Support Black-Owned Restaurants and Caterers in the East Bay

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., 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 still doing 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
Hours: 11:30 am to 10 pm every day
Phone: 510 653-3456
Website for takeout and delivery >

Brown Sugar Kitchen, Oakland

Known for their chicken and waffles, Chef Tonya Holland serves lots of other comfort food. Add on dessert or wine with your order. Brown Sugar Kitchen partners with Marqeta to provide meals to homeless communities, foster youth, and low-income families.
Location: 2295 Broadway, Oakland
Hours: Open noon to 8 pm Wednesday to Saturday
Website to order takeout or delivery >

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.
Location: 1012 Grayson Street, Berkeley
Phone: 510 644-4473
Shelter In Place Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11:30 am – 7 pm
Website to order and browse menu >

Carolyn’s Creole Kitchen, 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!). She can also provide you with a Mexican and Italian items upon request.
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 >

Crumble & Whisk Patisserie, Various

Cheesecakes, desserts and baked good (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 Emeryville, or via Doordash for delivery.
Hours: Schedule a pickup Monday – Friday 10 am – 4 pm.
Website to order pickup or delivery >

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)
Hours: Wednesdays 12 pm to 7 pm, closed Monday and Tuesday
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 7 days a week.
Location: 444 Embarcadero West, Oakland
Phone: (510) 836-4446 (call for catering orders)
Website to order delivery through partners >

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
Hours: Open 11 am to 8 pm Wednesday to Friday; 10 am to 8 pm Saturday; 11 am to 5 pm Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday
Website to order pickup or delivery >

Kendejah Restaurant & Food Truck, San Leandro

Kendejah Restaurant serves authentic Liberian cuisine with vegetarian, seafood, 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
Hours: Open 11:30 am to 10 pm (closed holidays)
Website to browse menu (call to order) >

Lemat Restaurant, 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
Hours: 5 pm to 10 pm weekdays, 11:30 am to 10 pm Saturday, closed Sunday
Website to order pickup or delivery >

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
Hours: Order by Thursday noon for Friday or Saturday pickup.
Browse the catering menu and order by phone, or order online.

PieTisserie, Various

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 bake-at-home, and I can’t wait to try the violet sweet potato and pink apple pies.
Hours: Open Wednesday to Saturday; closed Sunday to Tuesday
Website to order delivery >

Smelly’s Authentic Creole and Soulfood Catering

Tri weekly restaurant that specializes in Soulfusion. A style developed by blending Creole spices with an Asian twist. Our Dungeness Crab and Garlic noodles are a fan favorite.
Location: 2430 Broadway, Uptown Oakland
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 5 pm – 9 pm
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
Hours: Open 11 am to 8 pm Tuesday to Saturday
Website to order pickup or delivery >

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 to order delivery >

Spirit Sliders, Oakland

Tiny little burgers with extremely interesting insides are a taste you just have to try! The Promethazine Cow is bourbon-infused beef, gruyere, bacon dijon, and greens (ok, maybe that one’s not for the kids). Prices are moderate so you can try all the flavors! Catering menu also available.
Phone: (510) 459-4537
Website to order delivery >

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
Hours: 11:30 am to 9:30 pm (closes at 8:30 on Sundays); closed Monday and Tuesday
Browse menu (order by phone) >

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.