Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    KAOKAO Grill

    4.7 (193 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order KAOKAO Grill Takeout or Delivery

    KAOKAO Grill Photos

    KAOKAO GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like KAOKAO Grill

    Recommended Reviews - KAOKAO Grill

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Eggplant Salad
    Emily X.

    I recently went to KAOKAO Grill with my boyfriend and I was really excited by their bbq meats. Before you even walk in, you can smell the dreamy aroma of the bbq. This place is located in the Elmwood area and has lots of indoor seating. You place your order at the counter and the server will bring you your food. Water, napkins, and utensils are self serve. We were really hungry so we got the Stir Fry String Beans and eggplant salad as an appetizer. The eggplant salad has a great savory/smokey flavor and the eggplants were tender. We also enjoyed the string beans which had a mild garlicky flavor. My boyfriend got the char siu bowl set and it was a good portion for the price. The meat was super juicy and had a nice bbq glaze on the outside. I got the bbq brisket noodles but instead of brisket I got chicken because they didn't have anymore brisket that day. The skin on the chicken was crispy and cooked to perfection. The noodles were perfectly cooked and they're handmade daily! Overall, this place is great for a casual bite to eat with friends or small groups. The meat is standout and the service is friendly.

    Smoked pork belly over white rice.

    Perfect location everything everything. Walk in and smell that awesome almond smoke. Better than traditional ie. American bar- b- cue. Food is to die for. Thank me later.

    Beef Brisket Soup Noodle
    Grace Y.

    This spot has been in my bookmarks forever after I saw it got featured in the Sf Chronicle. I love BBQ, so I was sold when I saw they put creative twists on Asian classics. Our favorite was the char siu set - this was so smokey and had the perfect level of char/sweet glaze. The brisket noodles were also delicious; the brisket melts in your mouth. I thought portion sizes were pretty fair given how heavy / rich the meats were. New fave spot in Berkeley!

    Johnny W.

    Summary: Flavorful, too salty meats Details: I'd been meaning to try KAOKAO for a while now, but the lines were always a major deterrence. Fast forward a few months and the initial hype seemed to have died down, to the point where we ate in a mostly empty shop when we went. Having tried both their chicken and char siu, I'll say that they're amazingly flavorful, with lots of depth and in-your-face flavor, but as one might expect from me by now, I found them a bit too salty. That said, the char siu in particular paired quite well with the noodles, slightly balancing out the salt levels as well. While probably not a spot I'd go back to myself, I would imagine that most folks wouldn't find their seasoning too heavy-handed, so it's certainly worth trying yourself! Accessibility: The downstairs area is on the smaller and more narrow side, with a handful of accessible tables. More seating upstairs, but not accessible.

    Kaokao Char Siu
    Laura C.

    I wanted to like KAOKAO more! Coming on New Year's Day, they had some supply chain and logistical challenges. We ordered and paid at the counter and later found out that two of our dishes were not available. Luckily we were able to get refunds and order alternative dishes instead. I wish the ventilation was a bit better as it does get quite smoky instead. The char siu set is super tender and worth ordering.

    Kaokao Char Siu Set
    Michele L.

    Wow, Kaokao has blown us away with their delicious food. We were looking around for lunch and came across Kaokao on Yelp and it looked amazing, so we decided to give it a try. My brother-in-law actually had this place bookmarked for a while so it was right up his alley too. We came for a pretty late lunch, probably around 2PM-ish so there weren't that many people in the restaurant. How it works is, you place your order at the counter first and you're free to sit wherever you want. They have both bottom and top floor seats available. Between the four of us (+ a toddler), we ordered BBQ Brisket Noodle x 2, KaoKao Char Siu Set x 2, Stir Fried String Beans, Eggplant Salad, and Cold Cucumber Salad to share. - Stir Fried String Beans: So much wok hey. Smokey and delicious! Not overcooked and still slightly crunchy. - Cold Cucumber Salad: This was a little too spicy for my palate, but it was refreshing. They even peeled off the outer layer which was surprising to me because I never see it served like this. - BBQ Brisket Noodle: I believe they said their noodles were made in-house. They're chewy just a tad thick, and they don't get soggy. It was great. The briskets were thick, tender, and had a good mix of meat and fat. Definitely recommend! - KaoKao Char Siu Set: This was amazing as well! Especially the end bits that are slightly charred. Wow, it reminded me of the Bo Ssam from Momofuku. Just as good. Whatever they rub as the seasoning / sauce, it was amazing. Definitely recommend this one too! The sauce from the char siu gets mixed into the rice, so it makes the rice extra tasty. - Eggplant Salad: Of all the veggie dishes, I would choose this one - not because the rest isn't delicious, but I think this one is a little more unique. The sauce that comes with these eggplants was a little nutty, a little spicy, a little creamy. But the eggplants were super soft. Service was friendly and amazing too. We will definitely come back in the future when we're around Berkeley!

    Beef Brisket Soup Noodle
    Eddie A.

    I've been here three times already! I went twice with my wife, and we both loved the char siu set and the BBQ brisket noodle soup. The soup was super flavorful! The char siu set is seriously some of the best pork you can find in the Bay Area, especially if you're looking for a laid-back vibe. The only thing is that it can take a bit of time for your food to arrive, but it's totally worth it!

    Kaokao Char Siu   The best I've ever had outside of HGg! Trust!
    David N.

    I looked forward to the BBQ brisket noodle soup. It's 1:30pm on a Friday. No soup available, well no broth. Not really sure what to think.

    Samantha C.

    Came here because my friend wanted to check out the char siu. We were going to try both the chicken and char siu, but by the time we got there (~2PM Sunday), they were sold out of the chicken. This was my first time having char siu using pork belly, so I anticipated it to be succulent and falling apart considering it is cooked low and slow like an American style bbq. While I got the smoke, the pork belly was overcooked and I thought the bark was too hard given the size of the pieces served. I also wish the pickles were more acidic and that they served more glaze because that was the star of the show. Overall, good flavors but let down by the texture especially at $20+ per plate.

    Chicken pasta
    Kevin H.

    Small portions, slow service, somewhat bland food. Fairly standard price for college but still felt a bit much. Honestly, it was mostly the portions that brings it down for me. There could have been a bit more pasta in my dish or rice in others. I should not be paying more than 20 and leaving still hungry. I do enjoy the small room and atmosphere.

    Kristin N.

    Finally stopped in and had the most amazing dinner. Value here is A+++! We started with the marinated cucumbers, spicy and refreshing. I could have eaten 3 plates. The eggplant, such a luxurious texture and mouth feel. I could have eaten 3 plates again! The sauces on both shared plates were fantastic. The star of the show was the char sui, and WOW some of the most amazing rich, sticky, sweet flavors. The pickles with it -perfect. How is there not a line out the door?! Server was super nice and attentive. This is an order at the counter place. Very excited for the next time they offer Peking duck. I will ABSOLUTELY be ordering

    Kaokao Char Siu
    James B.

    The char siu was textually wonderful -- sticky, a little hard and crunchy from char, and fatty. Flavor good as well, though I wish they'd index less into 5 spice and more into sichuan peppercorn. Comes with some salty cucumber pickles that weren't too vinegary so complemented well. The yogurt marinated chicken was textually good as well, really tender, but flavor profile was not as interesting to me. Chili oil + peanut sauce noodle was an interesting combo. I'll come back here and probably just get the char siu. To me, it was that good and earned them 5 stars by itself.

    Kaokao Char Siu
    anne p.

    They make their noodles fresh every day. They are amazing to try soup pork was delicious. The crust was great highly recommend.

    Char Siu smoked over apple and cherry wood.

    See all

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Stu R.
    22
    28
    13

    3 years ago

    Tried for dinner. Quick service, delicious and unique menu. Seemed geared more for take out than dine in. Will be back, for sure.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of P C.
    4
    72
    49

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Tasty pork and chicken dishes. Very nice service )made dishes gluten free for us). We will come back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nina M.
    0
    10
    15

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Really delicious food - unique flavors and everything was cooked perfectly. Plus fast service. Highly recommend!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Delicious food - full of flavor and well balanced spice. Such a great addition the to neighborhood.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of gbb u.
    0
    81
    1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Aaron A.
    375
    221
    7

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    I got the pork bowl and eggplant salad, it was amazing! The chashu was not too sweet and i loved the sauce

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kevin L.
    219
    15
    0

    3 years ago

    The char siu pork is the best thing ever. Very friendly staff and owner also. I would highly recommend.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    GREAT food. I had the BBQ pork with the spicy cucumber salad, along with their in-house made strawberry lemon soda. Yummm...

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Quick food that's delicious. Will definitely pick up from there when I'm back in the area

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Loved the food! Would recommend the sandwich! The staff was very friendly and welcoming :))

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    It's a small and cute place! Love all of their side dishes. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 5 of 5

    KAOKAO Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - KAOKAO Grill

    Gluten free options?

    I'm gluten free and I had their chicken and cucumber salad

    Is there an outdoor seating area ? Is it dog friendly to eat there ? Thx

    I believe there's an option to place a small option outside if you ask the owners and then you can sit with your pup outside. For dogs inside the restaurant itself I suggest… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Smokin Woods BBQ

    Smokin Woods BBQ

    3.8(1.3k reviews)
    1.8 miTemescal, North Oakland
    $$

    After work Easter dinner. We finally dined in here…read more Really good BBQ spot. Glad we came here. Everything looked so yummy when it came. Good flavors from everything. My favorite was the mac & cheese and brussels sprouts. The meats were so tender! Although, I tried a piece of pork link, for some reason, I didn't like it. It seemed too grainy. The ambience was chill, and they have full bar. Nice and spacious. My only complaint is that I was trying to order & the phone rings & the host took the call. What I learned in customer service in my 20 years +, you attend to the customer in front of you first. Phone calls can wait. When she got off the phone, other workers came over and they started talking about what's next in their schedule. Still, I'm over here, waiting to order the rest of the stuff. That what the unprofessional part of things.. Glad we still came here to try. It still earned a star to come back!

    BBQ is not cheap But you would expect a certain quality…read moreOrdered the two combo plate which is about $30 with tip The rib tips were mostly bone or dried out pieces. The beef brisket was tender but lacked the Smokey flavor The Brussels sprouts were crisp but a tad too salty Baked beans were good as was the dinner roll Order was ready early but lacked any utensils or napkins in our to go order

    Photos
    Smokin Woods BBQ - Blackberry Lemonade

    Blackberry Lemonade

    Smokin Woods BBQ - Dry, overcooked, pork ribs. Disappointed

    Dry, overcooked, pork ribs. Disappointed

    Smokin Woods BBQ - Cool looking bar inside

    See all

    Cool looking bar inside

    Pig in a Pickle - baby back ribs

    Pig in a Pickle

    4.0(297 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    This lives within the food court next door to Guitar center and is my goto in east bay for an…read moreexcellent brisket. Nothing else is as consistently good in quality and service as these folks. Their sides of collard greens and pickles are also great.

    Tucked away inside the Public Market in a little side nook, this is easily one of the best barbecue…read morespots I've come across in the Bay Area. It's the kind of place you almost miss if you're not looking for it, but once you find it, you'll keep coming back. The brisket, pulled pork, and spare ribs are consistently excellent. The meat is incredibly tender, it basically melts in your mouth, and that deep, smoky flavor really seeps all the way through, not just on the surface. The sauces come on the side, and they're free, so don't be shy about asking for extra. I actually asked if there was a limit once, and the cashier laughed and said something like, "Maybe six containers?" If I'm being picky, I'd probably skip the hot links next time. They're not bad, just nothing special compared to how strong everything else is, slightly smoky, but otherwise pretty standard. The collard greens are a standout side dish. They've got this nice acidity that cuts through the richness of the meat really well. There is a noticeable vinegar tang, though, so if that's not your thing, you might want to pass, but if you like that balance, they're great. Another big bonus, there's a park right outside the building near the exit by Cashew Creamery. It's perfect if you've got kids. There's this whale structure they can climb into (through the mouth or side), with a slide on top and climbing holds all over -- fins, back, tail, the whole thing. There are also surfboard-style balance boards on springs and plenty of open space and greenery to run around. And if you're making a little outing of it, it's only about a 10-minute walk to Bay Street, so you can easily pair your meal with a stroll, some shopping, or more food and drinks nearby.

    Photos
    Pig in a Pickle
    Pig in a Pickle - Beef brisket

    Beef brisket

    Pig in a Pickle - Beef Brisket - 1/2 lb. , House Made Hotlinks , Chicken Leg

    See all

    Beef Brisket - 1/2 lb. , House Made Hotlinks , Chicken Leg

    Everett & Jones - 3-Way Combo

    Everett & Jones

    3.2(987 reviews)
    2.3 miWest Berkeley
    $$

    I order delivery through the Uber app. This was our first time eating from this restaurant. I…read moreordered the four-way combo & 2 orders of Biscoff banana pudding. Unfortunately, the banana pudding was not delivered. I did request a refund through the Uber app regarding the banana pudding's missing from the order. As for the four-way combo. The meats order was the ribs, brisket , link, and the burnt ends. Unfortunately, the combo did not have any burnt ends, instead it seemed like extra ribs. As for the sides with the combo, we did ordered the mac & cheese and the potato salad. The mac & cheese was slightly different than other mac & cheese, I've had from other places. It seemed to have a little bit of different spices in it, a strong garlic and paprika taste. As for the potato salad, at first, I wasn't sure if it was potato salad or mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, the potato salad did not taste or seem at all like potato salad to me. They pour the barbecue sauce on top of all the meat. The only problem with that, is by the time we got the bag it was soaking wet at the bottom with the barbecue sauce that had spilled out of the container. Personally, I feel, orders for delivery or to go should have had the barbecue sauce on the side to prevent this from leaking outside of the container or in somebody's vehicle.

    Bland food, ok service, to-go ambiance describes this place. I drove by and smelled the food and…read morethought it would be a good idea to stop. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a bad idea. I ordered the brisket with two sides:Mac n cheese and baked beans. The brisket had absolutely NO FLAVOR. The mild barbecue sauce they put on it tasted old and burnt. I've never had burnt barbecue sauce before, so there's a first. The Mac n cheese was dry. Not cheesy at all. And the baked beans tasted like it was straight out of the can. Very disappointed. I could go on, but what's understood doesn't need to be explained.

    Photos
    Everett & Jones
    Everett & Jones - 4-Way Combo

    4-Way Combo

    Everett & Jones

    See all

    KAOKAO Grill - bbq - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...