Are you looking for the best restaurants in El Cerrito, CA? If yes, then you are in the right place.
El Cerrito is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. El Cerrito is a part of the San Francisco Bay Area.
The city had a population of 25,962 in the 2020 National Population Census in the United States.
El Cerrito is a lively metropolitan town with scenic natural views and a lovely atmosphere. If you love outdoor activities, you will enjoy being in El Cerrito. In addition, the city has many parks, fantastic restaurants, and stores that you can explore.
The food culture in El Cerrito is terrific, and the town has incredible food spots you will enjoy exploring.
Are you planning a visit to El Cerrito? Here is a list of the best restaurants to eat at in El Cerrito.
Best Restaurants in El Cerrito
1. Cheeseboard Pizza
Cheeseboard Pizza is a delightful pizzeria with tasty pizza options, baked goods, and cheese. This restaurant is a fantastic stop filled with yummy treats, and it deservedly comes first on our list of the best restaurants in El Cerrito, CA.
Enjoy a variety of delicious pizza flavors at this incredible spot. The restaurant offers unique pizza and salads daily, with vegetarian-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free meal options.
The restaurant also has an exciting drinks list with options for soft drinks, beers in bottles or cans, and wine.
You will enjoy this restaurant’s unique daily specials if you love salads. Try the delicious mix of red flame grape with toasted walnut, organic salad mix, and blue cheese dressing.
If you want something exotic, try the restaurant’s blend of organic cannellini beans with marinated mixed herbs and mushrooms, an organic salad mix, and preserved lemon vinaigrette.
Cheeseboard Pizza opens from 08:00 am – 04:00 pm and 05:00 pm – 08:00 pm from Wednesday to Saturday, but the restaurant is closed from Sunday to Tuesday.
Address: 1512 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709, United States. Phone: +1 510-549-3183
2. Chez Panisse
Chez Panisse is a classic restaurant that offers an exquisite dining experience. This restaurant is one of the best places to eat in El Cerrito, CA.
The restaurant has a lovely natural setting with a grand medieval entrance. The restaurant’s interior is classy. The place has a warm ambiance, and the table arrangement is ideal for a corporate meeting or a romantic dinner date.
Chez Panisse offers delicious dishes daily. Enjoy a delightful rocket salad with Fuyu persimmon, toasted almonds, and fresh farm goat cheese.
If you love seafood, try the Monterey Bay Squid braised with leeks and red wine. This delightful dish served with herb noodles and gremolata is an excellent dinner option.
The restaurant offers a fantastic variety of seafood, appetizers, dinner & lunch options, and lots more. In addition, the restaurant has a kids’ menu.
Chez Panisse opens from 05:00 pm – 10:00 pm from Tuesday to Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday.
Address: 1517 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709, United States. Phone: +1 510-548-5525
3. Oceanview Diner
Come to Oceanview Diner for delicious breakfast classics. This neighborhood restaurant is one of the top restaurants in El Cerrito, CA.
Oceanview Diner has an excellent outdoor dining area where you can enjoy your meals in an airy environment. The restaurant’s interior is an elegant dining space with a classy setting and a great atmosphere. The place has excellent lighting and a warm, welcoming feel.
Start your day with a delicious plate of Mexican Scramble, scrambled eggs with mixed salsa & cheese, smoky black beans, a flour tortilla, and house-made chorizo.
If you like spicy food, you will enjoy the Spicy Scrambled Eggs made with salsa and served with fries, a tortilla, or toast.
Oceanview Diner serves fantastic breakfast choices, from pastries to cereals, eggs, pancakes, souffles, waffles, and fresh fruit. In addition, the restaurant offers sandwiches, toasted bagels or baguettes, Mexican specialties, pizza, soups, pastries, salads, desserts, hot dogs, and beverages.
A burrito order at Oceanview Diner comes with two small burritos made with pork or chicken with pinto beans, sour cream, and fresh salsa. There is also a vegetarian option made with beans and cheese. You can enjoy your burrito with a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream.
The restaurant offers dine-in and takeaway options.
Oceanview Diner opens from 07:00 am – 02:00 pm from Monday to Friday and 07:00 am – 03:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Address: 1807 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710, United States. Phone: +1 510-644-3230
4. El Mono
If you want an artsy environment where you can get great meals and take amazing pictures, El Mono as one of the top restaurants in El Cerrito, CA is an incredible spot to visit.
This Peruvian restaurant has a great outdoor seating area with beautiful walls and a cool shade. The place is airy and has a refreshing look.
El Mono offers weekday lunch specials, cocktails & spirits, beers, wines, starters, salads, beef, poultry, seafood, specialty dishes, sandwiches, desserts, and sides. In addition, the restaurant has a kids’ menu. Also, the restaurant serves vegetarian-friendly dishes.
Enjoy a plate of Saltado. This dish is a Peruvian classic made with stir-fried protein or vegetables, tomatoes, fried potatoes, onions, soy sauce, and cilantro, served with garlic rice.
Aji de Gallina is a creamy stew made with aji Amarillo chili, parmesan cheese, shredded chicken breast, and cream, garnished with eggs, olives, walnuts, and cilantro. Enjoy this delicious stew with garlic-spiced white rice.
El Mono opens from 11:30 am – 03:00 pm and 05:00 pm – 09:00 pm from Monday to Friday, 12:00 pm – 03:30 pm and 05:00 pm – 09:00 pm on Saturday, and 12:00 pm – 03:30 pm and 05:00 pm – 08:00 pm on Sunday.
Address: 11720 San Pablo Ave Suite B, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States. Phone: +1 510-778-8884
5. Fatapple’s
Fatapples’s Restaurant & Bakery is an incredible family-friendly restaurant where you can enjoy your favorite dishes in a comfortable environment.
Enjoy a variety of homemade dishes from soups to delicious entrees, salads, pizza, quiche, sides, breakfast & lunch options. In addition, the restaurant has an exciting drink list.
You can try the Charbroiled Hamburger made with certified angus beef, tomato, pickles, mayonnaise, onions, lettuce, and mustard. This delicious burger comes with french fries.
If you want a light but healthy meal, Fatapple’s Grilled Sandwich, made with freshly grilled chicken breast on a good-quality bun, tomato, pickles, lettuce, onion, mustard, and mayonnaise, is an excellent lunch bite. The meal comes with french fries.
The Garden Scramble is a delightful way to start your day at El Cerrito. Enjoy this healthy dish of scrambled eggs, spinach, tomato, bell pepper, mushroom, and grated cheddar with cottage fries.
Fatapples’s restaurant opens from 06:30 pm – 07:00 pm from Sunday to Saturday.
Address: 7525 Fairmount Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States. Phone: +1 510-528-3433
6. Noodles Fresh
Come to Noodles Fresh for exquisite Asian cuisine with fresh, high-quality ingredients. This restaurant is one of the best restaurants in El Cerrito, CA.
Noodles Fresh is a beautiful mix of modern and traditional architectural design with a warm ambiance, great lighting, and vibrant colors. The place has a warm, welcoming feel.
This incredible restaurant offers fantastic appetizers, noodle plates, noodle soup bowls, rice plates, lunch specials, and chef’s specials.
Enjoy the Hainan Chicken rice plate made with Hainan flavored rice, broccoli, ginger dipping sauce, and chicken. If you want something spicy, try a plate of Hainan Curry Chicken. This dish is a delicious combination of thin rice noodles with fried potato, onion, curry chicken, bell pepper, coconut, and scallion.
If you want something exotic, the Jiangxi Noodle Salad combo of rice noodles with chicken, bok choy, bell pepper, scallion, garlic, and seafood-flavored chili sauce, is a delightful pick.
Noodles Fresh opens from 11:00 am – 09:00 pm from Sunday to Saturday.
Address: 10042 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States. Phone: +1 510-898-1710
7. Elevation 66
Elevation 66 is a neighborhood spot that offers incredible meals in a friendly environment.
It is one of the top El Cerrito restaurants and serves salads, small plates, sandwiches, burgers, lunch plates, desserts, and more. In addition, the restaurant has an exciting bar list.
You can start your dining experience with Free Range Wings and your choice of spicy or bbq chipotle and celery with ranch dressing.
Suppose you want a quick, delicious bite. In that case, the Elevation 66 Niman burger, made with Niman ranch beef and caramelized onions served with pickles and lettuce on the restaurant’s signature burger bun, is a delightful option. You can add cheese, mushrooms, avocado, fried egg, or bacon at an extra cost.
Elevation 66 opens from 03:00 pm – 08:00 pm from Monday to Friday and 12:00 pm – 09:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Address: 10082 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States. Phone: +1 510-525-4800
8. Katana-Ya Ramen Restaurant
Come to Katana-Ya for an exquisite dining experience if you love Japanese cuisine.
The restaurant has a cozy look, neat interior space, and spacious table arrangement. In addition, the place has incredible lighting and a warm ambiance.
Enjoy a plate of Tempura & Tonkatsu made with shrimp and vegetable tempura with deep-fried pork slices. If you prefer sushi, you can switch the pork slices with three pieces of sushi, a California roll, and two pieces of nigiri.
Katana-Ya offers entree lunches, appetizers, salads, soups, rice, sashimi, sushi, bento, sunomono, udon, zosui, specialty rolls, and more.
Treat yourself to a plate of Chicken Teriyaki from the Yakimono Grilled Dinners list. This delicious dish with grilled skinless chicken and teriyaki sauce is delightful.
The restaurant offers dine-in, takeaway, and delivery options.
Katana-Ya opens from 11:30 am – 02:30 pm and 04:30 pm – 09:00 pm from Tuesday to Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Monday.
Address: 10544 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States. Phone: +1 510-528-1678
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9. Larb Thai Food & Tapas
Larb Thai Food & Tapas is an excellent restaurant that serves delicious Thai cuisine. The place has a casual setting and is perfect for groups.
Experience authentic dishes in a warm, friendly setting. As one of the top El Cerrito restaurants, it has an incredible ambiance, and the service is excellent.
Larb Thai Food & Tapas serves fantastic appetizers, lunch and dinner entrees, salads, small bites, seafood, soups, noodle soup, fried noodles, traditional plates, and sides.
You can start your mealtime at Larb Thai Food & Tapas with Crispy Free Range Chicken Wings or Deep Fried Quail. You can try Fried Calamari or Fried Fish cakes if you prefer seafood.
The Coconut Chicken soup is a delicious appetizer option. You can have it with the Dry Tom Yum Noodle.
Enjoy your choice of noodles with chicken, pork, beef, or tofu. The restaurant also offers vegetarian-friendly meals.
Larb Thai Food & Tapas is open from 11:30 am – 02:30 pm and 05:00 pm – 08:30 pm on Monday and Wednesday to Friday and 11:30 am – 03:00 pm and 05:00 pm – 08:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Tuesday.
Address: 10166 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States. Phone: +1 510-524-8988
10. Gangnam Tofu
Come to Gangnam Tofu for homemade Korean dishes. This restaurant serves delicious meals made with fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Gangnam Tofu offers healthy, delicious dishes from appetizers to chicken, entrees, stews, soon-du-boo, bbq, rice bowls, platters, desserts, and beverages.
The Teriyaki Chicken is a delightful dish made with grilled chicken thigh in teriyaki sauce. If you love seafood, you will enjoy the O-Zing-Eor Bokkum, made with stir-fried squid and vegetables in red chili sauce.
Enjoy a variety of rice bowl combinations with seafood, vegetable, pork, chicken, beef, and tofu, depending on your selection.
Gangnam Tofu opens from 11:30 am – 02:30 pm and 05:00 pm – 09:00 pm from Monday to Friday and 11:30 am – 09:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Address: 11740 San Pablo Ave Suite C, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States. Phone: +1 510-778-1144
11. Los Moles Beer Garden
Come to Los Moles Beer Garden to experience exquisite Mexican dining. The restaurant serves authentic Mexican cuisine and is one of the best places to eat in El Cerrito, CA.
Los Moles Beer Garden is an incredible spot to unwind after a long day. Enjoy handcrafted cocktails and delicious meals at this restaurant. In addition, it is a great spot to hang out with friends.
The restaurant serves appetizers, burritos, eggs, tacos, moles, sides, and desserts. In addition, the restaurant has a kids’ menu.
Los Moles Beer Garden opens from 11:00 am – 09:00 pm from Monday to Friday and 10:00 am – 09:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Address: 6120 Potrero Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States. Phone: +1 510-230-4855
12. La Note
If you love French cuisine and all the goodness it comes with, come to La Note – one of the best El Cerrito restaurants- for an unforgettable dining experience.
The restaurant has a beautiful modern setting surrounded by lovely potted plants. The place has a homey feel and a welcoming atmosphere.
Enjoy fantastic healthy meals from breakfast to lunch and snacks. In addition, the restaurant has a kids’ menu.
La Note opens from 08:00 am – 02:00 pm from Monday to Friday and 08:00 am – 03:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Address: 2377 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704, United States. Phone: +1 510-843-1525
13. Acme Bread
Acme Bread welcomes you into its cozy interior with the aroma of freshly-baked goods.
This reputable bread company offers high-quality bread, rolls, buns, pastries, and more.
You can get a wide variety of bread at Acme Bread, from sourdough to sweet & Italian dough, fougasse & herb, rye, whole wheat, and lots more.
Acme Bread opens from 08:00 am – 04:00 pm on Saturday and from Monday to Wednesday, 08:00 am – 05:00 pm on Thursday and Friday, and 08:30 am – 03:00 pm on Sunday.
Address: 1601 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702, United States. Phone: +1 510-524-1021
14. The Natural Grocery Company
Get organic and naturally-sourced products at The Natural Grocery Company. In addition, this unique store serves gourmet and specialty meals.
Enjoy seasonal dishes, entrees, soups, salads, burritos, and sides made fresh with high-quality organic ingredients at The Natural Grocery Company’s deli.
The store also offers pizza, sandwiches, salads, baked goods, juices/smoothies, ice cream, beverages, wine, and beer.
The Natural Grocery Company opens from 08:30 am – 08:30 pm from Monday to Sunday.
Address: 10367 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States. Phone: +1 510-526-1155
15. Brasil Bistro
If you want to explore Brazilian cuisine, check out Brasil Bistro, one of the best El Cerrito restaurants.
Relax in the calm atmosphere of this beautiful restaurant and enjoy your favorite dishes. Brasil Bistro serves delicious meals made with authentic ingredients.
Enjoy a fantastic range of dishes from breakfast to smoothies, juices, beverages, appetizers, seafood, burgers, chicken, steak, pastry, sides, and desserts.
Brasil Bistro opens from 07:30 am – 07:00 pm from Tuesday to Saturday and 07:30 am – 06:00 pm on Sunday and Monday.
Address: 11866 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States. Phone: +1 510-680-5192
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Plan a Trip to El Cerrito
El Cerrito is a bustling town that offers great activities. The city has many historical and tourist sites at intriguing locations. In addition, El Cerrito’s incredible parks and hills make it a perfect town for outdoor activities.
Get to know the warm, friendly residents of the city while you explore the town’s incredible restaurants. There is something for everyone here. This town is definitely worth a trip.