Lion Dance Cafe

Lion Dance Cafe, a vegan Chinese-Singaporean spot in Downtown Oakland, serves food that'll inspire you to do a little happy dance with every bite. The definitive star of the show is the shaobing sandwich, made on a nutty, sesame-covered flatbread with a chewy inside and a golden-brown exterior. What goes in the sandwiches changes weekly, but one we loved recently was stuffed with thick slices of hoisin-braised tofu, garlic charred cabbage, fermented chilies, mint, and cilantro—and packed with tons of flavor and texture. They also have other great dishes, like a warm, comforting bowl of laksa, and A.S.S. cookies (almond, sesame, and shallot, of course).