SF —> East Bay
Over the past decade, you probably noticed the exodus of all of the cool, artsy people you know from SF crossing over the bridge for greener pastures (like houses with actual yards) and real summer (later, Karl). Lately, (for better or for worse) the techies seem to have gotten the memo too, migrating en masse to East Bay enclaves near BART stations (see: Hipsturbia). But what you may not have realized is that all of your favorite San Francisco restaurants are opening up on the right side of the bridge too. We’re not talking about the dreaded national chain-restaurant gentrification - these are all Bay Area-owned businesses making a local expansion. And while we may have lost the Warriors to SF (though the Warriors lost Andre Iguodala, so are they even the Warriors anymore?), we’ve gained a whole slew of great restaurants.
Here’s a dozen eastern outposts to try:
4505 Meats - the bustling BBQ and burger joint just opened a beautiful new spot on MacArthur blvd with outdoor picnic-style patio seating, hand-cut fries, soft-serve ice cream, beer, wine, a kids play area, and of course their famed chicharrones. This place is great but it also feels like a sign of the times — the relatively mellow Laurel neighborhood is suddenly home to not one, but two hipster enclaves (Sequoia diner). And while I don’t think of myself as a hipster (what even is a hipster these days? Are we all just hipsters now?), I can’t help but like these spots. And I’m not ashamed to say, the 4505 burger was one of my favorite burgers in SF (along with Spruce, Causwells, Popsons and like 15 others). And if you’re a serious BBQ fan, you know the East Bay is home to a few long-time local favorites like Everett & Jones and 50-year-old KC’s. Not to mention, its almost time to get ready for Horn BBQ coming this fall.
A16 - the earliest adopter of the Bay Bridge commute, this adored neighborhood Italian restaurant has been proudly churning out pizzas in Rockridge on College ave since 2013. Come for the award-winning, wood-fired pizza, stay for the barrel aged negronis (unlike Chestnut street SF, this one has a full liquor license). Plus a nightly “apertivo hour” at 5 p.m. Delivery via Caviar, which apparently soon will be DoorDash.
Burma Superstar - Not one, but two east bay locations. One on Telegraph and one in Alameda. When I lived in San Francisco, I was more partial to Mandalay for Burmese food, but Burma Superstar always seemed to win the hearts and the minds of the young people. They have a cookbook and now ship their famous tealeaf salad nationwide. And if you haven’t had the flavor-packed tealeaf salad, what have you been doing all these years? It’s a flavorful and texture-ful salad with fresh herbs and garlic and peanuts. The restaurant is always bursting at the seams, so delivery may be a better bet. The business has done so well, the owners even started a non-profit to bridge the opportunity gap for low-income young people in the US and Myanmar.
Curry Up Now - the first time I devoured a Curry Up Now chicken tikka masala burrito was off a food truck in a random office parking lot in Burlingame. Good food can pop up in unexpected places - just like the idea of pairing Indian street food with a Mexican tortilla. Now the little spot on wheels is a full on local chain with multiple trucks and four locations (and more on the way through franchisees). You can find them in Oakland or get them delivered to your door. They’re technically HQ’d in San Mateo but they crossed a bridge to get here, so it still counts for my list.
DOSA - husband and wife-helmed Dosa is one of the more widely known and beloved Indian restaurants in San Francisco for its flavorful South Indian cuisine and innovative cocktail menu. In 2017, they opened dosa by DOSA in uptown Oakland, a beautifully designed, casual, walk-in-only spot to dine-in or take out their spicy and flavorful Indian fare. Absolutely worth a visit.
Gordo Taqueria - this Richmond district fixture first opened on Clement street in 1977 and now churns out its beloved, greasy burritos in Elmwood on College Ave. Don’t be fooled by their website which gives off a much fancier vibe than the actual establishment. The crowd is always a great mix of college students, construction workers and families alike - in a line out the door. The staff is efficient. And the burritos are just right.
Humphry Slocombe - personally speaking, I don’t get what all the fuss is about. They are known for their ‘secret breakfast’ flavor ice cream which is the flavor of cereal that’s been left in milk too long with a dash of bourbon. As a kid I ate my cereal dry because I disliked that soggy, sugary, milky taste so much. But anyway - other people love it, so why deprive you all of knowing they’re out here. There are two Humphry Slocombe’s in the east bay - one at the Hive in Oakland, and one on College in Berkeley. If you, like me, don’t get the fuss - then try Lottie’s in WC & Danville for ice cream. Otherwise, do what you gotta do.
Limón - the beloved Peruvian rotisserie from the Mission now has a Walnut Creek location where you can get their to-die-for juicy Lomo Saltado and fresh ceviches. Plus happy hour from 4-6. They also deliver on DoorDash. Though it’s more expensive than I remember with $20+ entrees.
Proposition Chicken - I’m a sucker for restaurants with extremely limited menus that do one thing really well. Prop Chick is one of those places - chicken comes flipped, fried or “fake” aka tofu, and you can have it on its own, in a salad or a sandwich. This Grand Lake location is usually bustling, but pretty consistent on quality. And like every great business these days, they too, deliver.
Roam - the much-liked, grass-fed, free-range burger spot which originally debuted on Union street in SF now has locations in uptown oakland and in lafayette. They have like 5+ varieties of milkshakes and even a changing seasonal flavor - all of which you can get in child-size if you don’t feel like being a monster. Speaking of kids - this is a great place to take them, as its the kind of place where they won’t offend the other diners. My favorite thing here is probably the zucchini onion haystack, which is basically a pair of nice, healthy, locally-sourced vegetables doused in hot oil and covered in salt.
Tartine - perhaps one of the most famous bakeries in America - Tartine finally saw the (sun) light and joined us here in the east bay. This will be the fourth Bay Area outpost (did you know there’s one in the international terminal of SFO now too? Not to mention, three in Korea and one in LA). The new location officially opened in September at the Graduate Hotel in Berkeley.
Wrecking Ball Coffee - the tiny Union street SF cafe with memorable selfie-able pineapple wallpaper just opened their third location in Berkeley and the owner gave a wide ranging interview about his cultural mission and purpose. The set up here is notably less Marina prepster and much more east bay activist. Wifi fees are being donated to RAICES, but you can also just donate directly here.
And worth noting: Gioia Pizzeria went the other way - they started out in Berkeley before bringing their indulgent salsiccia pizza with pickled jalapenos to Polk street in SF.
Want to see more locally-run businesses thrive? Consider donating to SF Mission-based La Cocina, which supports women-owned businesses by providing an affordable commercial kitchen space and access to market opportunities.
Know of any other restauranteurs coming east? Give us the scoop!