Lola would crawl out of the grave for this Sisig Bolillo! Then, back in because it's heart…read morestopping. Slowly making my way through my East Bay bookmarks and next up: Ok's Deli! Starting as a pop-up in 2021, Ok's Deli opened their brick and mortar a year later. This is not your basic everyday sandwich shop... A fine dining alum and Oakland native, the owner (and staff) serves up chef-driven, AZN American style sandwiches with housemade bread, meats, pickles, sauces, etc. Ok's Deli is mainly a takeout spot with two tables, one inside and one outside. No restroom. M E N U Rotating menu of 8 specialty sandwiches (half AZN inspired) along with your typical sandwiches like ham & cheese and italian combo ($14-$20). No substitutes and you can only take away ingredients, e.g. "no mayo". Sides: Potato salad, chicken salad, fries, and array of American and AZN chips. Online ordering and 3rd party delivery available, F O O D * Sisig Bolillo: House Sisig-Style Pig's Head, soy sauce, black pepper, yellow onion, lime, over easy egg, thai bird chili, mayo, house bolillo ($18) - Available Saturday - Monday only - Sells out so plan accordingly As someone who grew up eating sisig at fam events but rarely have it these days, this was such a treat. I love that they use traditional cuts for the sisig. A generous portion of meltingly soft gelatinous pig's head (jowl, ears, snout, etc.) is loaded into a bubbly, crackly baguette-bolillo hybrid. The rich, seasoned pig drippings and runny egg yolk soak into the bread without turning it soggy, while the savory soy seasoning, creamy mayo, and mild kick from the chilies make every bite more delicious. We could only finish half but the leftovers held up really well and can easily be revived in the air fryer. They provide a small wedge of lime but I like a lot more acidity to cut through the richness. Next time, I'm bringing a bottle of spiced vinegar! * Sichuan Hot Chicken: House Sichuan Spiced Taiwanese-style Fried Chicken w/ iceberg lettuce, crushed cucumber, cilantro, house sesame ginger vinaigrette, scallion, house honey mustard, house sesame bun ($18) - Mild or Spicy (picked spicy) A hapa baby, Taiwanese popcorn chicken meets Nashville hot chicken, the marinated and fried chicken thighs are layered into a toasted sesame seed studded bun (low key reminds me of roujiamo bread) - crunchy, hella juicy, and flavorful with a seriously spicy kick and numbing málà spice. The crisp lettuce, cucumber, and mayo adds a refreshing contrast, helping mellow out the heat while keeping each bite balanced. Make sure to have plenty of napkins on deck! * House Ramen Spiced Fries ($8) As a kid...who used to crush a bag of ramen, sprinkle the msg laced seasoning packet all over, and ate it as snack? Now think of this nostalgic umami bomb on freshly cooked fries. Enjoy! S E R V I C E Super friendly cashier who kindly brought our order outside to us. Efficient and prompt - we were the first customers to arrive on a Saturday (to snag that one outdoor table), they already had a dozen online orders, yet our order took less than 10 minutes. P A R K I N G Street parking only. May have to park several blocks away. Overall, I really enjoyed the sandwiches at Ok's Deli and thought they did a great job paying homage to AZN classics while adding their own creative twists. With sandwich prices getting increasingly out of pocket these days, I felt the price was justified for the quality of ingredients, craftsmanship, and thoughtful execution that went into each one.

I first discovered this spot during the Oakland Chili Cook Off, and I absolutely loved the chili…read morethey served. It was so good that I knew I had to come back and try their sandwiches. I'm so glad I did because they did not disappoint. Everything I've had has been fresh, flavorful, and consistently delicious. In fact, I've already been back three times since my first visit, which says a lot! I also have to give a special shout out to the turtle chips. They are absolutely addictive and have quickly become one of my favorite things on the menu. If you're looking for a great sandwich spot in Oakland, I definitely recommend checking this place out.

We had the Alameda sandwich and it was very good! The sandwich was a 6 inch and shared it. Rose…read moresplit the sandwich in half without asking her to do such. Such a nice gesture. Thank you Rose !

First time visiting...The tuna sandwich was SO GOOD!! It had the perfect ratio of tuna salad to…read morecondiments. The pickles and peperoncini gave the perfect amount of tang and the French roll brought it all together. 10/10 - I will definitely order this again!

Such good, well prepared food. Amazing service, and a chill non-stressful ambiance while you eat.read more

This place is a LEGIT sandwich shop. The line is long, the service is friendly, the tables are old…read moreschool. But the sandwiches are the star. Everything is fresh and good. Italian combo is a star. Italian beef is the best I've ever had outside Chicago.

It's been years since the last time I stopped into this Italian Deli/Sandwich shop. Ratto's has…read moreapparently been around since 1897. They have a modest but solid selection of Italian deli meats (Serrano ham, prosciutto, pancetta, etc), pasta, olive oil, vinegars, and a couple specialty jams (calabrian chile orange, etc) - basically all you'd need for a gourmet charcuterie board meal or snack. Last time I was here, picked ip a bottle of nicely aged balsamic vinegar from Italy, which has lasted me for a couple years. Today, decided to try one of their specialty Italian sandwiches with a shot of expresso on the side... and Mama Mia was the sandwich absolutely amazing! I highly recommend the Jamon Serrano & Manchego sandwich ($14.50). It comes with shaved ribbons of serrano ham, 1/5 inch thick slice of aged manchego cheese, a creamy spread of chevre goat cheese, chopped/marinated artichokes and arugula greens on a crusty/crunchy baguette (between half to a full foot long). I practically finished this within 10 minutes - it was so good! The expresso shot ($3.25) was also a good pairing for me. Loved the aroma, made from nicely dark roasted beans. Inside the venue there's shelves on the back wall, with Italian dry goods, oils, vinegars, jams, etc for sale. Seating indoors is about 5ish tables for 2 or more. Outside sidewalk has a couple tables too. Located on the corner of 9th & Washington St, mostly metered street parking in this area and a small hourly parking lot across the street.

There's nothing that's not delightful about Ratto's. From the friendly staff to the clean layout…read morefor the people watching of the tasty, tasty food, it's all good. Attached in a picture of today's special: a chorizo and manchego sandwich. Delightfully tasty, it was a total morning pick-me-up. Punchy, unexpected flavor, and a good portion. If you find yourself in or near Old Oakland, step on in and enjoy!

Found this spot on tiktok and decided to try it out with my favorite cousin. The rating was decent…read moreand the food looked good so we made our way over. We sat inside originally, but then decided to go sit outside because it was a beautiful day. The inside was clean and very quiet, the patio was full of people. Ambiance gets a 4/5. We were immediately met by a pleasant waitress, and when we moved she just came and found us. She was very informative, engaging, and knowledgeable, great service all around 4.8/5. I ordered the strength & my cousin the garlic wings and a margarita. The wings were some of the best I've ever had, fried to perfection and seasoned just right. A huge punch of garlic, which I really enjoy, so wings were 4.9/5. The vegetarian sandwich I ordered was so delicious, the pesto and garlic aioli really added flavor and the fresh warm bread really set it apart 4.8/9, only because the jalapeño was more spicy than pickled. Overall; I rate this place a 4.7/5

A hidden secret is the Hidden Spot. Right on the corner with easy ramp up walkway or stairs. It has…read moreoutside eating or inside with big screen tv's and a bar. All the food sounded good on the menu. I had the sapphire which was supposed to be hot but it wasn't at all for me. The gem was almost like a Philly cheese steak. Both were really good. The fries seasoning is really good and the onion rings were good as well. I got a mango lemonade drink that I really enjoyed. Cool place to watch sports and grab a good bite to eat. Now go and enjoy, you can thank me later.

A pretty solid deli & convenience stop that's been serving the community for some time now…read more I like to come in sometimes during work or on my days off for a quick to-go lunch. They have some quick grab items like masubi and a pretty nice made to order deli menu which you can probably assume by the name. Along with all that there's also have quite a few fresh bakery items. Definitely try their bahn mi if you go. It has a unique profile to it. There is limited indoor seating if you're looking to chill for a bit before heading out to the rest of your day... perhaps in Jack London Square, where it's situated. But since most people order to-go it works out & you'll likely find a spot to sit at if you want to. Moreover they have a decent selection of IPAs, other beers, wines, confectionery items, ice and other "convenience" items. Pretty normal pricing for a Bay Area spot. If you're looking for a quality drop in spot or need to pick up some wine real quick definitely stop by Sierra.

I can't remember the last time I had banh mi but overall was good. Ordered the grilled pork -can…read moretaste the grilled flavor but was definitely a more modern take with avocado and salad greens. Corner deli/Cafe in apartment building in unassuming part of Jack London Square. Deli is more to-go type with a few table sating outside. Other Yelpers say owner is same as Cam Huong in Chinatown. I remember getting a $5 banh mi at Cam Huong many years ago. Now $15 for a sandwich is sign of the times!

My only question is....WHY haven't I been here sooner?! I…read morewas craving pastrami, so I looked on yelp for pastrami in the area. My mom and I came in around 2pm on Monday (8/11). It's a cute delicatessen/restaurant. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you. Immediately the staff was so friendly and welcoming. The woman at the register was very nice and asked if we had any questions. My mom and I shared a pastrami sandwich, Brussels sprouts, fries, and slaw. It was reasonably priced for the Bay Area. When they brought the food to the table I was shocked. Everything looked amazing and very appetizing, and the portions were much bigger than expected. Before she brought the sandwich over, she asked if we were sharing it and was so nice to split it into 2 plates for us. That was very kind for her to do. Let's start with the French fries. Omg they were perfectly crisp but still fluffy on the inside. They had so much flavor probably because of the beef tallow and had just the right amount of salt on them. There was a side of mayonnaise with the fries, and it tasted homemade. I meant to ask them if it was. It was very good lol I couldn't get enough. The poppyseed slaw was very refreshing and it was tangy and sweet. We loved that the cabbage remained crispy and it was great for a warm day. The fried Brussels sprouts were full of flavor. They were a nice balance of sweet and salty. I loved the bacon on them. The hot pastrami sandwich definitely satisfied my pastrami craving! There was just the right ratio of meat-cheese-sauerkraut-mustard-dressing. The bread tasted freshly baked as well. It was full of flavor. And the side salad that came with the sandwich was excellent. We loved the tanginess of the dressing. We were shocked that there wasn't more people inside, but also for 2pm on a Monday, it probably was just an off hour. We had so many leftovers as we both don't eat very much, but lol as soon as I got home I started eating some more of the slaw and salad. Can't wait to eat the rest for lunch tomorrow. We are already planning on coming back to try the meatballs next time and definitely trying their Indian cuisine! I'll have to bring my husband here next. Thank you guys for an amazing lunch!

I'm sure there are other good things here but I keep just getting the cheese steak. The picture…read moredoesn't do it justice. It's a warm, crunchy roll, the chopped steak and cheese are perfect, and there's a salad next to it so you can take a bite of that while you're waiting for the next bit of your sandwich to cool down. Do yourself a favor and order this in instead of carrying it out. The roll is warm and crunchy and I think too much time in a bag would make everything less delicious. (I'm sure it's still good, it's just *better* if you can eat it when it's fresh.) I swear one of these days I'll try something else on the menu.

This review isn't based off of one interaction that I've had, but several in which I felt Star…read moreMeats customer service was non existent. Awhile back, I tried to bring as much business to Star Meat as I could because 1. it's a small business and 2. it's inside Star Grocery (which I LOVE, so it's convenient). When I would go there, there would often be 2 or 3 people behind the counter and oftentimes I would be the only customer. I felt like I had to stand there forever before anyone even acknowledged I existed. Each person would be busy doing something, but there was no "I'll be with you in 2 minutes." Finally, I went one day and there were 3 workers behind the counter chatting with each other. I was the only customer and was standing around 6 feet away from them, looking right at them. They went on with there conversation (not doing any other work) for a full 5 minutes. Finally I thought, "OK, they really don't seem to want my business, so I can go to any one of 4 other places and get what I want." That was a year or two ago. So, today I thought, why not give it another try, it's certainly convenient. Again, I'm the only customer at the counter. One guy is washing equipment and two guys are making sandwiches. I know that they know that I'm there, there are mirrors all along the back wall exactly for the purpose of seeing the customers. After around 4 minutes I think, who knows how long I'm going to be standing here. Maybe they have to make 20 sandwiches and I'll be here for a half hour. So, I left. I don't have anything like this experience at the 4 other meat counters I go to in the area. I'm totally fine waiting if I have some sense that I'm waiting for a purpose and that the worker will get to me as soon as they can. But at Star Meat, it feels like I'm more of an inconvenience than a customer. "Hi, I'll be with you as soon as I can," goes a long way.

Discovered their sandwiches when we were having coffee next door and kept seeing ppl walk by with…read morebutcher paper pink sandwiches in their hands. Glad we were able to track them down cause their sandwiches look so basic in pics but are so darn good. The market is cool too but I'm always gonna start by bee lining it to the deli in back of the shop to order one of their daily sandwiches. They make 3 flavors each day. 18$ a pop. Delicious.