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
For my Forbes story on Oakland Restaurant Week, click here.
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Chelsea is a bicoastal freelance 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, This Is Insider, Fox Lifestyle 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.
