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.

We visited Kitchen Story for a spontaneous Mother's Day brunch. I will say this is a popular brunch…read morespot, so be prepared for a bit of a wait. We arrived shortly after 10am and our wait was just under 30 minutes. The restaurant is cozy (on the smaller side) but has an interesting layout. There's seating both indoors, outside, and upstairs. You may have to squeeze by a few tables to make your way to the restroom. Customer service was friendly and attentive. Pricing for food & drinks was a bit high. Our total for 2 entrees and 2 drinks was $60 before tip. We ordered two drinks (orange juice and an iced mocha) which were provided promptly. The orange juice was a little too sour and my mom had to add some sugar to improve the taste. The iced mocha was good, not too sweet. One thing to note the wait for our food took much longer than expected, and it may have been due to how busy it was. My mom opted to order the salmon yuzu benedict and I got an egg plate (scrambled eggs) with a side green salad. My mom mentioned the potatoes lacking salt but she enjoyed the salmon benedict. I thought the scrambled eggs were good, but slightly bland & needed salt and pepper. The side green salad was alright, but the vinaigrette had a bitter aftertaste. Overall, the meal was pretty good and timing wasn't the best. I'd likely return for brunch on a non-peak day. Definitely recommend joining the yelp waitlist prior to arriving if you can!

The fried chicken was so fresh and delicious. The fried rice was tasty and I didnt feel "heavy"…read moreafter eating it. The service was quick and friendly. We ate in the charming front patio area and enjoyed the beautiful sunny day

Food was good. We ordered the crab pad thai, fresh spring rolls, and the mango sticky rice. Loved…read morethe outdoor patio. Great service.

I'm really on the fence about this review. I love ordering…read moreand getting my food roaring hot right on time, every time. THE FOOD!!! What were we eating before Lin Jai? (Oh yea... we were eating Shen Hua on College - EDWARD COME BACK TO US!!!). If it waddles, quacks and tastes like a duck... Lin Jai seems very Chinese to me (howdy y'all) but they call themselves "Asian Cafe". Who am I to argue, but most dishes I love there seem pretty Chinese to me??!? I don't know where the lights-out super cuminy beef is from (Uyghur, or Mongolian?) and the Singapore/curry noodles (curry perfection) might be from Taiwan. The fish dishes seem to float down from some fishy astral plane... THEY HAVE MU SHU!!! They're fully staffed by people that seem to love their work... Ok, I'm starting to GUSH... Dang it, just get carry out and shut up about it already

Delicious hunan noodles w/shrimp. They give 5 large shrimp very good and large portion for $22…read moretotal. The older guy is so funny and their potstickers are delicious not too doughy the ratio is perfect!!

Tasting Menu are for anniversaries. Arrived here on a Saturday evening. Initially just a few…read morepatrons sat in this cozy interior. But as the night grew later, the room filled each table with diners that the single host, runner, waiter did an excellent job attending to. The vinaigrette with the shaken beef was memorable. The thick slice on the hamachi, while still totally tender like butter was incredible. The bread pudding did not travel well, and separated like an over cooked cobbler, but the chocolate yuzu cake was a hit for breakfast the next morning. Next time I guess I must try the Saucy wings and the short ribs. But it was a generous portion for the Chef's Tasting Menu, and I'd highly recommend exploring the menu that way.

Food / Taste / Portions = B+ Service = A…read moreAmbience = A Solid dinner from start to finish with great value for the money. We'll be back!

Belly has become one of my favorite spots in Oakland, and for some great reasons. The food is…read moreconsistently yummy. Their salads are a standout, especially with the ability to customize your protein. Their fusion twists on burritos, bowls, burgers, and spaghetti are right up my alley. Their drinks and mocktails are a nice touch too. But what really keeps me coming back every Tuesday is Mahjong Night. Alice and the staff have built something genuinely special here; a warm, welcoming community where regulars and newcomers mix easily over tiles and great food. The energy in the room is wonderful, and you can tell the whole team actually cares about the experience they're creating. If you're looking for a neighborhood restaurant with delicious food and real heart, Belly is it. Highly recommend coming for a meal, and even more so for Mahjong Night if that's your thing.

Went here with visiting family this evening. The menu was full of intriguing combinations, and I…read morehad a hard time choosing among them. We got an order of tater tots for the table, which were wonderful with Japanese flavors. I had the two taco plate with steak and eggs. My only problem with the dish was that the tortillas couldn't handle the weight and moisture of the filling and fell apart. The flavors were very nice and I enjoyed the dish very much. My family also enjoyed their meals, most notably my nephew's miso brown butter noodles. Service was very prompt and efficient. The vibe of the place was easygoing and colorful but not fussy or frilly. And the food is reasonably priced as well. There is a lot of wonderful food in this Oakland neighborhood, and I'm not here very often, so it may be a while before I get back to this spot. But I think anyone who enjoys innovative fusion combinations will enjoy this casual eatery. Give it a try!

would like to commend on the high quality of the food and the cleanliness of the establishment…read more Furthermore, your staff members were exceptionally professional and welcoming. Based on this excellent experience, I will certainly recommend your restaurant to others. Thank you for providing such great service.

4 stars $16 Black…read morePepper Tofu with $3 brown rice was: pretty good. I got spicy which was in fact spicy. Oily though; this fell just shy of good enough to eat on repeat, so maybe just shy of 4 stars.

My friend told me great things about this place and it definitely lived up to the hype. The inside…read moreis pretty small and cozy. Despite being quite packed, the servers were attentive for ordering and the food came very quickly. We ordered so many dishes for a great price and everything was packed with flavor. The spicy fish was one of my favorites, and the tom kha was incredibly rich and flavorful. The pork was also super tender. The sampler was probably the standout of the meal; I loved the crispy rice and the cooked sausage in particular. We also tried the angel wings, which were unique. I'd definitely come back to try even more of the menu!

My friends and I stopped by on a Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. looking for a table for four and the…read morewait was around 45 minutes. Between the four of us, we shared a variety of dishes, including their Champa Wings, Nam Kaow, Lao Sausages, Yum Nom Tok, Champa's Fried Rice and Pad Thai. Of these dishes, my favorite was easily the Nam Kaow. This dish had so many layers of flavors and textures. I could honestly eat a whole plate of this myself and be satisfied. Every grain of crispy rice was fried to perfection and there was a wonderful sour and spicy tang throughout each bite. The other dish I really enjoyed was the Lao sausages. These sausages are packed with so many different herbs and spices. The lemongrass flavor was especially prominent. Like the Nam Kaow, this dish also went really well with the fresh mint and lettuce that's provided on the table. There's a good reason why this unassuming Thai and Lao neighborhood restaurant has a line out the door: the food is absolutely delicious. Definitely one of my favorite meals I've had in 2026 -- I can't wait to stop by again.

Amazing food, try the fried chicken bowl. I got a side of cabbage slaw and it was very delicious…read moreand refreshing.

I have decided that the temescal neighborhood is one of my favorite places to eat in Oakland. There…read moreare just so many delicious restaurants here! I have been super excited to try hawking bird, and it did not disappoint. We got the satay chicken salad, curry fried chicken rice bowl, pickles, and the calamansi soda. Satay chicken salad -- very fresh and flavorful. the grilled chicken was very well marinated, and had lots of flavor. It came with a vinaigrette and a yummy peanut dipping sauce on the side. We thought it could use a little more greens, as the portion felt somewhat small. Curry fried chicken bowl -- this was our favorite thing that we got! The curry was flavorful and there was the perfect amount of it over the chicken and rice. There was a healthy portion of fried chicken and rice, which we appreciated. The chicken itself was super crispy and yummy. All of the components went very well together, and we really loved this one! Pickles -- this was just okay to me. the pickled vegetables consisted of assorted veggies including green beans, peppers, and cabbage. The veggies had a slight sweetness to them, but also were spicy! Not my favorite, but still pretty good. Calamansi soda -- honorable mention because I love calamansi and was so excited to see that they had this as an option! If you are a calamansi lover, you definitely enjoy this. it was crisp, refreshing, and had an authentic calamansi flavor. I'd definitely get it again! Overall, we really enjoyed our meal! We thought that the portions were the perfect size for sharing, which we loved. Next time, I'd definitely get the curry rice bowl again because it was so good! The decor was super cute, and the staff were friendly and attentive. If you are craving a chicken dish, we recommend you check this place out!