I'm a gym guy who follows a pretty strict diet, so Koja Kitchen's chicken rice bowl is always one…read moreof my go-to orders when I eat out. It's packed with grilled chicken, rice, fresh vegetables, and you can even add an egg for some extra protein. It checks all the boxes for a meal that's filling, nutritious, and still full of flavor. The service has consistently been friendly and efficient, even during busier times. My food has always come out quickly, and the staff has been welcoming whenever I've stopped by. The restaurant itself has a clean, modern, and casual atmosphere that makes it a great spot whether you're grabbing a quick lunch or sitting down to enjoy your meal. Overall, it's one of my favorite places when I want something healthy without sacrificing taste. 10/10 as always.

I like the concept and vibes of this place. Service was a bit slow and we were the only customers…read morethere on a Saturday afternoon... The short rib was tender and had good flavor, and the rice bun was super crispy & yummy. I just wish the koja had more to it....it was just meat and lettuce, but it needed a cold, crunchy, and tart aspect like kimchi or something! The umami fries were not good unfortunately; they were soggy, too saucy, and I wish they layered things instead of dumping everything on top.

Gluten free friends rejoice! You can have char sui!…read more Reunited after 10 long years! That's how long it's been since I've had char sui! I did attempt to make it from scratch once, but that's a story for another time. The chef just recently accommodated their menu so the barbecue items with rice can now be made gluten-free! It was the most succulent pork I've ever had! Both the chicken and the char sui were Michelin level, nice presentation (yes yogurt plate swoosh), in a humble setting, with super nice staff, and so delicious! Be sure to get the green beans too!

KAOKAO Grill is a cozy, casual spot off College Ave serving up Chinese classics with a bit of a BBQ…read moretwist. I ordered a couple of their popular dishes, the KAOKAO Char Siu Set and the Chong Qing Noodles, and both were fantastic. The char siu was so tasty, nicely cooked with most of the fat rendered (a big plus since unrendered fat especially on BBQ is a pet peeve of mine). It had that satisfying chew, a subtle smoky char, and a sweet-savory black bean glaze that tied everything together. The rice and pickled cucumbers on the side were a great balance to the in your face flavors of the pork. The Chong Qing Noodles were another highlight. You can tell the noodles are handmade as they are springy, chewy, and full of texture. The staff actually recommended that I get them uncooked since I was ordering to go, so I could boil them at home for a few minutes to keep the perfect bite and they were totally right. The broth was rich and balanced, with nutty sesame paste, a gentle kick from chili oil, a bit of crunch from peanuts, and some fresh bok choy for contrast. Everything was packed thoughtfully for takeout and still tasted amazing even after a longer drive. Overall, a really pleasant experience with great food, great service, and a place I'll definitely return to next time I find myself around Berkeley!

Solid 4.5/5 Got the…read moresteak and meatball pho. Friendly service, parking in the back, fair price. More of a hole in the wall feel but cleanliness isn't an issue. The pho was good. Broth was hot, noodles not overcooked, clean and beefy (not artificial) broth. I'd happily come back

So it's the 4th of July and my fave pho place is closed. These guys were open...hadn't been in a…read morelong time, and since the last time I was here they've covered the patio which is nice. It used to get super hot outside. The food is pretty good and about the same price as similar establishments on San Pablo. I had the beef pho (I like it without tendon, beef ball, etc) and the broth was great, the noodles bouncy and it came with all the basil, sprouts, jalapeño and citrus I could want. We also got what they call egg rolls which were like imperial rolls in regular egg roll wrappers. They were decent. Daughter got combination bun which she liked a lot. 3 stars cuz I had to use the bathroom which was absolutely horrifying. They have 2 bathrooms. I opened the door to one and had to shut it really fast. I just edited out details because you don't want to read that.

I think I get the concept behind this genuine fast food operation, I.e., ready-made ingredients are…read moreassembled to produce Korean-style bowls as quickly as possible. This might work well in a bustling location full of non-exempt office workers who have strict limits on their lunch hours. However, I decided to try this particular spot and arrived when there was not a single customer. Then a deranged homeless woman came in. Fortunately I was able to dodge her as I was reviewing the giant backlit menu. I didn't think anything about the emptiness of the space until my order was ready. I decided to try the $13.99 Samgyeopal Ssam-jang, which featured grilled pork belly mixed with veggie soybean paste topped with fried onion, roasted seaweed, and sesame oil, all over rice (Photo 7). The bowl was a strange contrast of textures. Flavor wise, there were more misses than hits. The pork belly was overcooked with the chewy meat rendered almost inedible. The rice was weirdly mushy like it was sitting in lukewarm water far too long. The rest of the ingredients were nondescript. Definitely a hard pass on this bowl in the future. The only reason I'm not leaving one star for this business is that I felt bad for the one soft-spoken server who had the temerity to deal with the unrelenting rantings of the homeless woman. FOOD - 1.5 stars...pre-made ingredients kill the real flavors expected from the bowl AMBIANCE - 2 stars...certainly spacious but nothing cozy in here SERVICE - 2 stars...quiet until she had to confront the woman TOTAL - 2 stars...I was left more steamed than simmered RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/3Hv4fBG5La

Came for a quick bite, no wait on a weekday, lots of seating available and service was good…read more Ordered the Korean cheese corndog, which they said takes 5 minutes to cook. They warned "be careful it's very hot", however it was COLD. No cheese pull, no sauces available. $6

First time trying this place. I love eating noodles so it's amazing to see so many different…read moreselection of noodles and sauces on the menu. My family ordered garlic noodles, laksa soup rice noodles, pad see ew, and a recommendation with noodles and Thai plus Malay sauces. The portions were plenty and 5 of us got plenty full and still had some leftovers. The place was clean and had counter service. Food came to our table very quickly as it wasn't crowded at the time. We enjoyed it very much!

After I was introduced to this restaurant, there was no going back. This place has such amazing and…read moredelicious dishes. I was here all the time in college, and I try to go back whenever I can. I genuinely dream about this place. My go to meal is the hokkien noodles with the Thai flavor and chicken. It's also a very good bang for your buck. If I get this meal, I'm eating for the rest of the day. The service is always super quick! Sometimes, there might be a line, but they do a very good job at getting the food out quickly. It is a smaller restaurant ao seating can be limited ơn busier days, but that's bc it's so good, everyone's trying to go. I don't blame them.

My family and I visited Sobo Ramen recently and it was absolutely delicious. The owner came out to…read morepersonally greet us. The menu is curated with creative ideas that just works. This is a great place to relax and refuel with family and friends. Do yourself a favor and order the squid ink curry!

Perfection in all things Ramen is the theme and what I experience every visit…read more What's exciting and new is the Bar is now open. Run don't walk to Sobo Ramen and tell owner Stella I sent you. You will not be disappointed. Enjoy and Ramen On. Tip: don't forget to try out the Cotten Candy machine.

Kitchen Story is my go-to for Korean-fusion brunch in Oakland (and it's on the way home from my…read morekids dentist so always a pit stop)! Kitchen Story nails the Korean-brunch mashup better than anywhere else I've found. The Kitchen Story benedict with millionaires bacon is a standout... crispy sweet and spicy bacon with poached eggs and hollandaise over asparagus and ciabatta toast, plus a side of crispy fried Yukon potatoes. The tornado eggs with galbi fried rice with that glossy brown gravy is another favorite, and the popcorn chicken (yes, served with actual popcorn mixed in) is a fun, addictive appetizer - or my 6yo favorite dish. Don't sleep on the stuffed French toast either, loaded with fresh fruit and a nice hit of powdered sugar. A few practical notes: this place is small and popular, so weekday visits or joining the virtual Yelp waitlist before you arrive is the move if you want to avoid a long wait. They also have a big TV that made watching World Cup games here a great bonus. My favorite detail, though: at the end of the meal they bring your receipt tucked inside a little book instead of just handing you a slip of paper. Such a charming, unexpected touch that makes the whole experience feel more special. Come hungry, come early (or waitlisted), and don't skip dessert-for-breakfast options. Highly recommend.

Amazing food. Called to reserve a table for 10 on a Saturday morning one week in advance. They were…read moreable to accommodate us. Please be aware that there may be people reserved after if you are also reserving a table. We had to leave 1.5 hrs after and they did rush us to get our orders. The food was amazing though. I didn't think any one of us had complaints. We all loved the mango margarita. I particularly enjoyed the tornado omurice, they were also able to sub tofu for beef for my friend with food restrictions.

Flavors, textures and character…read more Thank you for a great lunch experience. The owner's service was wonderful and made it all that more welcoming. Tip: get the Tamarind seasoned fries. Fun added twist to the seasoning.

I went here for the first time recently with my boyfriend. We decided to share a burger, fries with…read moretheir yummy seasoning and a few chive and shrimp dumplings. Everything was very delicious. The burger was actually quite small and we did leave feeling like we could've eaten more food. Maybe we should've gotten two burgers. Just didn't expect it to be that small. Staff is super duper Nice family owned business has been there doing their Asian fusion thing for years. Sounds like they're gonna open a bakery next-door at some point in the near future. I would go back just for their french fries!