Rad’s favorite things to do / eat / drink in Oakland
Food scene
~~Hands down the best brunch in Oakland~~ Locally sourced food that influences the daily menu. Everything is handmade in house, including the bread, jam, sausages, etc
Opens at 8am, best to visit on weekdays to avoid the line — but you should definitely go even if you have to wait, it’s 3 blocks away! Put in your name then check out ‘Therapy (home goods) two doors down, or thrift at Goodwill while you wait.
101 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sequoia Diner
3719 MacArthur Blvd~~Hands down the best brunch in Oakland~~ Locally sourced food that influences the daily menu. Everything is handmade in house, including the bread, jam, sausages, etc
Opens at 8am, best to visit on weekdays to avoid the line — but you should definitely go even if you have to wait, it’s 3 blocks away! Put in your name then check out ‘Therapy (home goods) two doors down, or thrift at Goodwill while you wait.
Great bbq and burgers one block away. Outdoor seating and dog friendly! My favorite is the salad w/ chicken.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
4505 Burgers & BBQ MacArthur
3506 MacArthur BlvdGreat bbq and burgers one block away. Outdoor seating and dog friendly! My favorite is the salad w/ chicken.
Great sandwiches and family friendly beer garden with pinball inside. Another smaller location on Shattuck (no beer garden there). The Cubano is ~100~
20 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Stay Gold Deli
2635 San Pablo AveGreat sandwiches and family friendly beer garden with pinball inside. Another smaller location on Shattuck (no beer garden there). The Cubano is ~100~
Incredible local bakery. Serves the local favorite pie (pizza) of the day by the slice or by the pie. Super delicious.
198 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore AveIncredible local bakery. Serves the local favorite pie (pizza) of the day by the slice or by the pie. Super delicious.
I heard this was opened by a couple of guys that used to work at Arizmendi. Same concept: pie of the day. Also delicious, and nearby with generally no line and only 3 minutes away by car. I like to get a half-bake and finish cooking it at home, check the daily menu online before heading over.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Dimond Slice Pizza
2208 MacArthur BlvdI heard this was opened by a couple of guys that used to work at Arizmendi. Same concept: pie of the day. Also delicious, and nearby with generally no line and only 3 minutes away by car. I like to get a half-bake and finish cooking it at home, check the daily menu online before heading over.
Historic ice cream parlor, referenced in Pixar’s movie ‘Up’. Generally always a fast moving line, lots of flavors, very good old fashioned ice cream — been around forever, doesn’t have those fancy new hip flavors, etc. Been going here since before I was born :)
129 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fentons Creamery
4226 Piedmont AveHistoric ice cream parlor, referenced in Pixar’s movie ‘Up’. Generally always a fast moving line, lots of flavors, very good old fashioned ice cream — been around forever, doesn’t have those fancy new hip flavors, etc. Been going here since before I was born :)
Best Chinese food in Oakland! Maybe in all of California? Definitely one of my go-to spots when I have friends visiting. Get the handmade noodles, green beans, Shan Dong chicken – actually, I’ve never had anything remotely sub-par here. But the noodles are hand-pulled and so yummy.
71 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Shandong Restaurant
328 10th StBest Chinese food in Oakland! Maybe in all of California? Definitely one of my go-to spots when I have friends visiting. Get the handmade noodles, green beans, Shan Dong chicken – actually, I’ve never had anything remotely sub-par here. But the noodles are hand-pulled and so yummy.
Great tacos and plates. So so so good and affordable. Near Temescal Alley. Outdoor seating. Another great cubano, but I usually get tacos and beans / rice.
173 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cholita Linda
4923 Telegraph AveGreat tacos and plates. So so so good and affordable. Near Temescal Alley. Outdoor seating. Another great cubano, but I usually get tacos and beans / rice.
Best burritos and tacos in Oakland! Open late, cash only. I try to call ahead and pickup so I don’t have to wait around, no seating area.
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tacos Mi Rancho
1434 1st AveBest burritos and tacos in Oakland! Open late, cash only. I try to call ahead and pickup so I don’t have to wait around, no seating area.
Cute taproom serving their beer, plus some other locals. Small bites menu that’s yummy, but a bit pricey. Really beautiful aesthetic – very airy and filled with plants. They make lots of fun / interesting beers, unlike most other local breweries – which aren’t typically my thing.
34 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Roses' Taproom
4930 Telegraph AveCute taproom serving their beer, plus some other locals. Small bites menu that’s yummy, but a bit pricey. Really beautiful aesthetic – very airy and filled with plants. They make lots of fun / interesting beers, unlike most other local breweries – which aren’t typically my thing.
Marufuku Ramen
4828 Telegraph AvenueGreat ramen, a bit expensive, always a line.
Really good brunch, but Sequoia is better.
117 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt
576 Grand AveReally good brunch, but Sequoia is better.
Open for a few hours a day on weekdays. Serving incredible fried chicken (or tofu) sandwiches. Also fresh pies and cookies. An Oakland institution, definitely go for lunch if you’re here on a weekday — they close at 2pm. The line moves really quickly.
196 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bakesale Betty
5098 Telegraph AveOpen for a few hours a day on weekdays. Serving incredible fried chicken (or tofu) sandwiches. Also fresh pies and cookies. An Oakland institution, definitely go for lunch if you’re here on a weekday — they close at 2pm. The line moves really quickly.
Absolutely no frills / hole in the wall type place, and my favorite place for Indian food in Oakland. Get the coconut chicken!
Raj Indian Cuisine
4086 Piedmont AvenueAbsolutely no frills / hole in the wall type place, and my favorite place for Indian food in Oakland. Get the coconut chicken!
Teeny tiny amazing and simple Japanese spot. Not fancy, but one of my favorite places to go with a friend.
46 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Geta Japanese Restaurant
165 41st StTeeny tiny amazing and simple Japanese spot. Not fancy, but one of my favorite places to go with a friend.
Great great food! Not over priced for what you’re getting, and in a fun part of town with nightlife.
41 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Xolo
1916 Telegraph AveGreat great food! Not over priced for what you’re getting, and in a fun part of town with nightlife.
Amazing pastries and breads! Also, love the pulled pork and jam biscuit for brunch — don’t love the rest of the brunch menu all that much, but often go just for this biscuit.
25 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Firebrand Artisan Breads
2343 BroadwayAmazing pastries and breads! Also, love the pulled pork and jam biscuit for brunch — don’t love the rest of the brunch menu all that much, but often go just for this biscuit.
My family has been coming here since before I was born. I love it so much, but also am not sure if it’s just extremely nostalgic for me or if it’s really that good.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Juan's Place
941 Carleton StMy family has been coming here since before I was born. I love it so much, but also am not sure if it’s just extremely nostalgic for me or if it’s really that good.
Exercise
Great yoga down the street, have never been disappointed with a class.
Left Coast Power Yoga - Laurel
4148 MacArthur BlvdGreat yoga down the street, have never been disappointed with a class.
Just down the street. Love this local studio — amazing, friendly local owners. Some classes are more gentle.
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Anasa Yoga
4232 MacArthur BlvdJust down the street. Love this local studio — amazing, friendly local owners. Some classes are more gentle.
Nightlife
Best cocktails, dance parties, and late night food menu. My favorite burger in Oakland, everything on the menu is incredible. Fun karaoke and jazz nights.
55 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Starline Social Club
2236 Martin Luther King Jr WayBest cocktails, dance parties, and late night food menu. My favorite burger in Oakland, everything on the menu is incredible. Fun karaoke and jazz nights.
Great local bar, incredible cocktails, great atmosphere / ambiance.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Cat House
3255 Lakeshore AvenueGreat local bar, incredible cocktails, great atmosphere / ambiance.
Temescal Brewing
4115 Telegraph AveThe Rare Barrel
940 Parker StHiking
Iphakamisa ye-Joaquin Miller
3300 Joaquin Miller RdBeautiful hiking in the redwoods!!
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood RoadMore ncredible hiking in the redwoods!!
Beautiful waterfront trail with quirky areas to explore. Local art in nature. Dog friendly. My favorite place to take my pup.
56 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Albany Bulb
1 Buchanan StBeautiful waterfront trail with quirky areas to explore. Local art in nature. Dog friendly. My favorite place to take my pup.
Shopping
A bunch of super cute local shops: clothing, coffee, plants, jewelry, restaurants, barber etc. Very very cute, fun to walk around and checkout.
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Temescal Alley
Temescal AlleyA bunch of super cute local shops: clothing, coffee, plants, jewelry, restaurants, barber etc. Very very cute, fun to walk around and checkout.
Neighborhoods
Cute, lots of food and some shopping. One of the more desired neighborhoods for younger folks to live in. Great food and fun nightlife, plus some local shopping.
89 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Temescal
Cute, lots of food and some shopping. One of the more desired neighborhoods for younger folks to live in. Great food and fun nightlife, plus some local shopping.
Good food and nightlife. Very busy, parking can be challenging.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Uptown
Good food and nightlife. Very busy, parking can be challenging.
Beautiful lake with vibrant daytime scene. Great for picnics and bbqs. Love walking around the lake (3 mile loop). Lots of good food and shopping, and the local theater nearby.
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lake Merritt Plaza
323 20th StreetBeautiful lake with vibrant daytime scene. Great for picnics and bbqs. Love walking around the lake (3 mile loop). Lots of good food and shopping, and the local theater nearby.
Cute neighborhood with lots of food options, some shopping, nail salons, fun to walk around.
Piedmont Avenue
Piedmont AvenueCute neighborhood with lots of food options, some shopping, nail salons, fun to walk around.
Movies
Historic theater, local sodas, organ player before some shows.
382 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand AveHistoric theater, local sodas, organ player before some shows.