The 16 best restaurants in Oakland to try right now

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Horn Barbeque is the star newcomer in town. Though the restaurant is barely a year old, pitmaster Matt Horn actually served up his Central Texas-inspired brisket and beef ribs to a cult following for years via pop-ups that brought massive lines. His new and permanent location in West Oakland lives up the fanfare—if you're in the mood for authentic, Texas-style barbecue, head here for the stand-out menu item (brisket) plus hot links, smoked turkey breast, cheesy potato casserole, and more barbeque favorites.

Chef Nite Yun brings her fresh take on Cambodian cuisine to the Fruitvale neighborhood in a tiny, sunny space. Try her comforting rice dishes (like the Koh + Bai with pork belly in caramelized palm sugar) or go for something extra special like the Amok, a catfish souffle steamed in banana leaf—either way, you’ll want to be a regular here.

Chef-owner Mic Talmor opened Pomella at an inopportune time: spring 2020. Despite the pandemic, the restaurant won over Bay Area diners who came in droves for her “familial, Middle Eastern'' flavors. Pomella's California-Israeli dishes are inspired by Talmor's roots in northern Israel combined with California produce, offering items like falafel, pita, and majadera (a spiced and lentil dish). Whatever you do, don't skip the hummus—it’s some of the creamiest you'll ever taste, made by a special machine Talmor funded through Kickstarter.

James Beard Award semifinalist Reem Assil (whose first restaurant, Reem’s, can be found at the Fruitvale BART station) brings her modern Palestinian-Syrian cooking to Jack London Square. Dine on Arabic delights like kohbz chickpea “pancakes” and mana’eesh bread with traditional mezze spreads (like muhammara, a dip made with roasted red pepper, pomegranate, and walnuts) or hummus kawarma topped with tender spiced lamb and dried lime.

You'll notice that in Oakland, popular restaurants often first start out as food trucks or pop-ups. That was the case for Tacos Oscar, which served up his mouthwatering tacos across the Bay. In 2018, founders Oscar Michel and Jake Weiss opened its permanent location in the Temescal neighborhood. The venue is completely outdoors, made up of brightly painted shipping containers decorated with string lights, cacti, and custom wood tables. The menu consists of tacos and tostadas that change every week. Expect juicy, meaty options like pork chile verde as well as a slew of vegan choices. 

Nothing short of legendary, the employee-owned Zachary’s Chicago Pizza has been an East Bay staple since 1983. For over three decades, the original Rockridge location in Oakland has turned out killer Chicago-style deep dish, thin-crust, and half-baked pizzas.

Tucked along a strip mall in Temescal, the outside of FOB kitchen is unassuming while on the inside, the restaurant bursts with color and flavor. After operating as a pop-up, owners Janice and Brandi Dulce started serving their delicious Filipino food out of this brick-and-mortar location, which features bold wallpaper, colorful decor, an open kitchen, and an overall warm party vibe. Stand-outs include lumpia and fork-tender pork adobo, as well as vibrant side dishes that range from salads to noodles.

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Oakland's only Michelin-starred restaurant offers eight innovative courses for $175. It’s a hefty price tag, sure, but one we can get behind—and considering how consistently packed this place is, we’re not alone. In the kitchen, Chef James Syhabout shows off his finesse with well-sourced, local ingredients in a sophisticated nightly tasting menu.