Eat in San Antonio, Oakland

Champa Garden ★ 4.4

Champa Garden on 8th Avenue has cooked Lao and Thai cuisine in Oakland's San Antonio neighborhood since 2006. Family-run, lunch and dinner daily.

Signature: Nam khao, Laotian sausage, Papaya salad

Puerto Rican Street Cuisine ★ 4.2

Puerto Rican Street Cuisine on Oakland's 23rd Avenue runs takeout pollo encebollado and fall-apart pernil with sweet plantain stuffed with ground beef.

Signature: Pollo encebollado, Pernil with sweet plantain

Champa Garden ★ 4.4

Champa Garden on 8th Avenue cooks Lao and Thai family recipes since 2006. The room sits ten minutes from Lake Merritt, daily lunch and dinner.

Signature: Nam khao, Lao sausage

Puerto Rican Street Cuisine ★ 4.2

Puerto Rican Street Cuisine in Oakland's San Antonio neighborhood does takeout pollo encebollado and pernil. Outdoor picnic seating, 23rd Avenue.

Try: Pernil with sweet plantain stuffed with ground beef

Banh Mi Ba Le ★ 4.5

Banh Mi Ba Le on International Boulevard runs the East Bay's most-loved banh mi counter, Fridays through Sundays only. Two dozen sandwiches under ten.

Try: Pork meatball banh mi

Puerto Rican Street Cuisine ★ 4.2

Puerto Rican Street Cuisine on Oakland's 23rd Avenue runs takeout pollo encebollado and pernil under fifteen dollars. San Antonio neighborhood.

Order: Pernil with sweet plantain stuffed with ground beef.

Tip: Takeout only; outdoor seating at picnic tables. Cash and card.

Banh Mi Ba Le ★ 4.5

Banh Mi Ba Le on International Boulevard runs the most-loved East Bay banh mi counter, weekends only. Two dozen sandwiches under eight dollars.

Order: Pork meatball banh mi with Vietnamese coffee.

Tip: Open only Friday through Sunday; cash only. Twenty-four sandwiches on the menu, all under eight dollars.

Champa Garden ★ 4.4

Champa Garden on 8th Avenue in Oakland's San Antonio neighborhood runs Lao family recipes since 2006. Quiet block, line out the door on weekends.

Order: Nam khao crispy rice salad.

Why locals love it: Off Lake Merritt on a quiet 8th Avenue block; the Bay Area's most authentic Lao kitchen runs largely by neighborhood word of mouth.

Tip: Bring two friends and order across the menu; portions are generous.