California's Best Chicken Sandwich Is Served On A Bed Of Crispy Coleslaw

If you have spent any time in the Bay Area, chances are you've heard of the famous chicken sandwich from Bakesale Betty. The region isn't exactly known for its chain restaurants (there is only one Chick-Fil-A within the city limits of San Francisco, and it's nowhere near Downtown), but that doesn't mean you can't find a good chicken sandwich around. The one that many consider to be the best is actually located in Oakland, at a bakery that doesn't even have the word "chicken" in its name.

Bakesale Betty was opened by an Australian line cook who started selling desserts at local farmer's markets in 2002. Taking on a new persona, complete with a blue wig, Alison Barakat opened her lunch spot in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood, revealing a menu complete with cookies, pies, and an epic buttermilk fried chicken and coleslaw sandwich. The latter is so good that it earned a spot on Tasting Table's list of the best chicken sandwiches in every state, as well as a special place in the hearts of Bay Area residents.

The sandwich features a crispy buttermilk chicken breast that is seasoned with cayenne, fried until golden, and placed on top of a bed of tangy, Dijon-and-jalapeno-spiked coleslaw. The combo is served on a fresh French roll from a local bakery, Acme, and no other toppings are added. It doesn't need anything else — it's flavorful and decadent but punchy and bright all at once.

The chicken sandwich from Bakesale Betty has long held a stellar reputation with Californians, and many online reviewers have praised it too. One person wrote on Google Reviews, "The chicken is tender and crispy, the slaw has a little spice since it has jalapeños in it but it's a nice blend. If they have the strawberry shortcake...GET IT!"

Someone else said, "The chicken itself is tender, large, really nice to bite into with the flavorful breading. The bread is also perfect, slightly crunchy on the outside and then when you press it onto the chicken it flattens just like it should, and it absorbs the sauce without getting soggy. My favorite part is the jalapeño slaw which is fresh, crunchy, spicy, perfectly acidic to balance the fat of the fried chicken." The baked goods from Bakesale Betty are just as popular. The cinnamon rolls are legendary, as is the sweet strawberry shortcake. Locals also love the ginger cookies and scones.

The eatery is very casual, operating a walk-up system with handwritten poster menus. It's very fun, and it doesn't take too long to get through the lines. You will want to get there early, however, as the hand-dredged sandwiches often sell out. There is another outpost at the Chase Center stadium in San Francisco, which gets equally as busy during games and concerts. Both are worth a visit — the high-quality ingredients and friendly service make it worth it.