Berkeley Restaurants A to Z

Berkeley is one of the great eating towns of the Bay Area. Widely viewed as the birthplace of California cuisine, Berkeley offers eateries at every price range across a wide variety of cuisines. Here's an alphabetical sample:

Alborz--Berkeley isn't particularly a center of Iranian life, but Alborz (a branch of the San Francisco Alborz) serves fine food in a pleasant atmosphere on Center Street's block of restaurants. 2142 Center St  (btwn. Shattuck and Milvia)., Downtown Berkeley

Bette's Oceanview Diner--Bette's is a modern faux dinner, but it's a good one, with good breakfast  food and fast service (and relatively high prices). Go early, it gets crowded, especially on weekend mornings. 1807 4th St near Hearst., trendy 4th St. district

Cheeseboard Collective sells a wide assortment of yummy cheese.

Chez Panisse--Alice Waters' temple of California Cuisine, still fresh and good more than 30 years after its founding. The downstairs serves one changing prix fixe menu per night, while the Cafe upstairs is cheaper (not cheap) and a la carte. Typically, eating downstairs requires reservations well in advance. 1517 Shattuck Ave near Vine St.., North Shattuck.

Daimo-- Daimo is in the Pacific East Mall in Richmond, maybe a mile or so north of Berkeley, but Daimo is too serious to pass up--a full on Cantonese seafood house with daily live specials, translated dishes, untranslated dishes, semi-translated dishes.  3288 Pierce St., Richmond (Pacific East Mall) .

Everett & Jones--The East Bay's barbecue leader, with branches in West Berkeley and throughout Oakland. 1955 San Pablo Avenue (near University), West Berkeley  

Fonda--Trendy tapas places are more associated with San Francisco than Berkeley neighbor Albany, but here's a tasty (but pricy) East Bay model. Don't go hungry! 1501 Solano Avenue, Albany 

Gregoire--The take out place to end all take out places, with salads and grilled meats on a par with top restaurants. There are a handful of seats. Gregoire's food is probably amont that consumed in the median in Shattuck, despite big signs telling you not to sit there. Cheaper than its restaurant peers, but not cheap. 2109 Cedar St. nr. Shattuck, North Shattuck

Holy Land--Middle Eastern food that's actually kosher, a great rarity in the Bay Area. 2965 College Avenue, Elmwood.

Jimmy Bean's--A small outpost of ground level California cuisine, in a light industrial section of West Berkeley. In the mornings, a good place for coffee and pastry.  1290 6th St. at Gilman, West Berkeley.

Kirala--They line up for hours at dinnertime for no reservations Kirala's Japanese grill food and sushi. 2100 Ward St., South Berk. 

La Note--Lively Provencal food and airy Provencal decor make La Note perpetually jammed at breakfast time (open some days for dinner) 2377 Shattuck Avenue near Durant, Downtown Berkeley.

Mealticket--Mealticket's food is hardly Berkeley's fanciest, but they wouldn't want it to be at this affordable, gruffly friendly breakfast/ luch place amid the car repair shops of San Pablo Avenue. 1235 San Pablo Ave. at Gilman, West Berkeley

Naan 'N Curry--This budget Indian place from San Francisco has a fanatic following. 2366 Telegraph Ave., South Campus and 2984 College Avenue, Elmwood.

Picante--Picante is a taqueria refiltered through California Cuisine sensibilities which makes it perfect for Berkeley. Huge and perpetually jammed, with outdoor seating. 1328 6th St. near Gilman, West Berkeley. 

Ryowa--Ryowa serves Japanese ramen soups--full meal size--and that's pretty much it. The decor is Japanese comic books, which are for sale. But Ryowa serves really good ramen--informed observers think it's among the best in the Bay Area. 2068 University Avenue, near Shattuck, Downtown Berkeley.

Spenger's Fish Grotto--By all accounts, Spenger's isn't a good restaurant. The word is that it's terrible, despite or perhaps because of its recent makeover. But with over a century of chowder slinging under its belt, Spenger's has been part of the Berkeley restaurant scene since long before there was a Berkeley restaurant scene. 1919 4th St. near University Ave., West Berkeley.

Top Dog--Top Dog serves up a wide variety of hot dogs and sausages, along with libertarian politics, from a campus area take out stand (with a few stools to perch on). 2534 Durant near Telegraph Ave., South Campus (the original); also 2160 Center St., Downtown Berkeley;
2503 Hearst Avenue, Northside. 

Unicorn--Telegraph Avenue near the campus runs to fast food, but Unicorn is a calm oasis of Pan-Asian delights. 2533 Telegraph Avenue near Dwight Way, South Campus.   

Vik's--Vik's West Berkeley warehouse provides anti-ambiance, but Vik's serves some of the best and cheapest Indian food in a town full of Indian restaurants. They've got a grocery next door.  726 Allston Way near 5th St., West Berkeley.

Westside Bakery Cafe--Once a fine spot for California style breakfasts and lunches, still a pleasant West Berkeley hangout. 2570 9th St. at Parker, West Berkeley.