Casual weekday lunch for 6 between Oakland Airport & I-80

[beckyjack]

We are arriving around lunchtime this Thursday for a long weekend in wine country. After a long flight, I know our group will be ready for something good to tide us over on the drive to Calistoga. Are there some good casual/quick options near the airport or heading north near I-880? Unfortunately, one of our group doesn't like Thai or Vietnamese. Thanks for your suggestions.

[wolfe]

Quickest on-off Saigon Seafood Harbor. in Richmond at Central Ave. exit, Chinese not Vietnamese.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/764561

[Robert Lauriston]

There's also Daimo in the 99 Ranch parking lot and several other Chinese and other Asian restaurants in the 99 Ranch building.

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Daimo Chinese Restaurant
3288 Pierce St, Richmond, CA 94804

Saigon Seafood Harbor Restaurant
3150 Pierce St, Richmond, CA 94804

[beckyjack]

Thanks for the replies - looks like there are several options. Any specific dishes at El Huarache Azteca that stand out? Is the service pretty quick?

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El Huarache Azteca
3842 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601

[escargot3]

I wouldn't leave a car full of valuables parked unattended on International Blvd. or even in the parking lot behind 4th St.

[Ruth Lafler]

At El Huarache Azteca I order something with the chicken tinga. The eponymous huaraches are pretty good.

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El Huarache Azteca
3842 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601

[ML8000]

Off the I-80 Ashby exit: 900 Grayson

Off the I-80 University Ave exit: (4th St Area in Berkeley): Tacubaya, Cafe Rouge, Bette's Oceanview Diner

Off the I-80 Gilman St exit: Picante and T-Rex

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Cafe Rouge
1782 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

900 Grayson
900 Grayson St, Berkeley, CA 94710

Tacubaya
1788 4th St, Berkeley, CA 94710

Bette's Oceanview Diner
1807 4th St, Berkeley, CA 94710

Picante
1328 6th St, Berkeley, CA 94710

[Robert Lauriston]

Is there a wait at Bette's for weekday lunch? On weekends it's definitely not quick.

Picante uses high-quality ingredients, but it's pretty yuppified Mexican food.

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Picante
1328 6th St, Berkeley, CA 94710

[ML8000]

I think Bette's is always crowded. Agree on Picante...but the OP wanted options and mentioned semi-unadventurous eaters.

If adventurous (but safe) is on the list, I'd go with Indus Village Restaurant off University Ave.

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Indus Village Restaurant
1920 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702

[Mr_Happy]

maybe vik's in berkeley, off the university ave exit on 80E for indian (chaat)

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Vik's Chaat House
2390 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710

[Robert Lauriston]

El Huarache Azteca. Happy Valley, King of King, or East Ocean Seafood for dim sum. Speisekammer.

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Speisekammer
2424 Lincoln Ave, Alameda, CA 94501

El Huarache Azteca
3842 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601

East Ocean Seafood
1713 Webster St, Alameda, CA 94501

King of King Restaurant
1139 E 12th St, Oakland, CA 94606

Happy Valley Restaurant
400 E 12th St, Oakland, CA

[Ruth Lafler]

I'm going to assume based on the original post that she just wants to hop on and off the freeway. Alameda has a lot of good options, but it's not "on I-880"; King of King has terrible freeway access if you're going northbound. Fruitvale (i.e. El Huarache Azteca) is better.

All that said, when I've just gotten off an airplane I want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the airport and the mostly industrial area around it. Alameda is a really good place to decompress after a flight, since you don't even have to get on the freeway (simply take the road that runs by the car rental pickup into Alameda). Head for Park Street, park your car, and check out which options appeal to you: pizza, diners, Chinese (Ark is the only one I'd recommend), Mexican, Speisekammer (German), Asena (Mediterranean), etc.

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Asena Restaurant
2508 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda, CA 94501

[Cindy]

How casual, and are you looking for takeout or sitdown?

There's an In and Out Burger on Hegenberger, about 2 minutes outside the Oakland airport.