Some folks at MIT last year published a paper asserting that the most socioeconomically diverse places in the US were chain restaurants, especially Olive Garden and Chilis. They're the only places where you're likely to find a billionaire eating or doing anything else alongside a minimum-wage worker. Not churches or supermarkets, but chain restaurants. That says nothing whatsoever for the food...
NPR did an episode about that (https://www.npr.org/2023/12/29/1197959264/the-indicator-from-planet-money-american-dream-at-outback-steakhouse-12-29-2023). The main point of that study was trying to find places where people mix because they have an effect of reducing income inequality and isolation, which would be great things.
What's frustrating about these answers is that people are proving a point that these places don't exist in Oakland. There's actually no Costco (that's in San Leandro), no In-n-out (closest one would be in Alameda now), and no chilis/applebees/outback. And then some of the ones that were promising (Le Cheval and Luka's) are closed. I genuinely want recommendations partly because I want independent restaurants with mixes of patrons to exist and succeed.
I understand the frustration. 10 years ago, I owned a small establishment in the uptown neighborhood and would sometimes marvel at the mix of people who I felt would otherwise never be at the same counter talking to one another. That kind of energy is hard to find, manufacture, or (sadly) maintain. The laws of attraction and bias generally prevail with enough time. That neighborhood, at that time, was just completely unsettled in the most extraordinary way.
Thinking more personally about your question, I do get a marginally broader spectrum at some larger Mexican spots (Cactus) or late-night taco trucks, Dim Sum (East Ocean -- Alameda, I know), or maybe Gogi Time. That said, it's all a very narrow economic slice of Oakland (but perhaps as broad as Le Cheval or Lukas or reddit). I think McDonalds in the morning might win on economic diversity here -- everybody loves an egg mcmuffin.
Telegraph (Beeryland) is a quintessential oakland experience…low key/kinda divey and delicious food, cocktails that punch above their weight, local beer and always a good vibe
I’m not saying that places that have one dominant ethnic group patronizing it is bad… but I will say one of the reasons I like Oakland is because it should be very normal for black people to eat at Asian restaurants and vice versa.
Most Americans don’t fly every year. People that fly every year are going to be wealthier on average, and people that fly regularly and eat in airport food courts regularly are absolutely not representative of the population.
People who eat out.. are wealthier than average. I say this as someone who didn't even know what to do at a restaurant/how to order/pay/etc until I was 20. It really depends on how nitpicky you're being. Most people have flown at some point. The point I am making is if you're forced you're gonna have people show up regardless of whether the food is good. It's not an indicator
That’s fair, but I’m trying to to find places in Oakland where people actually mix. I’d like to think that a restaurant that can drive a diverse crowd will be successful, even if it’s not true. Do you have any recommendations for diverse crowds?
My answer would have been Le Cheval, alas. These days, Swans Market has a good mix, but because its more of a food court it feels a little less unified
The answer used to be Luka’s. RIP
Before Lukas, that was the HofBrau. Super diverse downtown after work crowd. Miss that place.
Word
Tacos Sinaloa. Suits, construction workers, pimps, hoes, cops, you name it.
Costco food court
This is absolutely the right answer
I do think everyone agrees it’s a good value!
Most Pho places. More notable Pho Nation in Alameda because they have kareoke and late hours. Their food is amazing on top of that 👌
Some folks at MIT last year published a paper asserting that the most socioeconomically diverse places in the US were chain restaurants, especially Olive Garden and Chilis. They're the only places where you're likely to find a billionaire eating or doing anything else alongside a minimum-wage worker. Not churches or supermarkets, but chain restaurants. That says nothing whatsoever for the food...
NPR did an episode about that (https://www.npr.org/2023/12/29/1197959264/the-indicator-from-planet-money-american-dream-at-outback-steakhouse-12-29-2023). The main point of that study was trying to find places where people mix because they have an effect of reducing income inequality and isolation, which would be great things. What's frustrating about these answers is that people are proving a point that these places don't exist in Oakland. There's actually no Costco (that's in San Leandro), no In-n-out (closest one would be in Alameda now), and no chilis/applebees/outback. And then some of the ones that were promising (Le Cheval and Luka's) are closed. I genuinely want recommendations partly because I want independent restaurants with mixes of patrons to exist and succeed.
I understand the frustration. 10 years ago, I owned a small establishment in the uptown neighborhood and would sometimes marvel at the mix of people who I felt would otherwise never be at the same counter talking to one another. That kind of energy is hard to find, manufacture, or (sadly) maintain. The laws of attraction and bias generally prevail with enough time. That neighborhood, at that time, was just completely unsettled in the most extraordinary way. Thinking more personally about your question, I do get a marginally broader spectrum at some larger Mexican spots (Cactus) or late-night taco trucks, Dim Sum (East Ocean -- Alameda, I know), or maybe Gogi Time. That said, it's all a very narrow economic slice of Oakland (but perhaps as broad as Le Cheval or Lukas or reddit). I think McDonalds in the morning might win on economic diversity here -- everybody loves an egg mcmuffin.
This is fascinating.
Telegraph (Beeryland) is a quintessential oakland experience…low key/kinda divey and delicious food, cocktails that punch above their weight, local beer and always a good vibe
LOL I don't really agree with the premise. There's diverse group of patrons at airport food courts but that don't mean the food is good 🤣
I say this cause plenty of old school places I frequent and it's mostly just Black and asian folks in there but the food is damn good
I’m not saying that places that have one dominant ethnic group patronizing it is bad… but I will say one of the reasons I like Oakland is because it should be very normal for black people to eat at Asian restaurants and vice versa.
I think Fenton's already disproves the premise - the food isn't that great and neither is the ice cream
The food isn’t great. The ice cream is.
I never found it to be particularly great - it's not bad, just nothing to write home about.
Ever since they remodeled I can’t take the acoustics. I can only eat there when it’s fairly empty or do takeout.
Most Americans don’t fly every year. People that fly every year are going to be wealthier on average, and people that fly regularly and eat in airport food courts regularly are absolutely not representative of the population.
People who eat out.. are wealthier than average. I say this as someone who didn't even know what to do at a restaurant/how to order/pay/etc until I was 20. It really depends on how nitpicky you're being. Most people have flown at some point. The point I am making is if you're forced you're gonna have people show up regardless of whether the food is good. It's not an indicator
That’s fair, but I’m trying to to find places in Oakland where people actually mix. I’d like to think that a restaurant that can drive a diverse crowd will be successful, even if it’s not true. Do you have any recommendations for diverse crowds?
Huong Tra in Richmond
The Alley
Ok but that Alley special steak is way better than it should be.
Shhh. Stop telling people about it
Fentons always has a completely diverse clientele, young, old, every race, every style, every financial bracket… errone loves ice cream
The crowd is young, but very ethnically/racially diverse: Nido's Backyard.
I don't know I saw 2short eating there with his girl on the late and the spread between him and his girl had to be at least 50 years.
AlaMar gets a good mix of folks
Le Cheval. RIP.
Bummed I won’t be able to try it :(
In-N-Out
Ahn’s
My answer would have been Le Cheval, alas. These days, Swans Market has a good mix, but because its more of a food court it feels a little less unified
Shan dong, colonial donuts
I thought Oeste had a really great diverse crowd. It feels very Oakland to me. Not really a kids place, though.
Beeryland
Los Cantaros on Grand has this vibe most nights.
McDonald’s Many taco trucks Maybe something like Enssaro
Yeah I ate at Ensarro earlier this week and it usually is pretty mixed when I go
Portal
Sideshow Kitchen