Guidebook for Oakland
Food Scene
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore AveThe PIZZA! The BREAD! The BAKED GOODS!
Their DEEP DISH pizza is our fav. The rest of their food is also really good, especially the green goddess salad.
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The Star on Grand
3425 Grand AveTheir DEEP DISH pizza is our fav. The rest of their food is also really good, especially the green goddess salad.
Sunday Salsa! Gets super crowded, a totally fun scene. The food is pretty good too.
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CAÑA Cuban Parlor & Cafe
530 Lake Park AveSunday Salsa! Gets super crowded, a totally fun scene. The food is pretty good too.
Best indie coffee shop. They serve great coffee, have outdoor seating, wifi, and also pastries and empanadas.
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Haddon Hill Cafe
504 Wesley AveBest indie coffee shop. They serve great coffee, have outdoor seating, wifi, and also pastries and empanadas.
BRUNCH! Get there early or make a reservation. Their savory french toast is the best. They have gluten-free bread but most of their dishes are pretty bread-heavy. Also doubles as a deli.
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Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt
576 Grand AveBRUNCH! Get there early or make a reservation. Their savory french toast is the best. They have gluten-free bread but most of their dishes are pretty bread-heavy. Also doubles as a deli.
Great mexican food, good quality meat and ingredients. They have a little nightclub and bar that is right next door.
La Estrellita
446 E 12th StGreat mexican food, good quality meat and ingredients. They have a little nightclub and bar that is right next door.
Great DRINKS, and BRUNCH. They have outdoor seating in back.
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The Grand Tavern
3601 Grand AveGreat DRINKS, and BRUNCH. They have outdoor seating in back.
Monster Phở
360 BroadwayTheir ingredients taste super fresh.
Good, basic all around cafe with a snazzy laundromat next door and a mini parking lot.
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Wally's Cafe (Emeryville)
3900 San Pablo AveGood, basic all around cafe with a snazzy laundromat next door and a mini parking lot.
Delicious fare, wide range of beer on tap, awesome outdoor patio facing the lake.
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Portal Oakland
1611 2nd AveDelicious fare, wide range of beer on tap, awesome outdoor patio facing the lake.
It's a BEER GARDEN! The food is good (German inspired, and really excellent eggs benedict options). Sometimes the service is a little slow. It's right on the water, literally. Indoor and outdoor seating. Cornhole available on sunny days ;)
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Brotzeit Lokal | German Restaurant & Waterfront Biergarten
1000 EmbarcaderoIt's a BEER GARDEN! The food is good (German inspired, and really excellent eggs benedict options). Sometimes the service is a little slow. It's right on the water, literally. Indoor and outdoor seating. Cornhole available on sunny days ;)
The drinks AND the food--so good. Also the kitchen is open pretty late and the bar menu is plentiful and delish.
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Plum Cocktail Bar
2216 BroadwayThe drinks AND the food--so good. Also the kitchen is open pretty late and the bar menu is plentiful and delish.
Ba-Bite
3905 Piedmont AvenueSuper yummy Israeli/Middle Eastern food. Very fresh.
If you need to work, eat, enjoy fresh air, good coffee, and get wifi, this is your place. Limited menu but very good lunch items.
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BAR 41 OAKLAND
308 41st StIf you need to work, eat, enjoy fresh air, good coffee, and get wifi, this is your place. Limited menu but very good lunch items.
Drake's Dealership
2325 BroadwayFull bar, food, sometimes live music during the day.
Neecha Thai Cuisine
3236 Grand AveEnssaro Ethiopian Restaurant
357-A Grand AveSO good!!
I'm not usually WOWed by Chinese Food. Unless I'm eating here. Lots of meat that falls apart in your mouth full of strongly spiced deliciousness. Only downside is that there's not that many vegetarian dishes. Everything I've tried here is superb.
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Osmanthus
6048 College AveI'm not usually WOWed by Chinese Food. Unless I'm eating here. Lots of meat that falls apart in your mouth full of strongly spiced deliciousness. Only downside is that there's not that many vegetarian dishes. Everything I've tried here is superb.
Good food, decent prices. They have a good posole (considering it is not homemade).
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Xolo
1916 Telegraph AveGood food, decent prices. They have a good posole (considering it is not homemade).
Classic local taco truck. Pretty good, there's almost always a line.
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Tacos Mi Rancho
1434 1st AveClassic local taco truck. Pretty good, there's almost always a line.
They have the best simple mexican food, clean environment, fresh fresh fresh. MUST have the horchata-coffee beverage.
Aztecali
They have the best simple mexican food, clean environment, fresh fresh fresh. MUST have the horchata-coffee beverage.
I'll try almost any decently recommended Korean Food joint, but this is my all time favorite from anywhere I've been.
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Ohgane
3915 BroadwayI'll try almost any decently recommended Korean Food joint, but this is my all time favorite from anywhere I've been.
Entertainment & Activities
Excellent yoga, beautiful studio off the beaten path and very down to earth.
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Loka Yoga
2701 MacArthur BlvdExcellent yoga, beautiful studio off the beaten path and very down to earth.
Monkey Yoga Shala
3215 Lakeshore AveTypically crowded, heated, but good and challenging Ashtanga.
Arts & Culture
Sometimes you just need a spontaneous tattoo. Not that they could fit you in, but this would be the first place I stop to see awesome industrial/tribal/hiphop front-of-house art, jewelry, and tats.
Old Crow Tattoo and Art Gallery
5251 BroadwaySometimes you just need a spontaneous tattoo. Not that they could fit you in, but this would be the first place I stop to see awesome industrial/tribal/hiphop front-of-house art, jewelry, and tats.
Essentials
Terrible for fresh produce. Great for everything else including ready-made salads and lunchy items.
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Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveTerrible for fresh produce. Great for everything else including ready-made salads and lunchy items.
Great for produce and also any other grocery item, with some specialty items too.
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Farmer Joe's Marketplace
3501 MacArthur BlvdGreat for produce and also any other grocery item, with some specialty items too.
You should call ahead and make a reservation. I've only been dissatisfied once in something like 3 or 4 years of mani-pedis here.
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Simply Green Day Spa
630 Grand AveYou should call ahead and make a reservation. I've only been dissatisfied once in something like 3 or 4 years of mani-pedis here.
It's a small store stocked with all those natural supplements that maybe you forgot at home.
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Lakeshore Natural Foods
3321 Lakeshore AveIt's a small store stocked with all those natural supplements that maybe you forgot at home.
Drinks & Nightlife
Unpretentious, but modern and damn good drinks. Kinda spacious too.
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Prizefighter
6702 Hollis StUnpretentious, but modern and damn good drinks. Kinda spacious too.
Best thing about this place is their drinks and their backyard patio with the two huge redwoods.
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The Double Standard
2424 Telegraph AveBest thing about this place is their drinks and their backyard patio with the two huge redwoods.
Parks & Nature
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood RoadHiking, frisbee, picnics. Stays pretty shady.
Iphakamisa ka-Joaquin Miller
3300 Joaquin Miller RdHiking
Dimond Park
3860 Hanly RdPublic pool, playground, picnics, creek.
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardIt's so close and so great.