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From the owners of chicken spot Xingones comes El Barrio, a Mexican sports bar that replaces its Old Oakland location. Order the wings, which have crispy, golden brown exteriors and come with a basket of fries coated in all-seasoning. Sauce comes on the side; try the “barrio” flavor, which is effectively a tomato-based salsa with chile de arbol and guajillo peppers.
El Barrio. 736 Washington St., Oakland. elbarriooakland.com
The fasolia at Falafelland in San Francisco. (Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle)
The main reason to go to Falafelland is for its owner Billy Alabsi, who opened the restaurant in 2018 before closing and moving the business, twice. Now, Falafelland is a pocket-sized restaurant in Tenderloin, where he welcomes guests with a smile and perhaps a gift – a new dessert he’s working on, a fresh pot of milky tea. The food almost feels secondary to Albasi’s infectious cheer. On a recent visit, I liked the fasolia more than falafel wrap, even if it wasn’t served in a clay pot.
Falafelland. 265 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco. falafellandsf.com
The chipotle chicken sandwich from the Romo Cafe in Oakland. (Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle)
The Romo Cafe
is an East Oakland charmer, its busy interior filled with decorative tilework, framed art, dangling piñatas and countless knickknacks. Go for a quick sandwich – the chicken chipotle, a toasted roll filled with a thin layer of beans, chicken breast slices, mixed greens and a mild chipotle aioli – or kick back on the mezzanine with a mug of cafe de olla, lightly sweetened with piloncillo and warm with cinnamon.
The Romo Cafe. 5395 Bancroft Ave., Oakland.
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This article originally published at Mexican-style wings are the move at this new Oakland sports bar.