Gum Kuo Restaurant

Gum Kuo in Oakland Chinatown is a great spot for both dine-in and takeout. The staff is friendly and efficient, ensuring quick service even when it's busy. Prices are very reasonable, and the food is excellent across the board.I came here on a colleague's recommendation for their Chinese BBQ, and they were absolutely right. Everything from the roast duck to the cuttlefish was flavorful, well-prepared, and presented nicely. The table had all the essential condiments, including a solid chili oil, and you can request ginger scallion sauce to go with the meats.The shrimp and scrambled egg over rice dish was generously portioned and made well, plus it came with a complimentary milk tea or coffee (hot or iced), which was a nice bonus. The beef chow fun had a good amount of wok hei, making it stand out compared to others I've had in the city.I'll definitely be coming back for a quick and satisfying meal before heading back to the city whenever I am heading back from Oakland area. The restaurant is located within the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, with an attached parking garage and other nearby businesses, creating a convenient and safe environment for dining.

Nostalgic for me to come here for the first time since I was a teen. They don't speak English, not a lick of it and you know that's when the food is going to be amazing. The entrance is cramped with people ordering from the food bar and I should've just asked to be seated instead of waiting because they had no idea what I asked for when it was finally my turn. So I just sat down and ended up eating there instead of takeout like I originally planned. I pointed at the menu or food item to order. I got thousand egg porridge, seafood porridge, pig blood dish and chicken feet. I didn't like that chicken feet, it just wasn't the texture I prefer but there was nothing wrong with the quality. The blood I added to my porridge and it was so good even on its own. The sauce on it is great. Wish they had fish sauce for me to use on the side but not surprised they didn't. Should've ordered some duck to go because it looked so good. This is not a place that's good for people who have no idea what they want and I'd suggest looking up the menu beforehand. This is also not the place where you should expect good service if you can't speak Cantonese/mandarin, they do not give any additional service other than taking and bringing your order in that case. However, this is the place if you want good food at a great price and conveniently right next to the parking lot elevator. I will definitely stop by again.

Gum Kuo Restaurant is one of the many Chinese restaurants in the area; however, it is not my favorite. They serve much the same food as other restaurants, but what is disappointing is their portion size. Their prices are average, yet the portion sizes are smaller than at other restaurants. The crispy pork belly was served on a small plate, barely enough for four people; the same goes for their fried rice. However, the taste and quality of their food are excellent--the sweet and sour chicken was addictive, and their sautéed string beans had a lot of flavor.Customer service was also on the lower end. We were seated in the back, directly next to where most of the employees walked by; however, no one really paid attention to us, even when we tried to call for assistance. Our water was never refilled until the end, and the wait for the check was long. I know that this level of customer service is sometimes typical in authentic Chinese restaurants (which, to me, usually indicates high-quality dishes); however, this restaurant did not meet the same standard as neighboring establishments, which are also very authentic in their own ways.

Came in early on a Saturday morning and scored a table. In the mood for noodles so we had the beef and black bean chow fun (dry), and roast duck and roast pork over rice. It was exactly what we were looking for! If I could, there are at least four other dishes I would order

I came in on a Saturday around 9am. The restaurant was about 20% full. I ordered a duck and wonton noodle soup, a bbq pork rice noodle roll and a balsam pear aka bitter melon with shredded chicken rice noodle. The food came out within 10 minutes. The noodle soup was generous which came with 5 pieces of wonton and 4-5 large pieces of roasted duck. The broth was flavorful and not salty. The rice noodle rolls were not as silky I remembered but were still good. Still a cash only restaurant.

My parents are regulars at this place. The rice noodles are thin and translucent, yet strong and chewy! The pork liver in the rice noodle roll was extra fresh. The pork rice noodle rolls is made with legit quality pork slices and not ground pork. The yellow chives inside each roll is a standard in cantonese rice noodle rolls.We also got the fish porridge. Sorry they devoured half of it before I even got to take a picture. The fish is fresh and comes in huge chunks. We also ordered rice noodle soup with pork and preserved vegetable and fried egg. The noodles are Q Q chewy and the portion is very generous. The hong kong milk tea is classic and standard. We also got a roast duck to-go. The service is no frills, like many other chinese places. The staff are very straight forward. Please order, eat, pay and leave. Parking was easy, as there is a cheap paid garage within this plaza.

Gum Kuo is a fantastic spot for authentic Cantonese food that never disappoints!The staff is incredibly helpful and accommodating. Whether you're dining in or picking up food to go, they're always ready to assist with recommendations or special requests.The Cantonese food here is delicious and full of flavor, especially their roast meats. We make it a point to always buy a roasted duck, and it's consistently packed with rich, savory goodness. The skin is perfectly crispy, and the meat is juicy and tender--just how it should be.What's even better is the wide variety of Cantonese dishes they offer. From traditional soups to rice and noodle dishes, there's something for everyone. Whether you're craving a quick meal or a full spread, Gum Kuo has you covered.If you're in the mood for flavorful, authentic Cantonese cuisine, this is the place to go. Highly recommended!

Wow, I don't know how I skipped a review for this place. This is a OG eatery for my family and I. Yummy everything, come for the delicious food, no frills, sort of place! I recommend the rice rolls, chow fun, roasted duck, bbq pork, roasted pork, Singapore noodles, jook aka porride aka congee (we love the pork and preserved egg), wonton noodle soup, hot meat sauce noodles (my mom's only ordered this at one point). When my grandma was ill years ago, she requested to come here for their rice clay pots. Can always depend on getting comfort food at Gum Kuo.

Yumyumyum! I love a good hk/canton style cafe and this place does it pretty well!I ordered a whole bunch of things.. perhaps my eyes were a bit too big for my stomach I ordered the rice roll with the Chinese donut, the roasted duck and wonton, and the club sandwich (to share, I'm not big back)The rice roll was thick, which may be nice for some people, but I prefer the super thin kind :c but anyway it was good! Wish the donut inside was crispier. You could tell it's been sitting in sauce for a hot minute. The roasted duck and wontons were delicious. Duck had started soaking up the soup, so it was juicy w extra liquid haha. The wontons were a tad toooo salty, but balanced out okay w the soup and everything else. Club sandwich was good, basic. Can't really do wrong with that Overall solid, no frills. Super fair prices and good serving sizes. Service is super quick and efficient too.

Fast service. Portion of the food is okay. Variety of choices and different types of food are on the menu. Roasted chicken, pork spareribs, roasted ducks, etc are popular items. Congees are what most people go for. Try them out. The restaurant is located there for a long time and making name for itself. By the way it could be loud there. Front door is always opened during business hour so no so good to sit in winter.