The grill was soooo good, I dont even know to explain ittttt. I 100% recommend it ., The costumer service was also very good. Huge Shoutout to Justin your the man my guy :) read more

The food here is really good! They only have 2 entree items on the menu, 1 is chicken and the other one is char siu. The pork belly was very tender, and the chicken was cooked well, smoked to perfection. My only feedback is that the pork could be too sweet at times. Overall I like this place and am happy to support a local business! read more

KAOKAO Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

Everything was delicious. The noodles, the eggplant and cucumber salads, the pork belly. Everything. They even made a special off menu lemonade for my toddler. Only downside is that the seating area upstairs has some peeling paint and water stains. It could really use a touch up. But, you came here for the food, not the ambiance. And that food was excellent. read more

We were lucky to have walked into this 4-day old new restaurant with superb BBQ chashao smoked onsite. I have cooked Sichuan sauce at home but his version is definitely much tastier and freshly made! I love both the cucumber and the eggplant salads. Definitely worth your time to give it a try. Good luck to chef Tony! read more

KAOKAO Grill - Restaurant posters - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

If you love char siu you have to visit this spot in the Elmwood neighborhood of Berkeley. So rich and delicious! The pickled cucumbers help give the dish balance and serve as both an acid and palate cleanser to enjoy such a hearty meal. Staff are friendly and accommodating. The space is homey and perfect for a quiet weeknight meal! read more

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

I've been meaning to try this place for awhile and glad it finally happened! I came in on a Sunday afternoon and it wasn't too busy at all, though parking can be tricky in this area. The setting is fairly casual with a simple system, you order first and take a number to a table. By the register, there's an area to pick up your utensils, napkins, and water. There's a decent amount of seating available with there also being a small section upstairs. Eggplant Salad: Solid appetizer option, pretty flavorful with a hint of spice thanks to the chili oil sauce. It is served cold, but I find that it pairs well with the char-siu. Char-siu Rice Bowl: I expected it to be a bit crispier but it was super tender and kind of just melted in your mouth as well. I'm personally not the biggest fan of the bbq sauce, but besides that, I enjoyed it a lot! The cucumbers on the side are a nice touch and I think it was a solid serving of char-siu and the perfect portion size for a nice simple lunch meal. Overall, the staff were really friendly, attentive, and helpful as well. I'd definitely recommend giving this place a try! read more

KAOKAO Grill - Eggplant Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I happened to find this place while browsing Yelp since I wanted to eat near Elmwood and was feeling a new place. It did not disappoint! FOOD - 5 stars - We tried the chicken plates and the cucumber side. The cucumbers were so crisp and the chili oil so tasty. I could've eaten a bucket of it. Super refreshing between bites of everything else. And when the chicken plate arrived, I was shocked. I'd never seen something so nicely plated for $12. Not only was it plated beautifully, it tasted great. A little smoky, very tender chicken, flavorful curry, fluffy rice. Everything was amazing. AMBIANCE - 4 stars - Nothing too impressive, but nothing to complain about given how affordable this place is. The servers were very polite and service was fast. A solid amount of seating too! OVERALL - 5 stars, simply amazing value read more

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

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The first thing I noticed about this restaurant is how amazing it smells~ It's like you're standing in a wood fired backyard smoke out surrounded by friends, family, and sunlight. The cuts of meat are very tender and the presentation of the dishes are superb. Value is strong too! Expect to spend $15-$30 per person here read more

KAOKAO Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Simply superb. Great hole-in-the-wall spot on the North side of College. The chicken and char siu were grilled to perfection - the meat was juicy and perfectly smoky. If you're in the area, definitely stop in. read more

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

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Was looking around the Bay for the best bbq and didn't know I'd find it at a small and lowkey place like this! The char siu pork is out of this world and the eggplant side dish is addiction-worthy. (But you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu.) The staff are super kind and took time to chat with us after we ate. I'll be back as often as possible! read more

One of the things I look forward to most during the special holidays is ordering a whole smoked duck from KAOKAO. I've gotten it twice already and it is absolutely delicious - great smoky flavor and not too salty. Keep an eye out on KAOKAO's Instagram Page for when you can make pre-orders next - you won't want to miss this! read more

Mediocre at best char siu, flavor is passable but the texture and quality of meat is subpar for the price.

Amazing food, especially the charsiu pork! Super friendly and attentive service. Ambiance is pretty basic but it's all about the food! We'll be back!! read more

I rarely come to write these reviews but this business 100% deserves a five star review. Pork is amazing and tastes a lot better than its very affordable price. Chicken is also 10/10. Service is always amazing. A true gem! It's the place I always take out of town visitors and considering how many amazing options we have for food in the east bay that means something! read more

While the food was flavorful, delicious, and tender (and the service was wonderful) the chicken was unfortunately undercooked, and my partner and I suffered a horrible and violent bout of food poisoning the next day. This was the only meal we both had together that day, so we can say with confidence it was KAOKAO. Our stomachs were churning for hours, we were in the bathroom the whole day essentially, and we had to take medication to alleviate the symptoms. The flavors were great! The medical pain afterwards, definitely not. read more

Love their food! Always delicious and everything on the menu is good. Appreciate the ease of ordering on line snd pick up.

Inspired by Lisa K's review, I bookmarked Kao Kao Grill and Nina and I met here for lunch today. She was already seated when I walked in. We discussed what to order. I was interested in the char siu bowl and the chicken bowl Lisa had mentioned, but when we went to order the lovely young woman told us that chicken would not be ready until 2:00, so it may not be part of the lunch offerings. We also ordered an eggplant salad, based on Lisa's mention of it. Nina was concerned about the sodium content and they very kindly brought us a sample so she could taste it. It didn't seem too salty, so we ordered it as is. There are no hot drinks, only cold ones, so Nina had water to drink and I had nothing. This space used to house the Trattoria. There is seating on the ground floor and upstairs. We opted for downstairs seating so as not to have to climb the stairs, but it was pretty cold and a hot cup of tea would have helped. The eggplant salad was served first and soon the char siu bowls, which were warm and fabulous. There was a tasty sauce on the side, which the young woman suggested putting on the rice. We did that and the dish was so, so good, the char siu crispy on the ends and so flavorful. Along w/ the char siu and rice were thinly sliced cucumbers. It made for a wonderful lunch. Neither of us was as excited about the eggplant salad, which was good but not as transcendent as the char siu. We might order one of the other salads to try in the future. There is one gender neutral bathroom downstairs, past the kitchen. The door is unmarked, the bathroom itself is spare but immaculate. The wall on the hallway leading to the bathroom is filled w/ graffiti-like written greetings and well wishes from customers, which I thought was a wonderful touch. read more

Owners were kind and said DoorDash messed up the timing of my pickup order so the food was cold, but I had one bite of the sandwich in the car and couldn't stop eating until I finished it (planned on just tasting until I got home). Even though I was stuffed, I took a taste/bite of the char siu meat platter, and it was amazing too. They offered to heat it up or make me a new one, but no need!!! No photo bc ate it all up too quickly. read more

Outstanding dinner. Get the char siu. I'm a local and regular The cucumber is a winner too read more

Went back today for the first time in quite a while and sad to say the quality definitely isn't what it was. We got the char siu dish and the meat was quite dry burnt and chew with lots of fatty pieces. Hoping it was just an off day but I'm disappointed since this was one of my favorite new spots in Oakland! That said, the smoky flavor was still there, it just reminds me more of pulled pork less char siu. We also got cucumber salad and chickpea curry which had good flavor! Overall decent but nowhere near as good as it was. read more

Kung Hei Fa Choi! Delicious special-order duck smoked over apple and cherry woods. Crispy on the outside, pure luscious indulgence inside. Pairs well with Veuve Clicquot If you like bbq, you gotta try this place, pronto! Exceptional veggie options (particularly the melt-in-your mouth eggplant...and I'm fussy about eggplant). read more

KAOKAO Grill - special order smoked duck - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was picking up food from Humbowl when I walked by this place. The name and little menu attracted me to take a look. Simple menu - only a few items, but that made it all more easy to pick something. I was really looking for a small snack, but something told me to choose the chicken dish. I'm so glad I did because it was really good smoked chicken. Not only did it come with a generous amount of chicken - 2 drumsticks and 2 thighs. This dish was only 12 bucks too! I wasn't expecting the amount of chicken, but what struck me the most was the flavor! It was extremely flavorful - I can't even describe the spices because it was a bit of everything plus some spicy elements. It was in a roasty dark chickpea sauce that complemented the smoked chicken so well. Every bite was divine. I said yum with each bite that probably irritated my hubs while he ate his Humbowl (which I also love dearly). Anyway, I'd love to go back to try more of their dishes. I bet the prices will go up soon as they gain more customers, so hurry! read more

KAOKAO Grill - Chicken plate takeout - best smoked chicken in town! - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Mmm the chicken was cooked perfectly! I also highly recommend the eggplant dish. Everything was delicious and fresh. I can't wait to go back to eat in and try their other dishes. I'm definitely going through all the items on their menu. Solid 10/10! read more

(i never write reviews but this place inspired me!) First, they were so accommodating to my food allergy: I had called in to see if they had anything gluten free (I have celiac's). The chicken was gluten free, but the chef told me if I had called ahead or do next time, I could get the marinade to the pork subbed for a gluten free version because they make it to order from scratch. The chef brought our dishes and remembered my call and told me he'd be more than willing to accommodate in the future. Second, the food was incredible at reasonable prices: I ordered the chicken with chickpea curry and my wife ordered the pork. The plates were plated so beautifully, the chicken spiced perfectly with crispy skin but still very juicy. My wife said the pork was incredible. It looked amazing with perfect carmelized ends and tender inside. I was not expecting this at all because the inside decor was similar to what you'd find in a normal takeout spot. But this place really is a hidden gem. I will be going back as soon as I can. It was like a 5 star experience for takeout prices. I would highly recommend it. Especially if you are not vegetarian! read more

The Char Siu was really delicious and exactly what I expected. Tender, clean, sticky skin with bbq, good fat. If it smelled, had too much fat or was tough, I wouldn't score it well. This meal was just right and would be back if craving a good meat with rice meal. A little expensive but if you pay cash there is a discount. Really tasty and pleased. Thank you! read more

Wow wow KAOKAO! Seriously, some of the most mouth-watering smoked meat I've ever had. My husband and I went here the day after our wedding, exhausted and looking forward to some alone time and good eats. We stumbled upon this gem and are so glad we did. The pork is delectable, the accompanying vegetables a perfect balance to the rich flavors. We can't wait to try the chicken and the breakfast sandwich! Don't sleep on the cucumber salad, it's a perfect companion to the meal. Susan, Randy, and Tony were such a kind, welcoming team. They clearly want to create a homey place where you can enjoy exceptional food and good company--and they're succeeding with flying colors. Seriously, GET TO KAOKAO. read more

Amazing Asian smoked bbq chicken . Very flavorful tangy, spicy sauce and juicy tender chicken meat. The absolute best BBQ chicken . And for $ 6 I had extra chicken pieces. Great lunch . Cucumber and Eggplant are great healthy side dishes. read more

KAOKAO Grill is the latest addition to Elmwood. I was excited to try this place since it's so close to Berkeley and seemed promising and cheap, per an Instagram reel I saw. I ordered the char siu pork bowl (almost $18 -- much pricier than I thought). It's served over rice, with a side of pickled cucumbers and a very enjoyable gravy. The pork was tender and caramelized, but a bit fatty, and it didn't have the sweetness nor redness of char siu I'd grown up eating. Though I enjoyed the bowl, I was left still hungry. For the price, I don't think it's worth it, but I'm glad I tried this place out anyway. read more

I went here with my kids and we thought that it would be normal but when we got there the food was amazing and we LOVED IT and there is only 2 main dishes because of that they are SO GOOD and we recommend the eggplant, chicken, and the pork. In all we loved it and the people were super good and nice read more

Elevated Korean BBQ in an informal restaurant. Delicious and generous amount of food. read more

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

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Holy crap. This place is absolutely a 10 out of 10. PROPER BBQ! Reasonable prices. Honestly I'm shocked it didn't have a line out the door. I'm sure it will soon. We just stumbled upon it by chance and we will definitely be back! read more

Hardcore flavors for a soft opening! My brother got the char siu and said it was great. He got two of the sandwiches to go for the next day! I don't have much else to say about the pork because I don't eat meat. My partner and kids had the cucumber, eggplant, and curry. The curry was a touch too spicy for one kid, but the other kid gobbled it up and asked for more. This is the first curry either has happily eaten (FINALLY), so we're pleased about this progress, though I am a little disappointed I had to share with him because I fully expected him to turn it down. The cucumber was solid and the eggplant... wow. The sauce for the eggplant was garlicky and delicious and full of umami, and I was trying to use the eggplant to sop up the sauce. I would have licked the plate clean if no one was looking. We were told that vegetarians have a lot to look forward to, including house-made tofu and soy milk! What a dream! I have been obsessively checking their social media for updates on this. The service was prompt and attentive, but not overly so. My favorite restaurants are the ones where customers are in charge of getting their own utensils, water, and napkins (I have weird feelings about being served and I don't know why) and this is one of them. They let us write on the wall afterwards, which the kids loved. I usually hate, hate, HATE Asian fusion. Like, why would you do a bunch of things poorly instead of doing one thing really well? After decades of feeling absolute conviction in my antipathy for fusion, KaoKao has finally proved me wrong. Looking forward to great things from this new venture! read more

We tried the two entrees the chicken and pork both were smoked and amazing. We also tried the cucumbers and eggplant definitely did not disappoint. We will be back! read more

The KaoKao Char Siu is addicting! The amazing black bean, shallot and ginger stir fry sauce ladled over - that goodness needs to be sold by the jar! Massive umami flavor which makes you crave for more! Definitely worth a return trip to come back for this, again and again. The KaoKao Chicken is tasty too with a nice chickpea curry sauce. Don't let the small exterior fool you. Step in and make your tummy happy! read more

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Got takeout for our small office during KAOKAO's soft opening. Limited menu (just two main dishes: chicken and pork). Both are delicious. Flavor profiles on the grill are bold and balanced. The spicy cucumber side impressively has not just heat but the specific floral notes of the dried peppers. Service was very friendly if slightly slow (not the best choice if you're in a rush, especially for a larger party). At $12/entree the prices are lower than you'd expect for Jan 2023. Overall a great value and definitely plan to return! read more

MM that pork was smokin! So glad they're in the neighborhood! Have already been back several times since my first visit. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is the best char sui I've ever had in mg forty+ years of life. It's smoked, just so lightly sweetened and ever so perfectly juicy. oMG. My 11 year old son gobbled up my order. Will have to come back four more times his week to satisfy this crave. Thank you for coming to Elmwood read more

This place is such a great neighborhood spot! The char sui is cooked to perfection every time and they always give you a generous portion. Definitely recommend read more

One of my favorite spots in Oakland. Excellent chicken and pork dishes that will leave you full. The owner is incredibly nice and you can tell that they take pride in the quality of their dishes. 100000% worth the wait as you don't want to rush perfection. We bring our friends here when they're visiting from out of town and they always want to come back the next time they're in town. read more

Dayum! That was yummy! We are always looking for a place to eat after a Berkeley Playhouse show (go now if you haven't been). This place is 5 days old and had 6 five star reviews so we walked down and were not disappointed. Small, perfect menu and everything we tried was delightful. My only regret is not ordering the cucumber salad (we tried everything else). The house Strawberry Lemonade was just right/not too sweet and the eggplant almost made me cry it was so perfect. The owners/chef were so kind. Run here now before it is so packed you have to wait in line. And sign there wall to prove you tried it in the early days! We will definitely be back. read more

KAOKAO Grill - Chef/Owners - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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