Eat Real Festival

Im happy to say I didn't have to miss out on all my fav festivals in the year. Eat Real food festival held at Oakland's Jack london Square was unfortunately cancelled this year as so many other festivals due to Covid-19. This is one of the few fest I volunteer for every year and have so many amazing experiences. I got an email last week notifying me that I could still support in a big way for Eat Real to continue...voila...the take home fest box. What a sweet idea to get all the food you still love and give to the community at the same time.Here is what my box included:Chicharon Fried Pork Rinds with Chili Lime Salt from Jeepney GuyJapanese Fried Chicken from AburayaTake & Bake Chicken and Shrimp Paella from Gerard's PaellaOxtail Taco Kit from alaMarTake & Bake (Frozen) Gumbo Pot Pie from Samara's Southern CreationsSet of 3 Macarons from Shades of Sugar Bakeshop:Mint Watermelon: spearmint, watermelon ganache and sloe ginPeach Melba: vanilla, peach ganache, raspberry and bourbonBanana Foster: cinnamon, banana ganache, caramel and rumHopefully we'll be thru this pandemic soon so we can go back to having a little more fun again...till then....Keep supporting local bay area business!!!

Overdue review!This year was my first time attending the Eat Real Festival. For those who have never been or heard of Eat Real, it is a free event that is a combo of a state fair, food festival, and block party to celebrate good eats, along with bringing awareness to where our food comes from, who grows it, how it is grown, and how to cook it. There were over 50 vendors, and 30 craft beers, wines, cocktails, and nonalcoholic beverages to try! There was also live music and cooking demons, family-friendly activities, and other ticketed culinary experiences.The fiancé and I were able to find street parking nearby, but parking in general around this area is fairly difficult. There were also a lot of people at the event, so unfortunately trying to find a place to sit and eat was challenging. Additionally, lines for some of the food trucks were extremely long. This limited the foods we wanted to try out. Despite all that, the fiancé and I enjoyed the festival as first timers. It was a nice to check out the different vendors and learn about their mission. However, I would take a pass next year.

This is by far one of my favorite Summer festivals.It is the perfect way to put a cap on Summer and try all the new things, old places and everything in between.My sisters, friends and I have attended every Summer for years now and it never fails to disappoint- with 1 exception: in the earlier years everything used to be $5.This is the perfect place to introduce the youth to fun new foods while also enjoying cocktails in the sunshine. I love that there are custom glasses made for cocktails every year but hate that they are so small!Unfortunately, this years festival was waaaaay smaller than prior years and there weren't very many new places to try (that I haven't already been to) but the good Summer vibes and decent prices are all still there. Even though they lost their big sponsor the festival is such a good time and I look forward to going for years to come.

I've been attending the Eat Real Festival since the first one in Jack London Square. The original festival was comprised of Food Trucks versus booths, there were lots of Food Trucks and restaurants that participated. They also had a really good Farmers Market that included more than just produce vendors.The food has always been pricey so you have to spend a decent amount before you're full. The Eat Real Festival seems to be getting smaller but there is still a wide variety of good food and drinks.The best part is the Eat Real Festival is free but the surrounding parking lots are expensive. The Night Market charges for admission and it costs for parking so it gets a bit pricer than the Eat Real Festival after you Kay for everything.

Always such a fun day in Jack London Square! I usually come to check in out every year, this year '18 seemed smaller than I remember. The indoor area was closed compared to last year which was kind of a bummer. Pros: They seemed to have more food vendors but less retail vendors. Parking // street parking was packed so we opted for the event lot parking which came out to 15.00. Eats/freebies-handmade chicken and basil gyoza was a tasty winner for 8.50 -1.00 pickle on a stick // it was a very mild pickle. -Alexandre milk // YAY! Also they had baby chicks! so cute! -Free carrots from Safeway - always a healthy afternoon snack -Cronut for 2.50 - a great deal! it was soo good! -the retail items seemed limited this year - petit pot was back so we got that, there were also artisan tortilla, enchilada sauce, chocolate, date syrup, and a few others Overall // I didn't eat as much as I was expecting, even with the ton of food trucks and stands. But the event is always such a nice atmosphere and it's always so family friendly.

A nice event though not the grand festival I was envisioning. I walked through the whole Festival twice and didn't find too many vendors i was excited about. Jack London Square is a nice spot to walk around though. It's by the water, there's seating, and parking isn't too bad if you get there early enough. They lined the water front with trucks and stalls.Gerard's Paella had the longest line and rightly so. They dished out bowl after bowl of the seafood rice dish pretty quickly. They keep it simple with just some chicken and shrimp. It has a lot of flavor and the best thing i ate at Eat Real. For dessert, Fat Face had some unique and fun popsicle flavors. The mango sticky rice was spot on. Skip: Jeepney Guy, Jackrabbit and PYE. The mac n cheese was awful at Jackrabbit. Zero salt and not worth the $.I came out with a couple Califia single serve coffee bottles, carrots, and a Toyoto sponsored apron. Hah!Great for Easty Bay locals but with so many Off the Grid events in the city, it wasn't worth venturing out.

My favorite time of the year is during the final weekend of summer when Eat Real Festival comes to Jack London Square. It's like magic! Over night abundant loads of food trucks and vendors from all over the Bay Area pop up from nowhere, setting up shops and tents along the Jack London shore line to sell a variety of eat, drinks, and treats to try. Yes you will gain weight!Everything is awesome! Fried foods and exotic spices linger throughout the air from blocks away enticing your senses. So many people walking around with delicious looking plates, cups of vibrant drinks , and things on a stick. The Oakland population doubles and before you know ityou are part of the crowd, becoming friends with everyone, pointing and giving direction on where to get the next delectable treat from.You must try EVERYTHING! It's only in town for three days, so make the most out of them when it's time. Most vendors expect debit and cash. I always take $50-60$ cash to spend as my budget for the day. I usually always spend it all!!

It was a coincidence that we ran into this festival today. Our honest intention for being in Jack London Square was just to see what the area was all about, but surprise surprise...The Eat Real Festival is neat because they have many food/drink/beer/dessert tents as well as tents for food businesses that are handing out free samples. In addition, since the festival is taking place in Oakland, they have some tents promoting the city itself and some service/group tents like that of the Oakland Police.On top of these food tents, of course there are food trucks!Other than eating, you can groove to the music playing in the background or just enjoy the views of the surrounding body of water or the many ships, containers, and dinosaur-looking cranes.Note: Parking is super difficult to find. But they offer public parking in the garage for $15 (kind of expensive).

This is our second year in a row coming to this festival and we always have a blast, filled with good eats, good drinks and fun for the whole family.It's right on the water so even though it's really hot you get a nice breeze and there is plenty of places to seek shade. The food is always so yummy and it's in a great location. Definitely come here on a empty stomach because there is lots of things to chose from. We tried the crab fries, the fried chicken and waffle cupcake, samosas and Korean chicken on a stick and a ice cream that my husband loved - all super yummy and filling. It's great for kids they have a area with bubbles and a clown and my daughter wanted to stay there the wholeDay. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes because your feet will start burning if you don't ( like mine did today ) parking is sort of tough because everything gets filled so fast so you will want to get there early or pay 15$ flat rate for parking. Needless to say we had a great time with our family and will return next year!

Who can resist the urge to "Eat Real"?! Well, I sure in the hell can't! This is my third year in a row attending this festival and it never disappoints! Where else can you find this many amazing food stands with such an enormous variety of different cuisine? This is one of the rare occasions when I wish my stomach was 5 times as large as it is because I just wanna eat everything!!!I attended the festival on Friday evening this year which was a first for me, but I might be making this a routine! The lines weren't that long, and it was fun roaming around Jack London at night. I was even able to find a parking spot that didn't feel like it was a mile away! If you're not a big fan of long lines, heat, and extreme crowds, I would recommend coming on Friday because the weekends are the busiest. I know that not everyone can make it on a Friday, so here are some tips for those who will be coming on the weekend:1) Arrive early! I know this can be hard, but arriving early can make a world of a difference when it comes to the long lines and even the harsh heat. Last year was killer because it was so ridiculously HOT and the lines were just too much. 2) Get food from the popular trucks first! I know waiting in line when you first arrive sucks, but the most popular food stands run out of food the quickest. Stand in line and get what you want first and then you can walk around and enjoy the festivies.3) Wear comfortable shoes! Please don't be worried about trying to be cute while stuffing your face! Wear shoes that you will feel comfortable walking and standing in for a few hours so that you can enjoy your time there pain free. 4) Bring Cash! Some of the food stands now accept cards for payment, but many of them still do not. It's so much easier when you have cash to spend. There's an ATM there, but you'll incur a hefty fee. Don't forget to tip those hardworking people at the stands!5) Stay hydrated. If you can, bring a small bottle of water. All of that walking and eating, especially in the hot sun, can dehydrate you. There are many stands that give out free water but they have been known to run out. 6) Don't be afraid to sample and get food to go! Many of the trucks will allow you sample before you buy. Some of them already have a sample stand, but it's doesn't hurt to ask if you don't see it. If you're full but still want to get something else because your eyes are bigger than your stomach, take it to go! I definitely did this... because I'm a fat ass! 7) If going with a group, buy multiple items and share! This is the best way to try everything without getting full so fast. If going solo or with a small group, you can always find trucks that offer small plates and single items for purchase.8) Have fun and EAT REAL! This is one of the few times where nobody will judge you for being the inner fatty that you are! Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and eat until your tummy explodes!The parking always sucks, the lines can get long, and this year they didn't have as many trucks as usual (hence the 4 star rating). But this is and will always be one of my favorite festivals! Happy eating!