Oakland’s restaurant industry is a conundrum. It’s been celebrated as the best restaurant city in the country. But restaurateurs almost universally say they are struggling to make ends meet. As part of our series about how the pandemic changed us, 5 years on, we spotlight Oakland to look at whether the long trudge to pandemic recovery for restaurants will ever end. We talk with restaurant owners and industry experts about the big successes and major struggles of Oakland’s food scene and what it means to support a restaurant.
Oakland’s Restaurant Scene Is Swimming in Praise, But Struggling to Stay Afloat
KQED reporter Alan Chazaro, left, and Marisa Sanchez-Dunning order a meal at Popoca, a progressive Salvadoran restaurant in Oakland, Calif., on March 22, 2024.
CREDIT: Marissa Leshnov for KQED (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)
Guests:
Elena Kadvany, food reporter, San Francisco Chronicle
Paul Iglesias, chef and owner, Parché; co-owner, Jaji
Christ Aivaliotis, owner, Lil Hill Lounge; former owner, Palmetto and Kon-Tiki
Stella Dennig, co-owner, Daytrip
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