Two words: California cuisine. It's pretty much all you need to know about dining in Berkeley. As the birthplace of a sustainable style of living and eating, food is a huge part of life in Berkeley. The temperate climate and rich natural setting provide a bounty of fresh produce year around, and Berkeley restaurants make the most of the local offerings. Rustic, no-fuss and focused on fresh, local ingredients: these are the components that create the Berkeley restaurant scene. The laid-back ambiance and super healthy eats will get you feeling Berkeley-esque, inside and out.
To truly indulge and experience what Berkeley dining is all about, make culinary landmark Chez Panisse your first stop. The legendary restaurant revolutionized eating not just in the Bay Area, but in the United States as a whole, with its focus on seasonal, local ingredients. As the anchor point in the famous Gourmet Ghetto, Chez Panisse is the perfect place to begin your exploration of Berkeley restaurants. Nearby Cesar, Cheeseboard and Rivoli all capture the rustic, effortless elegance that defines California cuisine.
Destination restaurants abound in the rest of the city as well, making for an unrivaled epicurean adventure. Notable newcomer Gather satisfies carnivores and vegans alike with sustainable, sumptuous offerings in Downtown. Tucked discreetly in West Berkeley, no-frills Viks Chaat Corner smells like New Delhi, but the vibe is pure California. Locals line up for premium sushi at South Berkeley's Kirala, while a classic hamburger made from unclassicly top-notch meat can be had at Cafe Rouge.
Of course, Berkeley is a college town, and there's plenty of cheap eats as well. Cafe Intermezzo delivers mega-sized sandwiches and salads, while Top Dog provides more traditional American eating: hot dogs.
Students always need places to fuel up and study, and Berkeley's cafes are the place to do it. Experience the first in an empire, and indulge at the original Peet's Coffee in North Berkeley. Discover what third-wave coffee is, and why it's causing so many waves, at Local 123. You'll be raring to go and explore more of Berkeley.
1517 Shattuck Ave
Between Cedar and Vine
1539 Solano Ave.
An ultra-cozy eatery...
2181 Shattuck Avenue
A different planet...
2534 Durant Avenue
Hot Dogs Fed Exed...
2327 Shattuck Avenue
Sustainable Sustenance...
2154 Center Street
Drummin' up Great Burgers...
1730 Shattuck Avenue
Cozy Cafe...
2451 Shattuck
Heaven For Vegans...
2367 Telegraph Avenue
Brews and food...
2377 Shattuck Ave
Breakfast, lunch bistro fare with its rustic Provençal dinner entrées...
2955 Telegraph Ave
Rated one of the best Ethiopian Restaurants in the Bay Area-SF Magazine...
2936 College Ave
Mediterranean food in the East Bay...
1807 Fourth St
Berkeley
A '40s-style diner...