Swoon-worthy: Our most beloved dishes and dining spots, from Richmond to Alameda

Fried Lava Green Tea Egg Custard Mochi from East Ocean

“Let’s split one,” my friend says. I don’t want to, but because I’m kind-hearted, I acquiesce. We’re sitting in East Ocean in Alameda, and I agree to cut one of the fried lava green tea egg custard mochis in half (a mouthful literally and figuratively). Anyone familiar with these lime-green delicacies will know that this is a dangerous role to have. I start slowly, pinching a small break in the bright green chewy mochi outside. Immediately, steam from the eggy, boiling center seeps out. Little by little I start to pull the sides away from each other, revealing the truly-lava-temperature custard boiling inside. Before the molten-liquid can ooze over the edge, I hand one half (the smaller one) to my friend. Feeling victorious with zero burns from the treacherous scorching yellow custard, I finally bite into the gooey dessert. My friend bites in too, and together we partake in one of those rare moments of joy that only a shared dessert can bring. — Madeline Taub, Nosh contributor

East Ocean Seafood Restaurant, 1713 Webster St., Alameda

Fried fish from 99 Ranch

This is a love letter to a fried fish. Specifically, a whole sea bream. Or a snapper, maybe a catfish. Perhaps dotted with spicy chili crunch and eaten with sumptuous spoonfuls of steamed rice. Or wrapped with cold cucumbers and mint in a fresh spring roll. This fish is from 99 Ranch (or is it Ranch 99 … cue the perennial debate), the Asian market that will not only clean and gut your fish, but also fry it for you while you shop, for no extra cost — “regular or crispy.” The national chain has a store in Richmond inside the Pacific East Mall, a special place in its own right. In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’ll declare it an act of love for 99 Ranch to spare its shoppers the oil, dishwashing and lingering scent that comes with frying at home. The only downside, besides the questionable health benefits: the crispiness declining by the minute while you’re stuck in traffic on I-580. — Natalie Orenstein, The Oaklandside housing and homelessness reporter

99 Ranch Market, 3288 Pierce St. Richmond

Rose Pizzeria

Perhaps it was the gentle heat of the Old Faithful’s goat horn peppers coursing through my bloodstream; maybe it was the wine. I can’t be sure. In any case, I hadn’t planned to bare my soul to him the day we sat down for lunch on Rose Pizzeria’s sun-soaked patio. We’d been together for some months, dating cautiously — my aversion to vulnerability, it seemed, had long been the front page of our relationship playbook. Still, optimism took a seat at the table. We clucked over the spicy caesar salad, the thrill of finally dining al fresco after the winter rains beckoning our hands to join on the table. The optimism followed me even hours after we’d left, the tang of the meal still hot on my tongue. “I’m really in love with you,” I finally whispered. “I’m in love with you, too,” he responded without missing a beat. It was a perfect day in March. Spring had finally come.  — Cecilia Seiter, Nosh contributor

Rose Pizzeria, 1960 University Ave., Berkeley

Nam Kaow (fried rice ball salad) from Champa Garden

Dear nam kaow, 

Everytime we meet, I go through a dizzying love dance. When the bowl of crispy fried rice, peanuts, preserved pork, green onions and lime juice arrives, I become temporarily obsessed. The other dishes on the table fade into the background as I focus all my affection and attention on you.    

After a couple of helpings of that oh-so-satisfying crispy, citrusy, salty concoction wrapped up in a Laotian lettuce taco with sprigs of mint and cilantro, I start to feel guilty. I’ve been neglecting my friends, the other dishes, who are tasty too — they just don’t alter my brain chemistry the way you do. 

If I manage to save some, I’m haunted until you’re gone. Occasionally, in a moment of overwhelming passion, I pop open the container and shove a fistful of the fried rice into my mouth — it’s feel carnal and naughty, and tastes wonderful. Finally, when the box is empty, I feel guilty, having eaten more than my fair share, and I feel longing for that next visit to Champa Garden and my next encounter with you, nam kaow. — Tovin Lapan, Nosh editor

Champa Garden, 2102 8th Ave., Oakland

Oh, Fat Lady, you grand old dame,
Over fifty, and still aflame.
When Jack London’s streets turn dark as night,
You glow with warmth, with wood and light.
Tucked in a leather booth I know
I’m at home amongst your art nouveau.
Your walls, adorned with women bare
Who make my children grin and stare.
Your burgers bring them joy untold,
While, for me, martinis ward off the cold.
The ribeye sings, the prime rib soars,
A feast fit for kings, behind your doors.
Warm bread pudding, créme brûlée,
We’ll top it off with espresso parfait.
Anniversaries, birthdays, jokes at the bar,
For near any occasion, it’s you by far.
And when the winter winds begin to wail,
Your stained glass hums a comforting tale
Of laughter, love, and stories spun.
In Oakland, for me, you’re the one.
So raise a glass, let voices ring—
To The Fat Lady — long may you sing! — Jacob Simas, Cityside community journalism director

The Fat Lady, 201 Washington St., Oakland

Yuca Frita from Cholita Linda

The way the Temescal Latin American eatery Cholita Linda prepares its yuca fries — sharp-cornered fried starch rectangles with a secret chipotleish orange sauce — is so lovely that it makes me want them all to myself. I’m not selfish, really. I just love that a side dish can be a whole experience by itself, especially since it’s denser and more filling than its potato cousins. But like with French fries, there’s a familiar connection to a historical food that working people counted upon to survive famines. The indigenous starch plant can be found in any Caribbean and South American households but, I think, the best version in the Bay Area is here in Oakland. Whether paired with one of their pulled pork sandwiches or fish tacos, the yucas make a great pair and choice. They’re simple and clearly made with love. I know what I’m getting this Valentine’s Day. — Jose Fermoso, The Oaklandside street safety reporter

Cholita Linda, 4923 Telegraph Ave., Oakland; 1337 Park St, Alameda; 2000 Kala Bagai Way, Berkeley; 24 Broadway Lane, Walnut Creek

Norma’s Deli Taqueria

When we first landed in North and East Richmond we felt a bit displaced — until we walked into ValMar Grocery and found Norma’s Deli Taqueria. Adopted by Norma, Richmond became our home. Like Richmond she is rich in hospitality, warmth and she made us feel like family. Norma makes everything while you wait in a kitchen behind the counter.  Novellas on the TV … it is like the kitchen you had growing up if you were lucky. Someplace people know you, a place to recharge and get great food.  To this day, after my son is gone for months, whenever Norma sees him she confirms, “the same?” and then makes him a burrito as big as his forearm. It’s too big for a plate, and my son uses a cutting board when he gets home. Norma starts the order from the heart. And what she delivers is from her heart. Burritos, pupusas (vegan for me), tacos, plates.  Thank you, Norma.  See you soon!  — David Buechner, Nosh contributor

Norma’s Deli Taqueria at Val-Mar Market, 3630 Barrett Ave, Richmond

Crème Brûlée Donut from donut savant

Dear donut savant,

Opening one of your cardboard boxes always feels a bit like stumbling into a treasure chest. One crown jewel stands out: the crème brûlée donut, which I look for the moment I step into your shop. Somehow, you’ve transformed basic ingredients into a most delightful textural experience.

Each time my teeth crack through the hardened sugar, I’m transported to 2011, when I ate my first crème brûlée as an atypically posh after-school snack and declared it the best food in the universe. My parents had acquired this ambrosia—a six-pack of cute glass ramekins that included packets of golden sugar for spreading and baking—from the heavenly place known as the Sunnyvale Costco.

Two summers ago, my boyfriend and I packed a few into tupperware and onto a flight to Taipei to share with his family. Sadly, I can’t recommend it. Their once-glossy exteriors turned spongy, resembling giant gulab jamun. Some treats are meant to be enjoyed immediately. I’ve never been more glad to live in the East Bay.

Love,
Iris Kwok, Berkeleyside environment reporter

donut savant, 3000 38th Ave., Oakland

Oori Triangles

Dear Oori Triangles (College Avenue location),

You may not remember me — after all, I’m one of hundreds of customers who stream in and out for takeout each day — but you’re the to-go rock I never knew I needed.

When COVID locked the world down, you were still a relative newcomer to the neighborhood. Our family of three — mom, dad, middle schooler discovering the “joys” of remote school — decided to break up the monotony of being home day and night (and to support our local businesses) by ordering take-out meals each Friday night from the restaurants in our neighborhood. We tried everything from the high end to the low end. And, in the end, we picked you. 

We picked you because we could all agree on you — even the tween — and it didn’t break the bank. Even though we’re back out in the world now — and the tween will head to college this fall — you still feel like a place of safety. You’re not fancy, but you make me feel good every time I walk in.

With gratitude,
Your customer and neighbor — Elise Proulx, Nosh contributor

Oori Triangles, 6000 College Ave., Oakland

Baguette from Crispian Bakery

Dearest Crispian Bakery baguette, 

You’re just my type: deep, soulful and a little bit unavailable. There’s a richness to you that loaves made with simpler flours just don’t have. And the fact that you disappear Monday through Wednesday keeps our relationship from getting stale. I only realized it was true love though, when I started noticing how everything is a lot better with you there — the salted butter, the turkey and pesto sandwiches, the ham and swiss sandwiches … Happy Valentine’s Day, let’s rendezvous again this weekend. — Erica Kesel, Cityside senior development director

Crispian Bakery, 700 Park St #120, Alameda

Bag O’ Crab

My go-to seafood boil spot is Boiling Crab. But with the only Bay Area locations in the South Bay, it’s quite a trek for those of us in the East Bay — or, like me, in the City. The next best (and nearest) thing? Bag O’Crab in Berkeley. I’d cross the bridge for Bag O’Crab.

I wasn’t raised with utensils at the dinner table. It’s a Filipino norm. Some might call it barbaric, but there’s something deeply intimate about eating with your hands. I don’t just feel more connected to the Louisiana-seasoned, butter-soaked shrimp — my crustacean of choice — I feel more at home. And I know I’m not alone in that. I could write a disorganized essay on the experience of being a child of immigrant parents in America, but it wouldn’t be productive. What I do know is this: I am Filipino, and I am American. Seafood boil restaurants that welcome hands as utensils, like Bag O’Crab, offer more than just good food. They provide common ground. They are a safe space. — Myron Caringal, Cityside audience engagement producer

Bag O’ Crab, 2124 Center St., Berkeley, CA 94704

UC Berkeley Dining Halls

They can never make me hate you. Eating at the UC Berkeley dining halls was like a world class experience — at least it seemed like that as a student from a working class family. 

The dining halls offered a buffet-style layout: a daily pizza station, dessert options, a salad bar and soda fountains. The standard menu featured a variety of cultural meals every week. 

At my home, we mostly ate chicken because it was cheap. My single mother would cook the same thing nearly every day because she was too tired working the graveyard shift to come up with a full menu. 

But at Cal, I was introduced to new and delicious foods. The dining hall meals were already paid for by financial aid, and if I didn’t like something, I could get something else. Coconut curry chicken, vegetarian lasagna, margarita pizza — these became my staples at the dining halls. 

Cal dining fed me and introduced this picky eater to new foods, and for that I’m eternally grateful.  — Vanessa Arredondo, Berkeleyside education reporter

Tacos El Tucan & The Factory Bar

My move to Richmond felt like an awkward first date. It had the basics — good location, outdoorsy activities — but would I be head over heels for the place?

Fortunately a savvy local knew the key to my heart. Let’s go to The Factory Bar, she said. Pick up food from Tacos El Tucan, the spot with the “Richmond” mural and the Swiss chalet pointy red roof, and eat it on the craft cocktail bar’s lushly landscaped dog friendly back patio. 

The Tijuana-style tacos didn’t disappoint. I like the keto cheese “shell” option, with shrimp or birria tucked inside. Their salsas are thankfully spicy enough, and a Berkeley friend declared the super burrito, “the best” he’s ever had. The bar drink menu changes seasonally, so you never get bored, and the vibe is friendly and warm with historical Richmond decor and an antique-chic side room for music and comedy.

Finish the night off with a sweet Waffles and Cream treat, and you’ve completed a trifecta that leaves you with that “I’m falling for Richmond,” feeling. — Kari Hulac, Richmondside editor-in-chief

The Factory Bar, 12517 San Pablo Ave, Richmond
Tacos El Tucan, 2505 San Pablo Ave, Richmond 

Lucky Donut

Dear Lucky Donut;

How lucky am I? I can wake up on any given day and head over your way to enjoy the many scrumptious goodies you offer. Whether I’m in a rush and can only devour a glazed donut or my absolute favorite, a blueberry cake. Or, I’m too lazy to make breakfast and want a croissant sandwich with egg, bacon, and cheddar cheese (not to be confused with American cheese, frankly, an abomination passing as cheese), or an everything bagel with cream cheese, cheddar, and a sausage pattie, my appetite is always satisfied. 

But Lucky Donuts, it is not just the one-off sandwich, bagel, or donut. You are there for me when I want to share a whole box of sweets with loved ones or when I want to partake in preventing food from going to waste and can buy a “surprise bag” for $5.99 and end up eating donuts for a week. Not to mention the friendly staff who have remained consistent since I first walked through your doors in 2011. 

As businesses come and go in Oakland, I hope you continue nourishing my hungry belly for years to come.

Love,
Azucena Rasilla, The Oaklandside arts & community reporter

Lucky Donut, 4010 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland 

I have a high bar when it comes to sandwiches. If carbs and rich condiments are to be consumed, I want the experience to be worth it. I want to bite into the thing and be surprised. I want drama and intrigue. What I normally want is the OK’s Deli roast beef sandwich. While some die-hard fans swear by the banh mi or the ebi katsu, which have amassed a cult following, I firmly believe that this sandwich is the very best of the bunch, a genius spin on a tired, if beloved, classic. 

At first glance, this is just another roast beef sando. Yes, the rustic baguette — made in-house, might I add — is soft and chewy and the roast beef is perfectly flavored, but those are a given. What really awards this sandwich its supreme edge is the crunchy-creamy game OK’s Deli is playing; the tangy caramelized onion dijonaise against the crispy fried onions. Dill pickle and iceberg lettuce provide extra freshness, and I usually opt out of the cheese to concentrate the creation’s meaty flavor. And the end result? Perfection at every bite, a situation flattering to all ingredients at once, carb consumption totally justified.  — Flora Tsapovsky, Nosh contributor

OK’s Deli, 3932 Telegraph Ave., Oakland

Peanut Butter Breakfast Sandwich from Yellow Door

It’s gooey. It’s chewy. It’s crunchy and it’s sweet. My new sticky gotta-have-it-or-think-about-it-all-day favorite is the peanut butter breakfast sandwich at the Yellow Door in Montclair. This messy treat consists of a toasted English muffin filled to overflowing with creamy peanut butter topped with a couple of pieces of thick cut bacon and a drizzle of maple syrup. If opposites attract when it comes to love, they can also do so in other aspects of life, or, more precisely, in a breakfast sandwich. It’s impossible to eat this eclectic combo without getting gobs of peanut butter on your fingers — and pretty much everywhere. And so what? Eat in private or bravely join the friendly folks inside where no one will judge you. — Risa Nye, Nosh contributor

Yellow Door, 6466 Moraga Ave. in Oakland

Richmond’s Latino Markets

The smell of ripe mango transports me. I like it. Part memory lane, part a push to go. Add the smells of papaya, pineapple, coconut, and I’m ready to hop on a flight. It’s just one thing I love about Richmond’s many Latino markets. Tropical produce year-round — manzanos (finger bananas), pitaya (dragonfruit), plantains and nopales. And, of course, chiles galore — so many types, fresh and dried. The scents, the colors – it’s almost like travel. How to choose where to go? I like to explore. Recently, it was Rincon Latino on San Pablo Avenue for fruits. At check-out, I couldn’t resist the sweets —  a Salvadorian quesadilla and Peruvian alfajores. Then, up to Discolandia on 23rd Street for oranges, avocado, limes, and conversation. Fresh pan de yema (Oaxacan sweet bread with anise) was broken into on the drive home.  — Kate Rauch, Nosh contributor

Rincon Latino, 12851 San Pablo Ave., Richmond
Discolandia Market, 789 23rd St., Richmond