Alameda, California: Best Restaurants in Town

Alameda is a small island in the East Bay located between San Francisco and Oakland, California. It is 10 minutes from the Oakland airport and is a great base point for exploring all that the Bay area has to offer. Don't be fooled though. Alameda is small but it's a hidden jewel with some great finds of its on. If you're ever in town and are looking for a great place to eat, be sure to try at least one of these places.

Alameda Restaurant #1: La Pinata 3 - 1440 Park St Alameda, CA 94501 - (510) 769-9110
La Pinata 3 is hands down the best Mexican food i have had anywhere. They never fail to let me down. Te place is always packed so the atmosphere is lively and upbeat, with great Salsa and Merengue music playing throughout. The restaurant is quite big with a separate bar and a number of different rooms, each room feeling cozy and intimate. But even with a full house, the service is always prompt, drinks are always big, and the food always delicious. I highly recommend the Carne Asada Enchiladas or the Super Famoso Burrito, which can easily feed two people.

Alameda Restaurant #2. India Palace - 737 Buena Vista Ave, Alameda - (510) 814-8778
India Palace is definitely one of Alameda's hidden gems. India Palace is literally a small bungalow turned into a restaurant. It is located in a quiet, residential neighborhood so going there and eating there feels like going over to a friend's house for dinner. I love the atmosphere because it feels so personal and intimate, perfect for a date or a small group of people. The food is outstanding, they have really great curries and biriyani. I always get the Rogan Josh with Garlic Naan and my husband often gets the Chicken Biriyani. They have a small staff all of whom are very polite and offer great service.

Alameda Restaurant #3. Sushi House - 2375 Shoreline Dr Alameda, CA 94501 - (510) 865-0999
Sushi House pretty much put Alameda on the map with their creative sushi rolls and giant sized portions. The fish is of the best quality, always fresh and just melts in your mouth. It is located along the beach in Alameda and if you sit on the outdoor patio you'll have a gorgeous view overlooking the bay and can even catch a glimpse of the San Francisco skyline. Indoor seating is plenty, but being one large room, and being as popular as they are, it is often a loud, noisy restaurant. The only downside is that the service is close to awful. The wait staff can leave you waiting for a very long time and sometimes they forget your order, etc. I can't lie, it can be pretty awful. But if you are lucky enough to go during a quiet period (say lunch, during the weekday) then you can enjoy a great sushi meal with little fuss.

Alameda Restaurant #4. Toomie's Thai Cuisine - 1433 Park St., Alameda, CA 94501 - (510) 865-8008
Toomie's Thai Cuise is a small, quiet Thai restaurant with excellent food at an excellent price. They have beautiful Thai decor and even the wait staff dress in the traditional Thai attire. I love the noodle and fried rice dishes here. My husband is a big fan of the lamb. All the food we have ever tried here has been delicious and service is excellent. I particularly recommend going during the lunch to take advantage of their lunch specials. You get the soup of the day, an entree and hot tea, all for less than $10. Can't argue with that!

Bon appetit!