From 24-hour doughnuts and killer fried chicken to what’s arguably the best Mexican food scene in the entire East Bay

The city of Richmond has long been overlooked and underrated in the pantheon of Bay Area food cities — overshadowed, even in the East Bay, by better-publicized neighbors such as Berkeley and Oakland. And it’s true: Richmond doesn’t have the fine-dining scene, or even a quarter of the amount of name chef hype, as those other cities. But what its residents have known for a long time is this: For unfussy, budget-friendly everyday eating, there aren’t many better places in the Bay. Of course, taco enthusiasts will know that the city’s 23rd Street commercial district can go toe to toe with any neighborhood — Fruitvale and the Mission included — in terms of sheer concentration of Mexican deliciousness. But Richmond also abounds with amazing fried chicken spots, charming diners, and destination-worthy food hidden inside of convenience stores.

Here are 18 of Richmond’s must-visit restaurants, ordered from north to south.

Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.