Oakland's original Nashville hot chicken, born as a 2017 backyard pop-up. Halal fried chicken from mild to scorching, loaded fries, and late weekend hours near the Fox Theater.

A warm, community-rooted coffee bar in Old Oakland with in-house roasted coffee and generously built sandwiches — the pulled pork is the local favorite.

A West Oakland cult favorite serving bike-wheel-sized wood-fired sourdough pizzas. Short menu, big lines, unforgettable crust. Reservations strongly recommended.

Uptown Oakland's neon-lit, award-winning cocktail bar pairs farm-to-glass drinks like the signature Tomato Beef with standout Szechuan salt and pepper wings and umami tots.

A family-run Jack London Square deli serving generously stacked sandwiches, Hot Pastrami, Banh Mi, and a standout philly cheesesteak. Phone ahead — they close at 5pm.

A Temescal bagel fixture since 2011, now part of the Wise Sons deli family, serving kettle-boiled bagels, smoked salmon, pastrami, and latkes daily.