115 Best Restaurants in The Bay Area, California

Many restaurants have direct relationships between nearby farms and the kitchen, but very few are truly co-owned. Here, with chef Alan Hsu at the helm in the kitchen, top-tier local produce is showcased in excellent contemporary Californian dishes. One of the co-owners also is part of the family that owns the renowned K&J Orchards, a supplier of top-tier produce to some of the Bay Area's greatest restaurants.

Haute comfort food and childhood favorites are the focus at this charming dining nook across from the Claremont hotel. Mac and cheese and free-range chicken potpie play second fiddle to brunches of cornmeal pancakes and gingerbread waffles, which are best enjoyed on the outdoor patio.

The East Bay is saturated with excellent pizzerias, but arguably the best of the esteemed group is hiding in plain sight on busy University Avenue, right by the heart of downtown Berkeley. Day and night, diners enjoy whole pies (no slices) in the cozy dining room and pleasant back patio. The pizza style is a crispy but not crackery thin crust—kind of its own personality. And those pizzas sure are delightful, whether topped with broccoli rabe and garlic confit or burrata, olives, and capers.

On sunny weekend afternoons, the enormous tree-covered, creekside beer garden of this countryside dining icon feels like the epicenter of Silicon Valley. It’s a popular destination for professors and graduate students to enjoy brews and sandwiches, located just beyond campus in the pastoral town of Portola Valley. And over a century ago, it was a saloon that lasted through California's rapid growth in the late 1800s and then Prohibition. Nowadays, it's a gathering spot for local families, out-of-towners looking to eat in a quintessential Northern California setting, and the many cyclists who go on rides around the nearby rolling hills.

This breezy spot has been a locals' go-to for Baja Mexico–style tacos with distinct Californian influences since the early 2000s. Diners tend to choose two or three kinds of tacos for a meal, perhaps free-range chicken roasted in achiote and sautéed shrimp. The menu goes well beyond tacos, including enchiladas, fajitas, chilaquiles, and an entire section devoted to vegetarian diets.

Oysters shucked moments after they're taken out of Tomales Bay and French and California wines sourced from minimal-intervention small producers are the keystones of this neighborhood oyster bar. With indoor and outdoor patio seating and a creative menu, this spot makes for a welcome post-hike or post-beach indulgence. True to the spirit of the region, it's dedicated to sustainable farming, foraging, and fishing. Locals swear the oysters here are as fresh as it gets. 

It’s a little backwards to enjoy Maine lobster while gazing out at the Pacific, but when the crustacean meat is as wonderful as it is at this coastal icon, nobody cares what ocean is in the distance. Chowder may be in the name, but Sam’s is all about that glorious lobster roll, served “naked” (warm with butter) or "dressed" (chilled with lemon aioli). There’s an enormous menu beyond the lobster roll, but most tables don’t get very far beyond the central staple dish. The restaurant can be a hectic scene on weekends, so it definitely pays off to come at non-peak hours or to reserve a table ahead of time.

High ceilings and red-leather booths add to the friendly, retro atmosphere of Saul's deli, a Berkeley institution that is well known for its house-made sodas and enormous sandwiches made with Acme bread. Locals swear by the pastrami Reubens, stuffed-cabbage rolls, and challah French toast. Don't overlook the glass deli case, where you can order food to go. 

Live music and dancing complement Tuscan seafood and pasta specialties here and make the Seahorse one of Sausalito's most spirited supper clubs. Sample an abundant antipasti menu and homemade gnocchi on outdoor patios or enjoy the band inside with a seafood pasta or lasagna classica.

It’s a trip back in time at this elegant retro sibling to the Village Pub. Dishes are grand and elaborate, often with luxurious flourishes, yet deeply rooted in the seasonal focus that is the hallmark of California cuisine. It’s a delicious tie between the sensational black label truffle burger and the honey-lacquered duck breast for what is considered the signature dish here. The main dining room serves a three-course menu with several choices in each category; the bar menu is à la carte. The handsome mid-century modern design is worth a trip alone with impeccable details like perfectly smooth white tablecloths, miniature lamps on tables, a roaring fireplace, and a dramatic arched bar backdrop in the lounge. 

Jordan-inspired street food is not easy to find in the Bay Area. The unique Californian catch here is the use of flour tortillas, which are better for the foot-long, narrow wraps that are pressed on the flat top for an extra level of caramelized delight to each bite. It’s irresistible, whether filled with the signature chicken shawarma, lamb/beef shawarma, or falafel.

San Jose’s most well-known dining destination might be this Detroit-style square pizza specialist that only found a full-time home in 2022 after being a pop-up in a nightclub. Now it’s part of a multipurpose entertainment space called San Pedro Social, just a block away. New York–style and cast-iron baked Sicilian square pizzas are also offered. Everything is fantastic and uses the highest level of ingredients, from the olive oil, to the flour, to the four kinds of cheeses used in the house blend.

A unique blend of African culinary influences along with flavors from various Latin American countries are the draw at chef Nelson German's restaurant. Each tapa is compelling (there are no main courses, though there are more than enough tempting dishes to satisfy a group) and nicely ties together the two geographic regions. This is a perfect example of a bar with excellent food or a restaurant with standout cocktails—it toes the line perfectly between the two. The decor is sleek with a gentle island theme as if it's a hip supper club in Miami. Every night feels like a party.

With its frequent fog and ocean breeze chill, coffee is all but mandatory along the coastline. The best café in the region for your buzz is a lofty, garage-like roastery/café right by Pacifica’s state beach with excellent espresso-based drinks and pour-overs from beans roasted in-house. The food menu is fresh and extensive, with breakfast bowls, toasts, soups, and sandwiches offered throughout the day. 

Hard to miss along the tiny stretch of Main Street, this café is an easy destination for a pre-beach sandwich or post-surf bar bites and cocktails on the heated patio in the afternoon. Beach-cottage hardwood floors and a woodstove add to the warmth of the rustic seaside interior, while a mountain view and firepit enhance the deck.

It’s almost a rite of passage for Stanford students and visiting families to visit this steak-house stalwart. Since 1974, it's been the place to go for shrimp cocktail followed by juicy prime rib. The clubby, wood-heavy décor definitely is on point for a classic steak house, but the vibe is a little more relaxed and energetic than at many of its peers. While the menu has all the traditional items of the genre, several dishes include elements from different cuisines of Asia, like filet mignon spring rolls.

Legendary farm-to-table fine dining chef David Kinch co-owns this casual restaurant. It’s a loving ode to the good times and great cuisine of New Orleans. With Mardi Gras beads and French Quarter–inspired wrought iron throughout the space and jazz on the soundtrack, it’s hard not to feel transported to the bayou. The renditions of NOLA standards here like oyster po'boys and hurricane cocktails are superb—sometimes even superior to their peers close to Bourbon Street.

A renovated hay barn off the main drag houses this collection of upscale food shops, which showcase local organic fruits and vegetables, premium packaged foods, and an international selection of exquisite cheeses. Cowgirl Creamery cheese is made on-site. Grab some before you head to Cowgirl Cantina for creative sandwiches, salads, and soups you can enjoy inside the café or in the outdoor picnic area.

The Chopra family has been selling excellent chaat (Indian street food snacks) to East Bay diners since 1989. It's part market, part bustling fast-casual restaurant with more substantial meat dishes and daily specials, dosas, and the staple homemade chaat that tend to be crunchy and/or fried (like samosas or puffed puri shells filled with mint water). It's quite a scene—the restaurant estimates that it serves 2,000 meals a day.

Palo Alto is filled with Italian restaurants, but the best in town resides in Leland Stanford’s old brick barn (where Stanford's own wines were produced), on the edge of campus. Homemade pastas are served with an idyllic toothsome al dente texture. Not to be outdone, the puffy Neapolitan pizzas are equally notable and any mozzarella starter is worth an order. Since it’s removed from the slightly congested downtown, the restaurant has plenty of outdoor space in a charming courtyard. The bar is a popular post-work hangout for the nearby medical center and stirs one of the finest Negronis around (with amaro Montenegro replacing vermouth).

A nautical theme and a tasty "between the sheets" pizza-style sandwich are signatures of this creative pizzeria, which is housed in the 19th-century landmark building that was once home to the Pioneer Boathouse. Indoor deck chairs and a picnic table complete with umbrella add a playful air.

Expect a warm welcome and a lively atmosphere at this longtime Rockridge favorite. A neighborhood gem in the truest sense, Wood Tavern serves contemporary American brasserie food with quality wine, well-crafted drinks, and refined service.

Serving a mix of contemporary Indian and Pakistani fare, this popular fast-casual restaurant started near Google in Mountain View in 2014 and now has two other Silicon Valley locations. Flavors are bold and riveting, whether it’s a handheld lunch like a paratha roll filled with chicken boti (a spice-marinated kebab) or a comforting slow-cooked lamb stew. Thali platters (an entrée, rice, lentils, and a pickled salad) are quite popular in the evening and the various sandwiches tend to be the main choice for hurried daytime diners. Make sure to start with the chicken Memoni samosas, a savory pastry recipe that is supposedly known by only 23 Memoni grandmothers in the world.