Everything You Need To Know: Oakland Restaurant Week 2023

Oakland Restaurant Week is hands down the best time to explore Oakland’s dynamic culinary scene. If you’ve ever been to Oakland, you know it’s a city that prides itself on being home to countless ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. The city itself can be divided up in to a variety of culturally-distinct neighborhoods — each offering its own roster of unique restaurants serving everything from innovative food fusions to authentic recipes, passed down through the generations.

From Jack London Square and Temescal to Uptown and Fruitvale, you’ll never get sick of exploring this food scene. From world-class restaurants, hole-in-the-walls and mom and pops to food trucks, new and upcoming eateries and bars, what’s served on a plate is more than just what you’re tasting. It’s a celebration of the diversity, inclusion and culture that makes Oakland special.

Oakland offers 20 Michelin-rated restaurants including Horn Barbecue, Commis, and Taqueria El Paisa. It’s also home to James Beard nominated restaurants that include Wahpepah’s Kitchen and Understory. From innovative Thai cuisine, Filipino fusion from or fresh Vietnamese dishes to Afro-Brazilian specialties, authentic Ethiopian food or traditional Oaxacan recipes, Oakland chefs are showing off and Oakland Restaurant Week is the best time to try it all.

This year’s Oakland Restaurant Week features over 125 restaurants and is happening March 16-26th, 2023. All Oakland Restaurant Week participants will feature lunch and/or dinner menus at six different price points: lunch at $15, $25, $35 and/ or dinner: $35, $45, $65.

Complete lists of participating hotels, restaurants, menus, special events, and reservations are available on OaklandRestaurantWeek.org.

Here are a few restaurants I tried out & loved!

Agave Uptown – Oaxacan Cuisine

What to order: Mole Negro de Oaxaca, Molotes, Carnitas, Guacamole, Tasajo

Wise Sons – Jewish Delicatessen

What to order: Pastrami Ruben, Challah French Toast, Latkes, Babka, Rugelach

District Oakland – Globally Inspired Sharable Plates

What to order: Grilled Hangar Steak, Margherita Pizza, Lamb Meatballs, Deviled Eggs, Shrimp & Grits, Bread Pudding

Beauty’s Bagels – Kettle Boiled Bagels

What to order: Breakfast Sandwich, Matzo Ball Soup, Latkes, Smoked Salmon Bagel Sandwich, Babka, Rugelach

MAMA Oakland – Italian Cusine

What to order: The tasting menu changes daily, but the one staple is the Paccheri and MAMA’s Sugo — get it!

Everette & Jones – Barbecue

What to order: Pork ribs, Beef Brisket, Green Beans, Corn Bread, Mac and Cheese, Caramel Cake

Noka Ramen – Japanese

What to order: Lobster Shio Ramen, Inari Steak Ramen, Brussels Sprouts, Black Garlic Tonkotsu, Kakuni

World Famous Hotboys – Fried Chicken

What to order: Fried Chicken Sando, Chicken & Waffles

Mela Bistro – Ethiopian Cuisine

What to order: Mela’s Vegetarian Platter, Asa Kitfo, Beef Tibs, Chicken Tibs

Mela Bistro's Ethiopian food

For my Forbes story on Oakland Restaurant Week, click here.

Pin this post for your next trip to Oakland, California!

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Chelsea is a San Francisco-based journalist whose passion revolves around exploring the world, immersing herself in foreign cultures, and of course, eating and drinking everything delicious.

Her work can be found in TravelPulse, Forbes, INSIDER, SF Gate and more. She covers all things food, drink and travel and is always up for an adventure, whether that means an adrenaline-pumping excursion or trying a new cuisine.

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