Guidebook for Oakland

Al
Guidebook for Oakland

Food Scene

Great Korean food in a small, cheap, and friendly little corner restaurant. It's just a little too far to walk, unfortunately, and Ashby is no fun to walk on anyway. But it's worth the drive.
26 locals recommend
Spoon Korean Bistro
933 Ashby Ave
26 locals recommend
Great Korean food in a small, cheap, and friendly little corner restaurant. It's just a little too far to walk, unfortunately, and Ashby is no fun to walk on anyway. But it's worth the drive.
My favorite place for weekend coffee and treats. Fantastic baked goods made on the premises. A 10 minute walk. For a nicer walk, go the long way around, thought the neighborhoods instead of on MLK.
115 locals recommend
Sweet Adeline Bakeshop
3350 Adeline St
115 locals recommend
My favorite place for weekend coffee and treats. Fantastic baked goods made on the premises. A 10 minute walk. For a nicer walk, go the long way around, thought the neighborhoods instead of on MLK.
Delicious, cheap, fast noodles. Fast food that's better than fast food. If you're in downtown and need to eat - definitely go here.
14 locals recommend
Toss Noodle Bar
2272 Shattuck Ave
14 locals recommend
Delicious, cheap, fast noodles. Fast food that's better than fast food. If you're in downtown and need to eat - definitely go here.
Great for breakfast -- after you've eaten at the Vault!
25 locals recommend
Venus Restaurant
2327 Shattuck Ave
25 locals recommend
Great for breakfast -- after you've eaten at the Vault!
When you absolutely have to have fried fish - this is the spot.
8 locals recommend
Off the Grid
1750 Sacramento Street
8 locals recommend
When you absolutely have to have fried fish - this is the spot.
Good, affordable indian street food.
6 locals recommend
Chaat Café
1902 University Ave
6 locals recommend
Good, affordable indian street food.
Iconic Indian market and street food. Soooo good. If you like Indian food, you have to come here.
84 locals recommend
Viks Chaat
2390 Fourth St
84 locals recommend
Iconic Indian market and street food. Soooo good. If you like Indian food, you have to come here.
Bar with Pizza and ... Indoor Bocce Ball? Really? Yeah, it's pretty cool.
Gio's Pizza and Bocce
2420 Shattuck Avenue
Bar with Pizza and ... Indoor Bocce Ball? Really? Yeah, it's pretty cool.
The most comprehensive cheese store I have ever seen. Try their pizza (they choose the type, not you). Worth a visit to North Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto.
317 locals recommend
The Cheeseboard Pizza
1512 Shattuck Ave
317 locals recommend
The most comprehensive cheese store I have ever seen. Try their pizza (they choose the type, not you). Worth a visit to North Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto.
Really good Ethiopian food at decent prices.
53 locals recommend
Café Colucci
5849 Telegraph Ave
53 locals recommend
Really good Ethiopian food at decent prices.
Love their Fish Tacos. Pretty good food & prices.
17 locals recommend
Taqueria La Familia
2971 Shattuck Ave
17 locals recommend
Love their Fish Tacos. Pretty good food & prices.
Vegetarian Mexican. Really good.
44 locals recommend
Flacos
3031 Adeline St
44 locals recommend
Vegetarian Mexican. Really good.
Very affordable, interesting decor, decent food. Then go next door to the micro-micro brew-pub.
58 locals recommend
Easy Creole
1761 Alcatraz Ave
58 locals recommend
Very affordable, interesting decor, decent food. Then go next door to the micro-micro brew-pub.
One of the best and most authentic Japanese restaurants I have ever eaten at. Not cheap - but really really good.
79 locals recommend
Kirala
2100 Ward St
79 locals recommend
One of the best and most authentic Japanese restaurants I have ever eaten at. Not cheap - but really really good.
Super affordable breakfast and lunch. Yes, you should eat here!
23 locals recommend
Vault
3250 Adeline St
23 locals recommend
Super affordable breakfast and lunch. Yes, you should eat here!
Another great breakfast and lunch spot.
27 locals recommend
Sconehenge Bakery & Cafe
2787 Shattuck Ave
27 locals recommend
Another great breakfast and lunch spot.
Even though this is a supermarket, they have a good prepared food counter with Chinese, Burritos, and Pizza. And there's an eat-in section. Best fast food around.
419 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon St
419 locals recommend
Even though this is a supermarket, they have a good prepared food counter with Chinese, Burritos, and Pizza. And there's an eat-in section. Best fast food around.
Million dollar views on the Bay. If you want somewhere special to take your spouse, bring them here. It's expensive, but so worth a meal here.
45 locals recommend
Skates on the Bay
100 Seawall Dr
45 locals recommend
Million dollar views on the Bay. If you want somewhere special to take your spouse, bring them here. It's expensive, but so worth a meal here.
One of the very few late-night restaurants around. Open until 1:30am.
Bangkok Thai Cuisine
1459 University Avenue
One of the very few late-night restaurants around. Open until 1:30am.
Without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in the United States. You can go to the downstairs, which is AMAZING. But that'll set you back $100/person, without wine Or, you can go to the cafe upstairs and get the same food a-la-carte. If you're a foodie, there is no excuse for skipping Chez Panisse.
337 locals recommend
Chez Panisse
1517 Shattuck Ave
337 locals recommend
Without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in the United States. You can go to the downstairs, which is AMAZING. But that'll set you back $100/person, without wine Or, you can go to the cafe upstairs and get the same food a-la-carte. If you're a foodie, there is no excuse for skipping Chez Panisse.
Sometimes, you just want fast, cheap pizza. Here it is. If you want to eat pizza and want it now, gotta go Dominoes. If you can wait for better pizza, order from Emilia's. It's much better. But you'll wait an hour to get it.
22 locals recommend
Domino's Pizza
3264 Adeline St
22 locals recommend
Sometimes, you just want fast, cheap pizza. Here it is. If you want to eat pizza and want it now, gotta go Dominoes. If you can wait for better pizza, order from Emilia's. It's much better. But you'll wait an hour to get it.
Really good vegetarian Korean food - bowl, pots, and all the kimchi.
19 locals recommend
Pyeong Chang Tofu House Oakland
4701 Telegraph Ave
19 locals recommend
Really good vegetarian Korean food - bowl, pots, and all the kimchi.

Drinks & Nightlife

Gets a little crowded on weekends, but great decor and a nice atmosphere. Food is decent. Drinks are pretty good.
24 locals recommend
East Bay Spice Company
2134 Oxford St
24 locals recommend
Gets a little crowded on weekends, but great decor and a nice atmosphere. Food is decent. Drinks are pretty good.
The local Karaoke Bar! Fun, very mixed crowd - if you want a place where you can rub elbows with a 22-year-old hipsters and their Grandmothers in the same bar, this is it.
33 locals recommend
Nick's Lounge
3218 Adeline St
33 locals recommend
The local Karaoke Bar! Fun, very mixed crowd - if you want a place where you can rub elbows with a 22-year-old hipsters and their Grandmothers in the same bar, this is it.
Local pub with live music, drinks, and decent food. If you want to hear some local live music, this is the spot. Decent pub food too, and you can bring your kids.
74 locals recommend
The Starry Plough Pub
3101 Shattuck Ave
74 locals recommend
Local pub with live music, drinks, and decent food. If you want to hear some local live music, this is the spot. Decent pub food too, and you can bring your kids.
Unique mini-micro brewpub. Like, it has 10 seats. It's tiny, with lots of good bear. And the DJ spins on weekends. Good stuff. If you like beer, go here.
50 locals recommend
Hoi Polloi Brewing Taproom and Beat Lounge
1763 Alcatraz Ave
50 locals recommend
Unique mini-micro brewpub. Like, it has 10 seats. It's tiny, with lots of good bear. And the DJ spins on weekends. Good stuff. If you like beer, go here.
Our local gay bar and dance spot. Good place to shake your booty, and then you can walk home! I like the DJs here.
26 locals recommend
White Horse Inn
6551 Telegraph Ave
26 locals recommend
Our local gay bar and dance spot. Good place to shake your booty, and then you can walk home! I like the DJs here.

Essentials

In case something goes wrong ... Alta Bates is the nearest hospital with an emergency room. It's about 5 minute's drive, or 15 minutes walk.
7 locals recommend
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center | Alta Bates Campus
2450 Ashby Ave
7 locals recommend
In case something goes wrong ... Alta Bates is the nearest hospital with an emergency room. It's about 5 minute's drive, or 15 minutes walk.
The closest full service dry cleaner. Pretty good prices.
Vogue Cleaners
2973 Shattuck Ave
The closest full service dry cleaner. Pretty good prices.
The closest laundromat
7 locals recommend
Washingtown Laundry
3215 Adeline St
7 locals recommend
The closest laundromat
Not as good as Berkeley Bowl Market, but if you need to shop when Berkeley Bowl is closed, this is the next best.
553 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
230 Bay Pl
553 locals recommend
Not as good as Berkeley Bowl Market, but if you need to shop when Berkeley Bowl is closed, this is the next best.

Entertainment & Activities

If you have kids, you don't want to miss this place. It's one of those parks that makes me think, how has this place not been shut down yet? They'll give you a hammer and wood, and you go build something. Or play on the structures that others have built, including a boat! Get inside a plastic drum and roll down a hill. And they have a zipline! Super fun.
23 locals recommend
Adventure Playground
160 University Ave
23 locals recommend
If you have kids, you don't want to miss this place. It's one of those parks that makes me think, how has this place not been shut down yet? They'll give you a hammer and wood, and you go build something. Or play on the structures that others have built, including a boat! Get inside a plastic drum and roll down a hill. And they have a zipline! Super fun.