The chicken and rice are awesome. Chicken was juicy and so flavorful…read more Yogurt and chive appetizer was great. The waitress recommended it and it was way better than I was anticipating. Tachin was something completely different. So many different flavors and textures. Great change up. Wouldn't be my go to. But once in a while I could enjoy it.

We walked in and tried to get a table for 2. And the owner asked us if we had reservations. But…read morethere was plenty of seating inside and outside. Funny part is, no one walked in after us. We were then seated, the first girl asked if we wanted anything to drink which we did but we never got our drinks til another waitress came and asked us 20mins later. We told her we were ready to order and we had to wait another 10mins for another waiter to order. We got the chive/shallot yogurt, lollipop lamb chops, Koobideh and Joojeh Kabob. The kabeb dishes came with grilled tomato, grilled pepper, rice with tadig on top. They also make this pink butter to put on the rice. Food is good and everything was seasoned well and not over cooked. I want to give this place a try again but they need to work on their customer service. They catered more to other tables and we didn't even get offered the dessert menu like the other tables around us. Also, we had to ask for the check and no one even came to check if we were ready to pay we had to go up there.

Maya Halal is located around in the Oakland Downtown/Lake Merritt area. I went on a Sunday so there…read morewas a lot of street parking available which is probably different from any other day of the week. The process is easy, customers order at the window, pay, and wait outside where there are a couple tables to sit at while waiting for their orders. The main problem I found was the time it took to make a couple burritos. There were no customers in front of me and it took nearly thirty minutes to make two burritos. The other thing I noticed is the add ons really raised the price. The guacamole, etc are all extra charges on the the super burrito which in my eye makes no sense. Either it's a super or regular. Not super needing to have a ton of add ons to make it a super. But how was the burrito? Overall I thought the taste was good. Burrito was on the small side. But the ingredients seemed to be solid, and blended together nicely. Decent quality but for the price and wait time, I won't be rushing back.

YUM. Ordered:…read moreShrimp taco, fish taco, chicken quesadilla, chips Highlights: honestly everything. The seasoning on both were great, the tortilla was a bit on the crunchy or thick side but I liked it bc it didn't get soggy while I was eating. Their salsas were all delish (the hot is spicy but also flavorful). Fish was a little crispy and tacos were pretty full. Notes: we came on a Monday at 7 but they ran at of tortas. Will be back to try though. Parking was pretty easy and there are two small tables under their awning. We were able to sit and eat while it was drizzling out.

Decided to come here one day after my dentist appointment. I ordered the chicken shawarma wrap for…read morepick up. It's a good size for the price, the chicken is very tasty and I really liked the garlicky sauce thing that came with it. Would definitely come back here the next time I'm craving another shawarma. Service was friendly too!

Great shawarma, the sauce and meat are both delicious. If you are in the area and want some…read moreshawarma I would recommend you try this place it is easy and fast. Only thing is that the restaurant did not feel the most clean with overflowing trash cans and sticky tables. But the food more than makes up for this. I would for sure order take out from this place again but if you are looking for a place to sit and enjoy your meal you may want to sit outside or take the shawarma to the lake nearby

I've been here several times and the food is always delicious, warm, and fresh…read more The Chicken and Lamb Shawerma are my favorites. Sweets are delicious as well. Enjoy!

Love this place! It is a tiny little space with a couple tables inside and outside. Went for first…read moretime yesterday and the customer service is just stellar. Friendly, warm, accommodating and helpful. I can't eat garlic and I asked the man behind the counter where you order if it was possible to make a chicken kebab without it. He helped me order all stuff I could eat and we created a plate for me with chicken kebab, tabbouleh salad, pita, pickled vegetables, olives and - this was the kicker - hummus. Hummus ALWAYS has garlic, but he insisted it didn't have any. Oh. My. God! It was SO delicious. First time I've been able to eat hummus in 20 years. But everything was super yummy and fresh. The chicken breast kebabs were flavorful, tender, and beautifully charred along with grilled tomato. The hummus was such a treat, the pickled veg - cauliflower, carrot and some others - was perfect - just enough kick and flavorful beyond the vinegar, and the olives were good little green ones. And - all of this for under 10 bucks. Again, the proprietors are wonderful - gracious, friendly ... and then this killer food. I will SO be back!

One Saturday evening, I was around the neighborhood and, after a long walk, decided to…read morespontaneously try this Ethiopian spot. It was pretty crowded when I arrived, so there was a wait, but I didn't mind at all. The restaurant was much more spacious than I expected, and there was a good amount of staff working. This was actually my first time trying Ethiopian food, so I let my server know that I was excited to try something new. He asked if I liked spicy food, and I immediately said YES. I ordered a samosa-style appetizer along with a meat platter that was FILLED with food. While waiting, I noticed everyone eating with their hands, and I wanted to experience the food the same way and respect the culture. Once I started eating, every bite hit me with so much flavor and spice! The appetizer was more subtle, filled with vegetables and paired with their house sauce. The meat platter, though, was the star of the show. I grabbed a piece of injera with every bite and scooped up everything on the plate. The flavors were incredible, and every time the host came by, I couldn't help but smile and tell him how delicious everything was. At one point, I eventually had to ask for a spoon. By the end of my meal, I was completely satisfied. As I was walking out, I noticed a portrait of a woman who looked familiar, and one of the workers told me it was their mother. That's when I learned this was a family-owned business, which made the experience even more special. Overall, I genuinely enjoyed every moment of my visit. Great food, welcoming people, a family-owned atmosphere, and an experience that was completely new to me. If you enjoy supporting family businesses, trying new cuisines, and being spontaneous, you MUST give this place a try!

Wow! So, I've eaten here at their old location on Grande Ave and the food was absolutely to die…read morefor. The hummus, meat and veggie platter, hot tea, lemonade are the best I have ever had. It tastes so nourishing, delicious, and wholesome. The cooks so clearly know what they are doing. Color me absolutely surprised when I was feeling the craving and I went over to their new location and WOW!! It is so stunning, beautiful interior and outdoor patio with outdoor heaters, fountain, ambient music. The servers are so attentive as well, and it is so wonderful that they pack up the leftovers for you. Cannot recommend this place enough, and so happy for them that they are at this new location. I hope they flourish for years to come

Went to Lazeez kitchen for lunch after reading all the good reviews…read more The restaurant was empty with one family before me ordering. I ordered the lamb and beef platter. It took like 25 mins only to find out they made it for Togo and it's just sitting there, not a problem mistakes happen. The meat was juicy and flavorful, the salad had lettuce , onion and one baby tomatoes but a lot of olives. Maybe they do it this way. The place is clean and tidy. I will try this place again sometime

Catering services has always been a pleasure with online ordering and call ahead for large groups…read more Love the falafels and the sharma chicken and rice. Salads are always a hit with arugula only my favorite or mixed greens. Large party trays with chicken, beef and falafels. Cannot do without the falafels some of the best. Beware for those who are spice sensitive the garlic yogurt is very spicy or just me lol. Definitely give a try and support local businesses!

Xingones is exactly what the neighborhood needed. There's ample seating and good bartenders if you…read morewant to dine in, though I usually end up getting their food to go. My go-tos are the Cali-style burrito with asada and the Xingones nachos (with extra cheese). Good quality ingredients and portions that are generous enough that I almost always have leftovers. Plus, the prices are fair for what you get.

The service is slow and food is just meh.. definitely not the "Best Mexican food in Oakland" like…read moretheir website says lol. The taco truck on 1st Ave will serve you better (Tacos mi Rancho)! Two stars instead of one because their horchata offered some redemption.

They have a great lunch special--$16 base price for two dishes with rice and a bread. Everything…read morewas fragrant, flavorful, and hot! Especially the veggie samosa. Really nice staff. Love that they partner with a program that donates a meal to the local food bank with proof of purchase! I can tell they are very intentional in their practices Also smells amazing inside!! Highly recommend.

I was looking for somewhere to eat with a friend who was visiting out of town and came across this…read moreplace on Yelp. We were in the mood for Indian food. When we arrived, we noticed the sign outside above the door said "Lumpia Factory", but another sign on the ground outside said the actual name of the place, so it was a little hard to find. Unexpectedly, when we walked in, we noticed it was just their kitchen and not actually a restaurant. They have some tables and chairs for you to eat at, but they are not serviced. The food they were making smelled too good, so we decided to just stay and order some food. We got the stuffed onion naan, stuffed cheese naan, samosa chaat potato vindaloo, baingan bharta (eggplant), and bhindi masala (okra). My favorite dish was the potato vindaloo as it had the perfect flavor and the samosa chaat. The stuffed naan isn't really anything by special, but the naan itself was good. Next time, I would just get garlic naan or plain naan. Overall, the food was great and very flavorful and tasty. Would definitely come here again!

Am S..o..o Glad that Canada Dry Ginger Ale Can was a Beverage Option dat " Paired Well " with my…read moreAll Time Favorite " Freshly Crafted Chicken Biryani Entree from here for Late Lunch Yesterday !!! It is Appreciated that they do not close after lunch, but stay open Str8 through into Dinner Shift. I had them via Doordash, but have Dined in their Clean, Family Friendly Dining Room before. Looks like ' It's a Small, Family Friendly Outfit near Downtown Oakland !!!!! ENJOY their Fantastic Menu. The Fone is usually answered for Questions & Special Requests. Homestyle Indo-Pakistani Cuisine !!!!!!

Overall, would not recommend this place. I encountered very racist and bigoted treatment here…read more I placed an online order last night and went by for the pick up. When I approached the front counter, the lady present was very standoffish with me. I informed her of why I was there and she asked my name for the order. Upon giving her my name she then glared at me and literally asked me to recite my entire order lol! I showed her my online receipt in which she then insisted I still tell her my order. She brushed away my receipt and let another customer cut in front of me. Interestingly, the customer told her his name and she retrieved his order with no issue and was very friendly with him. To note, I was the only Black person present at that time. When I inquired as to why that customer wasn't asked to recite his entire order, she grinned and said that he's a "regular" and that I was "new." She went on to let a few other customers cut in front of me. I then asked for my money back in which she refused to return. Even when I asked for the manager, she said he was very busy. I made several requests for this resulting in her saying no and refusing to return my money. I then noted to her I'm calling the authorities in which I did. Furthermore, while servicing some of the other patrons, she would speak in another language with them while they looked at me and start laughing and staring me down. Eventually, the manager came out. He presented himself professionally and upon explaining what occurred he apologized and said it was unacceptable. He even offered me a drink with my meal and asked that I please accept the order instead and wanted to make things right. I took him at face value and said fine. While the situation was remedied, I definitely will not be returning to this restaurant. I researched some of the other reviews and came across several where other Black patrons have had similar racially motivated experiences here. That tells me there's a common practice of racism here. I refuse to support a business where this kind of behavior is tolerated. I have zero tolerance for bigots of any kind. Overall, the experience was a waste of my time and very dehumanizing. To hate someone you don't even know simply because of their skin pigmentation and ethnicity is irrational at best and bad for business especially in a place like Oakland where it's multicultural. My advice would be to not support this establishment. I especially advise any Black patrons not to come here as they clearly have issue with anyone who is simply Black, despite not knowing them as a person. Don't give your money, nor your valuable time, to hateful individuals who dehumanize others. All in all, this place gets a thumbs down.

We had such a fabulous evening at Jaji! We started with the beet hummus and the hummus on pita and…read moreseeded crackers. Devine. We also tried the trout crudo which was delicious. We had also had several of the chicken and lamb kebabs. I had a filet of trout with crispy chili sauce which was amazing! The atmosphere was exciting! They had a belly dancer who did three different performances in 3 different outfits while we were there. There was another lady who did henna designs ( it was free but you needed to tip her) and in the back of the restaurant, they were having a paint and sip ($20.00). The place filled up quickly and everyone was having a blast. Fun night!

Having tried their sister restaurant Parche, my husband and I wanted to check out Jaji for an…read moreafter-work date-night. The interior is beautiful and welcoming, the staff were also helpful with recommendations from the menu. Jaji has a similar layout to Parche with everything meant to be shared. I felt the portion sizes were more aligned with their price tag versus my experience at Parche. Now lets get to the food! We started with the Bahar Crudo, a refreshing beet-marinated ocean trout, as well as the Salata, a surprisingly large bowl of fresh salad with plenty of veggies, tzatziki and a delightful herb vinaigrette. For warm plates, we split the Bonjon Borani, beef cheek Mantu dumplings, and the Chapi Kabob with a side of saffron rice. I loved the addition of the orange peel in the rice. But I think my favorite of all was the Bonjon Borani, I couldnt't get enough of the delicious sauces over the perfectly cooked eggplant.