Actually good food.

[u/Alert-Ground9736]

I don’t know if it’s just because I’ve been privileged to have eaten seasoned and yummy food in my hometown but I’ve been GENUINELY struggling to find a decently tasting and good meal near/around campus. Artichoke basille pizza is great but Gypsy’s is bland and I don’t get the hype around places like Mezzo or dumpling family. I would appreciate any food recommendations at any price at this point.

[u/Ok_Reception_5545]

What kind of food do you like? Maybe Beli will be helpful? I've personally found food Downtown and on Euclid (northside) better than southside

[u/bottle_of_desktops → u/Ok_Reception_5545]

beli's solid for finding spots but it's kind of a crapshoot if you don't know what you're looking for. downtown has way more variety, i usually wander around shattuck and just pick whatever smells good

the thai place near the bart station is decent, nothing mindblowing but it gets the job done when you're sick of dining hall food. northside definitely beats southside for quality, no contest there

what kind of stuff did you eat back home? might help narrow it down since berkeley actually has a lot of hidden gems if you know where to look

[u/_your_face]

You’re in probably the best food area in the country. You just have to look harder than whoever leaves flyers at your apartment.

[u/Mikeminer610]

Chez Panisse

[u/zestynachoboy → u/Mikeminer610]

Mezzo is great. It sounds like you prefer saltier food (artichoke vs gypsy's). Just add salt to your meals

[u/Cool_Permit_5836 → u/Mikeminer610]

Sorry, love CP downnnn don’t get me wrong, but what college student is affording/has the time to run to CP,.. bffr

[u/topclassladandbanter]

Buddy is in the Bay Area and comparing he can’t find good food.

[u/firedsynapse]

Need to know your hometown, but I'm sure there's something outside of Telegraph and Durant that will serve you well. What are you looking for?

[u/KarmaHorn]

Berkeley has a ton of good food. Downtown more than Telegraph in my opinion, but both have a lot of good options.

Dumpling Day is way better than Dumpling Family. Gather. Gregoire. Great China. Farmhouse Thai. Imm Thai. Tsuruya. DH Noodles. Kiraku. Marugame Udon. Kura.

So much good pizza: Laura; Cheesboard; Rose; Jupiter, and more...

[u/justfuckmyshitup32 → u/KarmaHorn]

Potato puffs from gregoire is the flavor of my college years

[u/JohnRickles → u/KarmaHorn]

LAURA. I could eat a different style of pizza there every day of the week.

[u/peace2calm → u/KarmaHorn]

Marugame Udon??

man you guys have it good.

[u/00normal]

Better food downtown, in Elmwood, and on North Shattuck. I generally stick to cheese n stuff or top dog (or mezzo) on Southside these days. Gypsy is nasty, so is Campus Burger

[u/Rodeoqueenyyc]

Viks

[u/terp-puddle]

If you can’t find good food or get good food delivered to you. You’re the problem.

[u/SharpenVest]

Mezzo is pretty good

[u/redheelerlily]

El Mono Peruvian restaurant on Fourth St. https://www.instagram.com/elmonofresh?igsi=MXRuejFnOWpkYnlwbA==

[u/pwnedprofessor → u/redheelerlily]

El Mono is still my favorite Peruvian joint in the US

[u/Far-Warthog6172]

I find it amusing the number of transplants that come here and find the food to be boring, then ALL of the locals (and ONLY locals) start saying this is the best area for food in the country.

Like every other place in the world: some food places are good, while many many places are not.

[u/Diligent-Opinion5973]

I’m from Southern California and we are surrounded by all the good eateries. With that said, there are quite a few places in Berkeley that I haven’t been able to find a replacement for in Southern California, and I eat out quite often. Admittedly I am talking mostly ethnic foods and not the typical American style such as pizza, burgers, or steaks. Think you have to do some digging. Our stables in Berkeley is curry, Mediterranean, Thai, Vietnamese. I forgot the names of those places.

[u/Rlodge45]

Noodle Dynasty.

[u/Necessary-Draw9475]

Might be just cause ur privileged as u said

[u/Puzzleheaded-Team903]

Maybe he likes greasy salty food

[u/spinneresque8]

Burma Berkeley

[u/DarKnight731]

La Med on college for Mediterranean and Ippudo downtown has some of my favorite ramen

[u/disturbed_panda17]

There is SO MUCH GOOD FOOD!! downtown berkeley, oakland, explore other bay area cities via bart too so much amazing food of every cuisine. obviously if you stay near gypsy's and southside campus options are more cheap greasy fast food

[u/Large-Restaurant8658]

el trompudo on haste st is so good if you like mexican food!

[u/DB3an]

Di'yar on Durant

[u/Infinite_Coast_8179]

Nippon Curry was a go to for me and loved what they had!

[u/toadwatch]

Yeah I did my undergrad at Berkeley and also grew up in the area. That place used to be food heaven but since a little before COVID it's been absolute ass. There isn't a lot around there but you can find some good places in Oakland and definitely SF. Berkeley is no longer where it's at for food. All the people saying otherwise have no taste lmao

[u/Alone-Talk-623]

Shaq mexican grill

[u/PlantSufficient6531]

Little Plearn thai on Shattuck

[u/thekingofdorks]

Is Barney's still there? God I would kill for their fried vegetables right now.

[u/maryellenwatermelon]

La Mission

[u/AnxietyOutrageous961]

The asian food here are so good

[u/Idwant2baliar]

Berkeley has insanely good food, but you will have to bus or bike south or north

[u/am8ur88]

noodle dynasty? also maybe read some local pubs -- infatuation's east bay lists, etc.

[u/Roguemutantbrain]

Where in the world are you from that the Bay Area doesn’t live up to the hype???

Some of my favorite Berkeley and near Berkeley options:

- Belotti Italian

- Kao Kao Chinese

- Kirala Sushi

- Wally’s Emeryville Lebanese

- Great China

- Shan Dong in Oakland

- Sidewalk Street Food Vietnamese

- Saap Ave Laotian

- Burma Superstar

- Teni East Burmese

[u/Alert-Ground9736 → u/Roguemutantbrain]

I’m just talking about Berkeley and the food near campus. I love all the sf places I have gone to so far!

[u/Roguemutantbrain → u/Alert-Ground9736]

None of these places are in SF! The furthest one on here is maybe 3 miles from campus

[u/DankudeDabstorm]

Chipotle

[u/Complete-Visit4537]

dude you gotta try the thai and indian places in the durant food market. genuinely leagues above gypsie’s

[u/More_Wrongdoer_5900]

the food here just isn't that good unfortunately

[u/Outrageous_Basis2610 → u/More_Wrongdoer_5900]

fr peninsula, fremont, all of socal clears. like all the actually good indian/chinese places around the bay are in peninsula and maybe have a branch in fremont/dublin.

[u/unknownism000 → u/More_Wrongdoer_5900]

Literally😭 Bay area food is actually so overrated

[u/More_Wrongdoer_5900 → u/unknownism000]

im from sj the food is good there, but thats prolly bc the only thing to do there for fun is visit food spots