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Quesabirria at El Garage Luke Tsai

Where to Eat and Drink in Richmond

From 24-hour doughnuts and stellar dim sum to what’s arguably the Bay Area’s best Mexican food scene

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The city of Richmond has long been overlooked and underrated in the pantheon of Bay Area food cities — overshadowed, even in the East Bay, by better-publicized neighbors such as Berkeley and Oakland. And it’s true Richmond doesn’t have the fine-dining scene, or even a quarter of the amount of name chef hype, as those cities. But what its residents have known for a long time is this: For unfussy, budget-friendly everyday eating, there aren’t many better places in the Bay.

Of course, taco enthusiasts will know that the city’s 23rd Street commercial district can go toe to toe with any neighborhood — Fruitvale and the Mission included — in terms of sheer concentration of Mexican deliciousness. But Richmond also abounds with amazing fried chicken spots, charming diners, and destination-worthy food hidden inside of convenience stores. Here are 20 of the city’s must-visit restaurants.

The latest CDC guidance for vaccinated diners during the COVID-19 outbreak is here; dining out still carries risks for unvaccinated diners and workers. Please be aware of changing local rules, and check individual restaurant websites for any additional restrictions such as mask requirements. Find a local vaccination site here.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Black Star Pirate BBQ

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Perhaps one of the East Bay’s most remote restaurants, Black Star Pirate BBQ replaces its predecessor, Nobilis, atop a bumpy, winding, seemingly endless uphill road, on the waterfront — about as far west as you can drive in the East Bay without plunging into the actual bay. That means the views from the restaurant’s outdoor patio are pretty sweet, and the food — sauce-slathered brisket and tri tip, plus a brunch menu focused on big, comforting plates of shrimp and grits and biscuits and gravy — is also worth the trip.

Raymond’s Pizzeria

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Yes, Richmond, too, now has restaurants that cater to the bearded-and-tattooed, craft-beer-loving set — this one that also happens to serve some of the best grease-slicked, more-or-less New York-style pizza in this stretch of the East Bay. Run by a former pro skateboarder, the restaurant has an irreverent attitude (Rambo playing in a constant loop) but is still the kind of place that takes leopard-spotting (Google it if you don’t know) and dough fermentation seriously. Place your takeout or delivery order well in advance: During peak hours, the wait time often spans an hour and a half or longer.

Side view of a pepperoni slice Raymond’s Pizzeria

Estilo Chilanga

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This family-run, Mexico City-focused pop-up has been one of the stars of Richmond’s burgeoning quesabirria scene since 2019, attracting a big following for its cheesy tacos, consommé, and related items like birria-men (consommé with instant noodles). Head taquera Laura Rivera is also known for her fat, well-blistered gorditas and for making what is perhaps the Bay Area’s tastiest pambazo — a kind of sauce-soaked sandwich loaded with chorizo, soft-cooked potatoes, fresh lettuce, and Cotija cheese. The pop-up’s exact hours and location are subject to change; check Instagram for pre-ordering information and the latest updates.

A steak gordita at Estilo Chilanga Luke Tsai

Anaviv's Table

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What began as a communal tasting menu restaurant has evolved, thanks to the pandemic, into a mostly outdoor experience, with wood-fired pizzas, beer, and live music and entertainment (flamenco!) every Friday through Sunday. The Chez Panisse-pedigreed founder behind Anaviv’s Table, Arnon Oren, hopes to one day bring back outdoor dinner parties at the restaurant, but it’s worth a visit while it’s still hosting the weekend market.

El Garage

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This pioneer of the East Bay’s thriving quesabirria scene has come a long way since its occasional pop-up days, when dozens of taco lovers would stand on line for hours in the founders’ driveway. Now settled into its own storefront, a few blocks away from the Richmond BART station, El Garage dishes out its wildly popular cheesy, red-tinged beef birria tacos, Friday through Sunday — now available for both online pre-orders and walk-up customers. Make sure you get a side of consommé (the rich beef broth yielded by the cooking process) for sipping or double- and triple-dipping to complete the experience. 

Quesabirria at El Garage Luke Tsai

Krispy Krunchy

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Sure, it’s a chain, but it’s a chain most often found hidden inside of small, mom-and-pop gas station convenience stores, and when it comes to that Southern fast-food style, the chicken gives your local Popeyes outlet a run for its money. Well-seasoned, unfailingly crunchy skin — hence the name — and sweet honey biscuits are the hallmarks here.

Portumex

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Among the many excellent taco destinations in Richmond, it’s easy to miss Portumex, in its small, brightly painted building set back on 23rd Street. The old-school Mexican staple is best for its tacos, especially if you’re in the mood for Mexican-American style hard-shell tacos filled with seasoned ground beef. The restaurant is open for its usual hours, and it’s now doing delivery via Grubhub and Uber Eats.

El Mexicano Deli y Taqueria

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In a neighborhood replete with taquerias, always-bustling El Mexicano (at some point rebranded from its former name, Los Mexicanos) stands out for its all-around consistency — there isn’t really a badly executed meat on the menu (though the suadero, the al pastor, and the cueritos, or braised pork skin, are paricular standouts), and the burritos are just as reliably tasty as the tacos. This is also home to some of the best tortas in the city — specifically a gut-busting carnitas number that’s overstuffed with tender, crispy-edged pork and fresh lettuce, tomato, and avocado.

Carnitas torta at Los Mexicanos Luke Tsai

El Chaparro Barbacoa Original

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Located on the northern edge of the 23rd Street taco corridor, El Chaparro offers all the usual standards, but the house specialty — and the main reason to visit — is Hidalgo-style lamb barbacoa. You can buy it as a taco or a plate that comes with rice and beans, but the real pro move is to order an entire pound of meat, which comes with little baggies of onion, cilantro, and lime wedges; three different salsas; and a thick stack of tortillas that you can use to build your own tacos. Don’t forget to order a big tub of deep-red consomé, which is rich and clarifying, studded with chickpeas and chunks of tender lamb — the perfect thing to sip between bites. 

Exterior of El Chaparro at night Luke Tsai

La Selva Taqueria

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The specialty at this colorful, rainforest-themed taqueria is the pollo al carbonwhole 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. For the perfect family meal, order the whole chicken plate, which comes with rice, beans, and warm tortillas — the building blocks for a whole mess of delicious chicken tacos.

La Selva’s half-chicken plate, with rice and beans, in a to-go container Luke Tsai

Andy's Donut Stop

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The area’s only 24-hour doughnut shop is a bustling community hub at all times of day — a place, during pre-pandemic times, where you could get off your feet for a few minutes, read the paper, and enjoy a cheap cup of coffee, or to try your luck with a pile of lotto scratchers. Fortunately, there are still, of course, the doughnuts themselves, which are fresher-tasting than average and available in all the usual varieties. The crumb doughnuts, old-fashioneds, and oversized apple fritters are especially choice.

Exterior of Andy’s Donut Shop Luke Tsai

Súper Churros

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Parked just off the main drag of 23rd Street most nights, outside a used car lot, this little truck is a neighborhood staple for inexpensive, deep-fried evening sweets. The regular churros are enjoyable enough, but for a real treat, order one of the cream-filled churros rellenos, available in vanilla, caramel, and strawberry varieties.

Phila Burger Station

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This tiny, no-frills diner is a neighborhood favorite for its uncommonly friendly service and its inexpensive burgers and milkshakes served up quick. The menu has a handful of Asian touches (e.g., you can get teriyaki beef or chicken on your hoagie), but it’s especially known for being the place that serves the best cheesesteaks in the area. A note for Philly transplants: The sandwiches come with lettuce and tomatoes by default, but it’s no sweat to ask to have those omitted for something closer to an East Coast cheesesteak experience.

That Luang Kitchen Lao Cuisine

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Actually located just across the border of neighboring San Pablo, this 23rd Street institution is one of the area’s older Lao restaurants. It’s a reliably good destination for homey noodle soups and nam khao (crunchy rice ball salad). Hours can be a little bit wonky, so call ahead before you head over to pick up dinner.

Norma's Meat & Deli

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Located in the back of the Val-Mar convenience store, Norma’s is the one-woman operation of Norma Muñoz, who single-handedly cooks up a broad menu of Mexican and Salvadoran classics. The plus-size burritos have their fans, but the real treasures here are the Salvadoran specialties — especially the fat, compact pupusas, which Muñoz hand-makes to order, and the wonderfully tender, jiggly, custard-like tamales.

Q's Halal Pizza

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Part kebab-and-falafel house, part no-frills takeout pizza operation, Q’s Halal Pizza — the only pizza-focused spot in the local Q’s mini-chain — serves some of the best pies in Richmond, thanks in part to its kebab house–inspired topping combinations, like the fantastic Mama Mary’s (pepperoni, gyro meat, and red onion). Not in the mood for pizza? You can also get a traditional kebab or falafel plate, or chow down on a big order of some of the East Bay’s most succulent chicken wings.

Tacos El Tucan

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Expect long lines at all times of day at this new Richmond taqueria, which practices all the hallmarks of the Tijuana-style taco: handmade tortillas; flame-grilled meats; and, on top of every taco, quesataco, or mulita, a big dollop of guacamole. Both the carne asada and adobada — a red-hued style of al pastor, sliced straight off the spit — are second to none. Since the start of the pandemic, the taqueria has continued to do a brisk takeout business, and it’s also set up some nice patio seating in front.

A plate of Tijuana-style quesatacos Luke Tsai

Mississippi Catfish

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Open just three days a week, in a snug, nautically themed space adjoining a smog inspection station, Mississippi Catfish is a somewhat surprising destination for best Southern-style fish fry in the East Bay, and maybe in the entire Bay Area. But the virtues of the catfish and the butterflied shrimp, both fried with lightest and crispest of cornmeal batters, are self-evident, and the small, oniony, Mississippi-style hushpuppies that come with every order are so good, you’ll find it maddening you can’t order a whole basket of them on their own. When they’re available, the creamy black-eyed peas are the best of the side offerings.

Fried catfish, fried shrimp, hushpuppies, and sides from Mississippi Catfish Luke Tsai

Gran Milan

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Tucked away in a cluster of warehouses on a side street next to the freeway, Gran Milan is one of Richmond’s real hidden gems. This little bakery-cafe has a short menu of pizzas and salads, but the main attractions are some of the finest sweet and savory Italian pastries in the Bay — a truly impressive lineup of flaky, delicate, and often-custard-filled beauties. There are a couple of outdoor tables set up in front.

Saigon Seafood Harbor Restaurant

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Located at the southern end of the city, on the other side of El Cerrito, Saigon Harbor has been one of the East Bay’s most popular dim sum destinations for years. You’ll find solid versions of all the classics here, but the fried taro puffs and the stir-fried turnip cakes with X.O. sauce are especially great. The restaurant has been offering most of its steamed and fried dim sum items for takeout, and it’s also set up an outdoor dining area next to the parking lot. Walk off the steamed bun–induced food coma by walking over to the big 99 Ranch plaza next door to do your weekly grocery shopping.

Baked bbq pork buns and turnip cakes with X.O. sauce at Saigon Harbor Luke Tsai

Black Star Pirate BBQ

Perhaps one of the East Bay’s most remote restaurants, Black Star Pirate BBQ replaces its predecessor, Nobilis, atop a bumpy, winding, seemingly endless uphill road, on the waterfront — about as far west as you can drive in the East Bay without plunging into the actual bay. That means the views from the restaurant’s outdoor patio are pretty sweet, and the food — sauce-slathered brisket and tri tip, plus a brunch menu focused on big, comforting plates of shrimp and grits and biscuits and gravy — is also worth the trip.

Raymond’s Pizzeria

Yes, Richmond, too, now has restaurants that cater to the bearded-and-tattooed, craft-beer-loving set — this one that also happens to serve some of the best grease-slicked, more-or-less New York-style pizza in this stretch of the East Bay. Run by a former pro skateboarder, the restaurant has an irreverent attitude (Rambo playing in a constant loop) but is still the kind of place that takes leopard-spotting (Google it if you don’t know) and dough fermentation seriously. Place your takeout or delivery order well in advance: During peak hours, the wait time often spans an hour and a half or longer.

Side view of a pepperoni slice Raymond’s Pizzeria

Estilo Chilanga

This family-run, Mexico City-focused pop-up has been one of the stars of Richmond’s burgeoning quesabirria scene since 2019, attracting a big following for its cheesy tacos, consommé, and related items like birria-men (consommé with instant noodles). Head taquera Laura Rivera is also known for her fat, well-blistered gorditas and for making what is perhaps the Bay Area’s tastiest pambazo — a kind of sauce-soaked sandwich loaded with chorizo, soft-cooked potatoes, fresh lettuce, and Cotija cheese. The pop-up’s exact hours and location are subject to change; check Instagram for pre-ordering information and the latest updates.

A steak gordita at Estilo Chilanga Luke Tsai

Anaviv's Table

What began as a communal tasting menu restaurant has evolved, thanks to the pandemic, into a mostly outdoor experience, with wood-fired pizzas, beer, and live music and entertainment (flamenco!) every Friday through Sunday. The Chez Panisse-pedigreed founder behind Anaviv’s Table, Arnon Oren, hopes to one day bring back outdoor dinner parties at the restaurant, but it’s worth a visit while it’s still hosting the weekend market.

El Garage

This pioneer of the East Bay’s thriving quesabirria scene has come a long way since its occasional pop-up days, when dozens of taco lovers would stand on line for hours in the founders’ driveway. Now settled into its own storefront, a few blocks away from the Richmond BART station, El Garage dishes out its wildly popular cheesy, red-tinged beef birria tacos, Friday through Sunday — now available for both online pre-orders and walk-up customers. Make sure you get a side of consommé (the rich beef broth yielded by the cooking process) for sipping or double- and triple-dipping to complete the experience. 

Quesabirria at El Garage Luke Tsai

Krispy Krunchy

Sure, it’s a chain, but it’s a chain most often found hidden inside of small, mom-and-pop gas station convenience stores, and when it comes to that Southern fast-food style, the chicken gives your local Popeyes outlet a run for its money. Well-seasoned, unfailingly crunchy skin — hence the name — and sweet honey biscuits are the hallmarks here.

Portumex

Among the many excellent taco destinations in Richmond, it’s easy to miss Portumex, in its small, brightly painted building set back on 23rd Street. The old-school Mexican staple is best for its tacos, especially if you’re in the mood for Mexican-American style hard-shell tacos filled with seasoned ground beef. The restaurant is open for its usual hours, and it’s now doing delivery via Grubhub and Uber Eats.

El Mexicano Deli y Taqueria

In a neighborhood replete with taquerias, always-bustling El Mexicano (at some point rebranded from its former name, Los Mexicanos) stands out for its all-around consistency — there isn’t really a badly executed meat on the menu (though the suadero, the al pastor, and the cueritos, or braised pork skin, are paricular standouts), and the burritos are just as reliably tasty as the tacos. This is also home to some of the best tortas in the city — specifically a gut-busting carnitas number that’s overstuffed with tender, crispy-edged pork and fresh lettuce, tomato, and avocado.

Carnitas torta at Los Mexicanos Luke Tsai

El Chaparro Barbacoa Original

Located on the northern edge of the 23rd Street taco corridor, El Chaparro offers all the usual standards, but the house specialty — and the main reason to visit — is Hidalgo-style lamb barbacoa. You can buy it as a taco or a plate that comes with rice and beans, but the real pro move is to order an entire pound of meat, which comes with little baggies of onion, cilantro, and lime wedges; three different salsas; and a thick stack of tortillas that you can use to build your own tacos. Don’t forget to order a big tub of deep-red consomé, which is rich and clarifying, studded with chickpeas and chunks of tender lamb — the perfect thing to sip between bites. 

Exterior of El Chaparro at night Luke Tsai

La Selva Taqueria

The specialty at this colorful, rainforest-themed taqueria is the pollo al carbonwhole 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. For the perfect family meal, order the whole chicken plate, which comes with rice, beans, and warm tortillas — the building blocks for a whole mess of delicious chicken tacos.

La Selva’s half-chicken plate, with rice and beans, in a to-go container Luke Tsai

Andy's Donut Stop

The area’s only 24-hour doughnut shop is a bustling community hub at all times of day — a place, during pre-pandemic times, where you could get off your feet for a few minutes, read the paper, and enjoy a cheap cup of coffee, or to try your luck with a pile of lotto scratchers. Fortunately, there are still, of course, the doughnuts themselves, which are fresher-tasting than average and available in all the usual varieties. The crumb doughnuts, old-fashioneds, and oversized apple fritters are especially choice.

Exterior of Andy’s Donut Shop Luke Tsai

Súper Churros

Parked just off the main drag of 23rd Street most nights, outside a used car lot, this little truck is a neighborhood staple for inexpensive, deep-fried evening sweets. The regular churros are enjoyable enough, but for a real treat, order one of the cream-filled churros rellenos, available in vanilla, caramel, and strawberry varieties.

Phila Burger Station

This tiny, no-frills diner is a neighborhood favorite for its uncommonly friendly service and its inexpensive burgers and milkshakes served up quick. The menu has a handful of Asian touches (e.g., you can get teriyaki beef or chicken on your hoagie), but it’s especially known for being the place that serves the best cheesesteaks in the area. A note for Philly transplants: The sandwiches come with lettuce and tomatoes by default, but it’s no sweat to ask to have those omitted for something closer to an East Coast cheesesteak experience.

That Luang Kitchen Lao Cuisine

Actually located just across the border of neighboring San Pablo, this 23rd Street institution is one of the area’s older Lao restaurants. It’s a reliably good destination for homey noodle soups and nam khao (crunchy rice ball salad). Hours can be a little bit wonky, so call ahead before you head over to pick up dinner.

Norma's Meat & Deli

Located in the back of the Val-Mar convenience store, Norma’s is the one-woman operation of Norma Muñoz, who single-handedly cooks up a broad menu of Mexican and Salvadoran classics. The plus-size burritos have their fans, but the real treasures here are the Salvadoran specialties — especially the fat, compact pupusas, which Muñoz hand-makes to order, and the wonderfully tender, jiggly, custard-like tamales.

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Q's Halal Pizza

Part kebab-and-falafel house, part no-frills takeout pizza operation, Q’s Halal Pizza — the only pizza-focused spot in the local Q’s mini-chain — serves some of the best pies in Richmond, thanks in part to its kebab house–inspired topping combinations, like the fantastic Mama Mary’s (pepperoni, gyro meat, and red onion). Not in the mood for pizza? You can also get a traditional kebab or falafel plate, or chow down on a big order of some of the East Bay’s most succulent chicken wings.

Tacos El Tucan

Expect long lines at all times of day at this new Richmond taqueria, which practices all the hallmarks of the Tijuana-style taco: handmade tortillas; flame-grilled meats; and, on top of every taco, quesataco, or mulita, a big dollop of guacamole. Both the carne asada and adobada — a red-hued style of al pastor, sliced straight off the spit — are second to none. Since the start of the pandemic, the taqueria has continued to do a brisk takeout business, and it’s also set up some nice patio seating in front.

A plate of Tijuana-style quesatacos Luke Tsai

Mississippi Catfish

Open just three days a week, in a snug, nautically themed space adjoining a smog inspection station, Mississippi Catfish is a somewhat surprising destination for best Southern-style fish fry in the East Bay, and maybe in the entire Bay Area. But the virtues of the catfish and the butterflied shrimp, both fried with lightest and crispest of cornmeal batters, are self-evident, and the small, oniony, Mississippi-style hushpuppies that come with every order are so good, you’ll find it maddening you can’t order a whole basket of them on their own. When they’re available, the creamy black-eyed peas are the best of the side offerings.

Fried catfish, fried shrimp, hushpuppies, and sides from Mississippi Catfish Luke Tsai

Gran Milan

Tucked away in a cluster of warehouses on a side street next to the freeway, Gran Milan is one of Richmond’s real hidden gems. This little bakery-cafe has a short menu of pizzas and salads, but the main attractions are some of the finest sweet and savory Italian pastries in the Bay — a truly impressive lineup of flaky, delicate, and often-custard-filled beauties. There are a couple of outdoor tables set up in front.

Saigon Seafood Harbor Restaurant

Located at the southern end of the city, on the other side of El Cerrito, Saigon Harbor has been one of the East Bay’s most popular dim sum destinations for years. You’ll find solid versions of all the classics here, but the fried taro puffs and the stir-fried turnip cakes with X.O. sauce are especially great. The restaurant has been offering most of its steamed and fried dim sum items for takeout, and it’s also set up an outdoor dining area next to the parking lot. Walk off the steamed bun–induced food coma by walking over to the big 99 Ranch plaza next door to do your weekly grocery shopping.

Baked bbq pork buns and turnip cakes with X.O. sauce at Saigon Harbor Luke Tsai

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