This review is WAY overdue. How overdue, you ask? It was Ash Wednesday (so, March) and I was looking for a good place to eat dinner; not being able to eat meat on Ash Wednesday means that a lot of my normal go-to's weren't an option, so when I walked past Bare Knuckle for the first time, I was immediately disappointed at the thought of not being able to order a pepperoni pizza. But, taking a look at the menu, the TKO - portabello mushrooms, mozzarella and parmesan, drizzled with truffle oil - sounded pretty darn good, so I decided to take a chance. It was almost 7 in the evening when I walked in, so it wasn't too busy; there's a tiny amount of seating at the window, but most of the interior seating is upstairs (they've since added outdoor seating, as well). The pizzas range in price between $14.00 and $17.00, and most extras are $2.00, with the exception of the meats which are $3.00. The TKO is $15.00. The pizza came way faster than I was expecting and was extremely delicious. The combination of flavors worked really well together and was a nice change from my usual choice of pepperoni. My only complaint is that the pizzas are small (the menu describes them as being "about" 12 inches) and one will definitely not feed two unless neither of you are really hungry. This means that you'll need to order one each, so with any extra toppings you might want plus a drink, you're looking at a pretty pricey pizza dinner. The upside to the pizzas being small is that there are a number of really intriguing pizzas on the menu (Summer Peach! Sweet Revenge! TNT!), so since you'll inevitably end up ordering more than one if you're eating with another or many if you're coming in a group you'll have ample opportunity to try them all, but it also means paying nearly $20.00 for essentially a personal pizza. I would recommend trying Bare Knuckle, for sure, as it's delicious and the ingredients are of high quality. But if you're coming hungry, like I did, just be aware of the size of the pizzas versus the cost and make your decisions from there. read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - TKO - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

Ive been vegan for quite some time. I have to say the pizza they have is bar none! The staff was friendly and inviting. My favorite is the vegan tko. OMG AND GIRL THEY USE BUTCHERS SON CHEESE! Now the only thing i will say is the wait can be a bit strenuous. And they sell out quite often. But hey that just shows how good the pizza is! I 100% recommend . read more

Year ago, I worked across the street and this was a shitty pizzeria that sold dollar slices and the like. I'm glad to see the space renovated and used in a unique way. I would grade the margherita pizza a 3/5 and the TKO (portabello mushrooms, white pie) as a 5/5. The marg was good, but I think the sauce was a little "wet" and the pizza ended up tasting kind of soggy. I added an egg to it, but it didn't really add much. the TKO on the other had, was absolutely fantastic- I think it spent a little more time in the oven and the results were perfect- crispy, chewy, salty- with a nice earthy touch from the mushrooms. Really good pie. The space is kind of odd, small downstairs and a steep staircase to a little area upstairs. The stairs are steep, be careful. Service was good- the owner was really friendly and seemed happy to talk to customers. there are other options in the East Bay, of course, but if you're in Downtown or Chinatown this is definitely the spot to go. read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - Margherita w farm egg - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

This place has been just doing pick up since quarantine started and has great thin crust pizzas. The crust is extremely chewy which is probably the best quality of the pizza. They also have that great wood fired brick oven baked crust which is a little crisp on the edges and thin in the middle where the toppings are. The pizzas are all about personal sized so order accordingly. The toppings were good, though I probably got the least exciting with a plain pepperoni pizza and the David Mack which is pepperoni with prosciutto and basil (probably my favorite of the two because who doesn't love more toppings?). They also have vegan and gluten free options which I think is what really puts this place apart! The one thing to really be aware of is the wait time, I called at 6:00 on a Friday hoping to time it correctly to pick up around 6:30 but I was informed it would be a 45 minute wait which seemed long for such a small pizza! I think they fill a lot of orders and kind of give you a set pick up time so they can delay your order and be sure to fill it by the time they told you. One thing I learned from the friendly woman who worked there was it's better to call early and say what time you want to pick it up rather than the reverse like I did. They also say they're open until 8:30pm but they are just open until they sell out which could be earlier! read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - David Mack - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

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Light, doughey and tasty are words I would use to describe the margherita pizza here. For $13.00, you get a 10" pie that has great ingredients from the crispy basil, fresh mozz and a hint of sweet sauce. The crust was the star though! Service was friendly and fast. Definition of a hole in the wall. read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

I was craving pizza and a few places near me looked good but not great. I found the bareknuckle pizza menu online and was impressed with the options. Staff was super friendly and timely with my order which I'd placed for pick up (~15 min) I've never had such good vegan cheese, whatever they used! I meant to take a picture..but I ate it too quickly. Will definitely be back to try more read more

Came here for dinner and they seemed pretty busy. There is more seating upstairs though so even if the little bar area looks full you might still be able to grab a spot upstairs. Had the TKO and honestly for $18 I think the pizza is too small. For $18 I feel like I should at least be pretty full or have a slice to take home. The personal pizza you get has four tiny slices. But the size and price are not the main issue I have with Bare Knuckle. The pizza itself was not great. Toppings were ok but the crust was so soggy. You could not pick up a slice without all the toppings falling off. You can see the completely soaked bottom of the box; this was immediately after receiving it. I can't imagine how much wetter it would have been if you waited a little. On top of being very soft and soggy the crust was also burnt. I don't mind a little burnt crust but this tasted noticeably of carbon. How can a crust be simultaneously burnt and also soggy?? Would not recommend. You can get way better tasting and satisfying meals for $18 from a ton of other places nearby. read more

This little hole in the wall is IT if you are looking for great pizza. As a New Yorker that now has a dairy allergy, I cannot express how grateful I am to have found bare knuckle. Their vegan pies are amazing. I'm guessing their regular pies are even better. My boyfriend can handle cheese and loves the Roman and David Mack. I tend to go for the vegan TKO and Margherita. Their style is between a real Italian pizza and NY. The dough is thin yet airy and bubbly. They use fresh toppings with just the right amount of cheese to sauce ratio. As the name suggests, you really see the kneading work that has been done to the dough and it is *CHEF'S KISS*. Thanks for the dope pizza! read more

I went to the Soft Open last week, and it didn't disappoint. Bare Knuckle Pizza is a nice spot on 12th and Webster with a wood fired oven. It's a display kitchen, you can see the staff prep the dough and build your pie. I ordered two pizzas, the margherita and pepperoni. Both were really good. The dough was light and on point, clearly not the frozen generic dough, and the ingredients were super fresh. My only critique is I wish I the sauce was a little thicker, but they were still great and I'd totally recommend. They have an upstairs area for seating. There isn't a lot of space but enough for a few tables. I ordered to-go and went upstairs with my friend sipping on a beer and their staff came up looking for orders. It was a very solid soft launch and I'm looking forward when they're fully up and running. Bare Knuckle Pizza is a welcome addition to Oakland Chinatown. read more

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I was thinking about the pizza all night, it was that good! Chewy crust thin enough not to make you too full, fresh quality ingredients and toppings, and the egg on top was cooked to perfection, soft & runny. I'm gluten-sensitive, and the dough is so fine and light that it didn't affect me, and I'm excited that the cheese is light. Basically, my stomach was happy & not angry like when I eat other pizzas! Nice to have a quality pizza spot with friendly customer service near Chinatown, with affordable prices perfect for me to share with someone. And they are fast! They fired up whole fresh pizzas in like 10-15 minutes. read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - Margherita w/ a soft & runny egg, delicious! - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

Awesome selection of Vegan pizzas!! I wish they were open more often. The vegan supreme pizza is so tasty.

Wow! What a great find for vegan pizza selection! Not only was the staff friendly and accommodating, the pizzas were delicious! Super quick turnaround time from order to plate. Can't wait to eat the leftovers! Tip: inside seating is small and they have a few tables outside which is great for nice weather. read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

Ordered the TKO and the David Mack - both were very good! Staff was super friendly and prices are reasonable. Sat at their sidewalk table and had a beer waiting for my pies. I'm a fan! read more

Yummy pizza's with yummy crust and good ingredients! Such a local gem we are grateful for!

I'm from NYC and have lived in Italy, but I have NEVER had a pizza as good as this place. The cherry pie specifically is such a chefs kiss. Love, love, LOVE this place. 5 stars no doubt read more

Delicious pizza- vegan is superb too. Top notch service. Genuine NY pizza place! Great staff and excellent customer service. Give it a try- you will not regret it. read more

They burnt my pie. It's was not good at all. I didn't even finish half the pie. Hope they make it right next time. Or is there a next time

We ordered 4 different pizzas this past Saturday--pepperoni, pear Gorgonzola, mushroom truffle, and margarita. The crusts were extremely burned! Although the ingredients were fresh, the entire bottom side of the pizzas were charred and almost inedible. I will add one star because the taste of the pear Gorgonzola was really good. It was also the least burned. I heard comments from people in my party who normally don't have very strong opinions about anything stating how bad the pizza was because of the burned crust. read more

This is by far my favorite vegan pizza spot. Although they have non-vegan options, I love how many options and how delicious it is. I've had my fair share of vegan pies, and BKP is #1. My 9 year old daughter who is also vegan, loves The Babe. I've tried almost all the vegan options and they're all good. My favorite is the babe added with mushrooms, onions and arugala. I also really like the cherry one, which is surprising, because it doesn't sound like anything I'd like but there's something addicting about it. I live about 30 mins away and still make an effort to drive out and it's totally worth it! Thank you BKP for supporting and offering vegan options. read more

Excellent pizza! I've passed by this place many times when I'm in Chinatown for boba and finally had a chance to try. We tried the pepperoni and the white pizza (i forgot the name) with mushrooms. Both were delicious. The sauce on the pizza was perfect and not too heavy. Sauce reminded me of prince st pizza in nyc, not too acidic and perfect ratio to cheese and dough. Writing this review makes me want one right now..... one pie is very easy to split but tbh just eat it like a personal pizza, it's thin chewy crust is so delicious that you'll regret it if you share. Also I loved the music they played! I wish I asked who the artist was. I can't wait to come back here because I'm very curious about the vegan options! I'm not a vegan but I'm always down to try alternatives. Great premium pizza place in Chinatown with no frills and a chill af atmosphere. read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

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I felt like I was in Italy! Lol So amazing! I definitely recommend this place. Best vegan pizza I've ever had. The service was also really good, so friendly and happy. Will come back to try the other vegan options they have. read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

One star for each of my bare knuckles, haha. Great takeout spot when you're in the mood for amazing pizza to bring home so you can watch Discovery Channel. read more

Great pizza. One pie is pretty filling for one person. I wish I had tried the cherry pie pizza as well but I came alone! read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

They are unresponsive in many ways. I guess they don't value potential customers. That's too bad.

Holy vegan pizza heaven! This place is so crazy good and their pies are so amazing they can trick meat eaters to loving how good that plant based life can be. I can here with my brother who is basically an obligate carnivore and we got all vegan pies (he didn't know it at the time). Everything looks, smells, and tastes just like the real deal. We got the mushroom pizza, pepperoni, and pear pizza. All were amazing with gooey cheese and all. I liked the crust a lot as well and it was a really satisfying meal. Super cute hole in the wall type of spot with seating upstairs as well. There isn't really much in the way of "service" since you order and just get a table number and it's not clear how to acquire water or pepper. It was defiantly not a seamless experience but the food was delicious! read more

Wood-fired (I can taste the difference as a NYC pizza snob) Neapolitan pizza from scratch using locally sourced, organic ingredients whenever possible and their dough is made fresh daily with natural leavening and locally-milled flour. Bu the best part: VEGAN CHEESE. And not Daiya (not a fan and lot of places use it), but locally made in Berkeley's Butcher's Son. My husband (who is not vegan nor vegetarian) loved the vegan pizza, and that's a lot for him to admit (he is kind of anti-vegan). He is now the person who wants to stop at Bare Knuckle to get pizza on our way home. WELL DONE Bare Knuckle Pizza! read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - Plain vegan pie - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

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So I was craving a pizza, which I haven't eaten in quite a while, due to gluten and dairy issues which makes me very sad. There was a miscommunication about if they had real meat, but maybe I just didn't read the site right. So I ordered a Margherita pizza with mushrooms and pepperoni on it. When I got it I realized it was vegan pepperoni . But I had to say it was actually Pretty good. I think I would've added more sauce to the pizza. Delivery was pretty good and I also had a arugula salad. I definitely plan to check out some of their other vegan pizzas. read more

I wasn't sure if I wanted to give 5 stars because they're only open for dinner, but their pizza is that good. Let's start with the dough, it's a perfect Neapolitan style dough. And the sauce is just so well flavored. I could eat their margherita pizzas all day. I think my favorite part of this pizza joint is that they offer meat alternatives. I'm not vegan or vegetarian for that matter, but I don't eat pork, so the fact that they offer "faux" meat is a plus. I'm a bigger fan of the faux sausage than the pepperoni. But delicious nonetheless. Like I said, the only downside is I can't come eat here for lunch. read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - I don't eat pork so i opted for their "faque meat" supremo - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

Long overdue!! Been coming to them since they opened up years ago. Glad they survived C19. I love the margarita and tko. I recommend asking for salt flakes on the margarita. Keep punching bare knuckle!! read more

BEST vegan pizza in the bay area. I'm really disappointed at these new "covid hours" because there's been multiple occasions were I've wanted pizza or someone aksed me for a recommendation on say a Wednesday or a Tuesday and I have to tell them to wait until the weekend... so I hope these hours dont last much longer because ultimately I dont see how it can lucrative - but nonetheless everything on this menu is incredible. The Vegan TKO is my absolute favorite! read more

Let's talk about nothing else but the dough and the perfection of cooking said dough! no matter what you put on top of that, it is all there at the dough. Incredible, a masterpiece, I crave this pizza. I do the Vegan cheese and any topping after that, and it never disappoints. Ordering on the phone is simple and pickup is pretty easy. read more

I was afraid to believe the hype for the vegan pepperoni pizza after being burned so many times. As someone who used to work at a cheese company, the taste of regular mozzarella is lodged in my brain. The flavor and texture is very hard to match. This pizza far exceeded my expectations to the point I don't feel like I'm sacrificing anything by going vegan. I know that's a big claim! The pizza is just that delicious. Hours at this time are very limited and they do sell out. I was there at 7:15 last night and they were taking orders for the next day. Be sure to get your orders in early! Much love to you Bare Knuckle! We're so lucky to have you in the East Bay. read more

Omg I wasn't even in the mood for pizza !! My goodness so glad my friends were Literally the best pizza !! The tnt it's just delicious!! read more

My girl and I were on the hunt for unique and more gourmet pizza, and Bare Knuckle made our Friday night. It's local, the team is great and the owner is super friendly. Really appreciate their selection of pies and can't wait for their new pizzas. Cheers from your neighbor! read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - David Mack pie and Margarita pie - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

Oh Bare Knuckle Pizza... where have you been all my life? You can judge a good pizza joint just by how good their Margherita pizza is and frankly, Bare Knuckle Pizza has made the best Margherita pizza I've had so far! I love how you can literally follow the whole process of how they make their delicious pizza from kneading the dough, slapping on the toppings, and finally baking the pie in their fire oven. It's magically I tell ya. The food: I learned from my chef friends that you just can't order one pie. You have to get multiples. We ordered 4 Classic Margherita pizza, 1-2 punch, 2 TNT, 2 TKO, and maybe another pie. It was literally pizza galore. The dough and the time they baked the pizza are perfect. You get amazing crispiness on the outer part of your crust and an oh so soft inside. Amazing. The classic Margherita is just a great all-around pizza with great flavor and the perfect ratio of sauce and cheese. 1-2 punch is basically a prosciutto arugula salad but, the twist is... it's on a pizza form and it has a fresh farmed sunny side up egg! My favorite will have to be the TNT. This pizza is a Classic Margherita take with an asian influence. Loaded with pepperoni, sausage, red chili flakes mixed in the sauce, and the real kicker - Thai chili pepper. It's an amazing pie and I can literally eat this every time I come here! the TKO was probably my least favorite pizza to try as it didn't have much depth to it like the other pies. End food Review. The quality of the ingredients is fresh and seasonal. I can see the price point of being a little high for such a small pie but, what you get in place of quantity is quality of great freshly made pizzas. I hate expensive things just like any other person but, with the quality and care of these pizzas, I feel the price is justifiable. read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - 1-2 punch - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

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Wow, best pizza I've had since going vegan, hands down! I was a longtime vegetarian and cheese snob, and since going vegan, hated all vegan cheese. That is until I tried the vegan mozzarella from the butchers son in Berkeley. Now that is good cheese. My favorite pizza was the vegan potato pizza from cheeseboard in Berkeley, and they use the same mozzarella from the butchers son, but the margherita here just beat it. It was amazing! Perfect in every way, and you can't even tell it's vegan. I'll be dreaming about it. I wish I had ordered 3 and could definitely eat them all haha read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - Vegan margherita - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

Website: delicious 12 inch wood-fired pizzas! Reality: a tiny 10" Margherita pizza for $15(!!!) I'm all for hip, overpriced food in the bay but $15 for a personal pizza that's comparable in quality to most other pizzerias (like Forge or benchmark nearby) is just too painful when you can get full-sized pizzas for the same price. read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - "ABOUT 12 Inches" pizza. Yes, can totally round to 12" from 10" - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

Came here randomly one night and got the TNT pizza. Boooooy that thang was SPICY and I love heat lol. Those Thai chili's really just hit different. I'm def gunna come back here and order the exact same thing. Lots of meat & lots of spice read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

We had the non-vegan Roman. The pizza was super bland and the crust was quite wet and undercooked. The cheese was either very bland or nonexistent. The meat on it was ok.. But very small portion of it... Hard to find it unless you inspected the pizza closely. The sauce was good but nothing special. And the pie itself was quite small for the price... Pretty much 4 small slices for $21. We won't be BACK. And yes... This is MY opinion.. This is yelp.. Duh... The business manager doesn't seem to know what the concept of yelp is..Now I know why it's called Bare Knuckle Pizza.. The owner will bully you if you don't like his pizza. He has since followed me on Facebook mocking me for not liking his pizza. Omg... He can't accept criticism well.. Now he's harassing me?? Just unbelievable. read more

Bare Knuckle Pizza - Very bland, undercooked crust, non vegan Roman. - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

Best vegan pizza wish they opened Sundays and Mondays Or atleast 5 days a week Or late night after midnight would be super cool I would go every night read more