OMG I thought I was in New Orleans at 2 o'clock in the…read moremorning with the man I love. Chef Smelly is the real deal. I ordered red snapper, mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts. It was definitely enough for two people. I can't wait to return with my whole family. So glad my birthday is coming up. Dear Chef Smelly, thank you so much for caring about what you do. Your attention to detail and your love of good food is reflected in every meal I've had at your restaurant.

Service this time was a 5/10--pretty slow, one of my sides was forgotten, and we weren't checked on…read moreas often as we should've been. That being said, the food portions are great and packed with flavor. My regular order is the first combo--clams, shrimp, and crawfish tossed in the house special sauce, medium spicy. I also love the chargrilled oysters, house wings, and garlic crab. Definitely enough for two people to share and still have leftovers.

We came as a party of 7. Great ambiance for happy hour!! $1 oysters and fun drinks (but we didn't…read moretry this time). Note that there is a limit to 30 oysters per table. I really like how they let you build your seafood experience exactly how you want it, from the type of seafood to the seasoning and spice level. The only thing was I think the spice level could've been kicked up a notch. Our table ordered a mix of oysters, garlic noodles, Cajun fries, shrimp, crawfish, mussels, which came with corn, potatoes, sausage and hard boiled egg! The seafood was fresh and the sauce coated everything nicely without being overwhelmingly salty, and the corn and potatoes soaked up all the seasoning. All for a very reasonable price if you get the combo, which comes in 3 different tiers! The oysters were a standout--fresh, briny & I loved all the different sauces like horse radish and cocktail on the side. I do wish the fries were a bit more crispy and could've gone heavier with the Cajun seasoning, but that's personal preference. The atmosphere is casual, lively, and perfect for big groups. If you're looking for a customizable seafood boil with fresh oysters, fun drinks, and plenty of options to build your ideal meal, Rockin Crawfish is definitely worth a visit

I was very disappointed with my recent takeout order. Before placing my order, I specifically asked…read morewhether the crawfish were live, and the waitress told me they were available. Based on that conversation, I expected fresh live crawfish, which was available Tuesday when I ordered from DoorDash the previous time. After I got home and opened my order this time. it was clear that the crawfish had been frozen. If the restaurant serves frozen crawfish, that's fine, but customers should be given accurate information when they ask directly about the product right? I feel misled because I relied on what I was told when making my purchase. Transparency is important, and I hope the restaurant does a better job communicating with customers about whether their crawfish are live or previously frozen. VERY DISHONEST BUSINESS SMH.

Chef Smelly's delivered on the one thing that matters most: the food…read more My wife ordered the fried corn, collard greens, mac and cheese, half crab, and blackened shrimp. I had the salmon, fried prawns, mac and cheese, and cabbage. Everything we tried was flavorful, fresh, and cooked with care. The standout items were the blackened shrimp and the crab. The butter sauce covering the crab was absolutely delicious and packed with flavor. The salmon was cooked exactly the way salmon should be--moist, flaky, and tender. Too many restaurants overcook salmon and dry it out in the center, but Chef Smelly's got it right. The fried prawns paired perfectly with their sweet chili sauce, which was a nice change from the usual tartar sauce. The sides held their own. The mac and cheese was creamy with great texture, and while I won't call it the best I've ever had, it was very good. The cabbage was excellent, but the collard greens were the real surprise. They reminded me of my mother's homemade greens, and that's not a compliment I give lightly. If you're from the South, you know how hard it is to find greens that taste like they came from someone's family kitchen. The service was attentive, friendly, and hospitable throughout the meal. More importantly, the food was consistently good from start to finish. Bottom line: Chef Smelly's is worth the visit. Great flavor, quality ingredients, and food that feels like it was made with pride. We'll definitely be back and would gladly recommend it to others.

Amazing food with great service. Had the oyster poboy fully dressed and throughly enjoyed it. The…read moreFrench fries were not as crispy as I like and not particularly flavorful. But the hush puppies with collard greens stole the show...perfectly seasoned and cooked to right consistency. Overall atmosphere was nice with big windows that allow for plenty of sunlight in the day time. I like the music but it was just a tad loud for my taste. Otherwise we plan to visit again and get the oxtails next time.

The Food Game never disappoints! The best decision I made was when I decided to meal prep with…read moreAnanda. Her food is tasteful, healthy and never boring. You get a variety of different flavors and authentic dishes. All the ingredients are healthy and fresh. Since meal prepping with The Food Game I've continued to lose weight and my energy level is high. Healthy comfort dishes, you can't go wrong!

Ananda is amazing and her food is out of this world!!! My favorite item is the Asian Cajun Seafood…read moreBoil which I first had at FoodieLand. It was so good I ordered 2 pans of it for Thanksgiving and not a single shrimp or potato was left! I also LOVE the weekly meal prep and I have lost almost 4 pounds in 1 week. This woman is the truth and her clean eating meal prep has helped me tremendously in my everyday life as well as aid to my overall physical health! Don't miss out!!!

I've been here twice in the last month (March 2026) and everything has been excellent: the food,…read morethe service, the vibe inside, from the artwork to the music to the comfy couches along the side where you can just chill over dinner with a friend or a lover;-). The bar is substantial if you are alone and just hanging out. We had a party of 7 people last week - celebrating the sale of my sister's Oakland condo - and had to reconfigure our seating for the friend who came last minute, which was done cheerfully. The set up of Calabash allows for large groups easily. We came early (5:30pm) so we had the place to ourselves for the first half hour. Their specialty cocktails are very nice. Unfortunately the wine selection is limited (I think they'd run out of some and hadn't restocked) but we were happy with the cocktails, which include non-alcoholic options. For Vegans, there are a few great items: there's a roasted brussel sprouts & cauliflower combo that is delicious (might be a little spicy for some, but not for me!); plantain; rice & peas. And for non-meat eaters, the salmon dish and the shrimp dish (an appetizer) are both excellent. I can already tell that Calabash will be my go-to spot in Oakland. I live in San Francisco, which has no authentic Caribbean dining spot, unless you count Meski (Warriors' Draymon Green's new spot), which technically is "Ethiopian-Dominican fusion". Also the price point of Calabash is much more budget-friendly than Meski. One final note is that it is black-owned, so if you care about supporting our community of Black-owned businesses, this is a no-brainer. I'm just sayin'...

Have come here before and ordered different dishes/appetizers before but tonight, I was craving the…read moreoxtail. There was a party going on and it was busier than usual for a weekday. Part of my group was already there when I arrived and it wasn't an issue to find street parking. I ordered the Kingston Sunset for my "cocktail". Comes with Prosecco, Sorrel, and Bitters. Had to keep it fairly light for a work night. It tasted delicious and perfect for what I needed for the evening. Their drinks are really good and they don't skimp on the liquor when I usually order cocktails with liquor it in it, so if that's what you're going for, you won't be disappointed. I ordered the oxtail entree with rice and plantains. My oxtail was cooked perfectly like it usually is. Can never go wrong with ordering this dish. It's my go to when I come here, though I've had other dishes here, it's my favorite. They didn't have the scotch bonnet pepper hot sauce which goes really well with it. If you know, you know! I opted to try the crystal hot sauce just so I had something. It was better than nothing. The oxtail is already good without it, but I love the extra kick! One of the owners/investors happened to be sitting down with the private party/event at the table near ours and came to see if we needed anything which was really nice of him. Love the food/drink, music and vibes here. Come and check them out if you get a chance!

1st time dining at this location as we prefer their original spot on Polk…read more What we had here were delicious with great flavors! Service was excellent. This location has patio seating which is a plus on this pleasant spring day. The French toast, the fried chicken, shrimp po boy & fries were delicious. All soooooo good.

Brenda's Food in Oakland was a great experience overall! The fried chicken Benedict was the…read morehighlight crispy, flavorful, and really well done. The sides of potatoes were a bit soggy, and the beignet was slightly over-heated, which took away from the texture a little. Even with those small issues, the flavors were good enough that I would still come back. Friendly spot and definitely worth another visit.

Consistent service, taste and delivery. Their seafood is fresh and fried well. Complementing sides…read moredon't disappoint

Overcooked fish, expensive, and long wait…read more Spotted this place while nearby and decided to try it. I was very disappointed. The fish n chips were BAD. The fish was rubbery and thin.. The fries were okay and extra sauce was an extra cost. Not coming back.

Grabbed a Tuesday lunch outside the home office today in the Haus of Chefs…read more Went for the burrito bowl with the blackened chicken. Great salad, better chicken. Very flavorful! The beans and rice are red beans and rice, so good. Also, they really fill the bottom of the bowl with them so if you don't finish the bowl you've got another meal side to go! Can't wait to try another dish.

Omg!!! If you haven't been to Jusla for Soul Food Taco Tuesday, you're seriously missing out…read more Chef's creations are super creative, bold, and absolutely worth the hype. Here's the Vibe * We had the grilled oysters to start (YES), and I went for the fried lobster tacos--yummmm. Perfect balance of crispy, creamy, spicy, and fresh. * Sadly, they were out of their popular oxtail and spicy short rib tacos (thanks to that graduation crowd), but that just gives me a reason to go back. * I love that this spot supports pop-up chefs and local Black-owned businesses--you can feel the passion in every bite. Logistics & Details * Located inside Haus of Chefs (they're open Saturdays and Tuesdays only). * The bar is run separately by the owner, and it's fire--solid cocktails like the Creamy Espresso Martini or California Dreamin' round out the meal. * Don't miss the full dinner menu--Salt & Pepper Bronzino and the Jambalaya Rigatoni are next on my list. If you're in Oakland and want something soulful, flavorful, and full of love, this is your go-to Taco Tuesday move.