The Food Spotlight 100

Behold, the comprehensive list of amazing eateries in the Berkeley/East Bay area, compiled for your convenience and food-eating pleasure. Modeled after the Big Eat List by 7×7 SF Magazine, The Food Spotlight 100 is Glen’s take on some of the must-try dishes near the Berkeley campus.

The rules are simple. All restaurants listed must be within a reasonable walking/busing/driving distance for a typical Berkeley student, all dishes listed have been personally tried by Glen, and all food must be good. The links redirect to the restaurants’ websites, if that’s not available then they redirect to the Yelp page for that restaurant.

Most of the restaurants can be found in the major food spots around Berkeley, from Southside to Northside to Downtown Berkeley to College/Rockridge to Oakland.

A lot of thought, care, and time went into the making of this list, and it’s my hope that it will be a great starting point for trying some of the best eateries in the Berkeley area. Enjoy!

1. The Sunny Side Cafe – The Alameda
2. Foley’s Deli – Fred’s Famous Steak Sandwich
3. Caffe Strada – Iced Caramel Latte
4. Little Star Pizza – Little Star Deep Dish Pizza (review)
5. Ann’s Kitchen – Western Country Omelette
6. Steve’s Korean BBQ – BBQ Beef
7. Crunch – Fried Rice with Chicken
8. ArKi – ArKi Fried Sandwich
9. Hong Kong East Ocean Seafood Restaurant – Siu Mai (review)
10. Smart Alec’s Intelligent Food – Big B Burger
11. Sun Sing Pastry Dim Sum – Egg Tart (review)
12. 900 Grayson – Demon Lover (review)
13. Joshu-Ya Brasserie – Spicy Hot Roll
14. The Rib Whip – Texas Brisket Sandwich (review)
15. King Pin Donuts – Donut Hole
16. Tako Sushi – Lion King Roll
17. Filippo’s – Pesto & Chicken Pizza
18. Homeroom – Smokey Bacon Mac (review)
19. La Val’s – La Val’s Special Pizza
20. La Burrita – Chicken Super Burrito
21. Thai Basil – Pad Thai
22. Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers – Russian Burger
23. Trattoria La Siciliana – Pappardelle alla Campagniola
24. Gordo Taqueria – Chicken Burrito
25. Sushi Ko – California Dinner
26. Cafe Milano – Hot Turkey Pesto Sandwich
27. Mr. Green Bubble – Almond Milk Tea with Boba & Egg Pudding
28. Lotus House – Portuguese Baked Chicken
29. Zachary’s Chicago Pizza – Zachary’s Special Pizza
30. Gypsy’s Trattoria Italiana – Godfather’s Favorite
31. Masse’s Pastries – Salted Caramel Macaron
32. John’s $1 Scoop – Mocha Almond Fudge Ice Cream
33. Top Dog – Smoked Chicken Apple
34. Vinnie’s Cheesesteaks – Mushroom & Provolone Cheesesteak
35. Angeline’s Louisiana Kitchen – Buttermilk Fried Chicken
36. Crepevine – Tuscany Crepe
37. La Mediterranee – Middle Eastern Plate
38. Cactus Taqueria – Pollo Asado Burrito
39. Aki Japanese – Beef Udon
40. Cheese Steak Shop – Classic Philly Cheese Steak
41. Pancho’s Mexican Grill – Nachos SUPREEEMMEEE with Chicken
42. Skates On the Bay – Rock Salt Roasted Prime Rib (review)
43. PyeongChang Tofu House – Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop (review)
44. Asha Tea House – Almond Milk Tea with Boba
45. Ici Ice Cream – Walnut Candied Walnut
46. The Brick Pig’s House – BBQ Ribs
47. Vik’s Chaat Corner – Lamb Biryani
48. Happy Valley – Mongolian Beef (review)
49. Smoke Berkeley – Texas Smoked Beef Brisket Plate (review)
50. Cancun Taqueria – Prawns Burrito
51. Manhattan Roast & Grill – Manhattan Burger
52. CREAM – Cinnamon Caramel & Carnival Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich
53. Inn Kesington – “The Regular Breakfast” with Chicken Apple Sausage
54. Manpuku Sushi Restaurant – Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box
55. Chocolatier Blue – Espresso Chocolate (review)
56. Brazil Cafe – Tri-Tip Sandwich
57. Gioia Pizzeria – Funghi Pizza (review)
58. KoJa Kitchen – Kamikaze Fries (review)
59. Pho K&K – Combo Pho
60. Pasta Bene – Chicken Picatta
61. Fenton’s Creamery – Black & Tan Sundae
62. House of Curries – Chicken Tikka Masala
63. Tai San – Mandarin Fried Chicken
64. Noodle Theory – Grilled Niman Ranch Beef Udon (review)
65. Crepes a Go Go – Apple Cinnamon Crepe
66. Senor Sisig – California Sisig Burrito (review)
67. Wat Mongkolratanaram (Thai Temple) – Mango Sticky Rice
68. Bakesale Betty – Fried Chicken Sandwich
69. The Cheeseboard Pizza Collective – Roma Tomato Pizza
70. T-Rex Barbeque Restaurant – Kansas City Spareribs (review)
71. Yogurt Park – Red Velvet Cake Yogurt
72. Cafe Espresso Experience – Spicy Chicken Sandwich
73. Dopo – Calzone with Beef, Dandelion Greens, Riccata Cheese
74. Phil’s Sliders – Slider
75. Dan Sung Sa – Corn Cheese
76. Gomnaru Restaurant – Spicy Pork with Rice
77. Oriental BBQ (OB) Chicken – Sweet & Spicy Fried Chicken (review)
78. Sliver Pizzeria – Cremini Mushrooms, Yellow Onions, French Goat Cheese Pizza (review)
79. Bongo Burger – Mushroom Burger
80. Nation’s Giant Hamburgers – Banana Creme Pie (review)
81. Southie – Meatball Sandwich
82. I.B.’s Hoagies – Pepper Steak Hoagie Sandwich
83. La Note – Lemon Gingerbread Pancake with Poached Pears (review)
84. D’Yar – Chicken Shawerma Plate
85. Racha Cafe – Pineapple Fried Rice
86. Philz Coffee – Tesora Blend Coffee
87. Saturn Cafe – Chicken Avocado Club Sandwich with Fakin Bacon (review)
88. The Toaster Oven – KC BBQ Chicken Sandwich (review)
89. Jupiter – Triton Pizza
90. Tara’s Organic Ice Cream – Caramelized Pear Ice Cream with Sesame Cone
91. Urbann Turbann – Butter Chicken Rice Bowl (review)
92. Gregoire – Crispy Potato Puffs (review)
93. Sunrise Deli – Falafel Plate
94. Fivetenburger – Golden Gate Eats Burger
95. Berkeley Thai House – Green Curry with Rice
96. Genova Delicatessen – Pastrami Sandwich (review)
97. Tacubaya – Enchiladas
98. T-Toust – Spicy Chicken with Rice
99. May Flower – BBQ Duck & Sausage with Rice (review)
100. Bear’s Ramen House – Kim Chi Fried Rice with Spam

Visit The Food Spotlight blog for individual reviews of select restaurants.
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