This list of some East Bay restaurants, pop-ups, and caterers was excepted from the greater list of Bay Area Black-owned restaurants and pop-ups prepared by Soleil Ho, SF Chronicle Restaurant Critic, and maintained by Soleil Ho, Tracey Friley, Sophi H., Rose E.; the Beautiful Brown Adventures blog; and community submissions.
Ordering from local Black-owned restaurants is a win-win-win. If you want to support Black-owned restaurants and pop-ups, but don’t know where to start, we’ve assembled a family-friendly list of some eateries we love that are offering dine-in, delivery, and carry-out. Preparing this list causes my tummy to grumble, and I’ve placed a few orders for future meals.
Addis Ethiopian Restaurant, Oakland
A reader favorite for the satisfying portions and great value. Located in Oakland’s North Temescal business district, Addis Ethiopian offers vegan and vegetarian options as well as combination plates for two so you can sample a bunch of different favorites, from kitfo to quanta fir fir.
Location: 6100 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
Phone: 510 653-3456
Website for takeout and delivery >
alaMar, Oakland
Seafood fusion restaurant owned by Top Chef contestant Nelson German, featuring garlic noodles, seafood boils, and braised oxtail. There is a fenced patio area on the wide sidewalk with heat lamps (as well as high chairs) that is perfect for families.
Location: 100 Grand Ave. #111, Oakland
Website >
Calavera, Uptown Oakland
A huge restaurant with an extensive menu of Mexican fare and a beautiful outdoor patio.
Location: 2337 Broadway, Oakland
Phone: 510 338-3273
Website >
Cali Alley, South Berkeley
An artisan food counter that’s 100% outside with fresh, local catering-quality meals with single and larger size portions. We had family orders of fried chicken and salmon — both were delicious. Open for lunch and dinner.
Location: 1012 Grayson Street, Berkeley
Phone: (510) 644-4473
Website >
Carolyn’s Creole Kitchen Catering, Oakland
Carolyn offers Creole catering services delivering to many East Bay addresses. Her specialty is traditional and modern interpretations of Creole and down-home, from-scratch cooking (hot garlic crab!).
Phone: (510) 464-2928
Website to order >
Chef Robert Dorsey, Oakland near Lake Merritt
Weekly curbside pop up with $60 minimum order allows for a delicious array of foods with fun, fresh ingredients carefully prepared by this globally inspired chef.
Location: 344 20th St., Oakland
Phone: (510) 277-3306
Hours: Order by Thursday at noon for Friday delivery or pickup.
Order online >
Chop Bar, Jack London Square-ish
Delicious burgers and steaks with indoor and outdoor dining right by Jack London Square. Awesome vibes, kid-friendly foods, and outdoor seating. Chop Bar is great for cocktails. Available for brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Location: 190 4th Street, Oakland
Phone: (510) 834-2467
Website >
The Cook and Her Farmer, Old Oakland
Located in Old Oakland’s Swan’s Market, this eatery is as charming as its food is delicious. Get your fill of oysters (shucked, fried, or fried in a po’boy). Top it off with one of their chocolate pecan cookies. Some garden seating available.
Location: 510 Ninth St, Oakland
Phone: (510) 285-6140
Website >
🧁 Crumble & Whisk Pâtisserie, Oakland
Cheesecakes, desserts, and baked goods (including vegan and gluten-free) with a menu changing each week based on what’s looking good at the farmers market are delivered to you. Shop the online store for pickup in Oakland, or arrange for delivery.
Location: The main bakery is 4104 MacArthur Blvd Oakland with other pickup locations around the Bay Area.
Website to order pickup or delivery >
🧁 Cupcakin’ Bakeshop, Various
Uniquely flavored and delicious cupcakes and mini cupcakes galore from this Black woman-owned bakery. Choose between flavors like key lime pie, chocolate salted caramel, and funfetti. They also bake cakes with an advanced order and their cookies are incredible!
Locations: 2391 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley | 1690 Shattuck Ave., N. Berkeley | 907 E Washington St., Oakland (Swan’s Market) | 1388 N. Main St., Walnut Creek
Website >
Everett and Jones BBQ, Oakland
Crazy delicious sauce and a menu of BBQ favorites from brisket, links, and ribs to the best sides and desserts. There is also a catering menu if you want larger portions.
Location: 126 Broadway, Oakland (JLS) | 4245 MacArthur Blvd Oakland (Laurel District)
Phone: (510) 663-2350 (Broadway) & 698-4340 (MacArthur)
Website to order pickup or delivery >
Home of Chicken and Waffles, Oakland
The menu goes well beyond chicken and waffles to egg dishes, Mecca’s magic kids’ menu, creative combinations, and lots of salad. You’ll also want to check out their support of the Black-Owned Project. Open for take-out service Monday thru Friday, and the dining area is open on Saturday and Sunday.
Location: 444 Embarcadero West, Oakland
Phone: (510) 836-4446 (call for catering orders)
Website >
KC’s BBQ, Berkeley
50 years in the same spot, KC’s is a neighborhood favorite with “Authentic Artisan BBQ with a helping of Southern Comfort”. Lots of cuts of beef, pork, and chicken in many sizes with lots of sides.
Location: 1235 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
Phone: (510) 526-6325
Website >
Kendejah Restaurante & Comida Truck, San Leandro
Kendejah Restaurant serves authentic Liberian cuisine with vegetarian, mariscos, and meat dishes. Described as savory but not spicy, try the jollof rice with meat or veggies; attieke with red snapper or chicken; or fufu with soup. Visit the website for a story of Liberia and Kendeja(h).
Location: 197 Pelton Center Way, San Leandro
Phone: (510) 756-6049
Website to browse menu (call to order) >
Lemat Restaurant, South Berkeley
Tasty Ethiopian restaurant offering lunch and dinner options: vegetable, vegan, and meat dishes are served in the form of wot, a thick stew, or tibs, a sautee of a grilled meat along with vegetables, served over injera (sourdough flatbread). They also provide catering services.
Location: 3212 Adeline St, Berkeley
Phone: (510) 430-2717
Website >
Lena’s Soul Food, Oakland
Find large portions of delicious soul food to feed 5 to 40 people. Choose meats, sides, cornbread muffins, cakes, or sweet potato pie.
Location: 6403 Foothill Blvd., Oakland
Phone: (510) 957-5663
Browse the catering menu.
Magnolia Street Vino Lounge + Kitchen, Oakland
For date night, Chef Leilani Baugh brings her mixed heritage into dishes like Asian garlic honey chicken wings and shrimp etouffée. Roux and Vine is the catering arm of this delicious business.
Location: 3443 San Pablo Ave., Oakland
Website >
Mela Ethiopian Bistro, Oakland
Mela Bistro is a feast for the senses. Enjoy their “modern” take on Ethiopian cuisine on outdoor bistro tables or inside their inviting and airy restaurant.
Location: 35 Grand Ave, Oakland
Website >
Montperi Catering
Holiday dinners, weekly meal prep, and special chef experiences make Montperi worth keeping in your back pocket for when you want to step it up.
Location: 35 Grand Ave, Oakland
Phone: (510) 873-0800
Website >
OakCali Cafe, Oakland
This Black woman-owned cafe offers coffee, breakfast, and lunch bites with Ethiopian inspiration, like their Ethiopian Breakfast (scrambled eggs, scrambled injera, toast, and rice). Enjoy your meal on their sidewalk patio, in either wing of their indoor restaurant, or to-go at nearby Lake Merritt. They are also open for dinner.
Location: 1601 2nd Ave., Oakland
Website >
🧁 PieTisserie, Oakland+
A combination of sweet and savory pies prepared and delivered to your door from quiche and wild mushroom to pecan and cherry. Vegetable or chicken pot pies are excellent bake-at-home dinners. The violet sweet potato and pink apple pies are other favorites from this Black woman-owned bakery. Pick up from various local grocery stores or the brick-and-mortar bakery in Oakland.
Location: 325 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland
Website to order delivery >
Red Bay Coffee Shop, Oakland+
This coffee shop has seasonal offerings like charcoal lattes, sweet potato lattes, and Vietnamese cold brew. At their HQ Cafe in Fruitvale, try unique toasts (like purple ube sourdough or charcoal toast topped with avocado). Red Bay coffees are also available at many local grocery stores and through mail-order subscriptions.
Locations: 3136 International Blvd, Oakland (Fruitvale HQ) | 3206 Grand Ave., Oakland
Website >
🧁 Reuschelle’s Cheesecakes, Hayward+
Praiseworthy cheesecakes come out of this Hayward bakery in classic and unique flavor combinations. Order them custom and delivered to your door or find them at the bakery or farmers markets.
Locations: 974 A St, Hayward and farmers markets
Website >
Phone: (510) 219-2997
Smelly’s Authentic Creole, Oakland
This restaurant specializes in “Soulfusion”, a style developed by blending Creole spices with an Asian twist. The Dungeness Crab and Garlic noodles are a fan favorite.
Location: 2430 Broadway, Uptown Oakland
Check Chef Smelly’s Instagram for the latest >
Souley Vegan, Oakland
Authentic Louisiana Creole flavors in 100% plant-based recipes freshly prepared in their kitchens every day. The menu is extensive. Customer favorites include roasted zucchini etouffee, okra gumbo, and crispy seitan and waffles (yay!).
Location: 301 Broadway, Oakland
Phone: (510) 922-1615
Website >
Snapper’s Seafood Restaurant, Richmond
Snapper’s Seafood offers several kinds of fish (snapper, sole, catfish) along with other types of meat and sides. Be sure to check out the economy family meal and smaller combos to help out picky eaters.
Location: 1501 Ohio Ave., Richmond
Phone: (510) 235-6328
Website >
🧁 Sugarsweet Cookie + Cake Studio, Oakland
Sugarsweet offers cupcakes, cookies, and custom cakes for all your celebratory needs. You can depend on them for classic flavors, but also try their blueberry white chocolate (with actual fruit!) or chocolate oatmeal cookies (both the perfect chewiness with ever-so-slightly crispy edges), or their soft and fluffy cupcakes (my kid was partial to their strawberry).
Location: 5855 Macarthur Blvd., Oakland
Website >
Touch of Soul, Emeryville
Authentic soul food chicken wings, burgers, Philly cheesesteak, po’boys, catfish, prawns, oxtails, smothered pork chops, and lots of fixins.
Location: 4336 San Pablo Ave., Emeryville
Phone: (510) 595-1227
Browse menu >
Thank you to Soleil Ho and her collaborators for creating and maintaining this epic list of Bay Area Black-owned restaurants and pop-ups. Contact her directly to have your favorite restaurant added, or drop a comment here and we’ll make sure she sees it.
