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    HOTBIRD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Hotbird

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    The menu
    Markus R.

    The location is great. It's right in the heart of Downtown Oakland with so many other restaurants and attractions nearby. There are a couple parking structures close and there is also street parking available. The inside of the restaurant is a bit on the smaller side but it has tables to sit at. The service is quick. The bathrooms are clean. Not much to complain about service wise. I like how they have a hotness-level of their spices. The food was great. The chicken was extra crispy and packed full of flavor. I got the most un-spicy flavor since I do not like spiciness and it was great. Virtually not spicy at all! The fries were also very crunchy and covered in a spice. My only grit with my meal was the oil, the fries and chicken were a bit greasy. I had to wash my hands after eating and even then the smell still kind of lingered on my fingers. The prices are also a bit high. For a meal for two, expect to walk out of here for around $35 making this a ($$$) for me. The flavor of the chicken almost makes up for the hefty price tag. Bottom line/TLDR: great chicken but expensive and oily.

    Montage of images from Hotbird
    Ed U.

    If you're a fan of Nashville hot chicken, you no doubt are wetting your pants over the presence of this Oakland cafe. And why not? They do a pretty good job of replicating the spicy down home style of a Hattie B's (review: https://yelp.to/7VXLRu1VQw), but they were sorely lacking the Southern hospitality I was hoping for with this type of operation. Glum is the best description of the service here. Because of its proximity to the Fox Oakland, Jamie W. and I have been here a couple of times for pre-concert bites. On our first visit, I tried to be good by ordering The Salad with Fried Chicken. It consisted of shredded cabbage, peanuts, carrots, cucumber, tomato, red onion, dill pickle, crispy shallots, various herbs, and green goddess dressing (photo: https://yelp.to/m9ii5JdLwF). With the chicken, it came to $17. It was quite a generous serving and packed with flavor. As with every dish, you have the choice of six different levels of heat. I went with Mild because I'm a wimp. Jamie had the $14.50 Fried Fish Sandwich, a beer battered filet in a buttered bun stuffed with slaw, dill pickle, and their comeback sauce (photo: https://yelp.to/L6zgweS0aD). He went Mild, too, and the sandwich was a hefty delight. We came back several months later and tried a couple of other favorites. Still the same glum service, too. This time Jamie was smart and had the $8.50 Hotbird Jr., just a smaller version of the fish sandwich (photo: https://yelp.to/pVKxP_1sgh). I went in the other direction and had the heavy $21 Nashville Fish & Chips, whole beer battered and fried catfish with apple slaw, dill pickles, and a pile of fries (photo: https://yelp.to/fD82Y0xJRb). That was definitely for the seriously committed. FOOD - 4 stars...hefty portions of fish and chicken that manage to satisfy AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...not enough tables when we come but we made do SERVICE - 2.5 stars...turn that frown upside down TOTAL - 4 stars...Nashville-to-Oakland, get on board RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's a collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ

    Fried chicken sandwich
    Jill U.

    The food was well put together and fish sandwich sizable. I was surprised that the sandwiches didn't come with anything. But we'd ordered a side of Mac n cheese with was noodles and liquid cheese. It took a long time for someone to come to the counter to take our order. Seemed like just one person working. There were plenty of seats and a good amount of people dining in.

    Medium regular chicken sandwich
    Nadav M.

    The Bay Area seems to have nice places to have a good chicken sandwich. This is one of the nice places I've tried. The inside seemed a bit empty but lovely with the 'All you need is hot chicken'. Service was clunky but thorough. Waiting time was fine. I did notice that their fry selection is not too extensive. I went with waffle fries and the regular hot chicken sandwich, I believe medium was the spice level. I can recall there were layers of sweetness. The coleslaw was sweet to me, not sure if it was the pickles as well. The flavour was nice. The spice was potent but not extreme; very comfortable while I watched people pass by. Waffle fries were crispy and fresh. The sauce was more on the sweet side but a good layer of flavour. Water and utensils are self served by the doorway. Right in the middle of downtown Oakland. Easily accessible with public transport.

    Fried chicken sandwich and fries
    Ayro P.

    I would actually give this place 3.5 stars. It was recommended by a friend who lives nearby so we were excited to try it. When we walked in there were a lot of bugs flying near the entrance but at least that was the only place they were flying. The guy working the register was super friendly and let us try some of the spice levels using almonds. I was on the fence between mild and medium but didn't want to ruin my first time. My fiancé and I ordered fried chicken sandwiches, fries, and collard greens. The chicken sandwiches (7/10) were pretty big and filling. The chicken didn't seem dry at first but the more I got into it the more it seemed like it. Just a little though. The fries (8/10) were good but nothing that really sets it apart from other burger/sandwich places. The collard greens (6/10) were flavorful but super heavy. I'm sure it's intentional but I'm just not used to it. We didn't even finish it. Also, they came out a little late because the guy working accidentally left it in the window. Overall I probably wouldn't return to this place on my own, but not against coming here if my friend wants to go.

    Fried fish sandwich -  Very tasty!
    Shayla B.

    The Hotbird is pretty damn legit if you ask me! There seems to be quite a few of these hot fried chicken spots opening up in the area. I'll admit that I'm a creature of habit and have been basically stickin' with my old and faithful World Famous Hotboys. And while I love them to death, I also love that I have options now. Because... who doesn't love them options?! Dropped by one evening to check this spot out for dinner. The location is prime time. It's located just one short block from the Fox Theater and tons of fun bars off Telegraph. For a chicken shop, the interior is pretty spacious. They have a beer and soju cocktail bar with a couple of big screen TV's inside. You order at the register and they'll deliver your food to your table. They've had some burglaries in the past unfortunately, so they don't accept cash for payment (which is totally understandable given the circumstances). The sweet young lady who assisted me at the register was really kind and helpful. You can adjust the heat level to your liking. One thing that I found unique about this spot is that they offer hot fried fish. Can't say that I've seen this option at any other hot fried chicken spot that I've been to thus far. I was intrigued and you know I had to try it. And that, I did. Welp, it was... ***wait for it***... FIYAH! As in, hawt fiyaaah! Me likey, me likey a lot. I'll be honest, it's truly nothing like a hot chicken sandwich. The texture is a lot softer of course and even though I got a medium heat level, it didn't seem too hot to me. Now if I had gotten a medium hot sammy from Hotboys, my ass would have been on the toilet pronto. So in essence, the medium spice level here worked on my behalf. Loved the aioli sauce and the simple slaw. They hooked it up with a fat ol' piece of fish for me too. It was super filling. I liked the waffle fries too even though I'm more of a traditionalist and would have preferred plain Jane fries since the sandwich is pretty fancy itself. The only thing I'd say is don't expect the fish sandwich to be anything like a hot fried chicken sandwich. It's a totally different experience and I don't mean that in a bad way. The fish is just a lot more subtle and less textured. Pretty impressive for my first ever hot fried fish sandwich. I'd get the fish sandwich again, but I will def try their chicken sammy on my next visit.

    Jessica K.

    Random training class downtown. Talked a bunch of strangers into going to lunch with me. The person taking our orders was pretty nice, offered his opinion on menu items. I got the honey butter chicken sando, no cheese no jalapeno. I would have liked to sub the cheese for something else but only pimento is offered I guess. I got the fries, thinking they were waffle fries since there were a bunch of photos with waffle fries. They were not. Kind of disappointed about that. I wanted to get the Mac but I knew I was going to be too full, and I wanted the banana pudding. The banana pudding was not a disappointment. Overall, great vibes, great food. I will return.

    Inside
    Alvi L.

    Delicious food in a comfortable casual restaurant with friendly customer service. Recommendations: Chicken Sandwich Fish and chips Banana pudding

    Chicken Tenders with slaw and two sauces. Yum.
    Aaron Z.

    We stopped here before a weeknight concert at the Fox and I was pleasantly surprised. It's a simple menu plus beer, wine, and some soju cocktails. Perfect for a pre-show bite. The inside was very quiet and service was quick. It's nice that you can choose the spice level (and maybe get on the wall of fame if you're brave enough!). It gets pretty serious even for people who like spiciness. We got the tenders and a chicken sandwich. Both brought the heat and the breading was perfectly crisp. Not greasy, not soggy. The sauces (esp the Come Back Sauce) were a great compliment. The slaw was tangy and sweet. I'd love to try more of their stuff!

    Carol C.

    Date: 7/23/2023 Time: 5:20 PM 67° Sunny My husband wanted fish 'n chips. Our go to place in East Oakland is closed today. Yelp search of somewhere close to Alameda resulted in Hotbird at 1951 Telegraph Avenue. I called in the order of the fish and chips and the fried tenders platter. Both entrees included coleslaw, pickle chips and sliced garlic bread The bread reminded me back in the struggling days when bread was used for hamburger bun, hot dog bun, butter/sugar sandwich. To y'all in the hood, ya know what I'm talkin' about...LOL. Gentleman who answered the phone told me food would be ready in about 15 minutes. Wow! The fried tenders had a kick to it without the medium level sauce. With the medium level sauce, the tenders were delicious. The honey mustard sauce was okay. I should have asked for ranch dressing. The coleslaw cut some of the spiciness down. I didn't think I would find coleslaw as good as KFC's, but Hotbird's coleslaw is even better. Yummy! When I checked in, the owner had my order ready, all in a bag. Hotbird was not busy and I was in and out of there in less than 5 minutes. I'm impressed with the quick service. A quick glance of the ambience has a small dining area with red highback stools and chairs, several tables and two flat screen TVs. Front of restaurant has big picture window for those who enjoy people watching. The place is comfy and casual. I can't say anything about the fish, except it is a huge piece, included waffle fries and tartar sauce. P.S. Husband says fish is spicy. He couldn't even finish of his dinner. Return visit? Yes, on a quiet Sunday.

    Fried Chicken Sandwich (~$15) + Waffle Fries (~$5)
    Aya E.

    Ordered: Fried Chicken Sandwich (~$15): fried chicken breast (medium spice), slaw, dill pickle, comeback sauce, on buttered bun Waffle Fries (~$5): seasoned waffle fries with comeback sauce Aya's take: I actually came in wanting to try the Fish Sandwich since it sounded unique but the worker told me to try the Chicken Sandwich if it was my first time. It was surprisingly empty when I stopped by around 3pm on a Friday. The Fried Chicken Sandwich was crispy, juicy, and had a nice kick at the medium spice level. The Waffle Fries were pretty average but complemented the sandwich well. I've definitely had better Nashville-style chicken sandwiches but there's nothing wrong with Hotbird's. It was a good try.

    Corina S.

    I really really enjoyed the staff and the environment on top of the food!!! Found this spot near underdog film. I got the spicy and my husband got the southern chicken. Really wish I got the Mac and cheese! It looked fire!

    Fried Chicken Sandwich Hot.
    Chad M.

    Really wanted to love this place. Location is great. Slaw on the sandwich was amazing. Bun was great. Didn't care for the fries they were over seasoned. And the chicken was just kinda ok. The batter on it falls off pretty easy and all the flavor is in the batter not the chicken. I went hot and it had a slight kick. Would try again and hope for a better result.

    Mild chicken tenders with fries

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Quick, delicious, impressive. This sandwich was tasty and spicy and crazy fast. Beer, grits, fried chicken sandwich. Yum

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    4 years ago

    The chicken strips and fried fish were amazing. It's a great spot for a good quick meal

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    4 years ago

    If you want firey tenders or a hot-ass chicken sandwich, go for it. I personally like Gus's fried chicken better.

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    3 years ago

    Best fried chicken sandwich in town. I loved the waffle fries and banana pudding was also a hit. I like that you can choose the spice level.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Best fish and chips in SF/Oakland so far. A bit on the steep price, nonetheless, I enjoyed it fried Fish

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    4 years ago

    Whole juicy white meat with breading that stays crisp. Banana pudding was a surprise fav, not too sweet. Will definitely come back!

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    3 years ago

    Great food. Huge sandos and banana pudding! Be aware no cash, card only due to crime

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    3 years ago

    I love this place. Wish I could eat their sandwiches everyday. And great staff. Very helpful

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    great breading on the chicken and generous portions. the owners are super nice and great choice of beer also

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Delicious chicken! you get a lot of meat but I personally like tenders that can be picked up and eaten with hands.

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    4 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Aaron N.

    Thanks for stopping by David!

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    4 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Aaron N.

    Thanks Peter!

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    4 years ago

    Unbelievably good - easily the best chicken sandwich I've ever had

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    Page 7 of 8

    Ask the Community - Hotbird

    What type of oil do they use?

    Rice bran and soy bean oil mix

    Do you offer any halal meat?

    Yes! I confirmed with the manager that all of their chicken is halal.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    4.5(444 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Longfellow
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    Found this spot on tiktok and decided to try it out with my favorite cousin. The rating was decent…read moreand the food looked good so we made our way over. We sat inside originally, but then decided to go sit outside because it was a beautiful day. The inside was clean and very quiet, the patio was full of people. Ambiance gets a 4/5. We were immediately met by a pleasant waitress, and when we moved she just came and found us. She was very informative, engaging, and knowledgeable, great service all around 4.8/5. I ordered the strength & my cousin the garlic wings and a margarita. The wings were some of the best I've ever had, fried to perfection and seasoned just right. A huge punch of garlic, which I really enjoy, so wings were 4.9/5. The vegetarian sandwich I ordered was so delicious, the pesto and garlic aioli really added flavor and the fresh warm bread really set it apart 4.8/9, only because the jalapeño was more spicy than pickled. Overall; I rate this place a 4.7/5

    A hidden secret is the Hidden Spot. Right on the corner with easy ramp up walkway or stairs. It has…read moreoutside eating or inside with big screen tv's and a bar. All the food sounded good on the menu. I had the sapphire which was supposed to be hot but it wasn't at all for me. The gem was almost like a Philly cheese steak. Both were really good. The fries seasoning is really good and the onion rings were good as well. I got a mango lemonade drink that I really enjoyed. Cool place to watch sports and grab a good bite to eat. Now go and enjoy, you can thank me later.

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    Brothers Deli - Toast Flight (choice of 4)

    Brothers Deli

    4.6(165 reviews)
    1.6 mi•East Oakland
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    Yelp actually led me to this sandwich shop. I searched for sandwiches in my area, and this was one…read moreof the few places that popped up. I'm forever grateful for that recommendation because they make some of the best sandwiches I've ever had. I've tried a few items on the menu, but the one I always recommend is the Hot Italian. Everything about this sandwich is incredible. It's packed with flavor, and you can honestly tell it was made with care. I usually pair it with a bag of chips, and the total comes to around $18. It's absolutely worth every penny and always leaves me full and satisfied. The shop is consistently clean, and the customer service is always friendly and welcoming. I find myself going back over and over again, then telling myself I need to take a break--only to end up back there a few weeks later. That's how good it is. A couple of things to keep in mind before you visit: there's only limited street parking, so you may have to circle the block to find a spot. There's also not much room to wait inside, although they do have a bench or two where you can sit while your sandwich is being prepared. In my experience, the wait is usually around 15 minutes. I've honestly never been here when it wasn't busy, so expect a crowd. But once you take that first bite, you'll understand why. Great food, great atmosphere, and great customer service. I highly recommend checking this place out!

    Sandwich wasn't the worst I've ever had but it wasn't the best as the reviews are claiming…read more I ordered via a delivery service and also received a "snickers bar" as the "rocky road desert" I don't eat snicker bars lol , no where does the $3.99 rocky road desert would be a snickers bar lol , I tried calling the restaurant to get an answer or help and no one answered the phone. I don't think I'll be coming back for a sandwich here

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    Arizmendi - 10/23/2022 pizza

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    This is a true staple of my childhood, and of the Bay Area. Anyone who knows good food and good…read morepizza in the East Bay knows Arizmendi. It's a surprise every day, which pizza they'll make, but it's guaranteed to always be good. The quality of the ingredients is top notch, the kind you can just taste. Even their salads, soups, and baked goods are delicious, it tastes like a quality bakery, for a place that's known for great pizza. This is definitely an if you know, you know spot, the kind you'll come back to for years on end for its consistency, its flavor, its heart. It's a staple of the East Bay for a reason, and even if you're not a vegetarian, you will adore it.

    Great spot for a quick dinner at an affordable price!…read more My partner and I stopped by Arizmendi to check it out and get a daily special on a Sunday. In total, we paid $7.50, which was not bad at all! The space is spacious inside with an ample parking lot, but I would say this is more of a grab-and-go place; there is some outdoor seating. We got a pizza with tomato, olive oil, feta, and olives. The service was quick, straightforward, and we were able to get our slices within 5 minutes and it came out hot which was great! The pizza itself is on the thinner side and has a good ratio of dough to cheese. The crust/base was chewy and light and did in fact, taste healthy (in a good way)! Do I think this place is somewhere you must go to try out? Honestly, no, it is a good value pizza that tastes delicious, but I would say to only stop in if you are around the area.

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    Crave Subs - Pikachu ($15.99)

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    4.2 mi•Downtown Berkeley
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    San Francisco has lots of places to grab a sandwich. It's seems I ate at the majority of delis in…read moreSF. Sometimes it's good to try something different and a place with some interesting character and characters. I usually get deli sandwiches which have deli meats but this place has fried chicken sandwiches . So I was craving a sandwich so I headed to Crave Subs in Downtown Berkeley next to BART station. They have lots of sandwiches available on the menu. On a Summer stroll getting some sun in Downtown Berkeley I landed at Crave Subs. Inside it's like you stepped into an ice cream parlor with a comic book shop and arcade and a deli all at the same time. You will see sandwiches on the menu called the Pikachu, Ned Flanders, and Bart Simpson. You will see Chewbacca fries along with the Spider-Man fries and the vegan Sailormoon fries. I got the Captain Boom Halal Fried Chicken, Boom Boom Sauce, Cheddar Cheese and Crave Sauce on a roll. It was tasty and a bit crunchy and had lots of flavor. It's one of the best Halal chicken sandwiches I had. If you crave a fried chicken sandwich then Crave Subs is the spot. It will "cost "you an extra 50 cents if you want to "floss" with extra drip "sauce" to show off on social media and during OSL my social media feed was stuck in the" Land of OZ" If you want great fried chicken sandwich you don't need to visit KFC or meet the chicken"commanders" like the late "Colonel Sanders" just get a Captain Boom with "Halal chicken standards" or grab a Pikachu sandwich or a turkey sandwich called the "Ned Flanders "

    I don't really enjoy writing negative reviews of restaurants, especially smaller businesses but…read moretoday's visit to Crave really left a bad taste in my mouth. One of my biggest pet peeves is when restaurants reduce the guality or quantity of their meal to cut costs while charging premium prices. I will say I didn't mind paying a few dollars more for their subs in the past. I went there today for the first time in a couple of years, ordered a regular size basic ruben sandwich (no add-ons) and was ok paying nearly $18 dollars for just the sandwich until they handed it to me. what I got was a small 6" sub. When did their subs shrink?? in this economy we are all struggling. I get it, things cost more but Craves' owner is not doing his patrons a service by charging them premiums while cutting back on the meals. If you're ok paying that much for a shrunken sub, more power to you. I l, however, will not be going back there.

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    Crave Subs - Chips

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    Crave Subs - Steak Storm Fries ($16.99- weekend special!)

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    Clove and Hoof

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    4.1(944 reviews)
    1.5 mi•North Oakland
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    My only question is....WHY haven't I been here sooner?! I…read morewas craving pastrami, so I looked on yelp for pastrami in the area. My mom and I came in around 2pm on Monday (8/11). It's a cute delicatessen/restaurant. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you. Immediately the staff was so friendly and welcoming. The woman at the register was very nice and asked if we had any questions. My mom and I shared a pastrami sandwich, Brussels sprouts, fries, and slaw. It was reasonably priced for the Bay Area. When they brought the food to the table I was shocked. Everything looked amazing and very appetizing, and the portions were much bigger than expected. Before she brought the sandwich over, she asked if we were sharing it and was so nice to split it into 2 plates for us. That was very kind for her to do. Let's start with the French fries. Omg they were perfectly crisp but still fluffy on the inside. They had so much flavor probably because of the beef tallow and had just the right amount of salt on them. There was a side of mayonnaise with the fries, and it tasted homemade. I meant to ask them if it was. It was very good lol I couldn't get enough. The poppyseed slaw was very refreshing and it was tangy and sweet. We loved that the cabbage remained crispy and it was great for a warm day. The fried Brussels sprouts were full of flavor. They were a nice balance of sweet and salty. I loved the bacon on them. The hot pastrami sandwich definitely satisfied my pastrami craving! There was just the right ratio of meat-cheese-sauerkraut-mustard-dressing. The bread tasted freshly baked as well. It was full of flavor. And the side salad that came with the sandwich was excellent. We loved the tanginess of the dressing. We were shocked that there wasn't more people inside, but also for 2pm on a Monday, it probably was just an off hour. We had so many leftovers as we both don't eat very much, but lol as soon as I got home I started eating some more of the slaw and salad. Can't wait to eat the rest for lunch tomorrow. We are already planning on coming back to try the meatballs next time and definitely trying their Indian cuisine! I'll have to bring my husband here next. Thank you guys for an amazing lunch!

    I'm sure there are other good things here but I keep just getting the cheese steak. The picture…read moredoesn't do it justice. It's a warm, crunchy roll, the chopped steak and cheese are perfect, and there's a salad next to it so you can take a bite of that while you're waiting for the next bit of your sandwich to cool down. Do yourself a favor and order this in instead of carrying it out. The roll is warm and crunchy and I think too much time in a bag would make everything less delicious. (I'm sure it's still good, it's just *better* if you can eat it when it's fresh.) I swear one of these days I'll try something else on the menu.

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    Krispy Joe's - The OG

    Krispy Joe's

    4.6(83 reviews)
    2.1 mi•North Oakland

    Krispy Joe's is in on the Emeryville/Oakland border on busy San Pablo Ave. I first found out about…read moreit because I saw the listing on DoorDash and it hasn't disappointed to far. There are many things on the menu, but what stands out for me is the Pastrami. I've been a couple times in the past a couple months and have tried their OG Sandwich (Pyro's Pastrami, vinaigrette coleslaw, swiss , 1000 island, mustard on rye) and their Pastrami Hash Breakfast Burrito (Pastrami bacon, eggs, potatoes, mozzarella, pico, Baja sauce). Both were good, and not greasier than you'd expect, the Pastrami was lean but not too lean. Good place to get a hot pastrami sandwich or burrito.

    This place feels like quintessential Oakland. Blink and you miss this incredible hole in the wall…read morethat's full of character and serves strong, delicious coffee and honestly, the BEST pastrami I've ever had. A 7-year old video happened to pop up on my YouTube feed about Oakland's best kept secret Pastrami, and Pyro's Pastrami came up on my radar. We were so happy to see that they have set up shop so close to us! Before heading in, know that there will be just a bit of a wait because every sandwich is made fresh to order. But trust me, it's 100% with it. I ordered the OG sandwich and I was impressed by how the flavors were so balanced out between the toasted, buttered rye, the slaw, the dressing, the cheese, and of course, the meat. I sometimes find rye too overpowering but it was perfect! On first bite, I immediately found what the fuss was about: the pastrami was so flavorful and melt-in-your-mouth tender, you can tell it was made with a lot of love and attention to detail. To top it all off, it's a proud, local business! Krispy Joe's and Pyro's Pastrami will now be a staple for my husband and I. Seriously, if you like/love pastrami, you have to give them a try. If you don't, give them a try, anyway... this is the one that could get you converted. Chef Cash: you've done it. A+++++++

    Photos
    Krispy Joe's - Cool mural

    Cool mural

    Krispy Joe's - @ifoodiejenn | The OG - hot pastrami sandwich

    @ifoodiejenn | The OG - hot pastrami sandwich

    Krispy Joe's - Order area

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    Order area

    Heroic Italian

    Heroic Italian

    4.4(164 reviews)
    4.0 mi•Downtown Berkeley
    •$$

    Heroic Italian is a fantastic downtown Berkeley spot for a relaxed Italian meal. The food is…read moredelicious, from the elevated sandwiches and fresh pasta to the pizzas, salads, and a great Italian wine selection. The garden patio large and and dog friendly. Service is attentive and kind. We live in Oakland and this is one of favorite sport in Berkeley. My partner doesn't want me to post this review because she's afraid it will get too crowded, ha. Cheers

    We ordered via DoorDash, and I wouldn't call our experience "heroic."…read more The pinsa was very good. We got the Calabrian shrimp. We found it very tasty, but paying over $25 for this on DoorDash--certainly not worth the price even though we really enjoyed it. The spicy chicken parm sandwiches were not good. The chicken breast was flabby, and came across like it was one of those frozen cooked Tyson jobs. I would be very surprised if they actually breaded chicken breast, fried it, and made the sandwich with that. It was mushy, and the breading was like paste on the chicken. Pretty awful. They charge extra for sauce, which is a little much, given that we paid $21 for each sandwich. But we figured out pretty quickly why they do this: there was hardly any sauce on the sandwiches. And precious little cheese. We each ate half of our sandwich and figured we doctor the leftovers up the next day with a jar of Rao's and a bag of shredded Italian cheese. That helped, but nothing could save that chicken. The meatballs. We paid $15 for four, and we had high hopes, but they were so mushy that they fell apart in the sauce, and I couldn't tell what was sauce and what was meatballs. The only flavor that came across was fennel. Why any meatball should be so fennel-forward strikes me as bizarre. We got what we thought were pretty basic things, and they were fails. If an Italian place can't make a decent chicken parm sandwich nor a decent meatball, that says something. If you go, try the pinsa.

    Photos
    Heroic Italian - Inside counter

    Inside counter

    Heroic Italian - Come enjoy an OMG on the patio in the sun before the next storm hits! An organic Italian soda pairs nicely as does a glass of wine.

    Come enjoy an OMG on the patio in the sun before the next storm hits! An organic Italian soda pairs nicely as does a glass of wine.

    Heroic Italian - Calabrian Shrimp! Wild Gulf of Mexico shrimp roasted with brown butter sage, garlic, lemon juice & Calabrian Chilies ..Comes with crostini

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    Calabrian Shrimp! Wild Gulf of Mexico shrimp roasted with brown butter sage, garlic, lemon juice & Calabrian Chilies ..Comes with crostini

    Hotbird - comfortfood - Updated September 2026

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