Berkeley Food Guide

Berkeley's food identity was written in 1971 when Alice Waters opened Chez Panisse and declared that American cooking should answer to farmers, not freezers. The Gourmet Ghetto along Shattuck Avenue grew around that idea: the Cheese Board Collective, a worker-owned co-op since 1971 (founded 1967), bakes bread and turns out a single vegetarian pizza each day to a line that forms before the doors open. Steve Sullivan launched Acme Bread across town in 1983 after years at Chez Panisse, and helped establish the sourdough vocabulary the Bay Area still speaks. Alfred Peet opened his first coffee shop on Vine Street in 1966, two decades before specialty coffee had a name. That inheritance shows in how Berkeley eats today: three Ecology Center farmers markets each week, Berkeley Bowl's extraordinary produce floor, and a restaurant culture that skews local, seasonal and often meatless. Three restaurants hold Michelin recognition; the city punches well above its weight on plant-based cooking, craft beer and urban winemaking.

Signature dishes in Berkeley

The plates that define eating in Berkeley.

Great China Peking Duck

A two-service Peking duck: the crispy skin and thin pancakes with scallion, cucumber and hoisin in the first round; the remaining meat stir-fried with vegetables in the second. Great China has served Peking duck for decades and holds Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition for its Cantonese kitchen. The duck requires advance ordering (24 hours recommended). One of the most technically accomplished Chinese restaurant kitchens in the East Bay.

Where Great China

Where to eat Great China Peking Duck in Berkeley →

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Restaurants to know in Berkeley

A handful of the places we send friends to when they are in Berkeley.

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Where to eat by neighborhood

Eat your way through Berkeley

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A sample of Berkeley hotels from our booking partner, who list 156 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.

Super 8 by Wyndham Berkeley With a stay at Super 8 by Wyndham Berkeley in Berkeley (Central Berkeley), you'll be within a 5-minute driv... Check dates Berkeley Inn Located in Berkeley (Northwest Berkeley), Berkeley Inn is within a 5-minute drive of Berkeley Marina and Un... Check dates Nash Hotel A stay at Nash Hotel places you in the heart of Berkeley, steps from University of California, Berkeley and... Check dates Rose Garden Inn A stay at Rose Garden Inn places you in the heart of Berkeley, steps from Telegraph Avenue and 8 minutes by... Check dates Marina Inn With a stay at Marina Inn in Berkeley (Northwest Berkeley), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Berkeley M... Check dates Golden Bear Hotel, SureStay Collection By Best Western Located in Berkeley (Northwest Berkeley), Golden Bear Hotel, SureStay Collection By Best Western is within ... Check dates Graduate Berkeley With a stay at Graduate Berkeley, you'll be centrally located in Berkeley, steps from University of Califor... Check dates Hotel Shattuck Plaza A stay at Hotel Shattuck Plaza places you in the heart of Berkeley, just a 3-minute walk from University of... Check dates Sens Hotel & Vanne Bistro Berkeley With a stay at Sens Hotel & Vanne Bistro Berkeley in Berkeley (North Berkeley), you'll be a 5-minute walk f... Check dates Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Berkeley, an IHG Hotel A stay at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Berkeley, an IHG Hotel places you in the heart of Berkeley, wi... Check dates

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Map of Berkeley

Every restaurant, cafe, market and bar we cover in Berkeley, pinned. Click a pin for the page.

When to come hungry in Berkeley

Peak food season: April to June for spring produce and asparagus at the farmers markets. September to November for wine harvest, wild mushrooms and stone fruit. Summer for Blenheim apricots and white corn at Monterey Market.

Local dining hours: Lunch 11:30-14:00. Dinner 17:00-21:00 (some kitchens close 20:30). Many neighbourhood spots close Monday or Tuesday. Late-night options concentrate near UC Berkeley on Durant and Telegraph.

Tipping: Standard US tipping: 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants, 15 percent at counter service. Many Berkeley restaurants add a service charge of 18 to 20 percent; check the bill before adding more. Tip jars at cafes and bakeries are customary but not required.

Berkeley food, FAQ