Enjoy Brunch at These Local East Bay Spots

Over the last decade, an abundance of delicious brunch spots has opened up all over Oakland and the East Bay area. From fresh, healthy options to indulgent meals with mimosas on the side, there is a range of restaurants for every brunch preference and taste. If you’re looking for a hearty and fun brunch to share with friends, a significant other, or better yet, your mom on a special day, such as Mother’s Day, check out the list below.

Lulu

Lulu Berkeley has a charming outdoor patio that makes it a perfect brunch destination for a sunny Sunday. Locals love this restaurant partly because of its mezze platters, which include freshly made bread and dips that the whole table can share. If you choose to sit inside instead, you can admire the delicious dishes being made in the open kitchen while waiting for your food. Keep in mind that Lulu requires reservations for brunch from Friday through Sunday.

Brenda’s Oakland

This Oakland staple is beloved by customers for its filling, New Orleans-influenced cuisine. Best of all, thanks to Brenda’s Oakland outdoor heat lamps and dog-friendly stance, customers can sit outside almost year-round and bring their furry best friends along for a relaxed weekend brunch. For that real Southern feeling, try the watermelon sweet tea, catfish, or biscuits and jam for brunch. Reservations are highly recommended for brunch on the weekends.

Babette

If your friend group has different tastes when it comes to international cuisines, Babette in Berkeley provides a nice mix of classic American brunch specials, refined French dishes, and delicious Mediterranean plates. Regulars love the Mediterranean platter, which includes a big collection of dips, as well as traditional French toast and waffles.

The owners of this cafe are committed to organic, local, and sustainable food sources, meaning customers are getting the best of the best (and the freshest of the fresh) with every brunch order. Check Babette’s website in advance to make sure it’s not closed, as it’s occasionally booked for weddings and other private parties.

Sistory Thai Kitchen

More adventurous brunch eaters will definitely want to drop by Sistory Thai Kitchen. Sure, you can always pick the more standard fare, such as eggs Benedict, but you can also opt for choices such as pancakes with Thai tea syrup, or a customer favorite called Get Up N Fly, which is a dish of crisp russet potato wedges with yellow curry sauce and a fried egg on top. Families in the Berkeley area love the fresh, inspired Thai dishes that Sistory serves for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.

The Sunday

One of the top-rated brunch restaurants in the whole East Bay area, The Sunday is worth a visit for any real brunch aficionado. The menu has a mix of classic brunch dishes like lemon ricotta pancakes and French toast, as well as Asian-inspired dishes including Korean-style wings, or the unique Bulgogi Benedict option that’s a local favorite. The restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, open 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Kitchen Story

For a Korean-American fusion brunch menu, you have to make your way over to Kitchen Story (if you can find parking anywhere near here that is — we recommend public transportation or Uber). Originating in San Francisco, Kitchen Story has now opened up in Oakland and is serving brunch between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.

The cafe’s interior is charming and cozy, making customers feel right at home. Regulars love and recommend the Millionaire’s Way breakfast (the bacon is outstanding) and the jjapaguri breakfast. Drop by here with your friends and enjoy great food and drinks in the hip Rockridge neighborhood.

Portal Oakland

The cozy, rustic brunch spot of Portal Gastropub and Patio  in Oakland serves great brunch dishes with a charming view of the nearby lake. Try the house special — the Portal platter with chicken sausage and taters — or the tasty chilaquiles from the menu. Oakland sports fans love congregating at this brunch spot because, unlike the stuffier, more upscale places that serve brunch in the area, Portal prides itself on creating a comfortable environment where everyone can feel at home, which is why you will also find a bunch of TVs playing local sports games on the wall.

Dog owners will be happy to hear that their best friends are more than welcome here as well. Drop by Portal today and you may find yourself becoming a regular sooner than you think.

Hopscotch

Hopscotch Restaurant and Bar is the place to go for late risers on the weekend, as it doesn’t even open until 11 a.m. and serves brunch until 4 p.m. The menu consists of a mix of American brunch classics with some Japanese influences and flavors. The restaurant prides itself on sourcing its ingredients sustainably and focusing on seasonal items so it can bring its customers the best and freshest flavors around.

This is a great brunch spot for groups of friends, as the food menu is complemented by a full bar and creative cocktail menu as well. Drop by and check out the classic yet upscale retro diner decor while tasting an inspired, unique, and modern take on brunch dishes. From the cocktail menu, try the Maple Old Fashioned or the Baller Highball. When it comes to food, give the Double Down chicken wings or the kimchi fried rice a try. Both are customer favorites

With brunch spots popping up all over the East Bay, it can be hard to decide which ones to try first. We hope this comprehensive list of our favorite brunch destinations can help you decide. If you have a spot you love that we missed, please contact us at De Castroverde Criminal & Immigration Lawyers and let us know, as we would love to include it in a future post.

Photo Credit: Chicken and Waffles by Arnold Gatilao is licensed with CC BY 2.0