50 Best American Restaurants in Berkeley

“The food inside is delicious and healthy portions. The service here is great too!“

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!“

“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*“

“A game day classic, but also a great place to chill with your friends or family on other days in the cozy banquettes. Great space, excellent drinks, and the new burger is amazing.“

“Yummy delish cheese steak sandwich“

“My dad used to drink there in the 1980s and the Asian husband and wife couple who owned the bar bought him a last drink and told him never to come backThe bar was closed for about 10 or 20 years in the 1990s and the 2000sMy favorite part of the bar is spinning the wheel and trying my luck at free drinks cuz half the time it's a l**** deal but half the time it's a winner deal it's a nice bar most people are really coolFor a while they had a 8-bit Nintendo system and I'd play Castlevania and Super Mario Bros over and over again but they do have some arcade games and pinball games really nice“

“What a great place, especially for families! The staff is friendly, attentive and bilingual should you be more comfortable speaking Spanish! Everyone at our table enjoyed their delicious breakfast of perfectly cooked pancakes, eggs, bacon etc! I know it sounds like a lot but order a biscuit for everyone to try at least a bite!!

Kid-friendliness: They’ll love the bear theme!“

“One of the best restaurants in Elmwood (4/5 green stars) It’s so easy to walk right by Summer Kitchen without even noticing it. It’s a narrow shopfront with just a few tables outside and it’s easy to miss as you ponder ice cream and other offerings from neighbors. Well, take it from me – forget ice cream and get a baked item from Summer Kitchen instead! Or try a pizza, or an egg salad sandwich – possibly the best egg salad sandwich you’ll ever have. But if you are limited for time, try one of the fresh fruit pastries (galette) – they seem expensive at $12 but they are big enough for two and totally worth it! I’m giving Summer Kitchen 4/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. The positives are obvious – most of the ingredients are organic and locally sourced. Everything is made from scratch and there is transparent sourcing of the meat and fish (Mary’s free-range chicken, etc.). There are a reasonable amount of vegetarian options and you can definitely find some vegan dishes too (salads, sandwich, pasta). Summer Kitchen could make the biggest environmental impact by scrapping beef from the menu – replacing it with plant-based alternatives, ideally. Beef has a carbon footprint of around 10 times that of chicken and over 100 times that of pea protein, on average. If everyone one the planet ate 1 lb. of beef per week (the US average), total greenhouse gas emissions would increase by one third! I’ll write a post illustrating all of this soon on the Green Stars Project. So I really appreciate that Summer Kitchen makes more effort than the vast majority of restaurants on improving sustainability so that’s my suggestion for the biggest opportunity for improvement – cut the beef.“

“In the location of the former Nico's and if you're a long-term resident around here Chester cafe, the breakfast joint everyone here used to come to, Walnut tavern has totally beautified the inside, and while I was only able to get a drink because of time constraints their "Old Cuban" (basically a mojito with spiced rum), was excellent, and the people working there we're friendly and the place has an overall goodbye. I'll review it some more when I have time to have a full meal there. But I can already recommend the bar. Great drinks.“

“Everything about this place is a 5“

“Lovely venue and great service!“

“Definitely recommend this place! first time here and I can't wait to come back next time I'm in Berkeley!! Food is delicious!“

“This was my first time here, and I'm so glad that I visited. I ordered the double smash burger, which was delicious and juicy. The order came with seasoned fries. The atmosphere was simple, no fuss, and the service was quick.

Parking: Depending on time of day, parking can be difficult.“

“Good food and excellent service ! We will be back in our next trip to Berkeley for sure .“

“Candy Apples are very good“

“Long time customer. Ordered bacon and cheese quiche to eat in and a chicken turnover to take home. Both were excellent. Also my standard a blueberry Danish and their dark roast coffee. Just wish they would return some of the savory baked goods from the past like mustard laced cheese sticks and cheese scones.“

“The interior design is terrific with the velvet rope curtain, the huge orange arch and the colorful mural. The food is also very good and they serve the best lattes

Parking: A huge red parking structure is a 5 minute walk away and on the same block

Wheelchair accessibility: Completely wheelchair accessible...not steps. everything is flat.“

“This was our 1st time in Berkeley. The bar is so nice! The corner spot is great location and parking was convenient. I love the bartenders and the food was delicious! Fried foods options are good for on the go! We got some fish & chips and chicken tenders they were yummy. I will definitely be back!“

“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.“

“One of my good friends recommended this place.. and WOW!!! hands down the BEST brunch i have ever had! The service, amazing! The food. So fresh and so much flavour.. AMAZING! Had me lost for words. If I could give 6 stars.. this would be it! ❤️“

“Very Spacey the only thing they need to improve is air conditioning they don't have air conditioning in there I guess you have to bring your own but was clean nice the day we went in it was really busy as hell besides that my son loves it that's the only thing that matters“

“They are just amazing. Also ask about American cheese melted on regular fries and you will be amazed. 5 star.

Vegetarian options: Most of the menu has vegetarian substitutions, and they make it very clear when you sit down.

Kid-friendliness: Very accommodating for children and very friendly.“

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

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

“Always friendly and tasty! OP is longtime family owned.plus same grill man who always say hi to me, a customer for 20 years. I usually go for the great gyro (extra tzatziki!), BLTs and fresh lemonade, burritos, but all is fresh and made to order.“

“open mic Tuesdays and the food and atmosphere!“

“Delicious and portions are huge“

“Great music venue, small feel with top notch sound and production, connected to a great ale house with good food, full bar and super professional staff.“

“The food was amazing and you can’t beat the views! The staff was friendly and our waitress was amazing!“

“I appreciate when a restaurant gives you a reasonable amount of food on your plate. My breakfast was the right size to feel satiated and not overly full. The potato wedges were well cooked and tasty. Coffee is self serve, so no worries about cups being empty. It's a bit small inside, so seating might be an issue if they are busy. Definitely a great breakfast place“

“I’ve recently cut out all dairy and pretty much all meat, although I will make an exception for special occasions and eat meat seldomly. anyway the options here are delicious if you’re a vegan! Their menu is full of tasty choices. U couldn’t be happier with my recent door dash orders“

“Not many vegetarian options, but the one you have is the best ever🤩“

“Outdoor patio Salad Lunch Breakfast Brunch“

“Always a great experience and that view!“

“That was one of the best burritos I've ever had and I've had a few. Fresh ingredients, authentic flavors, sauce bar! Customer service was friendly and helpful. It was my first time there and I will definitely go back. Nothing like a delicious tasty burrito!!“

“Tender Greens | Berkeley has become a go-to place for occasional food delivery & dining in house in the mid-afternoon. The food is tasty, fresh, & plentiful—consistent—& always tastes good. Chefs develop interesting & tasty seasonal menus. I have explored a number of plates & bowls, especially savor the greens & seasonings that go alongside the entrees. Have enjoyed chicken, salmon, beef, & vegetarian options as well as all the sides. Sandwiches & salads are delish. As is the mint lemonade & watermelon fresca. The place can be hopping or not, & the service is top notch & personable, professional. They do robust to-go orders & have spacious outdoor garden seating. Sure wish I’d discovered it sooner!“

“Things haven’t gotten going yet so you can still make it.“

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

“I have been a regular Tilden golfer since 2019 (especially on Tuesday nights...when the real pros come out!). The recent opening of The Overlook has been a fantastic addition to the course. They did a great job with the drink selection, with lots of local beers on tap. The outdoor space is so nice, with heat lamps and a fire pit. Also, if you haven't been out to Tilden before, you will love the views and serenity out there. It reminds me of getting a drink at the top of a ski resort in Tahoe. Bravo Tilden!“

“Lovely dog friendly café. The owner, Warren, is super nice and all of the regular staff are kind, wonderful people (shout-out to Andrew, Hanna, and Hannie!)

Coffee is bomb and the food is excellent as well. My favorites are the Corned beef hash (made in house) and the fried egg sandwich. The scones are very good (love the date and Brie flavor).

Honestly, best coffee shop in South side.“

“Food was yummy, service was great, vibe was chill“

“Wonderful food service and beer! Very friendly owner! Will definitely return and recommend.“

“Delicious but somewhat expensive burgers in the Gourmet Ghetto that is in North Berkeley. Barneys is a small chain of hamburger restaurants that are primarily in the Oakland Berkeley area. We didn't know, but now we do.

For perspective, a Barneys burger costs $17.50, but it's a really good burger. Burgers are cooked to order with very good quality beef. Fries, onion rings, and other sides are ordered separately. Whereas the burgers were excellent, the onion rings and fried vegetables (their version of tempura) were on the oily side. Keep this in mind.

Their menu is expansive, and they offer salads and other items. We stuck to the burgers.

Service is friendly and efficient. Parking can be challenging, but there are metered spaces about a block away near Safeway.

The restaurant is clean and well maintained. The shiny sign out front gives a slight indication of the pride they take in the establishment... or maybe we're just being too generous.

In any case, on a nice day, try to snag a table on the patio and bite into a juicy, well crafted burger..all while soaking in the liberal elite vibe of North Berkeley It's a nice experience.“

“good service good food had a avocado bacon burger & beer was Casey Jones IPA !!!✌🏽💚“

“This is purely a review of their food - I'm not about to judge them on the space since they're kinda in a parking lot. I've had their food a few times, and I usually start on my meal about 5 mins after I got it from them. This is kind of a factor for burgers and fries...

...And they are excellent! Their burgers are solid, and very reasonably priced. I like Jack in the Box, but if I'm paying $8-10 on a nice burger from either place, Fosters Freeze is by far the better choice. Minimal grease or salt, doesn't make me want to run and grab a salad afterwards - yeah, these guys are legit!

As for fries, I'd rate them as pretty good overall, but you can't go wrong with their waffle fries - so good that I'm tempted to go back just to order only those!

If you think of them as a takeout spot and not a sit down restaurant, then they're definitely up there at the top. Thanks guys!“

“had a nice brunch before class started and was on a budget, cashier was sweet and recommended me a nice sandwich and i tried a smoothie which was way better than expected, workers were all sweet and i sat for a bit while waiting for my next class to start, will come back again“

“Delicious, fresh and wholesome food! We were visiting from out of town and just googled breakfast in Berkeley, and this place popped up. So glad we chose it, because our food was delicious. Our group had the lox bagel, breakfast burrito, and the jumpstart breakfast with pancakes and bacon. Everything was quality and cooked well. The smoothies and espresso drinks were also great!“

“This is a To-Go lunch spot adjacent to the Oceanview Diner. It's basically an entire separate restaurant with a different kitchen. I work on Fourth Street, and this my go-to place for lunch. I used to do Market Hall, but the food here is better and the prices are better, pretty reasonable for the bay. You can get a satisfying meal for ~$10 and a good snack for $5. They do a few things really well. All the prepared dishes from the glass case I've tried have been great. Some staples include lentils & feta, chicken salad, potato salad, and there's always a daily special that's been tasty every time I've tried it. You can also combo the mixed greens salad (+ tomatoes, pickled red onion, and dressing) with one of the prepared dishes, which makes for a light and fresh lunch. The middle eastern combo (hummus, greens, pita, dolmas, veggies) is a lot of food and a good deal; the empanadas are great for a snack, and you get some fresh homemade chimichurri with them. The "burrito" is kind of funny (you get two little burritos) but it's cheap and tasty. Tuna toast is a good snack as well. Last but not least, the baked goods are bomb. As I understand it, they have a few different bakers who come in and contribute to the pastry case. All the cookies and cakes I've had have been delicious. The lemon pistachio shortbread, brown sugar shortbread, lemon cake all transport me to a childhood I didn't know I had. All in all, the output of this place is truly impressive. There are so many different little elements to the lunch offerings, and everything appears to be homemade, even the pickles! I don't know how they manage it and run a full-on diner next door, but I'm grateful for it. It's got a locals-only vibe and can be pretty hectic at the lunch rush, but that shouldn't deter you. Also, you don't necessarily have to take it "to-go"; there's two high tops inside and some seating out front.“