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!“

“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.“

“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*“

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

“Lovely venue and great service!“

“THE FOOD IS 1000% WORTH THE WAIT!! We arrived around 11 and waited in line for a good amount of time. 30 min? 1 hour? Longer?? I don’t even have a clue because we chatted and looked at all the beautiful scenery there. The staff does a really good job of keeping tables turning and they seat you after you order. I really appreciated how they kept the pace and we didn’t have to find our own table.
The food was sooooo good. We had huevos rancheros, chicken and waffles, tres leches French toast, and a breakfast burrito. The breakfast burrito was just ok but everything else was AMAZING. 🙌🏼 The michelada was the best I’ve ever had EVER. We ordered a fresh squeezed orange juice to go and were blown away. We all agreed that we’d stand in line for the OJ alone! Ugggghhh, it was all so good! I wish we didn’t live 3 hours away!!
OH, the staff were soooo friendly and handled everyone so beautifully. They’ve created something really special and unique there.“

“open mic Tuesdays and the food and atmosphere!“

“Five stars. The food and service here are impeccable. New favorite neighborhood restaurant.“

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

“The staff here were super friendly and nice. Had one of their famous cheese puff which had a sweet cheese inside. Also ate a pocket chicken pot pie, which was
warm and savory on the inside while being flaky and crispy on the outside. Loved both items I got! Will be coming back to try some of their other sweet items.

The indoor dining area is small, but there is bench seating outside. Sadly the FatApple’s restaurant next door is closed.“

“Candy Apples are very good“

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

“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.“

“O2 Eatery isn't just a place to eat—it’s a full-on spiritual experience. Calling this spot a restaurant feels like an understatement; it’s a masterclass in Mongolian cuisine from the second you walk through the door.
Their breakfast options are an absolute game-changer, cooked to absolute perfection and packed with rich, comforting, authentic flavor. Just when you think it can’t get better, their lunch menu takes things to a whole new level. The dishes are bold, insanely savory, perfectly seasoned, and served in massive portions that leave you completely satisfied yet already planning your next visit. The atmosphere is top-tier, the staff treats you like family, and the kitchen moves with unreal precision. Easily a 10/10—O2 Eatery is setting the standard for what incredible food should be.“

“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.“

“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“

“A wonderful place to get breakfast. The staffs here are friendly, professional, and will welcome you like a family. True to a classical breakfast dinner, the food is delicious, the service is excellent, cost is reasonable. 10/10 would recommend. (The breakfast sausages are amazing!)“

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

“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!“

“OMG! I had the BEST sandwich of my life last night at Jazzcaffé! We came for a performance at The Freight and I needed something more than pizza and pretzels. I walked down Addison to this amazing cafe and ordered the Hen of the Woods mushroom sandwich on a toasted bagel. It was SO delicious in a greens marinade. I will go back to Berkeley this week JUST for another mushroom sandwich. Amazing chef and she is so thoughtful. Every person leaving the cafe raved about how delicious their food was. So if you are heading to Berkeley Rep, The Freight, or a Jazz performance - GO here for dinner before. Light fare fabulously delicious and highly nutritious.“

“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“

“Nice place to come for breakfast with a cozy,relaxed feel. Staff is great, the food is good, and delicious breakfast drink options if you want alittle boost. My mom loves the silver dollar pancakes. Worth trying..Just wish there was more parking around.“

“Delicious and portions are huge“

“Celebrating my small wins here 🚘✨
I love the food, especially the nachos! However, the drinks tasted like they were old or not fresh. Please check or change the drinks because it really affected the experience. Hopefully this can be improved.“

“Everything is beautiful, staff was attentive and kind. I love that everyone seems to walk into the neighborhood from the hotel. We managed to squeeze in a couple of rounds of tennis between showers. We weren't able to get in with the spa as holiday hours were reduced, including tennis courts and pools. But we also got a deal on the room! The only surprise charge was for parking, had to pay for valet the first night as lot was full. Can't wait to come back.“

“My go-to spot when I want fresh, solid food!! 🌯 Great portions on the burritos — and the one in the picture is just the regular size… imagine the upgraded burrito 👀🔥

I’m always trying something new there and it’s always worth it. Super friendly staff!!

Cons: the chicken can be a little dry/tough sometimes… and maybe throw in a few more chips plzzzz 🫣🫣“

“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“

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

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

“Outdoor patio Salad Lunch Breakfast Brunch“

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

“Whoa! Who knew this cool little cafe made food like that???

My buddy & I shared a Brisket sandwich- juicy, savory & delicious - French Toast (buttery croissant dough!!) & the most insanely good home made yogurt w granola (also home/house made). A perfect 2 person brunch. Don’t hesitate…!“

“Greens are as good a carpet.“

“Been to Barney's several times. Fantastic burgers and shakes. But be ready to spend a pretty penny (been getting more expensive). Got the Moroccan burger with chicken, and chicken patty was really well done. Highly recommend curly fries. Best part of the meal was the impossible mushroom truffle burger! Really good sandwich. Truffle fries and classic chicken were ok, can skip IMO. Turkish coffee and pink guava shake were excellent. Portions were huge, we had meals for the next day as well.“

“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“

“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!“

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

“I've visited several times and I try to pick something different everytime. However, their fries are amazing!! So much so that I've ordered them my last 3 visits. The chili fries are the best!! The fries are so crispy!! So freaking delicious!!“

“Edit: I called the San Jose location to report this employee. They were able to take care of my issue with kindness and grace, I'll be putting my rating to a rounded average. Thank you!

Rude and unprofessional, I tried to call the restaurant to tell them that they didn't give my little sister a soda that I ordered for her in order to get a refund and they gave me SO MUCH HASSLE. Incredibly rude and was ignoring anything I was saying.“

“Food was very good, good service too. Really good location and it reminds me of a 1940s diner. Pretty good menus and selection of food. \nBut unfortunately this is probably my last visit. Which is really too bad as I really like the place and would recommend it to everyone. But, as I was leaving I noticed a sign in the widow I hadn’t seen when entering. Stating that law enforcement was not allowed if they don’t have a warrant. Well I support law enforcement and if they aren’t allowed to dine here then I won’t be back either. Too bad, I really like this restaurant.“

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

“i came in at 10:25pm (they close at 11) to order takeout. not only was i greeted with the most genuine smile by the person behind the bar, but they were so kind and welcoming. i got the bbq bacon burger sub chicken patty add tomato and lettuce (per their recommendation) and it was SUPERB. chicken? cooked perfectly. bun? doughy and held up throughout the eating of the sandwich. the lettuce was crispy and the bacon was fresh. i also got the garlic parm fries and they were the best ones i’ve had in a long time. after a really long day this was exactly what i needed. thank you very much.“

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

“Amazingly delicious. Very filling and good vibe.“

“I like a burger and this is a surprisingly great burger - maybe the best in fast food around here. I’ve had the waffle and crinkle cut fries - perfect. Ice cream treats - great (real berries in the berry topping). And I like to see a classic institution like a Fosters Freeze booth? shack? hanging in there.“

“Always a great experience and that view!“

“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!“

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