18 Best Mediterranean Restaurants in Oakland

“Bistro 4293 is truly something special. The food is absolutely incredible, with every dish prepared with exceptional care, flavor, and attention to detail. You can tell there is real passion behind everything that comes out of the kitchen.

What makes this restaurant even more memorable is the owner, Anar. He is one of the kindest and most genuine people you could ever meet, and his warmth and hospitality make you feel completely welcome from the moment you arrive. It is rare to find a restaurant where both the food and the people leave such a lasting impression.

Bistro 4293 deserves every bit of praise it receives. Outstanding food, wonderful service, and an owner who truly cares about his guests. I cannot recommend Anar and this restaurant highly enough. An absolute gem!“

“Great food and service! Special atmosphere“

“I've seen this place hyped up on social media as one of the best chicken sandwiches out there and had to give it a try.

Got the szechuan chicken sando, the turkey salami and the sesame chocolate chip cookie. Does it live up to the hype?

The short answer is not really, at least in the chicken sando arena. It's a good chicken sando, it could absolutely do with some more pickled flavor, it's a little one note, I'd love the slaw to be pickled to break up the flavor. The bun is excellent, but the sandwich should be $5-6 cheaper, it's almost $20 and for what it is, while good, is simply not worth it when you can get extremely good chicken sandos all over oakland for much cheaper. Again, it's tasty, probably a one and done for me.

The turkey salami was kind of the star. Great bread, big sando (has to be for almost $20), you can tell it's a quality sando. Would I make a habit of getting sandwiches this expensive? Absolutely not. But it's worth trying and is very good.

The cookie was pretty good, room temp but managed to still have gooey chocolate. $7 is a lot for a cookie but it was tasty and not gonna gripe. Seems like a standard choc chip cookie tho, didn't really get a sesame flavor or see any sesames.

The staff were hustling and this place was doing a lot of business so clearly everything is going right. It's a take out only spot and they have a line so be prepared for that.

TLDR- Is it good? Yes. Is it a must try? No. Is it worth trying? Absolutely. Does $50 for 2 sandos and a cookie in oakland feel like highway robbery? A little bit.“

“Took my family to this new Mediterranean spot in Oakland and we were blown away. The shawarma plate comes loaded with seasoned saffron yellow rice, crispy spiced fries, fresh salad, and the meat is charred and tender with tahini and paprika on top. The hummus is silky and authentic. The Kabab was really juicy and well cooked, and the chef is very hospitable.
But what really got us? They brought out tea without us even asking. That kind of hospitality hits different.
Oakland needed this place. We’re already planning our next visit. 🥙🫶​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​“

“Huge thank you to Akbar and team. We hosted a family baby shower, about 50 people, at Saffron Kitchen. Our guest were all happy about the ambiance at the venue and gave us many glowing reviews about Saffron's wonderful foods. Setting up the event with Akbar was very simple and took a load off of us. Akbar let us come in early the morning of to decorate and ensure there was enough food for all guests through the event. We would definitely recommend Saffron!!“

“Decent Mediterranean spot in Montclair for a quick bite. They have some seating inside. I got a Philly and falafel for about $25. Portions are huge and took me a meal and a half to finish. No toum (garlic sauce). Nice staff. Will likely try a plate next time.“

“Just visited Oakland for a conference and our awards dinner was held at The Fat Lady. The staff and owner were all phenomenal! It was a preset buffet and there were a few of us who are Autistic with an Endocrine Disorder and needed alternative food options. They took care of us swiftly and it was delicious. The owner is also an animal lover and takes care of animals they need love and a home. How can you not support a business like that! Definitely recommend!!!“

“5 stars. This place is a gem.

We had lunch here and the food was really delicious. We ordered the qabuli palo, house salad, and chicken wings — everything was perfect.

The qabuli palo was flavorful and cooked just right, with tender meat and aromatic rice. The house salad was fresh and a great balance to the meal.

But the crispy wings were such a WOW. Seasoned perfectly, super crispy on the outside, juicy inside. Easily the highlight.

Service was friendly and the place felt welcoming. We’ll definitely be back to try more of the menu.

Highly recommend if you want authentic, delicious food done right.“

“What a hidden gem in Oakland! If you're looking for authentic halal smash burgers, delicious wings, and comfort food made with passion, this is the place to be. Every bite tasted fresh and was clearly prepared with pride and attention to detail.
What made the experience even more special was meeting the owner in person. You can instantly tell he's pouring his heart and soul into this business, and his love for cooking and serving customers shines through in everything they do.
The restaurant is spacious, perfect for families and large groups, and they even have a pool table where you can relax, have fun, and unwind while waiting for your food or hanging out after your meal. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and very family friendly.“

“Great lunch spot! Oakland has lost so many Greek restaurants lately I was happy to find this spot. Open only weekdays for lunch the menu is solid but not overwhelming. Lamb/ beef gyro was tasty as was the side dish-we tried the fries and the salad.. Service was excellent and food was cooked fresh and quickly! Dining area has nice light and good amount of space. We will definitely be back!“

“Savoring Lebanese cuisine; like never before . una reunión de amigos ... y una comida excelente ... de falafel boy quede impresionado. más que recomendado.“

“I Experienced their amazing food by “ Carry Out”. Difficult to believe one is able to pick up such delicious gourmet cuisine, by Top Chefs. Cannot wait to experience the full ambiance !!!“

“5 Stars because it's right across the street from the IRS. Whether you leave that building happy or sad, both attitudes could use a cold brew and a croissant -- both of which were good.This cafe is exactly what you need, exactly where you need it.Considered dropping it to 4 stars for not providing the opportunity to get drunk if that's what you needed after the an IRS meeting instead.“

“Heck yes it’s good! I’ve had this from time to time at middle eastern restaurants and never knew what it was called. Got my a few days ago and it’s amazing. Definitely check it out.“

“I love it because it's more then just grocery & grill. I consider it to be or it should be called "Multi convenience." Or maybe even "Some of this & Some of that!" would also be a good name. It's a small store, but most of the time they still have just what you need. The owner is cool too. He gives great customer service as well. Try this store or“

“I give the highest caterer recommendation to Ikaros To Go (catering by the team that ran Ikaros restaurant). They planned and managed a very delicious memorial dinner for us for approximately 75 guests. The customer service and food were excellent - our menu included roasted salmon, vegetarian mousaka, rice, Greek salad and garlic bread, plus dessert of Baklava and sugar cookies which everyone also loved. They also handled dinnerware, water, lots of set up and clean up, soft drinks and pretty bottled Greek waters for the tables. They were extremely considerate, thoughtful, flexible, organized and reliable. Ikaros to Go went above and beyond and made our event very special. We are very grateful - Thank you Ikaros to Go!“

“My husband and I went last night. First time going. Restaurant was packed but I had reservations for outside table. The food was amazing and we had excellent service. We will be back again! Next time will try to sit inside. Looks like a beautiful restaurant with wonderful ambiance.“

“Comida muy rica y muy buena atención !!“