FOB Kitchen

Amazing food! Love everything on the menu. Service was friendly and attentive. Overall a very good Oakland restaurant. Love the ambience and the design of the restaurant.

So theres 2 ways to look at this place.In a modern all around sense, I would say the sticky wings and the talong was really good and on par with what I expected. The sinigang and adobo were also decent in their own way. In a more traditional filipino sense since Im Filipino, the Sinigang lacked the tanginess and sourness that we expect. The more sour is usually better and because of that I had to deduct the points for that. The Adobo too didnt have the traditional flavor but it was good.The ambiance and service were good so nothing wrong there too.

I've known about this place for a while as they've been featured on social media, newsprints, articles, word-of-mouth, TV shows, YouTube and etc... A few months ago (more like last summer), I took wifey here on a dinner date and didn't tell here where we were going. Funny thing was that as soon as I stepped inside, the bartender was already buttering me up...and it worked. So, I had to order some Red Horse (Philippine malt beer made by San Miguel) to get me started. The chef and owner, Janice Dulce, was busy working and greeting guests from behind and in front of the kitchen. The placed used to be a taqueria as she paid homage by keeping the original sign outside while adding her F.O.B. Kitchen logo. The exterior of the place is vibrant, full of colors and greeneries with vines crawling up the wall. The interior is warm, homey with touches of Philippine artwork. It feels comfortable, and the staff was surely very welcoming.We had the following: Starters/Pulutan - Sticky Wings ($15) coated with Patis (Fish Sauce) Caramel, pickles & cilantro. It was a delightful fried chicken that was well-balanced with tanginess and sweetness. The patis flavor wasn't too overpowering and pleasantly not too salty. It was crispy on the outside and tender inside. Lechon Kawali ($13) thriced cooked pork belly with pickled red onion, Thai chili, soy sauce & lemon. They were crispy but not greasy. The pickled red onion gave it a nice contrast, dipping it in the sauce gave it an umami punch. Of course, the Bartender reminded me to get the "Mang Tomas" sauce as it wouldn't be complete without it.Side Dish/Gulay-Tortang Talong ($13.00 - eggplant omelet, tomato, scallions, soy & banana ketchup dipping sauce (before the ban). Solid dish that was evenly coated with egg that provided a crispy exterior layer mixed with the soft eggplant to give it a nice contrast of texture and flavor.Entrees/Ulam - Sinigang Baboy ($25) tamarind & ginger soup, pork, daikon, bok choy, eggplant, green beans & Thai chili. If you like it sour, this was very sour....in a good way. The sourness comes the tamarind, which is very traditional and definitely did not come in a powder form. It was definitely a strong kick that would clear out your sinuses. The fresh veggies just sapped in all the flavors, and I couldn't stop eating them.Pork Adobo ($20) palm vinegar, soy, garlic, annatto, coconut milk & Thai chili. I have to give this a mix review since the pork was not consistent. There were parts that were dry and parts that were tender. However, their version of adobo was unique as I literally slurping the sauce. It was savory, but it also had sweet notes that reminded me of caramel. I just wished they made a Chicken Adobo version as well as chicken can be easily cooked evenly compared to pork. Dessert/Panghimagas -Turon with Ube Ice Cream (forgot the cost) a nice ending to the dish as the Turon was goldenly fried and the Ube was made with real Ube. It wasn't too sweet, and the ice cream had a great texture of real Ube mixed in. I don't know if they made it inhouse or from a vendor, but I appreciate a good and real Ube when I taste it. Not the fake, purple-colored desserts being appropriated by Trader Joe's. Cold Brew Pandan Coffee ($6). I know, it's not really a dessert, but this was addictively so good that I ordered another and another to go. Now, my only bone to pick with was the side of garlic rice that we ordered. The garlic was nice, but the rice was just way too clumpy. It could've been mixed together more evenly as opposed to getting clumps and chunks that it was almost a cop out. Just my opinion, but they could pay more attention on this one. Don't want to end on a negative note as we truly enjoyed our meal and time here. The service was friendly and professional, especially the Bartender. These were truly some of the best-tasting Filipino dishes we'd have to date, and I know there are other dishes that we wanted to try, but we only have two mouths. They also pay homage to its Oakland roots as evident from the names of the cocktails such as The Town, Blow the Whistle, Feelin' Myself, and Golden State of Mind. Oakland has been getting a bad rap, especially with what happened to their mayor, but it doesn't represent everything about The Town. It's very rich in the diversity in its people and culinary cuisines. There are good people here trying to make it better. Janice Dulce is one of those people. She's a proud Filipina American offering her culture and providing a safe space for people of color with different ethnicities, background and orientation. We must uphold them during these bleak times, and it is what America should be about.

This spot is delicious, fun, beautiful, and queer owned, which is just icing on the cake. My boyfriend took me here and we've gone back several times since. The aesthetic is super fun and interesting. The staff are incredibly kind and are great at offering suggestions on what to order if you're not sure. The first time we went here they had a special with fried chicken on this incredible red hot sauce. The chicken was juicy and tender and super crispy. We also got the lumpia. It was crispy and super tasty. We got the pancit and it was honestly the best pancit I've ever had. The texture, the flavor the freshness it was Chef 's kiss. The spaghetti was so good and not too sweet. It was nice to have pieces of hot dog to curb the sweetness. The fish was crispy and perfectly cooked. It was complimented with a vinegar sauce and the garlic rice which were both excellent. We have gone here 3 times now and look forward to continuing to frequent this restaurant. They also have great cocktails, mocktails and offer catering.

Ordered DoorDash from here after reading a review from MICHILIN GOURMAND. Not a bad place but has one HUGE con which might be important for most diners....So pros first.I ordered arroz caldo, lumpia, Mercado, Sinigang, fried chicken plate.Arroz caldo was good and a great price. I ate it all. One thing I did add was a splash of soy sauce from my pantry to give it a lil extra salty kick.Lumpia was good and I like it was bigger than normal to give you more content inside. Can't really get this recipe wrong!Mercado was good too! Love the tomato flavor and the beef. HOWEVER, for $28 that is a tiny serving. That feeds one person. Look at the picture. Hmm...Fried chicken was good WITH THE SAUCE. Without it, the chicken tasted kind of normal? Like just whatever. Like without the sauce I think KFC chicken tastes better. It did have a good crunch though.Sinigang was good. Classic tangy flavor. However serving size was also small.... And barely any meat in the container. Like what are we doing here guys?So this brings me to the HUGE con.This place is more expensive and gives you less food than Tipunan. Like... WAY less food. I only have this place a go because of MICHILIN Gourmand. But the prices and the lesser amount of food makes it a no go for me.And I'm a traveling healthcare worker who gets a stipend for food for free. I order DoorDash almost every day from different Resteraunts. But I know that cost and content matter to the majority of people so that's my take on it.

Had lunch here on a Saturday around 1pm with a group of 12. Luckily our friends had made a reservation for their birthday lunch so getting seated was easy for us. If you are making a reservation for an other group, just know they won't seat you until your entire party has arrived! The servers and staff were very friendly and attentive. We really enjoyed the food, drinks & atmosphere.Food we tried:- Shanghai Lumpia: Came with about 4 pieces and side of sauce. Really flavorful and was fried perfectly, not too oily. Pair it with some of their housemade hot sauce if you want an extra kick in flavor!- Sticky Wings: Wasn't my favorite because the fish sauce was a bit overpowering in the sauce. If you're a fan of that then this dish is for you!- Lechon Kawali: Thought it was going to be thicker pieces and was surprised to see they were smaller/thinner pieces. Nonetheless it was extra crispy and tasted delicious with the sauce. - Fried Chicken: The breading was nicely seasoned and was fried well. It was crispy on the outside and moist/juicy on the inside. We ordered like 4 plates of this, the server was kind enough to make 2 of them dinner portions.- Adobo Rice: Recommend over the regular rice if you are a big adobo fan! Rice has good amount of adobo sauce and chunks of meat, pairs nicely with the egg it comes with!Great place if you're craving for some Filipino food. Just know that parking can be a bit chaotic during peak hours. Can't wait to come back and try out their other dishes!

A solid 4.5 star restaurant. It's been added to our rotation!We wandered in on a sleepy Wednesday at noon. It wasn't busy at all, and we were seated without a problem. Our hostess was friendly and made sure we knew what all our options were.As a Filipino-American, it can be a tricky business to critique Filipino restaurants. You want something familiar and comforting, but you can't be afraid to let the chefs try something new. FOB Kitchen deftly walks that line. "Silog" is a classic style of Filipino breakfast involving garlic rice, an egg, and one other protein. Having ordered the Tocino Silog breakfast, I was pleased to taste some familiar flavors, but Tocino isn't usually my protein of choice. It can be a bit heavy, and while the longganisa hash was wildly tempting (my husband ordered it), it just wasn't quite what I was looking for. The Adobo fried rice was also a great selection and offered some classic flavors. I'm just bummed that we were all too full to order dessert!Do not mistake me. This place is a fantastic representation of Filipino food and the modern take it can be. I'm just being a slight curmudgeon because I would have liked to see more items on their menu. But I'll also respect that they'll do the items they do offer on their menu very well. If you're unfamiliar with Filipino food, this place will not disappoint you.

We recently dined at FOB Kitchen, a Filipino restaurant located in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood, and overall, it was a flavorful experience.Dishes We Tried: * Shanghai Lumpia: Crispy, bite-sized spring rolls filled with a savory mix of pork and vegetables, paired with a tangy dipping sauce that elevated the dish. Personally, I think there should be more meat. The garlic rice was amazing!!! * Lechon Kawali: The deep-fried pork belly was perfectly crispy on the outside while tender and juicy on the inside. The dipping sauce added just the right tang to balance the richness. * Sticky Wings: Coated in a sweet and sticky glaze with a subtle kick of spice, these wings were indulgent and satisfying. * Sinigang Baboy: A comforting and flavorful tamarind-based pork soup, with tender pork pieces and vegetables. The balance of sour and savory was spot on. * Fried Chicken: While the seasoning was good and the exterior crispy, the chicken was unfortunately overly cooked, making it drier than we would have liked. * Turon (Dessert): The turon was a delightful way to end the meal. The crispy fried wrapper encased sweet caramelized banana and jackfruit and was served with creamy ube ice cream, which paired perfectly. Requested the Ube ice cream to be served on the side. Ambiance:FOB Kitchen offers a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere that reflects Filipino culture. The decor is colorful and thoughtfully designed, creating a warm and lively environment.Service:Unfortunately, the waitstaff were not very attentive, even when the restaurant was not busy. This detracted slightly from the overall experience.Overall Experience:FOB Kitchen delivers authentic and flavorful Filipino cuisine in a relaxed setting. The standout dishes like the Lechon Kawali, Sinigang Baboy, and the turon dessert made the meal memorable. Despite the inattentive service and the overly cooked fried chicken, the kitchen's speed and precision stood out.We recommend FOB Kitchen for those seeking a genuine Filipino dining experience in Oakland--just don't expect exceptional service.

Overall great experience. I came to dinner with my boyfriend having a reservation at 7 pm on a weekend. I came around 6 and they were able to sit me beforehand. Luckily came early because it gets so busy. The place is rather small and seems like a hole in the wall. It's attached to another restaurant so it seems they share the space. There was a line out the door around 7:30-8 pm so be sure to call in for a reservation. We're both filipino so our expectations can be rather high. I loved the sumon it reminded me of how my grandma used to make it in the Philippines. The lechon was airy and crispy and a great portion for an appetizer. Although it is rather normal filipino dishes, the beef steak had a twist to the regular dish. Usually it's thin cut steak sautéed in the sauce but this was a nice thick cut. It was juicy and melts in your mouth. I wish they gave more options for sauces that usually come with the dishes but overall a great meal. It reminds me of home and I suggest if you want a comfort meal come here! Staff and management were great!

I had the pleasure to finally come and enjoy with a few of my friends last night, and like always this place NEVER disappoints. Being in the industry it is so hard to find a place with amazing food, amazing service, and amazing ambience. And it gave all 3. Starting with the music. The music alone will bring anyone back. Such a vibe. The food. THE FOOD. Like cmon. So good. Such good quality and perfect serving sizes. It made me feel like I wasn't in Oakland anymore, I traveled to the Philippines last night. That's how it truly made me feel. The service. Impeccable. I love going to a place that just makes you feel right at home. Truly nothing to complain about. One of the best nights we've had in a long time! What didn't we eat last night?? Pictures are the Sticky wings with this amazing patis carmel sauce, fried chicken skins (which I could've had 5 more plates of), and lechon (thrice cooked pork belly ), for dinner we had the Bangus (whole fried boneless milkfish), tofu and mushroom adobo in this amazing coconut milk and so much flavor. (Probably my favorite) we also had their sinigang, bistek and few sides. Unfortunately I couldn't snap a picture in time for everything before we devoured it all. And don't get me started on dessert. It was all so good. We pretty much got everything on the menu and would go back and do it all over again tonight. Thank you so much for having us, we truly had the best time. I 100% recommend everyone to give this beautiful spot a try. So freaking good! We will be back!