Guidebook for Oakland and Beyond
Food Scene
These are some of our favorite places to eat!
Shakewell
3407 Lakeshore AveBest upscale Mediterranean food in the neighborhood!
Considered one of the best pizza restaurants in Oakland! Original pizza restaurant owned by same chef is Pizzaiolo. Need advanced reservation.
194 locals recommend
Sister
3308 Grand AveConsidered one of the best pizza restaurants in Oakland! Original pizza restaurant owned by same chef is Pizzaiolo. Need advanced reservation.
Really great burgers and shakes in our hood! Great for families.
9 locals recommend
Flipside Burgers, Fries and Shakes
3401 Lakeshore AveReally great burgers and shakes in our hood! Great for families.
Considered the one of the best coffee retailers in Oakland and elsewhere. Popular coffee shop, so ordering in advance for pick up helps.
259 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee
2124 Vine StConsidered the one of the best coffee retailers in Oakland and elsewhere. Popular coffee shop, so ordering in advance for pick up helps.
People love to hang out here with their laptops. We have one on Lakeshore and one on Lake Park Drive.
48 locals recommend
Starbucks
3347 Lakeshore AvePeople love to hang out here with their laptops. We have one on Lakeshore and one on Lake Park Drive.
Middle Eastern foods: Love their falafels and lemonade! Reasonably priced café.
12 locals recommend
Holy Land Kosher Food
677 Rand AveMiddle Eastern foods: Love their falafels and lemonade! Reasonably priced café.
Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph AveConsidered the best pizza in the East Bay!
Very upscale, creative CA. cuisine with Two Michelin Stars. Expensive but excellent.
53 locals recommend
Commis
3859 Piedmont AveVery upscale, creative CA. cuisine with Two Michelin Stars. Expensive but excellent.
Trueburger
146 Grand AveVery good inexpensive burgers. Oakland's version of "fast food".
Calavera
2337 BroadwayExcellent Mexican/Oaxacan food with unique Mexcal cocktails.
Duende
468 19th StGood Spanish food with live music.
Very reasonable and excellent al pastor tacos on homemade corn tortillas. Excellent breakfast burritos! Small, popular walk-in place.
You can walk there from here--about 1 mile at our local shopping area on Lakeshore.
9 locals recommend
Rico Rico Taco
3205 Lakeshore AveVery reasonable and excellent al pastor tacos on homemade corn tortillas. Excellent breakfast burritos! Small, popular walk-in place.
You can walk there from here--about 1 mile at our local shopping area on Lakeshore.
FOB Kitchen
5179 Telegraph AveHip Filipino fare with island-style cocktails with cool ambience.
Choose various types of Roman style pizza, CUT TO ORDER and sold by weight. Delicious choices!
Pollara Pizzeria
1788 Fourth StreetChoose various types of Roman style pizza, CUT TO ORDER and sold by weight. Delicious choices!
California New American focusing on seasonal, local foods. Specialty cocktails. Outdoor parklet with heaters.
11 locals recommend
Almond and Oak
3311 Grand AveCalifornia New American focusing on seasonal, local foods. Specialty cocktails. Outdoor parklet with heaters.
Yummy , modern California-Israeli food. Order the cheese-filled falafels and cauliflower mezze and extra hummus!
6 locals recommend
Pomella
3770 Piedmont AveYummy , modern California-Israeli food. Order the cheese-filled falafels and cauliflower mezze and extra hummus!
Very hip and cool decor with delicious food and artisan cocktails. Unique, intimate environs to just hang out in!
16 locals recommend
Bardo Lounge & Supper Club
3343 Lakeshore AveVery hip and cool decor with delicious food and artisan cocktails. Unique, intimate environs to just hang out in!
Limited amounts of hand-made soba, Japanese buckwheat noodles -- sells out quickly. Love their ramen and other foods! Located in funky West Oakland area with other hip cafes.
16 locals recommend
Soba Ichi
2311A Magnolia StLimited amounts of hand-made soba, Japanese buckwheat noodles -- sells out quickly. Love their ramen and other foods! Located in funky West Oakland area with other hip cafes.
Our favorite Burmese restaurant! Everything is consistently good -- can't resist their garlic noodles and pea-shoot salad!
19 locals recommend
Teni East Kitchen
4015 BroadwayOur favorite Burmese restaurant! Everything is consistently good -- can't resist their garlic noodles and pea-shoot salad!
Noah's Bagels
3351 Lakeshore AveMost people consider Noah's to have the best bagels, and I agree.
Lines out the door for their fried chicken sandwiches! Lunch only -- go early or later than noon.
196 locals recommend
Bakesale Betty
5098 Telegraph AveLines out the door for their fried chicken sandwiches! Lunch only -- go early or later than noon.
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore AveLocals like their home-made pizzas, soups, breads and pastries.
Convenient one-stop shopping: excellent cheese, fish, meat, deli, bakery, wine, coffee and produce shops. Top-rated, unique foods; excellent olive oils & vinegars, etc.
64 locals recommend
Rockridge Market Hall
5655 College AveConvenient one-stop shopping: excellent cheese, fish, meat, deli, bakery, wine, coffee and produce shops. Top-rated, unique foods; excellent olive oils & vinegars, etc.
The most anticipated BBQ restaurant opened 11/20. Expect 1-3 hr. lines Fri-Sun in West Oakland! Matt Horn is a master pit master.
21 locals recommend
Horn Barbecue
2534 Mandela ParkwayThe most anticipated BBQ restaurant opened 11/20. Expect 1-3 hr. lines Fri-Sun in West Oakland! Matt Horn is a master pit master.
I like their CA./Japanese sensibility. Known for their fried chicken and juicy burgers.
53 locals recommend
Hopscotch
1915 San Pablo AveI like their CA./Japanese sensibility. Known for their fried chicken and juicy burgers.
Yummy chocolates, drinks and pastries.
16 locals recommend
The Chocolate Dragon Bittersweet Cafe and Bakery
5427 College AveYummy chocolates, drinks and pastries.
Cool, hip late-night place with innovative cocktails and tasty Asian-inspired foods.
7 locals recommend
Viridian
2216 BroadwayCool, hip late-night place with innovative cocktails and tasty Asian-inspired foods.
Delirama
1746 Solano AvenueDeli with great pastrami and breakfast sandwiches
The Rendez-Vous
5526 Martin Luther King Junior WayModern, light French seafood-centric dishes with local produce.
Ok's Deli
3932 Telegraph AvenueAsian-inspired sandwich shop -- must try Sichuan hot chicken sandwich!
Souvla
2505 3rd StreetFast-casual Greek sensation
Pomella
3770 Piedmont AveAn actual farmer opened this restaurant -- actual farm to table creation!
Spacious patio -- has fruit-forward pastries and lunch items like quiche which turns into classy dinner spot.
6 locals recommend
Babette Cafe
2033 Center StSpacious patio -- has fruit-forward pastries and lunch items like quiche which turns into classy dinner spot.
Good To Eat Dumplings & Modern Taiwanese Cusine
1298 65th StreetYummy Taiwanese dumplings!
Handroll Project
598 Guerrero StreetPopular sushi spinoff from popular omakase hit, Ju-Ni, in San Francisco
Banh Mi Ba Le
1909 International BlvdCasual Vietnamese -- huge inexpensive banh mi sandwiches. Open Fri-Sun only.
Belotti Ristorante E Bottega
5403 College AveDelicious Italian pastas!
Cultured Pickle Shop
800 Bancroft WayDAYTRIP
4316 Telegraph AvenueFOB Kitchen
5179 Telegraph AveGreat Filipino restaurant
Great China Restaurant
2190 Bancroft WayPopular Chinese restaurant with exceptional Peking duck
Jo's Modern Thai
3725 MacArthur BoulevardDelicious Thai food in hip, casual space
Juanita & Maude
825 San Pablo AveDelicious lunch and dinner spot
Mägo
3762 Piedmont AveUnique Peruvian food
Inexpensive, very good tacos. Also has booth at Friday's farmers market.
173 locals recommend
Cholita Linda
4923 Telegraph AveInexpensive, very good tacos. Also has booth at Friday's farmers market.
Delicious Singaporean "hawker" foods. Mixed Singaporean and Cal/Italian sensibilities. Take out only. Popular hot spot.
Lion Dance Cafe
Delicious Singaporean "hawker" foods. Mixed Singaporean and Cal/Italian sensibilities. Take out only. Popular hot spot.
Top Dog
My favorite hot dog place! Cheap and good dogs and buns.
Kowbird
Great fried chicken sandwiches from BBQ pit master Matt Horn!
Taqueria El Paisa@.com
4610 International BlvdPopular Mexican food joint
Essentials
Low-cost neighborhood grocery with many organic choices and inexpensive wines and flowers.
582 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveLow-cost neighborhood grocery with many organic choices and inexpensive wines and flowers.
Safeway on Grand Ave. is closer, but the one on Broadway is bigger and better staffed.
44 locals recommend
Safeway
5100 BroadwaySafeway on Grand Ave. is closer, but the one on Broadway is bigger and better staffed.
Lucky Supermarkets
815 Marina Village PkwySimilar to Safeway grocery store.
This is where I shop the most, even though it's more expensive than other grocery stores. Has great amount of organic foods, produce & fruits; fish, meat, deli, cheese & prepared foods; supplements & vitamins; cafe.
553 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
230 Bay PlThis is where I shop the most, even though it's more expensive than other grocery stores. Has great amount of organic foods, produce & fruits; fish, meat, deli, cheese & prepared foods; supplements & vitamins; cafe.
Parks & Nature
There is a popular 3.4 mile/5 kilometers walking and jogging path around its perimeter. This is a natural salt water tidal lagoon connected to the Oakland/Alameda Estuary (part of the Pacific Ocean's tide). Go people watch, bird watch, cruise on a gondola, lay on the grass, and enjoy local musicians and the sunshine! There's a great outdoor bar to view everything.
751 locals recommend
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardThere is a popular 3.4 mile/5 kilometers walking and jogging path around its perimeter. This is a natural salt water tidal lagoon connected to the Oakland/Alameda Estuary (part of the Pacific Ocean's tide). Go people watch, bird watch, cruise on a gondola, lay on the grass, and enjoy local musicians and the sunshine! There's a great outdoor bar to view everything.
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood RoadNice hikes nearby.
A relatively easy short loop around the Preserve.
30 locals recommend
Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve
7087 Skyline BlvdA relatively easy short loop around the Preserve.
Tilden Park Merry Go Round
Lake Anza RoadTilden Park is one of the gems in the Bay Area!
Joaquin Miller Park
3300 Joaquin Miller RdConvenient hiking areas nearby.
Arts & Culture
Wonderful permanent and special exhibits. Great collection of California artists. Has fun "Friday Nights" events & many good food trucks there.
547 locals recommend
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StWonderful permanent and special exhibits. Great collection of California artists. Has fun "Friday Nights" events & many good food trucks there.
This is an immersive art and community experience held on the first Friday of each month from 5-9pm. There are art galleries, artist collectives, street artists, culinary artisans, performers, musicians, dancers, DJs and poets. A fun experience walking on Telegraph Ave.!
64 locals recommend
First Fridays
2633 Telegraph AveThis is an immersive art and community experience held on the first Friday of each month from 5-9pm. There are art galleries, artist collectives, street artists, culinary artisans, performers, musicians, dancers, DJs and poets. A fun experience walking on Telegraph Ave.!
Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline BlvdGreat space observatory!
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
2155 Center StWonderful exhibits and films
Shopping
Gap
3277 Lakeshore AveThere's always a trendy bargain!
One of a kind, hand-crafted gifts and other products. Hosts crafts classes.
6 locals recommend
Bay-Made
3295 Lakeshore AveOne of a kind, hand-crafted gifts and other products. Hosts crafts classes.
Entertainment & Activities
Popular, small and intimate jazz venue -- great viewing in most seats. Also wonderful Japanese food -- if you have a dinner reservation, you get an advantage for better seats.
136 locals recommend
Yoshi's Oakland
510 Embarcadero WestPopular, small and intimate jazz venue -- great viewing in most seats. Also wonderful Japanese food -- if you have a dinner reservation, you get an advantage for better seats.