5 Best Restaurants in San Leandro, California to Try

Set between East Bay warehouses and winding historic neighborhoods, San Leandro is a microcosm of the Bay Area’s quiet food renaissance—melding old family favorites, new immigrant traditions, and a distinctly hometown sense of pride.

Here, you’ll find Basque halls, Filipino bakeries, and modern bistros bustling with the full sweep of local history.

1. Paradiso

Paradiso is San Leandro’s cornerstone for Italian-Californian luxury: white-linen tables, deep booths of regulars, and walls lined with local art.

The wood-fired oven turns out impeccable thin-crust pizzas, but the heart of Paradiso is its seasonal specials—house-made crab cakes, saffron lobster risotto, osso buco braised all day, and grilled steaks crowned with Gorgonzola or wild mushrooms.

Weekend nights, the hum of conversation and clink of glasses signals a cross-generation gathering—birthdays, business dinners, high school reunions—made special by service that’s warm and as reliable as the night fog.

2. Saap Ver Thai Cuisine

Strip-mall humble but a powerhouse of flavor, Saap Ver delivers exquisitely layered curries (from khao soi to panang), perfectly tender grilled satay, and the city’s best sticky rice with mango.

The crowded dining room is filled with a happy collision of families, first-daters, and takeout pros.

Spice here is “real” spicy—just like in Bangkok—and regulars take satisfaction in eating their way through the full menu of noodle soups, crispy herb-tossed fried fish, and inventive daily specials.

3. The Englander Sports Pub & Restaurant

Much more than a sports bar, The Englander is a local gathering point for all things English and pub: Sunday Premier League football, massive plates of shepherd’s pie and cottage pie, bangers and mash, and fish & chips with crackling light batter.

The beer menu (dozens of taps, many local) is reason alone to visit.

On quiz nights, the room erupts in laughter and debate, while anniversaries are toasted under the flags from every corner of the UK.

The back patio, with string lights and pints in hand, is pure California comfort.

4. Top Hatters Kitchen & Bar

Named for a Prohibition-era gambling joint, Top Hatters brings a chef-driven, “Californian with Vietnamese sparkle” approach to a converted old house (yes, the barstools are actual top hats).

Small plates shine: wagyu steak over rice cakes, cola-glazed ribs, crispy fried brussels sprouts, and rich clam chowder are all must-tries.

The inventive cocktails often swap out the expected for Asian citrus, lemongrass, or tropical fruits.

Brunch is a local obsession: coconut French toast, five-spice bacon, and bottomless mimosas.

5. Estudillo Produce & Deli (Hidden Gem)

Part hole-in-the-wall deli, part international grocery, Estudillo serves enormous, overstuffed sandwiches with a multicultural twist: turkey with housemade cranberry-walnut spread, roast beef with Calabrian chile aioli, or even a Vietnamese banh mi with classic French bread.

Side salads change with the seasons; baklava and Portuguese pastries round out the lineup. Locals come in for a deli sandwich and leave with groceries and stories traded over the counter.