Shandong Restaurant

You can find good Chinese food all over Oakland. But if you want great - like 2014-2019 Golden State Warriors great - head to Shan Dong in Chinatown. The big draw is the thick, chewy hand-pulled noodles that are made fresh behind a glassed-in counter at the front of the restaurant. We especially love them in the sesame paste noodles - the Rickey Henderson of Oakland dishes - and the Shan Dong dumplings with chicken and dry-braised green beans should also be at the top of your order. Just prepare to wait outside in a line longer than the DMV.

photo credit: Krescent Carasso