Brad's personal top 100 Bay Area restaurants
(April 2009 version.) Based on deliciousness and value. Only places I've been to in the last two years are eligible. The order doesn't mean much after #20 or so. These are not the 100 best Bay Area restaurants -- I haven't been to anywhere near all of the leading contenders, and I'm biased toward places close to my house. I don't even guarantee that all of these are good. But some of them are!
1. China Village, Chinese (mostly Sichuan), Albany: West Lake fish soup
2. Pizzaiolo, Cal-Italian, Oakland: fried vegetables
3. Jayakarta, Indonesian, Berkeley: tempeh orek
4. Zuni Cafe, Californian, SF: roast chicken
5. Cafe Colucci, Ethiopian, Oakland: doulet
6. Sketch, soft serve, Berkeley: anything with sea salt and olive oil
7. Ohgane, Korean, Oakland: yuk hwe
8. El Huarache Azteca, Mexican, Oakland: sopes
9. Dopo, Cal-Italian, Oakland: fried chicken sandwich
10. Ajanta, Indian, Berkeley: tandoori veggies
11. Larkin Express Deli, Burmese, SF: tea leaf salad
12. Ubuntu, vegetarian, Napa: cast-iron cauliflower
13. The Bistro, bar, Hayward: beer festivals
14. Lily's House, Shanghainese, Lafayette: smoked fish
15. Taqueria San Jose, SF: al pastor
16. A Cote, small plates/bar, Oakland: desserts
17. Fairfax Scoop, old school ice cream, Fairfax: honey lavender vanilla
18. Zabu Zabu, Japanese small plates/shabu shabu, Berkeley: shellfish
19. Vik's, Bombay-style chaat, Berkeley: lamb baida roti and parathas
20. Zand, Persian deli, Albany: olives
21. Tartine Bakery, SF: country bread
22. Humphry Slocombe, ice cream, SF: Secret Breakfast
23. Lanesplitter, beer & pizza, Berkeley and Oakland: Moonlight Death & Taxes
24. Indus Village, Pakistani, Berkeley: tikka masala
25. Platano, Salvadorean, Berkeley: pupusas (but not the curtido)
26. Ruen Pair, Thai, Albany: naked prawn salad
27. Old Mandarin, Islamic Chinese, SF: lamb kidneys
28. Pyung Chang, Korean, Oakland: soon tofu
29. Thai House Express, SF (Tenderloin branch): papaya salad with salted crab
30. Sunrise Deli, Middle Eastern, SF and Berkeley: falafel
31. Brazil Cafe, Berkeley: tri-tip sandwich
32. Mokka, cafe, Berkeley: single-origin coffees
33. Sea Salt, seafood, Berkeley: eel banh mi
34. Mikaku, Japanese, SF: zaru soba
35. 900 Grayson, brunch, Berkeley: Demon Lover chicken & waffles
36. Cesar, tapas, Oakland better than Berkeley: wine
37. Daimo, Hong Kong Chinese, Richmond: roast meats
38. Holy Land, Israeli, Berkeley: tabbouleh
39. Udupi Palace, vegetarian South Indian, various locations but I've only been to the Berkeley one: thali
40. Pizzeria Picco, Larkspur: Specialized pizza
41. Tacos los Michoacanos, taco truck, Oakland: salsa
42. Wood Tavern, American, Oakland: pastrami sandwich
43. Chai Thai Noodles, Oakland: pork leg stew
44. Yank Sing, dim sum, SF: wu gok
45. Sura, Korean, Oakland: squid & bacon
46. Taste of the Himalayas, Nepali, Berkeley: momos
47. Casa Latina, panaderia, Berkeley: tortas
48. Little Shen Yang, Dongbei Chinese, Union City: spare ribs
49. Chez Panisse Cafe, Cal-French, Berkeley: green salads
50. Norikonoko, homestyle Japanese, Berkeley: gyoza
51. Messob, Ethiopian, Oakland: veggie combo
52. Angeline's Louisiana Cuisine, Berkeley: pecan pie
53. Guerrila Cafe, Berkeley: Blue Bottle espresso
54. Jupiter, beer & pizza, Berkeley: Old Rasputin Imperial Stout on nitro
55. Kopitiam, Singaporean, Lafayette: Hainanese chicken rice
56. Turkish Kitchen, Berkeley: baba ganoush
57. Acme, bread, Berkeley: levain
58. Flavors of India, Berkeley: vindaloo
59. Crixa Cakes, Eastern European bakery, Berkeley: rugelach
60. Suppenkuche, German, SF: oxtail
61. Shanghai Dumpling King, SF: xiaolongbao
62. A Taste of Africa, Cameroonian, Berkeley: ndole
63. Cole Coffee, Oakland: dark-roasted drip coffee
64. Champa Garden, Lao/Thai, Oakland: Champa Sampla
65. El Novillo, taco truck, Oakland: carnitas
66. Cheese Board Pizza, Berkeley: veggie pizza
67. La Farine, French bakery, Berkeley and Oakland: cupcakes
68. Trattoria la Siciliana, Berkeley: tomato sauce
69. Oliveto, Cal-Italian, Berkeley: pasta
70. Sahn Maru, Korean, Oakland: black goat stew
71. Gelato Firenze, Oakland: super chocolate
72. Tacubaya, yuppie taqueria, Berkeley: lengua
73. Cafe Raj, Indian, Berkeley: samosas
74. Tandor Kitchen, Pakistani, Berkeley: beef curry
75. Nha Toi, North Vietnamese, San Jose: sugarcane and Norwegian mackerel
76. Nizza la Bella, pizzeria/bistro, Albany: old school NY-style pizza
77. Peony, dim sum, Oakland: har gao
78. Hotaru, sushi/Japanese, San Mateo: nigiri
79. Pamir, Afghan stall, Emeryville: chopan kebab
80. T-Rex, BBQ, Berkeley: pork in general
81. Enssaro, Ethiopian, Oakland: injera
82. Bodega Bistro, Frenchy Vietnamese, SF: banh xeo
83. Cugini, Cal-Italian, Berkeley: potato pizza
84. Battambang, Cambodian, Oakland: pork-stuffed quail
85. O Chame, noodles, Berkeley: scallop udon
86. Gregoire, French takeout, Berkeley: potato products
87. Village Grounds, cafe, Berkeley: non-trivially roasted espresso
88. Luka's Taproom, pub, Oakland: burger
89. Hing Lung, Cantonese, SF: jook
90. Picante, Cal-Mexican, Berkeley: menudo
91. Cafe Rouge, Cal-French, Berkeley: French fries
92. Sichuan Fusion, Richmond (not really fusion): kidney slices
93. Chocolatier Blue, Berkeley: passionfruit caramel
94. Bi-Rite Creamery, ice cream, SF: malted banana
95. Cha Ya, Japanese vegetarian, Berkeley and SF: seaweed salad
96. Chaat Cafe, various locations but I've only been to the Berkeley one: fried stuff
97. Bobby G's, beer & pizza, Berkeley: Russian River beers
98. La Cumbre, taqueria, SF: pollo asada
99. Berkeley Bagels, Albany: bialies
100. House of Curries, Punjabi, Berkeley: tandoori meats
Previously: Top 40 East Bay food destinations
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