Spots to check out during Oakland's Restaurant Week

Bowls of ramen on the menu at Itani Ramen. Photo courtesy of Do The Bay.

Like other parts of life post-pandemic, restaurants are returning to normal with indoor dining and more consistent operating hours. More than 70 restaurants have signed up to participate in this year’s Oakland Restaurant Week, happening for 10 days between March 18-27. It’s a great opportunity to check out a place that's new on your radar or splurge on a fancy meal without spending the month’s rent. Lunch ($10, $15, $25) and dinner ($25, $40, $60) menus are tiered with three different price points, depending on the place and menu type. We know how diverse Oakland is, and the city's dining scene is no different. Some might say that it is equally as vibrant and creative as San Francisco’s. We’ll let you be the judge. Peruse a few of our picks, organized by station. For a complete list of places, check out the official Oakland Restaurant Week site. Consider making a reservation for popular spots like Agave Uptown and Shakewell, and ride BART to get there. All are within a 15-minute walk of each station.

Oaxacan-style mussels on the menu at Agave Uptown. Photo courtesy of Agave Uptown.

19th St/Oakland

Agave Uptown serves authentic Oaxacan cuisine in a warm, upscale environment. Come for the agave spirits and stay for the tacos, molé, and fiesta platter. Make reservations here. Take BART to 19th St/Oakland and walk four minutes to 2135 Franklin St.

alaMar's spicy fried calamari. Photo courtesy of Visit Oakland.

Top Chef (Portland) contestant Nelson German opened alaMar several years ago before he became a famous reality tv star chef. The experience in front of the camera only refined his skill for taking his Dominican roots and transferring them into delicious shellfish-focused fare. Dine-in or take-out. Take BART to 19th St/Oakland and walk eight minutes to 100 Grand Ave.

Mua's cavernous dining room. Photo courtesy of Visit Oakland.

Mua mixes art, food, and cocktails for an experience that defines modern dining. The cavernous space is perfect for showcasing large installations. Enjoy their take on classic French dishes like beef bone marrow and duck confit. Reserve your spot here. Take BART to 19th St/Oakland and walk 10 minutes to 2442 Webster St.

A version of Shinmai's ramen. Photo courtesy of Shinmai.

Uptown’s izakaya and ramen restaurant, Shinmai, serves traditional ramen and grilled pub fare on small plates, in addition to raw items. The assortment casts a wide net for fans of Japan’s diverse food culture. Make reservations here. Take BART to 19th St/Oakland and walk seven minutes to 1825-3 San Pablo Ave.

One of Sobre Mesa's inventive desserts. Photo courtesy of Sobre Mesa.

Sobre Mesa could be considered a cocktail haven with inventive food or a foodie’s paradise with killer cocktails. Either way, chef Nelson German has created another popular dining and drinking space for Oakland. Book a reservation and be a part of the scene. Take BART to 19th St/Oakland and walk seven minutes to 1618 Franklin St.

Italian seasonal fare from Mockingbird. Photo courtesy of Kristen Loken.

12th St/Oakland City Center

The distance between transit and stellar dining can’t get much closer than Mockingbird’s location to BART’s 12th St/Oakland City Center station. Snag a reservation at this intimate spot and dine on Italian favorites prepared with a California sensibility. Take BART to 12th St/Oakland City Center and walk four minutes to 416 13th St.

A warm canelé awaits at Tribune Oakland. Photo courtesy of Tribune Oakland.

Not only is Oakland’s Tribune Building a historical landmark, but it’s also home to a beautiful restaurant. Tribune Oakland serves French brasserie dishes in a warm modern setting. The team’s culinary pedigree won’t disappoint. Make reservations here. Take BART to 12th St/Oakland City Center and walk four minutes to 401 13th St.

A vibrant bowl of noodles at Pintoh. Photo courtesy of Pintoh.

Pintoh Thai Street Food is a jewel box restaurant serving traditional Thai street food. Walk in, order take-out, or hop on Yelp and reserve a table. Take BART to 12th St/Oakland City Center and walk six minutes to 1442 Franklin St.

Classic cakes on display at Home of Chicken and Waffles. Photo courtesy of Home of Chicken and Waffles.

This is the perfect opportunity to try out Home of Chicken and Waffles if you haven’t already tasted their delicious take on classic southern food. Dine-in or take-out, and keep an eye out for weekend brunch with bottomless mimosas. Take BART to 12th St/Oakland City Center and walk 13 minutes to 444 Embarcadero West.

Some of the mac and cheese versions offered at Homeroom. Photo courtesy of Homeroom.

MacArthur

Homeroom is known for the ultimate comfort food—mac and cheese. But, why stop with the basic version? They offer more than a dozen variations, many with a spicy kick. For Restaurant Week, they’re serving a special version of mac and cheese with crab and gouda. Save room for the peanut butter pie. Take BART to MacArthur and walk eight minutes to 400 40th St.

A sampling of Roses' charcuterie boards. Photo courtesy of Eater SF.

Beer and charcuterie—what a way to spend an afternoon! Head to Roses’ Taproom for beer specials during Restaurant Week. This family-friendly taproom brews and cans a rotating selection of lagers, IPAs, and sours. Take BART to MacArthur and walk 14 minutes to 4930 Telegraph Ave.

Co Nam's striking raw seafood offering. Photo courtesy of Co Nam.

Co Nam is all about Vietnamese comfort food. Enjoy classic dishes like braised pork belly and Saigon curry, in addition to small-plate street food options paired with craft cocktails in the airy, light-filled dining room. Take BART to MacArthur and walk three minutes to 3936 Telegraph Ave.

You won't miss the dairy in Millennium's dessert trio. Photo courtesy of Millennium.

Rockridge

Fans of Millennium Restaurant are in on the secret that vegan food and fine dining aren’t mutually exclusive. They’ve cooked up amazing dishes for Restaurant Week so book a table for you and your carnivore cohort. Take BART to Rockridge and walk four minutes to 5912 College Ave.

The burger options are off the hook at Beer Baron Whiskey Bar & Kitchen. Photo courtesy of Beer Baron Whiskey Bar & Kitchen.

Beer Baron Whiskey Bar & Kitchen has several locations in the East Bay. The Rockridge location boasts over 400 whiskeys from around the world, along with a huge international lineup of beers. Their pub food runs the gamut from nachos and burgers to grilled fish and steak. Take BART to Rockridge and walk four minutes to 5900 College Ave.

Let us know which restaurants you've discovered during Restaurant Week!

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