This was my 3rd trip to IKEA over the last couple months to buy frozen meatballs. All they had in stock were the vegan and chicken versions.

Anyone know why Emeryville IKEA is perpetually out of stock? The workers don’t know.

They also seem to have removed many food items like Diam chocolates and processed caviar tubes. I really wish Nordic House was still around :(

Thanks.

Do you know any places selling turkeys at a deep discount after Thanksgiving? I have cravings for a holiday meal.

Recently went to Pomet and couldn’t believe the price to portion ratio along with no dish being very memorable. Turnip tots came with 5 tots. The quail dish is half a quail and it’s a very small quail (even for quail standards). The pasta dishes were good especially the mushroom dish. We ordered about half the menu and spent over $130 per person and were still hungry. Everything was pretty tasty but nothing I would want to come back for (except maybe the mushroom pasta). Our group was very underwhelmed and I haven’t seen any negative reviews about this place

These chilly mornings have me craving shakshouka - where's your go to spot in the East bay?

Hi all,

I am a chef/bread baker living in the PNW, and am looking to relocate to the bay area. I was hoping to have some recommendations for places I could look for employment that fit.

Basically I am looking for the best bread bakery focusing on sourdough or "finer" dining french influenced places for cooking. I am looking at Chez Panisse and Snail Bar. I hope what I am asking makes sense, and I appreciate the help.

Does anyone know of a place with good babka in the east bay?

I'm looking for private dining sit down for about 40 people East Bay/Oakland. Preferably black owned. Any recommendations?

So I've been exhausted and want to take tomorrow as a great opportunity to do the bare minimum. I'd love to know if anyone knows of any restaurants that will be open on Thanksgiving for late lunch or dinner? I'm looking to go to the restaurant instead of getting delivery as I want to be out of the house too.

I'm craving some duck and chow mein, or...a far far stretch and ask... Peruvian.

Was hoping more places would have holiday hours posted, but not finding much. Thank you for the recos and happy early turkey day!

I see this hasn’t been discussed in a year. What are your favorite Oakland happy hour spots? I love A Cote, but looking for some place new. I am trying to find a decent food and drink place to grab happy hour with a coworker.

I like to have just one every year. Just one. I’ve tried making them at home and it’s just not the same. If only I liked pumpkin spice…

Some people here have been asking where they can get Thanksgiving dinner for one. Here you go! Randy’s Market, 2390 Powell St, Emeryville.

I’m looking for a bar that can accommodate like 15 people for a work holiday party happy hour. Ideally the spot would have a full bar (so breweries not a great option) and would allow you to bring in outside food. Anybody know any good options?

Thanks!!

There’s been a lot of recognition for Oakland’s dining scene in the last year or so, with restaurants like Burdell, Lion Dance Cafe, and Daytrip receiving national press for their incredible food. However, many of these prestigious restaurants are struggling. I suspect it’s largely because people can’t afford to go out, but I also wonder if there’s something else at play here, and I’m curious what y’all think. My theory is that in this inflation-overloaded, post-covid world, the people are less inclined to frequent trendy, vibe-y restaurants with amazing and innovative food at $$$ prices—We’re wanting no-frills, cozy, intimate spaces to eat known comfort foods at more accessible prices.

So, what are the places y’all visit the most? What brings you there? Is it the ambience? Intimacy? Cost? Taste? Food? Are you dining in, or taking out? What foods do you crave, what inspires you to leave the house for a meal out?

I’ll share some of my most frequent spots below too.

I'm opting to do fried chicken instead of turkey but I don't want it to be in the fridge overnight and trying to avoid reheating. Any options?

I am childless for 24 hours and would like to go get some food that I normally can’t get with kids. Any suggestions?

I cannot find it anywhere. I'd love to use that instead of regular ketchup for my tortang tolang but none of the international or Asian markets I've been to around here carry it.

Not even sure if this is a thing in town but thought I'd ask. For several years now I've spent Thanksgiving alone doing nothing but this year I'd like to splurge and at least have a decent homecooked-style Thanksgiving meal with the usual staples. I don't have a car to pick up takeout so is there a local place that is doing this that I can get delivered?

Grabbed a bagel the factory it was pretty good, usually get poppy bagels.

Maybe an off day but the coffee service was unfortunately not great. Had high hopes with the mother tongue bags on the grinder. Really hotel style drip.

Just outside of Oakland shoutout to the ladies making that bomb Thai food and American classics.

Just one gripe maybe a Bay Area thing whenever I get an order mozzarella sticks I always get a cold container of marinara on the side.

Are there any local-ish breweries that make a decent nonalcoholic beer? Does that even exist? I have a family member who is a beer aficionado, and they recently started taking medication that doesn’t play well with alcohol.

In lieu of that, if anyone has recommendations for good non-local alcohol-free beer I’d appreciate them too!

I just had an unforgettable meal from a food truck called Savory Three, and wow, what an experience! The food was a perfect representation of authentic Ethiopian cuisine, with bold, complex flavors that made every bite a treat.

The injera was spot on—soft, slightly tangy, and perfect for scooping up the incredible stews. The doro wot (spiced chicken stew) was rich and deeply flavorful, with just the right amount of heat. The misir wot (spiced lentils) had such a comforting, hearty taste that I could eat it every day. Even the sides were bursting with flavor, showcasing the care and tradition behind every dish.

Savory Three doesn’t just serve food—it delivers a taste of Ethiopian culture in every bite. The staff was so welcoming, and the passion they have for their craft shines through. If you’re lucky enough to spot their truck, don’t miss out. This is Ethiopian food done right—authentic, delicious, and utterly satisfying!

I'm on a chai kick right now -- especially with this rainy weather. Where are you getting top notch chai from? Oakland and beyond is fine. I'm finding more in Berkeley. A few I've found:

• Highwire, all locations
• Standard Fare in Berkeley
• Hidden Cafe in Berkeley
• Rasa Caffe in Berkeley
• Philz
• Cole Coffee

EDIT: Adding:

• Elaichi Co
• Lavender Bakery & Cafe
• Piedmont Tea
• White Snow on Piedmont (hot only)

I am thinking about making Thanksgiving dinner for myself for the first time ever —in my late 50s for my partner and a few friends.

Everyone I know in my family is a huge prepper - have a plan to buy a turkey months in advance, stock up on ingredients, start cooking days in advance. I am much more of a last-minute person, but don’t want to get caught in drama.

Any tips for a newbie especially buying a turkey right now near downtown Oakland - don’t own a car.

Asking for the impossible here: place with "birthday" or celebratory vibes that would reasonably at this point be available for group of 4 this Monday evening

• the cast:
• birthday person: millennial, very casual and cool, would probably like a drink
• two cool people: gen z, college students under 21, would like something budget-friendly, would like parking not to be a nightmare
• me: zillennial, have some funding, offered to make the reservation if needed

Any cuisine goes (birthday person would probably want non-spicy options), but someplace semi-nice where everyone can eat...and hopefully park. Thanks!

I’m going to a show at the Paramount Theater in Oakland this Saturday. From what I can see online, the Telegraph Plaza Parking Garage may be closed that day. I’m driving from about an hour away.

What nearby garages would you recommend for me to park in? Hoping for something that’s open until at least 10:30 or 11:00pm.

Also, so far I’m planning on eating at Veridian before the show, but anyplace else nearby that you’d suggest?

Thanks for your tips!

Edit: I appreciate each of you taking the time to share with me. Good lookin out!!

Hello /r/OaklandFood, I was hoping to request some recommendations for a group of about 20 people on 12/31! My fiance and I decided very recently to tie the knot, and we're really excited, but that leaves us with the tricky task of finding a reservation for our wedding party in a relatively short timeframe.

We're looking for a sit-down place, up to about $50 per head before drinks, taxes, tips etc. Based on the timing of our wedding ceremony, it's looking like we'll probably be eating in the early afternoon, maybe 1:00 or 1:30 arrival. We've reached out to a few places (Mama's, Belotti Ristorante, Italian Colors, Bellanico) and we're waiting to hear back, so in the interim I wanted to see if you fine folks had any recommendations.

Despite the list above, we're not beholden to Italian food, it's just what I tend to gravitate to because who doesn't like Italian?

Thanks for the suggestions, we really appreciate it!

Okay, it isn't technically in Oakland, but right on the other side of the Park st. Bridge in Alameda.

If you are looking for a solid, old-school American pizza they do a good job. If you liked Round Table or Dominos back in the day, but feel those have fallen off, A-Town does a very good version of that kind of pizza.

What really makes them shine are the Afghan kabobs. The menu is small, but all the options are all excellent. The rice, bread, etc are also top notch. Not a lot of great kabob options in Oakland (of any variety), so very thankful for this one.

Family run and the service is always friendly. They do have a few tables/booths, but definitely has more of a take-away type atmosphere. Personally I prefer it to Kamdesh (which has must more extensive menu of Afghan food and I do also like) and I think it very close to some of the better places in Fremont.

What have your experiences been like?

Family is in town on a Sunday for a group dinner. Two are very hard of hearing, so looking for something quiet. Most are elderly, so nothing too exotic and weird. I guess Indian and Sushi are out (I love it!). We are in Albany, but can travel a bit.

Between me and my sister, we suggested:
Skates (was told too mediocre)
Claremont (ridiculously expensive and bad reviews)
Kirin (top of Solano)
Townhouse Emy (cold inside and could be noisy)
Corso (may be hard to get a table)