On fire! Lower real estate prices and business-friendly organizations that are enabling Oakland chefs to kick-off and upgrade their game are making for a growing restaurant scene in Oakland. Chefs from the West Bay (aka San Francisco) are also opening places there. The Town's lower cost of living also means that the labor pool can live closer to work in Oakland.

Fruitvale's hot new Cambodian Restaurant, Nyum Bai, (340 E 12th St.) just landed on Bon Appetit's Hot 10 new restaurant list. Chef Nite Yun also just won GGRAs Rising Star Chef of the year award. // In Jack London Square, chef Reem Assil is making waves with Dyafa, (44 Webster St.) her new Arab food restaurant. In addition to being a celebrated chef, Assil sees herself as an activist using food to help connect her customers to Arab culture. Assil's staff includes members who have been formerly incarcerated, or are from communities of color and other disadvantaged groups. // Assil's success builds on lessons learned at Reem's (3301 E 12th St.), her neighborhood Arab bakery.

Locals flock to the classic Shan Dong Restaurant (328 10th St.) in Oakland's large and untouristed Chinatown for thick hand pulled noodles, signature chicken dishes and dry braised green beans. Daily lunch specials make their already low prices an even better deal. // Nearby Lakeshore residents are discovering Seth and Jenni Bregman's new incarnation, The Bardo Lounge & Supper Club (3343 Lakeshore Ave.), on the former site of their Michel Bistro. The downstairs lounge feels and drinks like a 1960's living room. In the upstairs mezzanine, chefs Anthony Salguero and Brian Starkey, from Michel Bistro, design three-course menus with updated versions of mid-century comfort food.

Uptown Oakland features the the huge outdoor space at Drake's Dealership (2325 Broadway) gastropub, while diners next door at Calavera (2337 Broadway) enjoy authentic Oaxacan cuisine that features fresh-made tortillas made from ancestral corn and smoky mezcal cocktails to pair with the meals. // Also in Uptown, The Gastropig (2123 Franklin St.) recently started a permanent dinner series called Abstract Table. Pop-up chefs and artists Andrew Greene and Duncan Kwitkor, are creating temporary exhibitions that combine art and prix fixe food menus. The current show Fine Dining on Paper will be followed by Blizzards in December.

Temescal's Teni East Kitchen (4015 Broadway) dishes up some of the best Burmese food on any side of the Bay.

Last year, residents in the Piedmont Avenue area welcomed The Wolf (3853 Piedmont Ave.) and its French-inspired California cuisine to the neighborhood. The area's culinary crown jewel is the Michelin star winning Commis (3859 Piedmont Ave.). Chef/Owner James Syhabout and his staff meticulously craft modern American dishes in their open kitchen using locally-sourced ingredients. Enjoy cocktails and appetizers next door at CDP Bar (3861 Piedmont Ave.) while you wait for your table. Finish any meal at Fenton's Creamery (4226 Piedmont Ave.). This family run dessert institution opened in 1894 and has been serving generations of Oaklanders ever since.

Rockridge has arguably the most established restaurant scene in the East Bay. Standouts include Belotti Ristorante e Bottega (4001 B Piedmont Ave.) where chef/owner Michele Belotti and team crank out phenomenal fresh pasta daily. // Now with four locations, Zachary's pizza has been a Chicago pizza institution in the Oakland since the 1980s. // And with an almost cult-like following, Ramen Shop (5812 College Ave.) serves up steaming bowls of springy noodles and crisp seasonal vegetables in a deeply rich broth. They have a great cocktail program too.

For our totally exhaustive and utterly delicious guide on where to eat and drink (and more) in Oakland's many 'hoods, check out our Hella Guide to the East Bay.

dosa

Cooking June 19th through 23rd, the fest is timed with World Refugee Day on June 20th.

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