25 cuisines represented in our Oakland guide. Click through to the entry to see editor picks, what to order and how to book. Want a wider lens? All cuisines in this country or global cuisines index.

25 cuisines, most places first

Cocktail bar15 restaurantsOakland's cocktail scene splits between historic saloons and a newer wave of design-forward bars, much of it in Uptown and the Jack London district. Cafe14 restaurantsOakland helped shape Bay Area third-wave coffee, and the cafe map reflects it from Old Oakland up through Rockridge. Bakery12 restaurantsOakland's bakeries spread across Temescal, Uptown and the lake neighborhoods, mixing old-line shops with a newer wave of pastry-driven counters. Mexican11 restaurantsOakland's Mexican food is among its deepest traditions, with Fruitvale serving as the heart of it along International Boulevard. Brewery10 restaurants Street food10 restaurants Soul food9 restaurantsSoul food carries real weight in Oakland's Black culinary history, and it shows up here in both traditional and reimagined forms. Wine bar9 restaurantsOakland has become a serious wine-bar town, with a strong natural-wine streak running through Temescal, Uptown and the lake neighborhoods. New American8 restaurantsNew American in Oakland means seasonal, locally sourced menus that resist a single national label, spread between Rockridge, Uptown and the lake. Californian6 restaurantsCalifornia cuisine, built on local produce and a light hand, has a strong Oakland expression centered on the Piedmont Avenue and Temescal corridors. Chinese6 restaurantsOakland's Chinese food is centered in Chinatown, one of the oldest in California, where regional kitchens sit close together. Italian6 restaurantsOakland's Italian cooking concentrates in Rockridge and Temescal, where wood-fired ovens and house pasta lead the menus. Latin American6 restaurantsLatin American cooking in Oakland spans modern tasting rooms and rooted neighborhood kitchens. Vietnamese6 restaurantsVietnamese food is a cornerstone of Oakland's Chinatown and the neighborhoods just east of the lake, built on pho, banh mi and seafood. Japanese5 restaurantsJapanese food in Oakland leans heavily toward ramen and casual counters rather than formal sushi temples. Laotian5 restaurants Thai5 restaurantsThai cooking in Oakland mixes everyday noodle houses with more ambitious modern kitchens. American4 restaurants Filipino4 restaurantsFilipino cooking in Oakland has grown from pop-ups into permanent kitchens. Cambodian3 restaurantsCambodian cooking has a small but rooted presence in Oakland, concentrated in Chinatown. Native American3 restaurantsNative American cuisine has a rare dedicated home in Oakland. American diner1 restaurantThe classic American diner survives in Oakland as a neighborhood institution rather than a chain format. Caribbean1 restaurantCaribbean flavors surface in Oakland more through individual rooms than a dense district. Jewish deli1 restaurantThe Jewish deli tradition has a focused presence in Oakland.

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