Alem’s Coffee

Oakland, US · $$ · casual

Essential·1 source·Early

Based on

review

Critic Consensus

What People Like

Critics rave about Alem's strong, expertly brewed coffee and fortifying breakfast options.

+Strong, expertly brewed coffee
+Fortifying breakfast options

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Score Breakdown

Food100

Authenticity100

Individual Reviews

SF ChronicleCritic

Alem’s Coffee — SF Chronicle Top 100 Restaurants 2026

“East Bay Couple Alem Negash and Nigisity Eyasu opened Alem’s Coffee in 1999, and the Eritrean restaurant has been a hangout for East Africans seeking strong coffee and a fortifying breakfast ever since. The extraordinary shihan ful deserves to be canonized as a defining plate for Oakland. 5353 Claremont Ave., Oakland”

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Oakland · scores sourced from verified critical publications