Aburaya

If you make only one good decision today (aside from not texting your ex back), go eat Japanese fried chicken at Aburaya. A second good decision: ordering it with dry seasonings like the umami salt or garlic miso. This counter-service izakaya is one of the busiest places in downtown Oakland for lunch or dinner, and you’ll have to employ some strategy to get a seat. But given how good this chicken is, and that Green Day or The Offspring will be playing from the speakers, you’ll probably walk away from Aburaya composing rock songs about chicken.