This place is good. Very pricey because things are being exported but the vibes are cool. Customer…read moreservice is amazing, brother is very helpful. I ended up buying some ingredients to make oxtails. I think I spent close to $100 for all my items. It was money well spent.

I have been here many times never think to take pictures too busy looking at all the things I can…read morebuy. Great place to get all things Jamaican. I have bought so many things here over the years. They also sell hot patties here that you can buy to eat as well as frozen ones to take home to cook. While I was shopping here last I meet some ladies that had come from San Francisco to shop. I will definitely be back here to buy more stuff.

Want your fix of quality & fresh cuts of fish that reminds you of the markets in Japan? Ebiko is…read morethe only place I know of that offers this. I'm never disappointed with the food here and I'm super hard to please when it comes to japanese. Omakase quality cuts at grocery store prices. Stop in and give them a try :)

Love the easy grab and go concept, although the rice could have used some work…read more There is a huge lunch rush, so it's best to arrive right at opening. The refrigerated display was fairly small while the back wall was lined with shelves of Asian snacks. The sushi section was only wide enough for three or four people, so guests frequently had to reach over one another to grab their selections. The staff at checkout were friendly and packaged everything neatly. I also appreciated that the chopsticks were noticeably higher quality than standard takeout utensils. *Tuna Avo Roll: good balance of tuna, rice, and avocado. The avocado was slightly underripe, giving the roll an overall sharper, tangier profile. The tuna had a pleasant texture, though it was a touch fishy. The rice was at its best in this roll compared to the other items I ordered. *Omakase Nigiri: an incredible value for the quality and generous portions. Each piece was topped with thick, fleshy cuts of fish. My set included three tuna, two salmon, one scallop, and one ikura nigiri. The tuna was the standout and nearly melted in my mouth. The salmon was solid but fairly standard. The rice, however, was on the firmer side with only subtle vinegar seasoning. *Salmon Aburi: the beautifully torched top looked promising but surprisingly lacked any noticeable smokiness. The salmon was over torched, leaving very little of its natural raw richness and rendering away much of its fattiness. The rice was firmer and even more bland than the rice used in the other items. I really appreciate the reasonable prices and convenient grab and go setup, but the rice needs more consistency in texture and seasoning. Perhaps the refrigerated display contributes to the firmer texture, though the seasoning also varied noticeably between the three items I tried. Fortunately, the seafood itself was fresh, well cut, and generously portioned, which was enough for me to round this up to 3.5 stars.

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.

A highly underrated grocery store, Monte vista is small but has a surprisingly broad selection of…read moreproduce and ethnic/international foods. The place had a farmers market/Sprouts kind of feel and carried predominantly organic produce. They have almost every type of product but maybe only 1-2 brands for each. I liked that there were many plant-based options, from cream cheese to frozen meals or sweets, but I was disappointed that they specifically didn't have nondairy yogurt which is one of my go-to's for breakfast. Almost everything is organic, and the price reflects that; a regular 15oz can of tomato sauce was $4. Besides that, it seems like a safe and convenient place to shop with their wide selections. The staff member helping at check-out was also very friendly.

As fans of Asian cuisine know -- regular basil just won't cut it for Southeast Asian dishes. You…read moreneed Thai basil, which most markets don't carry. Fortunately, Monte Vista is a nice, local produce market that does! In addition to Thai basil, they also provide ingredients like Thai chili peppers and even Makrut lime leaves. Shop here to your Thai-and-Vietnamese-cuisine-loving heart's content. Friendly, helpful staff. Only downside is that that are occasional quality issues, such as an iffy leaf here and there. Overall, it's a nice, neighborhood produce market that offers Asian ingredients and has a friendly staff. Happy to support it, while it supports my curries and sweet-and-spicy stir-fry dishes.

Nice selection of good smelling handmade soaps - I enjoy just looking around here as well as…read moreshopping. They organize their herbs and teas by intention and I find that logical and accessible. Friendly service and tasty tea, recommend coming in if you're looking for a healthy looseleaf tea blend.

Groovy shop with helpful wonderful people and magical potions. They have the far out items I need…read moreand of quality source.

Great local shop with affordable prices and solid quality. The owner is super kind and the first…read moretime my husband went he offered the lemons for free since if they didn't sell they would still have to be tossed anyways. That's what grocery stores SHOULD do but the big shops would rather toss than loose a sale. The shop is on the smaller side so selection can be limited but we love to go specifically for the produce.

Showed up here and walked in the rain just for them to be closed. Update your hours, it's a…read morehorrible experience, especially since this is my first impression as a (would have been) new customer.

A cute gem! Came across this spot after having dinner in the area. I loved looking at all the…read moreceramic pieces and trinkets, it reminded me of being in Japan! There's a sake bar at the end of the store, and my friend and I had such a good time trying the sake flight and cocktails. They had a variety of sake, cocktail, and whiskey choices. There's limited seating, but we were able to grab a seat at the bar around 7pm. I'd love to come here again!

An excellent selection of sakes: fancy ones like kirinsan, Dasai, Den Sake (local and awesome),…read morecanned sakes in seasonal metals or porcelain and fun and random impressive tengu shapes. This is also a place to get Japanese condiments, new year ceremonial items (decorative wooden arrows), cocktail bar ware (brass, glass), even pine wood mats and tea pots. They also regularly hosts festival mini markets, sake shoju tasting, especially for their sake gumi members. They get to meet famous chefs and local sake makers. They can also learn and taste from the bar.

Well-stocked and well-staffed grocery with easy, free parking…read more The meat dept is very good, like 8.5 or 9 out of 10 in terms of variety, cuts, seafood, and butcher service. Produce is also excellent with organic and non-organic on virtually every item. Cheese corner is really good with dozens of varieties and sizes. I like their liquor and wine section, and can't imagine very many situations where they couldn't cover my needs. The prepared food is not worth the trip for that alone, and is really pretty uninspiring. They stock everything I need. They have great, consistent people working check out. Prices are higher than Safeway. Specialty stuff is not as strong as Diablo Foods in Lafayette.

I love this market! It's sophisticated with it's selection, but has an old school small town vibe…read more The wine/liquor section is well curated, the meats are top notch, the produce is fresh and well maintained, and they offer organic fruits and vegetables as well. Looking for cheese? There is a hidden nook across from the meat case that offers an amazing, well curated selection of cheeses. Prices in some areas are a little bit higher than somewhere like WF, but they are not a massive corporation, so it is understandable. The staff works like a friendly cohesive team offering great customer service. The market was full of customers, but they did a fantastic job at not allowing lines to form. I plan on making Piedmont Grocery one of my regular stops!