C & M Bistro

If I worked in downtown Oakland, I'd be hard-pressed not to come here for lunch every day. It's not getting much better than 6.35 char siu rice in Chinatown. Speaking Canto definitely helps with interactions, though.The meat isn't too sweet; the texture is fine for me but might not be so for everyone, being a bit chewy. It comes with broccoli, and some char siu juice is ladled over everything. There's a credit card minimum of $20, so the siu yuk with rice and broccoli is generously portioned. The meat could be better, being a bit tough and the crust hard, but, again, can't complain. It meets standards for the Bay.Ovaltine is as expected.

This Cantonese cuisine spot is a hidden gem for anyone who loves flavorful, authentic dishes!The food is consistently good, with every dish showcasing the rich and savory flavors that Cantonese cuisine is known for. Their roasted meats are the star of the menu--perfectly seasoned, juicy, and cooked to perfection. Whether it's the crispy-skinned pork, tender char siu, or succulent roasted duck, every bite is packed with flavor.The staff is incredibly nice and welcoming, making the experience even better. They're attentive and always ready to help with suggestions or customizations.While the menu isn't overwhelming, there are decent choices to satisfy any craving, from classic rice plates to noodle soups. Each dish is prepared with care and delivers on quality and taste.If you're looking for delicious Cantonese roasted meats served with a smile, this is definitely a spot to try!

Nice corner cafe, the elderly seemed to enjoy the generous portions. Chasiu was served in house, wonton soup noodles were a hit, and plenty of seating for an early morning brunch.

The restaurant is located at the heart of Chinatown, right next to the parking pay station. A spot where a lot of locals come to get a quick meal or to chit chat with their friends. There is always a line out the door on the weekends. Food: 3/5 - Food is just decent. I do really like the crispy pork since the crunch on the skin is satisfying to munch on. The cuts that I got were on the fattier side so I wasn't a huge fan. BBQ pork was dry. There are better restaurants in Chinatown that serves similar food. Price: 5/5 - Affordable. A lot of special menu and promotional items so you can usually score a meal around $10-15 per person. Environment: 3/5 - My table was a little sticky and there were food scraps on the floor. The restaurant was also really noisy and crowded. Definitely need to use your outside voice in here. Customer service: 2/5 - Minimal. Waited for 15 minutes and the servers didn't even check in on us to take down our order. Couldn't flag down a waiter so I went to the counter to pay. An automatic 15% tip was included in our bill which I didn't notice until I paid. The party next to us pointed it out before paying and the server said it was a "mistake" and remove the charge from their check. Overall, I would not come again to dine-in since there are so many better restaurants in Chinatown. I might order the roast pork to-go but I definitely will check on the cuts first.

There is always a long line for a reason... they have the BEST crispy pork belly, charsui and roasted duck but it is honestly with the wait! It's located in the heart of Oakland Chinatown. The crispy pork belly is AMAZING. It's so flavorful and crispy. It literally melts in your mouth. The charsui is the perfect amount of sweetness. I'm not honestly a huge fan of duck but I love getting the duck because the skin is so crispy and it's not gamey at all. The food is delicious and the prices are so reasonable!

When we come to Oakland C & M Bistro is one of the places we stop at. They have serve/sell some of my favorite foods like Roasted Pork Belly and BBQ pork so good! The service I am not fan of and I can say that because I have been here more than three times and it's always the same. There's always a line, when it's your turn you gotta have your list ready, and if you don't they'll rush you. People tell me it's the "culture" but I guess I am still not used to it.But I keep coming back because the food is good. The restaurant has a few tables so you can actually sit and eat. The place needs a little TLC but it's okay by me. The price is ok. I haven't notice the price go up that much. It's definitely affordable.

The BBQ Duck was okay, or even good... but not, as some claimed, the "best." W.r.t. claims of it being the "best":"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." - Inigo Montoya :P

C&M is now the best Chinese BBQ spot in Oakland Chinatown with a good sized offering of Chinese deli as well as stir fried items. C&M's popularity is no secret anymore with the lines out the door as soon as they open. Of their most popular is the roasted pork and char siu. Both are done well, with plenty of roasted flavor which are balanced well by the seasoning. Should you choose to dine in, the portions of the rice plates as well as stir fry are above average. Not only that but you also get a good sized bowl of soup with each lunch special order.The service here is no-nonsense. We had plenty of water and tea to start off, but as the crowd grew it became more hectic, although we were able to get everything we needed. If you're ever in Chinatown and craving Chinese BBQ, C&M would be the place to go. Keep in mind the line forms early and a lengthy wait (20+ min) may be unavoidable, but if you have the time, don't hesitate to try!

I was there last month to order a breakfast to go, I got back to the restaurant after 25mins. I was planning to get some change for the tip and stay finish my breakfast, but they told me not allowed and pay the difference. For what?

I was very underwhelmed by my experience here.I stopped by for a quick dinner Wed evening around 5:30. I was planning to get one of their bbq meats, but I noticed they had some hot food as well, so I opted to go for that.For $13.50, you can get a box with rice, steamed broccoli, and 2 dishes of your choice. I chose the beef short rib and pork blood as my two dishes. It was the end of the day, so I thought they might give me some bigger scoops, but portions were only average. I've been to other Cantonese hot bar spots that are much more generous with their servings.I asked if I could quickly eat in the restaurant, and they told me no. There was still 2 groups that were finishing up their meal, so I'm not sure why dine-in was no longer allowed. The lady serving the food was also kinda rude even though I was speaking to her in Cantonese.After getting my food, I sat on one of the benches outside in the plaza to eat. The pork blood was okay, but I didn't like the beef short rib that much as it was a bit tough and overly peppery for my tastes. The steamed broccoli was cold and so dry I couldn't bring myself to finish it.Mediocre food at high prices and bad service. I won't be back.