The best restaurants in Oakland to try right now

After cooking at several dining institutions throughout the Bay, Chef-Owner Geoff Davis set out to create a deeply personal restaurant, Burdell, named after his grandmother. Walking into the space feels homey and inviting, and that's intentional. Family photos adorn the walls while the menu features dishes inspired by family recipes with Davis' own twist, demonstrating just how much range soul food has. The menu is produce-driven, changing seasonally with ingredients sourced from local farms. The menu is comprised of a "For the Table" section with dishes like fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and 'BBQ' whole shrimp, in addition to individual entrees and sides (don't miss the mouthwatering collard greens). The table can also opt in for the "family dinner," a family-style, four-course menu centered around pickle-brined fried chicken ($70 per guest).

In a nutshell, Bombera represents the best of Oakland. Rooted in honoring ancestry, community, and social justice, a dining experience here feels like slurping up homemade chicken noodle soup on a dreary day: it awakens you. Buzzy and vibrant any day of the week, the energy wafting over the dining room is palpable as friends catch up over playful cocktails and Chef Dominica Rice Cisneros' menu, which honors Mexican heritage cooking and embraces ingredient from California farms. Fire is the central theme at Bombera—not only does the name mean "Fire woman" in Spanish, it's located in an old fire station. The wood-oven fire also plays a central role in cooking, with the ash used to help make the house-made masa.

Located in Oakland's Uptown neighborhood, Parche's atmosphere is welcoming and lively. You'll find those stopping by for an after-work drink, friends gathered to celebrate birthdays, and plenty of date-goers. The contemporary Colombian restaurant is Paul Iglesias's first personal venture. He had previously managed Canela Bistro & Wine Bar in San Francisco. Going out on his own, Iglesias wanted to showcase his heritage by featuring Colombian cuisine and cooking techniques.

The family-style menu starts with a selection of ceviches before offering smaller shared plates, including various empanadas, arepas, yucca fritters, and vegetables. If you have room, several larger dishes round out the meal. Parche's cocktail menu is as lively as the atmosphere, with the house specialty being a Spanish style of gin & tonic. Colombian touches aren't only found in the food, but in every decor detail: handmade balays, a form of a wicker basket, hang above the tables and boldly colorful historical Colombian prints line the walls. Overall, Parche represents the best of what Oakland embodies—a place to honor the family heritage and build community.

Located along Piedmont Avenue, Pomet holds a Green Michelin Star, recognized for its sustainability commitment. The restaurant offers an elevated menu that takes farm-to-table to the next level within a relaxed, welcoming neighborhood restaurant. Owner Aomboon “Boonie” Deasy is well-known in the Bay Area as the head of K&J Orchards, producing some of the region's most exquisite fruit. The orchard has supplied customers at farmers' markets and some of San Francisco's best restaurants for years. Pomet is a celebration of the bounty of K&J orchards, along with local ingredients sourced from farms throughout the area. Dishes, often treated with Asian cooking techniques, rotate seasonally. A few constants remain on the menu, including the "ugly mushroom-filled pasta" mixed with creamy miso butter. Fruit-forward desserts are also a must-try.

ACRE is a Mediterranean restaurant located in the former spaces of Oliveto, a legendary restaurant that operated at the corner of College Ave near the Rockridge BART station for nearly 35 years. Given the local love for Oliveto, ACRE had big shoes to fill—and so far, the community is responding warmly. The two-level space has been completely refreshed and has already become a popular neighborhood spot. Downstairs, you'll find an "all-day, European-style" cafe serving pizzas cooked in the stone oven as well as other "unfussy dishes" and classic-inspired cocktails. Upstairs, the main dining room menu is more elevated with dishes. 

Chef-owner Mic Talmor opened Pomella at an inopportune time: spring 2020. Despite the pandemic, the restaurant won over Bay Area diners who came in droves for her “familial, Middle Eastern'' flavors. Pomella's California-Israeli dishes are inspired by Talmor's roots in northern Israel combined with California produce, offering items like falafel, pita, and mujadara (a spiced and lentil dish). Whatever you do, don't skip the hummus—it’s some of the creamiest you'll ever taste, made by a special machine Talmor funded through Kickstarter.

In Oakland, popular restaurants often first start out as food trucks or pop-ups. That was the case for Tacos Oscar, which served up his mouthwatering tacos across the Bay. In 2018, founders Oscar Michel and Jake Weiss opened its permanent location in the Temescal neighborhood. The venue is completely outdoors, with brightly painted shipping containers decorated with string lights, cacti, and custom wood tables. The menu consists of tacos and tostadas that change every week. Expect juicy, meaty options like pork chile verde as well as a slew of vegan choices. 

Nothing short of legendary, the employee-owned Zachary’s Chicago Pizza has been an East Bay staple since 1983. For over three decades, the original Rockridge location in Oakland has turned out killer Chicago-style deep dish, thin crust and half-baked pizzas.

Ever want to go out to eat and be treated to the luxury of making no decisions—and also not spending a fortune while enjoying incredible food? If this sounds like a dream, head to MAMA Oakland, which features a nightly three-course menu for only $39.95 per person, including a starter, pasta and dessert. Easy, simple, delicious, wallet-friendly—plus good vibes and very good wine (the restaurant is run by Stevie Stacionis and Josiah Baldivino, who also own a beloved wine shop, Bay Grape.)

Located in Public Market Emeryville, Minnie Bell's offers traditional, soulful family recipes with flavors from the south. Chef-owner Fernay McPherson serves dishes she learned to cook from her grandmother, Lilly Bell, and her great-aunt, Minnie, while growing up in the Fillmore District of San Francisco. The star is the fried chicken (brined in buttermilk, hot sauce, and rosemary for 24 hours) but you'll also find everything from cornbread to mac and cheese to round out a full feast.

Tucked along a strip mall in Temescal, the outside of FOB Kitchen is unassuming, while on the inside, the restaurant bursts with color and flavor. After operating as a pop-up, owners Janice and Brandi Dulce started serving their delicious Filipino food out of this brick-and-mortar location, which features bold wallpaper, colorful decor, an open kitchen, and an overall warm party vibe. Stand-outs include lumpia and fork-tender pork adobo and vibrant side dishes ranging from salads to noodles.

Commis remains Oakland's only Michelin-starred restaurant (aside from Pomet, which earned a Green Star). The restaurant offers an innovative multi-course menu for $225. It’s a hefty price tag, sure, but one we can get behind—and considering how consistently packed this place is, we’re not alone. In the kitchen, Chef James Syhabout shows off his finesse with well-sourced, local ingredients in a sophisticated nightly tasting menu.

At Agave Uptown, Chef Octavio Diaz is at the helm of this bright Mexican food and mescal destination where you’ll find classic Oaxacan dishes like tlayudas (often dubbed Oaxacan pizza) and his signature 20-ingredient mole negro (made from Diaz’ family recipe). Get tipsy on tasty flights of tequila and mezcal, served with sal de gusano (worm salt), of course.

In West Oakland, head to Soba Ichi for some of the most authentic Japanese soba you’ll find in the country. Each day, this hotspot makes just 100 orders of soba and serves every batch until they sell out. You can order them hot or cold, and it’s worth ordering a few appetizers while you’re at it, like the Nasu Agebitashi (a deep-fried eggplant soaked in dashi broth). You'll also find beer, cocktails, and sake.

alaMar is a seafood-centric, modern restaurant in Uptown Oakland. Dominican-American chef Nelson German serves seafood boils featuring everything from PEI mussels to Alaskan snow crab, alongside Dominican rice bowls, Cajun oyster shooters, crawfish tacos, and lemon pepper waffle fries. Raw oysters, crushable cocktails, and outdoor seating have made it a neighborhood favorite.

Temescal’s Teni East Kitchen is a one-of-a-kind Asian fusion spot that draws heavily on Myanmar and Burmese influences with touches of Southeast Asia, India, and Ethiopia. The sparse, wood-lined space serves roti with curry, kale tea leaf salad, and coconut shrimp curry. House signatures, like a crisp pea shoot salad (laden with peanuts, shallots, chickpeas, garlic, and lime), steal the show.