Get To Know The Oakland Food Scene

Californians know that the East Bay city of Oakland has a rich culinary scene but this Northern California city sometimes sits in San Francisco’s culinary shadow.

We think that may be the way the locals prefer it because it means that it’s all that much easier to get a table at these their favorite joints.

What Food Is Oakland Known For?

With everything from hole-in-the-wall cafes to farm-to-table and Michelin-starred joints and what may be the most culturally diverse food scene in Northern California, Oakland food is a big subject. The only problem is having finding enough time to eat it all.

The Oakland food scene gets so much (well-deserved) attention that Oakland Restaurant Week needed its week to include two weekends to give you enough time to explore the more than 100 participating restaurants. 

The Types Of Oakland Food To Try

Here is our hit list of what Oakland food to try when you visit this East Bay City:

Farm To Table

If you want a taste of seasonal local food, our pick is Limewood at the Claremont Club & Spa. The menu highlights the best from Northern California’s food scene from farmers, ranchers, fishermen, bakers, artisans to wineries.

Chef has created a mix of healthy and indulgent dishes and our favorites our the roasted bone marrow with the herb gremolata as well as the beet salad with whipped goat cheese and puffed quinoa. Oh, and if you’re looking for a top notch brunch spot with a great view, this is it!

Soul Food

The Oakland food culture boast one of the best soul food scenes in California thanks to the fact that the city has had a strong African-American representation since its founding. These days you can find a mix of classic comfort spots, new creative joints, and even alternative diet options all centered around soul food. 

The classic spot we love to visit is Lois The Pie Queen. While Lois is no longer with us, her son runs the joint and serves up everything from meatloaf to pork chops and, of course, the lemon icebox pie that is on everyone’s list.

For something more contemporary, we recommend hitting up Top chef Tanya Holland’s Brown Sugar Kitchen which will be opening in a new location shortly. And if vegan eating is more your style, then you’ll want to head to Souley Vegan where the fried okra is a must!

Fried Chicken

We had to make fried chicken its own Oakland food category because it’s just that popular. Bakesale Betty is arguably the most well-known outside of Oakland thanks to its fried chicken sandwich with spicy slaw.

Over in Old Oakland Miss Ollie’s has a Caribbean slant on their skillet fried chicken.

Southeast Asian Food 

We’re pretty sure you could go a month straight and only eat Asian food in Oakland because there are just that many quality options. However, we’re particularly big fans of the Southeast Asian Oakland food scene.

For lauded Burmese food, head to Teni East Kitchen that was started by Burma Superstar alum. The salads and curries pull in people from across the Bay from foodies to hipsters.

Ramen, Ramen, and More Ramen

Another Asian cuisine we love to hone in on when we’re traveling to Oakland? Japanese food and, more specifically, ramen. You can’t go wrong with the seasonal ramen bowls at Itani Ramen though we’re partial to the miso pork ramen in particular. The space is super cheery and the most fun is that the desserts come out of a vending machine! 

Over in the Rockridge neighborhood, you can get your ramen with a dash of street cred since the team behind Ramen Shop brings their knowledge from having worked at Chez Panisse. People go for the garlic shoyu ramen but stay for the cocktails and small bites!

Middle Eastern

Just as impressive as the Southeast Asian food restaurant options in the Oakland food scene are the Middle Eastern food options. 

Another great option for contemporary, fresh Middle Eastern food? The Kebabery that the crew behind Camino brought to North Oakland. As the name suggests, they focus on kebabs (the herby lamb and the trumpet mushroom are tied for our favorites) but there are tons of other options including fresh salads and seasonal produce-forward sides like the carrot salad or smashed beets. 

Mexican Food

As you know we have a thing for all things Mexico so we, of course, have recommedations for where to get the good stuff when you’re visiting Oakland. Head to Agave Uptown for mole negro that’ll make you wish you were in Oaxaca. Get seriously good pozole verde at Cosecha; go to Cholita Linda for Baja-style fish tacos; and to Nido for barbacoa tacos. 

Michelin Star Quality Cocktail Lounge

One of the sweethearts of Oakland for the past several years has been Chef James Syhabout Michelin-starred restaurant, Commis where we’d eat on the regular if we had an endless amount of time and money.

So we’re just as excited about the opening of the more casual cocktail lounge and sister restaurant called CDP where you can get thoughtfully-executed bar bites (including the popular slow-poached egg dish from Commis) as well as wine, bubbles, beer and, of course cocktails. 

Bay Area Seafood: Cioppino + Dungeness Crab

It’s not clear exactly how cioppino came to be as a dish but it’s clear that it’s a mainstay in the Bay Area food scene on par with sourdough. When you’re in the East Bay, get your cioppino fix at The Cook and her Farmer.  

From November to late Spring, it’s Dungeness crab season in the Bay Area and we cannot get enough of it. If you’re in Oakland during the season, head to Camino where you can get a half a local Dungeness crab grilled in the wood-burning fireplace.

Those are our picks for where to eat when you visit Oakland. Any other recommendations we missed? Let us know in the comments below. 

More California Food Tips

• What Is Grown In California?
• Iconic Foods From California To Try
• Local Food: Where To Eat Garlic In Gilroy California

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