10 Classic (and Not-So-Classic) Bay Area Burger Joints
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"content": "\u003cp>Nothing says summer quite like a char-grilled burger and a chocolate shake, enjoyed on a sunny patio or at an old-fashioned carhop with the A/C blasting. Here in the Bay Area, we’re lucky to have the best of both worlds — nostalgic, old-timey burger joints that have been feeding locals since the ’50s or ’60s \u003cem>and \u003c/em>new-school fusion spots that are infusing their burgers with South Asian spices and Mexican al pastor. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here, then, are 10 of my favorite classic — and not-so-classic — spots to grab a delicious burger.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phila Burger Station\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1100 23rd St., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In this age of flashy, Instagram-optimized smash burgers, an old-school joint like Phila Burger Station is a comfort and a joy. The burgers themselves are a bit of a throwback — the beef patties are juicy and decently hefty, with a nice loose grind to them. All of the basic components are great: the crunch of the pickles and the crisp iceberg lettuce, the creamy swipe of mayo, the ooziness of the American cheese — and, if you go for the signature Phila Burger, a luxurious slice of pastrami on top to gild the lily. This is a sloppy burger, a five- or six-napkin burger. Meanwhile, the fries come out blistering hot, and the shop’s Philadelphia namesake isn’t just for show: The cheesesteak is one of the best in the Bay (though purists may want to ask them to hold the lettuce and tomato). And even though the restaurant is just a takeout window, the owner is so friendly and kind that he makes every customer feel like a regular.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed.jpg\" alt=\"An overstuffed burger, fries and soda on a metal try.\" class=\"wp-image-13990064\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Trompo Burger at Johnny Boi. The burger features fire-roasted al pastor pork, grilled pineapple, white American cheese, fried leeks and chipotle sauce. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Johnny Boi \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>201 Tewksbury Ave., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This lively, Mexican American–owned burger joint in Point Richmond has a big, graffiti-inspired mural of Selena, Tupac and Frida Kahlo in the dining room and a crowd-pleasing menu centered on some of the East Bay’s tastiest smash burgers. Johnny Boi does the basics well (I love the beer-battered onion rings) and adds fun, thoughtful extras like the smoky-sweet bacon jam that tops a few of the burgers. The flashiest item is the Trompo, a smash burger topped with pineapple and pork al pastor, both shaved off a vertical spit. This is homegrown fusion, Bay Area style, at its very finest. The restaurant also serves maybe the single best (and most affordable!) kids’ meal in town: $6 for an adorable, perfectly sized mini smash burger and a side of tater tots or fries. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"13990100\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT01377_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A cheeseburger, fries and cola on a metal picnic table.\" class=\"wp-image-13990100\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT01377_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT01377_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT01377_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT01377_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A quarter-pound burger, curly fries and Pepsi. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"13990097\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT00791_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Exterior of a burger restaurant, with a big retro-style "Beep's Burgers" sign.\" class=\"wp-image-13990097\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT00791_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT00791_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT00791_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT00791_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A ’60s-era neon sign points the way to Beep’s. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beep’s Burgers \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1051 Ocean Ave., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A perennial contender on assorted Bay Area \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13989331/best-cheap-affordable-restaurant-meals-bay-area-oakland-sf\">cheap eats lists\u003c/a>, this ’60s-era throwback serves some of the city’s tastiest and most reasonably priced (for SF) fast food–style burgers. The burgers have the appealing simplicity I associate with a good backyard cookout: juicy, well-charred patties; fresh toppings; and a squishy, compact bun. Add one of their superlatively slurpable Oreo shakes and an order of garlic fries, and it’s easy to see why Beep’s is the unrivaled favorite of local teens. Night owls, take note: The restaurant \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13972197/beeps-burgers-best-late-night-san-francisco-milkshakes\">stays open until 2 a.m. daily\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread.jpg\" alt=\"Overhead view of a spread of burgers, fries and milkshakes on a picnic table.\" class=\"wp-image-13990118\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A spread of burgers and shakes at Smokehouse, a Berkeley classic since 1951. (Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smokehouse\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3115 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A Berkeley institution dating back to 1951, Smokehouse is notable for its emphasis on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985780/smokehouse-berkeley-late-night-burgers-hot-dogs-shakes\">flame-grilled\u003cem> \u003c/em>burgers\u003c/a>. In fact, it’s one of just a handful of Bay Area burger joints that still cook their burger patties and hot dogs over an open fire, adding a deep smoky, charred flavor that’s awfully hard to beat. Most everything on the menu is solid to very good: the shakes, the onion rings, the thick-cut fries. The back patio is super family-friendly, with a big grassy lawn where kids and dogs can run around.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED.jpg\" alt='Colorful red, blue and yellow exterior of a burger shop. The sign reads \"Hyphy Burger.\"' class=\"wp-image-13990018\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Hyphy Burger on West Grand Avenue in Oakland. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hyphy Burger \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>898 W. Grand Ave., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No Bay Area burger joint has louder branding than \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13979306/hyphy-burger-grand-opening-west-oakland-guapdad\">Hyphy Burger\u003c/a>, with its sideshow- and hyphy-themed iconography, splashes of bright color, and menu items with names like the “Burnout Burger” and “You Feel Me” sauce. The important thing, though, is that the food actually lives up to the hype. The thin smashed patties on the double Hyphy Burger are crispy and frilly-edged to the extreme, infused with an extra boost of caramelized char. I love the generous pile of thin-sliced grilled onions, and the way the melty American cheese just kind of oozes into the patty as you eat. Meanwhile, the banana pudding and Oreo milkshake — a truly divine combination — gets my highest recommendation. The restaurant has a second, drive-thru-focused location at 9825 International Blvd. in East Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og.jpg\" alt=\"An oozy cheeseburger, just removed from it yellow paper wrapping.\" class=\"wp-image-13990120\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The “OG” cheeseburger at Lovely’s: a smashed beef patty, American cheese, pickles and griddled onions on a potato bun. (Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lovely’s \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2344 Webster St., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now located in a shipping container set inside a lovely, string light–bedecked beer garden, this longtime pop-up was an early comer (circa 2018) to the Bay Area’s now-ubiquitous smash burger scene. These days, there are tons of burger joints that traffic in thinner, lacier and more outrageously crunchy exemplars of the form. Where Lovely’s wins over almost everyone, though, is in terms of flavor. The beef patties are so well-seasoned; the rich fattiness of the Cream Co. beef really shines through. Meanwhile, the fries are made with hand-cut Chipperbecs — super-fluffy with a deep, true potato flavor — and even something as simple as caramelized onions gets a bit of extra oomph. (Schmaltz is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.lovelysburgers.com/oakland#anchors-meqiip9y\">not-so-secret ingredient\u003c/a>.) Most days, I go for the simple, classic OG (just American cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and griddled onions on a potato bun), but the Drive-Thru makes for a great change of pace when I crave a fresh iceberg lettuce crunch — and those aforementioned schmaltz onions. The restaurant also has a \u003ca href=\"https://www.lovelysburgers.com/cole-valley\">second location\u003c/a> in San Francisco’s Cole Valley neighborhood.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior.jpg\" alt=\"An old-fashioned burger shop. The sign above reads, "Cecil's Famous Burgers."\" class=\"wp-image-13990121\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cecil’s is a Hayward institution going back to the 1950s, when the restaurant first opened as a Foster’s Freeze. (Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cecil’s Famous Burgers \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>547 Tennyson Rd., Hayward\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This old-fashioned Hayward burger shack has been dishing out classic fast food–style burgers and shakes since the ’50s, when it first \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/234304749943128/posts/8706566282716890/\">opened as a Foster’s Freeze\u003c/a>. These days Cecil’s is using fairly generic pre-frozen burger patties that are mostly notable for their customizability and affordable price: Burger patties come as small as 1/6 of a pound (for just over $6), and all but the most expensive combo meals (with, say, a triple bacon cheeseburger) can be had for less than $15. The standard quarter-pound burger is called a “Bulky.” I ordered mine with crispy pastrami on top, and that extra bit of salty, smoky flavor, combined with a decent char on the patty itself, really hit the spot. Add one of Cecil’s thick chocolate shakes, and you’ll feel like you’re reliving the best part of high school all over again. Note: There are a couple of slightly sketchy-looking metal tables outside, but most customers seem to grab and go.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries.jpg\" alt=\"A burger and fries nestled in a red and white checkered paper wrap.\" class=\"wp-image-13990122\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The desi burgers at YSG Halal are infused with a hit of South Asian spices. (Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">YSG Halal \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>4342 Thornton Ave., Fremont\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This little glass box of a burger shack in a Fremont strip mall specializes in desi burgers — i.e., burgers with South Asian–inspired toppings and spices like cumin and coriander. My favorite is the ChaplYee burger, YSG’s fierce take on Pakistani chapli kebab, which features a super-oniony beef patty loaded with chopped chilies. Pair it with seasoned fries, a tub of the restaurant’s fiendishly addicting SpiceYee sauce and a mango milkshake. How’s that for a Bay Area–style all-American meal? Bonus: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13952384/pakistani-desi-burger-fremont-late-night\">YSG Halal is open to satisfy your desi burger cravings until 1 a.m.\u003c/a> most nights.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dad’s Luncheonette \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>225 Cabrillo Hwy. S., Half Moon Bay\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What happens when a fine dining chef decamps for a simpler life on the California coastline? If you’re lucky, you wind up with the best, and most idiosyncratic, little roadside burger shack in San Mateo County. I use the term “burger” loosely here, as what Dad’s Luncheonette specializes in are “hamburger sandwiches” (a take on a patty melt, essentially) and they are phenomenal: juicy and well-seasoned and crowned with a runny-yolked fried egg, served on grilled white bread from Pacifica’s Rosalind Bakery. Located in an old train caboose that’s been converted into a diner, Dad’s has all the quaint seaside charm a daytripper — or local — could ask for.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer.jpg\" alt=\"A paper-wrapped burger, a sleeve of fries and a root beer float in a frosty mug.\" class=\"wp-image-13990123\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">At Big A, the root beer floats come with unlimited root beer refills. The Grass Valley classic recently reopened under new ownership. (Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Big A Root Beer Drive-In \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>810 E. Main St., Grass Valley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I know, Grass Valley is not exactly the Bay Area, but this old-fashioned carhop burger joint makes for the perfect pitstop for roadtrippers en route to North Tahoe or the South Yuba River Valley. The burgers are excellent — big and juicy, with crunchy, well-charred edges to the meat. Most notably, Big A’s house-brewed root beer, served ice-cold in frosty mugs, is some of the best I’ve had. And if the idea of a root beer float with\u003cem> free root beer refills \u003c/em>sounds appealing to you, this is most definitely your spot. Recently revived after a yearlong hiatus, the restaurant has kept almost all of its original menu intact, with one notable addition: \u003ca href=\"https://www.theunion.com/news/burgers-and-dumplings-big-a-set-for-return-with-dumplings-in-the-mix/article_be3fcc1e-6da1-4274-bf34-0c8a414bdfc3.html#:~:text=After%20a%20vacancy%20of%20over,entity%20closed%20abruptly%20in%20October\">homemade boiled dumplings\u003c/a> — a nod to the new owner’s family heritage, as well as the deep Chinese history of California’s Gold Country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nothing says summer quite like a char-grilled burger and a chocolate shake, enjoyed on a sunny patio or at an old-fashioned carhop with the A/C blasting. Here in the Bay Area, we’re lucky to have the best of both worlds — nostalgic, old-timey burger joints that have been feeding locals since the ’50s or ’60s \u003cem>and \u003c/em>new-school fusion spots that are infusing their burgers with South Asian spices and Mexican al pastor. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Nothing says summer quite like a char-grilled burger and a chocolate shake, enjoyed on a sunny patio or at an old-fashioned carhop with the A/C blasting. Here in the Bay Area, we’re lucky to have the best of both worlds — nostalgic, old-timey burger joints that have been feeding locals since the ’50s or ’60s \u003cem>and \u003c/em>new-school fusion spots that are infusing their burgers with South Asian spices and Mexican al pastor. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Here, then, are 10 of my favorite classic — and not-so-classic — spots to grab a delicious burger.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Here, then, are 10 of my favorite classic — and not-so-classic — spots to grab a delicious burger.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Phila Burger Station",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phila Burger Station\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phila Burger Station\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1100 23rd St., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1100 23rd St., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In this age of flashy, Instagram-optimized smash burgers, an old-school joint like Phila Burger Station is a comfort and a joy. The burgers themselves are a bit of a throwback — the beef patties are juicy and decently hefty, with a nice loose grind to them. All of the basic components are great: the crunch of the pickles and the crisp iceberg lettuce, the creamy swipe of mayo, the ooziness of the American cheese — and, if you go for the signature Phila Burger, a luxurious slice of pastrami on top to gild the lily. This is a sloppy burger, a five- or six-napkin burger. Meanwhile, the fries come out blistering hot, and the shop’s Philadelphia namesake isn’t just for show: The cheesesteak is one of the best in the Bay (though purists may want to ask them to hold the lettuce and tomato). And even though the restaurant is just a takeout window, the owner is so friendly and kind that he makes every customer feel like a regular.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In this age of flashy, Instagram-optimized smash burgers, an old-school joint like Phila Burger Station is a comfort and a joy. The burgers themselves are a bit of a throwback — the beef patties are juicy and decently hefty, with a nice loose grind to them. All of the basic components are great: the crunch of the pickles and the crisp iceberg lettuce, the creamy swipe of mayo, the ooziness of the American cheese — and, if you go for the signature Phila Burger, a luxurious slice of pastrami on top to gild the lily. This is a sloppy burger, a five- or six-napkin burger. Meanwhile, the fries come out blistering hot, and the shop’s Philadelphia namesake isn’t just for show: The cheesesteak is one of the best in the Bay (though purists may want to ask them to hold the lettuce and tomato). And even though the restaurant is just a takeout window, the owner is so friendly and kind that he makes every customer feel like a regular.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed.jpg\" alt=\"An overstuffed burger, fries and soda on a metal try.\" class=\"wp-image-13990064\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Trompo Burger at Johnny Boi. The burger features fire-roasted al pastor pork, grilled pineapple, white American cheese, fried leeks and chipotle sauce. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed.jpg\" alt=\"An overstuffed burger, fries and soda on a metal try.\" class=\"wp-image-13990064\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Trompo Burger at Johnny Boi. The burger features fire-roasted al pastor pork, grilled pineapple, white American cheese, fried leeks and chipotle sauce. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>201 Tewksbury Ave., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This lively, Mexican American–owned burger joint in Point Richmond has a big, graffiti-inspired mural of Selena, Tupac and Frida Kahlo in the dining room and a crowd-pleasing menu centered on some of the East Bay’s tastiest smash burgers. Johnny Boi does the basics well (I love the beer-battered onion rings) and adds fun, thoughtful extras like the smoky-sweet bacon jam that tops a few of the burgers. The flashiest item is the Trompo, a smash burger topped with pineapple and pork al pastor, both shaved off a vertical spit. This is homegrown fusion, Bay Area style, at its very finest. The restaurant also serves maybe the single best (and most affordable!) kids’ meal in town: $6 for an adorable, perfectly sized mini smash burger and a side of tater tots or fries. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This lively, Mexican American–owned burger joint in Point Richmond has a big, graffiti-inspired mural of Selena, Tupac and Frida Kahlo in the dining room and a crowd-pleasing menu centered on some of the East Bay’s tastiest smash burgers. Johnny Boi does the basics well (I love the beer-battered onion rings) and adds fun, thoughtful extras like the smoky-sweet bacon jam that tops a few of the burgers. The flashiest item is the Trompo, a smash burger topped with pineapple and pork al pastor, both shaved off a vertical spit. This is homegrown fusion, Bay Area style, at its very finest. The restaurant also serves maybe the single best (and most affordable!) kids’ meal in town: $6 for an adorable, perfectly sized mini smash burger and a side of tater tots or fries. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT01377_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A cheeseburger, fries and cola on a metal picnic table.\" class=\"wp-image-13990100\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A quarter-pound burger, curly fries and Pepsi.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT01377_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A cheeseburger, fries and cola on a metal picnic table.\" class=\"wp-image-13990100\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A quarter-pound burger, curly fries and Pepsi.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT00791_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Exterior of a burger restaurant, with a big retro-style "Beep's Burgers" sign.\" class=\"wp-image-13990097\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A ’60s-era neon sign points the way to Beep’s.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT00791_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Exterior of a burger restaurant, with a big retro-style "Beep's Burgers" sign.\" class=\"wp-image-13990097\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A ’60s-era neon sign points the way to Beep’s.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"text": "Beep’s Burgers ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1051 Ocean Ave., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A perennial contender on assorted Bay Area \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13989331/best-cheap-affordable-restaurant-meals-bay-area-oakland-sf\">cheap eats lists\u003c/a>, this ’60s-era throwback serves some of the city’s tastiest and most reasonably priced (for SF) fast food–style burgers. The burgers have the appealing simplicity I associate with a good backyard cookout: juicy, well-charred patties; fresh toppings; and a squishy, compact bun. Add one of their superlatively slurpable Oreo shakes and an order of garlic fries, and it’s easy to see why Beep’s is the unrivaled favorite of local teens. Night owls, take note: The restaurant \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13972197/beeps-burgers-best-late-night-san-francisco-milkshakes\">stays open until 2 a.m. daily\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A perennial contender on assorted Bay Area \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13989331/best-cheap-affordable-restaurant-meals-bay-area-oakland-sf\">cheap eats lists\u003c/a>, this ’60s-era throwback serves some of the city’s tastiest and most reasonably priced (for SF) fast food–style burgers. The burgers have the appealing simplicity I associate with a good backyard cookout: juicy, well-charred patties; fresh toppings; and a squishy, compact bun. Add one of their superlatively slurpable Oreo shakes and an order of garlic fries, and it’s easy to see why Beep’s is the unrivaled favorite of local teens. Night owls, take note: The restaurant \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13972197/beeps-burgers-best-late-night-san-francisco-milkshakes\">stays open until 2 a.m. daily\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread.jpg\" alt=\"Overhead view of a spread of burgers, fries and milkshakes on a picnic table.\" class=\"wp-image-13990118\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A spread of burgers and shakes at Smokehouse, a Berkeley classic since 1951.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread.jpg\" alt=\"Overhead view of a spread of burgers, fries and milkshakes on a picnic table.\" class=\"wp-image-13990118\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A spread of burgers and shakes at Smokehouse, a Berkeley classic since 1951.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smokehouse\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3115 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A Berkeley institution dating back to 1951, Smokehouse is notable for its emphasis on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985780/smokehouse-berkeley-late-night-burgers-hot-dogs-shakes\">flame-grilled\u003cem> \u003c/em>burgers\u003c/a>. In fact, it’s one of just a handful of Bay Area burger joints that still cook their burger patties and hot dogs over an open fire, adding a deep smoky, charred flavor that’s awfully hard to beat. Most everything on the menu is solid to very good: the shakes, the onion rings, the thick-cut fries. The back patio is super family-friendly, with a big grassy lawn where kids and dogs can run around.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A Berkeley institution dating back to 1951, Smokehouse is notable for its emphasis on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985780/smokehouse-berkeley-late-night-burgers-hot-dogs-shakes\">flame-grilled\u003cem> \u003c/em>burgers\u003c/a>. In fact, it’s one of just a handful of Bay Area burger joints that still cook their burger patties and hot dogs over an open fire, adding a deep smoky, charred flavor that’s awfully hard to beat. Most everything on the menu is solid to very good: the shakes, the onion rings, the thick-cut fries. The back patio is super family-friendly, with a big grassy lawn where kids and dogs can run around.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Colorful red, blue and yellow exterior of a burger shop. The sign reads "Hyphy Burger."\" class=\"wp-image-13990018\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Hyphy Burger on West Grand Avenue in Oakland.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Colorful red, blue and yellow exterior of a burger shop. The sign reads "Hyphy Burger."\" class=\"wp-image-13990018\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Hyphy Burger on West Grand Avenue in Oakland.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Hyphy Burger ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hyphy Burger \u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>898 W. Grand Ave., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>No Bay Area burger joint has louder branding than \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13979306/hyphy-burger-grand-opening-west-oakland-guapdad\">Hyphy Burger\u003c/a>, with its sideshow- and hyphy-themed iconography, splashes of bright color, and menu items with names like the “Burnout Burger” and “You Feel Me” sauce. The important thing, though, is that the food actually lives up to the hype. The thin smashed patties on the double Hyphy Burger are crispy and frilly-edged to the extreme, infused with an extra boost of caramelized char. I love the generous pile of thin-sliced grilled onions, and the way the melty American cheese just kind of oozes into the patty as you eat. Meanwhile, the banana pudding and Oreo milkshake — a truly divine combination — gets my highest recommendation. The restaurant has a second, drive-thru-focused location at 9825 International Blvd. in East Oakland.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>No Bay Area burger joint has louder branding than \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13979306/hyphy-burger-grand-opening-west-oakland-guapdad\">Hyphy Burger\u003c/a>, with its sideshow- and hyphy-themed iconography, splashes of bright color, and menu items with names like the “Burnout Burger” and “You Feel Me” sauce. The important thing, though, is that the food actually lives up to the hype. The thin smashed patties on the double Hyphy Burger are crispy and frilly-edged to the extreme, infused with an extra boost of caramelized char. I love the generous pile of thin-sliced grilled onions, and the way the melty American cheese just kind of oozes into the patty as you eat. Meanwhile, the banana pudding and Oreo milkshake — a truly divine combination — gets my highest recommendation. The restaurant has a second, drive-thru-focused location at 9825 International Blvd. in East Oakland.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og.jpg\" alt=\"An oozy cheeseburger, just removed from it yellow paper wrapping.\" class=\"wp-image-13990120\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The “OG” cheeseburger at Lovely’s: a smashed beef patty, American cheese, pickles and griddled onions on a potato bun.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og.jpg\" alt=\"An oozy cheeseburger, just removed from it yellow paper wrapping.\" class=\"wp-image-13990120\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The “OG” cheeseburger at Lovely’s: a smashed beef patty, American cheese, pickles and griddled onions on a potato bun.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"text": "Lovely’s ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2344 Webster St., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Now located in a shipping container set inside a lovely, string light–bedecked beer garden, this longtime pop-up was an early comer (circa 2018) to the Bay Area’s now-ubiquitous smash burger scene. These days, there are tons of burger joints that traffic in thinner, lacier and more outrageously crunchy exemplars of the form. Where Lovely’s wins over almost everyone, though, is in terms of flavor. The beef patties are so well-seasoned; the rich fattiness of the Cream Co. beef really shines through. Meanwhile, the fries are made with hand-cut Chipperbecs — super-fluffy with a deep, true potato flavor — and even something as simple as caramelized onions gets a bit of extra oomph. (Schmaltz is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.lovelysburgers.com/oakland#anchors-meqiip9y\">not-so-secret ingredient\u003c/a>.) Most days, I go for the simple, classic OG (just American cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and griddled onions on a potato bun), but the Drive-Thru makes for a great change of pace when I crave a fresh iceberg lettuce crunch — and those aforementioned schmaltz onions. The restaurant also has a \u003ca href=\"https://www.lovelysburgers.com/cole-valley\">second location\u003c/a> in San Francisco’s Cole Valley neighborhood.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Now located in a shipping container set inside a lovely, string light–bedecked beer garden, this longtime pop-up was an early comer (circa 2018) to the Bay Area’s now-ubiquitous smash burger scene. These days, there are tons of burger joints that traffic in thinner, lacier and more outrageously crunchy exemplars of the form. Where Lovely’s wins over almost everyone, though, is in terms of flavor. The beef patties are so well-seasoned; the rich fattiness of the Cream Co. beef really shines through. Meanwhile, the fries are made with hand-cut Chipperbecs — super-fluffy with a deep, true potato flavor — and even something as simple as caramelized onions gets a bit of extra oomph. (Schmaltz is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.lovelysburgers.com/oakland#anchors-meqiip9y\">not-so-secret ingredient\u003c/a>.) Most days, I go for the simple, classic OG (just American cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and griddled onions on a potato bun), but the Drive-Thru makes for a great change of pace when I crave a fresh iceberg lettuce crunch — and those aforementioned schmaltz onions. The restaurant also has a \u003ca href=\"https://www.lovelysburgers.com/cole-valley\">second location\u003c/a> in San Francisco’s Cole Valley neighborhood.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior.jpg\" alt=\"An old-fashioned burger shop. The sign above reads, "Cecil's Famous Burgers."\" class=\"wp-image-13990121\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cecil’s is a Hayward institution going back to the 1950s, when the restaurant first opened as a Foster’s Freeze.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>547 Tennyson Rd., Hayward\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This old-fashioned Hayward burger shack has been dishing out classic fast food–style burgers and shakes since the ’50s, when it first \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/234304749943128/posts/8706566282716890/\">opened as a Foster’s Freeze\u003c/a>. These days Cecil’s is using fairly generic pre-frozen burger patties that are mostly notable for their customizability and affordable price: Burger patties come as small as 1/6 of a pound (for just over $6), and all but the most expensive combo meals (with, say, a triple bacon cheeseburger) can be had for less than $15. The standard quarter-pound burger is called a “Bulky.” I ordered mine with crispy pastrami on top, and that extra bit of salty, smoky flavor, combined with a decent char on the patty itself, really hit the spot. Add one of Cecil’s thick chocolate shakes, and you’ll feel like you’re reliving the best part of high school all over again. Note: There are a couple of slightly sketchy-looking metal tables outside, but most customers seem to grab and go.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This old-fashioned Hayward burger shack has been dishing out classic fast food–style burgers and shakes since the ’50s, when it first \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/234304749943128/posts/8706566282716890/\">opened as a Foster’s Freeze\u003c/a>. These days Cecil’s is using fairly generic pre-frozen burger patties that are mostly notable for their customizability and affordable price: Burger patties come as small as 1/6 of a pound (for just over $6), and all but the most expensive combo meals (with, say, a triple bacon cheeseburger) can be had for less than $15. The standard quarter-pound burger is called a “Bulky.” I ordered mine with crispy pastrami on top, and that extra bit of salty, smoky flavor, combined with a decent char on the patty itself, really hit the spot. Add one of Cecil’s thick chocolate shakes, and you’ll feel like you’re reliving the best part of high school all over again. Note: There are a couple of slightly sketchy-looking metal tables outside, but most customers seem to grab and go.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries.jpg\" alt=\"A burger and fries nestled in a red and white checkered paper wrap.\" class=\"wp-image-13990122\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The desi burgers at YSG Halal are infused with a hit of South Asian spices.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries.jpg\" alt=\"A burger and fries nestled in a red and white checkered paper wrap.\" class=\"wp-image-13990122\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The desi burgers at YSG Halal are infused with a hit of South Asian spices.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>4342 Thornton Ave., Fremont\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This little glass box of a burger shack in a Fremont strip mall specializes in desi burgers — i.e., burgers with South Asian–inspired toppings and spices like cumin and coriander. My favorite is the ChaplYee burger, YSG’s fierce take on Pakistani chapli kebab, which features a super-oniony beef patty loaded with chopped chilies. Pair it with seasoned fries, a tub of the restaurant’s fiendishly addicting SpiceYee sauce and a mango milkshake. How’s that for a Bay Area–style all-American meal? Bonus: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13952384/pakistani-desi-burger-fremont-late-night\">YSG Halal is open to satisfy your desi burger cravings until 1 a.m.\u003c/a> most nights.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This little glass box of a burger shack in a Fremont strip mall specializes in desi burgers — i.e., burgers with South Asian–inspired toppings and spices like cumin and coriander. My favorite is the ChaplYee burger, YSG’s fierce take on Pakistani chapli kebab, which features a super-oniony beef patty loaded with chopped chilies. Pair it with seasoned fries, a tub of the restaurant’s fiendishly addicting SpiceYee sauce and a mango milkshake. How’s that for a Bay Area–style all-American meal? Bonus: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13952384/pakistani-desi-burger-fremont-late-night\">YSG Halal is open to satisfy your desi burger cravings until 1 a.m.\u003c/a> most nights.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>225 Cabrillo Hwy. S., Half Moon Bay\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What happens when a fine dining chef decamps for a simpler life on the California coastline? If you’re lucky, you wind up with the best, and most idiosyncratic, little roadside burger shack in San Mateo County. I use the term “burger” loosely here, as what Dad’s Luncheonette specializes in are “hamburger sandwiches” (a take on a patty melt, essentially) and they are phenomenal: juicy and well-seasoned and crowned with a runny-yolked fried egg, served on grilled white bread from Pacifica’s Rosalind Bakery. Located in an old train caboose that’s been converted into a diner, Dad’s has all the quaint seaside charm a daytripper — or local — could ask for.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>What happens when a fine dining chef decamps for a simpler life on the California coastline? If you’re lucky, you wind up with the best, and most idiosyncratic, little roadside burger shack in San Mateo County. I use the term “burger” loosely here, as what Dad’s Luncheonette specializes in are “hamburger sandwiches” (a take on a patty melt, essentially) and they are phenomenal: juicy and well-seasoned and crowned with a runny-yolked fried egg, served on grilled white bread from Pacifica’s Rosalind Bakery. Located in an old train caboose that’s been converted into a diner, Dad’s has all the quaint seaside charm a daytripper — or local — could ask for.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer.jpg\" alt=\"A paper-wrapped burger, a sleeve of fries and a root beer float in a frosty mug.\" class=\"wp-image-13990123\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">At Big A, the root beer floats come with unlimited root beer refills. The Grass Valley classic recently reopened under new ownership.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>810 E. Main St., Grass Valley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>I know, Grass Valley is not exactly the Bay Area, but this old-fashioned carhop burger joint makes for the perfect pitstop for roadtrippers en route to North Tahoe or the South Yuba River Valley. The burgers are excellent — big and juicy, with crunchy, well-charred edges to the meat. Most notably, Big A’s house-brewed root beer, served ice-cold in frosty mugs, is some of the best I’ve had. And if the idea of a root beer float with\u003cem> free root beer refills \u003c/em>sounds appealing to you, this is most definitely your spot. Recently revived after a yearlong hiatus, the restaurant has kept almost all of its original menu intact, with one notable addition: \u003ca href=\"https://www.theunion.com/news/burgers-and-dumplings-big-a-set-for-return-with-dumplings-in-the-mix/article_be3fcc1e-6da1-4274-bf34-0c8a414bdfc3.html#:~:text=After%20a%20vacancy%20of%20over,entity%20closed%20abruptly%20in%20October\">homemade boiled dumplings\u003c/a> — a nod to the new owner’s family heritage, as well as the deep Chinese history of California’s Gold Country.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>I know, Grass Valley is not exactly the Bay Area, but this old-fashioned carhop burger joint makes for the perfect pitstop for roadtrippers en route to North Tahoe or the South Yuba River Valley. The burgers are excellent — big and juicy, with crunchy, well-charred edges to the meat. Most notably, Big A’s house-brewed root beer, served ice-cold in frosty mugs, is some of the best I’ve had. And if the idea of a root beer float with\u003cem> free root beer refills \u003c/em>sounds appealing to you, this is most definitely your spot. Recently revived after a yearlong hiatus, the restaurant has kept almost all of its original menu intact, with one notable addition: \u003ca href=\"https://www.theunion.com/news/burgers-and-dumplings-big-a-set-for-return-with-dumplings-in-the-mix/article_be3fcc1e-6da1-4274-bf34-0c8a414bdfc3.html#:~:text=After%20a%20vacancy%20of%20over,entity%20closed%20abruptly%20in%20October\">homemade boiled dumplings\u003c/a> — a nod to the new owner’s family heritage, as well as the deep Chinese history of California’s Gold Country.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "The crispiest smash burgers and most nostalgic, old-timey carhops.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Nothing says summer quite like a char-grilled burger and a chocolate shake, enjoyed on a sunny patio or at an old-fashioned carhop with the A/C blasting. Here in the Bay Area, we’re lucky to have the best of both worlds — nostalgic, old-timey burger joints that have been feeding locals since the ’50s or ’60s \u003cem>and \u003c/em>new-school fusion spots that are infusing their burgers with South Asian spices and Mexican al pastor. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here, then, are 10 of my favorite classic — and not-so-classic — spots to grab a delicious burger.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phila Burger Station\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1100 23rd St., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In this age of flashy, Instagram-optimized smash burgers, an old-school joint like Phila Burger Station is a comfort and a joy. The burgers themselves are a bit of a throwback — the beef patties are juicy and decently hefty, with a nice loose grind to them. All of the basic components are great: the crunch of the pickles and the crisp iceberg lettuce, the creamy swipe of mayo, the ooziness of the American cheese — and, if you go for the signature Phila Burger, a luxurious slice of pastrami on top to gild the lily. This is a sloppy burger, a five- or six-napkin burger. Meanwhile, the fries come out blistering hot, and the shop’s Philadelphia namesake isn’t just for show: The cheesesteak is one of the best in the Bay (though purists may want to ask them to hold the lettuce and tomato). And even though the restaurant is just a takeout window, the owner is so friendly and kind that he makes every customer feel like a regular.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed.jpg\" alt=\"An overstuffed burger, fries and soda on a metal try.\" class=\"wp-image-13990064\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/052026Summer-Guide_-Burger-Joints-_GH_004_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Trompo Burger at Johnny Boi. The burger features fire-roasted al pastor pork, grilled pineapple, white American cheese, fried leeks and chipotle sauce. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Johnny Boi \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>201 Tewksbury Ave., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This lively, Mexican American–owned burger joint in Point Richmond has a big, graffiti-inspired mural of Selena, Tupac and Frida Kahlo in the dining room and a crowd-pleasing menu centered on some of the East Bay’s tastiest smash burgers. Johnny Boi does the basics well (I love the beer-battered onion rings) and adds fun, thoughtful extras like the smoky-sweet bacon jam that tops a few of the burgers. The flashiest item is the Trompo, a smash burger topped with pineapple and pork al pastor, both shaved off a vertical spit. This is homegrown fusion, Bay Area style, at its very finest. The restaurant also serves maybe the single best (and most affordable!) kids’ meal in town: $6 for an adorable, perfectly sized mini smash burger and a side of tater tots or fries. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"13990100\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT01377_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A cheeseburger, fries and cola on a metal picnic table.\" class=\"wp-image-13990100\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT01377_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT01377_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT01377_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT01377_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A quarter-pound burger, curly fries and Pepsi. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"13990097\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT00791_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Exterior of a burger restaurant, with a big retro-style "Beep's Burgers" sign.\" class=\"wp-image-13990097\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT00791_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT00791_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT00791_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260520-SUMMERGUIDEBURGERJOINT00791_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A ’60s-era neon sign points the way to Beep’s. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beep’s Burgers \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1051 Ocean Ave., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A perennial contender on assorted Bay Area \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13989331/best-cheap-affordable-restaurant-meals-bay-area-oakland-sf\">cheap eats lists\u003c/a>, this ’60s-era throwback serves some of the city’s tastiest and most reasonably priced (for SF) fast food–style burgers. The burgers have the appealing simplicity I associate with a good backyard cookout: juicy, well-charred patties; fresh toppings; and a squishy, compact bun. Add one of their superlatively slurpable Oreo shakes and an order of garlic fries, and it’s easy to see why Beep’s is the unrivaled favorite of local teens. Night owls, take note: The restaurant \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13972197/beeps-burgers-best-late-night-san-francisco-milkshakes\">stays open until 2 a.m. daily\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread.jpg\" alt=\"Overhead view of a spread of burgers, fries and milkshakes on a picnic table.\" class=\"wp-image-13990118\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/smokehouse-spread-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A spread of burgers and shakes at Smokehouse, a Berkeley classic since 1951. (Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smokehouse\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3115 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A Berkeley institution dating back to 1951, Smokehouse is notable for its emphasis on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985780/smokehouse-berkeley-late-night-burgers-hot-dogs-shakes\">flame-grilled\u003cem> \u003c/em>burgers\u003c/a>. In fact, it’s one of just a handful of Bay Area burger joints that still cook their burger patties and hot dogs over an open fire, adding a deep smoky, charred flavor that’s awfully hard to beat. Most everything on the menu is solid to very good: the shakes, the onion rings, the thick-cut fries. The back patio is super family-friendly, with a big grassy lawn where kids and dogs can run around.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED.jpg\" alt='Colorful red, blue and yellow exterior of a burger shop. The sign reads \"Hyphy Burger.\"' class=\"wp-image-13990018\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260519-HYPHY-BURGER-MD-06-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Hyphy Burger on West Grand Avenue in Oakland. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hyphy Burger \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>898 W. Grand Ave., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No Bay Area burger joint has louder branding than \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13979306/hyphy-burger-grand-opening-west-oakland-guapdad\">Hyphy Burger\u003c/a>, with its sideshow- and hyphy-themed iconography, splashes of bright color, and menu items with names like the “Burnout Burger” and “You Feel Me” sauce. The important thing, though, is that the food actually lives up to the hype. The thin smashed patties on the double Hyphy Burger are crispy and frilly-edged to the extreme, infused with an extra boost of caramelized char. I love the generous pile of thin-sliced grilled onions, and the way the melty American cheese just kind of oozes into the patty as you eat. Meanwhile, the banana pudding and Oreo milkshake — a truly divine combination — gets my highest recommendation. The restaurant has a second, drive-thru-focused location at 9825 International Blvd. in East Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og.jpg\" alt=\"An oozy cheeseburger, just removed from it yellow paper wrapping.\" class=\"wp-image-13990120\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lovelys-og-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The “OG” cheeseburger at Lovely’s: a smashed beef patty, American cheese, pickles and griddled onions on a potato bun. (Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lovely’s \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2344 Webster St., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now located in a shipping container set inside a lovely, string light–bedecked beer garden, this longtime pop-up was an early comer (circa 2018) to the Bay Area’s now-ubiquitous smash burger scene. These days, there are tons of burger joints that traffic in thinner, lacier and more outrageously crunchy exemplars of the form. Where Lovely’s wins over almost everyone, though, is in terms of flavor. The beef patties are so well-seasoned; the rich fattiness of the Cream Co. beef really shines through. Meanwhile, the fries are made with hand-cut Chipperbecs — super-fluffy with a deep, true potato flavor — and even something as simple as caramelized onions gets a bit of extra oomph. (Schmaltz is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.lovelysburgers.com/oakland#anchors-meqiip9y\">not-so-secret ingredient\u003c/a>.) Most days, I go for the simple, classic OG (just American cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and griddled onions on a potato bun), but the Drive-Thru makes for a great change of pace when I crave a fresh iceberg lettuce crunch — and those aforementioned schmaltz onions. The restaurant also has a \u003ca href=\"https://www.lovelysburgers.com/cole-valley\">second location\u003c/a> in San Francisco’s Cole Valley neighborhood.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior.jpg\" alt=\"An old-fashioned burger shop. The sign above reads, "Cecil's Famous Burgers."\" class=\"wp-image-13990121\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cecils-exterior-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cecil’s is a Hayward institution going back to the 1950s, when the restaurant first opened as a Foster’s Freeze. (Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cecil’s Famous Burgers \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>547 Tennyson Rd., Hayward\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This old-fashioned Hayward burger shack has been dishing out classic fast food–style burgers and shakes since the ’50s, when it first \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/234304749943128/posts/8706566282716890/\">opened as a Foster’s Freeze\u003c/a>. These days Cecil’s is using fairly generic pre-frozen burger patties that are mostly notable for their customizability and affordable price: Burger patties come as small as 1/6 of a pound (for just over $6), and all but the most expensive combo meals (with, say, a triple bacon cheeseburger) can be had for less than $15. The standard quarter-pound burger is called a “Bulky.” I ordered mine with crispy pastrami on top, and that extra bit of salty, smoky flavor, combined with a decent char on the patty itself, really hit the spot. Add one of Cecil’s thick chocolate shakes, and you’ll feel like you’re reliving the best part of high school all over again. Note: There are a couple of slightly sketchy-looking metal tables outside, but most customers seem to grab and go.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries.jpg\" alt=\"A burger and fries nestled in a red and white checkered paper wrap.\" class=\"wp-image-13990122\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/ysg-burger-fries-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The desi burgers at YSG Halal are infused with a hit of South Asian spices. (Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">YSG Halal \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>4342 Thornton Ave., Fremont\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This little glass box of a burger shack in a Fremont strip mall specializes in desi burgers — i.e., burgers with South Asian–inspired toppings and spices like cumin and coriander. My favorite is the ChaplYee burger, YSG’s fierce take on Pakistani chapli kebab, which features a super-oniony beef patty loaded with chopped chilies. Pair it with seasoned fries, a tub of the restaurant’s fiendishly addicting SpiceYee sauce and a mango milkshake. How’s that for a Bay Area–style all-American meal? Bonus: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13952384/pakistani-desi-burger-fremont-late-night\">YSG Halal is open to satisfy your desi burger cravings until 1 a.m.\u003c/a> most nights.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dad’s Luncheonette \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>225 Cabrillo Hwy. S., Half Moon Bay\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What happens when a fine dining chef decamps for a simpler life on the California coastline? If you’re lucky, you wind up with the best, and most idiosyncratic, little roadside burger shack in San Mateo County. I use the term “burger” loosely here, as what Dad’s Luncheonette specializes in are “hamburger sandwiches” (a take on a patty melt, essentially) and they are phenomenal: juicy and well-seasoned and crowned with a runny-yolked fried egg, served on grilled white bread from Pacifica’s Rosalind Bakery. Located in an old train caboose that’s been converted into a diner, Dad’s has all the quaint seaside charm a daytripper — or local — could ask for.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer.jpg\" alt=\"A paper-wrapped burger, a sleeve of fries and a root beer float in a frosty mug.\" class=\"wp-image-13990123\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/big-a-root-beer-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">At Big A, the root beer floats come with unlimited root beer refills. The Grass Valley classic recently reopened under new ownership. (Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Big A Root Beer Drive-In \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>810 E. Main St., Grass Valley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I know, Grass Valley is not exactly the Bay Area, but this old-fashioned carhop burger joint makes for the perfect pitstop for roadtrippers en route to North Tahoe or the South Yuba River Valley. The burgers are excellent — big and juicy, with crunchy, well-charred edges to the meat. Most notably, Big A’s house-brewed root beer, served ice-cold in frosty mugs, is some of the best I’ve had. And if the idea of a root beer float with\u003cem> free root beer refills \u003c/em>sounds appealing to you, this is most definitely your spot. Recently revived after a yearlong hiatus, the restaurant has kept almost all of its original menu intact, with one notable addition: \u003ca href=\"https://www.theunion.com/news/burgers-and-dumplings-big-a-set-for-return-with-dumplings-in-the-mix/article_be3fcc1e-6da1-4274-bf34-0c8a414bdfc3.html#:~:text=After%20a%20vacancy%20of%20over,entity%20closed%20abruptly%20in%20October\">homemade boiled dumplings\u003c/a> — a nod to the new owner’s family heritage, as well as the deep Chinese history of California’s Gold Country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "lake-merritt-dog-contest-oakland-2026",
"title": "The Lake Merritt Dog Contest Is Basically the Best Thing That’s Ever Happened",
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"headTitle": "The Lake Merritt Dog Contest Is Basically the Best Thing That’s Ever Happened | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"354\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Lake-Merritt-Dog-Contest-final-672x372.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Photos of five different breeds of dogs arranged on a grid.\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Lake-Merritt-Dog-Contest-final-672x372.jpg 672w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Lake-Merritt-Dog-Contest-final-1038x576.jpg 1038w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s May! That means it’s time to vote! Yes, in the gubernatorial primaries and all of that stress-inducing malarkey. But there’s another important election happening in Oakland that you may not have heard about yet. It’s a race for those of us who need a treat after participating in actual politics. It’s a competition featuring only the best bois, niftiest grrls and stinkiest butts who’ve spread joy in the Town this year. It’s the \u003ca href=\"https://www.lakemerrittdogcontest.com/\">Lake Merritt Dog Contest\u003c/a> and voting is open right the heck now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are 145 floofers on the ballot for 2026 – the fifth year of this contest — and voters get to pick three pups each, which is only right and natural because picking just one is entirely impossible. This (not so) short list has everything! There are dogs named after celebrities, like Sasha Fierce, Archie Bon Jovi and Stan Lee. There are dogs rescued from organizations like Muttville, Family Dog, the SPCA, Oakland Animal Services and the Hawaiian Humane Society. And there are dogs — oh so many dogs — wearing hats for some reason.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"928\" data-id=\"13989953\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/dogs-in-hats-2000x928.jpg\" alt=\"four dog images with descriptive text below\" class=\"wp-image-13989953\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/dogs-in-hats-2000x928.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/dogs-in-hats-160x74.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/dogs-in-hats-768x356.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/dogs-in-hats-1536x713.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/dogs-in-hats-2048x951.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A sampling of this year’s behatted contestants. (Courtesy of the Lake Merritt Dog Contest)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Longtime Oakland resident Nathan Porter started the contest back in 2022 as a post-pandemic means of raising community spirits. Porter, by day an AV and sound technician, initially put up flyers around his neighborhood for a “Vernon Street Dog Contest” and was genuinely surprised when scores of people signed up. Less surprising (given the fact that so many of his friends immediately embraced voting) was the fact that Porter’s own dog Maggie won Top Dog. This year, Porter has entered his current pup, a shepherd mix named Lisa who is “Lake Merritt’s gentlest gentle giant.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The greatest twist of the Lake Merritt Dog Contest — the name changed when Porter relocated to Cleveland Heights — is that truthfully, every dog who enters wins, in their own way. Each is crowned with their very own superlative (Best Dressed, Sweetest Mama, Most Artistic, Classiest Canine, Best Personality, etc.) and the pups that make it to the annual awards ceremony are presented with a trophy and certificate. That, Porter says, is because “every dog is the best dog.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Another twist? Not every dog is an actual dog. In 2023, second place went to a tiny horse named Cupcake. (“Though she may not appear as a dog,” her profile read, “this Shetland pony is just a large ball of fur, ready to snuggle up in your lap.”) Last year, third place went to a cat named Richard. (“He has a penis for a face and thinks he’s a dog” was his entire description.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1238\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cupcake-richard-2000x1238.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13989956\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cupcake-richard-2000x1238.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cupcake-richard-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cupcake-richard-768x475.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cupcake-richard-1536x951.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cupcake-richard-2048x1267.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cupcake and Richard: also ‘Best Dogs.’\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The contest has always been open to dogs of all kinds,” Porter tells KQED. “I’ve known people my whole life that are like, ‘Oh, I’m more of a dog person but my cat acts just like a dog.’ So, you know, I figured, let’s have a very inclusive practice.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year’s contest includes Beanie, a cat who loves “to play fetch & cuddle up at the foot of the bed every night. They’ve got a loud bark & will let you know when they enter the room or tell you to stop coughing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Voting, which began on May 17, closes on Sunday, May 31. This year’s awards ceremony will be held the same day near Lake Merritt’s iconic Fairyland sign. Porter organizes and funds everything relating to the contest entirely on his own — including hiring musician \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/jw__francis/\">JW Francis\u003c/a> to write a theme tune for the competition last year. Which, incidentally, sounds like pure unfiltered sunshine: \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRkdGJR2qAk\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Porter’s primary future goal is to find a volunteer skywriter to show the competing dogs some love in the East Bay heavens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The contest does cost me money,” Porter says, “but, I don’t know, it’s worth it. It’s fun. It’s making people happy, and I’m happy doing it. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors and other dogs out there. It’s just really nice to have that sense of familiarity with all of your neighbors, both human and canine.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>You can vote for your favorite dogs at the \u003ca href=\"https://vote.lakemerrittdogcontest.com/\">Lake Merritt Dog Contest\u003c/a>’s website now. Details of all things relating to the contest, present and future, can be found by following the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lakemerritt_dogcontest/\">official Instagram account\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s May! That means it’s time to vote! Yes, in the gubernatorial primaries and all of that stress-inducing malarkey. But there’s another important election happening in Oakland that you may not have heard about yet. It’s a race for those of us who need a treat after participating in actual politics. It’s a competition featuring only the best bois, niftiest grrls and stinkiest butts who’ve spread joy in the Town this year. It’s the \u003ca href=\"https://www.lakemerrittdogcontest.com/\">Lake Merritt Dog Contest\u003c/a> and voting is open right the heck now.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There are 145 floofers on the ballot for 2026 – the fifth year of this contest — and voters get to pick three pups each, which is only right and natural because picking just one is entirely impossible. This (not so) short list has everything! There are dogs named after celebrities, like Sasha Fierce, Archie Bon Jovi and Stan Lee. There are dogs rescued from organizations like Muttville, Family Dog, the SPCA, Oakland Animal Services and the Hawaiian Humane Society. And there are dogs — oh so many dogs — wearing hats for some reason.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There are 145 floofers on the ballot for 2026 – the fifth year of this contest — and voters get to pick three pups each, which is only right and natural because picking just one is entirely impossible. This (not so) short list has everything! There are dogs named after celebrities, like Sasha Fierce, Archie Bon Jovi and Stan Lee. There are dogs rescued from organizations like Muttville, Family Dog, the SPCA, Oakland Animal Services and the Hawaiian Humane Society. And there are dogs — oh so many dogs — wearing hats for some reason.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Longtime Oakland resident Nathan Porter started the contest back in 2022 as a post-pandemic means of raising community spirits. Porter, by day an AV and sound technician, initially put up flyers around his neighborhood for a “Vernon Street Dog Contest” and was genuinely surprised when scores of people signed up. Less surprising (given the fact that so many of his friends immediately embraced voting) was the fact that Porter’s own dog Maggie won Top Dog. This year, Porter has entered his current pup, a shepherd mix named Lisa who is “Lake Merritt’s gentlest gentle giant.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Longtime Oakland resident Nathan Porter started the contest back in 2022 as a post-pandemic means of raising community spirits. Porter, by day an AV and sound technician, initially put up flyers around his neighborhood for a “Vernon Street Dog Contest” and was genuinely surprised when scores of people signed up. Less surprising (given the fact that so many of his friends immediately embraced voting) was the fact that Porter’s own dog Maggie won Top Dog. This year, Porter has entered his current pup, a shepherd mix named Lisa who is “Lake Merritt’s gentlest gentle giant.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The greatest twist of the Lake Merritt Dog Contest — the name changed when Porter relocated to Cleveland Heights — is that truthfully, every dog who enters wins, in their own way. Each is crowned with their very own superlative (Best Dressed, Sweetest Mama, Most Artistic, Classiest Canine, Best Personality, etc.) and the pups that make it to the annual awards ceremony are presented with a trophy and certificate. That, Porter says, is because “every dog is the best dog.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Another twist? Not every dog is an actual dog. In 2023, second place went to a tiny horse named Cupcake. (“Though she may not appear as a dog,” her profile read, “this Shetland pony is just a large ball of fur, ready to snuggle up in your lap.”) Last year, third place went to a cat named Richard. (“He has a penis for a face and thinks he’s a dog” was his entire description.)\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The contest has always been open to dogs of all kinds,” Porter tells KQED. “I’ve known people my whole life that are like, ‘Oh, I’m more of a dog person but my cat acts just like a dog.’ So, you know, I figured, let’s have a very inclusive practice.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The contest has always been open to dogs of all kinds,” Porter tells KQED. “I’ve known people my whole life that are like, ‘Oh, I’m more of a dog person but my cat acts just like a dog.’ So, you know, I figured, let’s have a very inclusive practice.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This year’s contest includes Beanie, a cat who loves “to play fetch & cuddle up at the foot of the bed every night. They’ve got a loud bark & will let you know when they enter the room or tell you to stop coughing.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Voting, which began on May 17, closes on Sunday, May 31. This year’s awards ceremony will be held the same day near Lake Merritt’s iconic Fairyland sign. Porter organizes and funds everything relating to the contest entirely on his own — including hiring musician \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/jw__francis/\">JW Francis\u003c/a> to write a theme tune for the competition last year. Which, incidentally, sounds like pure unfiltered sunshine: \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Voting, which began on May 17, closes on Sunday, May 31. This year’s awards ceremony will be held the same day near Lake Merritt’s iconic Fairyland sign. Porter organizes and funds everything relating to the contest entirely on his own — including hiring musician \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/jw__francis/\">JW Francis\u003c/a> to write a theme tune for the competition last year. Which, incidentally, sounds like pure unfiltered sunshine: \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Porter’s primary future goal is to find a volunteer skywriter to show the competing dogs some love in the East Bay heavens.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The contest does cost me money,” Porter says, “but, I don’t know, it’s worth it. It’s fun. It’s making people happy, and I’m happy doing it. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors and other dogs out there. It’s just really nice to have that sense of familiarity with all of your neighbors, both human and canine.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The contest does cost me money,” Porter says, “but, I don’t know, it’s worth it. It’s fun. It’s making people happy, and I’m happy doing it. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors and other dogs out there. It’s just really nice to have that sense of familiarity with all of your neighbors, both human and canine.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>You can vote for your favorite dogs at the \u003ca href=\"https://vote.lakemerrittdogcontest.com/\">Lake Merritt Dog Contest\u003c/a>’s website now. Details of all things relating to the contest, present and future, can be found by following the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lakemerritt_dogcontest/\">official Instagram account\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Voting is live for the extremely pure fifth annual Oakland event, in which ‘every dog is the best dog.’",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"354\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Lake-Merritt-Dog-Contest-final-672x372.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Photos of five different breeds of dogs arranged on a grid.\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Lake-Merritt-Dog-Contest-final-672x372.jpg 672w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Lake-Merritt-Dog-Contest-final-1038x576.jpg 1038w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s May! That means it’s time to vote! Yes, in the gubernatorial primaries and all of that stress-inducing malarkey. But there’s another important election happening in Oakland that you may not have heard about yet. It’s a race for those of us who need a treat after participating in actual politics. It’s a competition featuring only the best bois, niftiest grrls and stinkiest butts who’ve spread joy in the Town this year. It’s the \u003ca href=\"https://www.lakemerrittdogcontest.com/\">Lake Merritt Dog Contest\u003c/a> and voting is open right the heck now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are 145 floofers on the ballot for 2026 – the fifth year of this contest — and voters get to pick three pups each, which is only right and natural because picking just one is entirely impossible. This (not so) short list has everything! There are dogs named after celebrities, like Sasha Fierce, Archie Bon Jovi and Stan Lee. There are dogs rescued from organizations like Muttville, Family Dog, the SPCA, Oakland Animal Services and the Hawaiian Humane Society. And there are dogs — oh so many dogs — wearing hats for some reason.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"928\" data-id=\"13989953\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/dogs-in-hats-2000x928.jpg\" alt=\"four dog images with descriptive text below\" class=\"wp-image-13989953\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/dogs-in-hats-2000x928.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/dogs-in-hats-160x74.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/dogs-in-hats-768x356.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/dogs-in-hats-1536x713.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/dogs-in-hats-2048x951.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A sampling of this year’s behatted contestants. (Courtesy of the Lake Merritt Dog Contest)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Longtime Oakland resident Nathan Porter started the contest back in 2022 as a post-pandemic means of raising community spirits. Porter, by day an AV and sound technician, initially put up flyers around his neighborhood for a “Vernon Street Dog Contest” and was genuinely surprised when scores of people signed up. Less surprising (given the fact that so many of his friends immediately embraced voting) was the fact that Porter’s own dog Maggie won Top Dog. This year, Porter has entered his current pup, a shepherd mix named Lisa who is “Lake Merritt’s gentlest gentle giant.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The greatest twist of the Lake Merritt Dog Contest — the name changed when Porter relocated to Cleveland Heights — is that truthfully, every dog who enters wins, in their own way. Each is crowned with their very own superlative (Best Dressed, Sweetest Mama, Most Artistic, Classiest Canine, Best Personality, etc.) and the pups that make it to the annual awards ceremony are presented with a trophy and certificate. That, Porter says, is because “every dog is the best dog.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Another twist? Not every dog is an actual dog. In 2023, second place went to a tiny horse named Cupcake. (“Though she may not appear as a dog,” her profile read, “this Shetland pony is just a large ball of fur, ready to snuggle up in your lap.”) Last year, third place went to a cat named Richard. (“He has a penis for a face and thinks he’s a dog” was his entire description.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1238\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cupcake-richard-2000x1238.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13989956\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cupcake-richard-2000x1238.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cupcake-richard-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cupcake-richard-768x475.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cupcake-richard-1536x951.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/cupcake-richard-2048x1267.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cupcake and Richard: also ‘Best Dogs.’\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The contest has always been open to dogs of all kinds,” Porter tells KQED. “I’ve known people my whole life that are like, ‘Oh, I’m more of a dog person but my cat acts just like a dog.’ So, you know, I figured, let’s have a very inclusive practice.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year’s contest includes Beanie, a cat who loves “to play fetch & cuddle up at the foot of the bed every night. They’ve got a loud bark & will let you know when they enter the room or tell you to stop coughing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Voting, which began on May 17, closes on Sunday, May 31. This year’s awards ceremony will be held the same day near Lake Merritt’s iconic Fairyland sign. Porter organizes and funds everything relating to the contest entirely on his own — including hiring musician \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/jw__francis/\">JW Francis\u003c/a> to write a theme tune for the competition last year. Which, incidentally, sounds like pure unfiltered sunshine: \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/GRkdGJR2qAk'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/GRkdGJR2qAk'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Porter’s primary future goal is to find a volunteer skywriter to show the competing dogs some love in the East Bay heavens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The contest does cost me money,” Porter says, “but, I don’t know, it’s worth it. It’s fun. It’s making people happy, and I’m happy doing it. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors and other dogs out there. It’s just really nice to have that sense of familiarity with all of your neighbors, both human and canine.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>You can vote for your favorite dogs at the \u003ca href=\"https://vote.lakemerrittdogcontest.com/\">Lake Merritt Dog Contest\u003c/a>’s website now. Details of all things relating to the contest, present and future, can be found by following the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lakemerritt_dogcontest/\">official Instagram account\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Can Boots Riley’s ‘I Love Boosters’ Make the Revolution Sexy?",
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"headTitle": "Can Boots Riley’s ‘I Love Boosters’ Make the Revolution Sexy? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>When \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/boots-riley\">Boots Riley\u003c/a> looks back at his debut feature, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13836455/in-sorry-to-bother-you-an-alternate-universe-oakland-is-still-true-and-familiar\">\u003cem>Sorry to Bother You\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, it’s not the rave reviews, near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score or $18 million in box office revenue that stand out. It’s the messages he got from labor organizers. Dozens wrote to tell him they swayed their colleagues to form unions or authorize strikes after showing them his film, about a call center worker who discovers a shady corporate conspiracy to turn people into literal workhorses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There was a story of a guy in Baltimore who told me that there was going to be a 60-person show of hands on whether they want to make a union,” Riley tells KQED. “It was going to be kind of a nail-biter. … [Then] somebody yelled, ‘Equasapiens! Let’s be out!’ And then the whole crowd erupted in laughter, and every single person raised their hands.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Set in the Bay Area, Riley’s sophomore film \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> follows Corvette (Keke Palmer), Mariah (Taylour Paige) and Sade (Naomi Ackie) as they steal high-end designer clothes and resell them at discount prices. In their eyes, they’re doing fashion-forward (f)ilanthropy while keeping themselves financially afloat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before long, their cartoonish heists get them caught up in a rivalry with the elitist fashion mogul Christie Smith (Demi Moore), whose lofty diatribes about her art cloak a conservative, tough-on-crime political agenda. The Velvet Gang, as the boosters are known, join forces with retail worker Violeta (Eiza González) and Chinese garment worker Jianhu (Poppy Liu) to take down Smith through a surreal scheme that unspools reality and unveils a heinous secret.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using art to fuel a mass working-class movement has been an ambition of Riley’s since he got his start as a rapper in the early ’90s with his group, The Coup. With \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em>, the 55-year-old activist-turned-director arrives at a new height of his career: His first wide-release feature, with a star-studded cast, backing from prestige production company NEON and a $20 million budget, all to create a technicolor, eye-popping ode to the power of collective organizing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988896\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988896\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2000x879.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-160x70.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-768x338.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-1536x675.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2048x900.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Naomi Ackie, Keke Palmer, Poppy Liu and Taylour Paige in ‘I Love Boosters.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of NEON)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Riley has spent years \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcrYJALWWLE&t=1s\">giving talks\u003c/a> about how, a century ago, labor strikes forced politicians to create basic social welfare programs that helped lift working people out of poverty. He wants to bring that back. “We need a mass, militant, radical labor movement that uses the withholding of labor as a tactic and strategy to affect policy change,” he says. With today’s income inequality \u003ca href=\"https://robertreich.substack.com/p/from-the-robber-barons-to-elon-musk\">drawing comparisons to the Gilded Age\u003c/a>, \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> is Riley’s bet on whether he can make the revolution sexy, and whether he can use the ultra-capitalist Hollywood system for his decidedly anti-capitalist ends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What gets people to get involved in things is not anger or fear,” Riley says. “It’s optimism that there’s something that they can do. And so that’s what my writing normally is, is pointing to what actually can be done.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Boots on the ground\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Long before he touched the microphone or picked up a camera, Riley was a community organizer. Born in Chicago and raised in Oakland by activist parents (his father, civil rights lawyer \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/lift-every-voice/article/Walter-Riley-16219770.php\">Walter Riley\u003c/a>, fought segregation in the South and later participated in San Francisco State University’s Third World Liberation strikes), Riley was 14 years old when neighborhood organizers recruited him and other youth to support Watsonville Cannery workers. He passed out flyers and helped organize rallies as the workers waged an \u003ca href=\"https://unityarchiveproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Victoria.pdf\">18-month strike\u003c/a> that became one of the biggest organized labor victories of the 1980s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riley’s activism didn’t stop, even as The Coup inked a major record deal and made their debut with the funky yet militant album \u003cem>Kill My Landlord\u003c/em> in 1993. In the mid ’90s, Riley helped lead a group called the Young Comrades to \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1-k03bE8DY\">protest an anti-cruising law\u003c/a> that effectively criminalized Black youth hanging out at Lake Merritt. (A 1996 \u003cem>Oakland Tribune\u003c/em> op-ed chastised them for “rudely and repeatedly” interrupting city council meetings.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988894\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988894\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-2000x1334.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boots Riley on the set of ‘I Love Boosters.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of NEON)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>His frontline work continued in the 2000s, when he organized guerrilla hip-hop concerts to protest a state law that increased criminal penalties for juvenile offenders. In 2011, during Occupy Oakland, he helped coordinate tens of thousands of people in a general strike that shut down the Port of Oakland. And in the years since, even as his star rose in Hollywood, he’s taken to the streets at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13851697/boots-riley-spoke-at-the-oakland-teachers-strike-heres-what-he-said\">teachers strikes\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13933709/oakland-filmmaker-boots-riley-on-hollywood-strikes-radicalizing-creative-class\">the Hollywood writers strike\u003c/a> and anti-ICE protests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The idea then was the same as my idea now,” Riley says of his evolution, “which is to get the working class involved in class struggle.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The absurdity of the rat race\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In \u003cem>I Love Boosters, \u003c/em>Riley operates in a different mode than the political theorist version of himself that gives erudite speeches at rallies and in \u003cem>Democracy Now\u003c/em> interviews. As a screenwriter and director, he’s weirder and looser, submerging viewers in a candy-colored world where he amplifies every indignity of life as a low-wage worker. The effect is hilarious, yet maddening enough to make viewers want to join the characters on the picket line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Corvette and the Velvet Gang get jobs at Christie Smith’s fast-fashion chain, 30-second lunch breaks that start like track-and-field races leave them panting; their paychecks amount to chump change because they’re forced to buy designer outfits to wear on the job. Later, when we meet Jianhu, we find out the Chinese factory workers are sick because Smith orders them to distress denim by sandblasting it with absurdly large amounts of industrial chemicals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989010\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989010 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actress Eiza González (left), Boots Riley (center), director of the movie “I Love Boosters,” and actress Poppy Liu (right) pose at a red carpet event for the movie ‘I Love Boosters’ near the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on April 28, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This is part of Boots’ genius in that he wields satire as a genre really expertly,” says Poppy Liu, whose sharp-tongued Jianhu is an unexpected moral center of the film.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Corvette loses her housing and is squatting in an abandoned fast-food restaurant, unable to see the bigger picture of class solidarity because her mounting financial problems pose the more immediate threat. Her fixation on Smith feels personal, tinged with admiration and jealousy. It’s Jianhu who realizes that joining Corvette in her vendetta can lead to massive gains for exploited laborers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two characters’ dynamic embodies a lesson about coalition-building that Riley learned in his organizing days. “People start making sacrifices for each other because they start understanding how intertwined things are,” he says. “It starts with understanding that a situation in which people have solidarity is helping your own personal interests as well. And from that grows a different kind of consciousness.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Honestly, those themes were the biggest thing that got me excited about the movie,” Liu says.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Making class solidarity accessible\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Other cast members had different entry points into the sometimes heady political ideas in \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em>. For Eiza González, it was personal conversations with Riley about her family in Mexico; she shared that her mom was one of eight children from a humble family that couldn’t afford basic necessities like healthcare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>González’s cool-girl Violeta is a secret wonk who delivers a passionate monologue about the Marxist concept of dialectical materialism at a crucial turning point in the film. She mustered the fire for her role as conversations on set turned to how, across cultures and borders, working people struggle to get by as the 1% makes record profits from their labor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989008\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989008 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actress Eiza González poses at a red carpet event for the movie, ‘I Love Boosters,’ near the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on April 28, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He weirdly built the characters with us without us realizing, if that makes sense, which was amazing,” González says. “It was a different experience, but once you were in the character, you were believing it at its core.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While LaKeith Stanfield, who starred in \u003cem>Sorry to Bother You\u003c/em>, shares many of Riley’s viewpoints on class inequality, he brings a wackiness and levity to \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> that helps make the film accessible and entertaining.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989011\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989011 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actor LaKeith Stanfield poses at a red carpet event for the movie ‘I Love Boosters’ near the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on April 28, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Anytime I can just be a part of a Boots Riley movie, I mean, even if I’m playing someone’s toe, I’m glad to be there,” Stanfield says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His character is a supernatural being who uses his oral sex skills for nefarious ends, and he brings much-needed hilarity to a story that’s largely about labor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope that people can be entertained and have a good laugh and gawk at the spectacle,” Stanfield says, “but also maybe look into some of our industry and … what effects we have on the global market and global labor. And also maybe take a look at, hopefully, the importance of us being a unit and being together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Thorny questions around Hollywood money\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Making a wide-release feature film with a not-so-secret socialist agenda has its challenges — chiefly, getting it funded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For all who are eager to praise Riley’s activist bona fides (“He’s always been an anti-capitalist baddie,” Liu says), some observers on social media have criticized his willingness to take money from the film’s executive producer, Annapurna Pictures founder and Oracle heiress Megan Ellison.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988897\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13988897 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1247\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2000x974.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-160x78.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-768x374.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-1536x748.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2048x998.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige and Keke Palmer star in ‘I Love Boosters.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of NEON)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Ellison hasn’t donated to political campaigns and \u003ca href=\"https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/megan-ellison-second-coming-nimona-1235842667/\">tends to finance left-leaning prestige cinema\u003c/a>. But her father, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/10/06/nx-s1-5560216/who-is-larry-ellison-the-billionaire-trump-friend-whos-part-of-the-tiktok-takeover\">far-right billionaire Larry Ellison\u003c/a>, and her brother, David, head a media empire that controls a massive swath of television, film and social media, including Paramount, TikTok and, if a pending deal goes through, Warner Brothers Discovery. The senior Ellison has been accused of \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-05-08/press-freedom-groups-allege-larry-ellison-has-promised-to-fire-cnn-anchors\">wielding his power to silence President Donald Trump’s critics\u003c/a>. So the source of Megan Ellison’s wealth has \u003ca href=\"https://brokeassstuart.com/p/wait-they-re-trying-to-cancel-boots-riley-now\">drawn scrutiny from some would-be supporters of Riley’s work\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Has Riley ever felt tension around using the Hollywood system to tell his anti-capitalist stories? He says no.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m not trying to be like, ‘Oh, I’ve got a pure way for you to take in your entertainment,’” he says.[aside postID=arts_13989013 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00657_TV_qed.jpg']“From the theater chains to the streamers, to the studios and funders big enough to do something that’s big enough for millions of people to see — you’re there,” he continues. “You’re mixed up in everything.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While \u003cem>Sorry to Bother You\u003c/em> started its theatrical run in only 100 theaters, \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> will hit 2,500 screens Memorial Day weekend. After its world premiere at South By Southwest, Riley has been building word-of-mouth hype by throwing small screenings on college campuses, where he’s shown up to talk to students personally. But grassroots campaigning alone can’t create the magnitude of impact he’s aiming for, he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you don’t have a goal of revolution, then it’s easier to say, ‘Hey, I just need to have my hands clean of this, and let me make a commune in the woods,’” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riley is hopeful that the kind of radical social change he’s spent his life advocating for will come. He points to the post-pandemic strike wave, during which the U.S. saw a \u003ca href=\"https://www.epi.org/publication/major-strike-activity-in-2023/\">280% increase in strikes in 2023 from the year before\u003c/a>. More recently, in January of this year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/02/minneapolis-minnesotas-general-strike-ice-border-patrol-trump/\">Minnesota unions and activists mounted a one-day general strike\u003c/a> to protest ICE abuses in their city, inspiring similar actions across the nation. For Riley, it’s only the beginning. With \u003cem>I Love Boosters, \u003c/em>he wants to remind viewers of their ability to stand together and tip the scales of power.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I want the result of millions of people getting involved in class struggle, joining organizations, all of that,” he says, “because that is the only thing that can actually change the situation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "With his stylish new satire, the Oakland director places a bet that art can fuel a mass labor movement. \r\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>When \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/boots-riley\">Boots Riley\u003c/a> looks back at his debut feature, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13836455/in-sorry-to-bother-you-an-alternate-universe-oakland-is-still-true-and-familiar\">\u003cem>Sorry to Bother You\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, it’s not the rave reviews, near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score or $18 million in box office revenue that stand out. It’s the messages he got from labor organizers. Dozens wrote to tell him they swayed their colleagues to form unions or authorize strikes after showing them his film, about a call center worker who discovers a shady corporate conspiracy to turn people into literal workhorses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There was a story of a guy in Baltimore who told me that there was going to be a 60-person show of hands on whether they want to make a union,” Riley tells KQED. “It was going to be kind of a nail-biter. … [Then] somebody yelled, ‘Equasapiens! Let’s be out!’ And then the whole crowd erupted in laughter, and every single person raised their hands.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Set in the Bay Area, Riley’s sophomore film \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> follows Corvette (Keke Palmer), Mariah (Taylour Paige) and Sade (Naomi Ackie) as they steal high-end designer clothes and resell them at discount prices. In their eyes, they’re doing fashion-forward (f)ilanthropy while keeping themselves financially afloat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before long, their cartoonish heists get them caught up in a rivalry with the elitist fashion mogul Christie Smith (Demi Moore), whose lofty diatribes about her art cloak a conservative, tough-on-crime political agenda. The Velvet Gang, as the boosters are known, join forces with retail worker Violeta (Eiza González) and Chinese garment worker Jianhu (Poppy Liu) to take down Smith through a surreal scheme that unspools reality and unveils a heinous secret.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using art to fuel a mass working-class movement has been an ambition of Riley’s since he got his start as a rapper in the early ’90s with his group, The Coup. With \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em>, the 55-year-old activist-turned-director arrives at a new height of his career: His first wide-release feature, with a star-studded cast, backing from prestige production company NEON and a $20 million budget, all to create a technicolor, eye-popping ode to the power of collective organizing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988896\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988896\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2000x879.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-160x70.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-768x338.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-1536x675.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2048x900.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Naomi Ackie, Keke Palmer, Poppy Liu and Taylour Paige in ‘I Love Boosters.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of NEON)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Riley has spent years \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcrYJALWWLE&t=1s\">giving talks\u003c/a> about how, a century ago, labor strikes forced politicians to create basic social welfare programs that helped lift working people out of poverty. He wants to bring that back. “We need a mass, militant, radical labor movement that uses the withholding of labor as a tactic and strategy to affect policy change,” he says. With today’s income inequality \u003ca href=\"https://robertreich.substack.com/p/from-the-robber-barons-to-elon-musk\">drawing comparisons to the Gilded Age\u003c/a>, \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> is Riley’s bet on whether he can make the revolution sexy, and whether he can use the ultra-capitalist Hollywood system for his decidedly anti-capitalist ends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What gets people to get involved in things is not anger or fear,” Riley says. “It’s optimism that there’s something that they can do. And so that’s what my writing normally is, is pointing to what actually can be done.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Boots on the ground\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Long before he touched the microphone or picked up a camera, Riley was a community organizer. Born in Chicago and raised in Oakland by activist parents (his father, civil rights lawyer \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/lift-every-voice/article/Walter-Riley-16219770.php\">Walter Riley\u003c/a>, fought segregation in the South and later participated in San Francisco State University’s Third World Liberation strikes), Riley was 14 years old when neighborhood organizers recruited him and other youth to support Watsonville Cannery workers. He passed out flyers and helped organize rallies as the workers waged an \u003ca href=\"https://unityarchiveproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Victoria.pdf\">18-month strike\u003c/a> that became one of the biggest organized labor victories of the 1980s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riley’s activism didn’t stop, even as The Coup inked a major record deal and made their debut with the funky yet militant album \u003cem>Kill My Landlord\u003c/em> in 1993. In the mid ’90s, Riley helped lead a group called the Young Comrades to \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1-k03bE8DY\">protest an anti-cruising law\u003c/a> that effectively criminalized Black youth hanging out at Lake Merritt. (A 1996 \u003cem>Oakland Tribune\u003c/em> op-ed chastised them for “rudely and repeatedly” interrupting city council meetings.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988894\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988894\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-2000x1334.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boots Riley on the set of ‘I Love Boosters.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of NEON)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>His frontline work continued in the 2000s, when he organized guerrilla hip-hop concerts to protest a state law that increased criminal penalties for juvenile offenders. In 2011, during Occupy Oakland, he helped coordinate tens of thousands of people in a general strike that shut down the Port of Oakland. And in the years since, even as his star rose in Hollywood, he’s taken to the streets at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13851697/boots-riley-spoke-at-the-oakland-teachers-strike-heres-what-he-said\">teachers strikes\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13933709/oakland-filmmaker-boots-riley-on-hollywood-strikes-radicalizing-creative-class\">the Hollywood writers strike\u003c/a> and anti-ICE protests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The idea then was the same as my idea now,” Riley says of his evolution, “which is to get the working class involved in class struggle.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The absurdity of the rat race\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In \u003cem>I Love Boosters, \u003c/em>Riley operates in a different mode than the political theorist version of himself that gives erudite speeches at rallies and in \u003cem>Democracy Now\u003c/em> interviews. As a screenwriter and director, he’s weirder and looser, submerging viewers in a candy-colored world where he amplifies every indignity of life as a low-wage worker. The effect is hilarious, yet maddening enough to make viewers want to join the characters on the picket line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Corvette and the Velvet Gang get jobs at Christie Smith’s fast-fashion chain, 30-second lunch breaks that start like track-and-field races leave them panting; their paychecks amount to chump change because they’re forced to buy designer outfits to wear on the job. Later, when we meet Jianhu, we find out the Chinese factory workers are sick because Smith orders them to distress denim by sandblasting it with absurdly large amounts of industrial chemicals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989010\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989010 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actress Eiza González (left), Boots Riley (center), director of the movie “I Love Boosters,” and actress Poppy Liu (right) pose at a red carpet event for the movie ‘I Love Boosters’ near the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on April 28, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This is part of Boots’ genius in that he wields satire as a genre really expertly,” says Poppy Liu, whose sharp-tongued Jianhu is an unexpected moral center of the film.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Corvette loses her housing and is squatting in an abandoned fast-food restaurant, unable to see the bigger picture of class solidarity because her mounting financial problems pose the more immediate threat. Her fixation on Smith feels personal, tinged with admiration and jealousy. It’s Jianhu who realizes that joining Corvette in her vendetta can lead to massive gains for exploited laborers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two characters’ dynamic embodies a lesson about coalition-building that Riley learned in his organizing days. “People start making sacrifices for each other because they start understanding how intertwined things are,” he says. “It starts with understanding that a situation in which people have solidarity is helping your own personal interests as well. And from that grows a different kind of consciousness.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Honestly, those themes were the biggest thing that got me excited about the movie,” Liu says.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Making class solidarity accessible\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Other cast members had different entry points into the sometimes heady political ideas in \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em>. For Eiza González, it was personal conversations with Riley about her family in Mexico; she shared that her mom was one of eight children from a humble family that couldn’t afford basic necessities like healthcare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>González’s cool-girl Violeta is a secret wonk who delivers a passionate monologue about the Marxist concept of dialectical materialism at a crucial turning point in the film. She mustered the fire for her role as conversations on set turned to how, across cultures and borders, working people struggle to get by as the 1% makes record profits from their labor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989008\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989008 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actress Eiza González poses at a red carpet event for the movie, ‘I Love Boosters,’ near the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on April 28, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He weirdly built the characters with us without us realizing, if that makes sense, which was amazing,” González says. “It was a different experience, but once you were in the character, you were believing it at its core.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While LaKeith Stanfield, who starred in \u003cem>Sorry to Bother You\u003c/em>, shares many of Riley’s viewpoints on class inequality, he brings a wackiness and levity to \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> that helps make the film accessible and entertaining.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989011\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989011 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actor LaKeith Stanfield poses at a red carpet event for the movie ‘I Love Boosters’ near the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on April 28, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Anytime I can just be a part of a Boots Riley movie, I mean, even if I’m playing someone’s toe, I’m glad to be there,” Stanfield says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His character is a supernatural being who uses his oral sex skills for nefarious ends, and he brings much-needed hilarity to a story that’s largely about labor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope that people can be entertained and have a good laugh and gawk at the spectacle,” Stanfield says, “but also maybe look into some of our industry and … what effects we have on the global market and global labor. And also maybe take a look at, hopefully, the importance of us being a unit and being together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Thorny questions around Hollywood money\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Making a wide-release feature film with a not-so-secret socialist agenda has its challenges — chiefly, getting it funded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For all who are eager to praise Riley’s activist bona fides (“He’s always been an anti-capitalist baddie,” Liu says), some observers on social media have criticized his willingness to take money from the film’s executive producer, Annapurna Pictures founder and Oracle heiress Megan Ellison.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988897\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13988897 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1247\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2000x974.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-160x78.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-768x374.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-1536x748.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2048x998.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige and Keke Palmer star in ‘I Love Boosters.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of NEON)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Ellison hasn’t donated to political campaigns and \u003ca href=\"https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/megan-ellison-second-coming-nimona-1235842667/\">tends to finance left-leaning prestige cinema\u003c/a>. But her father, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/10/06/nx-s1-5560216/who-is-larry-ellison-the-billionaire-trump-friend-whos-part-of-the-tiktok-takeover\">far-right billionaire Larry Ellison\u003c/a>, and her brother, David, head a media empire that controls a massive swath of television, film and social media, including Paramount, TikTok and, if a pending deal goes through, Warner Brothers Discovery. The senior Ellison has been accused of \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-05-08/press-freedom-groups-allege-larry-ellison-has-promised-to-fire-cnn-anchors\">wielding his power to silence President Donald Trump’s critics\u003c/a>. So the source of Megan Ellison’s wealth has \u003ca href=\"https://brokeassstuart.com/p/wait-they-re-trying-to-cancel-boots-riley-now\">drawn scrutiny from some would-be supporters of Riley’s work\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Has Riley ever felt tension around using the Hollywood system to tell his anti-capitalist stories? He says no.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m not trying to be like, ‘Oh, I’ve got a pure way for you to take in your entertainment,’” he says.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“From the theater chains to the streamers, to the studios and funders big enough to do something that’s big enough for millions of people to see — you’re there,” he continues. “You’re mixed up in everything.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While \u003cem>Sorry to Bother You\u003c/em> started its theatrical run in only 100 theaters, \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> will hit 2,500 screens Memorial Day weekend. After its world premiere at South By Southwest, Riley has been building word-of-mouth hype by throwing small screenings on college campuses, where he’s shown up to talk to students personally. But grassroots campaigning alone can’t create the magnitude of impact he’s aiming for, he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you don’t have a goal of revolution, then it’s easier to say, ‘Hey, I just need to have my hands clean of this, and let me make a commune in the woods,’” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riley is hopeful that the kind of radical social change he’s spent his life advocating for will come. He points to the post-pandemic strike wave, during which the U.S. saw a \u003ca href=\"https://www.epi.org/publication/major-strike-activity-in-2023/\">280% increase in strikes in 2023 from the year before\u003c/a>. More recently, in January of this year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/02/minneapolis-minnesotas-general-strike-ice-border-patrol-trump/\">Minnesota unions and activists mounted a one-day general strike\u003c/a> to protest ICE abuses in their city, inspiring similar actions across the nation. For Riley, it’s only the beginning. With \u003cem>I Love Boosters, \u003c/em>he wants to remind viewers of their ability to stand together and tip the scales of power.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I want the result of millions of people getting involved in class struggle, joining organizations, all of that,” he says, “because that is the only thing that can actually change the situation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "best-looks-oaklash-oakland-drag-festival-2026",
"title": "The Best Looks at Oaklash, Oakland’s Drag Festival",
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"headTitle": "The Best Looks at Oaklash, Oakland’s Drag Festival | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Over the past nine years, \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklash.com/\">Oaklash\u003c/a> has grown from a humble, grassroots block party to a full-scale \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/tag/drag\">drag\u003c/a> festival — not to mention an arts incubator that has put on some \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13984104/last-seven-days-obsidienne-obsurd-oaklash-oakland\">truly mind-melting performances\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Saturday, May 16, hundreds of drag fans gathered in Old Oakland to watch dozens of performers on multiple stages. There were soul-stirring lip syncs, flawless fashion reveals, gravity-defying dance moves and lots of dollar bills flying through the air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Local drag queens, kings and genderless entities frolicked alongside artists who flew in from all over the country, including \u003cem>RuPaul’s Drag Race\u003c/em> star Aja, who headlined along with \u003cem>King of Drag\u003c/em>’s King Molasses. KQED roamed the streets, documenting the most creative looks we could find.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989771\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989771\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-03-KQED.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-03-KQED-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-03-KQED-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-03-KQED-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“The inspiration was if Lil Uzi Vert was a highland cow,” said Tokyn 666. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989797\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989797\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-40-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-40-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-40-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-40-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-40-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tokyn 666 stands in the crowd during the Oaklash Block Party in Oakland on Saturday, May 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989802\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989802\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-47-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-47-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-47-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-47-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-47-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Luismi Munster poses for a portrait during the Oaklash Block Party. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989801\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989801\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-46-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-46-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-46-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-46-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-46-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“What inspired my look was very zebra, but also zebra with a fire, but it’s still being fierce throughout the fire,” Luismi Munster said. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989800\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989800\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-44-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-44-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-44-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-44-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-44-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aja of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ performs during the Oaklash Block Party. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989799\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989799\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-43-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-43-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-43-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-43-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-43-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bre’nae Bullocks-Benard, 21, and Zachary Lipsett, 20, cheer as Aja performs. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989798\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989798\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-41-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-41-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-41-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-41-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-41-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People cheer in the crowd while waiting for the next performer. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989796\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989796\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-39-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-39-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-39-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-39-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-39-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People dance in the crowd during the Oaklash Block Party. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989795\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989795\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-38-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-38-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-38-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-38-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-38-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aurris Garçon takes tip money from the crowd as she performs her set. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989794\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989794\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-37-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-37-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-37-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-37-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-37-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zachary Lipsett, 20, claps as drag quen Empress Astara does a flip during their performance. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989791\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989791\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-30-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-30-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-30-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-30-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-30-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Evian, aka Lashley, poses for a portrait during the Oaklash Block Party. Evian is one of Oaklash’s artists in residence, and produced large-scale art installations for the festival. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989790\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989790\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-28-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-28-KQED.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-28-KQED-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-28-KQED-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-28-KQED-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pei Pei Ma’Bilz stands for a portrait during the Oaklash Block Party. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989789\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989789\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-27-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-27-KQED.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-27-KQED-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-27-KQED-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-27-KQED-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“I was going for business because Pei Pei, she means business but also she likes to clown,” Pei Pei Ma’Bilz said. “She just got plastic surgery, she’s still recovering.” \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989786\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989786\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-23-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-23-KQED.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-23-KQED-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-23-KQED-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-23-KQED-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cake Bitch poses for a portrait during the Oaklash Block Party . \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989785\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989785\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-21-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-21-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-21-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-21-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-21-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“I recently made a troll porn with one of my best friends that’s in a couple local film festivals,” said Cake Bitch. “I’m a crazy troll collector. I have over 300 trolls and so does my bestie.” \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989787\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989787\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-24-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-24-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-24-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-24-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-24-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cake Bitch poses for a portrait. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989784\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989784\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-20-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-20-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-20-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-20-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Henlo Bullfrog at the Oaklash Block Party. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989783\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989783\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-19-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-19-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“This was very much, like, ‘corpse being reclaimed by nature,’” said Henlo Bullfrog. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989781\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989781\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-17-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-17-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raya Light poses at the Oaklash Block Party. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989780\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989780\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-16-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-16-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-16-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-16-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-16-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“I’m an all-American whore,” Raya Light said. “Can you say that on KQED?” \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989777\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989777\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-13-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jupiter poses for a portrait. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989776\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989776\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-12-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jupiter has been doing drag since 1976: “You remember the ancestors and also do what’s up and coming and beyond.” \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989775\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989775\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-09-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-09-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-09-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-09-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-09-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“I very much enjoy sci-fi. I’m very anti-AI, but I’m a very pro—body modification in the sense of supporting my trans family,” Mylique E. Fawcett said. “Humans have been into body mods since the beginning of time, it’s nothing new. So I just wanted to show my support in a different way.” \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989773\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989773\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-06-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-06-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“This outfit was inspired by Rosalía at the BRIT Awards ceremony,” said Mudd the Two Spirit. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Drag queens, kings and genderless entities showed out in eye-popping outfits. ",
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"title": "The Best Looks at Oaklash, Oakland’s Drag Festival | KQED",
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"headline": "The Best Looks at Oaklash, Oakland’s Drag Festival",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Over the past nine years, \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklash.com/\">Oaklash\u003c/a> has grown from a humble, grassroots block party to a full-scale \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/tag/drag\">drag\u003c/a> festival — not to mention an arts incubator that has put on some \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13984104/last-seven-days-obsidienne-obsurd-oaklash-oakland\">truly mind-melting performances\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Saturday, May 16, hundreds of drag fans gathered in Old Oakland to watch dozens of performers on multiple stages. There were soul-stirring lip syncs, flawless fashion reveals, gravity-defying dance moves and lots of dollar bills flying through the air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Local drag queens, kings and genderless entities frolicked alongside artists who flew in from all over the country, including \u003cem>RuPaul’s Drag Race\u003c/em> star Aja, who headlined along with \u003cem>King of Drag\u003c/em>’s King Molasses. KQED roamed the streets, documenting the most creative looks we could find.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989771\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989771\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-03-KQED.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-03-KQED-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-03-KQED-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-03-KQED-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“The inspiration was if Lil Uzi Vert was a highland cow,” said Tokyn 666. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989797\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989797\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-40-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-40-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-40-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-40-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-40-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tokyn 666 stands in the crowd during the Oaklash Block Party in Oakland on Saturday, May 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989802\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989802\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-47-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-47-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-47-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-47-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-47-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Luismi Munster poses for a portrait during the Oaklash Block Party. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989801\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989801\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-46-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-46-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-46-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-46-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-46-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“What inspired my look was very zebra, but also zebra with a fire, but it’s still being fierce throughout the fire,” Luismi Munster said. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989800\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989800\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-44-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-44-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-44-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-44-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-44-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aja of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ performs during the Oaklash Block Party. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989799\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989799\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-43-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-43-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-43-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-43-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-43-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bre’nae Bullocks-Benard, 21, and Zachary Lipsett, 20, cheer as Aja performs. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989798\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989798\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-41-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-41-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-41-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-41-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-41-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People cheer in the crowd while waiting for the next performer. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989796\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989796\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-39-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-39-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-39-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-39-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-39-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People dance in the crowd during the Oaklash Block Party. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989795\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989795\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-38-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-38-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-38-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-38-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-38-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aurris Garçon takes tip money from the crowd as she performs her set. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989794\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989794\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-37-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-37-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-37-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-37-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-37-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zachary Lipsett, 20, claps as drag quen Empress Astara does a flip during their performance. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989791\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989791\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-30-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-30-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-30-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-30-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-30-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Evian, aka Lashley, poses for a portrait during the Oaklash Block Party. Evian is one of Oaklash’s artists in residence, and produced large-scale art installations for the festival. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989790\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989790\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-28-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-28-KQED.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-28-KQED-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-28-KQED-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-28-KQED-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pei Pei Ma’Bilz stands for a portrait during the Oaklash Block Party. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989789\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989789\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-27-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-27-KQED.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-27-KQED-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-27-KQED-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-27-KQED-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“I was going for business because Pei Pei, she means business but also she likes to clown,” Pei Pei Ma’Bilz said. “She just got plastic surgery, she’s still recovering.” \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989786\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989786\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-23-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-23-KQED.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-23-KQED-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-23-KQED-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-23-KQED-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cake Bitch poses for a portrait during the Oaklash Block Party . \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989785\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989785\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-21-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-21-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-21-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-21-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-21-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“I recently made a troll porn with one of my best friends that’s in a couple local film festivals,” said Cake Bitch. “I’m a crazy troll collector. I have over 300 trolls and so does my bestie.” \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989787\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989787\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-24-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-24-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-24-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-24-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-24-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cake Bitch poses for a portrait. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989784\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989784\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-20-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-20-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-20-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-20-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Henlo Bullfrog at the Oaklash Block Party. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989783\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989783\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-19-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-19-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“This was very much, like, ‘corpse being reclaimed by nature,’” said Henlo Bullfrog. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989781\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989781\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-17-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-17-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raya Light poses at the Oaklash Block Party. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989780\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989780\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-16-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-16-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-16-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-16-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-16-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“I’m an all-American whore,” Raya Light said. “Can you say that on KQED?” \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989777\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989777\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-13-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jupiter poses for a portrait. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989776\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989776\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-12-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jupiter has been doing drag since 1976: “You remember the ancestors and also do what’s up and coming and beyond.” \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989775\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989775\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-09-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-09-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-09-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-09-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-09-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“I very much enjoy sci-fi. I’m very anti-AI, but I’m a very pro—body modification in the sense of supporting my trans family,” Mylique E. Fawcett said. “Humans have been into body mods since the beginning of time, it’s nothing new. So I just wanted to show my support in a different way.” \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989773\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989773\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-06-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260516-OAKLASH-JY-06-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“This outfit was inspired by Rosalía at the BRIT Awards ceremony,” said Mudd the Two Spirit. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "artist-housing-advocates-eye-a-once-in-100-year-opportunity",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>How We Get By\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jaelynn Walls thought it would take years of saving before they could buy their own \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/housing\">home\u003c/a> in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a>. But after seeing an Instagram post from \u003ca href=\"https://www.artistspacetrust.org/\">Artist Space Trust\u003c/a>, home ownership went from dream to reality for the 27-year-old fiction writer, curator and visual artist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Artist Space Trust, a new Bay Area organization that helps artists secure affordable housing, helped Walls secure $168,000 in downpayment assistance from CalHOME, a state program for first-time homebuyers. After a whirlwind three months of compiling financial paperwork and spending their free time at open houses, Walls and their wife got the keys to a cozy East Oakland three-bedroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Just having a place to land, and not feeling like I could have the rug pulled out from under me at any moment by the greater powers that be, such as a landlord or a housing company, is very assuring,” Walls said during a video call from their fabric- and plant-filled home studio.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Walls used to live in a cramped Tenderloin studio apartment where most of their income went to rent. Now, a much smaller portion of their paycheck goes to their mortgage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They have more space to focus on their next young-adult novel and quilting projects, and can even set aside some savings. Walls’ wife has a music studio where friends collaborate. Out-of-town artists sometimes crash with the couple when they’re in the Bay Area for gigs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is pretty much the greatest thing that has ever happened to me in terms of my creative practice,” Walls said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989670\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989670\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-11-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jaelynn Walls, fiction writer and artist, holds their book “The Queer Girl is Going to be Okay” at their home in Oakland on May 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Bay Area artists have always been resilient, but in recent years, economic upheaval, the worldwide pandemic and federal funding cuts have put a financial strain on artists, and forced some to leave the region altogether.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As housing costs continue to rise, artists, policymakers and nonprofit leaders are testing new models to make sure the people who give the Bay Area its creative identity can afford to stay. Artist Space Trust uses a community land trust model to take homes off the for-profit real estate market and make them permanently affordable for artists. It’s part of a larger movement to create artist housing throughout the Bay Area, including projects underway in San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989671\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989671\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-17-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-17-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jaelynn Walls’ handmade quilt at their home in Oakland on May 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Walls sees the Bay Area as their long-term home, and they’re relieved they can remain here. “I’m surrounded by artists who have unstable housing, who are not sure of \u003cem>where\u003c/em> they’re going to create, or \u003cem>how\u003c/em> they’re gonna create their work,” Walls said, “and even beyond that, where they’re going to live.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meg Shiffler, the director of Artist Space Trust, said her organization is looking generations ahead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you lift up and look down at the Bay Area, 10, 20, 50, 100 years from now, there are gonna be artists permanently embedded all over the Bay Area,” Shiffler said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The Great Wealth Transfer creates an opening for artist housing\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While there isn’t enough recent data available to paint a complete picture of Bay Area artists as a workforce, it’s safe to say they’re struggling to get by.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/10960748/survey-confirms-market-forces-pushing-artists-out-of-san-francisco\">last large-scale survey of artists in San Francisco\u003c/a>, from 2015, found that 70% had been or were being displaced from their home, workspace or both. A \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/Berkeley%20Affordable%20Housing%20for%20Artists.pdf\">2021 survey of artists in Berkeley\u003c/a> found that the majority were low-income, and 77% were either “rent burdened” or “severely rent burdened.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989668\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989668\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1354\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-19-KQED-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-19-KQED-768x520.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-19-KQED-1536x1040.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left, Artist Space Trust team, Qiana Ellis, Programs Manager, and Meg Shiffler, Director, pose for a photo in Berkeley on May 14, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the past decade, Bay Area artists have faced setback after setback. In 2016, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/ghostshipmemorial\">Ghost Ship fire\u003c/a> at a live-work artist warehouse in Oakland, during which 36 people died, prompted a wave of evictions from makeshift dwellings where artists lived because they couldn’t afford anything else.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then came the 2020 pandemic shutdowns, which cut off performance income, and another wave of displacement when state and city governments lifted eviction moratoriums. In more recent years, surging gas, food and rent prices have kept artists and other workers stuck in financial precarity.[aside postID=arts_13989622 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260512-FREE-PARKING-AT-MUSIC-VENUES-MD-03-KQED.jpg']Advocates say that securing permanently affordable housing for artists is key to ensuring that the Bay Area can remain a cultural hub. Qiana Ellis, Artist Space Trust’s programs manager, sees a rare opportunity for artists to secure a permanent place in the region. “They’re calling it the Great Wealth Transfer,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over the next two decades, an estimated $124 trillion will change hands nationally as Baby Boomers and members of the Silent Generation die and pass on their assets, according to the consulting firm Cerulli Associates. “We’re really in this point that may not happen for another 100 years,” Ellis said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s mostly members of these generations who are bequeathing their homes to Artist Space Trust. Some of them are artists and most aren’t wealthy themselves; they bought their homes decades ago, when \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078615/how-skyrocketing-housing-costs-and-policy-choices-reshaped-the-bay-area\">houses in the Bay Area went for around $23,000\u003c/a>. Today’s average home price is over $700,000 in Oakland and over $1.3 million in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re looking back on their lives and saying, ‘Wow, I see how difficult it’s gotten for artists,’” Ellis said. “‘I’m in conversation with younger generations, and I know that they cannot make their work in the same way that I could and be able to afford housing anymore.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Assessing artists’ needs\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Artist Space Trust is the first organization in the nation to use a community land trust model to create permanently affordable housing specifically for artists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Berkeley nonprofit takes properties off the for-profit real-estate market and sells them well below market rate. Prices are set so that an individual making 60% to 80% of the area median income — roughly $65,000 to $87,000 — would spend no more than 30% of their monthly income on housing expenses. The organization is also working to create other home ownership opportunities, such as tiny homes and condos, for artists making below 60% of the area’s median income.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989663\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989663\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-2-KQED.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-2-KQED-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-2-KQED-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-2-KQED-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sharmi Basu, Vital Arts director, poses for a portrait in downtown Oakland on May 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Artist Space Trust has $15 million in properties that have either been donated or will be in the coming years. Some are single-family homes while others are more unconventional, including a property with a house, a warehouse and enough room to build another unit. So far, in partnership with the Northern California Land Trust (NCLT), the organization has helped artists purchase homes by helping them take advantage of the CalHOME downpayment-assistance program. This year, Artist Space Trust will sell the first property from its own portfolio: a duplex in San Francisco’s Mission District that will go to two artist households.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The nonprofit is currently doing outreach at community events to educate local artists on different pathways to affordable housing; their \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holding-ground-models-for-artist-housing-in-a-time-of-displacement-tickets-1987660345600\">next resource fair\u003c/a> is on May 19. “The idea is that we start to get individuals, families and cooperatives ready for the opportunities that are coming,” Shiffler said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Artist Space Trust is a partnership of NCLT and Vital Arts, an economic justice organization for artists that formed after the Ghost Ship fire. Vital Arts Director Sharmi Basu lost over a dozen friends in the tragedy; in the aftermath, they poured themself into organizing mutual aid for survivors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, Vital Arts tackles affordability at several different levels. The organization helps artists cover basic living expenses through its \u003ca href=\"https://www.vitalarts.org/adpg\">Artist Displacement Prevention Grant\u003c/a>, which gives out $3,000 in emergency assistance to artists facing eviction, homelessness and sudden rent increases. At its free \u003ca href=\"https://www.vitalarts.org/alc\">Artist Legal Cafe\u003c/a>, next happening on May 19, lawyers advise artists on tenants’ rights and other issues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Basu, helping artists get permanent housing through Artist Space Trust is a crucial part of the solution. While Artist Space Trust helps artists navigate the complicated financial logistics, Vital Arts will come in when it’s time to select potential homeowners for each housing opportunity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are the features of the property to consider — ceramicists will be prioritized for a home with a pottery studio, for example — but Basu also sees this as an opportunity to address inequality. They want to make sure these housing opportunities don’t just reach people from well-off backgrounds, but go to people from Black and brown communities who have historically been locked out of homeownership because of redlining and other racist policies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[We’re] making sure that equity is built from the foundation up in that selection process,” Basu said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A movement for artist housing grows\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The need for artist housing is inspiring efforts across the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Artists Hub on Market and Mercy Housing of California, two nonprofits, will soon begin construction on an 100% affordable \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13957645/100-million-gift-affordable-artist-housing-mcroskey-mattress-san-francisco\">San Francisco apartment building for artists\u003c/a> that will include nearly 100 units, plus workspaces, a community center and a theater. Another nonprofit, Unity Council, has plans to develop the former Ghost Ship site in East Oakland into affordable housing, with 10% of the units set aside for artists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989667\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989667\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-18-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1307\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-18-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-18-KQED-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-18-KQED-768x502.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-18-KQED-1536x1004.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rashida Chase, board chair of Vital Arts and cultural strategist for the city of Oakland, poses for a portrait in downtown Oakland on May 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Artists Hub on Market is slated for completion in 2028, and the Unity Council building is projected to begin construction that year. But building from the ground up is a lengthy process, so arts advocates are also exploring how to create affordable artist housing in existing properties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rashida Chase, board chair of Vital Arts, is a cultural strategist in Oakland City Councilmember Carroll Fife’s office. Chase lobbied the state to designate downtown Oakland’s Black Arts Movement and Business District as a California Cultural District, which opens up more housing opportunities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thanks to the 2023 state law AB 812, city governments can set aside 10% of locally required affordable housing units for artists within and around state-designated cultural districts, as well as within local cultural districts.[aside postID=arts_13988685 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/jewelry-making-1536x1024.jpg']The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12016292/berkeley-wants-to-create-cultural-district-where-artists-afford-to-live\">city of Berkeley is using AB 812\u003c/a> to pursue similar strategies. Artist Space Trust is currently advising multiple housing developers building in cultural districts, with the goal of holding the master lease for the units designated for artists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This summer, Chase is spearheading a survey to find out whether there are city-owned properties, foreclosed homes or vacant lots that could be converted into affordable housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chase, who grew up in West Oakland, namechecks born-and-raised Oaklanders Ryan Coogler, Zendaya and Alysa Liu when she talks about the importance of creating policy that makes it easier for artists to stay in Oakland. “Culture is our main export,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We can hope [the Bay Area] won’t keep skyrocketing, but prices typically don’t come down,” Chase said. “And so we just wanna make sure that there’s enough housing available for the artists who are still here, but also artists who wanna come back.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Experts from Artist Space Trust and other nonprofits are hosting \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holding-ground-models-for-artist-housing-in-a-time-of-displacement-tickets-1987660345600\">\u003cem>Holding Ground\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a panel discussion and resource fair, on May 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Root Division (1131 Mission St., San Francisco). Also on May 19, Vital Arts has its free \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.theselc.org/legalcafe_20260519\">\u003cem>Artist Legal Cafe\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Bandaloop Studios (1601 18th St., Oakland).\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>How We Get By\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jaelynn Walls thought it would take years of saving before they could buy their own \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/housing\">home\u003c/a> in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a>. But after seeing an Instagram post from \u003ca href=\"https://www.artistspacetrust.org/\">Artist Space Trust\u003c/a>, home ownership went from dream to reality for the 27-year-old fiction writer, curator and visual artist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Artist Space Trust, a new Bay Area organization that helps artists secure affordable housing, helped Walls secure $168,000 in downpayment assistance from CalHOME, a state program for first-time homebuyers. After a whirlwind three months of compiling financial paperwork and spending their free time at open houses, Walls and their wife got the keys to a cozy East Oakland three-bedroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Just having a place to land, and not feeling like I could have the rug pulled out from under me at any moment by the greater powers that be, such as a landlord or a housing company, is very assuring,” Walls said during a video call from their fabric- and plant-filled home studio.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Walls used to live in a cramped Tenderloin studio apartment where most of their income went to rent. Now, a much smaller portion of their paycheck goes to their mortgage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They have more space to focus on their next young-adult novel and quilting projects, and can even set aside some savings. Walls’ wife has a music studio where friends collaborate. Out-of-town artists sometimes crash with the couple when they’re in the Bay Area for gigs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is pretty much the greatest thing that has ever happened to me in terms of my creative practice,” Walls said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989670\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989670\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-11-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jaelynn Walls, fiction writer and artist, holds their book “The Queer Girl is Going to be Okay” at their home in Oakland on May 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Bay Area artists have always been resilient, but in recent years, economic upheaval, the worldwide pandemic and federal funding cuts have put a financial strain on artists, and forced some to leave the region altogether.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As housing costs continue to rise, artists, policymakers and nonprofit leaders are testing new models to make sure the people who give the Bay Area its creative identity can afford to stay. Artist Space Trust uses a community land trust model to take homes off the for-profit real estate market and make them permanently affordable for artists. It’s part of a larger movement to create artist housing throughout the Bay Area, including projects underway in San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989671\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989671\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-17-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-17-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jaelynn Walls’ handmade quilt at their home in Oakland on May 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Walls sees the Bay Area as their long-term home, and they’re relieved they can remain here. “I’m surrounded by artists who have unstable housing, who are not sure of \u003cem>where\u003c/em> they’re going to create, or \u003cem>how\u003c/em> they’re gonna create their work,” Walls said, “and even beyond that, where they’re going to live.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meg Shiffler, the director of Artist Space Trust, said her organization is looking generations ahead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you lift up and look down at the Bay Area, 10, 20, 50, 100 years from now, there are gonna be artists permanently embedded all over the Bay Area,” Shiffler said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The Great Wealth Transfer creates an opening for artist housing\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While there isn’t enough recent data available to paint a complete picture of Bay Area artists as a workforce, it’s safe to say they’re struggling to get by.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/10960748/survey-confirms-market-forces-pushing-artists-out-of-san-francisco\">last large-scale survey of artists in San Francisco\u003c/a>, from 2015, found that 70% had been or were being displaced from their home, workspace or both. A \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/Berkeley%20Affordable%20Housing%20for%20Artists.pdf\">2021 survey of artists in Berkeley\u003c/a> found that the majority were low-income, and 77% were either “rent burdened” or “severely rent burdened.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989668\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989668\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1354\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-19-KQED-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-19-KQED-768x520.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-19-KQED-1536x1040.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left, Artist Space Trust team, Qiana Ellis, Programs Manager, and Meg Shiffler, Director, pose for a photo in Berkeley on May 14, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the past decade, Bay Area artists have faced setback after setback. In 2016, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/ghostshipmemorial\">Ghost Ship fire\u003c/a> at a live-work artist warehouse in Oakland, during which 36 people died, prompted a wave of evictions from makeshift dwellings where artists lived because they couldn’t afford anything else.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then came the 2020 pandemic shutdowns, which cut off performance income, and another wave of displacement when state and city governments lifted eviction moratoriums. In more recent years, surging gas, food and rent prices have kept artists and other workers stuck in financial precarity.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Advocates say that securing permanently affordable housing for artists is key to ensuring that the Bay Area can remain a cultural hub. Qiana Ellis, Artist Space Trust’s programs manager, sees a rare opportunity for artists to secure a permanent place in the region. “They’re calling it the Great Wealth Transfer,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over the next two decades, an estimated $124 trillion will change hands nationally as Baby Boomers and members of the Silent Generation die and pass on their assets, according to the consulting firm Cerulli Associates. “We’re really in this point that may not happen for another 100 years,” Ellis said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s mostly members of these generations who are bequeathing their homes to Artist Space Trust. Some of them are artists and most aren’t wealthy themselves; they bought their homes decades ago, when \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078615/how-skyrocketing-housing-costs-and-policy-choices-reshaped-the-bay-area\">houses in the Bay Area went for around $23,000\u003c/a>. Today’s average home price is over $700,000 in Oakland and over $1.3 million in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re looking back on their lives and saying, ‘Wow, I see how difficult it’s gotten for artists,’” Ellis said. “‘I’m in conversation with younger generations, and I know that they cannot make their work in the same way that I could and be able to afford housing anymore.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Assessing artists’ needs\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Artist Space Trust is the first organization in the nation to use a community land trust model to create permanently affordable housing specifically for artists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Berkeley nonprofit takes properties off the for-profit real-estate market and sells them well below market rate. Prices are set so that an individual making 60% to 80% of the area median income — roughly $65,000 to $87,000 — would spend no more than 30% of their monthly income on housing expenses. The organization is also working to create other home ownership opportunities, such as tiny homes and condos, for artists making below 60% of the area’s median income.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989663\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989663\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-2-KQED.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-2-KQED-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-2-KQED-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260511_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-2-KQED-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sharmi Basu, Vital Arts director, poses for a portrait in downtown Oakland on May 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Artist Space Trust has $15 million in properties that have either been donated or will be in the coming years. Some are single-family homes while others are more unconventional, including a property with a house, a warehouse and enough room to build another unit. So far, in partnership with the Northern California Land Trust (NCLT), the organization has helped artists purchase homes by helping them take advantage of the CalHOME downpayment-assistance program. This year, Artist Space Trust will sell the first property from its own portfolio: a duplex in San Francisco’s Mission District that will go to two artist households.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The nonprofit is currently doing outreach at community events to educate local artists on different pathways to affordable housing; their \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holding-ground-models-for-artist-housing-in-a-time-of-displacement-tickets-1987660345600\">next resource fair\u003c/a> is on May 19. “The idea is that we start to get individuals, families and cooperatives ready for the opportunities that are coming,” Shiffler said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Artist Space Trust is a partnership of NCLT and Vital Arts, an economic justice organization for artists that formed after the Ghost Ship fire. Vital Arts Director Sharmi Basu lost over a dozen friends in the tragedy; in the aftermath, they poured themself into organizing mutual aid for survivors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, Vital Arts tackles affordability at several different levels. The organization helps artists cover basic living expenses through its \u003ca href=\"https://www.vitalarts.org/adpg\">Artist Displacement Prevention Grant\u003c/a>, which gives out $3,000 in emergency assistance to artists facing eviction, homelessness and sudden rent increases. At its free \u003ca href=\"https://www.vitalarts.org/alc\">Artist Legal Cafe\u003c/a>, next happening on May 19, lawyers advise artists on tenants’ rights and other issues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Basu, helping artists get permanent housing through Artist Space Trust is a crucial part of the solution. While Artist Space Trust helps artists navigate the complicated financial logistics, Vital Arts will come in when it’s time to select potential homeowners for each housing opportunity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are the features of the property to consider — ceramicists will be prioritized for a home with a pottery studio, for example — but Basu also sees this as an opportunity to address inequality. They want to make sure these housing opportunities don’t just reach people from well-off backgrounds, but go to people from Black and brown communities who have historically been locked out of homeownership because of redlining and other racist policies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[We’re] making sure that equity is built from the foundation up in that selection process,” Basu said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A movement for artist housing grows\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The need for artist housing is inspiring efforts across the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Artists Hub on Market and Mercy Housing of California, two nonprofits, will soon begin construction on an 100% affordable \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13957645/100-million-gift-affordable-artist-housing-mcroskey-mattress-san-francisco\">San Francisco apartment building for artists\u003c/a> that will include nearly 100 units, plus workspaces, a community center and a theater. Another nonprofit, Unity Council, has plans to develop the former Ghost Ship site in East Oakland into affordable housing, with 10% of the units set aside for artists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989667\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989667\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-18-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1307\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-18-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-18-KQED-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-18-KQED-768x502.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/20260514_ARTISTHOUSING_GC-18-KQED-1536x1004.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rashida Chase, board chair of Vital Arts and cultural strategist for the city of Oakland, poses for a portrait in downtown Oakland on May 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Artists Hub on Market is slated for completion in 2028, and the Unity Council building is projected to begin construction that year. But building from the ground up is a lengthy process, so arts advocates are also exploring how to create affordable artist housing in existing properties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rashida Chase, board chair of Vital Arts, is a cultural strategist in Oakland City Councilmember Carroll Fife’s office. Chase lobbied the state to designate downtown Oakland’s Black Arts Movement and Business District as a California Cultural District, which opens up more housing opportunities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thanks to the 2023 state law AB 812, city governments can set aside 10% of locally required affordable housing units for artists within and around state-designated cultural districts, as well as within local cultural districts.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12016292/berkeley-wants-to-create-cultural-district-where-artists-afford-to-live\">city of Berkeley is using AB 812\u003c/a> to pursue similar strategies. Artist Space Trust is currently advising multiple housing developers building in cultural districts, with the goal of holding the master lease for the units designated for artists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This summer, Chase is spearheading a survey to find out whether there are city-owned properties, foreclosed homes or vacant lots that could be converted into affordable housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chase, who grew up in West Oakland, namechecks born-and-raised Oaklanders Ryan Coogler, Zendaya and Alysa Liu when she talks about the importance of creating policy that makes it easier for artists to stay in Oakland. “Culture is our main export,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We can hope [the Bay Area] won’t keep skyrocketing, but prices typically don’t come down,” Chase said. “And so we just wanna make sure that there’s enough housing available for the artists who are still here, but also artists who wanna come back.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Experts from Artist Space Trust and other nonprofits are hosting \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holding-ground-models-for-artist-housing-in-a-time-of-displacement-tickets-1987660345600\">\u003cem>Holding Ground\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a panel discussion and resource fair, on May 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Root Division (1131 Mission St., San Francisco). Also on May 19, Vital Arts has its free \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.theselc.org/legalcafe_20260519\">\u003cem>Artist Legal Cafe\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Bandaloop Studios (1601 18th St., Oakland).\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "junes-pizza-west-oakland-late-night-margherita-pepperoni-slices",
"title": "June’s Pizza Is Oakland’s Favorite Late-Night Slice Shop",
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"content": "\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989677\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989677\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: Two men devouring pizza. There's a pile of basil leaves on the pan.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">June’s Pizza sells margherita slices — and sometimes pepperoni slices — from 9 p.m. to midnight, or until it sells out. \u003ccite>(Thien Pham)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/the-midnight-diners\">\u003ci>The Midnight Diners\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci> is a regular collaboration between KQED food editor Luke Tsai and graphic novelist \u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thiendog/?hl=en\">\u003ci>Thien Pham\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>. Follow them each week as they explore the hot pot restaurants, taco carts and 24-hour casino buffets that make up the Bay Area’s after-hours dining scene. \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When we pull up to the unmarked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/west-oakland\">West Oakland\u003c/a> warehouse at a little past 9 o’clock on a recent Friday night, there’s already a long line out the door. It’s a big, semi-industrial building — all exposed pipes and corrugated metal. The only signage to indicate that this is a place of business is an old, spray-painted wood board propped up on the ground: “June’s Pizza,” it reads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>June’s has emerged, somewhat unexpectedly, as one of the most celebrated pizza restaurants in the Bay Area on the back of its wood-fired, decadently cheese-strewn margherita pies. The pizzeria got plenty of acclaim during its renegade, early-COVID-era days as an unpermitted (and eventually \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/Oakland-s-pandemic-pizza-sensation-June-s-has-16513631.php\">shut down\u003c/a>) shipping container pop-up. Last year, after its brick-and-mortar opened on Mandela Parkway, \u003ci>Esquire \u003c/i>even named it one of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/restaurants/a69501755/best-new-restaurants-america-2025/\">best new restaurants\u003c/a> in the entire country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the reason we decided to make this pilgrimage now is because we heard — also somewhat unexpectedly — that the place has become one of the East Bay’s most popular late-night restaurants. Unexpected in the sense that June’s really only sells one thing between the hours of 9 p.m. and midnight: margherita pizza by the slice. That’s it. Nothing else.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Would that be enough to hold our wandering eyes? We had been a bit skeptical. But by the time we finish our meal, we’re hard-pressed to think of anything \u003ci>more \u003c/i>perfect to eat at the end of a long night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>June’s has become something of a destination restaurant for out-of-town visitors. But during its late-night hours, the place feels more like a locals’ hangout. Maybe a DJ is spinning records, or maybe the restaurant’s hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DL6tw4mOljf/\">listening party for a new rap album\u003c/a>. But the overall vibe is akin to a big, convivial house party hosted in someone’s high-ceilinged living room. On the night of our visit, the crowd feels quintessentially Oakland — racially diverse, skewing toward twenty- and thirtysomething artistic types. At the table next to ours, a group of chic Asian Americans in designer eyeglasses chatters happily over their marg slices and a bottle of red wine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989679\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989679\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: the exterior of a warehouse-like restaurant, where several customers wait in line. On the ground, a handwritten sign reads, "June's Pizza."\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The buzzy West Oakland restaurant is located in an unmarked warehouse on a semi-industrial stretch of Mandela Parkway. \u003ccite>(Thien Pham)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>June’s is proof that giving the customer \u003ci>fewer \u003c/i>choices is sometimes the smartest move. Even during non-late-night hours, the restaurant only ever sells three types of pizza: margherita, pepperoni and a limited quantity of whatever seasonal special they’ve come up with that week (say, fingerling potatoes, green garlic and ham). There are no salads, no cute little appetizers, no bread sticks, no desserts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And after 9 p.m., when June’s starts serving slices, the menu winnows down even further. Most nights, they only offer the margherita, which could scarcely be simpler — just cheese and tomato sauce with a stack of super-fresh basil leaves on the side, so you can top each slice as you please. The kitchen’s signature move is sprinkling the bejesus out of every pizza with a flurry of grated parmesan, covering the whole surface with a feathery umami dust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first bite is blistering hot, super crispy at the thin tip, and soft and melty on top. We love the interplay between the bright red sauce, salty cheese and well-blistered crust. The dough has just a hint of sourdough tang, and it puffs up and gets chewier and more flavorful as we get closer to the crust, offering different textures from bite to bite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #2b2b2b;font-weight: 400\">[aside postID='arts_13988856,arts_13959808,arts_13987415']\u003c/span>\u003c/span>We fold our slices in half, New York–style, and dip the crusts in the restaurant’s housemade sauces — an earthy roasted garlic number and a tangy, “limited edition” wakame Caesar dressing that has a strong anchovy umami punch. (That one is so good, I bring the leftovers home to make a helluva delicious salad the next day.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One slice in, we understand perfectly now why June’s doesn’t offer a bunch of different pizzas, because this is a taste that we would never get tired of — one we could come back to week after week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tonight is our lucky night, though, because the restaurant is also selling pepperoni slices, which aren’t always available. These have an entirely different vibe, despite being built on the same base as the margherita — the pizza is much richer and more intensely flavored, and has a surprisingly spicy kick from the small, dense rounds of pepperoni.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, the success of June’s is a testament to the power of doing one thing really, really well. The lack of bells and whistles also helps keep the after-hours menu relatively affordable. Slices are $5 ($6 for pepperoni), and they’re big. Most diners won’t wind up eating more than two or three in one sitting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The only danger? Not long after we arrive, we overhear the chef telling a customer that they only have three balls of raw dough left. By a little after 10 o’clock, there are maybe three pizzas’ worth of slices left, and it seems quite likely that they’re going to sell out before the hour is out. So as we head out into the night, we make plans to come back soon for another late-night pizza session — but maybe not \u003ci>too \u003c/i>late, to be safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/junes_pizza/\">June’s Pizza\u003c/a> is open 4 p.m.–midnight daily at 2408 Mandela Pkwy. in Oakland. The restaurant serves slices only starting at 9 p.m. \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989677\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989677\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: Two men devouring pizza. There's a pile of basil leaves on the pan.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">June’s Pizza sells margherita slices — and sometimes pepperoni slices — from 9 p.m. to midnight, or until it sells out. \u003ccite>(Thien Pham)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/the-midnight-diners\">\u003ci>The Midnight Diners\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci> is a regular collaboration between KQED food editor Luke Tsai and graphic novelist \u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thiendog/?hl=en\">\u003ci>Thien Pham\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>. Follow them each week as they explore the hot pot restaurants, taco carts and 24-hour casino buffets that make up the Bay Area’s after-hours dining scene. \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When we pull up to the unmarked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/west-oakland\">West Oakland\u003c/a> warehouse at a little past 9 o’clock on a recent Friday night, there’s already a long line out the door. It’s a big, semi-industrial building — all exposed pipes and corrugated metal. The only signage to indicate that this is a place of business is an old, spray-painted wood board propped up on the ground: “June’s Pizza,” it reads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>June’s has emerged, somewhat unexpectedly, as one of the most celebrated pizza restaurants in the Bay Area on the back of its wood-fired, decadently cheese-strewn margherita pies. The pizzeria got plenty of acclaim during its renegade, early-COVID-era days as an unpermitted (and eventually \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/Oakland-s-pandemic-pizza-sensation-June-s-has-16513631.php\">shut down\u003c/a>) shipping container pop-up. Last year, after its brick-and-mortar opened on Mandela Parkway, \u003ci>Esquire \u003c/i>even named it one of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/restaurants/a69501755/best-new-restaurants-america-2025/\">best new restaurants\u003c/a> in the entire country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the reason we decided to make this pilgrimage now is because we heard — also somewhat unexpectedly — that the place has become one of the East Bay’s most popular late-night restaurants. Unexpected in the sense that June’s really only sells one thing between the hours of 9 p.m. and midnight: margherita pizza by the slice. That’s it. Nothing else.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Would that be enough to hold our wandering eyes? We had been a bit skeptical. But by the time we finish our meal, we’re hard-pressed to think of anything \u003ci>more \u003c/i>perfect to eat at the end of a long night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>June’s has become something of a destination restaurant for out-of-town visitors. But during its late-night hours, the place feels more like a locals’ hangout. Maybe a DJ is spinning records, or maybe the restaurant’s hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DL6tw4mOljf/\">listening party for a new rap album\u003c/a>. But the overall vibe is akin to a big, convivial house party hosted in someone’s high-ceilinged living room. On the night of our visit, the crowd feels quintessentially Oakland — racially diverse, skewing toward twenty- and thirtysomething artistic types. At the table next to ours, a group of chic Asian Americans in designer eyeglasses chatters happily over their marg slices and a bottle of red wine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989679\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989679\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: the exterior of a warehouse-like restaurant, where several customers wait in line. On the ground, a handwritten sign reads, "June's Pizza."\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The buzzy West Oakland restaurant is located in an unmarked warehouse on a semi-industrial stretch of Mandela Parkway. \u003ccite>(Thien Pham)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>June’s is proof that giving the customer \u003ci>fewer \u003c/i>choices is sometimes the smartest move. Even during non-late-night hours, the restaurant only ever sells three types of pizza: margherita, pepperoni and a limited quantity of whatever seasonal special they’ve come up with that week (say, fingerling potatoes, green garlic and ham). There are no salads, no cute little appetizers, no bread sticks, no desserts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And after 9 p.m., when June’s starts serving slices, the menu winnows down even further. Most nights, they only offer the margherita, which could scarcely be simpler — just cheese and tomato sauce with a stack of super-fresh basil leaves on the side, so you can top each slice as you please. The kitchen’s signature move is sprinkling the bejesus out of every pizza with a flurry of grated parmesan, covering the whole surface with a feathery umami dust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first bite is blistering hot, super crispy at the thin tip, and soft and melty on top. We love the interplay between the bright red sauce, salty cheese and well-blistered crust. The dough has just a hint of sourdough tang, and it puffs up and gets chewier and more flavorful as we get closer to the crust, offering different textures from bite to bite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #2b2b2b;font-weight: 400\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/span>We fold our slices in half, New York–style, and dip the crusts in the restaurant’s housemade sauces — an earthy roasted garlic number and a tangy, “limited edition” wakame Caesar dressing that has a strong anchovy umami punch. (That one is so good, I bring the leftovers home to make a helluva delicious salad the next day.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One slice in, we understand perfectly now why June’s doesn’t offer a bunch of different pizzas, because this is a taste that we would never get tired of — one we could come back to week after week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tonight is our lucky night, though, because the restaurant is also selling pepperoni slices, which aren’t always available. These have an entirely different vibe, despite being built on the same base as the margherita — the pizza is much richer and more intensely flavored, and has a surprisingly spicy kick from the small, dense rounds of pepperoni.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, the success of June’s is a testament to the power of doing one thing really, really well. The lack of bells and whistles also helps keep the after-hours menu relatively affordable. Slices are $5 ($6 for pepperoni), and they’re big. Most diners won’t wind up eating more than two or three in one sitting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The only danger? Not long after we arrive, we overhear the chef telling a customer that they only have three balls of raw dough left. By a little after 10 o’clock, there are maybe three pizzas’ worth of slices left, and it seems quite likely that they’re going to sell out before the hour is out. So as we head out into the night, we make plans to come back soon for another late-night pizza session — but maybe not \u003ci>too \u003c/i>late, to be safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/junes_pizza/\">June’s Pizza\u003c/a> is open 4 p.m.–midnight daily at 2408 Mandela Pkwy. in Oakland. The restaurant serves slices only starting at 9 p.m. \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Before she became a screenwriter and author, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nellynellproductions.com/\">Janell Grace\u003c/a> worked as a case manager in juvenile hall, and she saw firsthand the effects that unprocessed trauma had on young people. “I didn’t like how they saw themselves,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grace wanted to tell a story that could help the youth she worked with dream bigger, so she teamed up with one of her best friends from college, Malik Glass, to write a screenplay for a short film that could help destigmatize mental health. The result was 2022’s \u003ci>Love Conquers All\u003c/i>, which the two writers have turned into a graphic novel in collaboration with illustrator Eli Beaird. The third installment of the book comes out May 16, with a \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/love-conquers-all-part-3-book-release-tickets-1983055036998\">release party in Oakland\u003c/a>. [aside postid='arts_13989248']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Love Conquers All\u003c/i> tells the story of Kennedy, a young Black man whose family settled in Oakland from New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. As Kennedy studies to become a chef, he’s grief-stricken from his sister Faith’s death and haunted by memories of their childhood in foster care. Kennedy starts to withdraw, and his girlfriend Rose pressures him to get help.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Before the good happens, the bad has to happen, so you see that transition from him crashing out,” Grace says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The latest edition of \u003ci>Love Conquers All\u003c/i> deals with flashbacks to Kennedy’s brush with gun violence when he was a child, an experience he’s attempting to process in therapy as he navigates a major opportunity that could take his cooking career to the next level.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[We’re] normalizing the fact that people do have issues, and that it’s OK to address it and that, it’s OK to even have doubts if therapy is gonna work,” says Glass, who previously worked as a counselor for young people in a group home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989433\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 820px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989433\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_4165.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"820\" height=\"679\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_4165.jpeg 820w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_4165-160x132.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_4165-768x636.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Authors Janell Grace and Malik Glass (left to right). \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Janell Grace)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Across the three volumes of \u003ci>Love Conquers All\u003c/i>, Grace and Glass explore multiple levels of trauma that can shake one’s foundation. In addition to the personal loss of Kennedy’s sister — which parallels Grace’s own experience of losing a sister of her own — the story also alludes to the global trauma of natural disasters, and the reverberating effects of losing one’s home. After Kennedy’s family is displaced from New Orleans, his parents are in survival mode, putting food on the table by any means necessary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On an even larger scale, the books and short film also allude to generational trauma. In part one, a character recommends a book to Kennedy: \u003ci>Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome\u003c/i> by social work professor Dr. Joy DeGruy, an influential text that unpacks the lasting scars of racist violence. “If you wanna know about Black mental health, read that book,” Grace says. “It gives you a perspective that is not talked about in schools. It’s not talked about amongst our families.” [aside postid='arts_13989273']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to independently releasing the \u003ci>Love Conquers All\u003c/i> comic books, Grace and Glass have their sights set on taking Kennedy’s story to a bigger audience: Their ambition is to turn the graphic novel into a live-action TV show set in Oakland, and they’ve already written two episodes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We just wanna show love for the Bay and its people,” Grace says. “You see TV shows shot in LA, you see TV show shot in New York. Let’s bring a show here and let’s show the people how beautiful and unique the people are in the Bay area.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>The ‘Love Conquers All’ \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/love-conquers-all-part-3-book-release-tickets-1983055036998\">launch party\u003c/a> takes place May 16, 1–5 p.m. at 3235 Grand Ave., Oakland.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Before she became a screenwriter and author, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nellynellproductions.com/\">Janell Grace\u003c/a> worked as a case manager in juvenile hall, and she saw firsthand the effects that unprocessed trauma had on young people. “I didn’t like how they saw themselves,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grace wanted to tell a story that could help the youth she worked with dream bigger, so she teamed up with one of her best friends from college, Malik Glass, to write a screenplay for a short film that could help destigmatize mental health. The result was 2022’s \u003ci>Love Conquers All\u003c/i>, which the two writers have turned into a graphic novel in collaboration with illustrator Eli Beaird. The third installment of the book comes out May 16, with a \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/love-conquers-all-part-3-book-release-tickets-1983055036998\">release party in Oakland\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Love Conquers All\u003c/i> tells the story of Kennedy, a young Black man whose family settled in Oakland from New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. As Kennedy studies to become a chef, he’s grief-stricken from his sister Faith’s death and haunted by memories of their childhood in foster care. Kennedy starts to withdraw, and his girlfriend Rose pressures him to get help.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Before the good happens, the bad has to happen, so you see that transition from him crashing out,” Grace says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The latest edition of \u003ci>Love Conquers All\u003c/i> deals with flashbacks to Kennedy’s brush with gun violence when he was a child, an experience he’s attempting to process in therapy as he navigates a major opportunity that could take his cooking career to the next level.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[We’re] normalizing the fact that people do have issues, and that it’s OK to address it and that, it’s OK to even have doubts if therapy is gonna work,” says Glass, who previously worked as a counselor for young people in a group home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989433\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 820px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989433\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_4165.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"820\" height=\"679\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_4165.jpeg 820w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_4165-160x132.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_4165-768x636.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Authors Janell Grace and Malik Glass (left to right). \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Janell Grace)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Across the three volumes of \u003ci>Love Conquers All\u003c/i>, Grace and Glass explore multiple levels of trauma that can shake one’s foundation. In addition to the personal loss of Kennedy’s sister — which parallels Grace’s own experience of losing a sister of her own — the story also alludes to the global trauma of natural disasters, and the reverberating effects of losing one’s home. After Kennedy’s family is displaced from New Orleans, his parents are in survival mode, putting food on the table by any means necessary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On an even larger scale, the books and short film also allude to generational trauma. In part one, a character recommends a book to Kennedy: \u003ci>Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome\u003c/i> by social work professor Dr. Joy DeGruy, an influential text that unpacks the lasting scars of racist violence. “If you wanna know about Black mental health, read that book,” Grace says. “It gives you a perspective that is not talked about in schools. It’s not talked about amongst our families.” \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to independently releasing the \u003ci>Love Conquers All\u003c/i> comic books, Grace and Glass have their sights set on taking Kennedy’s story to a bigger audience: Their ambition is to turn the graphic novel into a live-action TV show set in Oakland, and they’ve already written two episodes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We just wanna show love for the Bay and its people,” Grace says. “You see TV shows shot in LA, you see TV show shot in New York. Let’s bring a show here and let’s show the people how beautiful and unique the people are in the Bay area.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>The ‘Love Conquers All’ \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/love-conquers-all-part-3-book-release-tickets-1983055036998\">launch party\u003c/a> takes place May 16, 1–5 p.m. at 3235 Grand Ave., Oakland.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "With His Mother’s Support, A Young Oakland Boxer Carries on The Town's Deep Legacy",
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"content": "\u003cp>After \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/oakland-lightning-boxing-car-crash/4006888/\">a car smashed through the front doors\u003c/a> of Lightning’s Boxing Club in East Oakland this past New Year’s Eve, the young fighters who’d found sanctuary at the facility went looking for a new home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That explains why there’s currently a boxing ring inside downtown Oakland’s landmark nightclub \u003ca href=\"https://geoffreyslive.com/\">Geoffery’s Inner Circle\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Up two flights of stairs, past framed images of superstars who’ve performed on the Geoffrey’s stage, there’s all the amenities of a boxing gym. Punching bags suspended from the ceiling. Weights stacked near a bench press.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a recent visit, a boxer jumps rope in the mirror on the far side, while another gets lessons from the gym’s owner, coach Kris “Lightning” Lopez. In the center of the room is a traditional boxing ring, and shadowboxing in the middle of it is a determined young man named Thomas McElroy Jr.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989346\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989346 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189.jpg\" alt=\"A young African American man shadowboxing in a boxing ring. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. and his friends train daily in downtown Oakland. \u003ccite>(Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A nationally top-ranked amateur fighter with medal-wining bouts behind him and miles of potential in front of him, McElroy Jr. and his circle of boxing friends represent the next wave of boxers carrying the baton for the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His story, along with other rising fighters, is illuminated in the new four-part documentary series \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sonsofthesweetscience.com/\">Sons of the Sweet Science\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot of great fighters from this gym, and all around Oakland,” McElroy Jr. tells me. At 19 years old, he’s fully aware of the legacy of this soil.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Retired Olympic gold medalist \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/281958\">Andre Ward\u003c/a> and current World Boxing Organization welterweight champion \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/741718\">Devin Haney\u003c/a> both started in the Town. Notable fighters like \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/100759\">Bilal Mahasin\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/873678\">Amari Jones\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/853206\">Anthony Garnica\u003c/a> learned the ropes here, as did \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/048243\">Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/25178\">Juaquin “Killer” Gallardo\u003c/a>, a 1996 U.S. Olympic team alternate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first African American fighter to win the Light Heavyweight title, \u003ca href=\"https://www.britishvintageboxing.com/blogs/news/john-henry-lewis-sensationally-humble\">John Henry Lewis\u003c/a>, spent his adult years in the East Bay, running a gym with his brothers. (He was also the father of \u003ca href=\"https://www.illustrationhistory.org/artists/joan-tarika-lewis\">Joan Tarika Lewis\u003c/a>, the first woman to join the Black Panther Party.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Reflecting on the Town’s lineage, McElroy says, “I’m just adding the cherry on top.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989368\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989368 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1.jpg\" alt=\"A black and white image of a young African American man wearing multiple medals around his neck. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1303\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1-768x500.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1-1536x1001.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. has accomplished a lot as an amateur fighter. Now, he’s looking to turn pro. \u003ccite>(Renée Moncada-McElroy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Formerly ranked No. 2 in the nation in the 143-pound weight class, McElroy recently moved up to the 154-pound division, where he’s ranked No. 6. Fresh from winning an exhibition fight by unanimous decision in Las Vegas this past weekend, McElroy Jr. is preparing for the Junior Olympics in June — which he predicts will be his last tournament before turning pro.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And with that, he’ll start the next chapter of a story he started as a baby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I have a picture of him with his big old boxing gloves on,” says \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/renee_electronika/\">Renée Moncada-McElroy\u003c/a>. “He’s literally been doing this all his life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989355\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989355 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738.jpg\" alt=\"An African American toddler wearing boxing gloves and kicking a punching bag. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">As a toddler, Thomas McElroy Jr. put on his first pair of boxing gloves — and he hasn’t stopped fighting since. \u003ccite>(Renée Moncada-McElroy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘It’s not just about boxing’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Moncada-McElroy, McElroy Jr.’s mother, is also the creator of the documentary series \u003cem>Sons of the Sweet Science\u003c/em>; the latest production credit on her already stacked résumé.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She’s worked as a producer for the reality show \u003cem>Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce\u003c/em> and the nature show \u003cem>Man vs. Fish\u003c/em>. She also directed on the series \u003cem>Chain Gang Girls\u003c/em> and was the force behind a documentary about Oakland rap legend Too Short, \u003cem>Life Is: The Life and Times of Todd Shaw\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this one is different.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not just about boxing,” says Moncada-McElroy, explaining her goal to show the ring as a rite of passage. “Coming of age under pressure,” as she calls it, “\u003cem>and\u003c/em> it’s connected to real-world stakes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989364\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989364 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242.jpg\" alt=\"A young African American man wears boxing gloves as he poses for a photo next to his mother and father. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. and his parents, Renée Moncada-McElroy and Thomas McElroy.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The series was filmed around 2021, in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and numerous other high-profile extrajudicial murders of Black people. “The gym was a safe space for them during that time,” says the filmmaker, recognizing the pressure that her son and his friends faced as teenage Black men in America.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She credits coaches Kris Lopez and Abe Morones for creating a place for young people to fully express themselves. “The gyms are social service agencies,” asserts Moncada-McElroy. “They’re an alternative to the streets for a lot of these boys.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even in finding a bit of escape, the influence of the Town isn’t far behind.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Oakland style of boxing,” says coach Kris Lopez, “is an intellectual style of boxing.” The best fighters from the region, he says, have a great understanding of distance, and of keeping their front guard hand up at a 45-degree angle. They also make tremendous use of the jab.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a balanced style that doesn’t rely on power punching, but instead focuses on rhythm, good fundamentals, sharp lines and timing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’re not going to catch an Oakland fighter sitting in the shell too long,” says Lopez. “They’re going to dictate the fight with the jab and be more like a sniper, landing clean shots.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989365\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1616px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989365 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183.jpg\" alt=\"A coach and young boxer secure gloves and get ready to train. \" width=\"1616\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183.jpg 1616w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1616px) 100vw, 1616px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Coach Kris “Lightning” Lopez secures the gloves on a young boxer’s hands before a training session. \u003ccite>(Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In addition to the technical aspects of the sport, the community safety net and coming-of-age experience, the series centers fatherhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rattling off a list of great boxers, male and female, Moncada-McElroy notes how deeply their fathers (or father figures) were involved in their upbringing. Thomas McElroy Jr. is no different.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A mother’s love, a father’s guidance\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“I love that my son is achieving all that he wants to achieve so far in boxing,” says the elder Thomas McElroy. “There’s so much you can learn from boxing that doesn’t have anything to do with punching and not getting punched.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McElroy, as one half of the acclaimed music production team \u003ca href=\"https://www.allmusic.com/artist/thomas-mcelroy-mn0000488357#songs\">Foster and McElroy\u003c/a>, has produced hits for legendary groups En Vogue and Tony! Toni! Toné!, as well as Timex Social Club and Club Nouveau.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s also a longtime Muay Thai kickboxer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989372\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989372 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733.jpg\" alt=\"A boy stands in a boxing ring, as his father stands outside of the ring looking on in admiration. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"2507\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-160x201.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-768x963.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-1225x1536.jpg 1225w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-1634x2048.jpg 1634w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. has been training with his father all his life. \u003ccite>(Renée Moncada-McElroy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Boxing is a beautiful art, it’s a craft,” says McElroy, describing the lessons his son is gleaning in the ring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It takes a certain type of person to want to become a boxer, McElroy says. Most folks avoid conflict. “They don’t want to get in the ring and fight, they’d rather run,” he says. “And then some people run toward the flame, you know? They don’t mind getting burned. They don’t mind getting heated up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McElroy says, “They just add to the flame when they get there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McElroy Jr. maintains a healthy relationship with his father, somebody he says he can talk to any time. “He’s a very cool dude,” adds the young boxer, referring to him as a coach, trainer and an all-around person in his corner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I look at my dad,” McElroy Jr. says, “as more than just a father.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Oakland boxing is different\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The importance of family support, the intricate mindset of a young boxer and the texture of the Town are all prominent in the first episode of \u003cem>Sons of the Sweet Science\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In one scene, fathers deescalate a potentially bad situation where a boxer doesn’t have proper equipment. In another brief clip, Moncada-McElroy holds her son close as he processes emotions after a rough fight. And in yet another scene, McElroy Jr. and his friends smile wide as they jump into a swimming pool, evidence that they retain their childlike joy in the midst of constantly training for battle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989370\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1616px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989370 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220.jpg\" alt=\"A silhouette of a boxer swinging at a suspended weight bag.\" width=\"1616\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220.jpg 1616w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1616px) 100vw, 1616px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In addition to boxing, Thomas McElroy Jr. is a visual artist, musician and craftsman. \u003ccite>(Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>By fusing narrative storytelling with a very intentional soundtrack, Moncada-McElroy guides the viewers through the emotions that come with fighting — both inside and outside the ring. In the end, for an activity that involves getting punched in the face, she creates a language that expresses the \u003cem>poetry\u003c/em> of the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s strategy, it’s precision, timing and control,” she says. “And so I wanted to make sure that I used certain tools or certain formats to communicate the language that boxing has.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moncada-McElroy breaks that language down into a bit of a paradox, one that parallels the knotty nature of Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s complicated,” she says, comparing the Town to the sport. “You have opportunities, but you also have limitations. There’s community, but there’s also isolation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Within Oakland’s style of boxing, she sees a deeper dichotomy: “There’s a sort of lightheartedness,” Moncada-McElroy says of the boxers she watches, “but they do take care of business when they get in the ring … They may not start it, but they’re gonna finish it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even the existential questions that the boxing gym currently faces illustrate a duality. It’s unfortunate that a stolen car busted through the gym’s front wall six months ago. It’s also truly beautiful that a storied nightclub and cultural hub would open up its space and allow its young athletes to continue to grow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It turns out that the secrets to being an incredible city and a respected fighter are one and the same: support from community, a bit of conflict, and a confident jab. And balance — always maintain your balance.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The first episode of ‘Sons of the Sweet Science’ is available to watch now. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sonsofthesweetscience.com/\">Check the series site for upcoming episodes and more information\u003c/a>. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>After \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/oakland-lightning-boxing-car-crash/4006888/\">a car smashed through the front doors\u003c/a> of Lightning’s Boxing Club in East Oakland this past New Year’s Eve, the young fighters who’d found sanctuary at the facility went looking for a new home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That explains why there’s currently a boxing ring inside downtown Oakland’s landmark nightclub \u003ca href=\"https://geoffreyslive.com/\">Geoffery’s Inner Circle\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Up two flights of stairs, past framed images of superstars who’ve performed on the Geoffrey’s stage, there’s all the amenities of a boxing gym. Punching bags suspended from the ceiling. Weights stacked near a bench press.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a recent visit, a boxer jumps rope in the mirror on the far side, while another gets lessons from the gym’s owner, coach Kris “Lightning” Lopez. In the center of the room is a traditional boxing ring, and shadowboxing in the middle of it is a determined young man named Thomas McElroy Jr.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989346\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989346 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189.jpg\" alt=\"A young African American man shadowboxing in a boxing ring. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. and his friends train daily in downtown Oakland. \u003ccite>(Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A nationally top-ranked amateur fighter with medal-wining bouts behind him and miles of potential in front of him, McElroy Jr. and his circle of boxing friends represent the next wave of boxers carrying the baton for the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His story, along with other rising fighters, is illuminated in the new four-part documentary series \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sonsofthesweetscience.com/\">Sons of the Sweet Science\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot of great fighters from this gym, and all around Oakland,” McElroy Jr. tells me. At 19 years old, he’s fully aware of the legacy of this soil.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Retired Olympic gold medalist \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/281958\">Andre Ward\u003c/a> and current World Boxing Organization welterweight champion \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/741718\">Devin Haney\u003c/a> both started in the Town. Notable fighters like \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/100759\">Bilal Mahasin\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/873678\">Amari Jones\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/853206\">Anthony Garnica\u003c/a> learned the ropes here, as did \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/048243\">Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/25178\">Juaquin “Killer” Gallardo\u003c/a>, a 1996 U.S. Olympic team alternate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first African American fighter to win the Light Heavyweight title, \u003ca href=\"https://www.britishvintageboxing.com/blogs/news/john-henry-lewis-sensationally-humble\">John Henry Lewis\u003c/a>, spent his adult years in the East Bay, running a gym with his brothers. (He was also the father of \u003ca href=\"https://www.illustrationhistory.org/artists/joan-tarika-lewis\">Joan Tarika Lewis\u003c/a>, the first woman to join the Black Panther Party.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Reflecting on the Town’s lineage, McElroy says, “I’m just adding the cherry on top.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989368\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989368 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1.jpg\" alt=\"A black and white image of a young African American man wearing multiple medals around his neck. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1303\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1-768x500.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1-1536x1001.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. has accomplished a lot as an amateur fighter. Now, he’s looking to turn pro. \u003ccite>(Renée Moncada-McElroy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Formerly ranked No. 2 in the nation in the 143-pound weight class, McElroy recently moved up to the 154-pound division, where he’s ranked No. 6. Fresh from winning an exhibition fight by unanimous decision in Las Vegas this past weekend, McElroy Jr. is preparing for the Junior Olympics in June — which he predicts will be his last tournament before turning pro.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And with that, he’ll start the next chapter of a story he started as a baby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I have a picture of him with his big old boxing gloves on,” says \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/renee_electronika/\">Renée Moncada-McElroy\u003c/a>. “He’s literally been doing this all his life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989355\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989355 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738.jpg\" alt=\"An African American toddler wearing boxing gloves and kicking a punching bag. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">As a toddler, Thomas McElroy Jr. put on his first pair of boxing gloves — and he hasn’t stopped fighting since. \u003ccite>(Renée Moncada-McElroy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘It’s not just about boxing’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Moncada-McElroy, McElroy Jr.’s mother, is also the creator of the documentary series \u003cem>Sons of the Sweet Science\u003c/em>; the latest production credit on her already stacked résumé.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She’s worked as a producer for the reality show \u003cem>Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce\u003c/em> and the nature show \u003cem>Man vs. Fish\u003c/em>. She also directed on the series \u003cem>Chain Gang Girls\u003c/em> and was the force behind a documentary about Oakland rap legend Too Short, \u003cem>Life Is: The Life and Times of Todd Shaw\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this one is different.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not just about boxing,” says Moncada-McElroy, explaining her goal to show the ring as a rite of passage. “Coming of age under pressure,” as she calls it, “\u003cem>and\u003c/em> it’s connected to real-world stakes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989364\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989364 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242.jpg\" alt=\"A young African American man wears boxing gloves as he poses for a photo next to his mother and father. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. and his parents, Renée Moncada-McElroy and Thomas McElroy.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The series was filmed around 2021, in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and numerous other high-profile extrajudicial murders of Black people. “The gym was a safe space for them during that time,” says the filmmaker, recognizing the pressure that her son and his friends faced as teenage Black men in America.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She credits coaches Kris Lopez and Abe Morones for creating a place for young people to fully express themselves. “The gyms are social service agencies,” asserts Moncada-McElroy. “They’re an alternative to the streets for a lot of these boys.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even in finding a bit of escape, the influence of the Town isn’t far behind.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Oakland style of boxing,” says coach Kris Lopez, “is an intellectual style of boxing.” The best fighters from the region, he says, have a great understanding of distance, and of keeping their front guard hand up at a 45-degree angle. They also make tremendous use of the jab.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a balanced style that doesn’t rely on power punching, but instead focuses on rhythm, good fundamentals, sharp lines and timing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’re not going to catch an Oakland fighter sitting in the shell too long,” says Lopez. “They’re going to dictate the fight with the jab and be more like a sniper, landing clean shots.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989365\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1616px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989365 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183.jpg\" alt=\"A coach and young boxer secure gloves and get ready to train. \" width=\"1616\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183.jpg 1616w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1616px) 100vw, 1616px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Coach Kris “Lightning” Lopez secures the gloves on a young boxer’s hands before a training session. \u003ccite>(Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In addition to the technical aspects of the sport, the community safety net and coming-of-age experience, the series centers fatherhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rattling off a list of great boxers, male and female, Moncada-McElroy notes how deeply their fathers (or father figures) were involved in their upbringing. Thomas McElroy Jr. is no different.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A mother’s love, a father’s guidance\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“I love that my son is achieving all that he wants to achieve so far in boxing,” says the elder Thomas McElroy. “There’s so much you can learn from boxing that doesn’t have anything to do with punching and not getting punched.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McElroy, as one half of the acclaimed music production team \u003ca href=\"https://www.allmusic.com/artist/thomas-mcelroy-mn0000488357#songs\">Foster and McElroy\u003c/a>, has produced hits for legendary groups En Vogue and Tony! Toni! Toné!, as well as Timex Social Club and Club Nouveau.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s also a longtime Muay Thai kickboxer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989372\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989372 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733.jpg\" alt=\"A boy stands in a boxing ring, as his father stands outside of the ring looking on in admiration. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"2507\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-160x201.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-768x963.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-1225x1536.jpg 1225w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-1634x2048.jpg 1634w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. has been training with his father all his life. \u003ccite>(Renée Moncada-McElroy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Boxing is a beautiful art, it’s a craft,” says McElroy, describing the lessons his son is gleaning in the ring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It takes a certain type of person to want to become a boxer, McElroy says. Most folks avoid conflict. “They don’t want to get in the ring and fight, they’d rather run,” he says. “And then some people run toward the flame, you know? They don’t mind getting burned. They don’t mind getting heated up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McElroy says, “They just add to the flame when they get there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McElroy Jr. maintains a healthy relationship with his father, somebody he says he can talk to any time. “He’s a very cool dude,” adds the young boxer, referring to him as a coach, trainer and an all-around person in his corner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I look at my dad,” McElroy Jr. says, “as more than just a father.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Oakland boxing is different\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The importance of family support, the intricate mindset of a young boxer and the texture of the Town are all prominent in the first episode of \u003cem>Sons of the Sweet Science\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In one scene, fathers deescalate a potentially bad situation where a boxer doesn’t have proper equipment. In another brief clip, Moncada-McElroy holds her son close as he processes emotions after a rough fight. And in yet another scene, McElroy Jr. and his friends smile wide as they jump into a swimming pool, evidence that they retain their childlike joy in the midst of constantly training for battle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989370\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1616px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989370 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220.jpg\" alt=\"A silhouette of a boxer swinging at a suspended weight bag.\" width=\"1616\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220.jpg 1616w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1616px) 100vw, 1616px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In addition to boxing, Thomas McElroy Jr. is a visual artist, musician and craftsman. \u003ccite>(Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>By fusing narrative storytelling with a very intentional soundtrack, Moncada-McElroy guides the viewers through the emotions that come with fighting — both inside and outside the ring. In the end, for an activity that involves getting punched in the face, she creates a language that expresses the \u003cem>poetry\u003c/em> of the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s strategy, it’s precision, timing and control,” she says. “And so I wanted to make sure that I used certain tools or certain formats to communicate the language that boxing has.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moncada-McElroy breaks that language down into a bit of a paradox, one that parallels the knotty nature of Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s complicated,” she says, comparing the Town to the sport. “You have opportunities, but you also have limitations. There’s community, but there’s also isolation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Within Oakland’s style of boxing, she sees a deeper dichotomy: “There’s a sort of lightheartedness,” Moncada-McElroy says of the boxers she watches, “but they do take care of business when they get in the ring … They may not start it, but they’re gonna finish it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even the existential questions that the boxing gym currently faces illustrate a duality. It’s unfortunate that a stolen car busted through the gym’s front wall six months ago. It’s also truly beautiful that a storied nightclub and cultural hub would open up its space and allow its young athletes to continue to grow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It turns out that the secrets to being an incredible city and a respected fighter are one and the same: support from community, a bit of conflict, and a confident jab. And balance — always maintain your balance.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The first episode of ‘Sons of the Sweet Science’ is available to watch now. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sonsofthesweetscience.com/\">Check the series site for upcoming episodes and more information\u003c/a>. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "best-cheap-affordable-restaurant-meals-bay-area-oakland-sf",
"title": "25 Great Bay Area Meals for $12 or Less",
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"headTitle": "25 Great Bay Area Meals for $12 or Less | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ci>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">How We Get By\u003c/a>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">full series here\u003c/a>.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You don’t need to sit down at one of the Bay Area’s posh and trendy temples of fine dining to know that eating out in the year 2026 is too damn expensive. These days, even the most generic fast food might cost $50 or $60 to feed a family of four, and buying groceries to cook at home is an increasingly fraught and overwhelming expense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thankfully, the high-end California cuisine restaurant isn’t the \u003ci>only\u003c/i> hallmark of the Bay Area food scene — there’s also the neighborhood taco truck, noodle counter, bánh mì shop and casual takeout dim sum deli. In every city in the Bay, these essential restaurants are still feeding the people, often at a shockingly inexpensive price point. You just need to know which ones are actually delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here, then, is my guide to eating well on a budget: 25 of my favorite affordable Bay Area restaurants where you can get a full, satisfying meal for $12 or less.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CheapEatsinSanFrancisco\">Cheap eats in San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CheapEatsintheSouthBayandPeninsula\">Cheap eats in the South Bay and Peninsula\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CheapEatsintheNorthBay\">Cheap eats in the North Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch1>\u003cb>EAST BAY\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989352\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989352\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo.jpg\" alt=\"Breakfast sandwich with sausage, scrambled egg and queso fresco.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The pan con todo with Guatemalan sausage at Universal Bakery, which has locations in San Pablo, San Francisco and Daly City. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Universal Bakery\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1946 23rd St., San Pablo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This bustling Guatemalan bakery is the king of the delicious, inexpensive breakfast sandwich, serving at least seven different varieties of its pan con todo. The baseline sandwich ($6.55) comes with fluffy scrambled eggs, refried beans, crema and a wedge of fresh cheese — the staples of a traditional Guatemalan breakfast, all piled onto a good, crusty French roll. My favorite version adds well-charred longaniza (Guatemalan pork sausage) to the mix; others feature sweet plantains or carne asada. The bakery has additional locations in \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Universal+Bakery+on+Mission/@37.741405,-122.4228077,3291m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x808f7e5d405c2f8b:0xb24e30761070f266!8m2!3d37.741405!4d-122.4228077!16s%2Fg%2F1vlqqfmk?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">San Francisco’s Mission District\u003c/a> and in \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Universal+Bakery+on+Geneva/@37.7070028,-122.4146378,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x808f7ec563977c09:0x63c23ad1f3300324!8m2!3d37.7070028!4d-122.4146378!16s%2Fg%2F11bx9t7vrz?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">Daly City\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989373\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989373\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Seared fish fillet on a bed of noodles, with grilled vegetables on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Even the most expensive items on the menu at Aqua Terra, like this seared branzino, only cost $16. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Aqua Terra Grill at Contra Costa College\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2600 Mission Bell Dr. SAB-130, San Pablo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Located on the Contra Costa College campus, \u003ca href=\"https://linktr.ee/ccc_order?fbclid=IwY2xjawRlx6JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEWHBmMlhCam1JYk1ZTjdRc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkJtQLftRhaphc9HVpBM1Pr9EdNirfRNdN9VR35XQrQKyp3Rsl1ce1jrD45w_aem_5GeBZRKVmdFI7Kideqc3EA\">Aqua Terra\u003c/a> functions as a training facility for students in the school’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/ccc_culinaryacademy\">culinary academy\u003c/a>, but it it’s also fully open to the public for lunch service, three days a week (Tuesday–Thursday). The bonus with getting a meal prepared and served by students still learning their trade is that it’s an extraordinary value — say, a cool $9 for braised beef shank ravioli or a portobello focaccia sandwich with fries. (It’s just $16 to splurge on grilled branzino with garlic noodles.) The food can be a little uneven, with a throwback-to-’90s-New-American vibe. But it’s a solid meal — slightly fancy, even! — with sweet, earnest service for fast food prices. Note: the restaurant follows the school calendar, which means it’s already wrapping up for the semester. The last hurrah is a big Mother’s Day buffet on May 12–13; \u003ca href=\"https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=SmlUw-XMn0iyo6Kp0m4MP3XtfkM2ShJPnQ6gSMwaMQJUNE5WMTdVR05WQldHUTJDNEFWUEFKM1M2MC4u&route=shorturl\">reservations\u003c/a> are highly recommended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989374\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989374\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"Whole grilled chicken in a takeout container, with rice, refried beans and various salsas on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The whole chicken meal at Richmond’s La Selva is an affordable way to feed the whole family. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>La Selva Taqueria\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1049 23rd St., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The house specialty at this rainforest-themed taqueria near the end of \u003ca href=\"https://eastbayexpress.com/a-richmond-taco-crawl-2-1/\">Richmond’s 23rd Street taco corridor\u003c/a> is pollo al carbon — whole spatchcocked chickens slow-grilled over charcoal until the skin is deeply charred and the flesh is smoky, tender and delicious. You can get your chicken either on tacos or in a burrito, but my preference is the $30 family meal, which comes with a whole bird, tortillas, rice, refried beans, chips and as many tubs of salsa as you want from the restaurant’s excellent serve-yourself salsa bar. It’s enough to feed my family of four with leftovers — just $7.50 per person.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Grand Cafe\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>4250 Macdonald Ave., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This under-the-radar Hong Kong cafe tucked inside a Target shopping plaza isn’t notable for any single standout dish, but instead for its overall dedication to affordability: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13986256/cheap-cantonese-restaurant-richmond-east-bay-grand-cafe-dim-sum-claypot-rice\">Nothing on the menu costs more than $10.75\u003c/a>, and most dishes come with free soy milk and a bowl of hot soup on the side. My favorite is the claypot rice with spare ribs and preserved sausage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13923368\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13923368\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior.jpg\" alt=\"Exterior of the Antojitos Guatemaltecos restaurant with a yellow facade and a handful of outdoor tables on the sidewalk.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tamales are the staple dish at Antojitos Guatemaltecos in El Cerrito. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Antojitos Guatemaltecos\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>11252 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tamales are the staple dish at this \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13923359/antojitos-guatemaltecos-guatemalan-restaurant-el-cerrito-tamales-pollo-campero\">homestyle Guatemalan restaurant\u003c/a> — and at $5 a pop, they’re also its most affordable offering. Two of these, mixed and matched between about a half-dozen available varieties, make for a hearty breakfast, lunch or dinner. I especially love the wonderfully jiggly and custard-like Guatemalan-style corn-masa tamales and the harder-to-find \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13913355/guatemalan-rice-tamales-antojitos-guatemaltecos-richmond\">rice tamales\u003c/a>, which are like a soupy Central American cousin to Chinese zongzi. The restaurant has a great deal on its extraordinarily flavorful \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-14/pollo-campero-central-america-los-angeles\">Pollo Campero–style\u003c/a> fried chicken — a whole leg, fries and a handmade tortilla for $11.95.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Top Dog\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2534 Durant Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The original, and only remaining, location of Top Dog is a Berkeley \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13954597/top-dog-late-night-hot-dogs-berkeley-midnight-diners\">late-night institution\u003c/a> for good reason. The hot dogs, served on the shop’s signature toasty French rolls, are simply the best. One of them makes for a solid lunch (the garlic frankfurter is my favorite); two in one sitting feels like a downright feast. Note well: Most of the dogs are priced at $4.75, but the shop has a $5 credit card minimum. If you don’t feel like buying a soda, the mild, creamy potato salad is a nice add-on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989377\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989377\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Dark red fava bean stew, with two crusty rolls on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The shihan ful at Alem’s Coffee in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Alem’s Coffee\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>5353 Claremont Ave., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Strictly speaking, my favorite dishes at this classic Eritrean cafe are \u003ci>just \u003c/i>above this roundup’s $12 threshold — the oniony egg frittata ($12.50) and the spice-redolent fava bean stew known as shihan ful ($13), both served with excellent crusty bread for dipping. On a hot day, though, it’s tough to beat the value on the $9 umbotito, a quirky, refreshing potato sandwich of sorts — slices of cold, al dente boiled potato topped with lettuce, tomatoes and onions in a light vinaigrette. The cafe’s location, across from the Oakland DMV parking lot, has made it the one bright spot in many otherwise dreary mornings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989378\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989378\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Sticky rice, sausage balls and fried egg on a metal tray.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The $10 Lao sausage rice plate at the newly opened Souk Savanh 2.0 in Oakland. The fried egg is a $2 add-on. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Soukh Savanh 2.0\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1707 Telegraph Ave., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recently reborn in a prime Uptown location, the new, counter-service incarnation of this \u003ca href=\"https://eastbayexpress.com/paradise-deferred-2-1/\">much-loved Lao-Thai restaurant\u003c/a> has one of the most affordable menus in the neighborhood. The headliner is the selection of $10 rice plates, which are available all day long. I especially love the fermented Lao sausage, which Souk Savanh serves as crisp-edged meatballs — absurdly delicious when dunked in a runny-yolked fried egg (a $2 add-on); dipped in funky-sweet jeow som; and then scooped up, Lao-style, with a clump of sticky rice. Pro tip: For a near-perfect meal, two diners can split one rice plate and an order of nam khao (crispy rice ball salad) — one of the best versions in the Bay — for about $12 a person. \u003cem>\u003cstrong>Editor’s note: Souk Savanh is now \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DYN4ropPhGb/\">closed indefinitely\u003c/a>.\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989379\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989379\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding what's left of a banh mi sandwich with ground pork and egg.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of a half-eaten #13 meatball and egg bánh mì from Banh Mi Ba Le. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Banh Mi Ba Le\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1909 International Blvd., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ba Le’s #13 meatball-and-egg bánh mì shot to the top of my bánh mì rankings the first time I tried it, some 15 years ago — just an exquisite combination of juicy, peppery ground pork; a jammy-yolked fried egg; a big smear of buttery Vietnamese mayo; and both fresh and pickled vegetables. It’s still my favorite to this day. The only things that have changed is that the shop now keeps super-limited hours (Friday–Sunday only) and no longer has a dine-in area. The prices have crept up too, but at $6.30 a pop for most sandwiches on the menu ($7.25 for the #13), it’s still as good a bang for your buck as you can find in the East Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989380\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989380\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Two tacos, radishes, grilled onions and nopales on a paper plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A two-taco plate at Taqueria El Paisa in Oakland’s Fruitvale District. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Taqueria El Paisa\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>4610 International Blvd., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The beauty of Fruitvale is that you can get amazing, inexpensive tacos up and down International Boulevard, but this no-frills taqueria is the \u003ca href=\"https://eastbayexpress.com/taqueria-el-paisa-at-com-serves-the-best-tacos-in-town-2-1/\">best of the best\u003c/a>. Favorites include the decadent tripa (a divine combination of soft, squishy and crunchy textures) and the exquisitely tender, juicy suadero. These days, El Paisa tacos will run you $4.50 a pop — by no means the cheapest in the neighborhood — but they’re so rich and meaty that a two-taco lunch is usually all I want. A three-taco lunch? That’s cause for celebration (and maybe a short nap).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"CheapEatsinSanFrancisco\">\u003c/a>\u003cb>SAN FRANCISCO\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003ch2>Freddie’s Sandwiches\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>300 Francisco St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Freddie’s is the very definition of the low-key neighborhood deli that’s always there when you need it. I got lunch here at least once a week when I worked near North Beach, alternating between the Italian combo and the egg salad, both excellent, always on Dutch Crunch. Most sandwiches are priced at $10.95 for the small (but generously stuffed) 6-inch size — I never wanted anything bigger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989385\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"The interior of a Chinese bakery, with a fully stocked display case and old-fashioned signage visible.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lung Fung Bakery serves some of the best baked pork buns and egg custard tarts in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Lung Fung Bakery\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1823 Clement St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chinese bakeries are some of the best places to cobble together an S-tier struggle meal — to, for instance, drop $5 on a couple of barbecue pork buns and fill your daily meat and carb allowance. At Lung Fung in the Outer Richmond, the baked char siu buns aren’t just inexpensive, at $2.50 apiece; they’re also my very favorite version of this treat — beautifully golden-brown with a super-lush and meaty filling. If you’ve got a couple bucks to spare on dessert, Lung Fung’s egg custard tarts ($2.38) are also some of the best around. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989390\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989390\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"Takeout containers of soba and curry chicken against a concrete backdrop.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The curry chicken special and a half order of cold soba from Yo Yo’s. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Yo Yo’s\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>318 Pacific Ave., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This tiny, utterly unpretentious Japanese takeout shop feels like a miracle in the Financial District. Udon for $9? Six-piece unagi rolls for $3.25? Almost everything on the menu available as a (still-substantial) half portion? All in all, I’m hard-pressed to think of a more affordable lunch in the city. On days when I’m particularly cash-strapped, my go-to is the half order of cold soba ($5), which comes loaded with spinach, tofu puffs and crispy puffed rice, plus a refreshing hit of wasabi by request. But it’s hard to pass up on the curry chicken special ($12) when it’s available: two tender chicken legs, a hard-boiled egg and big chunks of carrot and potato in a spicy-sweet sauce that tastes more like home-cooked Thai massaman curry than your standard Japanese roux. It’s delicious, and enough food to stretch the leftovers into another meal. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989251\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989251\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Siu mai dumplings in a metal steamer.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beef siu mai dumplings at Good Mong Kok. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Good Mong Kok\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1039 Stockton St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s easy to understand why this popular takeout dim sum spot draws some of the longest lines in Chinatown: The shop sells a huge assortment of extremely tasty, conveniently portable buns and dumplings for bargain-basement prices. Most items are between $2 and $4, perfect for sampling a good mix. The steamed buns here are especially great: uncommonly juicy and savory pork-and-vegetable buns (three for $3.80) and, my favorite, the truly enormous big (or “combination”) chicken bun ($2.80), which comes jam-packed with thigh meat, shiitakes, preserved sausage and hard-boiled egg — a whole meal unto itself. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989392\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989392\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2.jpg\" alt=\"A bowl of beef noodles with Burmese tea leaf salad on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yuma’s beef noodles with an order of tea leaf salad on the side. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Yamo\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3406 18th St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This narrow, eight-seat Burmese noodle counter in the heart of the Mission seems almost too charming to be real, with its older proprietress working three hot woks at a time while her daughter greets the shop’s diverse cast of twenty- and thirtysomething regular customers by name. Oh, and every single item on the menu costs $9 or less. The headliner here is the house noodles ($9), a simple and satisfying oil-slicked stir-fry topped with crispy garlic and your protein of choice. But everything I’ve tried has been tasty: the blazing-hot, shatteringly crispy potato samusas ($5) and the tea leaf salad ($9), which has a wonderful zip of heat that cuts through the funk of the fermented tea. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989393\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989393\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"A container of salmon poke and a side of white rice, shown on a park bench.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An order of shoyu salmon poke from Basa Seafood Express is best enjoyed on a nearby park bench. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Basa Seafood Express\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3064 24th St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This bare-bones Mission District seafood counter is a neighborhood staple for affordable sushi rolls, sashimi and fried seafood dishes. My go-to lunch order is the shoyu salmon poke ($8.50) with a small side of rice — the combination of raw fish, seasoned soy sauce and hot rice is such a simple, exquisite pleasure in the middle of the workday. Also great: the impeccably fried, poboy-adjacent soft-shell crab burger ($11.50). There’s no dine-in seating, so you can bring your food home or find a park bench a couple blocks away for a nice al fresco meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"CheapEatsintheSouthBayandPeninsula\">\u003c/a>\u003cb>SOUTH BAY AND PENINSULA\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989395\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989395\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"To-go container of barbecue skewers over white rice.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Filipino BBQ skewers over rice from Fil-Am Cuisine in Daly City. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Fil-Am Cuisine\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>66 School St., Daly City\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a perfect lunch, but two Filipino barbecue meat sticks over rice from Fil-Am Cuisine comes pretty close to my Platonic ideal — especially since it only costs $9.99. The sweet smell of the shop’s well-charred pork and chicken skewers ($3.75 each a la carte) is irresistible. Add a couple more to your order plus a large carton of pancit ($9), and you can feed the whole family. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989396\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989396\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"A waffle and three chicken wings on a paper plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Three chicken wings and a Belgian waffle — one of the discounted daily specials at Keith’s Chicken & Waffles in Daly City. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Keith’s Chicken & Waffles\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>270 San Pedro Rd., Daly City\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The best thing about Keith’s is that it sells some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13979460/keiths-chicken-waffles-crunchiest-fried-chicken-daly-city-late-night\">crunchiest, most exceptionally well seasoned fried chicken\u003c/a> you can find in the Bay Area, along with several varieties of crisp-edged, airy-light waffles. The second-best thing? The prices are so reasonable that they put even fast food chicken chains like Popeyes and Raising Cane’s to shame. Combo meals, which come with a waffle or side dish, start at $12, and there’s always a daily special — say, three wings and a Belgian waffle — for around $10.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989261\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989261\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a salmon musubi.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The luscious salmon musubi from Takahashi Market in San Mateo. The 120-year-old market’s musubis are one of the Bay Area’s best lunch deals. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Takahashi Market\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>221 S. Claremont St., San Mateo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The wonderfully varied assortment of musubis at this 120-year-old Japanese-Hawaiian market aren’t just one of the best lunch deals in town; they’re one of my favorite things to eat in the Bay Area, flat out. Just one of these hefty, seven-inch beauties will fill you up — the Spam musubi ($6.95) is a classic for good reason, but my personal favorite is the decadent, tobiko-topped salmon-and-crawfish musubi.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Taiwan Porridge\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>20956 Homestead Rd., Cupertino\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Taiwanese immigrants, this strip mall spot’s format is deeply nostalgic: a dazzling array of hot and cold dishes all meant to accompany big tureens of velvety sweet potato congee. Value-wise, the highlight is the $12.83 three-item lunch special (available until 4 p.m.), which puts the average Chinese takeout joint’s combo plate to shame with cozy, home-style options like cold lotus root salad, twice-cooked pork belly, anchovies stir-fried with peanuts, and loofah with scrambled eggs. If budget allows, you should absolutely pay an extra $1.83 to upgrade from regular steamed rice to congee — or better yet, get the four-item combo ($15.58) and split it with a friend. Taiwan Porridge also has locations in Milpitas and Fremont.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989256\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989256\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED.jpg\" alt='An Indian supermarket lit up at night. The sign above reads, \"Apni Mandi.\"' width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The exterior of Apni Mandi in Sunnyvale. The Indian market sells hot food 24/7. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Apni Mandi\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1111 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not only is the hot food counter at Sunnyvale’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13955884/sunnyvale-late-night-food-24-hour-indian-grocery-apni-mandi-apna-bazar\">24-hour Indian grocery store\u003c/a> open all day and night, its $8.99 vegetarian thali platter is one of best deals around — a three-compartment foil clamshell container crammed full of rice, onion salad and your choice of two curries (I especially love the paneer makhani and the fritter-studded kadhi pakora), with a couple rounds of chapati on the side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989400\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989400\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a small banh mi in a parking lot.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The option to order a budget-friendly half-size bánh mì at Duc Huong also allows diners to try multiple varieties. Pictured here is the grilled pork and egg bánh mì. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Duc Huong\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1020 Story Rd. Ste. C, San José\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My favorite South Bay bánh mì mini-chain is especially good for budget-minded diners because it offers a half-size sandwich option ($4.50 for most varieties), allowing lighter eaters to save some money — and giving heartier eaters the chance to sample two different sandwiches for the price of one. I love the classic #2 cold-cut combo the best, but the #8 (grilled pork topped with a fluffy egg omelette) is also pretty great, especially on garlic bread. Why not get both? Apart from its very busy original Story Road location, Duc Huong has \u003ca href=\"https://duchuongsandwiches.com/#locations\">three other shops\u003c/a> around San José, plus one in Sacramento.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"CheapEatsintheNorthBay\">\u003c/a>\u003cb>NORTH BAY\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003ch2>Guerneville Taco Truck\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>16632 Main St., Guerneville\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amidst all of Sonoma County’s frou-frou dining options, this taco truck — parked in a Safeway parking lot — is an oasis for locals and daytrippers looking for something more casual and inexpensive. Tacos are $3; the excellent (massive, totally shareable) breakfast burrito is $14. My favorite, the $12.50 fry-stuffed California burrito, has enough calories to keep you going all day. This is a must-stop for my family on our way to an Armstrong Woods hike, or on our way back from a day of Russian River Valley wine tasting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13907215\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13907215\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken.jpg\" alt=\"A man in a flannel and hat tends to chicken on a grill on an overcast day\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">What a Chicken’s outdoor grill, seen here at the Santa Rosa Flea Market. \u003ccite>(Gabe Meline/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>What a Chicken\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>706 E. Washington St., Petaluma\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This gem of a pollo asado shop sits near the gateway to wine country, slinging hearty portions of its exceptionally juicy and crisp-skinned char-grilled chicken at a good value in one of the Bay Area’s most expensive regions. The prices especially work in your favor if you come with a crowd: My standard order is a half ($18.99) or whole chicken plate ($34.99), which comes with rice, salsa and piping-hot handmade tortillas — plenty of food to feed two or four adults, respectively, at under $10 per person. Pro tip: I always add one of the shop’s meaty, slow-cooked pork ribs ($4.99) to my order. It’s just as good as the chicken.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989401\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989401\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"A pupusa on a white plate, with a small tub of curtido and a bowl of salsa on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of Pupuseria Blankita’s toasty, well-griddled pupusas. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Pupuseria Blankita\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>48 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two of Blankita’s toasty, well-griddled pupusas make for the ideal post–Marin Farmers Market lunch — say, the revuelta ($5.50), with its classic pork, bean and cheese filling, and maybe the green-flecked zucchini and cheese ($4.50), both topped with a generous heap of bright, crunchy curtido. To mix it up, sometimes I’ll order just one pupusa and add a gooey, sugar-dusted fried plantain empanada ($5) for dessert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ci>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">How We Get By\u003c/a>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">full series here\u003c/a>.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You don’t need to sit down at one of the Bay Area’s posh and trendy temples of fine dining to know that eating out in the year 2026 is too damn expensive. These days, even the most generic fast food might cost $50 or $60 to feed a family of four, and buying groceries to cook at home is an increasingly fraught and overwhelming expense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thankfully, the high-end California cuisine restaurant isn’t the \u003ci>only\u003c/i> hallmark of the Bay Area food scene — there’s also the neighborhood taco truck, noodle counter, bánh mì shop and casual takeout dim sum deli. In every city in the Bay, these essential restaurants are still feeding the people, often at a shockingly inexpensive price point. You just need to know which ones are actually delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here, then, is my guide to eating well on a budget: 25 of my favorite affordable Bay Area restaurants where you can get a full, satisfying meal for $12 or less.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CheapEatsinSanFrancisco\">Cheap eats in San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CheapEatsintheSouthBayandPeninsula\">Cheap eats in the South Bay and Peninsula\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CheapEatsintheNorthBay\">Cheap eats in the North Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch1>\u003cb>EAST BAY\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989352\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989352\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo.jpg\" alt=\"Breakfast sandwich with sausage, scrambled egg and queso fresco.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The pan con todo with Guatemalan sausage at Universal Bakery, which has locations in San Pablo, San Francisco and Daly City. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Universal Bakery\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1946 23rd St., San Pablo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This bustling Guatemalan bakery is the king of the delicious, inexpensive breakfast sandwich, serving at least seven different varieties of its pan con todo. The baseline sandwich ($6.55) comes with fluffy scrambled eggs, refried beans, crema and a wedge of fresh cheese — the staples of a traditional Guatemalan breakfast, all piled onto a good, crusty French roll. My favorite version adds well-charred longaniza (Guatemalan pork sausage) to the mix; others feature sweet plantains or carne asada. The bakery has additional locations in \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Universal+Bakery+on+Mission/@37.741405,-122.4228077,3291m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x808f7e5d405c2f8b:0xb24e30761070f266!8m2!3d37.741405!4d-122.4228077!16s%2Fg%2F1vlqqfmk?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">San Francisco’s Mission District\u003c/a> and in \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Universal+Bakery+on+Geneva/@37.7070028,-122.4146378,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x808f7ec563977c09:0x63c23ad1f3300324!8m2!3d37.7070028!4d-122.4146378!16s%2Fg%2F11bx9t7vrz?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">Daly City\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989373\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989373\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Seared fish fillet on a bed of noodles, with grilled vegetables on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Even the most expensive items on the menu at Aqua Terra, like this seared branzino, only cost $16. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Aqua Terra Grill at Contra Costa College\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2600 Mission Bell Dr. SAB-130, San Pablo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Located on the Contra Costa College campus, \u003ca href=\"https://linktr.ee/ccc_order?fbclid=IwY2xjawRlx6JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEWHBmMlhCam1JYk1ZTjdRc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkJtQLftRhaphc9HVpBM1Pr9EdNirfRNdN9VR35XQrQKyp3Rsl1ce1jrD45w_aem_5GeBZRKVmdFI7Kideqc3EA\">Aqua Terra\u003c/a> functions as a training facility for students in the school’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/ccc_culinaryacademy\">culinary academy\u003c/a>, but it it’s also fully open to the public for lunch service, three days a week (Tuesday–Thursday). The bonus with getting a meal prepared and served by students still learning their trade is that it’s an extraordinary value — say, a cool $9 for braised beef shank ravioli or a portobello focaccia sandwich with fries. (It’s just $16 to splurge on grilled branzino with garlic noodles.) The food can be a little uneven, with a throwback-to-’90s-New-American vibe. But it’s a solid meal — slightly fancy, even! — with sweet, earnest service for fast food prices. Note: the restaurant follows the school calendar, which means it’s already wrapping up for the semester. The last hurrah is a big Mother’s Day buffet on May 12–13; \u003ca href=\"https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=SmlUw-XMn0iyo6Kp0m4MP3XtfkM2ShJPnQ6gSMwaMQJUNE5WMTdVR05WQldHUTJDNEFWUEFKM1M2MC4u&route=shorturl\">reservations\u003c/a> are highly recommended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989374\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989374\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"Whole grilled chicken in a takeout container, with rice, refried beans and various salsas on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The whole chicken meal at Richmond’s La Selva is an affordable way to feed the whole family. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>La Selva Taqueria\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1049 23rd St., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The house specialty at this rainforest-themed taqueria near the end of \u003ca href=\"https://eastbayexpress.com/a-richmond-taco-crawl-2-1/\">Richmond’s 23rd Street taco corridor\u003c/a> is pollo al carbon — whole spatchcocked chickens slow-grilled over charcoal until the skin is deeply charred and the flesh is smoky, tender and delicious. You can get your chicken either on tacos or in a burrito, but my preference is the $30 family meal, which comes with a whole bird, tortillas, rice, refried beans, chips and as many tubs of salsa as you want from the restaurant’s excellent serve-yourself salsa bar. It’s enough to feed my family of four with leftovers — just $7.50 per person.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Grand Cafe\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>4250 Macdonald Ave., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This under-the-radar Hong Kong cafe tucked inside a Target shopping plaza isn’t notable for any single standout dish, but instead for its overall dedication to affordability: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13986256/cheap-cantonese-restaurant-richmond-east-bay-grand-cafe-dim-sum-claypot-rice\">Nothing on the menu costs more than $10.75\u003c/a>, and most dishes come with free soy milk and a bowl of hot soup on the side. My favorite is the claypot rice with spare ribs and preserved sausage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13923368\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13923368\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior.jpg\" alt=\"Exterior of the Antojitos Guatemaltecos restaurant with a yellow facade and a handful of outdoor tables on the sidewalk.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tamales are the staple dish at Antojitos Guatemaltecos in El Cerrito. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Antojitos Guatemaltecos\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>11252 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tamales are the staple dish at this \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13923359/antojitos-guatemaltecos-guatemalan-restaurant-el-cerrito-tamales-pollo-campero\">homestyle Guatemalan restaurant\u003c/a> — and at $5 a pop, they’re also its most affordable offering. Two of these, mixed and matched between about a half-dozen available varieties, make for a hearty breakfast, lunch or dinner. I especially love the wonderfully jiggly and custard-like Guatemalan-style corn-masa tamales and the harder-to-find \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13913355/guatemalan-rice-tamales-antojitos-guatemaltecos-richmond\">rice tamales\u003c/a>, which are like a soupy Central American cousin to Chinese zongzi. The restaurant has a great deal on its extraordinarily flavorful \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-14/pollo-campero-central-america-los-angeles\">Pollo Campero–style\u003c/a> fried chicken — a whole leg, fries and a handmade tortilla for $11.95.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Top Dog\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2534 Durant Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The original, and only remaining, location of Top Dog is a Berkeley \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13954597/top-dog-late-night-hot-dogs-berkeley-midnight-diners\">late-night institution\u003c/a> for good reason. The hot dogs, served on the shop’s signature toasty French rolls, are simply the best. One of them makes for a solid lunch (the garlic frankfurter is my favorite); two in one sitting feels like a downright feast. Note well: Most of the dogs are priced at $4.75, but the shop has a $5 credit card minimum. If you don’t feel like buying a soda, the mild, creamy potato salad is a nice add-on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989377\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989377\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Dark red fava bean stew, with two crusty rolls on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The shihan ful at Alem’s Coffee in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Alem’s Coffee\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>5353 Claremont Ave., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Strictly speaking, my favorite dishes at this classic Eritrean cafe are \u003ci>just \u003c/i>above this roundup’s $12 threshold — the oniony egg frittata ($12.50) and the spice-redolent fava bean stew known as shihan ful ($13), both served with excellent crusty bread for dipping. On a hot day, though, it’s tough to beat the value on the $9 umbotito, a quirky, refreshing potato sandwich of sorts — slices of cold, al dente boiled potato topped with lettuce, tomatoes and onions in a light vinaigrette. The cafe’s location, across from the Oakland DMV parking lot, has made it the one bright spot in many otherwise dreary mornings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989378\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989378\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Sticky rice, sausage balls and fried egg on a metal tray.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The $10 Lao sausage rice plate at the newly opened Souk Savanh 2.0 in Oakland. The fried egg is a $2 add-on. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Soukh Savanh 2.0\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1707 Telegraph Ave., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recently reborn in a prime Uptown location, the new, counter-service incarnation of this \u003ca href=\"https://eastbayexpress.com/paradise-deferred-2-1/\">much-loved Lao-Thai restaurant\u003c/a> has one of the most affordable menus in the neighborhood. The headliner is the selection of $10 rice plates, which are available all day long. I especially love the fermented Lao sausage, which Souk Savanh serves as crisp-edged meatballs — absurdly delicious when dunked in a runny-yolked fried egg (a $2 add-on); dipped in funky-sweet jeow som; and then scooped up, Lao-style, with a clump of sticky rice. Pro tip: For a near-perfect meal, two diners can split one rice plate and an order of nam khao (crispy rice ball salad) — one of the best versions in the Bay — for about $12 a person. \u003cem>\u003cstrong>Editor’s note: Souk Savanh is now \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DYN4ropPhGb/\">closed indefinitely\u003c/a>.\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989379\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989379\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding what's left of a banh mi sandwich with ground pork and egg.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of a half-eaten #13 meatball and egg bánh mì from Banh Mi Ba Le. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Banh Mi Ba Le\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1909 International Blvd., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ba Le’s #13 meatball-and-egg bánh mì shot to the top of my bánh mì rankings the first time I tried it, some 15 years ago — just an exquisite combination of juicy, peppery ground pork; a jammy-yolked fried egg; a big smear of buttery Vietnamese mayo; and both fresh and pickled vegetables. It’s still my favorite to this day. The only things that have changed is that the shop now keeps super-limited hours (Friday–Sunday only) and no longer has a dine-in area. The prices have crept up too, but at $6.30 a pop for most sandwiches on the menu ($7.25 for the #13), it’s still as good a bang for your buck as you can find in the East Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989380\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989380\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Two tacos, radishes, grilled onions and nopales on a paper plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A two-taco plate at Taqueria El Paisa in Oakland’s Fruitvale District. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Taqueria El Paisa\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>4610 International Blvd., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The beauty of Fruitvale is that you can get amazing, inexpensive tacos up and down International Boulevard, but this no-frills taqueria is the \u003ca href=\"https://eastbayexpress.com/taqueria-el-paisa-at-com-serves-the-best-tacos-in-town-2-1/\">best of the best\u003c/a>. Favorites include the decadent tripa (a divine combination of soft, squishy and crunchy textures) and the exquisitely tender, juicy suadero. These days, El Paisa tacos will run you $4.50 a pop — by no means the cheapest in the neighborhood — but they’re so rich and meaty that a two-taco lunch is usually all I want. A three-taco lunch? That’s cause for celebration (and maybe a short nap).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"CheapEatsinSanFrancisco\">\u003c/a>\u003cb>SAN FRANCISCO\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003ch2>Freddie’s Sandwiches\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>300 Francisco St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Freddie’s is the very definition of the low-key neighborhood deli that’s always there when you need it. I got lunch here at least once a week when I worked near North Beach, alternating between the Italian combo and the egg salad, both excellent, always on Dutch Crunch. Most sandwiches are priced at $10.95 for the small (but generously stuffed) 6-inch size — I never wanted anything bigger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989385\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"The interior of a Chinese bakery, with a fully stocked display case and old-fashioned signage visible.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lung Fung Bakery serves some of the best baked pork buns and egg custard tarts in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Lung Fung Bakery\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1823 Clement St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chinese bakeries are some of the best places to cobble together an S-tier struggle meal — to, for instance, drop $5 on a couple of barbecue pork buns and fill your daily meat and carb allowance. At Lung Fung in the Outer Richmond, the baked char siu buns aren’t just inexpensive, at $2.50 apiece; they’re also my very favorite version of this treat — beautifully golden-brown with a super-lush and meaty filling. If you’ve got a couple bucks to spare on dessert, Lung Fung’s egg custard tarts ($2.38) are also some of the best around. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989390\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989390\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"Takeout containers of soba and curry chicken against a concrete backdrop.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The curry chicken special and a half order of cold soba from Yo Yo’s. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Yo Yo’s\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>318 Pacific Ave., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This tiny, utterly unpretentious Japanese takeout shop feels like a miracle in the Financial District. Udon for $9? Six-piece unagi rolls for $3.25? Almost everything on the menu available as a (still-substantial) half portion? All in all, I’m hard-pressed to think of a more affordable lunch in the city. On days when I’m particularly cash-strapped, my go-to is the half order of cold soba ($5), which comes loaded with spinach, tofu puffs and crispy puffed rice, plus a refreshing hit of wasabi by request. But it’s hard to pass up on the curry chicken special ($12) when it’s available: two tender chicken legs, a hard-boiled egg and big chunks of carrot and potato in a spicy-sweet sauce that tastes more like home-cooked Thai massaman curry than your standard Japanese roux. It’s delicious, and enough food to stretch the leftovers into another meal. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989251\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989251\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Siu mai dumplings in a metal steamer.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beef siu mai dumplings at Good Mong Kok. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Good Mong Kok\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1039 Stockton St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s easy to understand why this popular takeout dim sum spot draws some of the longest lines in Chinatown: The shop sells a huge assortment of extremely tasty, conveniently portable buns and dumplings for bargain-basement prices. Most items are between $2 and $4, perfect for sampling a good mix. The steamed buns here are especially great: uncommonly juicy and savory pork-and-vegetable buns (three for $3.80) and, my favorite, the truly enormous big (or “combination”) chicken bun ($2.80), which comes jam-packed with thigh meat, shiitakes, preserved sausage and hard-boiled egg — a whole meal unto itself. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989392\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989392\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2.jpg\" alt=\"A bowl of beef noodles with Burmese tea leaf salad on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yuma’s beef noodles with an order of tea leaf salad on the side. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Yamo\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3406 18th St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This narrow, eight-seat Burmese noodle counter in the heart of the Mission seems almost too charming to be real, with its older proprietress working three hot woks at a time while her daughter greets the shop’s diverse cast of twenty- and thirtysomething regular customers by name. Oh, and every single item on the menu costs $9 or less. The headliner here is the house noodles ($9), a simple and satisfying oil-slicked stir-fry topped with crispy garlic and your protein of choice. But everything I’ve tried has been tasty: the blazing-hot, shatteringly crispy potato samusas ($5) and the tea leaf salad ($9), which has a wonderful zip of heat that cuts through the funk of the fermented tea. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989393\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989393\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"A container of salmon poke and a side of white rice, shown on a park bench.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An order of shoyu salmon poke from Basa Seafood Express is best enjoyed on a nearby park bench. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Basa Seafood Express\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3064 24th St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This bare-bones Mission District seafood counter is a neighborhood staple for affordable sushi rolls, sashimi and fried seafood dishes. My go-to lunch order is the shoyu salmon poke ($8.50) with a small side of rice — the combination of raw fish, seasoned soy sauce and hot rice is such a simple, exquisite pleasure in the middle of the workday. Also great: the impeccably fried, poboy-adjacent soft-shell crab burger ($11.50). There’s no dine-in seating, so you can bring your food home or find a park bench a couple blocks away for a nice al fresco meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"CheapEatsintheSouthBayandPeninsula\">\u003c/a>\u003cb>SOUTH BAY AND PENINSULA\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989395\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989395\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"To-go container of barbecue skewers over white rice.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Filipino BBQ skewers over rice from Fil-Am Cuisine in Daly City. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Fil-Am Cuisine\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>66 School St., Daly City\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a perfect lunch, but two Filipino barbecue meat sticks over rice from Fil-Am Cuisine comes pretty close to my Platonic ideal — especially since it only costs $9.99. The sweet smell of the shop’s well-charred pork and chicken skewers ($3.75 each a la carte) is irresistible. Add a couple more to your order plus a large carton of pancit ($9), and you can feed the whole family. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989396\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989396\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"A waffle and three chicken wings on a paper plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Three chicken wings and a Belgian waffle — one of the discounted daily specials at Keith’s Chicken & Waffles in Daly City. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Keith’s Chicken & Waffles\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>270 San Pedro Rd., Daly City\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The best thing about Keith’s is that it sells some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13979460/keiths-chicken-waffles-crunchiest-fried-chicken-daly-city-late-night\">crunchiest, most exceptionally well seasoned fried chicken\u003c/a> you can find in the Bay Area, along with several varieties of crisp-edged, airy-light waffles. The second-best thing? The prices are so reasonable that they put even fast food chicken chains like Popeyes and Raising Cane’s to shame. Combo meals, which come with a waffle or side dish, start at $12, and there’s always a daily special — say, three wings and a Belgian waffle — for around $10.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989261\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989261\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a salmon musubi.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The luscious salmon musubi from Takahashi Market in San Mateo. The 120-year-old market’s musubis are one of the Bay Area’s best lunch deals. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Takahashi Market\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>221 S. Claremont St., San Mateo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The wonderfully varied assortment of musubis at this 120-year-old Japanese-Hawaiian market aren’t just one of the best lunch deals in town; they’re one of my favorite things to eat in the Bay Area, flat out. Just one of these hefty, seven-inch beauties will fill you up — the Spam musubi ($6.95) is a classic for good reason, but my personal favorite is the decadent, tobiko-topped salmon-and-crawfish musubi.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Taiwan Porridge\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>20956 Homestead Rd., Cupertino\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Taiwanese immigrants, this strip mall spot’s format is deeply nostalgic: a dazzling array of hot and cold dishes all meant to accompany big tureens of velvety sweet potato congee. Value-wise, the highlight is the $12.83 three-item lunch special (available until 4 p.m.), which puts the average Chinese takeout joint’s combo plate to shame with cozy, home-style options like cold lotus root salad, twice-cooked pork belly, anchovies stir-fried with peanuts, and loofah with scrambled eggs. If budget allows, you should absolutely pay an extra $1.83 to upgrade from regular steamed rice to congee — or better yet, get the four-item combo ($15.58) and split it with a friend. Taiwan Porridge also has locations in Milpitas and Fremont.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989256\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989256\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED.jpg\" alt='An Indian supermarket lit up at night. The sign above reads, \"Apni Mandi.\"' width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The exterior of Apni Mandi in Sunnyvale. The Indian market sells hot food 24/7. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Apni Mandi\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1111 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not only is the hot food counter at Sunnyvale’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13955884/sunnyvale-late-night-food-24-hour-indian-grocery-apni-mandi-apna-bazar\">24-hour Indian grocery store\u003c/a> open all day and night, its $8.99 vegetarian thali platter is one of best deals around — a three-compartment foil clamshell container crammed full of rice, onion salad and your choice of two curries (I especially love the paneer makhani and the fritter-studded kadhi pakora), with a couple rounds of chapati on the side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989400\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989400\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a small banh mi in a parking lot.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The option to order a budget-friendly half-size bánh mì at Duc Huong also allows diners to try multiple varieties. Pictured here is the grilled pork and egg bánh mì. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Duc Huong\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1020 Story Rd. Ste. C, San José\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My favorite South Bay bánh mì mini-chain is especially good for budget-minded diners because it offers a half-size sandwich option ($4.50 for most varieties), allowing lighter eaters to save some money — and giving heartier eaters the chance to sample two different sandwiches for the price of one. I love the classic #2 cold-cut combo the best, but the #8 (grilled pork topped with a fluffy egg omelette) is also pretty great, especially on garlic bread. Why not get both? Apart from its very busy original Story Road location, Duc Huong has \u003ca href=\"https://duchuongsandwiches.com/#locations\">three other shops\u003c/a> around San José, plus one in Sacramento.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"CheapEatsintheNorthBay\">\u003c/a>\u003cb>NORTH BAY\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003ch2>Guerneville Taco Truck\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>16632 Main St., Guerneville\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amidst all of Sonoma County’s frou-frou dining options, this taco truck — parked in a Safeway parking lot — is an oasis for locals and daytrippers looking for something more casual and inexpensive. Tacos are $3; the excellent (massive, totally shareable) breakfast burrito is $14. My favorite, the $12.50 fry-stuffed California burrito, has enough calories to keep you going all day. This is a must-stop for my family on our way to an Armstrong Woods hike, or on our way back from a day of Russian River Valley wine tasting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13907215\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13907215\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken.jpg\" alt=\"A man in a flannel and hat tends to chicken on a grill on an overcast day\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">What a Chicken’s outdoor grill, seen here at the Santa Rosa Flea Market. \u003ccite>(Gabe Meline/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>What a Chicken\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>706 E. Washington St., Petaluma\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This gem of a pollo asado shop sits near the gateway to wine country, slinging hearty portions of its exceptionally juicy and crisp-skinned char-grilled chicken at a good value in one of the Bay Area’s most expensive regions. The prices especially work in your favor if you come with a crowd: My standard order is a half ($18.99) or whole chicken plate ($34.99), which comes with rice, salsa and piping-hot handmade tortillas — plenty of food to feed two or four adults, respectively, at under $10 per person. Pro tip: I always add one of the shop’s meaty, slow-cooked pork ribs ($4.99) to my order. It’s just as good as the chicken.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989401\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989401\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"A pupusa on a white plate, with a small tub of curtido and a bowl of salsa on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of Pupuseria Blankita’s toasty, well-griddled pupusas. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Pupuseria Blankita\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>48 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two of Blankita’s toasty, well-griddled pupusas make for the ideal post–Marin Farmers Market lunch — say, the revuelta ($5.50), with its classic pork, bean and cheese filling, and maybe the green-flecked zucchini and cheese ($4.50), both topped with a generous heap of bright, crunchy curtido. To mix it up, sometimes I’ll order just one pupusa and add a gooey, sugar-dusted fried plantain empanada ($5) for dessert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"possible": {
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"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"radiolab": {
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"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
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