Lois The Pie Queen

"Lois The Pie Queen in North Oakland has rightfully earned its royal title. The Southern breakfast and lunch place serves a seasonal menu, but you can always count on the pies being fantastic. Gawk at the display case to see what hasn’t sold out yet, ask for a slice to enjoy on the spot, and order an extra one to take home to ensure a day free of regrets. But there’s more to this Oakland diner than just the sweet stuff. There’s also a solid menu of soul food in gargantuan portions. Get the Reggie Jackson special served with two fried pork chops or the chicken and waffles that is guaranteed to result in leftovers. Aim to get here when the doors open at 8am as this place will fill up within the hour. If you can swing it, grab a seat at the counter and see how many people you recognize among the dozens of framed photos of local celebrities hanging on the wall. Note that you can only pay by cash or Venmo. Food Rundown photo credit: Patrick Wong The Reggie Jackson Special Named for the A’s legend who was a regular here, this dish is served with two crispy fried pork chops, two any-style eggs, your choice of bread (always get the biscuits that come pre-buttered), grits with mini-pools of melted butter, and a coffee or juice. It's satisfying, filling, and will put you back to sleep in half an hour. If you’re interested in a breakfast that isn’t a predictable omelet or pancakes, this is the move. photo credit: Patrick Wong Chicken And Buttermilk Waffles The waffle is a tad dry and the chicken could be crunchier, but we can overlook both of those things because of just how juicy every thigh, breast, and drumstick are. Two pieces of chicken per order, and the kind of meat is up to you. Sweet Potato Cheesecake A seasonal flavor that's dense, creamy, and just sweet enough. If you’re lucky enough to see this in the display case, order it immediately. Key Lime Pie Ignore the too-sweet raspberry-topped version and stick with this one. The filling is thick enough to wear as a face mask and the graham cracker crust is tender and buttery. Banana Pudding We appreciate the generous portion, but we’d suggest skipping it. The texture is mealy and rough—we couldn’t finish it." - Patrick Wong

"Lois The Pie Queen was a real person, and now it’s also a true Oakland classic. This family-owned restaurant in North Oakland is an essential gathering spot, and has been serving classic Southern food at its current location since the ’70s. The restaurant is especially packed on weekends, with longtime residents eating chicken and waffles, biscuits, pancakes, pies, and the Reggie Jackson special (a hearty meal of two fried pork chops and two eggs, and named after the legendary Oakland A’s player). Lois’s lemon icebox pie is also near-mythical, and probably partly why there’s an impressive collection of local celebrity photos on the wall—like Danny Glover, Damian Lillard, and Boots Riley. Heads up, it’s cash-only." - lani conway, julia chen 1

"This tried-and-true Southern kitchen has been serving up staples like chicken and waffles for nearly 70 years. Everything at the Oakland venue is made from scratch, including the beloved lemon ice box pie, which arrives with a tart lemon filling enveloped by buttery crust and adorned with a dollop of whipped cream. And the Thanksgiving offerings include sweet potato, along with nearly a dozen flavors." - Dianne de Guzman, Becky Duffett, Eater Staff

"Bicycle Pies is a home-based pop-up in Oakland’s Temescal that does excellent savory and sweet hand pies. Fillings range from chicken pot pie to pork shoulder al pastor to strawberry rhubarb. Keep an eye on their Instagram for pop-up dates, updated menus, and info on how to order." - Julia Chen 1

"In 2020, a lot of chefs started takeout and delivery operations out of their homes—and one of our favorites is Bicycle Pies in Oakland. On a recent visit, our favorite was the roasted kabocha squash, turnip, garlic, and bacon, which was folded into a golden-brown, flaky pastry, and tasted like a hug and the very essence of autumn. If you live in the East Bay, owner Michael Barrett might even deliver the pies to you on the titular bicycle." - Julia Chen