The 15 best fast food restaurants in Berkeley

What can I say about Top Dog that everyone else hasn't already commented on? The vibes are just as expected, and true to what should draw you in. It's an old fashioned place and it works. You go in and order a hot dog, there's a few side orders like potato salad or chili. I love chili, but I wanted to try out the potato salad. Honestly, despite it not being store bought (according to who I asked) it was definitely leaning towards that taste because it was a little sweet. However, it had a texture that made it feel classic, and I appreciated that. I asked about their popular hot dogs and was pointed in the direction of the Hot Link. Genuinely, I was surprised over how small it was (ha ha). As someone on the shorter side, I want to struggle a bit while l eat a hot dog. HOWEVER, it was perfect for what it was, which is: a hot dog with toppings in accordance with what YOU like and what's YOUR desired amount or whatever YOU want to omit. In here, you're the "Top Dog" (unless if a worker makes you feel bad I guess, according to some other reviewers, who should just cry about it instead). I like a place that runs a good deal. For 6-7 bucks I got a Hot Link with free toppings of sauerkraut, relish, onions, ketchup, and mustard (didn't spot the mayo or anything else I would've added it, like a person of culture), along with a potato salad side that's put in an 80z--but definitely still has space to move around--container. I devoured the hot dog on the way home. A close to 8 minute experience. The bread wasn't too soft, the perfect slight crunch, mixed with the straight of the grill hot dog was heavenly. The toppings added to the flavor of the sausage and toned down the spiciness. The sausage wasn't that big compared to the roll, so the toppings were mostly on top (I would recommend opening your own roll and placing some toppings deeper inside, or get ready to take some strategic bites). It probably took about 6-8 minutes with ordering and waiting for it to be ready. In that time, I chatted with the man behind the counter. He seemed really nice and considerate. Very patient with my pondering and questions. Very kind to other customers who came in as well. I will say, it's deserving of a total 4.5 stars. It's close to perfect. I would recommend spending 16 or more minutes of your lives to come and buy a hot dog (at least once) from Top Dog.

This is a classic Berkeley restaurant from decades past. It is open very late and is inexpensive. There is no seating so you just have to eat on the sidewalk but the hotdogs and sausages are terrific.

Top Dog, with spots in Berkeley, Piedmont, and Oakland, is hands down one of the best hot dog joints around. It’s super local, affordable, and fast. They offer unique options like lime chicken or mango jalapeño, and even the fountain drinks are special, made with cane sugar. I’ve been to both the Berkeley and Piedmont locations, and the vibe is always great, with lines out the door even at 1 AM. I can’t get enough!

If you love hot dogs or even just like them as a snack, give this place a test. The higher ratings for something as simple as a hot dog speaks for itself. Nothing fancy about the dogs except for the nice flavor of the meat. Juicy, crisp hot dog break, simple toppings. It’s a small shop so there really isn’t room for lounging around here. It’s an in and out situation, but the weight isn’t terribly long. I’m sure it can get hectic on game days and or events at the university it is next to. Saying that, parking can be hectic too. There are paid spots on the street, but very limited, but there are garages around. I don’t know if there was a whole staff but the man and cook of the hot dogs was friendly and helpful with the small questions.

I’m so excited to visit Top Dog. The food here is absolutely amazing! The lemon pepper chicken hot dog was bursting with flavor, and the sauerkraut. So good I had to wash my hands for 40 seconds just to come back down to earth. Everything was fresh, tasty, and clearly made with care. Can’t wait to come back!

Love top dog, always have. Felt the need to leave a review. There’s a tall younger dude with glasses who I now know to avoid or stop in if he’s working. He just gave me a totally crispy, flaky, burnt bun and filled my cup with 85% ice and I feel like it was on purpose. Oh well, it is it what it is.

Great variety of dogs with incredibly reasonable prices. Owner is awesome was blasting some Billy Strings and had great music/concert talk while my Garlic dog was cooking. Highly recommend!! I L L!!

ZERO stars across . Building 2197 we showed up at 6 AM the hours say 6 AM the woman said they were closed the doors were locked . We stood out front for 15 minutes and nothing . You need to change your hours or your workers . We walked away from the building then she went to hang out in front of the register again then when we went to the building she took off the the back again . I was trying to get a bite before work but they just kept giving me blank stares . Then the turn the open light on when I leave how convenient . Your store hours should not say open at 6 AM if you’re not ready to serve at 6 AM .

Service slow, thankfully my food is warm still. Had to wait in drive thru for 10 mins or less. The 1 person in front of me did not have a big order so that wasn't the problem. I've gone to this one before and it's normally slow.

Food was ok service was lacking soda machine had no ice or coke very small selection of soda. Meal was made improperly.

She intentionally got our order wrong then got mad and started shouting in Spanish! And when we drove off the order was actually MORE wrong we ordered a 16 and we are looking for the fries upon looking at the receipt she didn't give us our meals! Been coming here for years this is ridiculous

Worse place to eat at they dirty and they don’t give you all your food even when it’s in DoorDash my sister try to do it and been charged 30 dollars just to come home with personal food when she bought enough that was for 3 people

Dry burger for $9.50 and service without a smile and no any humanity. No wonder I was the only customer.

I went to Jack in the box tonight. It took forever in the drive thru. They gave me a chicken sandwich instead of the jumbo Jack I ordered and a Dr pepper when I ordered a diet coke. Very unsatisfied.

I have heard about this restaurant from friends so I went to try it, it is a sit-eat-and-go place I have tried the Persian burger and it taste good it looks like a kafta kabab taste. As a Lebanese and food lover I was impressed with the hummus the taste was good but the Tabboule didn’t meet my expectations because you shouldn’t have cucumber and lettuce as also it needs more lemon juice. It was a nice experience, and I would go again if got the chance.

The mushroom burger was truly scrumptious. Additionally, the Onion rings were crispy and plain. My family was content with their meals as well. I am eager to revisit the restaurant next time.

The mushroom burger with tzatziki sauce is probably my favorite burger of all time. This is one of the places I miss after I moved away. Convenient location for locals and students, maybe not for parking.

I gave 4 stars instead of 5 stars because I dint like Kabab and Persian meal served with fries. We had a steak sandwich. They are pretty plain, but steak was soft. The Persian plate has a nice flavor, but I was disappointed with regular salad and ranch sauce and sriracha sauce and fries. It is just not Persian meal at all. My husband said the Shish Kabab is delicious and tasty though. I appreciate the friendly staff and fast service though. Place is nice and clean which is awesome.

I thought it would be a good idea to try a new charbroiled burger joint; it was a bad idea. For 35 dollars I had ordered two meals. Both of them were made with stale bread and the fries were just as stale. The texture of everything was like that of rubberized chicken skin. To top it off, we didn't even get out drink. Definitely did not deserve a tip, and will not be going back seeing that one of us developed stomach issues after eating the food. I myself had to barf mine up. DISGUSTING.

Came to Berkeley to visit a friend at UCal and wanted either pizza or a burger. We obviously chose burger! The restaurant isn't really a hole in the wall but almost is at the same time. It was a tight fit during lunch but we made it work. The food was very authentic west coast burger joint burgers. They also had one side of the menu that was for all "odd" or normally "off menu" items you don't normally get in a burger joint such as hummus and wraps. They had a decent amount of vegan and vegetarian options as well. The crinkle fries reminded me a lot of home in Indiana on the farm when we made them. You definitely get a bang for your buck. The portions are fine. Not too much but not too little. I recommend visiting at least once.

Got eggplant sandwich to go. Portion size was good. Tastes okay. Ingredients were fresh. Fast service.

I don't leave bad reviews. The burritos here are terrible. Twice my steak was RAW and 75% zucchini.... Something I've never asked for in a burrito and something you don't list on the menu. Even when saying I want no veggies I end up with a bundle of damp zucchini.

My visit to this recommended spot was amazing! Food is great and when I arrived it was ready.

Classic no-frills mexican restaurant. Very friendly service and I received the biggest tacos I have ever seen. Quite tasty, too, and reasonably priced. I’ll come back for more.

Still the best burrito you will ever eat in your life. If you order a veggie burrito or no hot sauce, you are doing it wrong. There is a line out the door for a reason. I wish they would put the tables back in, though!

In response to some of the other reviews: The pollo asado is the best I’ve ever had—perfectly cooked. If someone is afraid of, or confused by, blackness on their chicken, may I recommend Chipotle. The moisture in the burritos is part of the excellent cooking. The beans are perfect, every time, and this means that they are perfectly moist; as is the salsa, the meat, and the rice. All perfect, every time. So, yes: you won’t get a super-dry burrito, and yes, this means that if you insist on taking it home, it may degrade slightly in structure (it will be perfect if eaten in-taqueria). My friends and I have been eating these burritos for over twenty years and have enjoyed many a one at home, just a little wetter. It’s worth it to have perfectly cooked ingredients. Atmosphere. Let’s talk about atmosphere. This is one of the last not Starbucked, not third-wave-coffee-housed joints left in the Bay. If you’re uncomfortable with the small space or old-school tables and chairs, then, again, allow me to recommend Chipotle. Or Taco Bell. How about Taco Bell? They keep their revolving-door A.I. market image updated every few months. You shouldn’t be bothered by any authenticity or lasting tradition there. Bottom line: Gordo Taqueria is a Bay original. So many old authentic Bay Area eateries have been bought out, disappeared, or made unrecognizable. Please let Bay Area natives enjoy this one in peace before we flip every last space into a Tesla showroom. I am sorry to hear about poor customer service, if it’s true; and to hear that long-timers have experienced bad food service. I hope that everything is going Ok for the owners and staff during a weird, tough time in the Bay and the world. Customers do have a right to demand civil treatment and continued quality.

awesome delicioso and authentic Veggie quesadilla. came with a big flour tortilla and generous helping of sauteed vegetables. highly recommended. i liked the green chile hot sauce! México authentic level picante! approved! (Si se puede , raza!)

Gordos has somewhat fallen off since the 2010s. The burritos got smaller and the carnitas is soggy compared to what it used to be. It’s still 4 stars, but it used to be the best value in Berkeley.

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Overall: I was pretty impressed with this place. I'll definitely be back. The extended review... Food: Chicken Creole & Shrimp Etouffee - 4/5 - OK...so both of these were both delicious and more importantly rich in flavor. I'm so glad that they offer a half and half option so that I could try both dishes. Service: 4/5 - Friendly service. Ambiance: 4/5 - Indoor and outdoor seating is available here. We sat indoors at the communal tables. There is a huge variety of decor inside and it's great to take a look at while you wait for your food.

I love Louisiana cuisine, so when I stumbled upon Easy Creole, I was excited to try what was on their menu, as it apparently changes daily. I thought the Creole Bechamel with Shrimp and Sausage was tasty, but the quantity of shrimp and sausage was underwhelming. On the other hand, I did not like the Honey Bourbon Chicken, but the amount they piled on the plate was massive, much to my dismay. I later saw someone else sample the dishes before they ordered, and I wish I had done that before committing. Lesson learned. I did love the cornbread with honey and butter at least. The staff was very nice, and the decor interesting. It's a cute spot; just be sure to sample if you're unsure.

Talk about a meal with flavor! My meal was half chicken and half chorizo and it was very tasty and food with flavor. Options of either white or brown rice and come with the bread. I overheard the cornbread is popping (I guess I missed out)

An amazing find!!!! The food was DELICIOUS and we loved the service and atmosphere. My fiance and I tried four things by doing two half and half plates - all dishes were AMAZING. This is a great place to take friends who are visiting Cali. And I'm so inspired by the Creole taste. It was a magical experience! Thanks Easy Creole! Also appreciate the number of vegan options!!! So good!

Stopped by this place since I was in Berkeley and I do love me some ragin cajun food. There was also outdoor eating and the inside was so cool and neato. Owner was cool, he told us the menu tends to change but whatever is on the board today is the menu. He had 2 water dispenser, one was regular water and the other had limes and orange peels in it, twas delicious. My husband ordered the gumbo with onions and I ordered the shrimp ettouffe with cheese, sour cream, and onions. Everything was done in under 10 minutes. It. Was. FANTASTIC! Will come back, 10/10.

I try to hit Easy Creole whenever I'm in town. It's a limited menu, yes, but everything is delicious and they always have vegetarian and gluten free options. Their menu rotates so there's always something to look forward to, and you can ask for their generous samples.

First time having creole food and it was hearty and filling. The cornbread is warmed and served with honey- best eaten while it's still warm and was my favorite part of the meal!

Edited review, was 5/5; check bottom for update Food is great. Nothing fancy, but if you're in the mood for a good burger and chili cheese fries then this joint hits the spot. Pretty cheap too, considering how much nearby places cost. Service isn't special but it gets the job done; you get the impression they just care about serving customers good food. The atmosphere is so-so. They're definitely going after the young person/young family vibe, aka some sports in the background with wooden tables and chairs outside and inside the restaurant. It doesn't stand out to me but I don't really care about that stuff very much anyways. Still a 5/5 for me. Here's a pic I took of my food; see how glorious it is? Update: I came back a few weeks later and some of the staff seemed to have changed. No worries. Took a minute or so for someone to attend to me. It was raining when I went in so I took a seat inside to wait for my meal. As soon as I take a few steps in my nose is assaulted with the smell of urine. Very gross, that wasn't there before. Maybe they're super busy. I wait for my meal, takes a bit longer than usual (~15m). I get the grilled chicken burger meal and it has a ton of lettuce on it... even though I asked for the opposite, no lettuce. What? I take it up to get remade and the staff is a bit confused; broken English so it seems it wasn't their first language, even still I'd think "no lettuce" would be clear at least. They remake it and I get it back after a minute or so of waiting, annoyed now but whatever. The chicken was overcooked. Not burnt, there's that at least, but cooked long enough that it's hard to rip apart the grilled chicken. Maybe it's not supposed to come with cheese but the last time I went I got cheese on it. The pee smell was overpowering enough though that I decided to just scarf down the meal and go on my way. ~30 minutes later since I walked in and it's still there...families out and about in the restaurant as well. If I had to guess it seems like their staff from before quit or got laid off, maybe switched shifts because food and service sucked. Pretty disappointed.

Driest meet I’ve ever had in my life. So bad I had to stop eating and take a picture of the burger. So dry, not juicy at all. I can tell that they made the patty, just left it there for hours and then served it to me. Absolutely not fresh at all. Gave me a horrid stomach ache after. So sad, it takes one bad batch to ruin it for so many people. I’ll make sure the word spreads and people don’t come have a bone dry burger. Just look at the picture I posted and see how dry and discolored the meat looks. Fries were also soggy for some odd reason. Quality control does not exist here.

A true staple of old Berkeley! The Smokehouse has been a local favorite since 1951 and its delicious food still hold that to be true! Thankfully we were able to get there before the rush and find a table! The shakes are so good, with free mix ins and you can even get a dairy alternative with oat milk! The burgers are perfectly cooked and dressed with the bun being the perfect amount of crunch and softness to make every bite heavenly! The pieces are super fair too! Spent less than $10 per person.

I’ve been going to the smokehouse for decades, and it’s mostly the same as it was way back when. They don’t have the orange Julius anymore, which was great, but the burgers and hotdogs are still excellent. They add chili and cheese for no charge, and caramelized onions as well. The service can be a little iffy, and it was cold out, bring a jacket. They only have outdoor seating and while it is covered, it is still often cold. Parking can be difficult since it is on the corner of a busy street on a residential neighborhood. It’s also open late, when there is not much to choose from.

Not sure what I was expecting when I ordered the chilli with the burger, and I wasn’t sure how I was gonna eat it when I opened the box, but it was absolutely delicious! The burger was super juicy and the chili was a great complement, I wish I could visit more often!

The five of us went on a Friday night and had a good time sitting outside with the burgers. Most of my family liked their hamburgers. My fish fillet was ok, nothing to rave about. French fries were decent. Prices were good.

Apparently went there while blacking out after losing two teeth somehow. Woke up with this photo geotagged here. Returned to 1) retrace my steps, 2) confirm that the bathroom graffiti is indeed this good, and 3) see how delicious the burgers are when sober. (They’re delicious!) PS- if you suspect that you were involved in or witnessed the incident described above, please reach out to.

Great sausages, great price, great toppings and great art=) I couldn't ask for more. Insider tip: take these into Haas Pavilion when catching a Cal game (outside food is allowed).

I don't agree with the other review. I think it's more likely some of the customers are rude rather than the people taking time out of their day to prepare snacks and meals for people. I like the vegan dogs and onions. I like to read the political stuff on the walls. I pile my vegan dog with diced onions and ketchup. I'm kind of afraid of mustard. I don't know why people want to fill up their body with the innards of other animals. Animal cells start to decay inside people when they eat them over time there is decayed cells inside your bowels. The vegan dog is tasty it doesn't seem the same as a juicy New Yorker or Kielbasa though. Impossible Sausage gets more plump and juicy and I like the vegan casing. Remember you are basically eating the intestinal lining of animals that only grazing on some plant. I think the vegan dogs should be cheaper to see what happens to customer preferences. I think Top Dog should go all vegan. There is hypocrisy in the progressive values of the owners and workers. The workers in the meat industry are being exploited. I should write a letter to the business. Because I have enjoyed going to Top Dog for a long time. Don't change anything else but provide plant based food because eating animals is abuse not food and not healthy. There are other vegan dogs out there that Top Dog should sell. I can't afford the other eating options and I can't afford to cook my own vegan dogs rights.

I’m usually not much of a fan of hot dogs but these are SO good. I especially like the kielbasa. Perfect lunch for the broke college student!

Cutesy hot dog joint right off of campus. Hot dogs are small and tasty

Buns are the highlight. Service is lacking (rude). And there are no vegan or vegetarian options due to cross contamination on the grill. It would be so easy to have a second set of tongs, and 8 inches of dedicated grill space for the veggie dogs. But I guess it's not a priority.

Had to try their classic hot dog with the chili! Staff was super friendly and offered to pour chili on the dog until I said “when” and it was delicious! I’ll have the give the other ones a try in the future

My best friend and I were cruising past a bunch of great options, and I'm not really sure what made us stop here, but we are very happy we did! AMAZING! we had to buy a second round because it was so good! Definitely recommend stopping by and trying more than one menu option! You will be happy you did!

As a Berkeley High student at this Chipotle location! Ordered the same bowl multiple times, prices were ALL OVER THE PLACE - $18, $21, $11, $11, $19... what's going on?! Not once did I change my order or ask for extras Portion sizes were sketchy too, barely any meat. Feels like they're taking advantage of students.

usually this place is pretty good but when i went today at around 2 pm the worker who served me gave me like 1/4 a portion of the corn i usually get and so i asked for more corn and he actually gave me 3 more kernels and then i said can i get some more corn and he was like no this is it "stop asking". clearly has something wrong with him. not coming back to this store if this is the type of employees this store hires

The person working the 12 PM weekday shift is extremely stingy with portions. For example, the rice bowls are often less than half the usual size, and both the meat and chicken are consistently served cold. I even mentioned this to a friend, and when he ordered at the same time, he told me he got the same person and experienced the exact same issues. On top of that, the entrance door is difficult to handle and slams shut dangerously, making it unsafe to stand near.

Staff was kind and gave me some delicious tacos. were patient when i couldn’t decide what drink to get and in a panic asked for regular milk. they r playing like five songs at the same time all with drastically different tempos.

The new chipotle honey chicken is spicy!

Food was good. Chicken melted in my mouth. I recommend my signature order of quadruple sour cream. Atmosphere was very dull. Like a broken lamp.

They gave me a less than full spoon of steak to go in my burrito. Like, come on, if you're going to charge me like $16 for a single burrito I don't expect you to skimp on the ingredients. The final burrito was TINY! Gone are the days where you might struggle to finish your burrito in a single meal.

Good grub. Tasty burger and a big chili cheese dog. Better than fast food and the chili cheese dog is fit to give you a hear attack. Surroundings and patrons are kind of sketchy and they were unwilling to warm up the apple pie which is weird.

This is my to go place to get a full up and great service. Love that they open at 6AM so I can order my 1 egger breakfast and still have time to go to work. At times, there are unhoused members who "hang" out and get pester you but generally they leave you alone. Socorro when she hears the door opens greets you even if she's buttering toast, prepping a to go order. She's always friendly and attentive. Great service Socorro and the food is the best!!!!

Came in to eat with my wife and just as always we enjoyed our meal and had a great experience. Staff here at the Berkeley location are always so friendly and make me feel welcome to eat there. Always nice to see friendly employees and a clean restaurant. Food was prepared deliciously as always.

The best Nations location in the Bay Area. Breakfast was very tasty and the atmosphere was great. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Dining room was very clean. Would definitely recommend Nations in Berkeley to everyone! Thank you to Maria for going above and beyond!

Maria & Juan helped with my order and provided me excellent service. I ordered the patty melt for the first time and it did not disappoint. Buttery and cheesy. Today’s lunch was a 10/10.

I love Nation’s in general. Been several years since i’ve been to this location, but I had a great experience here during my latest visit. The restaurant is very clean both inside and out. I recently became a rewards member and had received a text message that morning about a promo, which was the reason that I ended up going to Nation’s that day. When I got there, the cashier told me that the conditions of the promo were different than what it said in the text message. Wasn’t a huge deal, but I wish there was a little bit more consistency between what the cashiers are telling us or being told versus what we are being sent in promotional texts and emails.

Maria helped me and provided excellent service on my lunch break. I ordered a salmon and a chicken sandwich. She’s very helpful and assisted me with my order. I did not feel rushed at all. Berkeley has a great staff.

Do NOT order here online. I never write reviews, but I feel I need to warn everyone. They don't take any sort of coupons, despite being on multiple sites that have deals offered (Doordash, snackpass, etc.). TWICE I have gone in and they refuse to make my online order because it has a discount applied, even after I already paid for it! Staff is not receptive to solving this issue, and said I could take it up with Doordash or pay AGAIN in store for a new sandwich. I have tried reporting them to Subway corporate.

First off, they are rude and offer terrible service, secondly some people have a problem with attitude. I was charged extra for asking for more onion slices, which is fine but the person commented, "be careful when you ask for more next time." I don't understand the meaning of it. Unlike some people, who cannot keep their mouth shut while serving their customers, I can make a judicious decision to go eat elsewhere, even if it costs double or triple their second rated sandwich.

The WORST subway I've ever seen. 🚫 Don't try it! Food is typical subway food, but the servers show extremely bad attitude. Placed order through snackpass and went there for picking up. They basically kick you out of the door for waiting even tough the store is pretty empty (no one inside actually). Asked them to cancel the order but they just refused. My friends basically experience same things. Do go unless they fire the staffs.

I would like to report the owner of this subway for not meeting franchise standards. I am a student at UC Berkeley which is located directly across the street, and I have eaten at this Hearst Ave location on 4 different occasions. Each time I visited said location I have observed behaviors and practices that don’t align with other Subway restaurants I have visited. First, when I asked about the “Sub of the Day” special, I was told by different staff members on separate days that this particular location does not participate in this offer. Second, the door is always propped open, even on hot days & I have observed a considerable amount of flys circling around the service bar where the produce and meat products are located. Third, on each visit, I have noticed that the air conditioner is never turned on & when entering the facility to order It took only a few minutes to become drenched with sweat. Fourth, the staff at this location have been consistently rude, and behave as if it is a chore to execute their job criteria. Finally, it seems to me that the owner of this franchise is aiming to maximize profits by not offering “Sub of the Day” deals & reduce energy their energy bill by not turning the air conditioner on. This is not only cruel abuse for the staff that work at this location, but also an inconvenience for customers, and an opportunity to compromise the integrity of the food being served, as higher temperatures create optimal conditions for bacteria to thrive. Moving forward, I think that this location needs to improve their business practices as they do not seem to reflect the standards of the Subway brand , while also posing health risks to both consumers and staff. Before reaching out to the local health department, I wanted to share this information with your company & give your team an opportunity to rectify the problem. Thank you for your time.

They don’t accept the coupons that the subway company sent me to my home. What kind of joke, what kind of nonsense service is this.

Their actual prices differ from the menu prices, the cashier doesn’t tell you about it until after you’ve paid.

Subway app says they accepts coupons, they denied an order with coupon and still charged me