everything just kind of lined up. Ruthy’s was closing, and Jose needed a job, and I was just opening the second location. I called him up and said, ‘Hey, let’s start this.”
Since then, the pair have built a menu that reflects both tradition and diversity. 2 Bits Express serves up a hearty breakfast and lunch fare, with crowd favorites like the breakfast burrito, Korean fries and chilaquiles. Kang’s personal favorite? The biscuits and gravy.

The spacious interior of 2 Bits Express includes both booth seating and a relaxed lounge area, making it a favorite spot for everything from casual breakfasts to quiet meetups. Photo by Shamaya Sutton
“We brought a lot of the items from the original Two Bits Café, but we also added a lot more ethnic food to it in addition to our daily schedule,” Kang explained.
Still, for Kang, food is only part of the picture. The joy comes from creating a warm, welcoming space, something he fell in love with during his earliest days in food service.
“When I was working at Ruthy’s serving people, just meeting people, I met so many people over the years working at the restaurant that I still stay in touch with. I don’t know, I just love that atmosphere and that positive environment,” said Kang.
2 Bits Express is located at 703 B Street in Marysville, California, inside the Caltrans building. The café is open to the public and offers breakfast and lunch Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; it is closed on weekends. For more information or to place an order, call 530-845-5050 or visit their website at www.2bitsexpress.com.