Oakland has been getting most of the East Bay culinary love lately, but don’t sleep on West Berkeley.
Venture west beyond grubby San Pablo Avenue, to discover clusters of distinctive dining and drinking options in the Gilman District, with First Fridays on their wine block, and Fourth Street, known for tony boutiques and chains like Sephora and the Apple Store.
Other creative restaurateurs have staked out their own turf elsewhere in this industrial zone. From newcomer Divan to perpetual favorite 900 Grayson, here are just a few of the West Berkeley eateries worth checking out.
Divan
(Courtesy of @divanberkeley)
Fourth Street’s newest eatery takes its Turkish heritage very seriously. The light and plant-filled remodeled dining room features floor tiles imported from Türkiye, complementing the cheerful green booths and green-leather upholstered chairs. During the day, you can get Turkish breakfast for two, which includes scrambled eggs, cucumber and tomato salad, marinated Mediterranean olives, feta cheese, and bal kaymak (honey and clotted cream). Standout dishes like köpoğlu— roasted eggplant, pepper, tomato sauce, and super creamy garlic labneh served with freshly baked sesame flat bread—and hand-rolled walnut baklava served with cream (be sure to order Turkish coffee with your dessert) will make you feel like you have taken a Mediterranean vacation.
// 1788 4th St. (Berkeley), divanberkeley.com
Oceanview Diner
(Adahlia Cole + Colin Peck, courtesy of Oceanview Diner)
This Berkeley institution carries on the more than 40-year tradition of the original Bette’s Oceanview Diner. Rechristened simply Oceanview Diner, it was rescued and reopened by a worker-owner partnership a few years after Bette’s death. Beloved for high-end versions of diner classics like buttermilk pancakes, corned beef hash, meatloaf, and eggs any style, the caliber of the food remains superb, with a shout out to their Reuben sandwich—IMHO, the best you can get west of the Mississippi. The snug, Formica-forward room can be crowded, but their parklet lives on, even if the climate this close to the Bay usually makes a jacket a necessity.
// 1807 4th St. (Berkeley), oceanviewonfourth.com
Funky Elephant
(Courtesy of Funky Elephant (Fon&O)
Even though their Mission District outpost closed in June, the Funky Elephant’s Berkeley restaurant has been a Gilman District darling practically since it opened in 2018. Never mind its tiny size—this joyful hole-in-the-wall with a little bit of indoor and a little bit of outdoor seating, has been recognized by Michelin Guide California for their “non-traditional Thai comfort food” and often makes Bay Area “Best Of” lists. Their “fun bites” include a fried rendition of Oakland-based Hodo Foods’ excellent tofu, and hella drunken mussels, tossed in a wok with housemade chili jam, garlic, basil, and rice wine. You will find seasonal specials like a rotating flavor of soft serve made with organic Straus Family Creamery ice cream mixed with a puree of whatever fruit is plentiful. They are open every day except Sunday for both lunch and dinner, with a break in between.
// 1313 9th St., Ste. 120 (Berkeley), funkyelephantthai.com
Evergreen Café
(Lydia Daniller, courtesy of Evergreen Café)
Evergreen Cafe also assumed the mantle of a beloved, departed eatery. Bartavelle, another operation from Chez Panisse alums, closed in September 2024, and former tech workers Sara Rahimian and Stacie Frederick took over the bright yet cozy dining room in June 2025. Their locally focused, eclectic menu makes use of the bounty of the illustrious Acme Bakery around the corner, with a selection of topped whole grain levain toasts and classic baguette sandwiches (like a fantastic ham and cheese with Gruyère and cultured butter). They also kept Persian breakfast on the menu (a Bartavelle standby), and cook up seasonal soups and pastries, among other items. Their delightfully crispy scones, which they bake in-house, were featured on television last National Scone Day. With an eye toward being a social hub for the community, they hold frequent evening events, like openings introducing the local artists whose work rotates on their walls every six weeks.
// 1621 San Pablo Ave. (Berkeley), evergreenberkeley.com
Cafe Bolita
(Courtesy of @cafebolita)
When chef Emmanuel Galvan took over the Standard Fare space (previously run by respected chef Kelsie Kerr, formerly of Chez Panisse and Zuni Café), expectations were high. Already renowned for pop-ups with dishes made with heritage nixtamalized corn masa, so far, his brick-and-mortar operation has been a big success. But since they are wildly popular and only open limited hours (check Instagram), you must arrive early if you want to sample the items on the brief, ever-changing menu that often have that signature freshly ground masa as their cornerstone. The dining room is small and narrow but there is also seating outside.
// 2701 8th St., #118 (Berkeley), cafebolita.com
Tacubaya
(Courtesy of @tacubaya_)
With its cheerful, hot pink, south-of-the-border decor; brunch all week long; lunch and dinner all day; and a three-and-a-half-hour-long happy hour Monday through Friday, it’s no wonder this laid-back Mexican restaurant is usually busy. The line at the counter moves fast, however, and seasonal specials, especially anything with mole, are stand-outs. Their ingredients are impeccable and the service is speedy and thoughtful. You can’t go wrong if you start with a big bowl of sturdy chips and chunky guacamole, but you may find yourself seriously full afterwards, given the generosity of their servings.
// 1782 4th St. (Berkeley), tacubaya.net
SoDo Donuts
(Courtesy of @sododonuts)
Chef Elle Cowan and her lauded sourdough doughnuts have gone from a pop-up on First Fridays at the Gilman Wine Block to a permanent weekend morning residency in Hammerling Wines. Her creative and craveable doughnuts (do not miss her melt-in-your-mouth fritter—the flavor shifts with the fruits in season) are now joined by savory sandwiches. These might include the classic SoDo sandwich with egg, cheddar, pork sausage, and olive oil mayonnaise, or a gluten-free tortilla with whipped ricotta, sun-dried tomato, and goat cheese. Her menu changes weekly, so look for updates on her website. Cowan recently added espresso drinks to her housemade sodas, lemonades, and Thai tea combos, and hopes to extend her hours soon to match those of the tasting room.
// 1350 5th St. (Berkeley), sodoecconfections.com
900 Grayson
(Courtesy of 900 Grayson)
This is the OG West Berkeley diner where they already know your order. Now 20 years old, 900 Grayson has recovered from brushes with notoriety (like in 2010 when Guy Fieri featured them on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) and now, according to co-owner Chris Saulnier, 80 percent of their customers are neighborhood regulars. Locals enjoy classics like the Grayson burger with applewood-smoked bacon, white cheddar, and shoestring onions on an Acme bun and the diner’s version of chicken and waffles, called the “Demon Lover” because of the chicken’s kick. The ambiance isn’t fancy, either in the dining room or on their sunny patio, but the Saulnier brothers who have owned the place since day one ensure that everything tastes great, and you feel right at home.
// 900 Grayson St. (Berkeley), 900grayson.com
