Kamy T.

Heard about this spot mentioned in the SF Chronicle and it truly didn't disappoint! We ordered ahead before we arrived and glad we did since it did take around 25 minutes total for our food to be ready. There's a good amount of shaded outdoor seating and even board games available. We ordered the don original, chef'don con fusion, and a side of fries. There's self serve water and utensils available. The fusion sandwich is a take of the original but with mushrooms. These sandwiches are solid! The bread is impressive - like a crunchy ciabatta. The inside is filled with meat, sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, and oyster mushrooms (for the fusion sandwich). The sauce is curry-like and a bit messy to eat (it will stain your fingers!) but so good. The mushrooms were a bit salty, but eaten altogether, this sandwich is very well balanced. I felt very satisfied when I was done. Only thing was the fries were disappointing - bland and soggy. Would come back for sure!

Pia V.

Black Forest Kitchen is in a long alley way off main roads. There is some parking to be found but there are also cars that are there long term; e.g. tires flat and people living in them. The ambiance of Black Forest is welcoming and clean. They have a bunch of beer to choose from, and some side items, like pretzels. We ordered the don and the box. We ordered extra garlic sauce on the side but they accidentally placed it on the don itself. Totally fine since they also just gave me the side when I asked. Both items were delicious - the fries crispy to the end and the don packed with yummy veggies. I would say that I wish the don was layered better since all our initial bites were vegetables then the end bites was all chicken. Would have loved to have tasted all the different ingredients with each bite. Also the sauce needed a bit more herbs, it was delicious but comparing the ones we've had on our trips to Germany, the sauce was lacking. Nonetheless, I would recommend this spot to any locals. They also have a HH deal and lots of games for people to play. So definitely a fun time.

Kathleen W.

A friend mentioned this new german place opened up and we all went to try it out post pickleball. We ordered Paulaner Hefeweizen, The Don and Doner box. The food took some time to come out and the server was very friendly and checked in with us on the status of our food. Our food arrived and did not disappoint. The bread is nice and crispy, the meat was fresh, the food was packed of sauces and was very flavorful. We enjoyed our food in a nice and private area and there's plenty of board games to play too~ Highly recommend this place for the stellar customer service and food.

Sydney J.

This review is for the Doner-ish: plant based doner with oyster mushrooms, red onions, red cabbage, cucumbers, plant based feta cheese, lettuce tomatoes, jalapenos, mayo and egg sauce, which I tried at the West Oakland night market. The food was done within 5 minutes or so. It has a sour and slightly spicy flavor profile from the jalapenos and sauce, and the ingredients tended to fall out easily. Unfortunately I don't feel like the plant-based 'meat' was really coming forward strongly in the flavor, I tasted mostly the vegetables and spiciness, and plant-based cheese isn't quite at the level of being able to replicate dairy cheese yet. Also, for the quantity of food, it was rather expensive since with tax and tip, it was about $20. I could imagine some of Black Forest Kitchen's other options are great, but the plant-based option likely wasn't replicating what a meat-based doner would taste like.

Shannon Z.

I lived in Berlin for a year and I can attest that Black Forest Kitchen was a better döner than I had there. My main gripe with Berliner-style döner is they add mayonnaise sauce, which should never happen! Black Forest Kitchen does it right with a yogurt sauce. The mushroom-based vegetarian version was incredibly! The fries were special too, extra crispy. We will definitely be back. Hopefully they have heat lamps because most of the seating is in an outdoor patio.

Ted R.

Black Forest Kitchen at Forage Kitchen offers incredible Berlin-style German street food. The Don (Döner Original) is well worth $15. It's a big sandwich that takes two hands to maneuver. I love the flavor of the chicken. The spicy garlic sauce is supremely tasty. I did not go with the jalapeños because that could be too hot for me. But it's standard if you order it with everything. The Don-King with lamb and beef is fantastic too. But it's only available on Friday and Saturday - so I finally got it on my third visit. Fantastic beers to choose from on draft. Yeah, there's great local beers but why not try something German? The Helles is hella delicious! Happy Hour Tuesday - Thursday 4-7 There are a few seats inside, but it's so Oakland perfect that there's a big patio outside where you can enjoy your sandwich in the sun. The owner, Pierre, has a glowingly positive, infectious personality. Ebullient isn't a word I get to use that often, but it suits him. He grew up here and in Germany and has been in the area for 8 years. He had a pop-up and decided to really make a go of it this year. His passion for the food translates into incredible flavor. Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. Closed on Mondays.

Victor G.

Black Forest Kitchen is the latest food vendor to reside at Forage Kitchen. Their Berlin-style donor kebabs is the hottest fast food trend in Germany now. The kebabs were brought to Germany by Turkish immigrants. Offerings: (German): Beers, donor kebabs, sides & extras. Seating in "beer garden" outside. Small flatscreen tubes to sports. Placed order at counter. Pd. Food Came 20 minutes later due to large lunch order at 2:00. Bites: Donor-ish (16) Vegan version -all entrees have the basic same ingredients. Lunch box has fries. Don King has beef & lamb, served on Fri. & Sat. Donor-ish has Oyster Mushrooms & Vegan ingredients. Flatbread Sandwich looks YUGE as there's lot of freshly sliced crunchy lettuce within the center. Definitely overflowing with the pieces of oyster mushrooms, feta cheese on the exterior. The veggies (red onion, red cabbage, jalepenos, red cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes) in between didn't fall out. The house vegan garlic & spicy sauce was infused into every bite of the sandwich et. Al. Which made addicting to the last bite. Definitely messy to eat. Aluminum pan available to catch all droppings. 4.5 stars Worthy! Quantity: semi-worthy unless one doesn't like veggies. Quality: reasonably-very fresh. Parking may be iffy during peak hours (weekdays).

Alexa W.

Döner macht schöner! What else is there to say? I am super happy that they have a real brick and mortar place now and not just pop ups. More time for me to satisfy my döner cravings. Thanks for always bringing the best food on my plate and a smile to my face!

Kai L.

I've literally been searching all around the Bay Area for a decent döner kebab since living in Europe. Let me tell you: this is WAY better than just decent. It's a freaking solid doner kebab that teleports me back to Berlin. It's the perfect mix of spicy, saucy, pickled, savory that transports you back to those drunken nights, stumbling out of the club or pub, heading to the kebab stands and scarfing down delicious grilled meats. We went during lunch today, so we were only able to get the chicken döners. Will come back on the weekend so we can get the beef/lamb. However, true to its roots, it's got all of the German stuff: proper beer, döner kebab paper, and sides. I'm definitely coming back on the weekend to taste the other meats, but this place is so dope. So glad to have this here.

Binh T.

It took a while to find parking, since there are only meter parkings around. I picked this place, because we were going to parkway theater afterwards. Wow the service was quick and friendly. We tried the original and sunset soda. What a great combo! Never heard of it before, but it taste like orange cola. I'm not a fan of orange, but it's very light flavor. There a patio in the back with a couple sitting next to us. I ate the whole thing and glad we had hand sanitizer. It's so good, but can get super messy. There were board games and tv. Great date night place. Would recommend this place for anyone that in the area. You would not be disappointed. I appreciate the simple small menu selection, which helped me narrow down my choice fast.

Gina G.

From pop up to having their own spot (check hours) in Oakland at the Forage Kitchen Event Space, Black Forest Kitchen is the bees knees when it comes to amazing and authentic Berlin-style Döner Kebab! Parking is a bit tough (but not impossible) outside, and let me add worth spending a few additional minutes. Friends & Family Bar is next door and awesome to note as well :) Many of us in the group had to go with The Don (Döner Original), which resembles more handheld open sandwich-like (see photos), while some members of our group ordered the Döner Box (essentially the same innards just over fries), and lastly the Döner'Rito (a twist to all of the above, wrapped like a burrito!) We also ordered the OG fries which come topped with their delicious IYKYK white garlic sauce. Plant-based options also available. I will say this is not a first-date meal that you're trying to impress the person sitting on the other side of the picnic bench 'eating dainty' type of meal. This is a meal that quite honestly is sooooo deliciously unique, ya don't mind getting your hands dirty (literally). I think the owner was doing fun challenges on social with a 'one-napkin challenge' while eating the Döner Original..I failed within the first few minutes using a bajillion napkins haha! Great service, passion, and heart from the owner who delivered our meals & brews to us. Yes, another thing to note, awesome brews (and steins if that's your thing) to wash down the tender meat (chicken or plant-based options), spices, and flavorings with. Check the website for everything that's included in the filling of the Döner Original, there's so many yummy things in there, I probably wouldn't be able to successfully name them all! Can't wait to hear about your experience if you try them out! Fair pricing, fun outdoor atmosphere.

Kailey R.

Honestly a 10/10! I used to live in germany.. and if it's one thing i crave the most it's a döner. the best you can get on this side of the Atlantic for sure! Loved the outside seating. will have to go back for beer boots and the lamb mix on fridays! Service was fast and great!

Ray B.

Given that it's a German place... I got the feeling that food is not their primary focus, I'm guessing they have great beer. I don't drink so I wouldn't know, but the chicken in my sandwich was overcooked and extremely dry. Also, they forgot to add the chicken to my salad. This may have been because it was about an hour before closing. The place had a nice vibe and the people working there seemed cool. Perhaps I'll give it another try. To the owners of BFK, thank you for your thoughtful response. BB