A catering review is usually about the food, and trust me, the cuisine deserves TEN stars. But what I really want to share is the experience I had with Hils Catering. One week before my mom's 80th birthday, my original caterer fell through. Hils Catering was recommended as a last-minute option, and I reached out practically begging for help. They immediately responded with a simple and reassuring: "Yes." I shared the menu we had already tested, and they confidently confirmed they could recreate it. Not only did they deliver, they went above and beyond. They created a custom menu to match the theme of the party, brought an extra team member to pass hors d'oeuvres, prepped everything fresh in my kitchen, and arranged a beautiful display for my family and guests to enjoy. What stood out most, though, were the small acts of care. They noticed I had been running around working so hard that I barely had time to eat, so they quietly put aside extra food for me to enjoy later. By the end of the party, I invited the team into the backyard, and the entire party gave them a round of applause. Guests were asking for business cards before the night was even over. This wasn't just incredible food. It was exceptional service from genuinely good people with a flair for elegance and hospitality. Thank you, Hils, for helping create such a beautiful gift for my mother and our family. I would highly recommend Hils Cooking & Catering for your next event. read more

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The food exceeded our expectations . We hired Hil for a birthday party at a bar, and everything- from the efficient and seamless setup, to the beautiful decorations, to the food itself , was great. Get the beef spring rolls :) . read more

We used Hil's catering for a 50th birthday party. The staff was very professional and helped with whatever was needed during the party. The food looked and tasted amazing - guests were very pleased! I highly recommend Hil's catering for your next event. read more

I wanted to bring a uniquely Filipino potluck dish to a family reunion totalling 250+ relatives. Yup, we're talking about the only kind of Filipino family there is: GINORMOUS!!! So I immediately thought of Hil's Cooking & Catering. I had empanadas in mind so I was delightfully surprised to discover that Hilary offered "specialty" empanaditas Hil's-style! There was a selection of fillings that can't be found at any average Filipino bakery, I daresay. I chose a variety that included: Chicken Afritada*, Pork Belly Adobo*, Tocino & Egg, Mushroom Provolone (for the vegetarians) and for something sweetly different I selected Leche Flan* empanaditas that came with a sumptuous caramel sauce. (*Top Three Flavor Hits!) Now ask me if there were any leftovers?!? I left the party without a single empanadita in my Tupperware container! My bad. But everyone else's good fortune! read more

Hill's Cooking & Catering! This place is awesome, the food is awesome, the service is awesome and the way they come and set everything up for your party, including flowers and heating lamps, is outstanding. They will work with you to satisfy your tastes, dietary restrictions, budget, etc., as any good caterer should, but Jay and Hilary really took the time to make sure the food for our small but significant event was amazing. It was the talk of the party. Guests raved about the food for days afterwards. Where is this place? How did you find them? A couple of our guest said, this is who we need to cater our food here on the island and my husband and I agree 100%. I just spoke with Kate, our GM here about Hil's Cooking & Catering, but I also sent her the website. We're hoping it's Hil's Cooking & Catering who caters our next event. As the young people say, Hil's Cooking & Catering, y'all did that! read more

We just wanted to send our heartfelt thanks to Hil and her crew for the absolutely amazing job at our wedding. You run such a wonderful operation--professional, kind, attentive, and full of heart. The catering and services were all above and beyond expectations! From the food to the setup to the thoughtful service, we couldn't have asked for more. The waitstaff were exceptional --attentive without ever being intrusive--making sure our guests were comfortable and cared for at every moment. On top of that, Hil's coordination throughout the day kept everything running seamlessly, allowing us to simply relax and enjoy ourselves. Our guests couldn't stop raving about how delicious everything was even days after with their conveniently packed leftovers. We felt so well taken care of from start to finish. Thank you for being such an essential part of our celebration and for putting so much heart and talent into your work. We are endlessly grateful and couldn't be happier with how everything turned out. read more

Hil's Cooking is one of the best catering experiences that I've had to date, and I've had MANY. Hil has done private events at my home, events for my family, and for my friends. The staff is impeccable, timely, and ultra friendly. Hil's Cooking is professional, reliable, and the food is good and tasty. They'll work with the budget and help assist in making your event come to life. As for set up and ambiance, absolute fire. Hillary can certainly set the scene and make anything look beautiful. I'm a huge fan of ambiance and decor, so if decor is your thing, and you want to make an impression, Hil's Catering is where you want to be. Below are some pics of two separate events that Hil's Cooking has catered for me. One event was a private birthday dinner that my husband planned for me, and the other was my husband's book launch release party. Hope this offers insight into some of the things Hil's Catering can provide. Hil's Cooking does the thing-- check them out! Happy cater hunting! read more

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Hill's Cooking catered our wedding this past month, and we truly couldn't have asked for a better experience. From start to finish, they were incredible to work with. The team flexible, kind, and committed to helping us create the perfect menu. They worked with us through several revisions until everything was exactly right, which I really appreciated. The food itself was amazing-several people told us it was some of the best wedding food they've ever had! The pulled pork and duck tacos in particular were insanely good and easily the best we've ever had. Our server went above and beyond by making a last-minute trip to Safeway to grab extra to-go containers so we could take home leftovers, which was so generous! Hill's Cooking exceeded every expectation-professional, thoughtful, and absolutely delicious. We can't recommend them highly enough! Thank you again! -Erin & Frank read more

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Hil's catered my 50th birthday party at Marigold/Churchill in SF. They were super easy to work with, food was delicious, staff were A+. I would be so happy to recommend them to anyone else! read more

I attended a Celebration of Life on Capp Blvd San Francisco,Ca. The date was June 23, 2024. The cute white catering truck pulled up right on time and the culinary adventure began. Empanadas, burgers, kabobs, salads , fruit, huge charcuterie platters. Homemade Cookies and ice cream ones the long tables . Flowers and fancy utensils made it even more enticing. The Hil's manager talked to me about my food allergies and was so pleasant that I felt good about being allergic! Please give Hil's an order for any event large or small. read more

Hil's Cooking & Catering - The best chefs in the Bay Area!!! - Caterers Near Me - Oakland, California

Hil's catered light bites for my wife's birthday at Marigold. Guests raved about everything, especially the sushi. Food arrived on time and was arranged beautifully. I could not have asked for a better experience. Thanks Hil and Jay! read more

Hil's Cooking & Catering - Duck tacos, lumpia haystacks - Caterers Near Me - Oakland, California

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Hil's Catering catered by 70th birthday and the whole experience with Hil's exceeded all expectations. The food was delicious and her staff was professional, warm and hardworking. Hil's was responsive to my many questions and emails. I would recommend Hil's Catering in a heart beat! read more

We hired a fantastic event space in San Francisco called Marigold and the coordinator, Jacobo, recommended Hil for the catering. He said the food is delicious and presented in a beautiful way. He was SO right. Thank you Hil for making the food for my husband's birthday. Our 60 guests really enjoyed the wonderful array or food and how it was presented. There were many rave responses from our guests. Thank you Hil - you and your team made it a really special event. We will definitely use you again for our next big event. read more

Hil's Cooking & Catering - Caterers Near Me - Oakland, California

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We hired Hil's Catering for an event and were absolutely blown away. Everything was not only stunning, but so delicious. Everyone commented on the beautiful platters of food. Thoughtful communication over the past seven month. I would hire them again in a heartbeat. Thank you all so much. read more

I hired Hils Cooking & Catering for our law firm's new office opening party where I wanted to impress high profile clients and peers alike. Jay & Hil and team delivered amazing service with exquisite food. They made me look like a rock star. I received so many compliments for the food and my putting together such a great experience. Can't imagine having done the event without them! read more

This is not a review. It is a MF endorsement! Hils Cooking was the caterer of choice for my mega wedding anniversary + birthday celebrations party. Here are the memorable parts 1) The team- so nice, fun, kind, and professional. We laughed and had a good time. 2) The food- the presentation is stunning and the food was delicious. The pork bahmi sliders- authentic. The horchata cake pop and the ube cake pop - out of this world. 3) Hil - The boss herself-- so kind and nice to work with. Thank you for a beautiful menu that fed 90+ people. 4) Speed & efficiency -- we pulled this off within two weeks. Hil and Jay were ON IT. 5) The ingredients- top notch. Aint no Trader Joe's crap here. Everything was gourmet. I will stop writing now because I am having major fomo. If you are a micromanager when it comes to event planning, go with Hil- she will put you at ease. read more

We loved working with Hil's Cooking and Catering. They are professional, and at the same time light-hearted, and laughter goes super well with great food. I would highly recommend working with them! We will again soon. read more

I recently used HCC for my event and was very pleased. The communication was on point and I appreciated their ability to work with my budget. My point person was Jay, who was a pleasure to work with. The food was delicious and I will definitely work with them again in the future! read more

We used Hil's Cooking for our big party at the Churchill/Marigold in SF. The food was amazing! We ordered the buffet with the Honey Harissa BBQ Chicken and Braised Beef Short Ribs as the main course. All of our guests were RAVING about the food and the staff who were super helpful with managing our guests! Added plus was also that Hils handled coordinating with the site as they have a long term relationship. High recommend using Hil's company for any events that you have. Everyone was fighting over the leftovers to take home since the food was so good! read more

Amazing food - everything I have tried has been exceptional. Hilary catered a party for a friend/customer and it was amazing

Hil's Cooking catered our school's fundraising auction this year and she and her team were great partners in planning an awesome event for 200 people. They customized a delicious menu to fit our theme (and budget!) beautifully, brought in gorgeous florals, handled all the rentals of furniture and linens, and even managed the load-in and layout for the event. Super strong communication and coordination throughout the planning stages and through the event itself. Their staff even stuck around after the event to help me tear down and load my car! Everything they touched, they went above and beyond with. Highly recommend!! read more

We had a last minute event at our office that required a lot of specific theming. In about 4 days, Hils was able to come through for us with a customized menu and the whole team loved the presentation and delicious food! read more

I've had Hil's cater several productions ranging between 20-60+ people! They's always been great at communicating and accommodating all the special dietary needs of the individuals. The presentation on several of the breakfast items, like the avocado toast with edible flowers etc is lovely! Most recently we had a peach cobbler item and everyone was RAVING about it (I may or may not have had 3 myself). I recommend them to other individuals looking for catering, as well, and will continue to use them for my own needs! read more

I have worked with Hils Cooking on multiple events. When I want to impress my clients or guests, I work with Hil. Not only is she a fantastic chef, but she is an artist. Her presentation is gorgeous and always brings another level to each meal she serves. Her team are fantastic, great customer service every time. She knows how to accommodate ALL dietary restrictions and allergies. If you have a group that is particular or accustomed to high end dining she can meet and exceed their expectations easily. She is flexible and creative. I recommend Hil's Cooking highly! read more

It was wonderful working with Hil's Cooking and catering for our wedding. They created a fantastic Korean fusion menu that even our family from South Korea enjoyed. They were so warm, professional, and helpful during our whole planning process. The food the day of was delicious and everyone remarked on how tasty it was. Whenever we need a caterer we will definitely be calling for Hil's again. read more

Hands down the best catering and bar crew I've had the pleasure of working with in the Bay Area. Hilary's team did and AMAZING job catering my company's last minute in-person holiday party for ~50 ppl at a private venue in SOMA. From my initial outreach to venue changes, a few menu changes and day of execution, the team handled everything professionally and seamlessly. We opted for heavy stationed appetizers and an open open bar with two signature cocktails for the evening. I worked closely with Sarah to determine the appropriate amount of food, substitution recommendations and bar package. Needless to say, Sarah's recommendations were spot on and I appreciated her mindfulness of staying within/around our fluctuating budget. I wish I had taken photos throughout the night because everything was beautiful! The level of attention to detail of the platting of the food to the table floral and greens decor/accents were perfect and the flow of the layout worked great in the space. We had two of Hilary's crew members throughout the evening -- a dedicated bartender and a server/bartender whom were just wonderful! They both kept checking in on me specifically, to ensure that I was doing good and had something to eat! I certainly plan on working with Hil's Cooking & Catering again in the future and 1000% recommend booking them for your next event -- You will not be disappointed! read more

Hilary and her team could not have been better at not only catering Visit Oakland's first annual event, but also with creating a menu that reflected Oakland's neighborhoods. The food displays were beautiful, the food looked plentiful and was consumed in its entirety. Our guests are still talking about how delicious everything was, from passed tray, to the food stations and desserts. The staff provided impeccable service and reflected everything that we love about Oakland---welcoming, kind, helpful and beautiful. The communication was always clear, upbeat and professional. As a Certified Event Designer and event planner, both myself and Visit Oakland would work with Hilscooking again in a heart-beat and recommend them for all of your event culinary needs. read more

Fantastic food! We ordered the sushi platters, salad, and a few other passed out horderves which were perfect for our event. The staff was excellent and scheduling was a breeze. I highly recommend using this catering company for any events that you have. Often times when you order sushi via catering, it is a big hit or miss. Hil's was a HUGE hit! Multiple people at the event commented on the freshness and "melt in your mouth" sushi that you don't often get when you cater, or even at restaurants. Overall, great food, great people, we will be back! read more

We used Hil's for our belated company holiday party last week. All the way through the process, Hil's was there for us. They were so helpful with selecting options which would best fit our team and some specific dietary restrictions. They worked with us when we needed to postpone our event and picked right back up with us when we were ready to reschedule. The delivery day of was seamless and their staff was so kind and carefully arranged beautiful spreads for us. The food was DELICIOUS. Our team was overjoyed. There were so many different options and flavors and it was truly an interesting, creative and delectable catering spread which all of us enjoyed. We couldn't recommend Hil's more highly for any event- we were so impressed with their work for our smaller team's holiday party and feel strongly they could be an awesome option for any type of party. Thank you so much, Hil's! read more

From start to finish, our event was absolutely seamless thanks to the incredible work of everyone at Hil's. We were recommended Hil's by a venue we had booked for a previous event, and were excited to work with them at future events. When we were looking to host a breakfast they were first on our minds and they quickly got back to us with suggestions and a quote for a breakfast buffet spread. We were also looking to organize decorations (balloons and floral arrangements) which they were also able to coordinate for us as part of the service. As well as providing flexibility in planning the event, the food was SPECTACULAR and the service was incredible. Everything arrived on time, was fresh and delicious, and the whole team were so friendly and helpful throughout! I would 100% recommend Hil's and they will be at the top of my list for future events - thank you to everyone at Hil's! read more

Hil and her team make DELICIOUS food and are fantastic caterers. We hired Hil's for 2 different events, and everyone raved about the food, the presentation, and the service both times. Hil was also very gracious and flexible around different food allergies. Her staff is super friendly and fun to have at the event. I highly recommend Hil's! read more

The team at Hil's Cooking not only provided outstanding food, but they made the selection process so easy and their communication is prompt and clear - critical for a company event! I highly recommend them for any gathering, large or small. And try the "Miso Carmelized Onion Ring Boat" - I can't stop thinking about it! They clearly put their heart and soul into their food and you won't be disappointed. Thank you Hil's Cooking & Catering! read more

Amazing!!! Hil's cooking is phenomenal. Today we attended a brunch buffet at the AU Lounge hosting Hil's cooking. We had chipotle fried chicken, multiple gravies, beans, churro French toast with chocolate or Nutella... the list goes on. I can't say enough about how every item tasted like there was immense effort put in to making it special. I will definitely continue to follow Hil's cooking pop up locations. read more

Hil's Cooking & Catering - Caterers Near Me - Oakland, California

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I had a caterer cancel on me last minute and Hil's Cooking and Catering was referred to me by a friend. I was able to get them to send me a menu with plenty of food options, and sensible pricing packages within less than 24 hours of my event. Hilary's team was professional and friendly. The food was on time! Healthy and delicious, and the event went off without any hiccups. I have already scheduled 3 more events with Hil's Cooking....an amazing business with an incredible team! Thank you! read more

We had hired Sarah and her team to cater a small block party to celebrate a few birthdays. The food was amazing and Sarah was easy to work with. Their professionalism and quality of food was also amazing. She was patient with all my questions and really cared about our happiness. The food was displayed beautifully and our guests couldn't stop raving! 100% recommend! read more

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We had Hils Cooking cater our home wedding here in Oakland. From the beginning, she made sure she knew our vision for the evening and culinary preferences. Her presentation is just as artful as the combination of flavors she puts into her appetizers and dished! If you don't believe me, take a look at her Instagram! She truly knows her food and was able to provide plates that celebrated both of our cultures (soul food and Latino cuisine) which was an added bonus! There weren't just one or two favorites, a month later I still have people tell me how amazing the food at our wedding tasted. What a compliment to Hilary! Prior to the day, she came by our house to make recommendations on considerations to best serve drinks, appetizers, and dinner so that it flowed seamlessly. On the day of, we couldn't have been happier with her suggestions that even our wedding planner hadn't thought of! Did I mention Hilary and her crew were very professional and affordable? If these aren't enough reasons to choose her for your next event, I'm not sure you deserve her culinary deliciousness!! read more

Hil's provided food for a small event at our spa. Everything was amazing and our staff and clients were truly impressed with how delicious everything was. There is a lot of thought and care in the food, and you can tell. The menu has a wide variety of choices that will please everyone's pallet and diet restrictions. Highly recommended! read more

Hil's Cooking & Catering - Caterers Near Me - Oakland, California

Hil's catered our wedding reception at The Office and were a dream to work with. We did passed appetizers and a few platters for a cocktail reception-style event. Their menu had a huge variety of choices -- it was really hard to narrow it down to a few options! We're really grateful to Sarah for helping us select a cohesive menu, and think about portions / quantity of food as well. On the day, we got so many compliments from our guests as to how yummy the food was -- my favorite were the chicken waffle bites and the quesadilla cones. Service was great as well; the pacing of the appetizers was really good, and the staff were so friendly! I especially appreciated that the server kept an eye on me as the bride specifically and came over with plates -- so clutch as I was mingling and easily forgot to seek out food :) read more

I signed up to plan the catering for a conference. I reached out to a bunch of caterers and it quickly became apparent that Hil's would be on the shortlist. Hilary and her staff were responsive and professional. When all was said and done, we were picking between Hil's and another caterer that I knew to be excellent. We went with Hil's (the unknown) because of both the appealing menus and their ability to work within our budget. What a great decision! I've received nothing but positive feedback about the deliciousness of the food. read more

Hil's Catering is so wonderful. I am dusting off this Yelp Profile just to say this. I am an executive assistant for a large company and had the absolute best experience hiring Hil to cater an event. She created a wonderful spread for 250 people -- mac and cheese (the best I've had in a long time -- there was some kick to it), fried chicken, cornbread and garlic mashed potatoes for a super reasonable price. She worked with our budget and impressed everyone who was there. Plus, the whole thing was easy as far as payment and Hil is so responsive over email. Thank you! read more