This Bay Area city is named the nation's best place for food

Oakland voted 'Best Food City' in U.S.

For the second year in a row, Oakland was named the No. 1 city in the U.S. for food by Condé Nast Traveler's readers.

OAKLAND, Calif. - A new survey has ranked Oakland as the country’s No. 1 best city for food.

Condé Nast Traveler said more than 757K votes were cast as part of its 38th annual Readers’ Choice Awards, which ranked the best in travel in multiple categories, ranging from top hotels to the best cities to visit, as well as popular places for spas and resorts.

In the category of "The Best Food Cities in the U.S.," for the second year in a row, Oakland came out on top in the list of 15 cities, as the publication took note of The Town's diverse food culture, with its various neighborhoods offering a wide selection of culinary options.

What they're saying:

"In Temescal, located in the north of the city, you’ll find buzzy soul food spot Burdell, as well as out-of-the-box pizzas (think toppings like Monterey Bay squid and chanterelles) at fan-favorite Pizzaiolo;" Condé Nast Traveler wrote, adding, "Fruitvale, named after the fruit orchards that dominated this part of town in the mid-19th century, is packed with taco trucks that serve some of the best birria in the country."

The publication also celebrated a thriving scene of taprooms and winery tasting rooms, saying the options make it "easy to plan your entire visit around eating, drinking, or some combination of the two."

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee praised the city’s diverse landscape represented in its eateries.

"From North Oakland to East Oakland, West Oakland to the hills, our food scene reflects the diversity, creativity, and resilience that makes our city special," the mayor said in a statement to KTVU, as she also highlighted those in the community who have helped build the vibrant food culture.

"This recognition celebrates the small business owners and entrepreneurs in every neighborhood who bring our communities together around great food. I'm proud of everyone who makes Oakland's food scene extraordinary," Lee shared.

The non-profit Visit Oakland also applauded the players involved in bringing the honor to the city.

"We are thrilled that Oakland is holding its title as the #1 Best Food City in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler readers for the second consecutive year," said Visit Oakland President & CEO Peter Gamez, adding, "This is a testament to our talented chefs, devoted restauranteurs, and diverse culinary offerings."

On its website, Visit Oakland painted a picture of how the city's diversity shows up in its food offerings, while bringing the community together.

"Our residents may speak over 125 languages, but in the kitchen, we come together as one. In a city as multicultural as Oakland, our recipes come from a deep sense of place," Visit Oakland noted. "Our food is a celebration of the different cultures that give The Town its flavor."

Michelin recognized

Oakland is home to two Michelin starred restaurants, Commis and Sun Moon Studio, and 19 other eateries recognized by the Michelin Guide.

Bay Area represented

Oakland was not the only Bay Area city named in the readers’ choice award for best places to eat.

The Condé Nast Traveler survey also placed San Francisco on its list.

Like Oakland, the tapestry of different cultures in the City by the Bay was also recognized as a representation of its celebrated food scene, from its historic Chinatown, credited for playing a key role in making dim sum, chow mein, and fortune cookies popular in the U.S., to the Mission District known for its authentic Mexican food.

The publication also noted the rich foodscape of the city and its surrounding areas.

"With one of the highest ratios of mom-and-pop spots to chain restaurants, San Francisco is fueled by Pacific seafood, California farmland, and nearby Napa and Sonoma wine regions," Condé Nast Traveler wrote, adding, "It’s a place where you can dig into fresh Dungeness crab at Thanh Long, rich cioppino (seafood stew) at Sotto Mare, or clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at Boudin Bakery."

Dig deeper:

Both San Francisco and Oakland also made another Condé Nast Traveler readers' choice list released earlier this year.

San Francisco was ranked No. 2 best big U.S. city to visit.

Oakland came in 7th place among the best small cities to visit.