At this point, it’s no secret that the East Bay is home to some of the Bay Area’s greatest restaurants. Most of the time, however, restaurants in Oakland and Berkeley (and their immediate surroundings) are the ones that get all of the praise and food media limelight. But what about the cities further inland? Though they tend to be overlooked by out-of-towners, these outer East Bay suburbs are often hubs of great deliciousness. The Concord area in northern Contra County is a great case in point: It’s chock full of excellent, affordable restaurants that reflect the region’s various immigrant communities.
All of our worlds are a little smaller nowadays because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but for those who love food, the outer East Bay is well worth exploring. Here are 17 local favorites in Concord and Pleasant Hill — all well-suited for tasty takeout, with several options for those who are comfortable with outdoor dining as well.
As of publication time, some of these restaurants offer seated, outdoor dining. However, their inclusion should not be taken as endorsement for sit-down dining, as there are still safety concerns. Studies indicate that COVID-19 infection rates are lower for outside activities, but the level of risk involved with outdoor dining is contingent on restaurants and their patrons following strict social distancing, face covering, and other safety guidelines.
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