Name: 21 Soul-Nourishing Restaurants in Oakland Chinatown
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21 Soul-Nourishing Restaurants in Oakland Chinatown

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More InfoLess InfoMore MapsView as MapThe coronavirus crisis has taken a significant toll on America’s Chinatowns, where restaurants and bakeries suffered major financial losses weeks before the rest of the country started hunkering down. Still, in Oakland, many of the staples of the neighborhood — the jook shops, the Hong Kong-style cafes, and the handmade noodle specialists — have powered through the shutdown, staying open to feed the community, even in a limited takeout capacity.If you’ve been craving Chinese takeout (or perhaps ramen or banh mi), these 21 spots have got you covered.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.Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.850 BroadwayOakland, CA 94607(510) 839-8815One of just a handful of Cambodian food spots in the East Bay, Battambang offers proof that Chinatown isn’t just about the Chinese food — and hasn’t been since this family-run restaurant first arrived in the neighborhood in the early ‘90s. The menu has a number of Thai standards too, but you’ll serve yourself well if you stick to the Cambodian dishes: the smoky soft-cooked eggplant and the amok trei — catfish steamed inside a banana leaf with lemongrass curry.718 Franklin StOakland, CA 94607(510) 835-2366The East Bay’s king of egg tarts — with the flakiest crust and the most quivery custard — is open after an extended hiatus at the beginning of shelter in place. It’s open for takeout from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.on May 24, 2020 at 10:32am PDTAlso Featured in:389 8th StOakland, CA 94607(510) 465-1940The Chinatown standby is no longer a destination for 2 a.m. jook runs — its new hours during the shelter-in-place order are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. But New Gold Medal is still the go-to spot for classic Cantonese cooking: dry-fried beef chow fun, pork-and-century-egg jook, barbecue rice plates, and shrimp over scrambled egg.Also Featured in:989 Franklin St BOakland, CA 94607(510) 459-6265It’s been years since Tian Jin Dumplings sold actual dumplings (a shame because they were tops in the city, bar none), but this little takeout booth is still cranking out the Northern Chinese breakfast of champions known as jian bing —&nbsp;an enormous egg-wrapped crepe brushed with soybean paste and chili sauce, then stuffed with fried crullers and pickled mustard stems. They’re also selling wonton soup, tea eggs, and house-made soy milk, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day but Tuesdays.on Jul 28, 2018 at 10:35am PDT366 8th StOakland, CA 94607(510) 817-4884This Chinatown newcomer is part of a&nbsp;small Bay Area chain&nbsp;specializing in the hand-pulled noodles, cumin-spiced kebabs, and stuffed meat pies that are characteristic of Uyghur cuisine. It’s a tiny, barebones spot, the kind of place where — at least pre-COVID — you could watch the aunties stretching out the noodles while you contemplated your order.&nbsp;Highlights include the&nbsp;dapanji, or Big Plate Chicken, a hearty Xinjiang dish that features big chunks of bone-in chicken, soft stewed potatoes, and chewy hand-pulled noodles.723 Webster StOakland, CA 94607(510) 893-2288This somewhat inconspicuous storefront on Webster Street specializes in traditional Cantonese double-boiled soups, all chock full of Chinese medicinal herbs with a range of purported health benefits — and, more to the point, all delicious. The restaurant also sells flavorful rice dishes that are steamed inside of lotus leaves. Call in to order takeout, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. It’s also taking delivery orders via the .on Mar 12, 2020 at 8:24pm PDTAlso Featured in:Sign up for our newsletter.388 9th St STE 268Oakland, CA 94607(510) 891-1781Chuan Yu opened during the pandemic and immediately built up a following for its traditional, and appropriately fiery, Sichuan and Hunan dishes — everything from classic water-boiled fish to harder-to-find specialties like a chile-laden plate of stir-fried chicken cartilage. This is the place to go to if you want Sichuan malatang or dry pot, both variants on a numbingly spicy hot pot meal.388 9th St STE 182Oakland, CA 94607(510) 268-1288Tucked inside the Pacific Renaissance Plaza, Gum Kuo has three specialties: jook (or rice porridge), steamed rice rolls, and Cantonese-style roast meats, all at an exceedingly budget-friendly price. They’re currently open for takeout —&nbsp;call in from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.on Mar 19, 2020 at 7:23pm PDTAlso Featured in:988 Franklin StOakland, CA 94607(510) 832-7626Oakland Chinatown’s most prominent ramen destination is known for serving a wide range of styles — it’s one of the only spots in the East Bay where you can score a bowl of tsukemen, the trendy cold dipping noodle style. They’re currently open for takeout for dinner only, 5 to 9 p.m. daily. Call in or .388 9th St STE 155Oakland, CA 94607(510) 893-3633Chinatown has no shortage of boba spots, but the Sweet Booth has been a mainstay since the ‘90s. The shop is known for using actual fruit (as opposed to powdered mixes), blended to order, in all of its fruit-based smoothies and tea drinks. The delicious “pearl taro” — with a scoop of vanilla ice cream blended in for good measure —&nbsp;is like a meal unto itself. During shelter in place, the shop is open for takeout from noon to 6 p.m. daily.on Dec 4, 2016 at 12:17pm PST388 9th St STE 181Oakland, CA 94607(510) 338-3776Prominently located on the ground level of the Pacific Renaissance Plaza, C &amp; M is your all-purpose Cantonese lunch spot with a broad menu of rice plates, roasted meats, and noodle soups. It’s currently open for takeout from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.388 9th St STE 288Oakland, CA 94607(510) 286-8866One of a small handful of big banquet halls and dim sum parlors left in Oakland Chinatown, Peony made waves when it in the coronavirus crisis. It’s since reopened for takeout, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, with both dim sum and regular family-style dishes available.on Jun 17, 2019 at 12:31pm PDTAlso Featured in:1116 Franklin StOakland, CA 94607(510) 238-9688One of the East Bay’s foremost practitioners of Buddhist Chinese vegetarian fare, Nature Vegetarian has been pleasing vegans and omnivores alike for the past decade. The restaurant makes all of the faux meats that form the base of the menu in-house — a process that yields a particularly delicious take on sesame chicken. Any dish with eggplant or tofu is likely to be a winner, including several clay pot dishes.Also Featured in:326 8th StOakland, CA 94607(510) 893-1238Perhaps the maker of the best Hong Kong-style milk tea in the neighborhood, St. Anna is your typical Hong Kong cha chaan teng cafe, with a mix of Chinese and Western dishes —&nbsp;rice noodle plates, but also egg sandwiches and pork chop spaghetti. Call in for takeout from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. every day except Tuesdays.920 Webster StOakland, CA 94607(510) 451-4389Cam Anh took over the space previously occupied by another popular, longstanding banh mi shop, Cam Huong, last year, and it’s still cranking out some of the neighborhood’s best sandwiches during the shelter in place, with a couple of tofu banh mi options for vegetarians to boot.on May 2, 2020 at 11:50am PDT940 Webster StOakland, CA 94607(510) 918-8988Open in the old Fortune space, this relative newcomer has been doing a particularly good job of serving dim sum —&nbsp;affordable, tasty dim sum —&nbsp;to the people during the pandemic. Ming’s has emerged as a reliable favorite for all the classics: The barbecue pork buns (both steamed and baked versions) and pan-fried turnip cakes are especially solid.358 11th StOakland, CA 94607(510) 251-0888This fashionable Hong Kong style cafe has the kind of long, eclectic menu that’s typical of this restaurant genre, with traditional dishes like steamed rice rolls and Hainan chicken rice supplemented by unique offerings, like the crispy, stew-filled “rice cubes.” (The restaurant also has an Emeryville location, which is currently closed.)1022 Webster StOakland, CA 94607(510) 251-9882Oakland Chinatown’s most popular late-night hangout has scaled back its hours slightly, but the Hong Kong-style cafe is still open for takeout from 8 a.m. to midnight every day. The menu ranges freely from Macau-style pork chop sandwiches and baked red-sauce spaghetti to mix-and-match noodle soups. The desserts (and the waffle-like Hong Kong-style egg puffs in particular) are especially popular.328 10th St #101Oakland, CA 94607(510) 839-2299Shan Dong is known for two things: dumplings and handmade noodles — in particular the “hot and spicy chow mein,” which you should definitely request with those thick, toothsome handmade noodles. The restaurant is open for takeout and delivery (via third-party app). It’s also selling , $28 for a bag of 50.on Dec 4, 2019 at 6:43pm PSTAlso Featured in:329 11th StOakland, CA 94607(510) 628-0888Probably best known as the spot where you steam fresh seafood at the table, sometimes when it’s still alive, Tastee isn’t offering its signature family-style “steam pot” cooking during the shelter in place, but it is selling individual-portion hot pot and various grilled and fried appetizers to go. Call in to order.on Jul 17, 2017 at 2:49pm PDTAlso Featured in:261 10th St AOakland, CA 94607(510) 250-9333This Chinatown spot was one of the first places on the West Coast to introduce U.S. diners to the pleasures of its namesake dish —&nbsp;a beguiling, texturally pleasing mix of slippery rice noodles, roasted peanuts, pickled vegetables, meat, and broth. The restaurant is currently open for takeout for lunch only, Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (though they open a half hour earlier on weekends). Call in or walk up to order.Also Featured in:© 2021 All rights reserved.Link copied to the clipboard.850 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607One of just a handful of Cambodian food spots in the East Bay, Battambang offers proof that Chinatown isn’t just about the Chinese food — and hasn’t been since this family-run restaurant first arrived in the neighborhood in the early ‘90s. The menu has a number of Thai standards too, but you’ll serve yourself well if you stick to the Cambodian dishes: the smoky soft-cooked eggplant and the amok trei — catfish steamed inside a banana leaf with lemongrass curry.850 BroadwayOakland, CA 94607718 Franklin St, Oakland, CA 94607The East Bay’s king of egg tarts — with the flakiest crust and the most quivery custard — is open after an extended hiatus at the beginning of shelter in place. It’s open for takeout from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.718 Franklin StOakland, CA 94607389 8th St, Oakland, CA 94607The Chinatown standby is no longer a destination for 2 a.m. jook runs — its new hours during the shelter-in-place order are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. But New Gold Medal is still the go-to spot for classic Cantonese cooking: dry-fried beef chow fun, pork-and-century-egg jook, barbecue rice plates, and shrimp over scrambled egg.389 8th StOakland, CA 94607989 Franklin St B, Oakland, CA 94607It’s been years since Tian Jin Dumplings sold actual dumplings (a shame because they were tops in the city, bar none), but this little takeout booth is still cranking out the Northern Chinese breakfast of champions known as jian bing —&nbsp;an enormous egg-wrapped crepe brushed with soybean paste and chili sauce, then stuffed with fried crullers and pickled mustard stems. They’re also selling wonton soup, tea eggs, and house-made soy milk, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day but Tuesdays.989 Franklin St BOakland, CA 94607366 8th St, Oakland, CA 94607This Chinatown newcomer is part of a&nbsp;small Bay Area chain&nbsp;specializing in the hand-pulled noodles, cumin-spiced kebabs, and stuffed meat pies that are characteristic of Uyghur cuisine. It’s a tiny, barebones spot, the kind of place where — at least pre-COVID — you could watch the aunties stretching out the noodles while you contemplated your order.&nbsp;Highlights include the&nbsp;dapanji, or Big Plate Chicken, a hearty Xinjiang dish that features big chunks of bone-in chicken, soft stewed potatoes, and chewy hand-pulled noodles.366 8th StOakland, CA 94607723 Webster St, Oakland, CA 94607This somewhat inconspicuous storefront on Webster Street specializes in traditional Cantonese double-boiled soups, all chock full of Chinese medicinal herbs with a range of purported health benefits — and, more to the point, all delicious. The restaurant also sells flavorful rice dishes that are steamed inside of lotus leaves. Call in to order takeout, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. It’s also taking delivery orders via the .723 Webster StOakland, CA 94607388 9th St STE 268, Oakland, CA 94607Chuan Yu opened during the pandemic and immediately built up a following for its traditional, and appropriately fiery, Sichuan and Hunan dishes — everything from classic water-boiled fish to harder-to-find specialties like a chile-laden plate of stir-fried chicken cartilage. This is the place to go to if you want Sichuan malatang or dry pot, both variants on a numbingly spicy hot pot meal.388 9th St STE 268Oakland, CA 94607388 9th St STE 182, Oakland, CA 94607Tucked inside the Pacific Renaissance Plaza, Gum Kuo has three specialties: jook (or rice porridge), steamed rice rolls, and Cantonese-style roast meats, all at an exceedingly budget-friendly price. They’re currently open for takeout —&nbsp;call in from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.388 9th St STE 182Oakland, CA 94607988 Franklin St, Oakland, CA 94607Oakland Chinatown’s most prominent ramen destination is known for serving a wide range of styles — it’s one of the only spots in the East Bay where you can score a bowl of tsukemen, the trendy cold dipping noodle style. They’re currently open for takeout for dinner only, 5 to 9 p.m. daily. Call in or .988 Franklin StOakland, CA 94607388 9th St STE 155, Oakland, CA 94607Chinatown has no shortage of boba spots, but the Sweet Booth has been a mainstay since the ‘90s. The shop is known for using actual fruit (as opposed to powdered mixes), blended to order, in all of its fruit-based smoothies and tea drinks. The delicious “pearl taro” — with a scoop of vanilla ice cream blended in for good measure —&nbsp;is like a meal unto itself. During shelter in place, the shop is open for takeout from noon to 6 p.m. daily.388 9th St STE 155Oakland, CA 94607388 9th St STE 181, Oakland, CA 94607Prominently located on the ground level of the Pacific Renaissance Plaza, C &amp; M is your all-purpose Cantonese lunch spot with a broad menu of rice plates, roasted meats, and noodle soups. It’s currently open for takeout from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.388 9th St STE 181Oakland, CA 94607388 9th St STE 288, Oakland, CA 94607One of a small handful of big banquet halls and dim sum parlors left in Oakland Chinatown, Peony made waves when it in the coronavirus crisis. It’s since reopened for takeout, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, with both dim sum and regular family-style dishes available.388 9th St STE 288Oakland, CA 946071116 Franklin St, Oakland, CA 94607One of the East Bay’s foremost practitioners of Buddhist Chinese vegetarian fare, Nature Vegetarian has been pleasing vegans and omnivores alike for the past decade. The restaurant makes all of the faux meats that form the base of the menu in-house — a process that yields a particularly delicious take on sesame chicken. Any dish with eggplant or tofu is likely to be a winner, including several clay pot dishes.1116 Franklin StOakland, CA 94607326 8th St, Oakland, CA 94607Perhaps the maker of the best Hong Kong-style milk tea in the neighborhood, St. Anna is your typical Hong Kong cha chaan teng cafe, with a mix of Chinese and Western dishes —&nbsp;rice noodle plates, but also egg sandwiches and pork chop spaghetti. Call in for takeout from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. every day except Tuesdays.326 8th StOakland, CA 94607920 Webster St, Oakland, CA 94607Cam Anh took over the space previously occupied by another popular, longstanding banh mi shop, Cam Huong, last year, and it’s still cranking out some of the neighborhood’s best sandwiches during the shelter in place, with a couple of tofu banh mi options for vegetarians to boot.920 Webster StOakland, CA 94607940 Webster St, Oakland, CA 94607Open in the old Fortune space, this relative newcomer has been doing a particularly good job of serving dim sum —&nbsp;affordable, tasty dim sum —&nbsp;to the people during the pandemic. Ming’s has emerged as a reliable favorite for all the classics: The barbecue pork buns (both steamed and baked versions) and pan-fried turnip cakes are especially solid.940 Webster StOakland, CA 94607358 11th St, Oakland, CA 94607This fashionable Hong Kong style cafe has the kind of long, eclectic menu that’s typical of this restaurant genre, with traditional dishes like steamed rice rolls and Hainan chicken rice supplemented by unique offerings, like the crispy, stew-filled “rice cubes.” (The restaurant also has an Emeryville location, which is currently closed.)358 11th StOakland, CA 946071022 Webster St, Oakland, CA 94607Oakland Chinatown’s most popular late-night hangout has scaled back its hours slightly, but the Hong Kong-style cafe is still open for takeout from 8 a.m. to midnight every day. The menu ranges freely from Macau-style pork chop sandwiches and baked red-sauce spaghetti to mix-and-match noodle soups. The desserts (and the waffle-like Hong Kong-style egg puffs in particular) are especially popular.1022 Webster StOakland, CA 94607328 10th St #101, Oakland, CA 94607Shan Dong is known for two things: dumplings and handmade noodles — in particular the “hot and spicy chow mein,” which you should definitely request with those thick, toothsome handmade noodles. The restaurant is open for takeout and delivery (via third-party app). It’s also selling , $28 for a bag of 50.328 10th St #101Oakland, CA 94607329 11th St, Oakland, CA 94607Probably best known as the spot where you steam fresh seafood at the table, sometimes when it’s still alive, Tastee isn’t offering its signature family-style “steam pot” cooking during the shelter in place, but it is selling individual-portion hot pot and various grilled and fried appetizers to go. Call in to order.329 11th StOakland, CA 94607261 10th St A, Oakland, CA 94607This Chinatown spot was one of the first places on the West Coast to introduce U.S. diners to the pleasures of its namesake dish —&nbsp;a beguiling, texturally pleasing mix of slippery rice noodles, roasted peanuts, pickled vegetables, meat, and broth. The restaurant is currently open for takeout for lunch only, Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (though they open a half hour earlier on weekends). Call in or walk up to order.261 10th St AOakland, CA 94607

More InfoLess InfoMore MapsView as MapThe coronavirus crisis has taken a significant toll on America’s Chinatowns, where restaurants and bakeries suffered major financial losses weeks before the rest of the country started hunkering down. Still, in Oakland, many of the staples of the neighborhood — the jook shops, the Hong Kong-style cafes, and the handmade noodle specialists — have powered through the shutdown, staying open to feed the community, even in a limited takeout capacity.If you’ve been craving Chinese takeout (or perhaps ramen or banh mi), these 21 spots have got you covered.As...

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21 Soul-Nourishing Restaurants in Oakland Chinatown

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