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Lumpia at FOB Kitchen
Lumpia at FOB Kitchen
Patricia Chang

Eater 38 Restaurants in the East Bay That Are Open for Takeout and Delivery

Though their dining rooms are closed, these spots still serve some of the tastiest food in Oakland, Berkeley, and beyond

by Luke Tsai Updated
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Lumpia at FOB Kitchen
| Patricia Chang
by Luke Tsai Updated
1 comment / new

During normal, non-pandemic times, Eater’s East Bay Essential 38 is our ongoing attempt to identify the very best places to eat in Oakland, Berkeley, and the surrounding cities — an always evolving list that covers the entire East Bay dining scene, spanning multiple cuisines and price points. Normally updated every three months, the list is essentially on pause during the coronavirus shutdown.

The good news is that quite a few of the restaurants in the current East Bay 38 — many of them small, family-run operations — are still open for business. These 28 spots, from stylish izakayas to cash-only taquerias, are still serving some of the best food in the East Bay — just tweaked a bit, in some cases, to make it takeout- and delivery-friendly.

Oh, and if you’re looking for the corresponding list for SF, we’ve got you covered.

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La Selva Taqueria

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The specialty at this rainforest-themed taqueria in Richmond’s 23rd Street taco corridor is its pollo al carbon: whole spatchcocked chickens grilled over charcoal in a garage adjacent to the restaurant. The chicken comes out supremely smoky and succulent, and the bright, zippy housemade salsas are a cut above. Order your tacos a la carte, or for the perfect family meal, order the whole chicken plate, which comes with rice, beans, and warm tortillas. Since the COVID-19 crisis, the restaurant has also started offering delivery via DoorDash.

1049 23rd St, Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 237-0913
(510) 237-0913
La Selva’s half-chicken plate, with rice and beans, in a to-go container Luke Tsai

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Mississippi Catfish

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Located in a snug space adjoining a smog inspection station, Mississippi Catfish might be the best Southern-style fish fry spot in the East Bay. The catfish and butterflied shrimp are both fried with lightest and crispest of cornmeal batters, courtesy of owner Thomas Wright, and the small, oniony, Mississippi-style hushpuppies are worth a trip all on their own. Even during pre-pandemic times, the restaurant had very limited hours, so that isn’t much of a change: Call in to place your takeout order (or get delivery via DoorDash) Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m.–6:45 p.m. (and until 7:45 p.m. on Fridays).

12440 San Pablo Ave, Richmond, CA 94805
(510) 215-2526
(510) 215-2526
Fried catfish, fried shrimp, hushpuppies, and sides from Mississippi Catfish Luke Tsai

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Sichuan Style Restaurant

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The East Bay’s new gold standard for classic, tongue-numbingly spicy Sichuan fare like water-boiled fish. Fan favorites like the chile-topped fish fillet soup, the wok-charred cabbage, and the big, puffy, crowd-pleasing round of sesame bread all travel exceptionally well. Call in for takeout, or get delivery via DoorDash or Uber Eats.

1699 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707
(510) 525-9890
(510) 525-9890
Water-boiled fish at Sichuan Style Luke Tsai

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Juanita & Maude

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This charming neighborhood restaurant reopened for takeout in May, with a short-but-sweet menu that leans into comfort foods: buttermilk fried chicken, lasagna, cheeseburgers, and wood-fired pizza. It’s open for takeout Wednesday through Saturday, 4–8 p.m. and ​Sunday from 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Call in to order.

825 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706
(510) 526-2233
(510) 526-2233

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The Cheeseboard Pizza

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After a long hiatus, Berkeley’s favorite collective-owned pizzeria is back, with its characteristically idiosyncratic sourdough crust and its one, always-vegetarian flavor of the day (plus a plain cheese option) — though for now it’s only selling par-baked pies. You can check the day’s toppings here and, for now, simply order in person at the collective’s cheese shop storefront next door. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

1512 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 549-3183
(510) 549-3183

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Bartavelle Coffee & Wine Bar

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One of Berkeley’s quintessential spots for a leisurely outdoor breakfast (and maker of one of the

Bay Area’s best and most bountiful avocado toasts), Bartavelle is mostly operating as a pantry and grocery store right now, with online ordering available on staples like eggs, flour, and tinned sardines — but also a limited selection of prepared foods (everything you need to assemble a charcuterie board, for instance) and a DIY kit for making the cafe’s popular savory porridge. Pickup is at Bartavelle’s annex space a couple doors down, at 1609 San Pablo Avenue.

1603 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 524-2473
(510) 524-2473
To-go charcuterie board at Bartavelle Bartavelle/Facebook

Kiraku

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The East Bay has many izakaya-style Japanese restaurants, but none that are as much rollicking fun as Kiraku, nor any that serve food that’s as consistently delightful and well executed. Now, the bustling downtown Berkeley spot has shifted to a takeout model, offering a daily-changing menu — featuring things like curry, gyudon, sushi bowls, and a DIY shabu shabu kit — from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call in to order, or order online.

2566 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 848-2758
(510) 848-2758
To-go wagyu steak meal at Kiraku Kiraku/Facebook

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Vik’s Chaat

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The Berkeley chaat institution is open for takeout, with larger family-size portions available on a handful of curries and daily vegetarian specials. Order online, or call (see the menu here) to place an order and arrange for curbside pickup. Delivery is available via Caviar.

2390 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 644-4412
(510) 644-4412
Dosa at Vik’s Vik’s Chaat/Facebook

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Standard Fare

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Chef Kelsie Kerr’s wholesome West Berkeley lunch spot, with its focus on great seasonal ingredients, has always been a to-go operation. It’s currently taking preorders for curbside pickup two days a week — Tuesdays and Fridays between 3:30 and 5 p.m. — for versatile pantry items like chicken stock, hummus, and homemade yogurt, plus a couple of ready-to-reheat dinner options each day (say, braised chicken with baby carrots). Order online.

2701 Eighth St #118, Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 356-2261
(510) 356-2261

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Alem's Coffee

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This cozy, congenial coffee shop across from the Temescal DMV serves some of the tastiest Ethiopian and Eritrean breakfast dishes around — though the shahan ful, a spicy fava bean dip that comes with two warm, crusty French rolls, is one of the most delicious dishes you can eat at any time of day. The cafe is offering its full menu for takeout from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

5353 Claremont Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 655-6003
(510) 655-6003
Shahan ful at Alem’s, served with two crusty loaves of bread Alem’s Coffee/Facebook

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Belotti Ristorante E Bottega

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This unassuming Italian spot in Rockridge is the king of fresh pasta in the East Bay, thanks to the talents of chef Michel Belotti, whose rich, egg yolk–intensive pasta dough is the restaurant’s stock in trade. The restaurant is offering its full menu for takeout from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The more casual, takeaway-oriented bottega on Piedmont Avenue is also open for takeout and delivery via Caviar.

5403 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 788-7890
(510) 788-7890
Bigoli Al Sugo D’Anatra at Belotti in Oakland Belotti Ristorante e Bottega/Facebook

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Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement

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From its kiosk in the Emeryville Public Market food court, Minnie Bell’s is taking pre-orders for pickup and delivery (within Emeryville, Berkeley, and West Oakland) on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chef Fernay McPherson’s rosemary fried chicken might be the finest in the entire Bay, and the rich oven-baked mac and cheese — with shards of the crisp brown top mixed in — and hefty squares of sweet, cake-y cornbread make for festive, celebratory eating.

5959 Shellmound St, Emeryville, CA 94608
Fried chicken, cornbread, and mac and cheese to go, from Minnie Bell’s Luke Tsai

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FOB Kitchen

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Janice and Brandi Dulce’s cheerful, colorful Filipino spot in Temescal is now doing takeout Wednesday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m. Before 3 each afternoon, the menu is focused on silogs (or egg-topped breakfast rice plates) and lumpia, and there’s a more extensive dinner menu in the evenings. Order online.

5179 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 817-4169
(510) 817-4169
Lumpia at FOB Kitchen Patricia Chang

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Pyeong Chang Tofu House Oakland

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Among the long stretch of Korean restaurants that line Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, Pyeong Chang is one of the most consistently satisfying, with its small but reliably excellent banchan selection and its namesake tofu stews — bubbling little cauldrons that pack a ton of flavor and chile heat. The restaurant (and its sister location in Berkeley) is open for takeout and offering a number of special deals for the duration of the shelter in place: 20 percent discount on all tofu stew orders, half off on bottles of soju, and an all-day $12 dosirak lunchbox special. Call in to order.

4701 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 658-9040
(510) 658-9040

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Daughter Thai Kitchen

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The team behind the Farmhouse Thai Kitchen mini-chain brings bold Southern Thai flavors to quaint, sleepy Montclair. Daughter Thai’s menu doesn’t shy away from spice or funk — both well represented in the pungent pickled fish stew known as kang tai pla — while the restaurant also serves up crowdpleasers like hat yai fried chicken (served with roti and curry) and slow-braised bone-in beef short rib curry. Shelter-in-place takeout specials include a $25 weekday lunch set (plenty of food for two) and free kids’ meals with orders of $60 or more. Call in or order pickup or delivery via Caviar.

6118 Medau Pl, Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 823-2354
(510) 823-2354
Lao table set at Daughter Thai Daughter Thai/Facebook

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Commis

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The East Bay’s only Michelin-starred spot just launched a to-go prix fixe menu. Priced at $90 for a family-style two-person dinner, the menu will change each week, and, at least for now, features Commis classics like the house-baked levain bread and, as a $10 add-on, the crowd favorite slow-poached egg yolk with smoked dates and alliums. Order online.

3859 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 653-3902
(510) 653-3902

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Soba Ichi

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The only restaurant in the Bay Area making its buckwheat soba noodles from scratch, using freshly milled buckwheat flour, is now selling fresh, hand-cut noodles for customers to cook at home: $12 for a two-person portion ($15 with dipping sauce). There are also occasional specials like a soboro-don (group pork and scrambled eggs over rice). They’re open for walk-in orders Thursday through Sunday from noon–3 p.m.

2311A Magnolia St, Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 465-1969
(510) 465-1969

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Kingston 11 Cuisine

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The Uptown Oakland Jamaican mainstay isn’t on any of the delivery apps, but the restaurant is open for takeout and limited delivery (for larger orders) for all your beef patty, sweet plantain, and rice and peas needs, Thursday to Saturday from 2–7 p.m. Perhaps most comforting of all is the oxtail stew, soupy and slightly sweet, the meat slow-cooked to such tenderness that it comes clean off the bone with the slightest nudge. Call in or email orders to takeout@kingston11eats.com.

2270 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 465-2558
(510) 465-2558
Kingston 11/Facebook

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Brown Sugar Kitchen

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Tanya Holland’s Uptown Oakland Southern-inspired spot is serving a streamlined takeout menu, Wednesday through Saturday noon–5 p.m., with online orders due by 4 p.m. each day. The fried chicken is probably the headliner, but there’s also gumbo, po’ boys, buttermilk biscuits, and sweet potato pie. Customers who have the means to do so can also opt to subsidize a meal to foster youth, low-income families, and the homeless.

2295 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 839-7685
(510) 839-7685
Gumbo at Brown Sugar Kitchen Albert Law

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Hopscotch

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This small but mighty Uptown Oakland restaurant combines a retro diner aesthetic with chef Kyle Itani’s menu of forward-thinking and Japanese-influenced California cuisine. The to-go menu features many of the restaurant’s greatest hits, including its beef tongue-topped burger, its brunchy soba biscuits and gravy, and its always-takeout-friendly buckets of buttermilk fried chicken. Call in for takeout (with curbside pickup available) 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m., or order delivery via Caviar.

1915 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 788-6217
(510) 788-6217
Fried chicken at Hopscotch Patricia Chang

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Cosecha

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Now open for takeout three days a week — Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m.–7 p.m. — Dominica Cisneros-Rice’s casual Cal-Mexican spot is serving a mix of the chef’s greatest hits: fried shrimp tacos, carnitas, pozole verde by the quart, and a boxed lunch combo that comes with rice and beans and two tacos of your choice. Order online.

907 Washington St, Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 452-5900
(510) 452-5900
Crab tostadas at Cosecha Dominica Rice

Miss Ollie's

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Everything about this Afro-Caribbean restaurant is wonderfully inviting, from its bright turquoise vintage enamel plates to the smell of its best-in-class skillet-fried chicken wafting out of the kitchen. Dining in isn’t currently an option, but the Swan’s Market restaurant has remained open for takeout since the beginning of the shelter in place. Check its Facebook page for the latest hours and menu.

901 Washington St, Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 285-6188
(510) 285-6188
Fried chicken and sides to go at Miss Ollie’s Miss Ollie’s/Facebook

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Lucky Three Seven

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This cash-only Filipino takeout window remains open, Wednesday through Monday 10 a.m.–9 p.m., with its usual rotating menu of home-style Filipino dishes — with an emphasis on meaty, bold-flavored stews. Get the oxtail kare kare if it’s available, along with a few of the restaurant’s jumbo-sized lumpia. Check the Facebook page each morning for the day’s specials.

2868 Fruitvale Ave, Oakland, CA 94602
(510) 866-2023
(510) 866-2023
Janelle Bitker

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Vientian Cafe

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Tucked into a residential neighborhood, Vientian Cafe has the kind of greatest hits menu that spans pho, pad Thai, and every other Southeast Asian standard in between. But it’s a Lao restaurant above all else, and to unlock the restaurant’s true greatness, diners should order exclusively off the separate menu of Lao specialties: nam kao, or crunchy rice ball salad; best-in-class baked Lao sausages; catfish steamed inside banana leaves; and an assortment of delicious noodle soups. Call in for takeout during the restaurant’s regular business hours.

3801 Allendale Ave, Oakland, CA 94619
(510) 535-2218
(510) 535-2218
Fermented Lao sausage, soup, and other dishes at Vientian Cafe Thien Pham

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Taqueria El Paisa@.com

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There’s a strong argument to be made that El Paisa@.com’s tacos are as good as any you can find anywhere in Northern California. The place is a meat lover’s paradise, especially if you like offal cuts like cabeza, sesos (brains), and luxuriously tender slow-cooked tripa (beef tripe). A note for the chile-averse: Even the mildest salsa options pack serious heat. Call in your to-go order.

4610 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601
(510) 610-6398
(510) 610-6398
Tacos at Taqueria El Paisa@.com Noah Cho

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Lena's Soul Food Restaurant

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The stellar quick-service soul food spot is open for takeout Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Everyone goes wild for the bargain-priced $0.99-a-piece fried chicken, but for maximum comfort, home in on side dishes like the candied yams or anything that comes soaked in the restaurant’s rich brown gray: oxtails, smothered pork chops or turkey wings, or even just a simple side of rice and gravy — a struggle food fit for kings. Call in, or get delivery via apps like Doordash and Grubhub.

6403 Foothill Blvd, Oakland, CA 94547
(510) 957-5663
(510) 957-5663
A spread of meals at Lena’s, each packed in a plastic container, with cornbread wrapped in foil Lena’s Soul Food

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Bluebird Pizzeria

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This family-friendly, real-deal New York-style pizzeria in San Leandro serves what many of its fans believe to be the best pizza in the Bay Area, straight-up. Call in or pre-order online; curbside pickup is available if you call the restaurant when you arrive. Hours can vary from day to day, so check the website for the latest updates.

496 E 14th St, San Leandro, CA 94577
(510) 562-1199
(510) 562-1199
A cheese slice at Bluebird Pizzeria Bluebird Pizzeria/Facebook

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DeAfghanan Cuisine

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Probably the most famous Afghan restaurant in America’s most famous Afghan immigrant community, De Afghanan’s various locations — including its Fremont flagship — are still slinging stellar kebabs and bolani (stuffed flatbreads) for takeout. Call in to the location nearest to you, or order delivery through one the third-party apps.

37395 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536
(510) 857-1009
(510) 857-1009

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La Selva Taqueria

1049 23rd St, Richmond, CA 94804

The specialty at this rainforest-themed taqueria in Richmond’s 23rd Street taco corridor is its pollo al carbon: whole spatchcocked chickens grilled over charcoal in a garage adjacent to the restaurant. The chicken comes out supremely smoky and succulent, and the bright, zippy housemade salsas are a cut above. Order your tacos a la carte, or for the perfect family meal, order the whole chicken plate, which comes with rice, beans, and warm tortillas. Since the COVID-19 crisis, the restaurant has also started offering delivery via DoorDash.

1049 23rd St, Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 237-0913
(510) 237-0913
La Selva’s half-chicken plate, with rice and beans, in a to-go container Luke Tsai

Mississippi Catfish

12440 San Pablo Ave, Richmond, CA 94805

Located in a snug space adjoining a smog inspection station, Mississippi Catfish might be the best Southern-style fish fry spot in the East Bay. The catfish and butterflied shrimp are both fried with lightest and crispest of cornmeal batters, courtesy of owner Thomas Wright, and the small, oniony, Mississippi-style hushpuppies are worth a trip all on their own. Even during pre-pandemic times, the restaurant had very limited hours, so that isn’t much of a change: Call in to place your takeout order (or get delivery via DoorDash) Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m.–6:45 p.m. (and until 7:45 p.m. on Fridays).

12440 San Pablo Ave, Richmond, CA 94805
(510) 215-2526
(510) 215-2526
Fried catfish, fried shrimp, hushpuppies, and sides from Mississippi Catfish Luke Tsai

Sichuan Style Restaurant

1699 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707

The East Bay’s new gold standard for classic, tongue-numbingly spicy Sichuan fare like water-boiled fish. Fan favorites like the chile-topped fish fillet soup, the wok-charred cabbage, and the big, puffy, crowd-pleasing round of sesame bread all travel exceptionally well. Call in for takeout, or get delivery via DoorDash or Uber Eats.

1699 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707
(510) 525-9890
(510) 525-9890
Water-boiled fish at Sichuan Style Luke Tsai

Juanita & Maude

825 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706

This charming neighborhood restaurant reopened for takeout in May, with a short-but-sweet menu that leans into comfort foods: buttermilk fried chicken, lasagna, cheeseburgers, and wood-fired pizza. It’s open for takeout Wednesday through Saturday, 4–8 p.m. and ​Sunday from 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Call in to order.

825 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706
(510) 526-2233
(510) 526-2233

The Cheeseboard Pizza

1512 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709

After a long hiatus, Berkeley’s favorite collective-owned pizzeria is back, with its characteristically idiosyncratic sourdough crust and its one, always-vegetarian flavor of the day (plus a plain cheese option) — though for now it’s only selling par-baked pies. You can check the day’s toppings here and, for now, simply order in person at the collective’s cheese shop storefront next door. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

1512 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 549-3183
(510) 549-3183

Bartavelle Coffee & Wine Bar

1603 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702

One of Berkeley’s quintessential spots for a leisurely outdoor breakfast (and maker of one of the

Bay Area’s best and most bountiful avocado toasts), Bartavelle is mostly operating as a pantry and grocery store right now, with online ordering available on staples like eggs, flour, and tinned sardines — but also a limited selection of prepared foods (everything you need to assemble a charcuterie board, for instance) and a DIY kit for making the cafe’s popular savory porridge. Pickup is at Bartavelle’s annex space a couple doors down, at 1609 San Pablo Avenue.

1603 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 524-2473
(510) 524-2473
To-go charcuterie board at Bartavelle Bartavelle/Facebook

Kiraku

2566 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

The East Bay has many izakaya-style Japanese restaurants, but none that are as much rollicking fun as Kiraku, nor any that serve food that’s as consistently delightful and well executed. Now, the bustling downtown Berkeley spot has shifted to a takeout model, offering a daily-changing menu — featuring things like curry, gyudon, sushi bowls, and a DIY shabu shabu kit — from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call in to order, or order online.

2566 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 848-2758
(510) 848-2758
To-go wagyu steak meal at Kiraku Kiraku/Facebook

Vik’s Chaat

2390 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

The Berkeley chaat institution is open for takeout, with larger family-size portions available on a handful of curries and daily vegetarian specials. Order online, or call (see the menu here) to place an order and arrange for curbside pickup. Delivery is available via Caviar.

2390 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 644-4412
(510) 644-4412
Dosa at Vik’s Vik’s Chaat/Facebook

Standard Fare

2701 Eighth St #118, Berkeley, CA 94710

Chef Kelsie Kerr’s wholesome West Berkeley lunch spot, with its focus on great seasonal ingredients, has always been a to-go operation. It’s currently taking preorders for curbside pickup two days a week — Tuesdays and Fridays between 3:30 and 5 p.m. — for versatile pantry items like chicken stock, hummus, and homemade yogurt, plus a couple of ready-to-reheat dinner options each day (say, braised chicken with baby carrots). Order online.

2701 Eighth St #118, Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 356-2261
(510) 356-2261

Alem's Coffee

5353 Claremont Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

This cozy, congenial coffee shop across from the Temescal DMV serves some of the tastiest Ethiopian and Eritrean breakfast dishes around — though the shahan ful, a spicy fava bean dip that comes with two warm, crusty French rolls, is one of the most delicious dishes you can eat at any time of day. The cafe is offering its full menu for takeout from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

5353 Claremont Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 655-6003
(510) 655-6003
Shahan ful at Alem’s, served with two crusty loaves of bread Alem’s Coffee/Facebook