Before paying, be sure to add a few items from the prepared foods refrigerator. Zella’s fried chicken is delicious at room temperature — spicy and tender, with an undercurrent of buttermilk-y tang. The macaroni and cheese, which is sold in large, satisfying slabs, tastes like it is at least half cheese — so not a bad thing. Like the chicken, it also tastes great at room temperature. You can add a salad or two if you’re feeling virtuous, or go in the entirely opposite direction and add a grilled short rib and cheese sandwich to your order. You’ll definitely not regret it.

Zella’s Soulful Kitchen

1430 7th St. [map]

Oakland, CA 94607

Ph: (510) 452-1151

Hours: Monday and Wednesday 7:00am-7:00pm; Tuesday and Thursday 7:00am-4:00pm; Saturday 9:00am-2:00pm; Closed Sunday

Facebook: Zella’s Soulful Kitchen

Twitter: @Zellaskitchen

Best Sandwiches: Pal’s Takeaway, Oakland

It was a major win for Oakland when Jeff Mason decided to move his sandwich shop into the kitchen at the new Firebrand Bakery in Uptown. Mason has been making crazy-sounding-yet-still-balanced sandwiches for seven years now, and his skill shows. You really can’t go wrong with anything on his menu, but my personal preference is for Aunt Malai’s deep-fried Lao sausage.

The spicy, crazy-juicy sausage has a punchy undercurrent of lemongrass and coriander, just salty enough, with a snappy casing fresh from the deep fryer. Cilantro-cucumber relish and arugula provide cooling, fresh contrast, and the house mayo holds everything together. Mason understands the need for a proper ratio of bread to filling; in the sausage sandwich, the torpedo roll comes scooped out in the center all the better to cradle the tasty filling. Vegetarian items aren’t a high priority, but Mason does make a mean veggie sandwich, and the salads and soups are likewise on point. It’s a quick walk to Lake Merritt if you care to enjoy your spoils on a picnic blanket.

Pal’s Takeaway

2343 Broadway (inside Firebrand Artisan Breads) [map]

Oakland, CA 94612

Ph: (415) 203-4911

Hours: Mon-Sun 11:00am-3:00pm

Twitter: @palstakeaway

Price Range: $$ (entrees between $10 and $15)

Best Sushi: Kirala 2, Berkeley

Let’s get this out of the way first — most takeout sushi is kinda sketchy. I will never go near anything with raw fish that’s been sitting in a semi-cold cooler at a grocery store for, well, who knows how long. Yes, I may pick up veggie rolls or California rolls in a pinch, but between the soggy nori and the gummy rice, they’re rarely good. Kirala’s takeout joint, Kirala 2, located up Shattuck from its mothership in South Berkeley, is another story entirely.

Walk up to the storefront in North Berkeley’s Epicurious Garden and you’ll see at least two sushi chefs slicing ahi and assembling the colorful boxes of fish in the refrigerated case. Choose from the Yummy Sushi Combo (five nigiri and one spicy tuna roll) or Deluxe Sushi Combo (eight nigiri and one spicy tuna roll) for the closest approximation to a sit-down meal. (There are also two roll combos — one veggie and one with fish — available for easy pick-up, and you can order rolls and nigiri a la carte.) The sushi itself tastes very fresh, with more-than-serviceable rice. The tuna roll is on the mushy side, but has a pleasant heat and, again, fresh flavor. Add an extra container of ginger if you’d like a little more oomph.

Kirala 2 also offers a free sale item for every purchase over $10 (all of the prepared sushi qualifies). Stay away from the day-old sushi, and go for the pork gyoza, which you can zap in their on-site microwave. (There’s even a sign on top with heating directions.) Non-sushi eaters can also opt for a donburi bowl, bento box, or noodle soup. Take your sushi out to one of the two parklets on the block to people-watch while you eat.

Kirala 2

1511 Shattuck Ave., Ste. D [map]

Berkeley, CA 94709

Ph: (510) 649-1384

Hours: Mon-Sun 11:00am-8:00pm

Price Range: $$ (entrees between $10 and $15)

Best Burrito: La Mission, Berkeley

There are plenty of places to grab a burrito to-go in the East Bay, but there are really none better than La Mission, on Berkeley’s University Avenue. La Mission doesn’t have the cheapest burritos around — you’ll likely drop at least $7 on one — but they’re absolutely worth the price.

La Mission excels at braised meats, which it offers in a few forms in its burritos. Chile Colorado (available with pork or chicken) is my favorite. The chiles in the red sauce are held in balance with an undercurrent of sweetness and zippy vinegar. Rich shredded pork is the best match for the bold sauce, which is rarely contained by its tortilla wrapper. If you prefer chicken, stick with the chile verde sauce. It’s on the milder side, with bright grassy notes and tomatillo tang. La Mission’s beans and rice are also winners; always perfectly cooked and seasoned, they manage not to detract from the star protein. The restaurant’s patio is a fine place to dine al fresco, or bring your burrito (and lots of extra napkins) across University to Strawberry Creek Park.

La Mission

1255 University Ave. [map]

Berkeley, CA 94702

Ph: (510) 845-5898

Hours: Mon-Sat 8:00am-midnight; Sunday 8:00am-11:00pm

Price Range: $ (entrees under $10)

Best Salad Bar: Liba Falafel, Oakland

Yes, Liba specializes in falafel. And yes, they’re pretty decent. But the real reason to visit the colorful restaurant is for the salad bar. It’s a far cry from those 1990s all-you-eat style salad bars filled with miniature corn and crappy three bean salad. It is limited in scope, and is all the better for it. Liba’s salad bar is designed to serve as both a toppings station for falafel sandwiches and as a build-your-own bowl of greens and good stuff.

Build your base with a healthy scoop of baby lettuces. Add scoops of as many of the toppings, dips, and marinated vegetables as you can fit in the compostable container. You really shouldn’t miss the smoked baba ganoush if it’s available, or the carrot salad, or the fried pickled onions. A generous sprinkle of salty feta cheese is never a bad choice, and neither is the chimichurri or the zhug hot sauce. Three falafel balls are enough for moderately hungry appetites, especially if you add a side of pita chips. Like Pal’s, Liba is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Lake Merritt; you could also consider a longer walk down Broadway to the Embarcadero for sailboat watching.

Liba Falafel

380 17th St. [map]

Oakland, CA 94612

Ph: (415) 806-5422

Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00am-2:30pm; Closed Saturday and Sunday

Facebook: Liba Falafel

Twitter: @libafalafel

Price Range: $ (entrees less than $10)

Best Hot Foods Bar: Piedmont Grocery, Oakland

Just about every grocery store boasts a salad and hot foods bar, and most are good in a pinch. But few offer as wide a range of cuisines as at Piedmont Grocery. The independent grocery store on Piedmont Avenue has been open for over 100 years, and has continued to evolve with the neighborhood.

The takeout bar is the best place to shop for meal that needs to accommodate a range in tastes. There are standard items — a cold salad bar, olives, pickles, five rotating soups — and a wide variety of cooked vegetables like green beans almondine (well-seasoned if a little mushy) and roasted root vegetables (like the beans, well-seasoned but slightly overcooked). More surprising is the emphasis on various international cuisines; Piedmont Grocery’s bar includes several different Indian dishes like saag paneer and samosas, plus enchiladas con mole and a taco bar. I also sampled the jerk chicken, which was mild in spice but full-flavored, and the lasagna loaded down with seasonal vegetables. Bring a box of goodies up the hill to the Mountain View Cemetary for a killer view with your meal.

Piedmont Grocery

4038 Piedmont Ave. [map]

Oakland, CA 94611

Ph: (510) 653-8181

Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00am-8:00pm; Sunday 9:00am-7:00pm

Facebook: Piedmont Grocery

Twitter: @PiedmontGrocery

Price Range: $$ ($9.99/pound)

Best Gourmet Picnic: The Pasta Shop, Berkeley and Oakland

For a higher-end takeout meal, venture to one of the two Pasta Shop locations and grab an assortment of cheese and charcuterie. The market-style grocery store offers some of the best selection of specialty foods in the East Bay, so you’d be hard-pressed to pick up something that isn’t delicious.

The Pasta Shop’s cheese counter is compact, but full of great options, both local and far-flung. All of the cheesemongers are friendly and happy to chat dairy while serving up samples. For the best deal (and variety), check out the sale bin — it has small chunks of several cheese at a decent discount. On a recent visit, I picked up a wedge of Montgomery’s Farmhouse aged cheddar from the UK and half a round of Jasper Hill’s Harbison, a bloomy, soft-ripened cow’s milk cheese from Vermont. To pair with the cheese, you can choose to wait in the always long line for sliced charcuterie, or do what I do and pick up an Olympia Provisions sopressata sausage. It doesn’t need refrigeration (perfect for a picnic basket), and packs an extraordinary amount of funky porky spice into a small sausage. On the side, add some mixed marinated olives, cornichons, and a baguette or two from Acme or Semifreddi’s. A miniature bar of chocolate is also not a bad addition. Bring your spoils up the hill to Lake Temescal and enjoy in a shady spot away from the kids’ swimming area.

The Pasta Shop Rockridge

5655 College Ave. [map]

Oakland, CA 94618

Ph: (510) 250-6005

Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am-8:00pm; Saturday 9:00am-7:00pm; Sunday 10:00am-7:00pm

Facebook: Rockridge Market Hall

Twitter: @markethallfoods

Price Range: $$