9 editor picks in Oakland.
Soul food carries real weight in Oakland's Black culinary history, and it shows up here in both traditional and reimagined forms. Burdell on Telegraph Avenue in Temescal takes an elevated, chef-driven approach, while Souley Vegan in the Jack London district built a national name reworking the canon without meat. Town Biscuits in Uptown keeps the comfort-breakfast side of the tradition front and center.
9 soul food places in Oakland we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Oakland · Soul Food across every city.
Order Sunday gravy-inspired brunch plate.
Geoff Davis's soul food room in Oakland's Temescal carries Michelin Recommended status and made Food and Wine's Best Restaurants in America list.
Tamearra Dyson's vegan soul food started in Oakland in 2009 and returned to Jack London Square in July 2025.
Souley Vegan returned to Jack London Square in July 2025.
Order Fried chicken biscuit sandwich with pimento cheese.
Town Biscuits runs a Thursday-to-Sunday biscuit breakfast in Oakland's Uptown.
Order Sunday gravy-inspired brunch plate.
Burdell is Geoff Davis's Michelin Recommended soul food room in Oakland's Temescal.
Order Fried chicken biscuit sandwich with pimento cheese.
Town Biscuits in Oakland's Uptown runs biscuit sandwiches under twelve dollars Thursday through Sunday.
Order Fried chicken biscuit sandwich with pimento cheese.
Town Biscuits runs a Thursday-to-Sunday biscuit breakfast in Oakland's Uptown.
Order Sunday gravy-inspired brunch plate.
Burdell in Oakland's Temescal opens for Sunday brunch with a Southern gravy-anchored menu.
Order BBQ tofu plate with cornbread and Cajun mac and cheese.
Souley Vegan at Jack London Square runs weekend brunch on its vegan Creole menu.
