Unique Eateries Around the Square
When you’re visiting a new place, it doesn’t make sense to eat at chains that can be found in your hometown. Instead, take the chance to patronize unique, local eateries that are making an effort to do something different. You’ll be treating yourself, and helping out the local economy and community. Here are a few great places to try in Oakland’s Jack London district.
Souley Vegan
Vegan soul food?! We know it sounds crazy, but hear us out. This place serves up home cooked versions of food you’d find in the deep south, all without any animal products—but you couldn’t tell by the taste. The chicken-fried tofu burger can’t be beat, and at $6, it’s a great, cost-effective lunch. For those afraid of soy beans, the portobello steak burger is great too, as are the collard greens and the fried okra. Homemade drinks like ginger strawberry juice are a delicious way to wash down the meal.
Cholita Linda
If you’re visiting the Sunday Farmer’s Market and find yourself a little hungry, look no further than Cholita Linda. Don’t let the little stand fool you—the food and agua frescas here are truly “a taste of sunshine,” the restaurant’s tagline. The Latin American cuisine is deliciously authentic, but with a modern take. Regulars can’t get enough of the Baja fish tacos—crispy tilapia topped with fresh salsa, cabbage salad, and baja cream on soft corn tortillas. Or try out one of their sandwiches, with Peruvian grilled flank steak, chicken breast, or the vegetarian version stuffed with sweet potatoes, watercress, and queso fresco.
The Fat Lady
Want something quaint, but a little more upscale, for lunch or after-dinner drinks? The Fat Lady certainly has uniqueness going for it, and its very own vibe—a combination of old-timey wood paneling, plus bright modern décor. Give their fried zucchini sticks a try for an appetizer, along with the free bread and olives. If you’re with a big group, the sampler platter is a good way to go and comes with lamp chops, pork loin, and prawns. Or, stop in for a mid-morning brunch and munch on their omelets, corned beef hash, or French toast.
Saigon Grill
If you didn’t figure it out already, Jack London Square is abutting Oakland’s robust Chinatown district, and you can experience one of the best Asian restaurants the town has to offer without getting too far off the beaten path. Saigon Grill has excellent authentic Vietnamese food, all at a great price. Their pho soup, a beef stew with veggies, bean sprouts, and mint, is some of the best around, and you can snag a bowl for under $5. An Oakland favorite is the #58 beef cubed steak, also known as com bu luc lac, which comes with very tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat and a side of rice. The restaurant doesn’t have a website, but you can find it on 7th St. between Broadway and Franklin, or give them a call at (510) 763-1767.
