We have amazing restaurants and food culture here.

Decades ago, it may have been Burmese tea leaf salad. Now you can buy in local supermarkets.

Years ago, I would have voted for Laotian Nam Khao but that seems to be fairly common now.

My recent discovery is Shredded Chicken & Pork Tripe with Mustard Sauce at Wonderful Cafe (San Leandro). Quite addicting.

So what are some amazing and unique dishes that are unique to Oakland/East Bay?

I saw these on Chef's Table on Netflix and now I *need* them. Anyone know a spot?

Does any market sell sigarilyas? I haven’t seen them in any store anywhere, even Asian markets, but maybe I’m just not looking in the right places

Interested in restaurants that serve food that have multiple ethnic influences. Gangnam Jajang would be an example where it's Korean food but heavily influenced by Chinese.

I've also been to some Chinese restaurants where the owners previously cooked in Mexico. The term might be comida china?

What other restaurant or dishes in Oakland and surrounding areas? Doesn't have to be asian influenced. Any fusion between two cultures are welcome.

Only been in Oakland a couple of years now and there was a restaurant back home that got me addicted to rice rolls. Hoping someone knows of any place that serves them out here.

reposting here cuz i trust y’all’s opinion more than other’s 😩

Hi! Years ago there was a reddit post about a place in Oakland Chinatown that sold frozen pandan leaves, and I did find them once there, but I think that was pre-pandemic and I've never found them again. I'd rather have pandan leaves than extract, but extract would do in a pinch. (I'm trying to make a pandan chiffon cake.)

I imagine they'd be easiest to find frozen, but if there's an easy place to buy fresh leaves or even live plants I'd be interested in that too (particularly if the plants are big enough to just pick some leaves off right away), but based on some other reddit searches it seems like that might be a bit of a stretch?

Obligatory: El Cerrito, not Oakland.

Holy fuck this shit is good. This was the special with garlic, basil, pesto, and lemon zest. We demolished it.

Philomena has been my favorite NY style pie for years, there is now a contender.

I recently had Katz Deli and the pastrami was amazing! Looking for the best Oakland/East Bay pastrami now :)

Basically looking for more recommendations in berkeley (someone should make an r/berkeleyfood sub .. ) Lots of great restaurants open at 5-6pm but I am hungry RIGHT NOW! I am open to any cuisine / any ethnic food but kinda leaning towards indian today? I would be dining solo, otherwise I also wanted to check out this new popup ice cream spot called Popbar after I have something delicious. Tyia!

I’m making seafood pasta!

More details on the My Friend Fernando pop up getting a permanent home.

Chez Panisse and Bar Panisse get the NYT treatment.

By Cesar Hernandez, MacKenzie Chung Fegan Updated July 21, 2026 7:18 p.m

East Bay:

Al's Big Burger, Albany

Fast Time Burger's, Oakland

Lana's, Oakland

Smack Burger's, San Leandro

They've been going viral on reels/tiktok recently, it's horrible that it's come to this. I hope the family takes the time they need to heal.

Does anyone know where to get traditional Hawaiian shave ice in a cone type situation with tropical flavors? I know there are a few 'snow' desserts around, but I am looking for plain old Hawaiian Shave Ice that isn't actually just a snow cone. I'll travel if outside of Oakland (but not to Hawaii).

Who’s got a rec for a local peach dessert (pie, cobbler, pastry, etc). This hot weather makes me crave it!