Everything on the Bakesale Betty menu — the legendary fried chicken sandwich on a house-made biscuit, seasonal pies, scratch cookies, and baked goods from Oakland's most-lined-up-for counter. Hours, location, what to order, and what to know before you go.
Signature items
The four things people most often want to know before making the trip to Telegraph Ave.
Crispy chicken on a house-made biscuit with tangy coleslaw. The reason the line forms every day.
Whole pies and slices rotate with the season. Sell out early — arrive in the morning.
The classic counter pairing with the chicken sandwich on a warm Oakland afternoon.
Arrive early or on a weekday to shorten the wait. Worth every minute.
Bakesale Betty's fried chicken sandwich is one of the most talked-about sandwiches in the Bay Area — and one of the most imitated. The formula is deceptively simple: a thick, crispy-fried chicken breast on a house-made fluffy biscuit, topped with a creamy, tangy coleslaw. No sauce, no frills.
What sets it apart is the execution at every step. The chicken is seasoned and fried to order. The biscuit — tall, buttery, slightly crumbly — is made from scratch in the kitchen behind the counter. The coleslaw is dressed with enough acidity to cut through the richness of the fried chicken. Together they produce a sandwich that regulars describe as near-perfect.
The sandwich has been covered by Eater, the San Francisco Chronicle, Bon Appétit, and countless local food writers since the shop opened in 2005. The line that forms outside most mornings is the longest-running testament to how well it works.
Beyond the chicken sandwich, Bakesale Betty's rotating seasonal baked goods are a reason to visit on their own. Pies sell out fast.
A spring staple at Bakesale Betty — flaky all-butter crust filled with tart strawberry-rhubarb. One of the most requested seasonal pies.
Peach, nectarine, or plum fillings in summer when Bay Area stone fruit is at its peak. Varies week to week.
Classic fall fruit pies made with seasonal apples or pears. The holiday run is popular — sell out quickly.
The cookie selection rotates. Chocolate chip is the most consistent; rotating flavors include snickerdoodle, peanut butter, and lemon.
All Bakesale Betty menu categories.
Crispy fried chicken on a house-made fluffy biscuit with tangy coleslaw. No sauce needed. The sandwich that made Bakesale Betty a Bay Area institution and has been imitated across the country.
Whole pies with all-butter flaky crusts filled with seasonal fruit. Strawberry-rhubarb in spring, stone fruit in summer, apple and pear in fall. Made fresh and sold whole or by the slice until they're gone.
Scratch-made cookies with crisp edges and chewy centers. The chocolate chip is a constant; other flavors rotate. Fudgy brownies round out the counter selection most days.
Bakesale Betty is counter service only with limited seating. The line moves, but it forms early — especially on weekends. A few things that make the visit smoother:
Menu and hours subject to change. Always confirm before visiting.
Bakesale Betty is located at 5098 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609 in the Temescal neighborhood, one of Oakland's most food-focused corridors. There is one location. The shop is small and counter-service only.
Hours are generally Wednesday through Sunday during daytime hours, though they change seasonally and for holidays. Confirm current hours at bakesalebetty.com before making the trip.
Bakesale Betty was opened in 2005 by Alison Barakat in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland, California. Barakat trained in professional kitchens before launching the shop as a focused counter-service bakery. The fried chicken sandwich — served on a house-made fluffy biscuit with tangy coleslaw — became the defining item almost immediately, drawing lines that have become part of the Temescal neighborhood's identity.
Beyond the sandwich, the shop has built a loyal following for its seasonal pies, scratch-made cookies, and daily baked goods. Everything is made from scratch in the small kitchen behind the counter. The menu is short by design — Bakesale Betty's reputation rests on doing a few things exceptionally well rather than offering a wide selection.
The shop has been covered by Eater, the San Francisco Chronicle, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, and Serious Eats, and is routinely cited on Bay Area "best sandwich" lists. It remains a single-location, independently owned business.
If you love Bakesale Betty's approach to biscuits, fried chicken, and baked goods, these are the closest peers on Menupedia.
Quick answers to the most common questions about Bakesale Betty's menu, location, hours, and what to expect.
Bakesale Betty is most famous for its fried chicken sandwich — a crispy fried chicken breast served on a house-made fluffy biscuit with tangy coleslaw. The sandwich is widely considered one of the best in the Bay Area and regularly draws long lines outside the Oakland shop. The bakery is also well known for its seasonal pies and scratch-made cookies.
Bakesale Betty is located at 5098 Telegraph Ave in Oakland, California 94609, in the Temescal neighborhood. There is one location. Check bakesalebetty.com for current hours before visiting.
The line at Bakesale Betty is notoriously long, especially on weekends and during lunch hours. Many regulars report waits of 20 to 45 minutes on busy days. The shop is small and counter-service only, and the fried chicken sandwich demand consistently outpaces capacity. Arriving early or on a weekday typically shortens the wait.
Bakesale Betty's hours change seasonally. As of the most recent review, the shop is generally open Wednesday through Sunday during daytime hours, and is closed Monday and Tuesday. Hours can also vary for holidays and special events. Always confirm current hours on bakesalebetty.com or their social media before making the trip.
Bakesale Betty does not publish a full priced menu on its website. Prices are set seasonally and can vary. The fried chicken sandwich has historically been priced in the range typical of artisan sandwich shops in the Bay Area. For the most accurate current prices, visit the shop or check their official social media channels.
Yes. While the signature item is the fried chicken sandwich, Bakesale Betty's baked goods — cookies, brownies, biscuits, pies, and seasonal pastries — are vegetarian-friendly. The fresh lemonade and seasonal drinks are also vegetarian and vegan. The fried chicken sandwich itself is not vegetarian.
Yes. Bakesale Betty sells whole seasonal pies, which are among the most sought-after items beyond the chicken sandwich. Pie varieties rotate with the season — strawberry-rhubarb in spring, stone fruit in summer, apple and pear in fall. Whole pies may sell out early in the day, so arriving in the morning gives the best selection. Check their social media for what's available on a given day.
By nearly every review, yes. Bakesale Betty's fried chicken sandwich is consistently ranked among the best in Oakland and the broader Bay Area by local food writers, Yelp, Eater, and word of mouth. The combination of the crispy chicken, house-made biscuit, and tangy coleslaw has become a benchmark for the style. The cookies and pies are also excellent. For most visitors, the wait is considered part of the Bakesale Betty experience.
Bakesale Betty was founded by Alison Barakat, who opened the shop in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood in 2005. Barakat trained in professional kitchens before opening Bakesale Betty as a small, focused counter-service bakery. The shop's reputation for the fried chicken sandwich grew quickly through word of mouth and local press coverage, making it a Bay Area institution.
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