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.

Toriano Gordon's bright-yellow food truck near Lake Merritt serving bold, 100% plant-based BBQ and soul food — smoky "brisket," gumbo, dirty rice, and loaded bowls.

An Alameda burger favorite on Park Street with Food Network cred, serving East Coast-style burgers on challah, Nashville hot chicken, and a chopped NY hero — with a bar next door.

A family-owned Peruvian rotisserie in the Broadway-Valdez district, known for spit-roasted chicken with ají amarillo, fresh ceviche, lomo saltado, and pisco sours.

An easygoing Lake Merritt beer garden with a covered, pet-friendly lake-view patio, a top rotating tap list, and a strong kitchen from daily brunch through dinner.

A Black-owned Oakland institution since 1973, Everett & Jones serves oak-smoked ribs, hot links, and brisket with legendary house sauce — plus live blues in the Jack London Square music hall.