Nobody’s claimed this yet
Be the first local to put Southern in SF Bay Area on the map. Your Top 5 anchors the City Consensus for everyone who comes next.
Start a Top 5 for SouthernEditor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in The Infatuation and Berkeleyside. Updated August 2026.
Prelude · Financial District
The Infatuation. A Southern kitchen on the ground floor of the Jay Hotel. In place of fried chicken, a lightly crusted wing stuffed with dirty rice; chicken-fried sweetbreads and catfish gnocchi round out the menu.
Lois The Pie Queen · North Oakland, Oakland
The Infatuation. A North Oakland diner-style institution living up to its name with a five-tier pie case (key lime, sweet potato cheesecake) and huge plates of savory soul food, including the Reggie Jackson breakfast special.
Y’s Choice · San Pablo/18th, Oakland
The Infatuation. A takeout-focused soul food and seafood counter that moved from Jack London Square to San Pablo and 18th in Oakland (Berkeleyside, April 2025). Fried catfish with garlic noodles comes with two forearm-sized filets, and the fried shrimp po'boy needs a halftime break.