If you haven't tasted from the vast array of culinary offerings that Oakland has to offer, consider this your crash course. From the chilaquiles at Grand Lake Kitchen to Hopscotch's Yonsei Oyster, here are 100 things you need to try in the Town before you die.
* Denotes a new dish on this year's list.
1. The Young and the Breastless sandwich:Analog* // 414 14th St (Downtown), analogoakland.com
2. Ligurian fish stew: Lungomare* // 1 Broadway (Jack London Square), lungomareoakland.com
(Photo by Virginia Miller)
3. Coconut Shrimp Lollipop: AlaMar* // 100 Grand Ave #111 (Uptown), alamaroakland.com
4. Eisbein (braised pork shank): Brotzeit Lokal Boathaus & Biergarten// 1000 Embarcadero (Embarcadero), brotzeitbiergarten.com
5. Shawarma: Ali Baba Grill // 10151 Foothill Blvd (East Oakland), (510) 632-2222
6. Venezuelan corn pancakes: Cafe Talavera* // 130 Frank H Ogawa Plaza (Downtown Oakland), (510) 250-9802
(Photo by Tim Costner)
7. Bun mam noodle soup: Bun Mam Soc Trang* // 1326 E 18th St (Clinton), (510) 534-2828
8. 99 Cent-Menu:Lena's Soul Food Cafe* // 1462 High St (Fruitvale), lenassoulfoodcafe.com
(Photo via Yelp)
9. Garbage Bread:Portal Restaurant* // 1611 2nd Ave (Merritt), portaloakland.com
10. Sashimi Combo:Geta Japanese Restaurant // 165 41st St (Piedmont Ave), getaoakland.com
(Photo by John Storey)
11. Moroccan roast chicken:Mockingbird* // 1745 San Pablo Ave (Old Oakland), mockingbirdoakland.com
12.Caramel Pudding:Flora // 1900 Telegraph Ave (Uptown), floraoakland.com
13. Belly Burrito:Belly // 1901 San Pablo Ave (Uptown), bellyuptown.com
14. Meatball + Egg Banh Mi: Banh Mi Ba Le Sandwich Deli // 1909 International Blvd (San Antonio), (510) 261-9800
15. Yonsei Oyster:Hopscotch // 1915 San Pablo Ave (Uptown), hopscotchoakland.com
(Photo via Refinery 29)
16. Chocolate Bombs:Donut Savant* // 1934 Broadway (Uptown), donutsavant.com
17. Bistek fried rice:Kainbigan* // 2101 14th Ave (Clinton), kainbigan.com
(Photo by Benjamin Seto)
18. Laotian Fried Rice Ball Salad: Champa Garden // 2102 8th Ave (Ivy Hill), (510) 238-8819
19. Happy Meal:Plum Bar + Restaurant// 2216 Broadway (Uptown), plumbaroakland.com
(Photo via Bon Appetit)
20. Tea Leaf Salad: Grocery Cafe* // 2248 10th Ave (Ivy Hill), (925) 566-4877
21. Louisiana Blue Crab & Lobster Thermidor:Pican Restaurant // 2295 Broadway (Uptown), picanrestaurant.com
22. Bacon Mochi: FuseBox // 2311 Magnolia St (West Oakland), fuseboxoakland.com
(Photo via Spot the Food)
23. Hawker Sundae:Hawker Fare// 2300 Webster St (Uptown), hawkerfare.com
24. Monster Pho: Monster Pho// 3905 Broadway (Temescal), monsterpho.com
25. Baby pig tacos:Calavera* // 2337 Broadway (Uptown), calaveraoakland.com
26. Oxtail Poutine:Chop Bar // 247 4th St #111 (Jack London Square), oaklandchopbar.com
27. Lamb Cheeks:Mua Oakland* // 2442 Webster St (Uptown Oakland), muaoakland.com
(photo via Oprah.com)
28. Fried Chicken and Waffles:Brown Sugar Kitchen // 2534 Mandela Pkwy (West Oakland), brownsugarkitchen.com
29. Polynesian-style potato and macaroni salad: Mo's Hut* // 2676 Fruitvale Ave (Fruitvale), (510) 328-1677
30. Monster Salad:Souley Vegan // 301 Broadway (Jack London Square), souleyvegan.com
31. Falafel:Oasis Food Market* // 3045 Telegraph Ave (Pill Hill), oasisfoodmarkettelegraphave.com
(Photo via Caviar)
32. White Pie Pizza:Buma's* // 325 19th St (Uptown), bumas.com
(photo via Media Cache)
33. Black and White Cookies: Grand Bakery // 3264 Grand Ave (Lakeshore), (510) 465-1110
34. Special Dumplings:Shan Dong Restaurant // 328 10th St (Chinatown), shandongrestaurantssf.com
35. Bacon Scallion Cheddar Scone:B-Side Baking Co.* // 3303 San Pablo Ave (West Oakland), bsidebbq.com
36. Pizza Margherita di Bufala: Boot and Shoe Service // 3308 Grand Ave (Grand Lake), bootandshoeservice.com
(Photo via East Bay Express)
37. Salchipapas:The Half Orange // 3340 E 12th (Fruitvale), thehalforange.com
38. Green-garlic cream soup:Michel Bistro* // 3343 Lakeshore Ave (Lakeshore), michelbistro.com
39. Bacalao Croquetas:Shakewell // 3407 Lakeshore Avenue (Lakeshore), shakewelloakland.com
40. Chitarra Carbonara:Parlour* // 357 19th St (Uptown), parlouroakland.com
41. Curry Noodle Soup known as "Laksa Mee":Chilli Padi* // 366 8th St (Chinatown), chillipadimalaysiancuisine.com
42. Yet Some Bayaynetu (vegetarian sampler): Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant* // 366 Grand Ave (Adams Point), enssaro.com
43. Breakfast Sando w/ buttermilk biscuit:Sequoia Diner* // 3719 MacArthur Blvd (Laurel District), sequoiadiner.com
44. The Rocket Dog:The Hog's Apothecary* // 375 40th St (Temescal), hogsapothecary.com
45. Karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken): Abura-ya* // 380 15th St (Uptown), (510) 502-7743
46. Falafel Sandwich:Liba Falafel* // 380 17th St (Uptown), libafalafel.com
(Photo by Yosr Najjar)
47. Open-faced bagel with lox and cream cheese:Beauty's Bagel Shop* // 3838 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), beautysbagelshop.com
48. The Nightly Menu:Commis* // 3859 Piedmont Ave (Piedmont Ave), commisrestaurant.com
(Photo via Pintrest)
49. Hummus Platter:Ba-Bite* // 3905 Piedmont Ave (Piedmont Ave), babiteoakland.com
50. Ricotta Baked Myrtle Leaves:Camino // 3917 Grand Ave (Grand Lake), caminorestaurant.com
(Photo via Yelp)
51. Gilroy Garlic Mac + Cheese:Homeroom// 400 40th St (Temescal), homeroom510.com
52. Fish sauce caramel fried chicken with waffles:Clove and Hoof* // 4001 Broadway (Temescal), cloveandhoofoakland.com
53. Super Burrito: El Taco Zamorano Restaurant* // 4032 Foothill Blvd (Fruitvale), (510) 536-3146
(photo via SF Weekly)
54. Kronnerburger:Kronnerburger// 4063 Piedmont Ave (Piedmont Ave), kronnerburger.com
(photo via Ezra Pound Cake)
55. Morning Bun:La Farine Bakery// 4094 Piedmont Ave (Dimond District), lafarine.com
56. Black and Tan:Fentons Creamery// 4226 Piedmont Ave (Piedmont Ave), fentonscreamery.com
(photo via Ramona d'Viola)
57. Octopus melt bao:Salsipuedes* // 4201 Market St (Longfellow), salsipuedes.us
58. Spaghetti Sugo with Meatballs:La Coco's Restaurant// 4270 Piedmont Ave (Piedmont Ave), lacocospiedmont.com
59. Roast Chicken:Nick and Aron's* // 4316 Telegraph Avenue (Temescal), nickandarons.com
(Photo by Bert Johnson)
60. Pickled Sardine Avocado Toast:Haven // 44 Webster St (Jack London Square), havenoakland.com
61. Lasagnette:Dopo// 4293 Piedmont Ave (Piedmont Ave), dopoadesso.com
62. Pollo Salteado Con Mole Negro:Nido Kitchen & Bar* // 444 Oak St (Jack London Square), nidooakland.com
63. Cabeza tacos: Taqueria El Paisa@.com* // 4610 International Blvd (Fruitvale), (510)-534-2180
64. Red flannel hash:Aunt Mary's Cafe* // 4640 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), auntmaryscafe.com
65. Squid Ink Paella:Duende // 468 19th St (Uptown), duendeoakland.com
66. Spicy Tofu Soup:Pyeong Chang Tofu House // 4701 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), pyeongchang.orengeo.com
67. Sage ice cream:Tara's Organic Ice Cream* // 4731 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), tarasorganic.com
(Photo via Caviar)
68. Piatto Della Casa:DESCO* // 499 9th St (Old Oakland) // descooakland.com
69. Naughty Cream Doughnut:Doughnut Dolly* // 482 B 49th St (Temescal), doughnutdolly.com
70. SaltFish and Ackee:Miss Ollie's// 901 Washington St (Old Oakland), realmissolliesoakland.com
71. Thai Iced Tea Ice Cream:Curbside Creamery* // 482 49th St (Temescal), curbsideoakland.com
72. Macarons By Natalie:Cupcake Cove* // 500 12th St Suite 136 (Uptown), thecupcakecove.com
73. Bombay Sandwich: Juhu Beach Club // 5179 Telegraph Ave (Rockridge), juhubeachclub.com
74. Cauliflower Gratin:Pizzaiolo // 5008 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), pizzaiolooakland.com
75. Chilean Hangover Stew:Bocanova* // 55 Webster St (Jack London Square), bocanova.com
76. Hari Hari Nabi hot pot:B-Dama* // 907 Washington St (Old Oakland), asbdama.com
(photo via Grub Street)
77. Fried Chicken Sandwich:Bakesale Betty// 5098 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), bakesalebetty.com
78. French onion soup:À Côté* // 5478 College Ave (Rockridge), acoterestaurant.com
79. 14 carrot and sweet yam gnocchi:Encuentro* // 550 2nd Street (Jack London Square), encuentrooakland.com
80. Fish & Chips:Hapuku Fish Shop* // 5655 College Ave (Rockridge), rockridgemarkethall.com
81. Chilaquiles:Grand Lake Kitchen // 576 Grand Ave (Grand Lake), grandlakekitchen.com
82. Green Chile Mole:Cosecha // 907 Washington St (Old Oakland), cosechacafe.com
83. Deep Dish Spinach & Mushroom: Zachary's Chicago Pizza // 5801 College Ave (Rockridge), zacharys.com
84. Veggie Shoyu Meyer Lemon Ramen:Ramen Shop // 5812 College Ave (Rockridge), ramenshop.com
85. Pork schnitzel:Chowhaus* // 6118 Medau Place (Montclair), chowhausoakland.com
86. Deviled eggs:Hen House* // 907 Washington St (Old Oakland), henhouse.com
87. Brik Purse:Millennium* // 5912 College Ave (Rockridge), millenniumrestaurant.com
88. Bun hen:Da Nang Quan* // 615 E 12th St (San Antonio), danangquancuisine.com
89. Fried fish po-mi:10th & Wood* // 945 Wood Street (West Oakland), 10thandwood.com
(photo via Southie)
90. Pulled Piggy Sandwich:Southie* // 6311 College Ave (Rockridge), southieoakland.com
91. Pork Ribs:BBQ Hut* // 6400 Shattuck Ave (North Oakland), bbqhut-oakland.com
92. Miso Ramen: Ippo Ramen* // 95 Linden St (West Oakland), (415) 794-5953
93. Veggie Combo:Café Colucci // 6427 Telegraph Ave (Rockridge), cafecolucci.com
94. Boudin blanc sausage: Taylor's Sausages* // 907 Washington St (Old Oakland), (510) 832-6448
95. Ndole (peanut and spinach stew):A Taste of Africa* // 6638 Bancroft Ave (East Oakland), atoafrica.com
96. Blistered summer peppers:Dock at Linden Street* // 95 Linden St. (West Oakland), thedockoakland.com
(photo via Real Cheap Eats)
97. Shaobing (savory baked biscuit stuffed with smoked boiled egg): Tianjin Dumplings* // 989 Franklin St. (Chinatown), (510) 459-6265
(photo via Yelp)
98. Grilled Double Cut Pork Chop:Wood Tavern // 6317 College Ave (Rockridge), woodtavern.net
99. Po'Boy Sandwich:The Cook and her Farmer// 907 Washington St (Old Oakland), thecookandherfarmer.com
100: Baja Fish Taco: Cholita Linda// 4923 Telegraph Ave (Temescal), cholitalinda.com
