2024 Unwrapped: Best Bites in the Bay

a local chef's top restaurant picks for sf bay area 2024

The SF Bay Area food scene: enormous. Nearly 18,000 restaurants and 7.7 million residents, with dozens of dozens of cuisines, showcasing some of the most culinary diversity in the U.S. In 2024, over 500,000 readers voted Oakland, CA as the #1 food city in the U.S., according to Conde Nast Traveler. I feel lucky to call this city home, especially as a chef and foodie, and I love eating all over the Bay.

I’ll start by saying that the food we enjoy is so subjective, and that’s what’s also exciting to me. I love the adventure of trying new dishes and cuisines, even when I don’t like something, I gain something. I have a deep appreciation and am inspired by global cuisines, preparations, and histories. There is joy and comfort to be found in the familiar, too. The following restaurants are some that marked me by a positive, delightful experience. Some I’ve visited only once, others, are my weekly or monthly spot.

Take my choices below with a grain of salt, if you will, but maybe I can inspire you to try something new, and you may love it, too.

In no particular order:

Wahpepah’s Kitchen

Seasonal Native American cuisine in Oakland’s Fruitvale district

Chef Crystal Wahpepah shares her delicious Kickapoo-nation dishes that honor both the seasonality and the Indigenous knowledge/food ways that they come from. Through the seasons, some of my favorite dishes have included: bison meatballs topped with blueberry sauce, the seasonal greens with elderberry vinaigrette, the three sisters veggie bowl, the deer sticks with chokeberry dipping sauce, and the wild native mushroom pumpkin seed mole. My mouth is watering just typing this! I suggest going with friends so you can try everything… or just order 1 of everything for yourself… I won’t judge. Hehe. But seriously. The iced maple latte was divine! Treat yourself to wild chokecherry sparkler, too, for a little but of a sweet but healthy drink.

Parche

Modern, innovative Columbian cuisine in Oakland’s uptown

Parche’s festive, lively atmosphere is perfect to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. My #1 celebratory/date night spot in the East Bay! You even get a thrilling birthday shoutout when you celebrate here. This place recommends family-style dining, so sharing among a couple or group is strongly encouraged. I was not a fan of ceviche until my partner and I started dining here! Seriously. Our favorite dishes include: tomaco ceviche —a rock cod in coconut milk, aromatics, and leche de tigre, the chicharron de la capital — perfectly cooked pork belly with citrus elements, and the sancocho parce— a whole fried branzino, purple potatoes, yuca, and dashi broth. We love to try something new each time we go, and their dessert and cocktail menus are both vibrant and extensive. There is often live music, too! So many reasons to visit.

Freekeh

Family-owned Palestinian tapas restaurant in SF’s Mission district

I first visited Freekeh on it’s opening weekend in 2021. You’re greeted with warm, smiling faces, and once seated, a spread of traditional Gazan dips are served with pita chips, complimentary. You’re welcomed with beautiful art and traditional Palestinian clothing, home goods, and serve wear adorning the walls. I love bringing friends here because the portions sizes are the perfect size to share and not feel too full. The house sampler is always a crowd pleasure, featuring hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel, muhammara, tabbouleh, and fresh pita. Yum! I recommend this if going alone, a little bit of everything, super fresh, and authentic. I’m a sucker for the mixed pickles and olives, the mansaf — spiced lamb, saffron rice, and yogurt, and the musakhen, a chicken dish spiced with sumac. Knafeh, a baked, sweet cheese and shredded filo dough dessert, covered in sweet syrup and pistachios is MUST, no matter how full you are. There are fun, creative cocktails and mocktails, too and the menu also features beers and wine from Palestine, Lebanon, and local offerings.

Doña

Casual, contemporary Mexican food in Oakland’s Piedmont Avenue

This is my weekly spot, likely the restaurant I have visited the most this year on this list. I live around the block, so this is my go-to spot if I don’t want to cook but want something fresh and quick, or even just want to get out of the house to enjoy a meal in the sun. This place has so much seating, including a rooftop/balcony seating, outdoors with heaters, and indoor/bar seating. Even when I’ve seen this place busy, the wait never took more than 15 minutes. They are efficient and each time, the food is fresh and satisfying. You order at the front and then seat yourself, which is a refreshingly casual experience. My favorite dishes here include: calabaza y kale taco, the ensalada de doña with fried fish (so many crunchy, fresh textures), the sopa de lima (light and warm), the queso and chips or the guacamole and chips (nice portion for price) and the seasonal agua frescas. My partner and I love when they have the pineapple and vanilla one! We get the churros or the Mexican chocolate cake if we’re feeling a treat. Occasionally, we’ll get a bowl or the nachos, I suggest anything, as nothing here is a miss.

Fikscue Craft BBQ

An Indonesian-Texas BBQ fusion spot on Alameda’s Park Street

If you’ve had the pleasure of eating here, I know you’re committed. Only open on Saturdays and Sundays at noon till sold out, its normal to wait 2-4 hours in line for this deliciousness! Huge halal beef brisket and dino ribs, soto ayam— an rich and savory Indonesian soup, served with a dino rib, and my favorite!!! the beef rendang plate, (a slow-cooked beef curry). You can’t go wrong with the classic nasi goreng (fried rice), or the es cendol, a pandan, palm sugar, and tapioca dessert drink. Gosh, the list goes on. Excited to hear they are expanding to SF in the new year. This place is truly a treat worth all the wait.

Shuggie’s Trash Pie + Natural Wine

Hippest, most unique pizza spot in the Bay, a total vibe, in SF’s Mission District

Known for it’s “upcycled ingredients and sustainable proteins,” this place is a dream for those into reducing food waste! Rotating menus seasonally, with a down-to-earth crew, the food is as delicious as it looks! I’ve had the pleasure of participating in their most recent “cooking school” where I learned some incredible techniques and dishes from the Chef, and it was a highlight of my year. It’s a perfect date night spot, place for a celebration, or if you totally want to treat yourself. They host an annual crawfish boil in the spring (and even ship in Louisiana crawfish aka the only kind I’ll eat), and a whole pig roast for New Year’s.Their SF restaurant week menu was so good and a total steal! Try the Pappy’s Potato Pie, That’s A Spicy Meatball, The Goddess, whatever dessert is in season, literally anything and everything!

Din Tai Fung

World-renowned Taiwanese eatery, located in Westfield Mall in Santa Clara

World-renowned for a reason! I’ve had the treat of visiting this restaurant twice with my partner and her family this past year, and we totally feasted. Going with a group is certainly recommended so you can try a ton of dishes!!! Both times, we had a 2+ hour wait, so plan ahead with a reservation or walk around the mall as you wait. You can even view the xiao lang bao being crafted by hand through a peak through a window to the kitchen, where 5 or 6 people are rolling the dough, stuffing with filling, weighing for precision, creating the 18 signature folds, and loading into steamng baskets to be cooked. Your mouth is watering by the time you’re finally seated, watching stacks of steaming baskets come from the kitchen. Start with a jasmine tea (it was steeped perfectly), or one of their speciality milk and iced teas. I recommend the cucumber salad, the vegan spicy wontons (SO good, my personal favorite), chicken xiao long bao (juicy soup dumplings, my 2nd favorite), string beans with garlic, the braised beef noodle soup, the tofu puff and glass noodle soup (my partner Nova’s favorite) and you mustttt try the chocolate and mochi xiao long bao for dessert! I was skeptical at first, but trust Nova’s recommendations —thank us later.

Phosho Dough

Family-owned-and-operated Vietnamese soul food in North Oakland

My partner & I’s favorite pho spot around, perfect for takeout or for an outdoor lunch. Comes out quick and steaming hot! There’s a beautiful mural outside, too, to admire while you eat. Family-owned, the staff is super friendly and hospitable, we’ve always had the best experiences here. Generous portions and always tastes very fresh and flavorful. We usually order the beef pho with the sliced brisket and meatballs, and will sometimes go for the lemongrass beef vermicelli bowl and the fresh shrimp spring rolls, depending on the mood. We’ll add on a thai iced tea or Vietnamese iced coffee, too, to make it complete.

Vik’s Chaat

Lunchroom-esque Indian chaat restaurant & market in Berkeley.

By lunchroom, I mean it in the most endearing way. There’s something quite nostalgic and connecting to be in a crowd of people eating, clinking metal lunch trays and utensils, and sitting in retro-style cafeteria chairs in a high-ceiling space with delicious, fragrant food. You walk in and immediately join the line, where you’ll see the dozens of sweets in the display case, just asking to be eaten, all so colorful. The menu offers a variety of chaat, a style of Indian street food/snacks from West India that often incorporates crunchy, savory, and tangy elements together. The menu changes, with daily lunch specials and weekend specials, which make coming here often so appealing. Some favorites of mine include: the masala dosa, a savory potato filled-crepe served with sambar (lentil stew) and chutney, the pani puri, actual perfection in a dish, the daily thalis (usually pick between a lamb (T/Th) or chicken option), served with chapati, rice, chana dal, and pickle, the samosas, and chicken or vegetable biryani. I’m not a lassi gal, but have heard theirs is quite good, they offer a few flavor options. I usually go with the chai and if I’m getting dessert, I usually ask the cashier for a recommendation, or fall back on the classic gulab jaman.

Al Carajo

Casual Yucateco restaurant in SF’s Mission district, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

It’s not a surprise that many of my San Fransisco recs come from the Mission, a predominately Latinx and immigrant neighborhood bursting with life and culture. I stumbled into Al Carajo after we saw their A-frame sign promising “Birria pizza.” I had to have it! This place aims to “bring the most authentic cuisine from the Yucatan to San Fransisco.” We weren’t hugely hungry going in, so Nova and I only order the watermelon agua fresca and the birria pizza — and it was incredible! The meat was tender, the consommé was flavorful and rich, and the portion was great, we even had leftovers. We visited the Yucatan pensisula in Februray, so I look forward to revisitng this restaurant to try more of their dishes, like the aguachile Tulum, the salbute, and the chilaquiles.

Hancook

Korean fusion spot in Temescal, serving all-you-can-eat shabu shabu & Korean BBQ.

This is where I go when I want a total feast! I always feel that pressure at AYCE places to eat more than I’d like — but I also hate wasting food and feeling bloated, lol. I feel like this is a fun spot to bring friends or family, so maybe it’s easier to order a lot without wasting or having to eat a whole plate of something. Reasonably priced! The spicy broth is the absolute best— I could drink a gallon of it. There is a veggie and sauce bar where you serve yourself. I always love to load up on veggies, they are honestly my favorite thing to cook in the broth—cabbage, bok choy, onions, scallions, etc. For proteins, my partner loves their quail eggs, fish fillet, and shrimp! I like to order the brisket or rib eye. I sometimes order the bulgogi beef from their BBQ menu. Their BBQ items come out cooked, unlike the shabu-shabu items. The corn cheese appetizers are addicting, we usually each eat one, and if we’re super hungry, we order the korean fried chicken (original). Solid place, relaxing, and never too busy or much of a wait.

potrait of me drawn with broth & chopsticks by my partner, Nova

Wat Mogkolratanaram

Buddhist Thai temple in Berkeley serving Thai food on Sundays

A hidden gem to some, this temple serves a range of wonderful, fresh Thai food on Sundays, 10:00a-1:00pm, cash only. You exchange your cash for temple coins before joining the lines to order dishes, and all the proceeds go back into the temple. There are long tables with chairs to dine communally, or I like to bring a picnic blanket to enjoy on the lawn. Get their early, especially if weather is nice, as the lines can get long and items can run out later in the day. Their beef noodle soup is lowkey famous locally, and for good reason! Aromatic, huge, and so tasty! Everything is affordable and they have a wide range of both meat and vegetarian options. Other great dishes I’ve tried include: pumpkin, kabocha, and basil stir fry, panang curry, tofu yellow curry (all the curries smell and look so good), sweet rice and mango, the thai tea, and the iced coffee. Most plates are 1 item = $11, 2 items = $12, and 3 items = $13, soup = $12, with some variance. Drinks are $3 which is a steal in the Bay, and they aren’t overly sweet, which I enjoy. You can purchase to-go containers, too, if you can’t stay to enjoy the food, though I think this is the best way, especially if you like communal dining or bring others with you. Honestly, a wonderful experience and I hope to visit here more often this year.

Sound and Savor

Underground vegan restaurant in West Oakland, often showcasing world-renowned musicians

After scrolling on Eventbrite one morning this past summer, looking for something to do that evening, I came across one of Philip Gelb’s events — who I later learned was a renowned vegan chef and musician in Oakland. I was intrigued by the menu, which featured peaches in every course! I had to be there, so I bought a ticket just a few hours before. The menu consisted of a Chinese family-style feast, featuring Masumoto Farm peaches— a local, family-owned Japanese organic peach farm, whom Phil know’s the farmer’s personally, and features menus using their divine peaches each summer. They have a short season from tree to perfect ripeness, so it was a treat to taste these special peaches in the dishes, which were prepared so beautifully. Some dishes that night included: peach char siu tempeh with peach mustard, fried wontons with sweet and sour peach sauce, cold tofu salad with peaches and peanuts, and peach ice cream in handmade waffle cones. So yum!!! I love that the dinner was at a communal dining table of 11 others, which really allowed you to experience this great meal over rich conversation. I also enjoyed his yuzu-forward menu just before the new year, that was equally incredible, and featured local musicians, Hitomi Oba on sax and her sister Erika Oba, on flute —what a treat! He also offers cooking classes, which seem like so much fun!

Bissap Baobab

A lively West African restaurant and music venue in the heart of the Mission

I had the pleasure of visiting here a few times this past year, including one night spontaneously with some new friends I had met over the summer. It was so wonderful to come in to live music and a welcoming environment, people dancing and enjoying food and drinks. I had been wanting to try Senegalese food for some time, since growing up in Louisiana, I know a lot of the cuisine attributed to “New Orleans” and “the South” was created and influenced from Senegal and other West African countries. Highly recommended watching High on the Hog on Netflix to learn more on this! Some of my favorite dishes at Bissap Baobab were the aloko plantains served with tamarind yogurt, the beef pastelles, or African empanadas, the yucca fries, the yassa chicken plate, and the jollof rice. Recently, they have changed their weeknight and weekend menu, so I’m excited to return and try their new dishes, including the Senegalese national dish, ceebu jen / thieboudienne, a marinated fish and rice dish. I really enjoy the live music on the Balkan nights on Sundays, and have also visited during a recent Sudanese pop-up/fundraiser. Highly recommend this spot for an all-around enjoyable experience!!

Pleasant Company

A down-to-earth Berkeley-based supper club serving seasonal, plant-based bites.

I had the pleasure of joining this supper club’s October iteration, after seeing a targeted ad on Instagram, of all things. It felt right, as I myself have a supper club and I love trying new dishes, meeting new people and other chefs, and smaller, more intimate dining settings. When walking up to the home it was hosted in, I could hear laughter, soft music, and the clinking of utensils and plates, which felt so warm and inviting. I knew no one there, but it was so easy to bond over the sweet experience of good food in such a cozy setting! Every little detail was precious, the chefs were kind, sweet, and whipped up some incredible courses. The courses included: big seedy cracker with mushroom walnut pate, fig carpaccio, warm white bean salad with blistered grape tomatoes, pear gorgonzola tarte tartin, roasted butternut squash and salt cured raviolo al uovo, and pistachio ginger pavlova. Every dish paired so well together and the joy in the room was palatable. Truly looking forward to their next supper club, and you should, too.

Honestly it’s hard to narrow down a perfect list, so this is by no means exhaustive. I hope if you get the opportunity to visit any of these places, your experience is as delicious and pleasant as mine! This year, I’m excited to try many new places, and would love to hear your suggestions and recommendations across the Bay.

Onwards to more delicious, local food,

Chef Rosemary xoxo