It's an exciting time for the Oakland restaurant scene.
While some of our favorite restaurants in San Francisco and Berkeley have been forced to shutter due to rising rents and steep competition, inventive new eateries continue to pop up all over The Town.
Of course, the restaurant industry is as ever-changing as the Bay Area's seasonal menus, and since we first published this delicious list (at the end of 2016), some of our restaurant picks have sadly already closed their doors. Now, in time for our first-ever Big Eat Oakland pop-up event (May 16-18 at The Gastropig in Uptown), we've updated the list for maximum eating opportunities.
Here we bring you 100 all new dishes to try in Oakland this year. You can get a taste of 18 of them—from restaurants including Commis, Shakewell, Grand Lake Kitchen, Wood Tavern, Cosecha and more—at our pop-up tasting series next month. For event details, go to 7x7-big-eat-oakland.eventbrite.com.
1. Oxtail stew at Kingston 11 Cuisine // 2270 Telegraph Ave (Uptown), kingston11eats.com
2. Barbacoa de res tacos at Nido // 444 Oak Street (Jack London Square), nidooakland.com
3. Cheesy Trueburger at Trueburger // 146 Grand Ave (Lake Merritt), trueburgeroakland.com
4. Hand-stretched strudel at Firebrand Artisan Breads // 2343 Broadway (Uptown), facebook.com/FirebrandArtisanBreads/
5. Miso pork ramen at Itani Ramen // 1736 Telegraph Ave. (Uptown), itaniramen.com
6. Mole negro de Oaxaca at Agave Uptown // 2135 Franklin St. (Uptown), agaveuptown.com
7. Crunchies at Locol // 2214 Broadway (Uptown), welocol.com
8. Prix fixe menu at Delage // 536 9th St (Old Oakland), delageoakland.com
9. Lemon icebox pie at Lois the Pie Queen // 851 60th St (Rockridge), facebook.com/pages/Lois-the-Pie-Queen
10. Aunt Malai's deep-fried Lao sausage sandwich Pal's Takeaway // 478 25th St. (Hoover-Foster), palstakeaway.com
11. Fried egg on pandesal with bacon and tomato jam at Cracked // 3932 Telegraph Ave. (Temescal), facebook.com/crackedsandwich
12. The '89 pizza at Drake's Dealership // 2325 Broadway (Uptown), drinkdrakes.com/visit/dealership
13. Palak paneer at Annapurna // 948 Clay St. (Old Oakland), annapurnaoakland.com
14. Watermelon tequila ice cream at Little Giants Ice Cream (seasonal) // 1951 Telegraph Ave. (Uptown), littlegianticecream.com
15. Ponyboy pulled pork sandwich at Stay Gold Deli // 2635 San Pablo Ave. (Hoover-Foster), staygolddeli.com
16. Cubano sandwich at Cholita Linda// 4923 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), cholitalinda.com
17. Grilled rib-eye steak at Wood Tavern // 6317 College Ave (Rockridge), woodtavern.net
18. Jianbing guozi (breakfast crepe) at Tianjin Dumplings // 989 Franklin St. (Chinatown), (510) 459-6265
19. Cioppino at The Cook and her Farmer// 907 Washington St (Old Oakland), thecookandherfarmer.com
20. Caesar popcorn at The Dock at Linden Street // 95 Linden St. (West Oakland), thedockoakland.com
21. Andouille sausage at Taylor's Sausages // 907 Washington St (Old Oakland), (510) 832-6448
22. Doro Wot (chicken simmered in berbere sauce) at Café Colucci // 6427 Telegraph Ave (Rockridge), cafecolucci.com
23. The Balls Sandwich at Southie // 6311 College Ave (Rockridge), southieoakland.com
24. Garlic shoyu ramen at Ramen Shop // 5812 College Ave (Rockridge), ramenshop.com
25. Goi cuon (spring rolls) at Da Nang Quan // 615 E 12th St (San Antonio), danangquancuisine.com
26. Pulled pork hash at 10th & Wood // 945 Wood Street (West Oakland), 10thandwood.com
27. Coriander & arborio crusted King Trumpet mushrooms at Millennium // 5912 College Ave (Rockridge), millenniumrestaurant.com
28. Zachary's Special (Italian sausage, green pepper, onion, mushroom and mozzarella) at Zachary's Chicago Pizza // 5801 College Ave (Rockridge), zacharys.com
29. Pozole verde at Cosecha // 907 Washington St (Old Oakland), cosechacafe.com
30. Savory French toast at Grand Lake Kitchen // 576 Grand Ave (Grand Lake), grandlakekitchen.com
31. Ode to Genova at The Gastropig// 2123 Franklin St (Uptown), thegastropig.com
32. Goose terrine at À Côté// 5478 College Ave (Rockridge), acoterestaurant.com
33. Buttermilk fried tofu and coleslaw sandwich at Bakesale Betty // 5098 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), bakesalebetty.com
34. Karaage (Japanese fried chicken) at B-Dama // 907 Washington St (Old Oakland), facebook.com/asbdama
35. White shrimp ceviche at Bocanova // 55 Webster St (Jack London Square), bocanova.com
36. Breakfast sandwich (with a poached egg, la quercia speck, cheese, braised greens + calabrian chili butter) at Pizzaiolo // 5008 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), pizzaiolooakland.com
37. Manchurian cauliflower at Juhu Beach Club // 5179 Telegraph Ave (Temescal) [CLOSED]
38. Earl Grey on English tea cookies ice cream sandwich at Curbside Creamery// 482 49th St (Temescal), curbsideoakland.com
39. Jerk shrimp at Miss Ollie's// 901 Washington St (Old Oakland), realmissolliesoakland.com
40. Bun bo hue at Pho Ao Sen // 1139 E 12th St (Clinton), phoaosen.com
41. Galleto brick oven roasted spring chicken at Desco // 499 9th St (Old Oakland), descooakland.com
42. Chocolate agave sorbet Tara's Organic Ice Cream // 4731 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), tarasorganic.com
43. Soon Tofu (soft tofu soup) at Pyeongchang Tofu House // 4701 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), pyeongchangtofu.com
44. Patatas bravas at Duende // 468 19th St (Uptown), duendeoakland.com
45. Pain Perdu (Cajun-style French toast made with baguettes soaked in whiskey-laced custard) at Aunt Mary's Cafe // 4640 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), auntmaryscafe.com
46. Lengua tacos at Taqueria El Paisa@.com// 4610 International Blvd (Fruitvale), (510)-534-2180
47. Butternut squash and mussel soup at Dopo // 4293 Piedmont Ave (Piedmont Ave), dopoadesso.com
48. Smoked trout rillette with horseradish créme fraiche at Haven // 44 Webster St (Jack London Square), havenoakland.com
49. Eggplant parmigiana at Lo Coco's // 4270 Piedmont Ave (Piedmont Ave), lacocospiedmont.com
50. Old Fashioned Sundae at Fentons Creamery// 4226 Piedmont Ave (Piedmont Ave), fentonscreamery.com
51. Fresh fruit tarte at La Farine Bakery// 4094 Piedmont Ave. (Piedmont Ave.), lafarine.com
52. Roasted bone marrow plate at Kronnerburger// 4063 Piedmont Ave (Piedmont Ave), kronnerburger.com
53. Crispy carnitas taco at El Taco Zamorano Restaurant// 4032 Foothill Blvd (Fruitvale), (510) 536-3146
54. Cheesesteak at Clove & Hoof // // 4001 Broadway (Temescal), cloveandhoofoakland.com
55. Mexican Mac at Homeroom // 400 40th St (Temescal), homeroom510.com
56. Half a local Dungeness crab grilled in the fireplace at Camino // 3917 Grand Ave (Grand Lake), caminorestaurant.com
57. Cauliflower salad at Ba-Bite // 3905 Piedmont Ave. (Piedmont Ave), babiteoakland.com
58. The Nightly Menu at Commis // 3859 Piedmont Ave (Piedmont Ave), commisrestaurant.com
59. Classic breakfast bagel (hand-sliced lox, cream cheese, red onion & capers) at Beauty's Bagel Shop// 3838 Telegraph Ave. (Temescal), beautysbagelshop.com
60. Lotta Love combo at Liba Falafel // 380 17th St (Uptown), libafalafel.com
61. Japanese fried chicken at Abura-ya// 380 15th St (Uptown), facebook.com/aburayafriedchicken
62. Spicy pork cracklins at The Hog's Apothecary// 375 40th St (Temescal), hogsapothecary.com
63. Country Breakfast (two eggs, collard greens, potatoes, biscuit & gravy) at Sequoia Diner// 3719 MacArthur Blvd (Laurel District), sequoiadiner.com
64. Ata-Kilt (slow cooked potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and onions with garlic, ginger and turmeric) at Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant // 366 Grand Ave (Adams Point), enssaro.com
65. Malaysia Poh Piah at Chilli Padi// 366 8th St (Chinatown), chillipadimalaysiancuisine.com
66. Gnocchi cacio e pepe at Parlour // // 357 19th St (Uptown), parlouroakland.com
67. Bomba with Manila clams, chorizo & local fish at Shakewell // 3407 Lakeshore Avenue (Lakeshore), shakewelloakland.com
68. Bison tartare at Michel Bistro// 3343 Lakeshore Ave (Lakeshore), michelbistro.com
69. Duck confit with farro, broccoli, hot pepper & a fried egg at Boot and Shoe Service // 3308 Grand Ave (Grand Lake), bootandshoeservice.com
70. Shan Dong chicken at Shan Dong Restaurant// 328 10th St (Chinatown), shandongrestaurantssf.com
71. Smoked pork nachos at The Half Orange// 3340 E 12th (Fruitvale), thehalforange.com
72. Burrata ravioli at Oliveto // 5655 College Ave (Rockridge), oliveto.com/ourcommunity
73. Shroom pizza at Buma's// 325 19th St (Uptown), bumas.com
74. Baba Ghanouge salad at Oasis Food Market// 3045 Telegraph Ave (Pill Hill), oasisfoodmarkettelegraphave.com
75. Fried okra at Souley Vegan // 301 Broadway (Jack London Square), souleyvegan.com
76. Organic cheddar cheese grits with two poached eggs at Brown Sugar Kitchen // 2534 Mandela Pkwy (West Oakland), brownsugarkitchen.com
77. #CBQ Burger at Mua Oakland // 2442 Webster St (Uptown Oakland), muaoakland.com
78. 10oz Marin Sun Farms pork chop at Chop Bar // 247 4th St #111 (Jack London Square), oaklandchopbar.com
79. Guacamole and chapulines at Calavera// 2337 Broadway (Uptown), calaveraoakland.com
80. Vegetable pho at Monster Pho// 3905 Broadway (Temescal), monsterpho.com
81. Korean fried chicken at FuseBox// 2311 Magnolia St (West Oakland), fuseboxoakland.com
82. Hampshire pork belly at Pican Restaurant // 2295 Broadway (Uptown), picanrestaurant.com
83. Samosas at Grocery Cafe // 2248 10th Ave (Ivy Hill), (925) 566-4877
84. Smoked fries with mezcal ketchup at Plum Bar + Restaurant // 2216 Broadway (Uptown), plumbaroakland.com
85. Champa sampler at Champa Garden // 2102 8th Ave (Ivy Hill), (510) 238-8819
86. Chicken adobo at Kainbigan// 2101 14th Ave (Clinton), kainbigan.com
87. Salted maple donut at Donut Savant// 1934 Broadway (Uptown), donutsavant.com
88. Bucket of fried chicken at Hopscotch // 1915 San Pablo Ave (Uptown), hopscotchoakland.com
89. Banh Mi pate cha lua at Banh Mi Ba Le Sandwich Deli // 1909 International Blvd (San Antonio), (510) 261-9800
90. Cali Burrito at Belly// 1901 San Pablo Ave (Uptown), bellyuptown.com
91. German chocolate cake at Flora // 1900 Telegraph Ave (Uptown), floraoakland.com
92. Veggie udon at Geta Japanese Restaurant// 165 41st St (Piedmont Ave), getasushioakland.com
93. Garbage bread at Portal Restaurant// 1611 2nd Ave (Merritt), portaloakland.com
94. Smothered chicken with candied yams at Lena's Soul Food Cafe// 1462 High St (Fruitvale), lenassoulfoodcafe.com
95.Fried mahi mahi tacos at Cafe Talavera// 130 Frank H Ogawa Plaza (Downtown Oakland), (510) 250-9802
96. Roasted pumpkin pie in chocolate crust at PieTisserie // 1605 Second Ave. (Lake Merritt), pietisserie.com
97. Bretzel & obadzta at Brotzeit Lokal Boathaus & Biergarten// 1000 Embarcadero (Embarcadero), brotzeitbiergarten.com
98. Local Dungeness crab atLungomare// 1 Broadway (Jack London Square), lungomareoakland.com
99. Tornado potato crisp at alaMar // 100 Grand Ave #111 (Uptown), alamaroakland.com
100. The Rachel at Analog // 414 14th St (Downtown),analogoakland.com
