Restaurants in Berkeley

“Our most favorite bakery ever!!

We’ve tried their Pain au Chocolat, Traditional Croissants, Walnut Coriander scones, Paris Brest - they all are very well done with the perfect consistency and ideal sweetness!

Saturday mornings, there’s a long queue.. It’s recommend going there after 11 am, it moves fast.

Vegetarian options: They also have vegan croissants ?”

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

“Ramen and Hawaiian dishes, something different, more spices and spicier than Japanese. The tasty and comforting oxtail broth. The delicious soy and cilantro dumplings. Very good service, friendly and attentive.”

“We had eaten here when we were visiting Honolulu and being a vegetarian its a blessing to find such a place that offers all vegan choices in sushi!!! This location also serves the same menu. We enjoyed the food thoroughly. Orders did not take much time. The place is quite cozy with very few tables and hence its hard to get reservation. We reserved for 9:30 (thats what was left) but the staff was nice to call us for 8:15 availability!!”

“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!”

“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*”

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

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

“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”

“Fantastic food in a fast-casual set-up. Great aromatics & flavor in the chicken&chickpea dish and the char siu pork. Perfectly moist chicken; sticky, sweet, fatty & meaty BBQ pork.”

“Barcalona meets Berkeley! I love the food here so much. Third visit today and I can’t get enough! Everything is homemade, organic, beautiful, colorful and delicious. A total gem ? if you have not eaten here, definitely go for lunch and you will be impressed and satiated. I love the way they present the food so you can see everything and make your choices.”

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!”

“The person who took my order here infected me with their smile. I was all smiley after I left here. A good smile spreads easily. I was fine living my life without searching for a cure. I hope I infected others. The falafel sandwich gave me even more of a reason to smile, it was delicious.”

“This place essentially invented farm-to-table dining and should be highly regarded and appreciated through the annals of history. Unfortunately, I feel like fine dining has evolved and Chez Panisse feels desperately stuck in the past. There's not necessarily anything wrong with that, as the older clientele demonstrates, but the food left me longing for something more interesting given the price.

I struggled with 3 or 4 stars here, but ultimately decided that the service and ambiance took it to four. But I have to reiterate that the food was truly petty meh and unexciting. The fish was dry, we were served fried rockfish on a slice of tomato for pie appetizer (lol), and a mushroom pasta dish was only okay. The best part of the dinner was the ice cream dessert which I have to admit was stunningly good.

That doesn't mean Chez isn't an institution. It is. But the flavors, menu, and preparation feel woefully stuck in the past.”

“This might be an unusual review, but I hope it emphasizes the restaurant's greatness.

Since COVID, my senses of smell and taste periodically disappear.

Recently, however, my craving for injera spiked. Even knowing I wouldn't be able to taste it, the texture itself seemed so appetizing.

The family that owns this place clearly takes great pride in their treatment of people and food.

Taking my first bite, I couldn't taste a thing, but the combination of the Shenbera Assa with the injera was insanely satisfying, along with a sambussa as a side order.

Luckily, I couldn't finish the giant portion and boxed up the leftovers.

Upon getting home, I tested my senses by taking a big sniff of the food. I'm excited to say that for a brief moment, my senses came back because HOT DAMN, that was incredible!

Paired with a calm and cozy atmosphere, it's guaranteed I'll return, whether my senses are intact or not.”

“I know it is ridiculous to say this, but their breakfast sandwich, chipotle, really blew my mind.It is sooo good. It’s all i think about whenever i go to work. ???.”

“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.”

“Amazing, the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. The service is great and the employees are very kind and welcoming. The prices are not too expensive and are a great value for the quality. Highly recommended”

“Cupcakin easily has the best cupcakes in Oakland. I've been stopping by cupcakin for years as a perfect gift for birthdays, events, general gifts, and self indulgence! They are always welcoming and the flavors are incredible. Worth a visit !”

“Had the Heyma Latte and it was wonderfully balanced with a prominent coffee flavor rather than too much milk. Absolutely fabulous. For patrons not familiar with cardamom, it's going to be present in a lot of products and may come across as a "fragrance" or "artificial", but it is a lovely, powerful spice. Be polite if it isn't to your taste and just get something else instead of making a stink- saw too many customers bothering staff because they made poor ordering decisions. Go to Starbucks or Peets if you don't want to enjoy a broader coffee experience. Great food.”

“I lived in Berkeley for a few years, and Lucia's was a regular stop at least once a week. The restaurant is beautiful, the owners are wonderful, and the food is fantastic. One of the best pizzas of my life. I loved the tiramisu and it was truly homemade! I highly recommend it”

“The food was so bomb! It’s really amazing foood even it’s so prizey!”

“Wowzer! What a nice place. Everything is homemade. I wanted to sit outside and the staff person carried a table out to the sidewalk. I ordered an Americano and a blueberry scone. Scones are a great indicator of an excellent baker, and this one was excellent. It was light, moist and full of fresh blueberries; so good in fact that I ordered a meat pie to go so I could have it for lunch. It too was exceptional.”

“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!”

“This boba place is AMAZING all the kids from willard middle school go there because it is amazing.inside,it is very beautiful

Vegetarian options: ???

Kid-friendliness: The workers are very nice”

“Think you know great pizza?
If you haven't been to Pizzeria de Laura, you should rethink your assumptions!
I mean, they're not Cheeseboard (no one is, let's be honest), but they have SO MANY MORE OPTIONS.
Every pizza here is awesome. If you have a preference for a particular style, find the equivalent on their menu and compare!
Our favorite is the Ray J, either on Sicilian, Detroit Deep Dish, or Grandma's - in that order.
Try Laura and her pizza out. It's worth the $, promise.”

“What a cute place! The owner was super nice and welcoming, and the food was delicious! Simple, clean and honest. This is definitely going to be our new go-to in the neighbourhood. I wish they phase out the disposables, but they do have regular utensils which is already more than lots of other places.

Vegetarian options: I think all of the food had a vegetarian option with protein and it was easily marked.

Kid-friendliness: We were there with a toddler, and there were other families as well. They have high seats, accessible for strollers and the bathroom is super clean.”

“This charming little bodega in Berkeley is a delight! The space is beautifully decorated with various shades of green - Tanzie’s favorite color she told me - including lots of gorgeous, lush plants.

The food was delicious and well-presented. I was expecting a Thai menu you typically see in the US, but it was all new to me! I had the Sai Oua lava eggs with deliciously seasoned chicken sausage; the eggs were so light, whipped up into a volcanic swirl that covered a pile of rice.

I encourage you to check out Tanzie’s - a lovely place for delightful meal that’s been lovingly prepared just for you.”

“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.”

“A corner stop that models a delicate french patisserie. We usually stop for a little treat whenever we’re walking by, invited in by the irresistible wafting smells of sugar and creme. Scrumptious taste is always in harmony with the eye-catching presentation.”

“Amazing Korean food. Authentic, great portions, and good banchan. Their bulgogi and stews are fantastic!The fixable problem is the service. At busy times, just too many tables for the staff. We didn’t receive banchan until our meals arrived, no checking in for refills or if we wanted to order more, no utensils, and we waited 10 minutes just to sign our billThe atmosphere is a little weird being in a market — but it’s also kind of cool! You can shop while you’re waiting on the long service, and it creates a kind of ‘back of the market ‘ eatery experienceI think better service brings this unique spot to an unquestioned 5 star, and hope it was just a bad day.”

“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 ”

“I am here in California on vacation and wanted to try this place for dinner . I’m delightful to say my meal was very satisfying and the service was very friendly. Audrey was very happy. I highly recommend this place to anyone.”

“Lovely patio with heat lamps. Friendly, attentive server. Happy hour pricing softened disappointment of food being just so-so. Margarita pizza had great crust but overly sweet tomato sauce and just a suggestion of cheese, not enough. Watermelon cocktail lacked the sweetness of watermelon juice. Appetizers were ok but small portions. Only the dessert was outstanding- a chocolate mousse with delightful thin crunchy cookies and raspberry caramel.”

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

“Good beer, good people, good seating. A solid neighborhood brewery. Parking can get a wee bit challenging; you might have better luck parking on 5th next to the park.”

“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!!”

“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.”

“Great food and great service”

“This place should have a line out the door! Small shape with big flavor, and the price is a great value. The gyro and kebab are amazing! Such good wraps. The lettuce, cucumber and tomato were fresh. The tzaziki and hummus taste homemade, so good. They also have a counter full of baklava and Turkish delights.”

“Food and service was excellent”

“Great food at unbelievable prices. I literally had to do a double take when looking at the menu. Portion sizes are quite generous too! I've added this one to my must eats list.”

“A lovely neighborhood wine bar with great service from owners Nubeer and Sonny with expertly curated wines (by the glass, bottle, or flights) plus a small retail shop for take home bottles!”

“This restaurant is unique on several levels. The historic building in the middle of Berkeley is worth a visit in its own right. The restaurant setting I think of "retro" in a good sense; nostalgic romance. The menu is broad and the wine list is compact but offers value for any pocketbook size. My Ahi Tuna was good but under a boring crust and sides. My friend's pork was good, but the presentation was lost in the 1970s. A high point was the house-baked dinner rolls, you wanted to put a couple of them in your pocket to take home. The service was good; our waiter was a friendly student with good intentions. The house provided a very nice birthday dessert. Would we return? Yes, with the right group of friends.”

“Meski, the prior owner, passed away unexpectedly in March 2019. The restaurant is now being successfully run by her adult son. They have expanded the outdoor dining area and it is really cute. Yesterday, they were celebrating an Ethiopian baptism. All the women looked so good in their Habesha dresses. Stop by to eat and support the restaurant!”

“Oh, I freaking love Krunchy chicken I love in the morning. I love it in the evening. I love it in the middle of the night because it’s open 24 hours buffalo sauce all day.”

“Coffee was perfect. It's hard to believe how awesome Micky D's is. Thank you”

“You can’t go wrong with Nutella and frozen custard. I had the Nutella mini sundae, my son had the lemon raspberry, and my friend did the Nutella concrete (where they blend all the ingredients). They are not shy about using great ingredients and a lot of them. Great portions without being obnoxious. Loved it.”

“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!”

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

“Such a great experience to eat here. Met the owner and he provided such great service, along with such great food. Was very reasonably priced for food that was very tasty. Very hospitable. Would definitely go again!!!”

“Upbeat generous dude with tasty wholesome food.”

“The Line is a fantastic spot to pick up coffee, pastries (sweet or savory) and even lunch. It has become a regular weekly habit for me and I always leave happy and with delicious food and beverages in hand. I am a steadfast fan of the Line for the food, coffee, conversations and service.”

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

“a cute Taiwanese family uses Morell’s bakery to experiment on Sundays. One of the daughters works there. The egg tart is to die for. Consider it as a special weekend vendor at a Taiwanese day market. :)”

“An old shop that a Cal alumni recommended to try. You have to try it to know that it's really delicious. Top Dog menu is a small sausage that extends through the bread. Crispy skin, juicy meat inside. Spoon chopped onions and pickled cabbage over lots of mustard. Just a little bit of ketchup. Very delicious. The bread isn't tough. The seller looked very authentic and in a good mood.”

“Not long after my first-ever trip to Oaxaca, this beautifully renovated space opened and I was so happy to come and enjoy their top-notch Mexican cuisine. Their moles are better than any others I've found in the East Bay, they boast a wide range of delicious cocktails, and present a friendly, welcoming atmosphere to their patrons. Only recently did I learn they also run nearby Casa Latina and La Mision (both very good). Really a highlight of West Berkeley, and I wish then the best!”

“OK, so you may not ever have thought of Okra as something to eat, but the pickled Okra is not to be missed if you like spicy, pickled anything. Went great with my Abel Tasman pilsner. Yum”

“Customer service was amazing here. I have never been in a place where they are so attentive with the client.

Pizza was really good, this is a place to stop by if you’re around the area. Chicken tikka masala was a really well flavored pizza ?”

“As a huge fans of acai bowl or any smoothie bowls, I really recommend this place. Among smoothie bowl places that i’ve been visited in Bay Area, this place has one of the most aesthetically pleasing bowls. The price is a bit higher compare to other smoothie bowl places, but it is worth it since they offer great variety of topping. The taste and the texture are okay. For me, I have anothe smoothie bowl place that I like more than this place in term of the taste, however, aesthetically-wise this palm-acai cafe is the winner”

“Not a vegan or vegetarian but oh boy….now I finally understand why Cheeseboard Pizza was voted 2022 Best Pizza in America! They only had 1 type of Pizza but that was everything and all you’ll ever want or need…it was soooo good! ??
Lines were around the block on a Friday night but totally worth it! I suggest try it yourselves and u won’t be disappointed! ????
(Long lines but very efficient with the orders, live music Friday night when we were there and huge outdoor seating area).”

“My frequent visits to Momo Masalas never disappoint. This culinary gem consistently exceeds expectations with its exquisite flavors and impeccable service. Each dish is a masterpiece, a testament to the chef's skill and dedication. Highly recommend!”

“Nice people and good food~^^”

“Philz in Berkeley is it's own vibe. Chill place to have a cup of coffee. The food is really good. I just love the Atmosphere of this place

Parking: I never have an issue with parking here.”

“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!!”

“Very Good

Parking: Parking is a lil TRICKY, due to the location! But the food is great.

Kid-friendliness: Yes

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes”

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

“I love this place !!!”

“Literally the best pizza I’ve had outside of Italy. Place looks spare, but the food is first class. Salads are as good as it gets. Derick is owner/chef, having come from a Michelin restaurant in SF, he knows what he’s doing. You will not be disappointed !”

“Got the black garlic ramen and spicy tonkotsu. Very delicious broth and marinated eggs, noodle perfectly cooked. The spicy tonkotsu was especially amazing. Very nice interior design and vibe.

Kid-friendliness: They have special cute plates for the kids!”

“I was a huge fan of Delirama, my absolute favorite sandwich was the Delirama Mama, so I was sad to hear the owner was going to pivot in a new direction. I prefer take out to dining in, so I waited for that to be an option, and put my order in today. I got a fried chicken sandwich and the pastrami Reuben, both with chips. The menu says a small salad is served with the sandwiches.The fried chicken sandwich is HUGE and delicious. I prefer my fried chicken to be a little on the dark side, which this was. I only wished there were more pickles, but that's because if I could subsist on pickles I would.The Reuben was the same as the Delirama one. My husband was bummed it was "so small," but that's because I used to get the biggest sandwich option and this one is the regular sized one.The chips were yummy, and still warm from the fryer by the time I got home. Or had just taken on some of the radiant heat from my sandwich. Either way, delightful.The salad is not small, it is quite generous in size. The dressing is a little sweet and a lot acidic, which I really enjoyed. My one complaint is that it was overdressed for me, but I prefer the minimum amount of dressing.I gave the atmosphere 4 stars because it was a bit dark inside for me.”

“Absolutely delicious!”

“The best gelato I’ve found with many unique and delicious flavors using fresh fruits and ingredients on a daily basis. I come in every time I am in Berkeley, because it’s head and shoulders above the gelato in the Sacramento area!”

“The best food I have had in a long time! Great taste and excellent customer service. A must try !”

“Went in with coworkers the other night, its right down the block and we go often. But Ian and Kate really made it a wonderful experience. Great rotating drink selection, the weird and delicious cantina drank. They have a wonderful taste in art and they continually support local food trucks and whatnot by partnering with and hosting all sorts. Definitely worth the stop.”

“Marshmallow fluff;) Loved the Milkbomb sandwich! Will definitely go again;)”

“Not too sweet and great place to hang out!!!”

“Delicious baked goods. Awesome staff!”

“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.”

“Really missed Homemade Cafe, and then found this cafe across the street, seems small owner owned which I like, good selection of food, but the Ceasar salad was exactly what I wanted. Sat for an hour with friends in a very comfortable environment, great addition to the neighborhood.”

“Have seen this on an instagram reel and have been dying to try this place. The matcha was spot on! Definitely killed my matcha cravings. I loved how they make it taste a hit of sweet so it doesn’t overkill the matcha flavor.

Seating area was definitely minimal but unique but it was slightly dirty. There were flies buzzing around the front door.

Otherwise, efficiency of the workers and quality of products are up to standards. Loved it!”

“I loved this food!! So good flavour, freshness and generous size, O M G. Owner is great attitude person. I’m looking at the pics i made and i’m getting hungry.”

“My favorite cafe in Berkeley! Vibes are immaculate, always busy (for good reason) but you can sit outside in lovely Strawberry Creek Park. Coffee is delicious, and I love the cheddar and scallion scones. I love to come here with a book and hang out in the park. Also there are always cute dogs!

Vegetarian options: Most pastries are vegan. Oat and almond milk available for all drinks.

Dietary restrictions: Oat and almond milk available. Most pastries are vegan and gluten free.

Kid-friendliness: The park outside is very kid friendly; there are usually multiple kids running around.”