27 Best Restaurants in The Bay Area, California

A jazz combo often entertains the line that snakes down the block outside Cheese Board Pizza; it's that good. The cooperatively owned vegetarian and vegan takeout spot and restaurant draws devoted customers with the smell of just-baked garlic on the pie of the day (look online in advance because there's literally just one pizza offered. For just a nibble, the Cheese Board Bakery & Cheese shop next door sells cookies, bialys, and some of the best sourdough baguettes in town.

Beloved by the Bay since opening in 1922 (the creamery itself dates back to 1894) and featured in the Pixar film Up, this is the leading diner name locally for ice cream sundaes and good old-fashioned soda fountain fare. Kids of all ages adore the signature black-and-tan sundae with toasted almond and vanilla ice creams layered with caramel and chocolate sauces. Of course, there’s a cherry on top.

In a region with several outstanding destinations for fresh baguettes and levain breads, the freshly baked loaves here deserve some of the highest praise. Everything in the display case and on the cooling racks is absolutely dialed in, from the kouign-amann (like a decadent glazed dessert version of a croissant) and cookies to slices of custardy quiche and simple avocado toast.

Though this place is popular for its 1950s beachfront snack bar, the adjoining café, coffee bar, marketplace, and bakery shouldn't be missed either. The full menu serves up fresh ingredients, local seafood, Niman Ranch beef burgers, and much more. Creeping vines on the sunny patio shelter diners from the wind, and heat lamps offer extra warmth on colder days; for a cozier ambience, eat by the fire in the dining room.

Just look for the hungry crowds and the smell of freshly baked muffins; an all-day culinary paradise is here in a far-flung corner of Berkeley. Kelsie Kerr's restaurant/bakery started in 2014 and has been a sensation ever since. For the indecisive, this place is a nightmare. Buttermilk biscuit egg sandwiches tend to be the morning staple, while lunch sees a little more creativity and quintessential Berkeley farm-to-table elements, like in a roast chicken and golden beet sandwich. Dinner is a slightly less casual affair with some table reservations and a concise menu that might feature a delightful sautéed local lingcod with sauce Gribiche.

Arguably the most talked-about tacos in the entire Bay Area are at this colorful, cheery spot operating from a shipping container in an alley in between Uptown, Temescal, and Piedmont Avenue. Fillings are always packed with flavor, complemented by dialed-in salsas like a peanut–arbol chile one with carefully charred broccoli. There are always multiple tempting vegan tacos offered, which is extremely rare to find. As popular as the tacos are, the creative tostadas (perhaps topped with Dungeness crab or cactus) have an equally devoted following.

Taking its name from the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, this nonprofit coffee shop is inspired and powered by refugees. In addition to serving high-caliber coffee drinks, local pastries, and savory bites, the colorful café also serves as an advocacy space and barista training center for refugees.

At the prominent intersection of Skyline Boulevard and Highway 84, this indoor-outdoor restaurant is a landmark for weekend breakfast and lunch. Alice's is surrounded by redwood trees, so sitting outside at the picnic benches is beautiful but almost always on the chilly side. The inside is like a cozy alpine diner situated in a wooden cabin.

The lines can get long at this hole-in-the-wall, no-frills kitchen, where Indian curries are served burrito-style while you wait. Punjabi burritos (in whole-wheat wraps) or rice plates come with savory lamb, chicken, salmon, rock shrimp, vegetarian, and vegan ingredients flavored with seasonal fruit chutneys, tamarind sauce, and aromatic blends. A few tables allow for inside or sidewalk dining, but most people take their burritos to go.

Palo Alto’s eclectic past meets its digital present at California Avenue’s outdoor-only coffee shop/roaster that is hidden from the main street by a narrow alleyway. With plenty of mismatched tables, lo-fi jazz on the stereo, and flowers growing on a wall next to a wall with drawings of its many regular dog visitors, it’s easy to feel Palo Alto’s old bohemian personality alive and well here. At the same time, most of the crowd is typing away on their laptops under the shade tent or discussing the latest tech merger by a little fountain. A small menu of breakfast items and tacos are also available.

The Peninsula’s leading barbecue has only been grilling and smoking at its El Granada home since 2020, but it’s already a favorite choice for Bay Area residents looking for an excellent hearty lunch on a coastal road trip day. All of the beef and pork is of very high quality and the sausage links are made in-house. Weekends often have intriguing specials like chicken legs and cider and herb-brined turkey breast. Unlike many fellow barbecue destinations, the menu goes well beyond the normal fare with local cod tacos, fresh salads, and a burger made of house-ground brisket. 

Every coastal area needs a great fish-and-chips shop; for the peninsular coastline, it’s this casual establishment that has been serving Pacifica diners since 1969. The batter for the fish is light and sports just the right crispy texture, while fries are of the thick, potato-forward style popular at classic English pubs. There are various other fried seafood options and, in quite the State Fair cuisine twist, deep-fried Twinkies and Mars Bars for dessert.

This is the prime spot for a pick-me-up over a picturesque view of downtown Mill Valley and Mt. Tam. The owners are as serious about coffee as they are about social responsibility, from their fair-trade single-origin beans and organic loose teas down to the locally reclaimed redwood in the decor. With all this plus delicious gluten-free waffles, shakeratos (a cold espresso drink), wine, and beer, it's easy to see why locals go out of their way to make this a regular part of the day.

An organic oasis, this deli, restaurant, and taproom offers a true taste of the Point Reyes foodshed. Classic sandwiches, breakfast bites, burritos, grilled Niman Ranch beef, wild-caught salmon, and vegan burgers are all prepared with fresh local ingredients. Rotating specials abound throughout the week, including weekend fish and chips. IP Market is committed to conserving the area's energy and limited water resources, as shown by the solar tube lighting, the fully compostable tableware used in the taproom, and the no-flush toilets.

Sausalito's popular beer hall and rotisserie offers ample, open, airy indoor seating at long tables and expanded outdoor deck dining with exceptional views of the bay. It's a relaxing spot to enjoy burgers, sandwiches, guacamole with housemade tortilla chips, and salads along with a selection of local brews on tap. With free parking nearby and easy access for cyclists and kayakers, it's easy to see why this is a local favorite.

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 the namesake one with sautéed shrimp, onion, and bell pepper. The menu goes well beyond tacos, including enchiladas, fajitas, chilaquiles, and an entire section devoted to vegetarian diets.

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. 

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 a savvy base for the foot-long, narrow wraps that are pressed on the flat top for an extra level of caramelized delight to each bite (a pita option is also available). It’s irresistible, whether filled with the signature slow-roasted yogurt and spice-marinated 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.

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 wood stove add to the warmth of the rustic seaside interior, while a mountain view and firepit enhance the deck.

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.

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 naan wrap filled with chicken boti (a spice-marinated kebab) or a comforting slow-cooked lamb gosht 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.

A colorful, quirky lounge loaded with Latino tchotchkes, chatty patrons, agave margaritas, and bottles of hot sauce, Joe's is a fun place to go for cheap Mexican eats and a dive-bar-meets-living-room feel. A sizable street-food-influenced menu includes tacos, burritos, Mexican pizzas, and selections for kids of all ages.

A barnlike space full of cheerful Mexican tiles and folk-art masks, Picante is a find for anyone seeking good Cal-Mex food for a song. The masa is freshly ground for the tortillas and tamales, the salsas are complex, and the flavor combinations are inventive.

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.