Suggestions: *Arrive early or you'll be waiting in a long line. *Cash *Take Bart, parking is available for $5.00 after 5p *Trucks rotate every week *Check it out It's been a while since I've attended an OTG, not SF but Oakland. What trucks were there? ArKi Truck Cupkates Hapa SF Kasa Indian Little Green Cyclo Mayo & Mustard Sanguchon Senor Sisig Seoul on Wheels Twister Truck Whip Out read more

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I'm always hesitant to go to Off the Grid events because sometimes the lines are really unbearable. (Ahem, Fort Mason!) I was pleasantly surprised when I came here around 7 p.m. and the lines didn't look crazy. Right in the middle of the 5-9 p.m. window, I expected it to be insane. Imagine the smile on my face when I was able to snag dinner from my favorite East Bay food truck (GoStreatery) in about twenty minutes AND had my choice of many chairs. Aside from the food trucks and ample chairs, there was a bar set up on the semi-outdoor patio of the OMCA, a live band and DJ on the stage, free crafts for kids, and plenty of restrooms! The BART stop just two short blocks away makes this an easy Friday night activity for those without cars. Not only that, parking nearby was easy and free (after 6pm at a meter) and I was able to wander the Oakland Museum of CA for half price! I'll save my review of the museum for the actual Yelp page, but I left very, very impressed and eager to come back another week. read more

Off the Grid: Lake Merritt at OMCA - Food Trucks Near Me - Oakland, California

Off the grid at this location is so nice. I have attended this event four times now. It is perfect if you are looking for a chill evening with friends or a romantic spunky date night with your lover. The food trucks lines are always packed so you know the food is good. The entertainment is always lively. This event is right next to a museum so if you have children take a stroll and expose them to some interactive art. If im with friends i prefer first fridays but when im looking for a chill vibe i would attend this event as its less crowded. You can get off at lake merit bart station and walk up to this event. Parking can be a hassle but you may get lucky parking at the bart station. read more

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This is the second time I've visited this Off the Grid location. I wish lines weren't so long, and food not so expensive, so I can try more items! I would recommend the fried chicken and donuts, the chicken adobo, and the tender pork belly steamed bao. All the items I've mentioned are from different food trucks. The steamed bao is from The Chairman food truck. Unfortunately, I have forgotten the rest of the food trucks' names. There is street parking available nearby. I recommend arriving at 6 since parking is free then. Lines are long at every truck since the location is so tiny, and they may have backed up orders. Prices are on the higher end for the amount you are paying for, but it is worth the experience. There is live music playing, people dancing, and just an overall warm environment for people to come together, socialize, and unwind after a hectic week. read more

Off the Grid: Lake Merritt at OMCA - Tender pork belly steamed bao from The Chairman food truck - Food Trucks Near Me - Oakland, California

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I went to Off the Grid at OMCA to check out the food trucks & new exhibit. I went Fri 3/15/13 and No Chairman food truck - boo. These I saw: Mayo & Mustard Kasa Sanguchon Peruvian Little Green Cyclo WhipOut! Seoul on Wheels Koja Kitchen Senor Sisig Cupkates - $3 cupcakes. wanted one, didn't want to pay. Twister I tried Little Green Cyclo again. This time got the Chicken banh mi $7 & panna cotta blood orange $4 = $11. chicken was fine, not dry; panna cotta just ok, nothing special, tasted of coconut flavor to me with some reddish sauce. Won't get that dessert again. Saw Oakland Mayor Jean Quan - she took pictures of the crowd sitting on the steps. I took some of her. Then tried out Salsa lesson after 6:30pm. It was fun. Got some Numi Tea sample hot tea & some FREE tea bags. Sweet. Went to the Gift Shop: There was Bay Area Bee Company honey 16oz jar; Almonds $3-$5.50; Burn Baby Burn Hot Sauce, local cookbooks, etc. Saw the new exhibit: Summoning Ghosts: The Art of Hung Liu. It was pretty good, No Photos! We/Customize - now thru 6/2. You can take pics, but it's not famous stuff anyways, just ok. Saw the Art of Glass again & Beth Edwards - both end 3/24. I missed What's Happening Sacramento - ends 3/24, oh well. read more

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There is always something great to eat at this Food Truck gathering. From Vegetarian to Carnivore to Dessert fare there is always something to please everyone's palette. I've been coming to this location of Off The Grid since they opened in January of 2013. I used to work in SF so I was more than familiar with Off The Grid: Civic Center and Off the Grid: UN Plaza. As a result, I was overly excited when I got the email saying there was going to be a new market open Friday evenings in Oakland. My usual go to(s) are: a pork belly steamed bun from Chairman Bao (to start), Sisig Fries from Senor Sisig, Short Rib Koja from Koja Kitchen or Crab Fries from Southern Comfort Kitchen. Every now and again I'll switch it up and get the chicken and waffles from The Waffle Roost. Then there's the days I get lucky and it's warm enough to get some Frozen Kuhsterd and maybe a doughnut too. There's usually plenty of chair adjacent to the trucks, but downstairs past the bumping band and dance floor, seating can be a challenge. There are cleanish bathrooms down there as well a small bar with beers, wine and a few cocktails. It really is a family fun event to be enjoyed by all with an awesome opportunity to explore the museum as well. read more

This one was out of the park! From the location (we went to the one by the Oakland Museum, free parking on the street after 6), to the ambiance (live music, dancing, a great crowd) to the selection... enough trucks to satisfy anyone, but not so many as to overwhelm a noob (are ya listening, Raleigh NC?). Between the four of us we had BBQ chicken (spicy!), Filipino burritos, Indian food, and a wonderful Peruvian lomo saltado (with fried plantains). Yum! No one had any room left for the dessert truck - maybe next time? Oh, and the wonderful folks from OtG were quick to empty the recycle, compost and trash containers. Well done! Off the Grid will certainly become part of my gastronomical routine whenever we visit the East Bay! read more

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I just found out this is every Friday. I just happened to be meeting a friend at Laney and heard the music. It was so live and energetic. The venue was festive and the People were everywhere with smiles and food. The food trucks were gourmet with great looking and smelling food. I was heading for dinner and drinks and was just really checking it out, so I was there for about 30 minutes and didn't grab anything to eat this time. They had performers at the museum, the crowd was into it, and the kids were dancing and having a great time. Some of the performers that performed were a bit dusty in their dancing/pop locking, but the overall experience was really nice. I will make this a goto quick stop on a Fridays in the future. read more

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Fun place to hangout and eat yummy food on a Friday night! I came here with a group of friends around 6:30pm Friday night, and there was a moderate crowd though lines were still relatively short for almost all the food trucks. I counted around 10 trucks selling a variety of Mexican, Chinese, American, Cuban and dessert foods. A friend and I got stuff from 3 food trucks. The first was a combo platter of chicken tenders/wings + tots/fries: super well fried/nongreasy with the most amazing mango habanero sauce! We also got some frozen vanilla custard and a chocolate vanilla creme doughnut. Loved the custard, the doughnut was a but too dense/doughy. If you like the food truck concept, definitely recommend if you're in the Oakland area. It's a smaller food truck event than most places in SF but still a great place to pop by! read more

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Off the Grid is off da hook with those Crab Fries Chicken dumplings from two trucks down were solid. Hella legit food and they switch trucks up biweekly( the dumpling truck was there last Friday) . The dumpling food truck had the freshest shrimp dumplings i've ever had EVER ANYWHERE. Come back dumpling truck wherever you are! I even endured a 10 minute wait cause they said they were still cooking the shrimp. COME BACK DUMPLING TRUCK PLEASE. I will be back next Friday Fosho read more

Off the Grid: Lake Merritt at OMCA - Food Trucks Near Me - Oakland, California

Great evening hangout atmosphere. There's live entertainment (music/performers/etc) outside the OMCA patio area so it gets lively and even fun for kids! Grab a few different types of foods from the different food trucks and take a seat and enjoy! Afterwards, (or even before), you can buy tickets to tour the museum! Very educational and opens your mind to other things outside of our hectic lives! We always split up to grab different items and eat family style! Fun to experience the variety and hang out with your groups. There are lots of food options, and often dessert options as well! It is always a nice cool evening at Off The Grid Lake Merritt! Check the food trucks that are there (they often change): https://offthegrid.com/event/lake-merritt read more

Señor pork sisig Capelos beef brisket Bbq Southern Crab fries Chicken and Waffles read more

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Oakland, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways! Where else can you take a lovely stroll around Lake Merritt and end up at the OMCA, dance bhangra with dozens of diverse adults and children, admire Day of the Dead art and ritual pieces, and eat amazing food truck cuisine? Free art exhibits. We explored the local art of people paying homage to their deceased ancestors and loved ones. We perused the well-edited gift shop and lusted over art pieces, jewelry, and books that we didn't have room in our house for. We took fun Photo Booth pictures for free, wearing funny hats and making kissy faces. Dancing. Each week, OTG features a unique genre of music. Today was Indian Bhangra. Painted ladies wearing silk saris and bangles, donned braided hair and flowers, and led the dance party. It was funny to watch tiny tots and adults of various shapes and colors jump around joyously! I felt alive and free while I danced, too. Hungry, we made our rounds along the food trucks. Garlic and buttery aromas filled the night air. The lines were very long, however, so we decided to walk our hungry stomachs down 0.4 miles to Chinatown. Food truck lines can be quite annoying! Ah well, the art, dancing, and people watching were worth the stop tonight. read more

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#74 The Crème Brule Place at Off the Grid Have you ever tried this place? Okay, it is "mobile" here in my neighborhood on Friday nights, and I do not miss a chance to eat the Crème Brule. My usual is the salted caramel. After our meal at Off the Grid, we ALWAYS stop at the Crème Brule cart before we go home. I think it is right about after we do the "Cupid Shuffle." I absolutely love Oakland, I love Off the Grid, I love the Cupid Shuffle, BUT I really love this Crème Brule cart. Stephani Smiles for Crème Brule ;) read more

Cool place to chill with friends and listen to music after grabbing food and drinks. Lots of food trucks on the street, good food to choose from. OMCA stage with live music and even salsa class with everyone getting up to dance along. Lots of people displaying diversity of Oakland and families too. Best of all, the museum has lots of restrooms available to the public, in case you gotta go after eating or drinking. ;) read more

Off the Grid: Lake Merritt at OMCA - OMCA stage - Food Trucks Near Me - Oakland, California

Really fantastic event with a variety of options. I love the music and neighborhood vibe. Check which food trucks will be there before you go. They're not all within visibility from one another, so you might miss something tasty, especially when lines are long. Website here: https://offthegrid.com/event/lake-merritt There also aren't many options for seating, which turns out to be a big minus for me. Hard to linger around and enjoy the music when there aren't many places to sit. read more

This is such a fantastic, weekly event. My only hesitation in reviewing it is that I'd kind of like to keep it a secret. I'd really like to go back and have it not be super crowded. However, I think it will only get more popular. Which is good for them. I'll deal with it. You can enjoy an adult beverage "downstairs" and then pick up some delicious food truck eats. They have lots of savory and sweet options and plenty of seating to stuff what you bought in your face. Most options are between $5 and $10. They had a super fun band playing soul favorites. Another good thing? It is totally BART-able. I have heard mixed reviews for other Off the Grid events but this one is practically perfect in every way. read more

This was a really fun night, plus it was a nice, warm day, which made for a pleasant evening. Of all the food trucks I tried, the best was probably Little Green Cyclo. I got their truffle oil garlic noodles, which were totally delicious; $9 for the serving I got was kind of pushing it, but the flavors in these noodles made it worth it. Beware though, the line for this truck was one of the longest - I waited about a half an hour to order and get my food. I also tried the Sisig nachos from Senor Sisig's truck, but I have to say that was the most disappointing thing I ate last night. I spent $10 on a bottle of water and some of the blandest nachos I've ever eaten. My friend loved the California burrito she got from their truck, which seemed interesting, but I don't know if I'll be trying any more of their food next time. From Cupkate's I tried the carrot cake cupcake, recommended by the friendly woman in the window, which was moist and delicious. $3 a cupcake, but it's worth it. The salsa dancing in the museum plaza was really nice, and the band playing was very good. I enjoyed sitting with my friends, watching the people dance (there were a lot of people that were surprisingly really good!), and there was a small outdoor firepit for people to get warm as it got later (though there should at least be one more so more people can enjoy it). A pretty good selection of trucks at this Off the Grid, and it's nice to see an event like this make its way to Oakland. I'd definitely make a return trip! read more

I'm surprised I haven't written a review for OTG at OMCA because it's one of my favorite things to do on a Friday night. It's a family-friendly, fun event that will always bring a smile to your face. The food trucks rotate so there's something different each week. You can definitely count on at least one truck with solid treats from custard to cupcakes. Senor Sisig is a favorite of many people so be prepared to wait in line. I believe you'll receive discounted entrance to the OMCA during Off the Grid which is a nice way to get some extra art in your life. Towards the back is either a band or DJ with everyone having a good time dancing. Small kids to grandparents. My favorite part about Off the Grid at OMCA is the diversity. People from all backgrounds come together to eat food, enjoy The Town, and be together. I can't think of anything more Oakland than that. read more

There is nothing greater than entering a party to the sweet tunes of some James Brown. Even better, the site of no hipsters and no lines! The Oakland Museum had the best of the best of food carts in attendance, it seemed like every truck had some flyer up on how they were voted number one food truck some year or the other. One truck selling delicious lumpia even had an article on how they were voted one of 20 best in all of the US of A, which I'm sure might just be a hard title to get. Tonight I opted for a Filipino version of the CA burrito from Senor Sisig. I was sooooo happy to finally try this truck. I discovered it at the Fort Mason Off the Grid location and stood in line for about an hour (it had the longest line of all the food trucks and practically circled the event space, so I knew it had to be good). Then finally when I made it all the way up to the very front (literally one person ahead of me) all of a sudden a person comes out of the truck and crosses off exactly what I wanted from the menu - the CA Sisig Burrito :( It broke my heart in half and I was crushed. So what is a CA Sisg Burrito you ask? Well, it is pretty much is the same as a California burrito with french fries and all however, no steak. You have the option of tofu, chicken or pork. I requested the chicken which tasted like it had been marinated and slow cooked for hours, so moist and tender and especially delicious! I don't know but it may be better than the original. I also got some yummo lavender lemonade from Go Streatery, which was also selling ricotta filled donuts (I'll get those next time). The night would not be complete without the jiving sounds of The Funky Grits, man those cats can play and everyone was gettin down and diggin' it. I was surprised at how few people there were in attendance, so come on out Oakland, just leave your hipster at home. read more

Not a pleasant first time visit--- owing to the rainy weather, methinks. Just a smattering of trucks out,& perhaps equal number of patrons.& we arrived early too! What is a great idea is to visit the museum at 1/2 off prices beforehand, and then grub. There was a dessert truck called Sweet Spot? @ I've now confirmed it to be true-- the Bacon Bacon dude really is friends with Lardo guy up in Portland-- which I tried on Feb 1! read more

If food trucks are your thing, then this is the place for you to go. They have a large line up of food trucks that lines up along the block and around the corner. The lines aren't super long, but they're not short either. I'm not a fan of lines, so I only had enough energy for one truck. This is a fun place with music and other entertainment. Its right off the Lake Merritt Bart station, so its easy to get to. but parking in the area is a little more challenging. We ended up parking about 3 blocks away. There's a lot of seating, but not much in table space. During the event, you're allowed to walk around the museum's ground, and picnic on the lawn inside the museum. So you really don't have to buy food at the trucks, you can bring your own food and drinks in. Inside the museum, they also have several bars that you can buy some alcoholic drinks at. But I didn't buy any, so I don't know what the process is for getting ID-ed each time, or with a wrist band. So bring your picnic blanket and be prepared for a nice evening enjoying the good music, good food and good company. read more

Obviously not as much selection as Fort Mason but still worth it! Lines aren't as long and there was still a good variety to choose from. Koja Kitchen and the Creme Brulee Cart were my favorites. An The Go's garlic noodles were amazing as well. One of the best parts of the night was the entertainment provided by Ensemble Mik Nawooj, the hip-hop orchestra. Plenty of seating and parking was easy since it's free after 6pm. Will definitely come back! read more

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NEEDS MORE TACOS I wish all the food trucks had a taco option. The Lumpia truck did, but I went with lumpia instead. Hmmm, taco creme brulee. Interesting... I'd heard about Off The Grid from friends before but then saw it as a Yelp Event that offered free museum tickets to some responders. We didn't get in for free but all Fridays are half price and that's a steal! The museum above Off The Grid is fabulous. I was surprised more OTG attendees weren't waundering around up stairs!! There were a variety of trucks present. Some were cash only. Some took credit. We stopped and waited patiently in a few of the lines. My favorite item was Casey P.'s grilled cheese with bacon. The bread was killer. Creme brulee was just ok. Falafel was amazing. I wouldve like skinnier lumpia pieces but it was good anyhow. The food/music itself was really fun. We ate first, drank a little, danced and listened to music. A couple songs were led by an instructor (zumba style) and a large group of us danced together. That was super fun. A band played live afterward. A lot of children were present. Some were very close to the booming speakers. This is definitely a family friendly event, but come on parents: where are the ear plugs for your babies? One woman and her newborn actually made me cringe with horror. Wth are you thinking being that close to the speakers?! It was a really, really fun experience overall. Can't wait to attend on another Friday night! I'll prob eat then head to the museum shortly after. Want more time in there than this week! read more

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Off the GRID is one of those things happening in Oakland that really ups the quality of life in an urban neighborhood. I take the whole family, and we stand in line for street food at one of the trucks, in another line for dessert, and then wego do a craft, dance to the live band, socialize with other Oaklanders, and grab a few drinks at the basement bar, or check out museum exhibits. Ive had some amazing food, and met some really nice people. This really helps to increase my sense of community. read more

I came here for the first time with some friends last night and I had a blast. I've only ever gone to the Off the Grid in San Francisco and I can't emphasize enough how much better it is in Oakland where there are 10x less people. There's a pretty solid selection of food trucks here. Of the 10 or so trucks that were there, I ended up getting food from Chairman Bao and dessert at Johnny Doughnuts. Chairman Bao has changed a lot since I've last tried it. Their baked BBQ pork belly bun used to be a lot smaller but now it's pretty much a full size burger. In other words, if you can't see yourself eating two burgers, don't order two baked BBQ pork belly buns haha. $6.75 for a baked, $3.75 for a steamed. Expect the steamed to be a lot smaller, and you'll definitely need to eat two to be full. The best doughnut that I've ever had in my life came from a shop in Portland called Blue Star donuts. However, Johnny's Doughnuts gives Blue Star a run for it's money. The blueberry donut and the lime poppyseed donuts are absolutely *delicious*. Soft, fluffy, just the right amount of sweetness, and no gross oily aftertaste. If you're looking for dessert, skip the frozen custard truck and get a doughnut. read more

One of the best Off the Grid locations! It's located directly across from the OMCA, which always has live music playing on Friday nights. Friday nights are the best nights to go to Of the Grid, and subsequently, the OMCA. It's always a good time here. I think the food trucks present changes occasionally but every time I'm there the creme brulee truck, the Filipino burrito truck, and fried chicken truck is always there. Last time I went, I ordered an oyster po'boy from the Southern Creole food truck and it was superb! ' Lines aren't extraordinarily long and those food truckers really know how to churn out yummy food! read more

Off the Grid made me fall in love with San Francisco even more than I already am. OTG is a fun and lively environment with live music, an enormous ethnic variety of food trucks, and a great drink stand. Bring your friends here and they'll thank you later. All the drinks and food trucks are affordable and delicious, but I come here to celebrate the beginning of the weekend because of the incredible atmosphere and energy: Live music, string lights, heated lamps, all things nice. Portions are a bit small so don't expect to be full, instead go there for the experience! The moscow mule is delicious. The views by Fort Mason are beautiful but it can get windy, so would highly recommend bringing a jacket. read more

Off the Grid: Lake Merritt at OMCA - Curry chicken rice bowl - Food Trucks Near Me - Oakland, California

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TL;DR: A fun event at a California history museum with lots of delicious local food trucks, good drinks, and fun music. Was enticed here by a yelp event, but will probably make this a regular outing. Came directly after work, and was delighted by its proximity to Lake Merrit Bart station (2 short blocks). They cordoned off the block adjacent to the museum so around 10 food trucks could set up and sell their wares. Myself and my girlfriend only hit up two, enjoying some fresh lumpia and a cuban sandwich, but others in our group availed themselves some creme brulee's as well. There were many more trucks we wish we could have gotten to, but my stomach can only fit so much :(. They had a basic bar set up outside, serving a few select cocktails, beers and wines from local vineyards/breweries, and all were priced very reasonable, averaging 5-8 dollars per drink, depending on your poison. As this was our first time, I'm not sure if they rotate the bands or its the same one every time, but that evening they were playing some reggae-ish music that was pretty decent. The museum itself will have to wait for another review, but was pleasantly surprised by the quality and quantity of items on display within. Tickets are half off for the off the grid events, which makes it even better. We didn't get nearly enough time to wander around, and I look forward to going back! read more

Off the Grid: Lake Merritt at OMCA - Food Trucks Near Me - Oakland, California

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I lived near Lake Merritt for 2 months before discovering this food truck event just blocks from my home every Friday night next to the Oakland Museum of CA from 5-9pm, complete with live music. There is a great variety of amazing food trucks, and I've now discovered that they're different every week. More variety! This will be a regular Friday night treat for me. read more

This is a pretty good Off The Grid. Ample space to sit/walk around. Right next to the Oakland Museum and ample street/BART parking. If you'd like to "change" it up a bit and not cook on a Friday night (and the weather is nice) consider stopping by. Not the same "beast" as the Fort Mason OTG, but not a bad one in a pinch! read more

Off the Grid: Lake Merritt at OMCA - Off the Grid! - Food Trucks Near Me - Oakland, California

Cool selection of food trucks on Fridays. I had been worried about the vegan options - there aren't too many, but it's definitely possible if you ask - this is Oakland after all. I ended up getting a mediterrian falafel thing - a bit too spicy, and could have used "something" - but passable. Inside I got an OK ale, and there was a too-loud DJ, but it was a good vibe in any case, and nice just to hang out on a Friday without the pressure of going to a bar. In any case, we did decide to go into the museum. Will definitely go back, but probably not in a hurry - the experience is much improved in summer, when you can hang out in the courtyard and garden too. read more

Off the Grid: Lake Merritt at OMCA - Food Trucks Near Me - Oakland, California

Food trucks and free live music at the lovely OMCA make for a great Friday night dinner. Hop on BART and walk up the block from Lake Merritt station. Pull up a folding chair and choose from the various options. Then dance off what you ate. My daughter recently performed with our beloved Carnaval contigent, SambaFunk. We had a small window of time between the after school/after work rush hour and our call time. We chose the truck with the shortest line and were happily satisifed Do be mindful of leftovers as the museum won't allow food and drink inside. You can't really parade with food boxes in hand so those went in the trash. The free live music events get packed so be aware that your most fabulous dance moves will need to be saved for another venue/time. Otherwise, a fun, family-friendly Friday option. read more