Mouthwatering Soul Food in Oakland

Lizettas Southern Soul Food

★★★☆☆ 3 (20)

"Food is amazing! Service is excellent & friendly! I love the food! Everything we've tasted has been absolutely delicious. My favorite being gumbo & jambalaya! Hardy portions at a great price! Check them out, you'll keep coming back! Can't wait for the restaurant to open!"

Chef Smelly's

★★★★☆ 3.8 (608) • $$$

"I had heard of Chef Smelly but, did not get a chance to try his food until a friend of mine was coming from out of town and I decided to take her there. The food, service and ambience were all excellent! We both had fried fish combos and it was cooked perfectly. The wait staff were very professional and on top of it. I did note that they closed at 9 and we did not get there until after 8 so, we were still eating after they were trying to close. They were gracious and patient and never said anything that made us feel rushed, although, they did start putting chairs up on vacated tables while guests still ate. That made me try to hurry up. I left my sweater in the restaurant and the hostess ran after me (I was a block away) to give it to me. The great attitudes and service were exceptional!"

Firechikz

★★★★☆ 4 (62) • $$

"i love a good chicken sandwich and this place exceeds that, the chicken was seasoned perfectly and it was so juicy i'd say this is top 2 chicken sandwiches I've ever had. on top of that the service is great and the owners so nice. they have a bunch of seating outside which was really convenient! oh and they have stuffed churros, they taste so good make sure to get some when you go"

Home Of Chicken And Waffles

★★★★☆ 3.5 • $$

"Everything was a TEN!!!! I've been wanting to try this place for awhile. Ma and I decided to get a late lunch on a Saturday. The place is sort of small, but it was only about a 5 minute wait for a table. There's a full bar with seating and bigger tables for larger parties as well. I have to sayyyyy. THE ENTIRE STAFF AIMS TO PLEASE! Everyone was so warm & welcoming. Chris made sure we had everything we needed and was super friendly. Okay so for food we got:2 chicken wings with a waffle , Mac and cheese, greens, and yams. Literally all delicious. The fried chicken was some of the best I've ever had , the Mac & cheese tasted like my cousins who makes it every year for thanksgiving because it's bomb, and the greens were fresh. The yams were perfection. Perfectly sweetened. This is probably the best meal Ma & I had during her visit to California (and she was here visiting me for 2 weeks). What I appreciated is that all of the food came out HOT and ready to eat. Also the prices are fair. Next time i have to try the peach cobbler, I will def be back. Make sure you check this spot out. I have to shout out to whoever's playlist was on. They were playing old school r&b and afrobeats. My fav."

Kenny's Heart & Soul

★★★★☆ 4.2 (108) • $$

"Cute little truck with big personality and a surprisingly generous sized vegetarian menu. I dig. I got to try Kenny's Heart & Soul after a visit to the Alameda Antiques Faire and a quick jaunt over to Faction Brewing Company next door for some beer and a stationary restroom. The line had about 4 people in front of me and lots more waiting for there food, which at that time was running about 15-20 minutes out per order. Seems lone but that's only a few minutes than it takes to wait in line for a beer at Faction so it actually works out perfectly. My friend got the fried chicken sandwich and I got the the bbq tofu sandwich, fries, potato salad, mac & cheese, and the peach cobbler. What? I was hungry. Together we ended up finishing everything less a few bites of the cobbler, which contained surprisingly few peaches. The BBQ tofu sandwich was really well done, the fries hit the spot though I wished they had pump ketchup or bottles instead of those little annoying packets. Potato salad was solid and the mac and cheese was good, too, albeit a little oily and pooling at the bottom the the paper tray. Our order for 2 people and generous amounts of food and no drinks with tip was around $55ish and pretty reasonable for how large the portions are."

Jusla Eats

★★★★★ 4.9 (23)

"Jusla Eats is maybe the new pop-up, definitely a catering spot, located in the classic Flora spot that closed last year and then became Palmetto, which also closed. Offering Cajun/southern-influenced cuisine, and a rotating menu, it adds some much needed life into a spot that has been hurt over Covid, but also may hurt some locals as well.I had just dropped off my bike to get fixed on 19th and walking past the closed and being updated Duende, I saw new signs outside what I still thought was Flora until a helpful woman popped out and gave me the run down: the chef, Lala Harrison is making some new Cajun and Southern food, which was evident by the menu. It was interesting as it isn't split between lunch and dinner yet, with Steak Frites and Crab Boil listed on the menu above a fried catfish poboy and a fried chicken sandwich.I had been craving Masabaga, which is still figuring out if they want to be open for lunch or not, and their loss was Jusla's gain. I asked the others in line what they had ordered before and it sounds like we all just showed up. I ended up going with the very affordable and big cornbread and fried chicken sandwich.Now fried chicken is in overabundance in Uptown Oakland. In less than a mile radius you have World Famous Hotboys, Gus's World Famous Chicken, Catered 2 U, Krispy Krunchy Chicken, Popeyes, The Organic Coup, Quick Bite, Aburaya, Hopscotch, Sam's Crispy Chicken, Miss Ollie's, & Brown Sugar Kitchen, and that doesn't include spots that have fried chicken like Bhugay's, Belly, Taiwan Bento, Ike's and even Luka's has a fried chicken sandwich. That's a lot of competition, so you need to stand out. The chicken sandwich was good, but wouldn't say it is the best in the area. But her other items help. A Taco Tuesday night featuring burritos, enchiladas, and southern fusion tacos sounds interesting and I'm going to assume better than Xolo. The crab and garlic noodles look great, the lobster and pineapple fried rice dishes seem to give Trap Kitchen a run for their money (and seriously, what schmuck is ordering a $40 pineapple fried rice bowl?), so I feel they can carve themselves out a niche, but may be ahead of the curve when it comes to Uptown reopening. I can see Jusla innovating and evolving to stay in the area, and will support the changes. Hopefully they are the first of the new area and hopefully drive more support to the other spots in the area too."

Clandestina Cocina

★★★★☆ 4.3 (6)

"The most delicious Cuban food. I enjoyed some ropa vieja sliders and pork Tostones at their pop up at First Friday in Gilman. They both melted in my mouth. Fresh, colorful and savory food. It was a bit of a wait to get the food because of the crowds but well worth the wait. Had a chance to also talk to the owner about how there is minimal Cuban food in the area. Can't wait to eat more of their food at the next pop up. Yum!"

Stay Gold Deli

★★★★☆ 3.8 (325) • $$

"I am always looking for a new barbecue place to try and was happy to run across Stay Gold here on Yelp. Located on a corner, the inside is roommate with both tables and some bar seating. The patio outback has plenty of picnic tables to spread out and enjoy the fresh air.There is an extensive menu, making it difficult decision what to choose first. I figured starting with the basics was a good way to go and order the beef brisket sandwich with a side of beans. The food arrived promptly and I must say, the sandwich was enormous with plenty of meat and a good mix of coleslaw and pickles. The pimento cheese was a nice addition. The bread roll held up very well, keeping everything together until the last bite. The beans had a good flavor, with just a slight bit of spice. I wish there were more beans in the mix, but overall it delivered on flavor.Working that day was Darren, showing positive vibes, enthusiastic service, and some good looks. Stay Gold also has a good selection of beers on tap, as well as bottles and cans; certainly enough options for most to enjoy a cold drink with their meal. Stay Gold is definitely worth a repeat to explore other items on the menu."

Bootstrapper

★★★★☆ 3.7 (40) • $$

"The food definitely makes up for the lack of appeal of the place and it being in the middle of the "Hood" of South Berkeley.My husband and I were craving some Soul Food and our favorite spot, Souls, in East Oakland was closed. We looked up this place and wanted to put what the reviews said about this place to the test. So we drove from Hayward to Berkeley to try it out.We arrived and to our dismay, they did not accept Visa, MC or ATM. In my Mr. Brown's voice, "Where they do that at?" So we had to drive to Shattack to the ATM. That and the location cost them a star.When we returned, I ordered the chicken wings, mac n cheese, yams, veggies and cornbread. My husband ordered the catfish with all of the same sides.With the first bite, I forgot all about the drive to the ATM and the place being in the middle of the "Hood". I was in pure Southern Comfort!!! All I needed was a little bit of sunshine, a porch with a sun umbrella and a glass of ice cold ice tea and lemonade!I am very loyal to my favorite places such as Souls. But in this case, I have to sneak back at least 10 more times. LOL!!!"

Y’S Choice

★★★★☆ 4.1 (161)

"I've been going to y for over a few years and everything she cooks is from the heart !!! Home made fresh cooking !! Support your local owned woman business!!! EVERYTHING is a hit !!"

Big Momma's Kitchen

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (99) • $$

"This southern soul food spot on a corner of International Boulevard is hot, new, and definitely worth trying. If the exterior painting and design don't grab your attention, just wait until you get inside. With all of the tables away due to shelter in place, you have a better view of the walls (pictures attached) that show celebrities from Oakland. In addition to the cool vibe, the food was delicious and hit the spot. I had the chicken and shrimp combo, which is just enough for two people when you take into account the sides. Make sure to add their lemon and hot sauces to the chicken; it's basically a palette waiting for these sauces to bring it to life. I'm sure you'll find a combination that you enjoy.I recommend eating it fresh, because some of the sides (like the fries) can get a bit cold if you don't eat them right away. Overall it was a very satisfactory meal at a reasonable price (around $25), so I'll definitely return.Bonus: if you're nice you might get some Kool-Aid on the house!"

Aunt Bill's Soul Food Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (97)

"Came on a weekday. They were doing counter service (order at the counter) and to go orders. the staff was friendly and helpful. I liked how there are real family pictures on the walls. It adds a personal touch. I ordered the four wing meal which came with cornbread and two sides. I got mac n cheese and collared greens with smoked turkey in it. The cornbread is a big portion and tastes moist. It's sweet, bit not too much. The fried chicken was perfect and was not salty like other places I have tried. The mac n cheese was really cheesy and not dry. I also ordered a kool aid. It was the purple one which is my favorite. The taste of kool aid transported me back to memories of when I was a kid. My brother ordered oxtails and they were scrumptious! It was a large portion and I can't wait to order that next time! The quality of the food here was excellent. You must try if u like soul food."

Ribs N Things

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (5)

"For a food truck, I really loved their hot links and peach cobbler! They have a new location now and hope to buy the same items next time!"

Bojax Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.6 (46) • $$

"First of all, this is a black owned business so already I am enthused to show my support and love on a service that provides positive representation for minorities and caters to its community at the same time. Secondly, for it to be a one man show, the owner and operator of this restaurant does a pretty damn good job of taking and making orders all on his own. Both online and in person. He makes phenomenal oxtails. I got chicken wings this time and loved them. Unfortunately I do not like the fact that he doesn't have regular plain cornbread because I prefer mine without the jalopeños, however the chicken and macaroni are always very tasty. You can eat inside the dining area if you wish, but I chose to go eat in the car so I could be as messy as I wanted with a little privacy. I tore my plate down as quickly as I got it so there were no leftovers but I'm not upset. I was full and happy."

Mahogany Soul Food

★★★★☆ 3.9 (16)

"Food Let's start out with 2 things you need to know... they have Crystal hot sauce and you'll wait a hot minute (or 20) for your food... that means you're in for a home-cooked soul food treat!!To be fair, we were there during a pretty busy time of Saturday night to go orders. As we sat watching order after order come in and to-go bags go out, we just knew it was going to be worth the wait! Oh man!!! It was SO GOOD!!!- I had the pork chop plate (it comes with corn bread & 2 sides of your choice). My chop was beautifully prepared (lightly battered and juicy). It was so good, I left that bone clean! My sides (greens and red beans & rice) and the cornbread were yummy companions to that beautiful chop.- My wife had the veggie plate (3 sides) and added an extra because it all sounded so good! Her greens, mashed potatoes, cabbage, and mac 'n cheese were all SO GOOD! - I ordered the Salted Caramel Banana Pudding. It came before dinner but I was afraid to fill up and miss out on the pork chops. I'll eat it tomorrow and let Y'all know.For the record, after the food showed up, our table was pretty quiet. LOLThey offer canned sodas, homemade sweet tea, Kool Aide, hot tea, and water. Customer Service They get 3 stars for customer service, for several reasons:- Since it was our first time there, it was unclear if it was a seat yourself, order at the counter, etc. - It appeared there was only one chef & one person on the register working while we were there. - The cashier seemed overwhelmed between the to-go orders, DoorDash orders, and the 1 or 2 of us dining in.- When we asked questions about the menu and desserts, the cashier was non-descriptive.- Our refrigerated dessert came out 15 minutes before the food. Overall, the vibe was set for people to hang out while they waited for to-go orders. Totally worth the wait though!!!!"

Burdell

★★★★☆ 3.8 (210)

"Trying to ignore the hype, my friends and I and headed over on a Friday night. We were greeted warmly by staff who seated us in the clean, uncluttered space. We then proceeded to order drinks and a few starters, including the beet salad, the shrimp, and rice grits. Holy wow, Batman. The dishes were not just beautifully crafted and plated, but were exceptionally tasty and all very unique in their own way. I enjoyed how everything was served in homestyle dishware similar to the type I grew up with. For entrées, we ordered the mushrooms and brussels, the cod, the duck, and the cornbread on the side. If there was any weak point of the meal, it was the cod: it was probably the least least "punchy"-- good fish, by all means, but the rest of the dishes were so unique, this one felt the most standard and expected. Also, as someone who has not had great experiences with duck, I was blown away by the duck dish. It was an amazing texture and was I was done perfectly. I would come back and eat that duck every week if I could afford it. Moreover, the staff was very friendly when I didn't enjoy one of the cocktails and continued to provide impeccable service all night. I will definitely be back when I need a night of indulgence."

Korner’s Roll & Bowl

★★★★★ 4.8 (42) • $$

"YAY finally a Korean restaurant near work. One of my coworkers had brought me some of the spicy pork when they first opened and I was excited to finally make it there for takeout. Place is located in the Safeway parking lot. I was taking my food to go, and it appears that you ordered from the counter and then take a seat. Place is a small family run restaurant with friendly yet reserved folks. The complementary udon soup was simple yet surprisingly good with a broth that tasted like miso soup. I ate my spicy pork with the noodles.When I first had the spicy pork, it had a nice spice to it today it wasn't spicy at all, i'm glad I had asked for some hot sauce, which turned out to be Chinese chili paste. Previously, I haven't been the biggest fan of Bimpap but this bimpap was very good. Lots of crunchy vegetables and a piece of ham along with imitation crab. Salad is spring mix with an orange dressing and the bite sized gyoza seemed homemade. I could've easily eaten half a dozen, make that a dozen! For the lunch specials you get a lot of variety, portion size is on the smaller side and I easily polished off the entire lunch. They're still offering the 10% off opening special. With the discount, the spicy pork lunch came out to $17."

Time-out!

★★★★★ 4.7 (10)

"I really wasn't expecting to find my favorite fish and chips spot tucked away in the back of a neighborhood market but that's exactly what happened. I was referred by a coworker to the green market down the street with steak fries and fish that where "hecka good" I decided it was worth a try. The brother manning the shop was quick to pick up the phone when I called to make sure they where open as it was 9:30 AM and he took my order over the phone. Great attitude and friendly service he told me it would be ready in 10 mins. Got down there in 7 mins and the guy was super friendly hooked me up with a free banana and told me to grab a drink on the house. I was t shocked when I saw how much food i had gotten he handed me what felt like 4lbs of food in a to go box. I felt reassured about the cleanliness after observing the stainless steel appliances state of the art cooking equipment and preparation area. His setup was Fantastic and the service and taste was on point! Give time out a try if your in Oakland."

Chick & Tea Taiwanese Soul Food

★★★★☆ 3.7 (75) • $$

"Solid Taiwanese fast food in Rose Pavilion. We stopped by for dinner on Christmas as our first choice for Chinese food was overcrowded with an hour plus wait. Glad we did. This is a small establishment with 5 indoor tables and 3 outdoor tables, and one orders and pays on a touch screen. We ordered a couple of bento boxes and a few assorted appetizers, which were ready in less than 10 minutes. My favorites were the popcorn chicken and the grilled squid. The ladies enjoyed the condensed milk bun, taro balls and squid balls. The bento boxes were good too. Bill was less than $100 before tip. Service was friendly. Will be back to try other options."

Scend's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (179) • $$

"For years, I passed this location up and I've always wanted to stop and give them a try. in February my husband and I stopped by and I ordered the fried chicken wing meal with a side of red beans and rice and collards. My husband went with the oxtails over rice and gravy. My honest opinion is that the food lacked salt and seasoning, and I am someone who does not add a lot of salt to my food. The chicken and snapper were cooked to perfection as were the oxtails, but they needed a little bit of salt. I have the same opinion for the sides. Everything is made with love by the hands of hard-working people and I recommend you come and give it a try and form your own opinion."

Family House of Fish and Poultry

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (280) • $$

"I was craving fish so bad today and my husband reminded me that hofap is now on doordash..that was an immediate yes for me and for us. I've eaten at this establishment on and off for many years and just like many years ago as of today the food is and always will be A-1. Fish crispy hot and fresh and so was the fries. This is my second time around with DoorDash and it will not be my last."

Southern Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (652) • $$

"All I can say is: the short ribs are to die for! Love their fried chicken wings and they make an excellent peach cobbler. If you don't mind a wait, the food is well worth it. The parking in the area is hard to find. Nice place that is always clean, and, The service is always great."

Sistas Soul Food Kafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (261) • $$

"Feels like home when you go there. Love the catfish, greens and sweet green beans/potatoes. Very nice family business."

V'Maries Soul Food

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"V'Maries has great food prepared by culinary artist Necole, who's food is certified full of flavor and love."

523southernhalal Bbq

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (14)

"Met this food vendor at the roots black entrepreneur fair today in Sobrante Park. And oh my goodness, thee BEST $25 I spent on a 2 way combo for halal BBQ. I just ate 1/4 of my plate and I am already FULL. It's soooo good! Literally I have enough on this plate to last me for dinner and my work lunch tomorrow. Thank you sooo much! Definitely satisfied my BBQ craving"

Noonie's Place

★★★★★ 4.5 (78)

"Food, service and staff are very nice. I can't wait to return. Had the pork chop sandwich and it was delish. I luv me a good sandwich. Hotlink sandwich is next.Spoke with the owners as well and they're awesome!!"

Soulidified2 Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (30)

"Fantastic food, Fantastic Customer service. Black owned and operated. I just really wish they were open more."

Lois the Pie Queen

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"My wife and I went for a late breakfast today. Great! The food was great, the people were friendly, and it does have a good feeling of having been around for a while. I will go back, for sure. Among many things, love that they serve grits."

Pierre Pierre

★★★★☆ 4.1 (174) • $$$

"Despite the mixed reviews, my boyfriend and I really wanted to check this place out and we came prepared knowing that the service could be hit or miss. First impression ... you walk in and immediately see the half circle bar and a wall lined with couches. A cute and vibey area to wait before being seated - they also had a DJ the Friday night we went. Despite having a reservation we had to wait a good 15-20 minutes to get seated. Once seated at the table, I was surprised that the menus looked like a school craft project ... scalloped edges made by those craft scissors ... laminated ... and strangely small. It looked like a dessert menu or an after thought. Service was surprisingly reasonable - food didn't take long at all. But looking at other pictures on yelp, their portions and plating are WILDLY inconsistent. We ordered the steak, Brussel sprouts, surf n turf Mac n cheese, 2 glasses of wine and cheesecake dessert. There wasn't anything to really brag about. Not the best, but definitely not the worst either. Steak was perfectly cooked, my boyfriend really liked the Mac. I wish the Brussel sprouts were on a plate and not a bowl because they eventually lost their crispy fry and became soggy. If I were to come back I'd likely go to the bar with my girls or come after work for a night cap. I say check them out at least once. Show this local business some love. They definitely have some kinks to work out and once they do ... this place has so much potential!"

Touch of Soul

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (743) • $$

"I have been enjoying Touch of Soul for several years, at the former San Pablo location. I finally made it to Touch of Soul at the new(ish) location on Adeline in Emeryville. It was excellent! The food was spot on with all dishes cooked with aplomb. It seemed better than ever. Had the 1/2 fried chicken and it is always sooo good. They do not rely on the batter to make it tasty as too many others do. Their chicken is battened perfectly but it is not the only gem. Skin is always super crispy and the meat cooked to perfection. Big flavor, juicy meat, and really not greasy. My sides were the mac, brussel sprouts and dressing with gravy. Last night the dressing was the stand out. They make it with noticeable sweetness which is the best match with their rich and savory gravy. My only issue with TOS (a personal pet peeve) is they never returned to real plates and actual silverware. All you can get even for dine-in are plastic utensils. However This is meaningless when the food is just that dam goodTOS has always been a delightful group of people and that continues to be the case. They are always so kind and welcoming. I will go eat at places where staff treats me like crap if the food is real good. But at TOS this is never an issue. Just wonderful to eat outstanding fare while feeling like you are with family. (Well, at least with the parts of the family that are chilI, not the ones that are all fucked up and crazy.)TOS FTW!!"

Chef Yeah

★★★★☆ 4.4 (8)

"Best Mac and cheese I've ever had!!! Hit the spot too, had their food parliament. Saved my life. Wish these guys had a restaurant so I can eat here whenever. Only complaint is they had a long line but it was most definitely worth the wait."