Hello, all. My name is Owen, and as the manager of the renowned cooking Instagram account Owen.Cooks.Things, I consider myself well-versed in the subject of food. Bishop O’Dowd is located in a food mecca, with Oakland being named the #1 best food city in the United States for the second year in a row by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards. The shocking amount of incredible restaurants in the Bay Area is a double edged sword: while there is delicious food wherever you look, it can be overwhelming to find new places to eat at. Thus, to help you cut through the noise, I have curated this East Bay and San Francisco restaurant guide encompassing different cultures, cities, and cuisines for the average O’Dowd student to utilize. 

1. Lucinda’s Deli & Third Wheel Coffee – San Francisco 

Lucinda’s Deli is well-known for its delicious, deli style sandwiches. Albeit extremely expensive, I can attest that I have not found a better sandwich anywhere in the Bay Area. The menu includes sandwiches with prosciutto, roast beef, pastrami, soppressata, tuna, and more, with vegetarian options as well. Attached to Lucinda’s Deli is Third Wheel Coffee, a chic coffee bar with delicious seasonal drinks and an expansive selection of coffees, teas, and customization options. The seasonal black sesame matcha is a favorite of mine. After picking up your order, I recommend walking through Alamo Square Park and sitting on a bench overlooking either a view of San Francisco or the famous Painted Ladies. Lucinda’s Deli is most assuredly worth a trip to San Francisco.

2. Toss Noodle Bar – Berkeley 

Toss Noodle Bar is a casual Asian fusion eatery supplying noodle dishes, soups, fried rice, and more to UC Berkeley students. Their main attraction is a customizable, make-your-own stir-fry option in which the customer chooses a base, sauce, and protein. They have 6 noodle options and offer rice as well. I personally recommend the flat rice noodles, Malay (peanut) sauce, and beef. They have a slightly smaller customizable soup option, with my favorite being a delicious Laksa, spicy coconut milk-base broth. I would also recommend checking out their chef special menu, with the crispy pork fried rice being exemplary. And who doesn’t love Thai iced tea served in mason jars? If you’re in Downtown Berkeley, Toss is not a place to miss. It has been “my restaurant” for a couple of years, and even if they ghosted me when I tried to apply for a job, I will always love Toss. 

3. Doña – Oakland

Doña may not be the most traditional or very best Mexican spot in the East Bay, but it makes up for any perceived shortcomings with incredible ambiance and incredible food. With a spacious rooftop patio area on the corner of Piedmont Ave, Doña has cemented itself as one of the best places to socialize over food in Oakland. Their burritos are dense and especially delicious, with great meat options like braised barbacoa. If you are looking for a place to meet up with friends, eat chips and guacamole, drink agua fresca, and enjoy the sunshine, look no further than Doña.

4. Boichik Bagels – Oakland/Berkeley

Located in a prime position on College Avenue, Boichik Bagel is known to many as the best bagel in the East Bay. There really isn’t much to say–Boichik makes a great bagel, and with a sizable amount of cream cheese options and good-quality lox and whitefish, there’s no question as to why Boichik has a line spilling out of the door every Saturday and Sunday morning. I recommend the classic sandwich option on a poppyseed bagel, which comes with chive shmear, lox, tomatoes, red onion, and capers. On your walk back to the car, consider stopping by Cole Coffee for a delicious seasonal drink and enjoy. 

5. Bangkok by the Bay – Berkeley 

Bangkok by the Bay is a Thai restaurant located in Southwest Berkeley. It has a stunning, classy atmosphere with wonderful outdoor seating along with a stylish, high-class interior. Currently rated with 4.9 stars on Google, Bangkok by the Bay’s menu includes quick Thai street bites, soups, salads, beloved noodle and rice dishes, and wine and cocktails. Pad see ew, a well-known flat noodle dish, is their most popular offering, but Bangkok by the Bay offers much more than the average Thai restaurant. I would recommend the kang massaman short ribs, a stunning bone-in beef dish, basil fried rice with roasted duck, and moo ping, a street-style pork skewer dish served with spicy tamarind sauce. Another demonstration of Bangkok by the Bay’s unique offerings is sakoo hed, a traditional dish of mushroom tapioca dumplings, which is extremely rare to find in American Thai restaurants. I could not recommend Bangkok by the Bay more!

6. Mezzo – Berkeley

Have you ever thought: “Food is not big enough. My voracious appetite requires me to consume three to four thousand calories at once.” If you have, Mezzo is your place! That calorie number may have been a slight exaggeration, but Mezzo serves some seriously substantial sandwiches, soups, and salads. The interior is charming and homey with a beautiful patio attached to the back, perfect for you and your friends to chow down on a BLAT and agua fresca. The best part is, there’s a good chance you’ll walk away with leftovers, making Mezzo a beautiful two-for-one deal for shockingly reasonable prices. 

7. Me and Jungle Cafe – Oakland

Me and Jungle Cafe is a whimsical, beautiful Asian-fusion restaurant in an unassuming storefront on Piedmont Ave. Their back patio is absolutely stunning, with plants and cute furniture for ample room for you to do homework or socialize with friends. On top of this impressive ambiance, their food is simply very good. They serve casual bites, with a large selection of spring rolls, light sandwiches, bowls, croissants, and some uniquely delicious drink options. There are many different versions of Thai iced tea, including a Thai tea macchiato, and most of all several delicious and fresh lemonades. Are you looking for a cute, chic date spot without having to pay an arm and leg? Me and Jungle Cafe is the place for you. 

I hope that these restaurant recommendations motivate you to go out into the world and explore some fresh, delicious eateries. There is more to the culinary scene than the O’Dowd cafeteria! Go forth, try out these restaurants, and send me some feedback on the greatest cooking Instagram account managed by a junior at Bishop O’Dowd: @Owen.Cooks.Things.