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Secret Eats

Greg Eng and Jason Low of Trueburger

     How to explain the pop appeal of comfort food during uncertain times? “Comfort food is food that you crave,” offers Greg Eng. “It should evoke memories and stimulate conversation. Eating comfort food with friends is the best because everybody can talk about food honestly and what it means to them.”
     Eng knows of what he speaks: Partnering with fellow former Bay Wolf sous chef and kindred Oaklander Jason Low, he recently launched Trueburger, an unpretentious, friendly Uptown eaterie that shoots for doing one item, namely the burger, very, very right. Between the two of them they’re also well acquainted with great food, having worked at such restaurants as Jardiniere, Delfina and Absinthe in San Francisco, and Cesar in Oakland.
     The concept of Trueburger epitomizes the best of nurturing eats, sans preservatives and transfats, along with a close attention to detail and an eye to reasonable prices. “Most everything is house-made or made special for us by a local business, such as our egg buns, which are custom-made for us by the Bread Workshop,” Eng explains. Trueburger’s meat is house-ground every morning, the milkshakes are hand-spun using premium ice cream, and, Eng adds, “We use a smash technique on the griddle that we learned from Midwest short-order cooks to produce a superior crust.” Sounds like Eng and Low are just the ones to look to for great deals on worthy eats in O-town.

Vien Huong If you feel like slurping noodles, go here.
712 Franklin St., (510) 465-5938

Taqueria El Farolito We would go here after cooking at Bay Wolf and stuff ourselves with al pastor burritos and tongue tacos and beer. 
3646 International Blvd., (510) 533-9194

In-N-Out Burger  A shrine. Their production boggles the mind. We would go there and just stare at their efficiency. We like their burger, too. 
8301 Oakport St., (800) 786-1000, in-n-out.com

Ly Luck Restaurant Three huge dishes for $18? The salt-and-pepper spareribs are like no other.
3537 Fruitvale Ave., (510) 530-3232, lyluckrestaurant.com

Nieves Cinco de Mayo Great curdled-cream ice cream. Fruitvale Public Market,
3340 E. 12th St., (510) 533-6296

Trueburger, 146 Grand Ave., Oakland, (510) 208-5678, trueburgeroakland.com