
Oakland residents take pride in their city, which is understandable - we’re the home of the oldest bonsai and the children’s amusement park (Fairyland) that inspired Disneyland. Champa Garden is another spot Oaklanders proudly claim. This small restaurant is located on a residential corner in East Oakland’s Ivy Hill and focuses on Laotian, Thai, and Vietnamese specialties. Come with a group and order the Champa Sampler (a name we’d get tattooed on our left rib), which shows off the restaurant’s star dishes - Lao sausages, fried rice ball salad, crispy spring rolls, and lettuce wraps.