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Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, celebrates miraculous oil that burned for eight days and nights. But the real miracle of oil, of course, lies in its ability to fry up delicious potato pancakes. That process can be on the messy side, and since there are no rules in Judaism against ordering out for food — in fact, it’s fairly encouraged — here are a few places that will take care of the latke part for you.
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12 Places to Get Latkes That Aren’t Your Bubbie’s House
The real miracle of oil: Potato pancakes
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Saul's Restaurant & Delicatessen
T’is the season for latkes at Saul’s: The Berkeley restaurant and deli has even got a latke tent and beer garden going Thursday December 14th through Sunday December 17.
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Beauty's Bagel Shop
Oakland’s Montreal-style bagel shop is selling latkes like hotcakes with homemade organic apple sauce and sour cream. They require 48 hours notice for orders, so it’s a good thing Hanukkah lasts eight nights.
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Grand Lake Kitchen
The mensches at Grand Lake Kitchen are serving a Hanukkah menu — and holiday wine flights — including gefilte fish made from California halibut with watermelon radish and mushroom broth, braised brisket with horseradish cream, and savory noodle kugel. Of course they’ve got latkes, too, with applesauce and creme fraiche.
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Miller's East Coast Delicatessen
You can trust a place that serves latkes daily to come through with the classics during the holiday rush. Miller’s on Polk has all the bases covered with relatively few frills, including kugel, blintzes, and brisket.
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Fiorella
Cheery Richmond District pizzeria and Italian eatery Fiorella is preparing a small Hanukkah menu this year including latkes with apples, parsley, and horseradish salad. There’s also chicken liver with eggs and herbs and marinated artichokes — plus, you know, pizza.
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Max's Opera Cafe
This Civic Center restaurant surely hasn’t been touched since the ‘80s, which doesn't make it particularly fresh. Still, it serves pastrami, a passable matzo ball soup, and latkes on the regular, and for that, credit is due. There’s also a full bar, should it be required.
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Suppenküche
Kosher? Not sure. German? Yes. Regardless, Suppenküche’s potato pancakes are delectable and served with a side of apple sauce it’s impossible not to finish.
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The Alembic
When Rachel Aronow took over the Kitchen at the Alembic, she tolld Eater SF that diners could expect to “see a bit of ‘Jewish grandmother doing fine dining’” in her cooking. That’s on full display with her refined Hanukkah tasting menu, served through the 20th, which includes her take on a classic latke: It’s a crisped potato-sweet onion pancake with fermented beet and carrot.
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Canela Bistro & Wine Bar
Castro tapas restaurant Canela is celebrating the festival of lights with a prixe fixe menu of dishes from chef Mat Schuster including sweet potato-and mushroom latkes, served with pimenton sour cream and quince-apple sauce. Good luck explaining that one to your zayde. And while Shuster isn’t serving traditional sufganiyot, he does nod to them with his jelly-filled churros.
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Delfina
The coveted duck fat-fried latkes are back all Hanukkah long, as are more holiday menu items, at Craig Stoll’s classic 18th Street eatery. In fact, Delfina’s even got adorable homemade chocolate gelt for the occasion.
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Bi-Rite Market
Jack of all organic food trades Bi-Rite has declared itself “Hanukkah Headquarters” with a menu of holiday delights including crispy latkes to be re-heated at home.
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Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen
Wise Sons 24th Street Street delicatessen not only serves latkes, they deliver them with their Hanukkah catering menu, along with matzo ball soup and more. Plus they’ve got sufganiyot, a traditional Hanukkah jelly donut, filled with house-made strawberry jam, that are available at all locations.
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