Oakland + Berkeley Guidebook
Food + Drink
Our closest restaurant serves excellent gourmet burgers and a few Korean dishes and salads.
A+ Burger
6228 Telegraph AvenueOur closest restaurant serves excellent gourmet burgers and a few Korean dishes and salads.
Great “Oakland” style sourdough pizza and bagels. Check online for the daily pies.
48 locals recommend
Nick's Pizza and Bakery Made in Oakland
6400 Shattuck AveGreat “Oakland” style sourdough pizza and bagels. Check online for the daily pies.
Classic local spot with cheap but tasty burgers. Beyond beef and garden burgers available. Pro tip: Order with grilled onions.
10 locals recommend
Smokehouse
3115 Telegraph AveClassic local spot with cheap but tasty burgers. Beyond beef and garden burgers available. Pro tip: Order with grilled onions.
Excellent poke joint with good portions and a wide assortment of mix-ins. Our first choice for poke.
Hashtag Poki
3075 Telegraph AveExcellent poke joint with good portions and a wide assortment of mix-ins. Our first choice for poke.
Reasonably priced family fare with good breakfast. Pleasant parklet for outdoor dining. Grab coffee across the street at Highwire. Adjacent to BART.
19 locals recommend
Crepevine Restaurants
5600 College AveReasonably priced family fare with good breakfast. Pleasant parklet for outdoor dining. Grab coffee across the street at Highwire. Adjacent to BART.
Elevated food that never disappoints; perfect for a special dinner. You must reserve in advance or try to grab a seat at the bar. Sometimes you can call the restaurant to get a reservation when they aren’t showing online.
123 locals recommend
Wood Tavern
6317 College AveElevated food that never disappoints; perfect for a special dinner. You must reserve in advance or try to grab a seat at the bar. Sometimes you can call the restaurant to get a reservation when they aren’t showing online.
Rockridge’s original roaster/cafe and hyper-local hangout. Coffee is solid.
61 locals recommend
Cole Coffee Cafe
307 63rd StRockridge’s original roaster/cafe and hyper-local hangout. Coffee is solid.
Local chain roaster/cafe specializing in drip coffee / don’t ask for an espresso) with a unique mixologist bent (Iced Mint Mojito anyone?)
913 locals recommend
Philz Coffee
3101 24th StLocal chain roaster/cafe specializing in drip coffee / don’t ask for an espresso) with a unique mixologist bent (Iced Mint Mojito anyone?)
Famous Bay Area chain founded in the 1930s. They make their own dogs based on a family recipe and they do not disappoint.
Casper's
5440 Telegraph AvenueFamous Bay Area chain founded in the 1930s. They make their own dogs based on a family recipe and they do not disappoint.
Declared “best bagels” in the country in a controversial NYT piece, the bagels are indeed good but expect long lines and perhaps a bit of sticker shock. Still, worth it. Also checkout Nic’s as an alternative.
22 locals recommend
BOICHIK BAGELS
3170 College AveDeclared “best bagels” in the country in a controversial NYT piece, the bagels are indeed good but expect long lines and perhaps a bit of sticker shock. Still, worth it. Also checkout Nic’s as an alternative.
Billed as “Whiskey Bar and Kitchen” Beer Baron does indeed also have a respectable beer menu and decent food. The nice outdoor patio, though, makes the spot a go-to on sunny days and warm nights. Also checkout the Gold Squirrel a block down.
15 locals recommend
Beer Baron Bar & Kitchen
5900 College AveBilled as “Whiskey Bar and Kitchen” Beer Baron does indeed also have a respectable beer menu and decent food. The nice outdoor patio, though, makes the spot a go-to on sunny days and warm nights. Also checkout the Gold Squirrel a block down.
Great fancy wood fired thin-crusts pizza, house-made pastas and California-inspired sides. Always excellent. On weekends they go casual and do burgers on the back patio during the day.
237 locals recommend
Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph AveGreat fancy wood fired thin-crusts pizza, house-made pastas and California-inspired sides. Always excellent. On weekends they go casual and do burgers on the back patio during the day.
Limited menu from famed local chef James Syhabout, starring Khao Mun Gai (Chicken and rice) and other delicious related dishes. Craft cocktails and a casual atmosphere, this spot offers a chance to try low key food from a Michelin star chef.
10 locals recommend
Hawking Bird
4901 Telegraph AveLimited menu from famed local chef James Syhabout, starring Khao Mun Gai (Chicken and rice) and other delicious related dishes. Craft cocktails and a casual atmosphere, this spot offers a chance to try low key food from a Michelin star chef.
A family friendly Korean restaurant serving a wide variety of Korean food–including barbeque, Korean-style fried chicken, Korean-style Ramen and, of course, rice bowls (bibimbap).
35 locals recommend
Bowl'd Korean Rice Bar
1479 Solano AveA family friendly Korean restaurant serving a wide variety of Korean food–including barbeque, Korean-style fried chicken, Korean-style Ramen and, of course, rice bowls (bibimbap).
One of the older family-run Korean restaurants in Oakland, famous for their boiling hot pots of Soondubu-jjigae (Korean soft tofu soup) and sizzling rice. Be sure to try their also-famous kimchi pancakes.
19 locals recommend
Pyeong Chang Tofu House Oakland
4701 Telegraph AveOne of the older family-run Korean restaurants in Oakland, famous for their boiling hot pots of Soondubu-jjigae (Korean soft tofu soup) and sizzling rice. Be sure to try their also-famous kimchi pancakes.
Excellent Ramen spot in the Temescal area. The broths are especially standout. Nice parklet for outdoor dining. It can get busy, but you can reserve a table on Yelp. As an alternative, checkout the slightly “fancier” Ramen Shop on College.
41 locals recommend
Marufuku Ramen
4828 Telegraph AvenueExcellent Ramen spot in the Temescal area. The broths are especially standout. Nice parklet for outdoor dining. It can get busy, but you can reserve a table on Yelp. As an alternative, checkout the slightly “fancier” Ramen Shop on College.
Good family friendly sushi spot. Not mind blowing but solid and reasonably priced. Won’t disappoint.
20 locals recommend
Kansai
4345 Telegraph AveGood family friendly sushi spot. Not mind blowing but solid and reasonably priced. Won’t disappoint.
For a splurge, try James Syhabout’s Michelin Star restaurant. Creative food that was at the forefront of making Oakland a dining destination. They serve a multi-course tasting menu for $215 per person. Reservations required.
53 locals recommend
Commis
3859 Piedmont AveFor a splurge, try James Syhabout’s Michelin Star restaurant. Creative food that was at the forefront of making Oakland a dining destination. They serve a multi-course tasting menu for $215 per person. Reservations required.
Markets
Good for essentials and a quick 12 min walk through a very nice, leafy neighborhood. The upper College Avenue area includes cafes, a few good restaurants, a great bakery, wineshop and more (see Bars/Restaurants below).
105 locals recommend
Safeway
6310 College AveGood for essentials and a quick 12 min walk through a very nice, leafy neighborhood. The upper College Avenue area includes cafes, a few good restaurants, a great bakery, wineshop and more (see Bars/Restaurants below).
hands down one of the best grocery stores in the bay area, especially for produce. Come here if you want nice food and a unique Berkeley experience
419 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon Sthands down one of the best grocery stores in the bay area, especially for produce. Come here if you want nice food and a unique Berkeley experience
Trader Joe’s is located on College Avenue adjacent to the Rockridge BART station. There are numerous restaurants, bars and shops on College and an easy stroll from the apartment.
582 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveTrader Joe’s is located on College Avenue adjacent to the Rockridge BART station. There are numerous restaurants, bars and shops on College and an easy stroll from the apartment.
Takeaway: A foodie’s paradise with a few small shops under one roof including a deli with nice house made pastas, a butcher and a fishmonger. Expect premium quality and prices to match. Highwire coffee, in the building on College, is great. Opposite TJ’s next to BART.
40 locals recommend
Market Hall Foods Oakland
5655 College AveTakeaway: A foodie’s paradise with a few small shops under one roof including a deli with nice house made pastas, a butcher and a fishmonger. Expect premium quality and prices to match. Highwire coffee, in the building on College, is great. Opposite TJ’s next to BART.
There are two Wholefoods on Telegraph; one a 10 min walk in Berkeley, the other a 15 min walk in Temescal. The Temescal location is recommended if you want to explore the area.
553 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
230 Bay PlThere are two Wholefoods on Telegraph; one a 10 min walk in Berkeley, the other a 15 min walk in Temescal. The Temescal location is recommended if you want to explore the area.
Getting Around
Rockridge Station
5660 College AveNeighborhoods
Temescal
Rockridge
Elmwood
Downtown Berkeley
Bushrod
Telegraph Avenue
Telegraph AvenueLaundry
Nice laundry in Rockridge area close to shops and restaurants
Able Fabric Care Coin-OP Laundry
5701 Claremont Ave