Acme Bread ★ 4.7
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.
40 cheap eats places in Berkeley, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Berkeley: the places editors actually return to. All Berkeley food.
Cheese Board Pizza ★ 4.6
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Nabolom on Russell Street has baked in Berkeley's Elmwood since 1976: organic-flour sourdough, rye and multi-grain loaves, croissants and a daily lunch pizza.
Espresso Roma ★ 4.0
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Berkeley breakfast institution since 1979. Challah French toast, omelets, Southern specials and biscuits. Budget-friendly, no frills, genuinely good.
Cancun Sabor Mexicano ★ 3.8
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
Berkeley's oldest vegetarian restaurant, open since 1970. Chinese-vegetarian menu: mock duck, tofu steak, stir-fried greens. Large portions at budget prices.
Book food experiences in Berkeley
Guided tour · 9 hours
Full-Day Wine Tour to Napa & Sonoma 3 Tastings Included
Stop at the Golden Gate Bridge. Taste local wines and food on this guided group tour to Sonoma and Napa Valleys from San Francisco. Visit 3 unique wineries. Have lunch...
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Guided tour · 3 hours
Berkeley: Guided Wine Tasting with Local Sommelière
Embark on a wine tasting journey in Berkeley. Explore the nuances of locally made wines while gaining insights into regenerative farming, vintage variation, and tradit...
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Guided tour · 2h 30m
Berkeley Food & Counter Culture Tour
Explore Berkeley's North Shattuck neighborhood (formerly the Gourmet Ghetto) and UC Berkeley on a guided walking tour. Enjoy food stops, see the Campanile, and visit t...
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