Exceptionally reliable with an extra spicy soondubu that’s actually extra spicy, this is probably the best Korean option north of Berkeley. You can find other stalwart menu items here, but you’ll want to stick to either the soondubu or their Korean fried chicken items, especially the ones coated in the restaurant’s sweet, savory, and gently spicy Gangnam chicken sauce. Call in or order delivery via Uber Eats.

While some of the draw of this local favorite near the Oakland-Berkeley border can’t be replicated — the giant pitchers of Hite with a huge group of friends while K-Pop blares in the background — you can still get OB Chicken Town’s reliably good fried chicken to go. They are even still selling their buldak with cheese, which if you can get to it quick enough after ordering still has that alluring stretchiness. You can also get pub food classics like jokbal, which is marinated pork hock, to go. Call in or place your order online.

While Kitchen Story leans far more into the “inspired” part of “Korean-inspired,” there are some interesting takes on Korean food here and it’s packaged to go quite well. Of particular interest is the Tornado Galbi Omurice, which is both visually and gustatorily stimulating. The demi on the egg is great and there are nice chunks of short rib embedded inside. If you’re craving a Korean-style brunch, their Korean Fried Chicken and Waffle Bites hit the spot between savory and sweet. Call in or order online, with delivery available via the third-party apps.

You may have heard East Bay resident Samin Nosrat rave about Pyeong Chang’s kimchijeon in the New York Times Magazine — and those savory pancakes are indeed one of the best versions of the dish in the Bay Area. Pyeong Chang, though, also has some of the most satisfyingly rich soondubu in the area, and their daily rotation of house-made banchan always delights. The soondubu holds up well to takeout, but I’d pop the lid open on the pajeon if you pick it up so it retains its crispness. Both the Oakland and Berkeley locations are open for takeout, with both online ordering and app-based delivery available.

One of those “always there when you need it” Korean places, Seoul Gomtang has a range of satisfying soups from the soupier -guk and -tang dishes to the richer -jigae stews. They do an excellent, restorative version of the pork and potato soup called gamjatang here, and they have a variety of rarer, more offal-based soups as well, if that’s something you’re interested in. Call in or order via DoorDash.

For a broad selection of Korean classics, you’d be hard pressed to beat the variety and quality at Tin and Pig. You can get a big order of bossam (steamed pork belly and various veggies to wrap it with), which is something that is well-suited to take out as it doesn’t need to be piping hot to enjoy. You can also go to town on their chicken gizzard dishes and selections of jeongol, which is a Korean-style hot pot. Call in or order via DoorDash.

Longtime East Bay folks still call this place Koreana Plaza, and though the supermarket has gone the direction of carrying more pan-Asian staples, the Korean items that make up the core of their business are still great, and their ready to go meals are perhaps even more essential now. Their deli area has to-go japchae, banchan, pre-marinated meats, and a selection of gimbap. You can also stock up on Shin ramyun with cheese while you’re there. Be warned: this is still one of the worst parking lots in all of Oakland.

A hidden gem in Hayward, this tiny fried chicken shop seems to have been tailor-made for the takeout times we find ourselves in. This is some of the best, crispiest, and tastiest Korean fried chicken that you’ll find in the Bay Area, and they even sell a sublime fried crab dish. Chicken is available as either wings or boneless pieces, and both are fantastic. You can also get an order of hotteok, the famous Korean fried donuts, fresh out of the fryer. Call in or order via third-party apps.