Best Authentic Restaurants in Kensington

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchIndian

Regions

East BayMarinSan Francisco

Neighborhoods

AlamedaAlbanyBerkeleyChinatownDowntown / Union SquareEmeryville

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Gender-neutral restroomWheelchair access

87 restaurants available nearby

1. Zaytoon

4.7

Exceptional(796)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Middle Eastern • Albany

Booked 14 times today

Zaytoon Mediterranean Restaurant and Bar offers Mediterranean comfort foods with a modern American twist. Located at the corner of Solano and Kains, Zaytoon embraces the everyday Mediterranean kitchen, making it the focus of your casual fine dining experience. With hummus inspired by the flavors of Jerusalem and humanely raised meats, Zaytoon is much more than your average shawarma joint! Come try Zaytoon’s craft cocktails, created by the Jessica Maria, the owner of Albany's craft cocktail bar, the Hotsy Totsy Club. Meet up with your coworkers or friends for Zaytoon's full bar and Happy Hour! Reserve a table for your romantic night out. Reservations are not required for lunch as we have plenty of seating, but feel free to call us at 510-898-1316 to check availability.

2. Burdell

4.5

Awesome(194)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Soul food • Oakland

Booked 14 times today

Burdell is a Soul Food restaurant in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland from James Beard Finalist, Chef Geoff Davis.Named for and inspired by his maternal grandmother, Burdell, the restaurant reflects her love for well-set tables, entertaining guests, shared meals, and laughter. Burdell is centered on nostalgia, family recipes, thoughtful and sustainable sourcing, and the forgotten impact of Black farming, ranching, fishing, foraging, and culture on American cuisine and hospitality. The menu highlights farmers and artisans harvesting and creating excellent products around us. Paired with the food is a robust list of wine and beverages from producers around the World-focusing on wines that are farmed and crafted with care and sustainable practices.

A photo of three.one four pizzeria restaurant

3. three.one four pizzeria

4.7

Exceptional(187)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Pizzeria • Berkeley

Booked 14 times today

We are located in the historic Lalime's space in the Westbrae neighborhood of Berkeley, CA.Our intentions with three.one four was to create a dining experience that is so captivating, it transcends all others. Our menu features small bites, salads, and World Class rustic pies from acclaimed Chef Mario Vollera. We utilize high quality Italian cheeses and fresh local products in our food and our menu is partnered with a carefully curated wine list featuring an extensive by the glass offering. We believe that our elevated food paired with our warm, intuitive, yet unobtrusive service style will help make three.one four a buzz-worthy neighborhood destination for many years to come.

A photo of Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine- Berkeley restaurant

4. Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine- Berkeley

4.5

Awesome(101)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Thai • Berkeley

Booked 18 times today

Not your typical Thai! We are a Thai New Generation restaurant focusing on bringing you adventurous, bold flavors of traditional and non-traditional dishes using the freshest ingredients. Look out for our nightly specials from regional home cooked dishes to market fried grasshoppers. We are consistently voted the "Best Thai Restaurant" in San Francisco by Michelin Bib Gourmand 2016 - 2019. The Best Thai Restaurant. San Francisco, Oakland, Menlo Park, Los Angeles, Portland, and Berkeley

5. Ajanta Restaurant

4.7

Exceptional(1111)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Indian • Berkeley

Booked 3 times today

Ajanta features regional dishes from all over India, offered through a menu that changes every month. We feature organic chicken and vegetables. When possible, we use local and sustainable products. All seafood is sustainable, obtained from Monterey Fish Market. All meats are hormone- and antibiotic-free. Ajanta has been voted best Indian restaurant in the entire San Francisco Bay Area by Zagat Guide from 2009-2014. We were also voted best Indian restaurant in the Bay Area A-List contest from 2009-2011 and 2013. In addition, we have received top reviews in several publications, including the East Bay Express, Diablo Magazine, and the Contra Costa Times. We are also included in Michelin Guide.Our elegant dining hall features art inspired from the famous Ajanta caves in India.

6. Akemi Berkeley

4.6

Exceptional(477)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Japanese • Berkeley

Booked 4 times today

Opened in February 2015, AKEMI is the latest incarnation of miyuki on 1695 Solano Avenue in North Berkeley (Albany border) in the San Francisco Bay Area.Along with a revamped interior and exterior that includes salvaged wood and upgraded kitchen equipment, AKEMI features an updated menu spotlighting fresh ingredients and well-crafted flavors while retaining customer classics such as our sushi rolls. AKEMI is the new name we bestow upon the beauty that is good food with good people in a good place.For outdoor reservations please call the restaurant.

7. Agrodolce

4.2

Awesome(1453)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • Berkeley

Booked 19 times today

From the family that brought you Trattoria La Siciliana—a fixture of Berkeley’s Elmwood district for the past twenty years—Agrodolce is a sister restaurant located in the heart of Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto. We are housed in a beautiful brick building that is equipped with a full bar and outdoor seating. Serving authentic Sicilian food, the type you’d only expect to find in the alleys of Palermo, Agrodolce features unique and truly authentic food.

A photo of Julia's Restaurant restaurant

8. Julia's Restaurant

4.7

Exceptional(1685)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• French • Berkeley

Booked 9 times today

Teatime Tuesdays | 12pm-2pmIndoor DiningLunchWednesday - Saturday | 12pm-2pmDinnerTuesday-Saturday | 5pm-7:45pmLocated on the second floor of the Berkeley City Club, a Julia Morgan Historic Hotel, Julia's boasts a beautiful over-sized fireplace, and ornate details true to Morgan's iconic Moorish Gothic architectural design.Julia's offers an innovative, creative, contemporary approach to your dining experience and is inspired by local, organic, and seasonal ingredients. Our diverse wine list complements our menu featuring wines carefully selected from regions around the world.

9. Passione Emporio

4.5

Awesome(202)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Berkeley

Booked 5 times today

What does Emporio mean? It is a market where you can get a variety of things you need. Today, in small villages in Italy, the Emporio is the center of life. Villagers visit the Emporio daily to socialize, share local happenings, and get their local fresh goods, cheese, pasta, sandwiches, and bread. Passione is bringing a little piece of Italian small village life in Berkeley. Our mission at Passione Emporio is to create a neighborhood restaurant that has the same feel of community and quality as old village Emporio’s. We source only the best local ingredients and craft them with traditional Italian recipes to make delicious food with vegan and gluten-free options. Our rotating wine offerings include Italian, Californian, and European wines and beers with Prosecco at the center of the list to accompany Italian salami and cheese plates during happy hour.

10. donato&co.

4.7

Exceptional(1732)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Berkeley

Booked 21 times today

Rustic Italian cuisine w/ a contemporary twist, featuring house made pastas & locally sourced seafood & meats cooked over a live fire.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

D
DavidVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •12 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Always a great experience at Farmhouse, one of our favorites.
More info
Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine- BerkeleyPrice: Expensive• Thai• Berkeley
•
4.5
L
LeslieVIP
Washington, D.C. Area •21 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
It was Valentine's Day and it was the perfect place to spend the holiday! Food was delicious. We did feel a bit rushed, but that could have been that we were late in arriving and they were totally booked for the evening.
More info
ZaytoonPrice: Moderate• Middle Eastern• Albany
•
4.7
N
Naomi
San Francisco Bay Area •19 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
I wonder why we don’t eat here more often. The menu is inventive and hard to choose from, the cocktails delicious and generous, the service was perfect. We had a great time and will be back soon.
More info
three.one four pizzeriaPrice: Expensive• Pizzeria• Berkeley
•
4.7
C
Christina
Los Angeles •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
We had the best time. Service and food was amazing
More info
BurdellPrice: Very Expensive• Soul food• Oakland
•
4.5
C
Carol
San Francisco Bay Area •6 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jan 24, 2025
This was a special occasion. My sister loves Ajanta, is from out of town and hadn’t visited in a while. We were welcomed graciously, given a table by the window and then served a wonderful meal. Truly memorable. Well done Ajanta.
More info
Ajanta RestaurantPrice: Moderate• Indian• Berkeley
•
4.7

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