On the day chicken and waffles were first served on the same plate, stomachs rejoiced, salivary glands tingled and tastebuds went haywire in an attempt to comprehend the rich complexity of flavors.
While this combo isn't the best thing for your waistline, some foods are simply worth the sacrifice. No one would fault you for taking a nap after a plate of c&w, but if you decide to burn off those extra calories, here are five walks that start from some of Oakland’s top-rated breakfast establishments.
Home of Chicken and Waffles
While many eateries opt for hefty Belgian waffles, Home of Chicken and Waffles (44 Embarcadero W.) serves a thinner variety for its breakfast platter. The immensely popular spot in Jack London Square can get quite busy, so prepare for a wait.
Following a hearty breakfast, visit Oakland Jack London Square Terminal (10 Clay St.) to take in views of the waterfront. You might consider taking a ferry to San Francisco, but there are plenty of sights to explore first in Oakland, including the beach at Ferry Lawn, situated long the San Francisco Bay Trail.
Keep heading south past the KTVU studio until you reach Estuary Park, a seven-acre green space by the waterfront.
Lois the Pie Queen
Kickstart your day inside this corner café (851 60th St.) known for its pies and fried chicken. The waffles here are also on the thin side, but massive in diameter and served with a side of Southern hospitality.
After you've fed your body, walk over to Angel Light Books & Gifts (3347 MLK Jr. Way) to nourish your spirit with their extensive collection of metaphysical titles, crystals and feng shui supplies.
Head south to Dover Park (Dover between 58th and 57th Sts.) to visit the Healthy Hearts Youth Market Garden managed by Phat Beets Produce, "a food justice collective."
On Wednesdays and Sundays, the garden hosts volunteer work days; each year, their 1/4-acre plot produces 3,000 pounds of fresh fruit and produce.
Aunt Mary’s Café
Located in the heart of Temescal, Aunt Mary’s Café (4640 Telegraph Ave.) serves its grits waffles with maple-flavored syrup or sage gravy. Feel free to drown your plate in glucose—so as long as you counteract the digestive consequences by strolling through this North Oakland arts district.
Pop into 1-2-3-4 Go! Records (420 40th St., #5) to browse their extensive selection of used LPs; if you're in a band or know someone who gigs, mention it to the managers to see if they'll book you for an in-store show.
A little over a half-mile away, you'll find Concept Forty-Seven (4727 Telegraph), a "cozy brick-and-mortar boutique" that sells personal-care items, housewares and much more, all made by 70+ local makers and artisans.
Kitchen 388
The Belgian-style waffles at Kitchen 388 (388 Grand Ave.) come with apple compote and whipped cream, but you can also add Rocky fried chicken to your order.
A half-mile away, the historic Grand Lake Theatre (3200 Grand Ave.) offers dirt-cheap movie tickets; on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm, you can shop sensibly across the street at the Oakland-Grand Lake Farmers' Market.
If you're looking for an idyllic place to unwind, a 3.4-mile stroll around Lake Merritt, the nation's oldest government-owned wildlife refuge, is your best bet.
Brown Sugar Kitchen
At this community soul-food restaurant (2534 Mandela Parkway), buttermilk fried chicken is served alongside cornmeal waffles, brown sugar butter and apple cider syrup.
Put those calories to work by hiking the length of Mandela Parkway, a grassy median park created after the Nimitz Freeway was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
American Steel Studios (1960 Mandela Parkway) occasionally hosts open hours and gallery exhibitions; Oakland Terminal Art Gallery (2600 Union St.), which showcases local graffiti artists, is an 11-minute walk away.
