Nestled in the heart of San Rafael, Red Rooster Brick Oven is where delicious, thoughtfully crafted food meets a truly welcoming neighborhood vibe.
Owners Anh Tran and Chi Truong, who first crossed paths as students at UC Berkeley, bring more than 13 years of restaurant experience to their brick-oven kitchen. Their vision for Red Rooster centers on culinary inclusiveness—a menu designed to bring people together.
“We wanted it to be diverse enough so three or four generations can find something to enjoy,” says Truong, who leads the culinary side of the operation.
Pizza, a restaurant signature, is a dish every generation understands.
The Mustache Pizza ($20), the restaurant’s number one order, starts with Caputo 00 Italian flour and olive oil, aged for 24 hours before it is pressed into a thin crust. (Truong saves a piece from each day’s dough, the “mother” adding a distinct, only-in-San-Rafael flavor.)
Cooked for 10-12 minutes at 450F in the house’s brick oven, the pizza emerges with a crispy, golden crust and a soft crumb before it is sprinkled with Parmesan and fresh basil.
Red Rooster’s other seriously popular dish? Buttermilk Fried Chicken. For the entrée order, 2-3 pieces are brined overnight with rosemary and lemon, bay leaf and thyme, and just the right amount of sugar and salt before they are tossed in seasoned flour mix and fried. Served with house made honey-mustard sauce and two sides (choose from mashed potatoes, green salad, slaw, three styles of French fries, onion rings, crostini, or daily vegetable), it is a meal that San Rafael cannot get enough of.
Choose the sandwich if your preference is white meat chicken. Layered onto a brioche bun, dressed with house made smoked jalapeño aioli, and served with cabbage slaw made only when an order is placed, it is Southern by way of California.
Red Rooser Brick Oven is an American comfort food restaurant where comfort comes in all sizes and styles. “We have one client who comes in for clam chowder five times a week,” Tran says. Made from scratch and cooked to order, the Clam Chowder ($10) is New England white style, with just enough sizzled bacon to develop the flavor for the roux. Thick with chopped clams, celery, and potato, and just enough half and half, it’s a warm bowl of happiness, made happier with a topper of grilled sourdough and garlic crostini. It regularly sells out.
Three-ounce Red Rooster Meatballs – on a French roll with mozzarella ($15), atop spaghetti ($14/ $16/$18), or served with crostini ($15) – are a mixture of Angus beef and pork mixed with Parmesan, fresh herbs, and just enough bread crumbs to hold the ball together. Order as many or as few as you need to satiate your hunger.
With its easy-going, family-friendly atmosphere, Red Rooster is the kind of place where everyone instantly feels at home. Even better—there’s no fee to reserve their space. Up to 50 guests can gather for lunch or dinner without the hassle of hosting at home or in the office. “We are open to everybody for fundraisers,” Tran adds, making Red Rooster a welcoming hub for community events of all kinds.
Prefer to celebrate in your own space? Red Rooster will bring the feast to you with crowd-pleasing party trays. Think Chicken Piccata, Penne Pasta, and Caesar Salad with anchovies—fresh, flavorful, and delivered right to your door.
Red Rooster is serving up the happiest happy hour in downtown San Rafael — and you’re invited.
Every day from 4pm – 6pm, grab the ultimate duo: a Pizza + Pint for just $20. It’s the perfect excuse to kick back, indulge, and treat yourself to something seriously satisfying.
Craving a craft brew? They’ve got you covered. Local draft beers are just $5 from 11am – 4pm, every single day. Sip, savor, repeat.
Whether you’re winding down after work, meeting up with friends, or chasing good vibes, Red Rooster Brick Oven is the place to be. Hot pizza, cold drinks, and a feel-good atmosphere that hits every time.
