El Sobrante (so-brahn-tai), uninc. city (1990 pop. 9,852), Contra Costa co., W Calif., residential suburb 11 mi/18 km N of downtown Oakland and 4 mi/6.4 km NE of Richmond, 3 mi/4.8 km SE of San Pablo Bay, drained by San Pablo Creek; 37°59'N 122°17'W. San Pablo Ridge to S, Sobrante Ridge to E. Mfg. (printing and publishing).