The char siu bowl was absolutely mind-blowing! What an incredible find in the Berkeley Elmwood area that I will definitely be coming back to. The BBQ smokiness can be smelled around the entire block. My husband and I each ordered a char siu bowl (HUGE portion, by the way), and we savored every bite. The meat was tender, the sauce on the side had an authentic umami taste, and the fat of the pork and caramelized, saucy skin of the pork was to die for. We were incredibly impressed by the quality of the food. Service was fast and friendly, giving the impression of a home kitchen kind of restaurant. We were there for dinner on a weeknight, so I imagine our dishes came out quicker than usual and place wasn't too busy. The spicy cold eggplant was also supremely tasty and hit all of the authentic Chinese spices and flavor. I hope business booms at this location and the local Berkeley people can come back to experience some delicious Asian cuisine. Husband's review: "The best char siu I've had in California." read more

KAOKAO Grill - Kaokao Char Siu - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I'm there every few weeks. The food is the highlight Always bringing new friends to try read more

This place is hard to review. I'd probably put it at a 3.5. While the food was well prepared, the value is a bit off. The char siu was really good and flavorful, and this place is unique: they do char siu and chicken. The plate that rang in at $17+ was mostly rice. Along with a higher price point, the restaurant itself lacks ambiance or any decor. It's def more a quick eat or to-go joint. Not that trendier decor warrants a higher price point, but it helps. The char siu bowl had this beautifully charred sweet pork. It was fatty and delicious, but as highlighted not a lot of it, especially since the limited portion was also very fatty. It was on an ample bed of rice with a very small amount of gravy, accompanied by a limited amount of a delicious pickled cucumber salad. Gimme more gravy! They have a few options of sides for an additional cost, that if added on, would equal an expensive meal. Maybe offer a scoop of the side to offset all that rice and add more value? I left the meal full, but again, I was filled mostly on rice. Staff was super friendly. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

this is the ONLy char siu i like!! flavors and textures are perfect and consistent every time. i also love the chickpea curry. it's so good that i could eat it without rice. love this place... never change read more

Food: 5/5 - everything was SO GOOD!!! My friends and I came here for dinner and it's safe to say we were blown away. We got the cold cucumber salad, kaokao chicken, kaokao char siu, and the char siu sandwich. The chicken was so tender and paired perfectly with the flavorful curry sauce. The sweet glaze on the char siu was delicious too and it didn't feel too fatty and oily. Service: 5/5 - the people are super friendly! They checked in on us frequently and we also had a good chat with the owner! Ambiance: 3.5/5 - I think this is the only lacking area. In the upstairs seating area, it looked like there was still work being done, like unpainted areas etc. The lighting also made it feel a little dingy. TIP: I would recommend adding the $7 for extra meat! It's super worth it especially for the char siu! read more

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This place is small inside and has only two entrees and some other small bites to choose from. Both of the entrees are quite tasty. The curry sauce they use on the chicken is a bit tangy and very rich. The meat is tender. The char sui is a little bit sweet but also really good. The prices are reasonable and it's a no frills type of place. There's a drink that they make that is also really refreshing. The only thing is, if you don't want to smell like BBQ, I recommend doing a to go order. They marinate the meat so it's really fresh tasting. The owner also comes by to see how you like the food which is a nice touch. Check it out if you're in the area or you are craving meat. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Kaokao Char Siu - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The SF Chronicle article https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/fikscue-barbecue-bbq-alameda-18637563.php begins as follows: "The West Coast has emerged as a special breeding ground for new growth in American barbecue, with many enterprising chefs incorporating flavors from their respective heritages to great effect. Here, KaoKao Grill in Berkeley uses wood smoke to tweak Chinese char siu...." Reading it made me want to visit College Avenue as soon as possible. I tried ordering takeout over the weekend, but the possible pickup times kept receding whenever I revisited the website. I concluded that the good move would be to visit the brick and mortar shop at noon in the middle of the week. This plan worked well: I was able to step right up to the register and order a bowl of char siu for consumption on the premises. The cash price for my lunch came out to $23.50, including tax and a very modest tip; if you pay with a credit card, you'll be charged a bit more because of the card companies' processing fees. Waiting for my meal, I quickly understood the receding pickup times -- dishes take long to prepare in part because the meat needs to be reheated in their oven. I had plenty of time to look around the interior; the place is very minimally furnished and seems kind of grungy. There are tables upstairs, but I wanted to stay down on the ground to watch the action. The most natural places to sit seemed to be the front window alcoves, but the alcove I chose had a big bunch of flies, who had made the same decision as me. Moving to the center of the dining area, I left the flies behind. After about 20 minutes, my meal was ready. Served in an attractive bowl, it consisted of a bed of rice, a hefty portion of heavily smoked pork and quite a large number of thin pickle slices. Though I loved all the tastes, I was quite relieved that I wouldn't be due for my annual cholesterol check for another 51 weeks. The meat was very rich (ok, fatty), and also both salty and sweet. (The glaze on top of the barbecue had a sugary crunch to it.) Water is available -- you'll need it! Overall, I loved my Kao lunch. If I lived or worked in this area, I'd come by regularly, though perhaps not super frequently. Once per month would arguably be perfect. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Kaokao Char Siu served "for here" - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here for dinner over the recent atmospheric storm weekend situation. Don't let the modest look of this place deter you. The chicken was juicy, curry sauce delicious and flavorful, all in a healthy size portion. Made two meals out of one order. Friendly service too. Apparently they had a duck offering for the holiday, sadly missed out on it. Pros: No nonsense spot with delicious chicken and rice comfort food. Cons: Kinda hard to park here at times, I recommend walking or taking a ride share. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

Beautiful food with a casual vibe! Been wanting to try this place for a long time and decided to go with a friend. We ordered both main dishes (charsiu & chicken) so we could try a little of both. Also got the eggplant salad because it looked flavorful, and the looks were not deceiving. Everything was really tasty and though I'm usually not a fan of dressed up cuisine, this restaurant really delivered with flavor AND presentation. This is a sit down restaurant, but you order at the counter first with really nice cashiers. The service was quick and the staff was super helpful answering all our questions + gave recommendations. The portions may look small but this was enough to have leftovers between 2 hungry people. They have 2 floors of seating. I'll definitely be back for more! read more

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It's been rare to come across a place that has affordable prices but has exquisite taste. Kao Kao grill is one of those places! Their menu is not big but they do it right for the options they have. We got the chicken and the char siu platter which come at $12 a dish and wow - insanely good! The char, the crisp, the flavor, Oo just everything was so good and I can't wait to be back. I want to try their $5 char siu sandwich next time and all their amazing sides. I hear the eggplant dish is good. Tip: they have spoons and forks readily available but if you want to eat with chopsticks, you just have to ask! read more

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I came to KaoKao for lunch. Delicious food! LOCATION: - Located on College in Elmwood - Free street parking SERVICE: - Order at the counter - There is self-serve water with cups on the first floor - There is seating on the main floor and up the stairs on the second floor FOOD: - KaoKao char siu: the char siu is tender, juicy, and meaty. YUM. I would come back to KaoKao solely for this dish. It comes with rice. - KaoKao chicken: tasty sauce CLEANLINESS: - There were flies on the second floor. Most likely from an open window and limited air flow on the second floor. :( read more

KAOKAO Grill - Kaokao Chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here for lunch and ordered the char siu with cucumber salad. The char siu was delicious, tender, juicy, and had a nice smokey aroma. Paired with the chickpea curry it was a delicious blend of umami. The cold cucumber salad had a delicious chili sauce to pair with it. Not too spicy and a delicious savory finish to it. One of our favorite takes on the famous cold dish. Sadly the chicken was not ready when we went there that day, so we'll have to come back and try that dish. However, given how tasty the other dishes were, I'm definitely coming back! read more

KAOKAO Grill - Cold Cucumber Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Pure comfort in a bowl! I had the char siu, which was well balanced with the pickled cucumbers. Just the right portion to satiate you. This place is pretty casual, and the staff is super friendly. The only thing was that it was quite loud inside (the smoker?) and I did leave with a lingering smoke smell. But all in all, it was still good and I would go back again! read more

KAOKAO Grill - Char Siu - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

Totally forgot to take pictures of the presentation and amount of food but it was definitely worth the stop. If you are in the Berkeley College ave area definitely a must try! The service was on point. Met both the owners and both were super nice and helpful (must try the pork when I visit again) The layout is like a traditional hole in the wall with red on white decor. A second level above for dining. You can smell the grill from the outside so you know it's going down! As for portions I wish there was more but maybe I was just hungry that day. From my own perspective I got tasted of Indian meets Moroccan vibes. Again that's just me. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Kaokao Chicken Kaokao Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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First off I wanted to try this place for a while now . I read about them in an article of best bbq in the bay area . Finally was in the area and went outta the way to get there because the location where they are is always traffic and a lot of bikers and pedestrians. But I digress I got the char sui pork plate and added a side of pork . It was nearly 40 dollars and the portions you actually get aren't very generous for the price. I know great food sometimes can get pretty pricey but for the food I received was some of the driest and shriveled pork I've ever had . The rice was very well cooked but it's rice and enjoyed the cucumber but also it wasn't very much . So I had to go back to Berkeley again the next day so I brought the stuff that wasn't even edible like dog jerky or something similar. And I can say that he replaced the pork that I brought him back but it also was a very small portion and even after speaking with him and assured me I would get a nice piece it was underwhelming to say the least . And no rice or cucumber even though they didn't have too it would have been nice seeing that I did have to come back and it's a 20 minute drive even when you get into Berkeley. For the two times that I have gone I can get better quality char sui without the drive and also expect to wait 15-20 minutes for something that's not really that great . I didn't eat there but the bathroom was very clean . But the dining room and the stairs look like they've seen better days . I really wanted to try the chicken but after these two experiences and combined with the fact they are pretty far into Berkeley it's really not worth the drive or wait . read more

KAOKAO Grill - Kaokao Char Siu pork - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

Two energetic young entrepreneurs ,Tony and Randy ,with tasty Asian fusion recipes make for one winning combination! The newcomer in Berkeley is all about grill. In fact Kao Kao actually means grill in Chinese . And they marinate and grill their chicken and pork to perfection. Make sure you order their two staple salads cucumber ( spicy but worth it!) and eggplant .The place thrives on takeout but has an upstairs and downstairs area for dine it too. read more

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Friendly, unpretentious, delicious. We ordered four dishes- chat did set, friend string beans, chickpea curry and eggplant salad. I was surprised to find the chickpea curry on the menu and that turned out to be my favorite of the four dishes. Charsiu ( bbq pork) didn't have that bright red food coloring. Perfect balance of tenderness and amount of fat. String beans were excellent- we watched the owner stir-fried it. Eggplant was spicy and flavorful. Definitely coming back. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

Stumbled upon this place while walking on College Ave and the smell of the char siu (bbq pork) really attracted me to investigate. First off, the staff members were really friendly and the place has a decent amount of seating since they have two floors. I tried their kaokao sandwich, which had their char siu and it was basically a breakfast sandwich with char siu. It wasn't bad but the cheese was a bit overpowering. Next, I tried their bbq chicken with some type of tomato curry, chickpeas, and yogurt. You can definitely tell that the chicken is not only bbq on the grill but also marinated in some type of bbq sauce. The sauce was really tomatoey but I really enjoyed it together with the rice and chicken in one bite. I don't think I would get full off one plate of the chicken order and one order is about $15. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Kaokao Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Two days later and still thinking about that char siu... I don't usually write reviews but the first bite was so memorable I had to share. Smoky, salty, sweet...dangerously good and I'm already planning my return visit. We got 1 char siu entree with extra meat ($8) and rice and it was enough for us 2. The cucumbers gave a nice tangy balance to the meat -- I would get the cucumber salad as a side next time because I wanted more of it. The staff were lovely too. So excited to try the chicken next time! read more

KAOKAO Grill - Kaokao Char Siu with extra meat ($8) and extra bowl of rice - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place seriously blew my mind - I wish I could give this over 5 stars! Based on the pictures of the food, I had been expecting a nice / fancy restaurant and so was a bit confused when I stepped in and saw it was an order at the counter / fast casual spot with $15 entrees. The food was truly spectacular - I knew right from the cucumber salad appetizer that we were in for a good time :) The char siu and chicken entrees were both incredible - presented artfully / like fine dining and OMG such high quality / delicious / unique food. And at such cheap prices!! Also the service was very attentive despite it being an order at the counter spot. I cannot recommend this spot enough! read more

KAOKAO Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Small menu but the food was great. We got both the chicken plate and the pork bowl. The chicken plate had some sort of curry with yogurt sauce which I was not expecting. The chicken was super tender, falling off the bone. The pork bowl was delicious. The pork was also super tender and the flavor was just amazing. Sweet and salty and umami, everything I want in a pork bowl. Service: you order at a counter and receive a number to place at your table. It did not take that long for the food to come out but since I was hungry it probably felt like a long time. The place is small. There is an upstairs for more seating but very small maybe about 10 tables. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Kaokao Chicken and Kaokao Char Siu - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Delicious! I went over a month ago, and I'm still thinking about how great everything tasted!

Really good char sui, its like a cross between Hawaiian Kalua pork, and Chinese char sui. Had a good ratio of fat/meat, and the seasonings added flavor without overpowering the flavor of the bbq. The chickpea they put on the rice is really tasty too. Appreciate the thinly sliced cucumber, was refreshing to cut through the heaviness of the pork. The sandwich was ok, but I felt like it really needed sauce, otherwise it was a bit dry. Maybe if they had a runny sunny side up egg in there? It's pretty small, but its only about $6. I put a few cucumber and chickpea curry into it and it was awesome. I found free street parking about 2 blocks down. Parking seemed pretty tough in this area. Food took 17 minutes from when I ordered, I was the only person inside. I was there at noon on a Friday, no other customers inside, seemed like most people calling orders in for pickup, which I recommend to beat the wait. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Char sui (extra meat) and the sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

KAOKAO is the best no-frills restaurant I've ever been to. They now have fresh noodle dishes! The shrimp drunken noodles were perfectly cooked with the right level of char on the onions and noodles. The shrimp itself was good, and I like how they're not too salty. The dish as a whole was perfectly balanced in flavors and textures, but some might crave a tad more moisture to finish the dish and complement the firmness of the noodle. Ordered the chicken set again, and it was absolutely perfect--down to the rice texture, temperature of the chicken, and appearance. read more

Came here on a Friday night for takeout seeing that they're the same owners of Huangcheng Noodles by Oakland Chinatown & must say it did not disappoint. I was bummed however they ran out of chicken but hoping to try that next time! Parking: parking can be an issue sometimes so I recommend giving yourself some time to park if eating there. There is street parking available. Food: Char Siu Pork with Rice: this was phenomenal, despite the steeper price it was actually really filling. Contrary to previous reviews, I was too full to finish all of this in one sitting so saved some for the next day which was just as good once heated up in the microwave! I feel the pork was cooked just right, just the right amount of smokiness & not overly sweet bbq. Can't go wrong with that! Eggplant salad: this was a great side dish to share, especially if you're not ordering the extra chickpea curry (which costs $8.50 more), the eggplant salad is flavorful enough that if you feel the char Siu rice is too dry, it'll definitely help with that Cucumber salad: this is very refreshing to a very dense & heavy meal, I really enjoyed the Sichuan flavor it comes with. note: boyfriend and I both got char Siu pork bowls and shared the eggplant and cucumber salad. We felt we ordered too much but luckily we're able to save some leftovers for lunch the next day, you may need to supplement leftovers the next day! I highly recommend this place if you're in the neighborhood :) read more

KAOKAO Grill - Their Kaokao Char Siu is good, even warmed up the next day! - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

Very small, cute restaurant! My partner and I ordered the chicken and cha siu dish, and although it took a while for the food to come, it was very delicious. Both of us preferred the cha siu, but liked the curry on the chicken. The size of each plate was dense and both of us got full. We had a waiter come up and give us water, but I do not expect too much from service as it seems more like a take-out place. Regardless, great food and great service. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Kaokao Chicken Kaokao Char Siu - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

I want to give one million stars! This place was excellent, customer service was perfect, and the food was A M A Z I N G. We ordered the chicken, the sandwich, and the cucumber. It was all delicious, and I 100% recommend this place to anyone in the area. The portions are great, and the plating is beautiful. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Kaokao Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

Had the char siu pork and beef brisket noodles with a friend. Food was good, meat well cooked and noodles chewy. There is an upstairs for additional seating. Looks like made to order and small crew so does take time as others have noted. Price is on the higher side but somewhat expected for the area I think. read more

Thanks you for the wonderful service and great tasting meals We will definitely come again read more

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Just finished consuming pork selection over rice with secret sauce and marinated cucumber. Delicious! Service fantastic Ambiance was not great with Led Zeppelin in background loud. Otherwise delicious and I'll take mine to go hahaha! Please try it's special. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Kaokoa Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Hidden gem alert! Get in here before it blows up and has lines out the door at lunchtime. Might be too late as the breakfast sandwich was sold out today lol. This has been in my weekly rotation for lunch lately. All the meats are slowly smoked in-house over a wood fire which enhances the flavor and tenderness. Expect juicy and smokey delights! The char siu bowl is a must order and the flavors are out of this world. Every bite is like heaven. It's a nice-sized meal and a steal at $13. Their Hong-kong style sandwich with smoked char siu ham, egg, and cheese is also a work of art. Only $5 too! Truly one of the best values in the Bay for such an epic sandwich prepared with love. You'll also get to meet the friendly owners who are making the magic happen and see the passion firsthand. Expect to wait about 10-15 minutes as everything is cooked fresh for you. Trust me, it's worth the wait and more. The interior is pretty bare bones, which you won't care about after you take your first bite. read more

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A friend and I entered KAOKAO on a rainy day not knowing what to expect and played it safe by picking chicken over charsiu pork. But it would be a mistake to call anything playing it safe at KAOKAO! The flavors are unexpected and awesome combinations! I enjoyed the perfect crispiness of the chicken with the curry and rice. We also had the cold starter of eggplant in a mix of mala and tahini/sesame (that's my guess) sauce. And we did end up trying the charsiu pork too and omg that was a big revelation- it was juicy, not too sweet, and not like the typical Cantonese butcher chaosiu I had expected. If you can, try both the charsiu and the chicken! Also shoutout to the wonderful welcoming team - Tony, Susan, and Randy! Looking forward to the next visit! read more

KAOKAO Grill - Chicken with amazing crispy skin - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

From the owners of the Huangcheng Noodle House in Swan Marketplace Oakland, Kaokao grill offers upscale versions of classic Chinese char siu (BBQ). The char-siu are smoked in-house. The setting is casual. You order at the counter, get a number, then grab a table and get your own utensils and cups of water. You would expect the food to arrive in take out containers but in fact it came dressed up and served on aesthetic ceramic plates. We started with the egg plant appetizer, and ordered the char-siu pork, chicken, and the Kaokao sandwich for variety. The eggplant appetizer is a cold dish. Rectangular slices of egg plant were layered on a plate and drizzled with a pleasant and slightly spicy dressing. I describe this as a vegan pork belly as that is what it reminded me of. The chicken was crispy on the outside and very tender on the inside. The chickpea curry was slightly tangy and offered a contrast to the BBQ flavor of the chicken. The char-siu pork was also tender, very tasty and came on a bowl of rice, with thin slices of pickled cucumber, and extra BBQ sauce slathered on the rice. The Kaokao sandwich has few pieces of char-siu pork, and egg scrambled with green onions, and cheese inside an English muffin. This has the making of a great breakfast sandwich. Although the menu at Kaokao is simple, the food isn't. Kaokao made the class Chinese char-siu more accessible to a greater audience. read more

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Our family was blessed yesterday to check out the offerings at KaoKao Grill on College Ave. in Berkeley. If you're craving simple, unpretentious, and utterly delicious food, definitely bookmark and check this place out. This place is sooooo good; their culinary creations are nothing short of perfection! The grilled chicken, with its crispy exterior and tender, juicy interior, is "broke da mouth" ono. It's marinated in yogurt before being grilled over charcoal, and it's served alongside fragrant rice and an amazing chickpea curry. Make sure to request a side of their irresistible yogurt sauce. But that's not all--their rendition of char siu is simply immaculate. I dare say it might be the finest char siu I've ever had. It's a symphony of sweetness, smokiness, charred flavors, and rich fattiness reminiscent of kalua pig. This is not your run-of-the-mill char siu found at local Chinese establishments. Also amazing sides: cucumber and eggplant salad which everyone enjoyed. This place is strictly no frills: kinda cold, hole-in-the-wall dingy with unfinished walls and junky chairs, and the food does take a long time to come, but it's totally worth the wait. What's truly remarkable is that the visionary behind this culinary haven is a mere 24 years old! Second-generation Asian American to boot. If you're interested in his inspiring journey, I highly recommend reading about it here: https://sf.eater.com/2022/10/17/23409456/kaokao-grill-berkeley-new-barbecue-restaurant." Don't forget to sign their wall! If you go see if you can find our signatures! read more

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Small soft opening menu, I hope they expand soon. Eggplant salad was the surprise star. Char siu was a bit too Smokey for me, but the texture was delicious and I'd come back. Cucumber salad was also really yummy. Chicken was good too but idk if it's cause it was white meat pieces I ate or what but I wish it was slightly juicier. I'd come back and hope to see more options soon but the unique dishes great and worthy of a visit. read more

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I dropped by Berkeley today to visit this cute and tasty small restaurant. The food was delicious and plenty as well. After speaking with the owner I found out that they smoke the pork for many hours and their process to get juicy and tender meat is very traditionally Chinese but with a western spin/fusion. I really love it and appreciate the amount of hard work that goes into the dish. To be honest I never really liked Char Siu but found my views changed after visiting this place. Highly recommended, service from Randy and Tony were excellent. I can't wait to come back again. read more

Quite awesome and lots of punchy flavor. On the more adventurous flavors of Chinese cuisine and a bit of fusion. Loved the curry chicken the most. read more

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This place is astonishingly great. Such love and care goes into every dish on the purposefully limited menu, allowing each to rise to perfection. The young owner was there and cooking every time we went. Can't decide whether the grilled chicken or har shu pork is my favorite. Two people should buy one of each and share. The humble surroundings -- you order at the kitchen counter and they bring you the food -- belies what is truly a gem of the Bay Area dining scene. read more

Realized a new spot had opened up in the neighborhood... after scanning some photos, I had high hopes... and so glad my expectations were met and really, exceeded!! My husband and I each had the pork belly plate. The smokiness was truly incredible. I also thought the cucumbers were perfectly seasoned. We also got the chickpea curry and the sauce was simply drinkable. I scooped up every drop and then asked my husband for forgiveness for not sharing the last 7 spoonfuls. Can't wait to come back and try the chicken. Bonus? Tony, Randy and Susan all introduced themselves by the end of the meal. They are all incredibly friendly and kind. We are lucky they have chosen our neighborhood in Elmwood. Stop by soon!! read more

This place is frikin delicious!!! I love their take on chinese Bbq. I had the Char siu over rice and i was so satisfied. It was like a slow smoked pork butt with a sweet sticky Char siu glaze. The meat was tender and had a good fat ratio to balance out the meet. It was melt in your mouth that is a new experience for char siu. It was a Big portion next to a huge scoop of Jasmine rice which was covered with some Black or fermented sauce which was also amazing. Then they hot cucumber pickles, thinly sliced a Nice mellow tang that cut through the sweet savory tender char siu. Cant wait to go try the chicken, this place just on their char siu alone is worth the visit! read more