The city of Oakland has an incredibly diverse population and an abundance of independent cafes, bars, and restaurants to make it a destination for any food lover. There are many hidden gems scattered throughout the city and its neighborhood pockets.

It’s increasingly important to me to support businesses owned and operated by women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ community. If that’s important to you too, please see these guides: Keep It Female map by the Keep It Oakland - Oakland Indie Alliance and the Bay Area Organization of Black Owned Businesses.

Here are a few standout restaurants I strongly recommend (organized by neighborhood):

GRAND LAKE & LAKESHORE

  • Bay Grape - This is no fusty old wine shop. Owned by Stevie Stacionnis (a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and founder of Bâtonnage) and her husband Josiah Baldivino (Advanced Sommelier Certification), this bright, airy shop makes wine shopping fun and educational. Tune into their Instagram feed to see the couple rap about wines featured at one of their many tasting events throughout the week including Friday night bubbles, Sunday school, and Monday Blind Tastings.

  • Mama - Owned by the same couple who own Bay Grape and just a couple doors down the street, Mama provides a 3-course meal for only $35. You can of course order some add-ons that will boost your check, but they make elevated, seasonal cuisine accessible to everyone. Of course Mama’s wine list presents many options and, conveniently, if you love the glass you ordered at the restaurant, you can pop by Bay Grape after your meal to buy a bottle and explore more varietals with the knowledgeable staff.

  • Shakewell - Get your paella fix here or just pop in for some Spanish tapas and happy hour at this convivial spot helmed by Top Chef Alum Jen Biesty.

JACK LONDON SQUARE

  • Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine - Opening in 2018, Farmhouse Kitchen is the latest of now five Thai restaurants in San Francisco, Oakland, and Portland owned by Kasem “Pop” Saengsawang (including Daughter Thai - below). This location offers a waterfront patio and a festive interior design. Bonus: a great place for birthdays and large groups.

  • Minimo - Italian for “minimal,” Minimo features small producers and minimal intervention wines that “follow sustainable practices in their farming, sourcing, winemaking and workforce.” Right on. On Wednesday nights and all day Saturday, Minimo offers wine tasting flights. Bonus: woman-owned.

MONTCLAIR

  • Daughter Thai Kitchen - I could eat at Daughter Thai every single day. The Thai dishes here exude love of the chef-owner and they are served in a casual modern setting with a festive flair (like the patterned umbrellas on the ceiling or the colorful dishes). My favorites include “Mieng Kum Kung” - super crispy-crusted Tiger Prawns served atop a leafy green and a bed of lime, ginger, onion, roasted coconut & peanuts with Tamarind sauce and the Rice Salad “Nam Khao Tod” - Thai fermented Pork Sausage, crispy red curry rice, ginger, chili, and peanuts with a mound of fresh Thai herbs. Spicy means spicy here and it’s so so very good.

  • Kakui Sushi - My go-to sushi spot in the East Bay, Kakui has all of the usual sashimi and sushi with a large selection of innovative rolls, like the JP (shrimp tempura, tuna, salmon, white tuna, avocado wrapped with soy bean paper) or the Alicia Roll (tempura asparagus, avocado, seared spicy tuna, jalapeño, French sauce topped with tobiko).

  • Perle Wine Bar - Co-owners Chef Rob Lam and Certified Sommelier Marcus Garcia bring elegance and destination dining to the sleepy little hillside village of Montclair. Go for the outstanding wines by the glass and the classic French dishes or comforting dishes like the Mushroom “Cappuccino” Soup or the French Dip Angus Beef Burger. But be sure to stay for the Hot Chocolate Pot de Creme and a glass of Tawny Port.

PIEDMONT AVENUE

This charming neighborhood has several blocks of retail shops and a lovely local grocery store, aptly named Piedmont Grocery. Sadly Kronnerburger suffered a fire and has not reopened its debut Piedmont Avenue location, but you can still get their goods at Henry’s at The Graduate in Berkeley. There are several great restaurants along Piedmont Avenue, including:

  • Commis - Executive Chef James Syhabout earned Two Michelin stars (2016, 2017, and 2018) for his splurge-worthy Commis.

  • Doña - Owner Doña Savitsky opened this fast casual Mexican joint on Piedmont Avenue in the old Chow space in 2020 after closing her popular Doña Tómas full service restaurant in Temescal. It’s got a full service bar with great margaritas, palomas, and fresh bowls, burritos, and entrees - including vegan friendly options.

  • Pomella - Wonderful California - Israeli cuisine. The best falafel (regular or filled with cheese) I’ve had in the Bay Area and an array of seasonal salads and entrees. Order at the counter and dine on the cute outdoor patio or take to go.

  • Pomet - Owned and operated by K&J Orchards with former Benu chef Alan Hsu at the helm, this 2022 newcomer was an instant classic bringing farm to table dining with a warm vibe. Every dish is inventive and bursting with flavor. This is the spot.

  • The Wolf - Taking over Bay Wolf’s location in 2017, The Wolf serves “French forward California cuisine” in a warm and relaxed environment. I was bound to love The Wolf since I have always adored Rich and Rebekah Wood’s first restaurant, Frascati, in San Francisco (under new ownership now) as well as Wood Tavern in Rockridge. You can feel the couple’s love in the food and the environment they create at each of their restaurants.

ROCKRIDGE

  • A16 - This East Bay outpost is just as lively and inviting as the San Francisco (Cow Hollow) original. A16 serves rustic, yet refined, Italian cuisine and Neopolitan pizzas from their wood-fired pizza oven. I love the food but also enjoy studying (and ordering from) the extensive selection of Italian wine, amaro and inventive cocktails - like the Carcioppo aperitif with Cardamaro amaro, Aperol, Prosecco, and grapefruit juice.

  • Ramen Shop - My mouth waters just thinking about Ramen Shop. I cannot get enough of it. The menu is constantly changing, but the one thing that remains the same is that they offer three ramen options each night, along with at least a half dozen appetizers and salads and a donburi and fried rice option. I am addicted to the Veggie Shoyu Meyer Lemon ramen broth. Always order the pickle plate - a varying mixture of pickled vegetables; the ramen is so rich and filling, you need some acid for balance and digestive magic.

  • Wood Tavern - Wood Tavern is the quintessential neighborhood restaurant, and everyone loves it. It is always busy. Always. Book ahead or drop by for lunch. And be sure to stop by La Farine boulangerie next door. It is one of the East Bay’s best bakeries with incredible morning buns, baguettes, tarts, and cookies.

TEMESCAL

If you’ve never explored Temescal before, go on a First Friday and peruse the boutiques in the pedestrian alleys off of 49th Street between Telegraph Avenue and Clarke Street. There you can find local artisans and their fineries – my favorites are Marisa Mason (hand made jewelry) and Crimson (horticulture and related products).

  • Bakesale Betty - It’s hard to beat the fried chicken sandwich at Bakesale Betty. Owner Alison Barakat has been delighting Oaklanders for years with those perfect sandwiches: a big piece of crispy fried chicken topped with a nicely balanced jalepeno-flecked coleslaw on a soft bun. They also offer cookies and pies as well as chicken pot pie. They are only open Thursday - Sunday until 2 pm. Order at the counter to take your sandwich home, eat it in the car, or preferably, hunched over one of the ironing board tables along the sidewalk to enjoy your sandwich at its peak crispness.

  • FOB Kitchen - Though it was sad to see Chef Preeti Mistry close Juhu Beach Club, the owners of FOB. Kitchen filled that space with more positive energy and delicious Filipino cuisine. Chef Jami Dulce and her wife, Brandi, created FOB Kitchen “FOB Kitchen grew out of our love, for each other, for friends, for family, for community, for food, and for celebration.” Bonus: woman-owned.

  • Hawking Bird - Chef James Syhabout’s homage to the food he loved from his childhood. It’s a festive spot serving delicious food. My favorite dish is the Khao Man Gai – Hainanese style chicken & rice served with a ginger & fermented bean sauce, cucumbers & cilantro - and the best part: it’s served atop chicken fat rice. That is some soul-nourishing comfort food. They also make a great fried chicken sandwich as well as a Thai Chili Hot Sandwich - my personal favorite; fried Hodu Tofu can be substituted for the vegans in the house.

UPTOWN

  • Calavera - A bustling Mexican restaurant and agave bar (excellent selection of tequila and mezcal).

  • Curry Up Now - I fell in love with the Paneer Tikka Masala burrito at the Fort Mason Off the Grid many years ago before any brick and mortar locations existed. Now there are six, including this one in Uptown, plus a food truck you can always find on Bush Street in San Francisco’s financial district on weekdays. Super fun, delicious, and casual Indian Street Food.

  • Dosa by Dosa- This is the fast casual spinoff of the sexy Indian supper club Dosa locations in San Francisco. Dosa hail from South India. These giant savory rice and lentil crepes are stuffed with your filling of choice (like butter chicken or masala potato) and served with fresh coconut and tomato chutneys and sambar, a lentil and vegetable dipping soup.

  • Kingston 11 - A lively and casual atmosphere, as well as the spicy Jamaican cuisine and rum cocktails, make this a great spot to visit. You can also try Chef Owner Nigel Jones’ new Kaya restaurant location in San Francisco where he partners with Daniel Patterson of Alta Group. Bonus: Black-owned business. .

  • Mua - Situated inside a two story loft space with art abounding, Mua has the energy and excitement of a rave. And you will rave about the food on its extensive menu and cocktail list. So much fun and so delicious.

WEST OAKLAND

Horn BBQ - Matt Horn makes “West Coast Barbecue” and it’s going to blow your mind. The ribs are seasoned to perfection and fall off the bone. Lines are often long at Horn, but you can preorder brisket, spare ribs, and pulled pork by the pound along with all the sides. Horn’s hot links are also not to be missed. Sure they are $10 each but they are massive and packed with flavor. My favorite sides are the Pit Beans and Mac & Cheese. If you can brave the line, you’ll be able to enjoy a table inside overlooking one of the smokers but on a nice day, take advantage of the abundant outdoor seating.

Kowbird - In January 2022 Matt Horn opened Kowbird to more long lines. But if you can brave the line, it’s worth the wait to get your hands on his magically moist and simultaneously fried chicken. I have only been once but know it will become a staple. We had both the Southern Bird (original fried chicken sandwich) and the Hot Bird (fried chicken sandwich finished with Dried Chilis, Sweet Pickles, Herbed Mayo, finished with Fermented Chili), which was layered, complex and begging to be washed down with a cold beer. It’s just a few blocks from Horn, so if you want a hedonistic culinary adventure, you can dine at Kowbird for an early lunch (definitely go early because the sandwiches are huge and filling) and pick up your Horn BBQ to eat later for dinner.

Soba Ichi - Get transported to Japan via this spot in an industrial park in West Oakland adjacent to Magnolia Mini-Mart and formerly June’s Pizza. Freshly made soba noodles and tofu await you in a charming location where you can dine indoors or in the pleasant outdoor space. No reservations.