40 cheap eats places in Berkeley, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Berkeley: the places editors actually return to. All Berkeley food.
Acme Bread ★ 4.7
downtown · 1601 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702
Steve Sullivan opened Acme Bread in 1983 after years at Chez Panisse. His levain and walnut loaves defined Bay Area artisan baking. Retail window sells daily.
Cheese Board Pizza ★ 4.6
gourmet-ghetto · 1512 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Worker-owned collective making one vegetarian pizza daily from seasonal California produce. Live music during lunch. Always vegetarian; vegan on request.
Cheese Board Collective Bakery ★ 4.6
gourmet-ghetto · 1504 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Worker-owned since 1971, the Cheese Board bakes around 40 types of artisan bread per week alongside croissants and pastries. Everything is baked on-site.
Cheese Board Collective Bakery ★ 4.6
gourmet-ghetto · 1504 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Worker-owned since 1971, one block south of the pizzeria. Sourdough loaves, baguettes, scones and seasonal pastries baked in house each morning.
Wat Mongkolratanaram Sunday Market ★ 4.5
south-berkeley · 1911 Russell St, Berkeley, CA 94703
Thai Buddhist temple opens Sunday mornings for a home-cooked market. Pay with $1 tokens at the gate. Pad see ew, curry and mango sticky rice. Sundays only.
Boichik Bagels ★ 4.4
elmwood · 3170 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705
Nationally acclaimed best bagels in America. Chewy New York-style with scallion cream cheese and nova lox. Kosher certified. Sells out early on weekends.
Boichik Bagels (6th Street Production Bakery) ★ 4.4
fourth-street · 641 6th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Production facility for nationally acclaimed bagels. Everything, sesame and poppy bagels with scallion cream cheese. Open daily until they sell out.
Fieldwork Brewing Co. ★ 4.4
fourth-street · 1160 6th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Founded in Berkeley in 2015, Fieldwork became one of California's top hazy IPA producers. Sixteen to twenty rotating taps span IPAs, stouts, sours and lagers.
Boichik Bagels ★ 4.4
elmwood · 3170 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705
Nationally acclaimed best bagels in America. Available from 07:30 daily until sold out. Smoked salmon on an everything bagel is the Berkeley Sunday pick.
Peet's Coffee (Vine Street) ★ 4.3
gourmet-ghetto · 2124 Vine St, Berkeley, CA 94709
The original Peet's Coffee, opened by Alfred Peet in 1966. His dark-roast philosophy trained the founders of Starbucks. Still trading at Vine Street.
Peet's Coffee (Original Location / Vine Street) ★ 4.3
gourmet-ghetto · 2124 Vine St, Berkeley, CA 94709
Alfred Peet opened Vine Street in 1966 introducing dark-roast coffee to America. He trained Starbucks founders. The original formula is still used here today.
Cafe Bolita ★ 4.2
fourth-street · 2701 Eighth St Suite 118, Berkeley, CA 94710
Opened February 2026. Short morning menu: tetelas, tamales and quesadillas from corn stone-milled on site. Limited seats. Open Wednesday to Saturday only.
Fieldwork Brewing Co. (Fourth Street Taproom) ★ 4.2
fourth-street · 1160 6th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
West Berkeley taproom of Fieldwork Brewing, one of California's top hazy IPA producers. Sixteen to twenty rotating taps of IPAs, stouts, sours and lagers.
924 Gilman (American Steel Studios bar) ★ 4.2
fourth-street · 924 Gilman St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Punk club that launched Green Day, Rancid and Operation Ivy. Non-alcoholic; sodas and water only. Weekend event nights only. A Berkeley cultural institution.
Vik's Chaat ★ 4.1
fourth-street · 2390 4th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Michelin Guide Indian street food counter on Fourth Street. Chaat, dosas, pani puri and rotating thali specials. Next to an Indian grocery. Outdoor tables.
Tacos Sinaloa ★ 4.1
downtown · 2384 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Michelin Bib Gourmand taqueria open until 2am on Friday and Saturday. Fresh tortillas, carne asada, lengua and vegan fillings on Telegraph Avenue.
Caffe Strada ★ 4.1
downtown · 2300 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
A UC Berkeley institution at College and Bancroft with a heated outdoor patio open until 11pm daily. Italian drinks, pastry case and a well-populated terrace.
Asha Tea House ★ 4.1
downtown · 2086 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Taiwanese tea drinks with whole-leaf teas brewed daily, no powders. Brown Sugar Oolong Latte has a strong campus following. Customizable sweetness and ice.
Equator Coffees (Berkeley Cafe) ★ 4.1
downtown · 2100 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
B Corp roaster with Organic and Fair Trade sourcing. Berkeley cafe on University Avenue serves medium-roast blends from Central America and East Africa.
Tacos Sinaloa (Telegraph) ★ 4.1
downtown · 2384 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Michelin Bib Gourmand tacos until 2am Friday and Saturday. Fresh tortillas, carne asada, lengua and vegan fillings. Best late-night quality in Berkeley. Cash.
Asha Tea House ★ 4.1
downtown · 2086 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Asha Tea House open until 10pm weekends; the latest non-alcohol option downtown. Fresh-brewed lattes without powders. Brown Sugar Oolong is the student pick.
Tacubaya ★ 4.0
fourth-street · 1782 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Michelin Guide counter-service Mexican on Fourth Street. Al pastor tacos, sopa de tortilla, tamales and house sauces. Weekend brunch adds huevos rancheros.
Gioia Pizzeria ★ 4.0
solano-avenue · 1586 Hopkins St, Berkeley, CA 94707
North Berkeley neighborhood pizza by the slice with rotating seasonal toppings. Potato and rosemary, roasted squash, fresh corn. Slices or whole pies.
Top Dog ★ 4.0
downtown · 2534 Durant Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Berkeley's late-night sausage institution since 1966. Bratwurst, knockwurst, hot links, beef dogs on a flat-top. Open until 3am Fri-Sat. Cash.
Peace Natural Vegan Food ★ 4.0
solano-avenue · 1593 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707
Daily-changing vegan menu on Solano: whole grains, legumes, roasted vegetables and rotating sauces. Nothing pre-made. The kitchen mills its own almond flour.
Nabolom Bakery ★ 4.0
elmwood · 2708 Russell St, Berkeley, CA 94705
Worker-owned cooperative in South Berkeley since 1977. Whole-grain breads, rye loaves, scones and vegetarian pastries baked without artificial additives.
Espresso Roma ★ 4.0
elmwood · 2960 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705
College Avenue cafe since the 1980s: marble-top tables and traditional espresso in a room for reading. One of Berkeley's last genuinely European cafes.
Cheese Board Pizza Line ★ 4.0
gourmet-ghetto · 1512 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Cheese Board makes one vegetarian pizza daily, always seasonal, by the slice. Live music plays as you queue. Berkeley's closest equivalent to street food.
Vik's Chaat ★ 4.0
fourth-street · 2390 4th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Michelin Guide counter-service chaat on Fourth Street. Papdi chaat, pani puri, samosas and bhel puri. Order at the counter, take a token, collect when called.
Tacos Sinaloa (Telegraph) ★ 4.0
downtown · 2384 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Michelin Bib Gourmand on Telegraph. Tacos until 2am on weekends. Fresh tortillas, carne asada, lengua and vegan options. Best late-night quality in Berkeley.
Wat Mongkolratanaram Sunday Thai Market ★ 4.0
south-berkeley · 1911 Russell St, Berkeley, CA 94703
Thai Buddhist temple open Sunday mornings for a home-cooked Thai market. Pad see ew, curry, mango sticky rice and sugar cane juice bought with $1 tokens.
Downtown Berkeley Thursday Farmers Market Food Stalls ★ 4.0
downtown · Center St between MLK and Milvia, Berkeley, CA 94704
Thursday Ecology Center market with food vendors: tamales, Cambodian food, Middle Eastern wraps, Vietnamese banh mi and soup. Year-round in downtown Berkeley.
Top Dog ★ 4.0
downtown · 2534 Durant Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Berkeley hot dog institution since 1966. Flat-top grill, bratwurst, knockwurst, Polish and hot links. Open until 3am on weekends. Condiment bar; cash only.
Top Dog ★ 4.0
downtown · 2534 Durant Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Late-night Berkeley institution since 1966. Flat-top sausages: bratwurst, knockwurst, hot links, Polish and beef dogs. Open until 3am on Friday and Saturday.
Sliver Pizzeria ★ 3.9
downtown · 2174 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
One rotating vegetarian pizza daily on Shattuck, similar to the Cheese Board model with longer hours. Vegan cheese available. Slice or whole pie.
Afghan Burrito ★ 3.9
downtown · 2309 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702
Halal-certified Afghan-Mexican fusion on San Pablo Avenue. Curry-spiced rice and halal meats in burrito format. Uniquely Berkeley in its food eclecticism.
Homemade Cafe ★ 3.9
downtown · 2454 Sacramento St, Berkeley, CA 94702
Berkeley neighborhood breakfast institution since 1979. Challah French toast, omelets, house-made biscuits. Small room; regulars know each other by name.
Homemade Cafe ★ 3.9
downtown · 2454 Sacramento St, Berkeley, CA 94702
Berkeley breakfast institution since 1979. Challah French toast, omelets, Southern specials and biscuits. Budget-friendly, no frills, genuinely good.
Cancun Sabor Mexicano ★ 3.8
downtown · 2134 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Farm-to-table taqueria at taqueria prices: organic handmade tortillas, vegan al pastor, vegetable burritos. Best plant-based Mexican in Berkeley.
Long Life Vegi House ★ 3.8
downtown · 1725 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703
Berkeley's oldest vegetarian restaurant, open since 1970. Chinese-vegetarian menu: mock duck, tofu steak, stir-fried greens. Large portions at budget prices.