Although it’s just across the Bay, Oakland never gets anywhere near the acclaim or accolades as its sister city, San Francisco. There’s no reason for such a disconnect, as Oakland happens to be the foodie capital of the country.
San Francisco might get all of the attention — and to its credit, the city does have some of the best restaurants in California as well as an impressive 28 Michelin-star restaurants. But Oakland isn’t far off — though the city has half the population of Frisco, it’s got plenty of great restaurants, and Oakland can even boast 24 Michelin-recommended (but not starred) restaurants of its own. The city was also named the No. 1 Best Food City in the United States by a vote from Condé Nast Traveler readers in 2024.
The best thing about Oakland is its diversity. It’s not all prestige restaurants and five-star gourmet kitchens; you can find great food from a wide variety of cultures at a range of price points throughout the city. So if you’re looking for a delicious reason to go on vacation, Oakland is beckoning you to try its diverse array of cuisine.
Why is Oakland considered the foodie capital of America?
Although we can take the Condé Naste Traveler ranking at face value, there are several reasons why Oakland claimed the top spot in 2024. First, it’s home to 24 restaurants recognized by Michelin. While only one of these restaurants has a coveted Michelin star (that would be Commis, which offers multicourse tasting menus and actually has two stars), other restaurants are lauded by the guide for offering good food at affordable prices (Bib Gourmand) or for promoting sustainable gourmet selections (Michelin Green Star). In fact, Pomet is the only green star-rated restaurant in the city, thanks to its farm-to-table commitment…