Restaurants in Berkeley

“Pretty good food. I think we will go back”

“Went on a sunday morning and the line was 20 minutes long. The croissant was excellent. Everything else I ordered (scone, grougere, and shortbread) were fine but nothing to write home about. I would only trek up here again for a serious croissant craving.”

“If you're between spending $8 for an impossible whopper or a classic roll at this place then this place all day. Tane (and Shizen) offer high quality ingredients, plating, and taste to all of their decisions, specifically the eggplant nigiri. The eggplant melts in your mouth and does not require any chewing but is full of flavor. The speciality rolls are also of good value because they range from $16-17 & come with 8 pieces. The 1 menu item that was on the pricier side was the cheesecake which was priced at $15. Nevertheless the pricepoint is worth it because it has to be one of the bay area's best cheesecakes. Never a bad experience at Tane.”

“The food was really tasty and great. I have to be honest, this is the best ramen i’ve ever had. I usually don’t finish the broth but the broth here at Masa Ramen Bistro is to die for. I don’t like egg so I asked to skip the egg.”

“Excelente personas muy trabajadoras ambiente familiar y bastantitas menús saludables lo recomiendo al 100%”

“Amazing food and vibes. The plumb crumb cookie is my new favorite cookie in the bay! It’s like a tiny fruit tart—I think the base is a short bread cookie, and it has a chewy crumble + fresh fruit on top. The other shortbready cookie with jam was also very good.

The two other things I tried were the nectarine chiffon cake and the plum tart. The cake was light and not too sweet, and had just the right amount of cream. The plum tart was also very tasty.

Besides the food, the aesthetics of the place are beautiful and unique. Just look at the picture of the menu!

Overall one of my favorite bakeries in the bay, highly recommend!”

“I’m a pizza fanatic and this is hands down the best pizza I’ve ever had. Better then anything in NY and Connecticut (Pepe’s, Sally’s). The Brazilian was next level pizza”

“What a lovely surprise to find such tasty, healthy food so close to home, friendly staff, on time! Lightly cooked but high-protein and *yummy*”

“Great atmosphere and delicious food! Outdoor dining, too!”

“Ordered just the Kaokao Chicken
* Crispy skin
* Perfect level of heat
* Good portions (very filling but not excessive)
* Lovely flavors (very warm—Chana Masala + Chinese 5-spice kind of vibe)

Only recommendation to the restaurant is to get AC for the upstairs and maybe put another water jug up there—it was pretty warm.”

“Highly recommend the Duck Confit with good company and a nice red wine. You can’t go wrong with this combination. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

“Got the vegetarian combo plate and a sambusa. The azifa that comes with the vegetarian combo platter is out of this world. It’s light, refreshing and has the tangy flavor to cut the heat of the other items on the platter. Teff injera was delicious. Sambusa has the crispy flaky exterior and the lentils inside are perfectly cooked and seasoned.

I love the mom and pop, modern feel of this cozy neighborhood joint - smiles all around and you can taste the love and passion in the food.”

“This is a top go to spot for me. I’m not always around during their hours, or forget the options of places, so I get something from here about once every 6 weeks. As vegan I either get the falafel sandwich or plate. I prefer the plate. It amazes me how simple the combination of vegetables and sauces are, and yet it’s so flavorful. I feel full and healthy after eating at this joint and the people working there have such a nice vibe. If vegan they will swap out hummus for the yogurt based items.”

“My sister and I just had a couple of Cali Alley burgers delivery and these things are good! Next time I'm in Berkeley, I will definately order again.”

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!”

“The olive bread was amazing, as well as the croissants and other pastries. The service was off the charts, truly exceptional! Highly recommended.”

“La Marcha is one of our fave restaurants in the east bay. All of the dishes are packed full of flavor. We like to order a few tapas and a paella and take the leftover paella home to enjoy the next day. It's a fun date night or dinner with friends!”

“The food is good & the staff is usually friendly. I wish Tarocco was still open on Saturdays. I would go every few weeks solo or with a friend. I am not in the area during the week.”

“Wonderful food! Authentic. Kind staff!”

“We initially got one cupcake to split since we weren't 100% we'd love it. (Cupcakes can be such a hit or miss) My husband took one bite and said, " Yeah, your gonna need your own cupcake!" LOL. He's not even a dessert person, so that was saying a LOT! Best red velvet I've had in a long time. Super moist and rich flavor. Excited to come back to try more flavors!”

“What everyone else has said. Friendly, unique. Great Vietnamese coffee. Overstuffed sandwiches. I prefer larger hunks in my chicken salad though it is super delicious.”

“A kind barista. Dial in was amazing. Cappuccino had perfect texture. I was indecisive about what pastry to buy and I was unexpectedly offered one alongside my drink. They didn't have to do that, but that made my visit all the better.”

“Nice and fairly new place on solano. Beautifully decorated with fantastic back patio outdoor seating. Friendly staff and good food.

Bosssm is my go to here.

They also have lots of nice things for sale at the market. The fish cakes are quite good.”

“Staff was well-versed on the vegan menu and were very helpful. I would definitely come back again and try the other vegan options! We had the vegan grandma and the Caesar salad and both were good. Be sure to ask the host for a vegan menu! Update- went back to try the NY vegan - staff was knowledgeable and helpful. We tried the Beet and Chicory salad. We liked the Caesar better but the NY pizza better than the grandma! Updated from previous review on 2024-03-27”

“I saw someome make a TikTok about this place and immediately knew I had to add that to my list. I headed out to Berkeley on a Friday morning to try it out and I bought a friend who isnt a big fan of Thai and or Asian food. I was thankful to experience this style of northern Thai cuisine I believe the order Tanzie referred to it as. The hospitality and service was above average. I enjoyed all of my food and so did my friend. The pork jowl was agreed to be are favorite out of the all the dishes we tried. Very juicy , flavorful and just all around deliscious topped off with that crispy fried garlic. The brown rice over that soft scrambled "lava egg" was to die for paired with the savory tomato based minced pork that I ordered extra spicy of course. The star of the show that me and my friend both agreed on had to be the "prik nam pla" which I would describe as a sweet and spicy vinegar or fish sauce based dipping sauce accompanied by a nice punch of spice from the thai chili peppers. I dont have any complaints whatsoever and I will definitely be back.”

“Upbeat generous dude with tasty wholesome food.”

“We had the best brunch experience ever today! The lemon ricotta pancakes along with the cheesy potatoes were delish! We sat outside on their darling little patio and listened to live music, it was so lovely. But the best part of all was the outstanding service from Maxine, her suggestions were on point and her beautiful energy was exactly what our morning needed! Will definitely be back!”

“Turkish coffee had it before and it was smooth with foam on top. This one was ok but did the trick and woke me up. The orange coconut cake was delicious. The Yemen tea my wife ordered was perfect.”

“Delicious morning pastries, and Cheesebord style (but better) pizza. If you get a chance, visit on an evening when they've got a live musician performing. I wish this place was in my neighborhood, but it's worth the drive, every time.”

“Tried on my lunch break and was surprised that the place I selected for a quick bite ended up being some of the best Indian food I've had in this part of the bay.”

“We booked Lucia’s PIZZA TRUCK for a lawn party in the presidio and they were AMAZING. Easy to work with, great price, and all the food was so good, from salads and appetizers to wood fired pizzas. They were so gracious to make gluten free and vegan pizzas on request. Our guests loved them.”

“Best Indian cuisine in all of Berkeley, do yourself a favor and stop in! great people, great food, a real gem in the city.”

“So freaking delicious. Good if you want spicy, non American style Chinese food. I mean they have the basics, but we went for the Sichuan specialties. We got the Water Boiled Spicy beef, Ma Po Tofu, and these super delicious pickled green beans and pork. Tofu and the beans were stand out. Love the spice level but might ask for hotter next time. Big portions.”

“Adam and Queena were invaluable partners in planning my daughter's bat mitzvah! They were very friendly and flexible with our ever-changing budget and introduced us to some great vendors we would have never engaged on our own. They also suggested changes to the layout of the event so that it had a great flow. Beyond all of the preparation, Adam's help with the day-of supervision of the set up and coordination of all with all of the vendors ensured the event went off without a hitch. It was beautiful and exactly how we envisioned it! Thanks Sway!!”

“Nothing better then great tacos in walking distance. so glad that they are at the Valero! I no longer need to get into my car to scratch that taco itch... their red sauce is awesome as it has a real kick to ”

“Fantastic old school lunch and breakfast option. The chicken kabob sandwich was good. They have a very large menu with a lot of variety. The service is super nice.”

“BEST falafel and kofte! So moist and fresh. Really impressed with the food. The staff is SO nice. Also, the little sitting in the area is pleasant. Prices are great, especially for the Turkish delight. You get what you pay for and some. I am looking forward to coming back here with friends and family. 10/10!”

“Great food and great service”

“a beautiful space in a historic building, with tables further apart than any restaurant I know, so you can easily have a conversation, good food with attention to detail,; a pleasure.”

“Great beer selection; try the Structure”

“We have visited a number of great wineries in Napa, and Israel, but if you would like to experience the best explanation of the process by some of the warmest and most welcoming wine makers then check out Covenant Wines! We spent a beautiful afternoon with their team led by Managing Director, Sagie Kleinlerer, who is most knowledgeable. I was especially interested in the challenges posed by climate change. We also met the owners who were also very welcoming. If you are interested in how the best wines are made and want to spend an enjoyable and very informative afternoon then you should definitely visit and taste some of the best wines produced today!!”

“My fave thai resto ever! The food is exceptionally delicious, makes you want to come back for more. The place has great ambiance, very friendly staff and the portion is generous. The best thai food I have come across with.”

“Food and service was excellent”

“Tostaditas de tinga (de-li-cious)”

“Both dishes were delicious! The price is quite right. The business hours are very long. You can order food after 8 o'clock in the evening. I will eat here next time.”

“LEXIE'S is delicious. Everything is made in-house. Everything is perfect. I never realized how sickly, sour-sweet toffee shouldn't be until I had LEXIE'S remarkably fluffy-yet-crispy toffee. Everything we have tried is delicious. Nothing has been a "miss". If you know what you enjoy, you'll never order something you don't like. Heck, LEXIE'S homemade touch might even change your mind on some things.

Dietary restrictions: CELIAC FRIENDLY NO HIDDEN GLUTEN, ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS.”

“Tried Curry Pizza House in Kent, WA for the first time. Great flavors! Wonderful wings, Desi bread, and pizza! The mango lassis are yummy. Definitely check it out!”

“wonderful owners. good concept.”

“Food is great. Service is prompt. Place is clean. We tried malai boti roll , samosa, and chicken tikka fries. They are generous with chatnis. Chai was lovely. Nutella paratha was a great fusion twist. The Owner is very attentive. Will highly recommend this place if you are visiting Berkeley, you must try this place.”

“I usually swing in for a drip coffee, always greeted with a smile by the staff, and the overall atmosphere is chill and welcoming.
When the weekend comes, they always request Jaffa coffee, for a juice and pastry.
Really great spot to visit when in Berkeley.

Kid-friendliness: It’s a very chill vibe, and welcoming.”

“Absolutely delicious & creative baked goods that everyone should be going after! The bostock in particular is my favorite, along with the pickled mustard greens focaccia.”

“The food, drinks, staff and atmosphere was excellent. This is my nephews favorite spot. Thanks Kelly for our family outing today.”

“I enjoy this restaurant very much. The food is excellent and fresh. it’s served hot every time. The servers can speed up with taking orders but otherwise, they are o.k. The restaurant is ok. The seating is too close for me but I get it. There’s No parking. It’s excellent.”

“Very cute little bakery on University. I only got the turkish delight but they have a wide variety of North African/Middle Eastern pastries as well as Western ones. Would love to come again and try the pastries!”

“Edited my review down to a 4 stars because they don't offer early brunch on a weekend. We came at 9:40am today, Sunday, and they're closed. Why? I hope they'll reconsider their schedule because many customers like to eat earlier than 10am. Btw, we went to their competitors a few blocks down and it was full of people having breakfast.
Lovely new (for us) Mexican restaurant on university av. We stopped for Sunday brunch and food was excellent. Huevos rancheros, my husband's favorite, were perfect, fresh squeeze OJ, good lattes and wonderful cafe de olla. I had scrambled eggs (tacos a la Mexicana) without the tortilla, and plátanos fritos--so fantastic. Friendly service, and the ambience is top notch. We'll come back!”

“Excellent coffee and exceptional house made baked goods! Everyone who works there is super friendly and they love dogs, which is important for our family, especially when we're en route to daycare or the park with the pup and kiddo. My only wish is that they had a space with a nice seating area so I could soak up the good vibes for longer.”

“Pizza is delicious, ordered achari style paneer pizza, was balanced in all respects. Also ordered Manchurian style soya chaap (plant based wings). These were sooooo good!!!! They were filling and had extremely balanced sauce, not overly sweet and had perfect amnt of sauteed vegetables as part of wing sauce. Super good.. Loved it.... Staff is friendly too, and Nate in particular was a kind person, thanks!”

“no-frills hot dog brick & mortar serving a variety of cheap and delicious dogs. a perfect snack after a night out! mine might be long but moves pretty quickly.

bockwurst: flavorful german style sausage, with many self serve toppings on the side”

“Tucked away a bit off the beaten path in Southwest Berkeley, Cellarmaker is one of the gems of Bay Area brewing. IPAs are a specialty here and they are all interesting and consistently delicious, no matter what is on tap. Other great options include the Coffee & Cigarettes porter, plus really interesting barrel aged and sour beers from the Rare Barrel.

Pizza and other bar snacks/appetizers are very tasty, and the space is very chill and laid back, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

The only negative I can think of is that they aren’t open 7 days a week!”

“Delicious pizza and a spicy green sauce that is still making my mouth water. Long line that normally goes pretty fast but worth the wait. I waited about 20 minutes chatting with the locals. I can’t wait to go back.”

“Nice people and good food~^^”

“Seriously. Not every day I visit a place where the service is great, the atmosphere is peaceful and the drinks/food is awesome.
Was my first time here by accident, I'm usually a Starbucks person but now Starbucks feels like gas station coffee compared to this place.
I had the Rose Iced Coffee. 10/10 definitely recommend trying it!! I read the google reviews and had to see what the hype was all about.”

“Great lunch and good friends!”

“As an assassin, I don’t normally eat the flesh of anything that bleeds because it would dull my senses that have taken me many years to hone. However, I recently had a great chicken sando here, and would highly recommend. Support local businesses!!”

“Sweetgreen offers a fantastic dining experience, largely thanks to Jose, a standout employee. He greets customers with a warm smile and a welcoming demeanor, making you feel at home instantly. Jose’s dedication to his work is evident as he helps you choose the perfect ingredients and ensures your order is just right. His passion for the job enhances the overall experience, making Sweetgreen a friendly and inviting place to enjoy fresh, delicious meals. Highly recommended for a healthy and delightful dining option!”

“It’s a cool place with a lot of seating.”

“I love this place !!!”

“State flour is a must if you’re in the Berkeley area! It’s up there with some of the best in terms of quality and balance of flavors. A delicious and well-seasoned crust, perfectly portioned toppings, and also great service! It can get very crowded so it was just loud and hard to hear but atmosphere aside, the pizza and service is top tier. I could see myself ordering this to go and it being a great time. I’ll for sure be back! ?”

“Love this neighborhood spot!! The owners and staff are so attentive. There's plenty of options for breakfast and lunch at reasonable prices. They have some outside seating for those who want to get some sun. Easy to find free parking on the side street. The vibe is chill - I often see people lounging, reading, or playing games in there with their friends. Come support this gem!”

“Customer service was amazing. They allowed me to change the base to a nut free option. The granola was amazing. I don’t like bananas and they were willing to omit as well. Best bowl I’ve had thus far. Will definitely be back!!”

“The best Momos and butter chicken and many other things you will eat in Berkeley. Have been living here since 4 years and I make it a point to walk down to the Resturant from the hills at least twice a week for their delicious food. The food tastes like what we eat at home, spices are a perfect blend, and the produce always taste fresh. Khendu & Gopal, the hard working couple behind the Resturant are super friendly and very kind.
It’s very close to University so you all see a lotta kids come for a hot meal & the love the couple have these kids is so beautiful.
I highly recommend Momo Masala. Our favorite place in Berkeley !”

“Absolutely delicious!”

“Love this bagel. New York style with lots of delicious cream cheese.”

“I absolutely love their crepes! Especially their buckwheat gluten free options!”

“What a delightful place to stop and grab a delicious empanada or a boba drink. I just love the chicken adobo empanadas. The pastry is fresh, flaky, and crispy. The lightly spicy chicken and potato filling is tender and savory. So good. Be sure and try the house-made sweet chili sauce as well. For dessert, try the mango cheese cake empanada. It is tangy, fruity, rich with cream cheese and topped with a sugar-glazed crust. The prices are very affordable too!”

“They hands down make the BEST jooje Kabob and Kabob Barg that I have ever had in the US. Both juicy, just the right amount of flavor and so soft it melts in your mouth. Tahdig was amazing! Crispy and flavorful Super friendly staff, out of this world food!”

“Delicious baked goods. Awesome staff!”

“If you go to Berkley you most go to this caffe. The Chai it’s perfect they can customize sweet or spicy. Carrot cake is good.

Kid-friendliness: There is a beautiful park in front of the caffe we’re kids can play.”

“Super friendly staff! Already felt happy with the first interaction, but then tasting the authentic flavor of the thai tea made me even happier! Better than any boba place I’ve tried in Berkeley, especially for thai tea!”

“Live music, dance and poetry; something good on most nights. Linchpin of the Bay Area's traditional music scene, particularly Irish/Celtic. A community treasure.”

“A truly delicious coffee and donut spot. I've driven by for years and was walking home after dropping my car off for repairs. The assortment of donuts caught my senses. Some looking artistic and delicious. Others came in for menu items off the grill. Watching the diverse group of customers was fun. Older, younger, and so on. The folks behind the counter are friendly and welcoming. Highest recommendation.”

“I was there yesterday and had the Killer BLAT I didn't know if I would like it but turns out I loved it and I will return it was so good. It's a great place that you have to try.”

“I enjoy this restaurant very much. The food is excellent and fresh. it’s served hot every time. The servers can speed up with taking orders but otherwise, they are o.k. The restaurant is ok. The seating is too close for me but I get it. There’s No parking. It’s excellent.”

“I ordered the meatloaf and it was very good . The mashed potatoes were good and so were the vegetables. Home made taste. Will go back again!”

“This is the perfect neighborhood Italian place like in Manhattan or SanFrancisco. Absolutely delicious, we’ll-crafted Italian food that elevates the ingredients. My husband and I split a pizza and each had a salad plus a bottle of wine. Pizza amazing, wines amazing, salads lovely. Been wondering why Berkeley didn’t have places like this.”

“Great location, incredible foods and beverages and remarkable prices and friendly staff”

“Hands down the best cooking class I’ve done. The chefs were professional, the food was fresh, and we learned more about having a feel for cooking, and knife skills, than I could imagine. Best ‘value for money’ Bay Area activity!”

“What a lovely surprise to find such tasty, healthy food so close to home, friendly staff, on time! Lightly cooked but high-protein and *yummy*”

“The food is really great. I had the crab artichoke dip fabulous and then I ordered the primary French dip very delicious and the service was really great and the view is spectacular. Loved.”

“Always a great experience and that view!”

“Clean efficient great for gathering (outdoors) or to grab and go. The food is fresh with dishes like dosa, made to order. Indian food is part of my heritage, so the grocery store next door is a bonus.”

“We all agreed that the food was first rate, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the French toast was excellent…”

“Delicious pizza and a spicy green sauce that is still making my mouth water. Long line that normally goes pretty fast but worth the wait. I waited about 20 minutes chatting with the locals. I can’t wait to go back.”

“Love this place. Great service and food!!!”

“Great dining experience and great service”

“Tried Curry Pizza House in Kent, WA for the first time. Great flavors! Wonderful wings, Desi bread, and pizza! The mango lassis are yummy. Definitely check it out!”

“Great view of the waterfront along with great food!”

“Good selection with a lot of options and they don't disappoint. It was my son's 1st time and he loved it‼️”

“Service is great. The ladies at the front helped us navigate the menu. The nachos are incredible. We ordered the Super Nachos and loved them. Definitely recommend.”

“We had the best brunch experience ever today! The lemon ricotta pancakes along with the cheesy potatoes were delish! We sat outside on their darling little patio and listened to live music, it was so lovely. But the best part of all was the outstanding service from Maxine, her suggestions were on point and her beautiful energy was exactly what our morning needed! Will definitely be back!”

“service and quality are top notch”

“Turkish coffee had it before and it was smooth with foam on top. This one was ok but did the trick and woke me up. The orange coconut cake was delicious. The Yemen tea my wife ordered was perfect.”

“The olive bread was amazing, as well as the croissants and other pastries. The service was off the charts, truly exceptional! Highly recommended.”

“Very cute cafe with pastries and a hot/cold drink menu. I really enjoyed the genoise and London fog, great on a cold rainy day. The Christmas tree was up and twinkly lights about really made it a perfect cozy cafe to hide in.

Wheelchair accessibility: On the first level, very accessible with wide berth around the counter.”

“Cool BBQ spot with great brisket and even better ribs. Angel was a show in himself behind bar and super friendly. Definitely recommend. Impeccable vibes and sports on TV!”

“I came in for an early lunch. I was greeted by a friendly staff person who explained the menu and got my meal going right away. I chose the moderate middle option but there was so much food I will not need dinner. A flavorful lentil soup started the meal. The plate that came out after the soup was piled high. The salad with avocado mint dressing was so fresh. The beans with onion are good but I do like beans spicy. There was cayenne pepper on the table to give them a bit more kick. A good sized helping of roasted butternut squash and potatoes smelled heavenly and tasted good. I was completely taken with the greens. I am not a huge kale fan. These were cooked perfectly and covered with a shallot sauce. The greens mixed well with everything else on the plate and were tasty by itself. Yummy. I enjoyed all this with a bottomless cup of delicious tea. Really a perfect lunch for a chilly afternoon.”

“The best German food in Berkeley. Anja is the warmest, kindest, and most caring chef in the world! She and her team turns out pastries that are not too sweet, and her dishes are always sourced locally to be the freshest! I can always count on Anja’s to walk out with a smile :)”