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    Wat Mongkolratanaram

    4.3 (964 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Wat Mongkolratanaram Photos

    WAT MONGKOLRATANARAM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Wat Mongkolratanaram

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    The spread
    Elaine C.

    If you're a Berkeley student, make sure you grab Sunday brunch here before you graduate--it's such a unique community experience, and the food is pretty solid. Highlights of our visit included the beef noodle soup and mango sticky rice! The green curry was okay, and the pad Thai was very heavy on the fish sauce. Thai iced tea is a must. I really wanted to try the coconut pancakes, but the stall wasn't here when we went. It was a little difficult to find seating, so I would recommend coming on the earlier side (they are open 10-1 on Sundays).

    Kimberly L.

    My brother found this place after reading all the great reviews, and they definitely weren't wrong! He saw that it starts getting busy around 10am, so we made a plan to arrive before then and I'm glad we did. The location is a bit interesting. It's tucked along a small street in a residential neighborhood, with what look like reserved spots and not much signage. We had to find street parking near the houses, but I was lucky enough to grab a spot off Ashby. It's just a short walk over. As soon as we walked toward the back of the temple, the aroma hit us. Wow, everything smelled incredible. You could immediately tell the food was going to be good. The lines weren't bad when we arrived, and we were able to sit and eat before it got too crowded. You have to purchase tokens before getting food, so we first looked at what we wanted in order to calculate how many tokens we needed. Then we went to the token exchange area to get exactly what we needed. It's a 1-to-1 ratio. Each token is worth $1, which makes it pretty straightforward once you understand the system. I got the $13 plate for 3 items, which included rice. My three items were the Pumpkin (Kabocha) Basil, the chicken parang curry, and the minced pork with Thai basil. My plate tasted really good -- all the flavors were spot on, like something you'd get at a full-service Thai restaurant. The pumpkin was tender and flavorful, the chicken parang curry was rich and comforting, and the minced pork with Thai basil had the perfect balance of savory and aromatic. My daughter got the soup. The soup was amazing. I honestly couldn't stop drinking it and my daughter loved it just as much. It was comforting, flavorful, and one of the highlights of the meal. After eating most of my plate, I couldn't quite finish because I was getting full and I knew I needed to save room for dessert. The dessert line was getting long. I waited for quite some time, but it was absolutely worth it, especially since I haven't seen these types of desserts at typical Thai restaurants. We got the Babin (Taro fritter pancakes) and Krok (got the chives and cinnamon) Combo. You get 2 Babins and 6 or 8 Kroks. Both so good. The Next time, we'll probably order everything (including dessert) before we start eating so we don't run into the long wait again. Overall, such a unique and delicious experience. The food, flavors, and atmosphere made it feel special. Definitely arrive before 10am if you can and don't skip dessert. We'll absolutely be back!

    Mango sticky rice
    Jay S.

    My friend and I went there of lunch. We went when it first open at 10am. You first exchanged cash into plastic coins. I got beef noodle for $12 and $11 for mango sticky rice. The beef noodle line was longer than rice line. The selected the fat rice noodles, you have three choices. Everything tasted good, you get big thin slice of beef, beef tender and beef balls. The bean sprouts were good but the celery was out of place. I took home the mango sticky rice, the picture is only half, I ate one half before remembering to picture. Overall, I enjoyed the experience, it is not as big as the one in Los Angeles Thai temple. Street parking was available when come early. They do have tables for sitting down. Place to put away your dishes.

    Sirikanya p.

    Peaceful and sacred.... There are food for sale every Sunday, make sure you go early( I would say around 10 am) so you don't have to fight for parking and be in line for a long time. If you have company, have one in line for food or dessert and you go exchange tokens to save time. FYI, if you want to take them Togo, there is an extra charge for that.....

    pumpkin curry, pad thai, green beans/tofu
    El B.

    4.5 The soup was the absolute best on a cold morning! The mango sticky rice and green papaya salad were also really good. I loved how much of a community place this was. It wouldn't work in SF...definitely a Berkeley kind of vibe. The only thing that could have made this a better experience was if the sanctuary were open. A moment to sit quietly and pray would have been really appreciated right about now. I'll be back.

    Jane C.

    We came here to eat some Thai food. My bf is Thai and used to going to the eat when he was young. It was such a neat experience seeing so many people of all races and cultures here. There was a line to exchange cash for tokens. Basically $1 is 1 token. Each line for food was approximately 11 tokens with 1 token extra for Togo container. I saw many people bring their own Tupperware or containers which I thought was great to reduce waste and save money. We came here maybe 945am and lines were open since they open 10am-1pm for food. There were some small lines we waited in. We tried the beef noodle soup which was delicious and tasty. You could tell the broth was rich from the beef blood. It was slightly sweet also. Very authentic tasting. There was a table with sauces, chili and condiments. We also got the kanom krok, I chose the mixed one with corn and green onion. It was sooo good, my first time trying it. It was a sweet crispy coconut pancake and inside was chewy. The green onion one was savory and sweet and corn was sweet. We also got the papaya salad to go, fried chicken to go and a plate of pad Thai, eggplant basil and pork belly, egg and tofu stew. I also got a Thai iced tea for $3. Fried chicken was crispy and had a side of sticky rice and Thai sweet chili sauce. It was very good and had nice seasoning. Papaya salad was refreshing and light, Thai style but not super spicy. The combo plate was okay similar to dishes you would get at a restaurant but the pork belly egg and tofu stew was unique, sweet and similar to a braised Taiwanese dish. There were plenty of tables and tents for seating and I saw people sitting on the grass with blankets. Clean up was organized. They had trash cans separated and labeled for where to put bowls, utensils, food waste. It was also nice to see regular locals come and interact with the temple volunteers that all come frequently. Glad all the funding goes to the Wat.

    line for beef noodle
    Melody L.

    Not sure if we just came on an off day, or if I got the wrong vegetarian items, but I feel like our experience is the complete opposite of all the positive reviews here. I was pretty excited to find out that there was a Buddhist temple serving vegetarian food, because Buddhist vegetarian cuisine is usually SO good. The space is really cool, from the beautiful exterior design of the temple, to the large and sunny plaza in the backyard with plenty of seating. You first exchange cash for tokens, which you then use to purchase the actual food. Vegetarian line was basically nonexistent; most people were in line for the beef noodle soup, understandably as it's the most famous item here. I got a plate of pad thai and cabbage and potato curry with rice for 12 tokens ($12). Veg pad thai: would 100% avoid the vegetarian pad thai if we ever decide to come back, which is unlikely. It was all noodle -- no scallions, only a few shriveled bean sprouts, no tofu, no egg. It was also so sweet for something that should be savory/umami. Cabbage and potato curry: all potato, almost no cabbage, pretty stingy serving of tofu and the curry in general. It felt like they purposefully piled on as much pad thai and white rice as possible to avoid having to dole out more curry. Beef noodle soup ($12 / 12 tokens): husband said it was okay, but way too salty. He couldn't drink the soup at all. Honestly both of us decided to cut our losses, so we didn't even bother trying any of the desserts or drinks. The lines were also incredibly long, 20-40min wait, for almost every stand. It was cool to support the temple, but otherwise I'd say this felt more like a novelty experience than somewhere we'd come for the quality of the food.

    Mango sticky rice
    Felinn A.

    A few years ago we had a Thai temple in Nile's that used to also vend food, but it closed down. So after hearing of this spot I was relieved and revived to be able to get my outdoor Thai temple food fix again! Such an amazing and local spot. We visited not expecting too much other than the regular dishes like pad Thai and mango sticky rice. But the options were loaded! They had curries, meat dishes, beef soup, fried items, drinks, and many desserts. We were truly amazed. Super easy system of trading in cash for tokens, and fast service with little to no lines when we arrived towards the end. It was just a gratifying experience to sit with other locals, see people of the community work the event with their loved ones and family. Delicious and filling food overall! This will not be our first time and we hope to come back for the fried foods and warm smelling beef soup!

    Connie X.

    Tips for visiting: -Food purchases are token-based. $1 = 1 token. Dishes are around $11-12. -Come early if you're driving! Parking can be difficult around Russell Street. My boyfriend and I shared the beef noodle soup, kabocha curry, and Thai coconut pancake. All the food was great, except the kabocha was slightly undercooked. My FAVORITE was the Thai coconut pancake. The perfect sweet treat that's not too sweet and has a memorable crispy exterior with a gooey interior, thanks to the rice flour and coconut milk. They come with different toppings, too, including corn, chives, and cinnamon! Highly recommend coming here. AND you support the temple!

    Mango sticky rice $11
    Veronica L.

    First time ever to this longtime Sunday brunch event. Came with friends who have been going for over 2 decades. We didn't get enough tokens but made do with what we had. Bring cash to redeem for tokens and try to guess how many tokens you will need so you don't have to get back in the token line before getting in the food lines. Parking on the street wasn't too hard but we got there when it opened at 10am. The beef noodle soup was the favorite and I like that you can choose the type of noodle you want. They have skinny, medium, and the big flat noodles. My husband's curry plate was a little too spicy for me. The mango sticky rice was delicious with a little bit of coconut sauce. The Thai iced tea is $3 and pretty good. Seating is mostly in the sun so go early if you want to snag a spot in the shade. Keep in mind the sun is moving so you might start in shade and end up in sun.

    Sylvia L.

    We visited on a Sunday in June. Beautiful sunny day in Berkeley! ORDER Beef Noodle Soup Two Meat Combo Plates Konam Krok Sweet Rice and Mango Thai Ice Tea STARS (stand out qualities) -Food (5/5 stars) - all the food was so delicious! My favorite was the mango sticky rice and the Konam Krok! -Service (5/5 stars) - workers seem very friendly and working hard; I wonder if they are volunteering for the temple; I told one of the staff it was my first time and they gave me an orientation for the cooks -Ambiance (5/5 stars) - serene, outdoor ambiance is wonderful; there are chairs and tables with and without shade; there is a grassy area to picnic; plenty of utensils and napkins too; bathrooms are clean; each food section space is well organized STAIRS (areas of growth) -I don't hace a lot to say at this point! TIPS -Bring cash! -Estimate what dishes you get to bring the right amount of cash -Any coins you don't use can be returned for cash or donated to temple -Please be kind and patient with staff. There may be long lines but I think they are doing their best to support temple -There is pretty much a line for each dish; if you are with other people, you can split to order separately -Bring picnic blanket if you want to have a picnic -Bring takeout boxes if you want to save and not buy one (also help with the environment to reuse) -There is street parking if you are driving; you may need to walk a few blocks since it's pretty packed with residential cars

    Sherman T.

    Inner peace and balance are great goals to strive for in life and at Wat Mongkolratanaram, your stomach will attain fullness in harmony with all the food groups. Located in south Berkeley, just doors down from the Berkeley Public Library, this Thai Buddhist temple opens its doors and courtyards to the public to share their delicious food, spacious atmosphere, and positive energy. This exclusive experience is only available one day a week for lunch, although if you want to actually get a solid meal, you'll want to come early - perhaps as soon as they open. The food can sell out and the lines can get long, but it seems the patrons come in waves so the churn is quite constant. It's all outdoor seating with some benches/tables under awnings or out in the sun and others on the fresh grass lawns. A good number of visitors take their food to go (at an extra cost for the to-go container) but most bask in the aura of positivity among fellow community members and temple staff/volunteers. The parking is atrocious in the closed end street on which the temple resides but just across the street near the park, you'll find a good number of spots among the neighborhood. A little walk won't hurt and will actually be a good idea for after your meal here. As you step foot onto the temple grounds, you'll get wafts of deliciously smelling food, their fragrance piercing through your nostrils and tickling those nerves to stimulate the rumble in your tummy. But before your nose leads you astray, make your way to the register where you can use cash, credit or Apple Pay to exchange for tokens equivalent to their dollar values. These colored tokens will be used to exchange for the food in each line and any extra can be returned for a refund or donated to the temple afterwards. Now you're ready for the lines! You'll have your choice of beef noodle soups, rice plates (savory and sweet), or fried cakes. Depending on your craving, get in the respective line and be prepared to place your order. Naturally, we got a little bit of almost everything to share among our party and it was a great idea because it was a lot of food! And don't forget the sauce bar near the register! Beef noodle soup - delicious broth topped on a pile of noodles (thin, regular, or flat), protein (beef flank, brisket, and balls), and vegetables (bean sprouts, carrots, green onions). This bowl of noodles is piping hot and a huge portion for one individual. Rice plates - you'll have the choice of one, two, or three items to go with your serving of steamed white rice. There is quite a variety of items including vegetarian and meat options. We ended up getting a bit of almost all the items and enjoyed it all. The yellow and panang curries were delicious and paired well with rice. There was a good portion of chicken in the yellow chicken curry and big chunks of potatoes in the yellow vegetarian curry. The panang curry has a bit of a kick of spice but is extremely flavorful. Again, a good portion of protein makes this a top choice for me. The pad Thai is a staple and we ended up getting two portions of it. Flavorful and easy to share. We also got the basil eggplant and pork belly, tofu and egg stew they were also very delicious. It was harder to share the stew but it had a good bit of protein for those looking to bulk up. We also got the fried chicken that comes with a portion of sticky rice. It's not the breaded kind but more roasted to the point of a crispy skin exterior yet succulent insides. The meat was seasoned well and was a favorite for our non-spice tolerant party members. And of course, the mango sticky rice was a hit. It comes with the coconut milk for you to lather the dish up or for dipping with each bite. The mango was sweet and refreshing! Fried cakes - khanom krok, a Thai dessert made with coconut milk, was filled with your choice of mango, chives, or cinnamon. These little domed pancakes were delicious and their small size made them easy to pop in your mouth and enjoy the subtle sweetness of the coconut milk while savoring its special filling. As for drinks, you can get water, coffee, or Thai iced tea. The iced tea wasn't anything special but sitting at $3, it was worth getting to fully embrace the Thai meal experience. Overall, Wat Mongkolratanaram checks all the boxes for a Thai meal while being quite affordable for the variety and amount of food you get (most items averaged about $12). However, the main attraction of it all is the experience of dining among the monks within their place of worship and giving to this community in return for a full belly and a sense of connection with its people. The popularity of this place is certainly quite high and for good reason, but it seems common for locals to venture here regularly and others looking to get a taste of the hype. If you've never been, you'll need to make a trek here and perhaps, you may achieve enlightenment (of the food variety, of course)!

    Darwin P.

    the temple and its beautiful structures are my favorite thing from the Wat. i came along to see its cozy vibe, and the thai food: it was delicious meal it was a refreshing feeling to enjoy this food outside, along the berkeley weather. i can't wait to come back

    (3) 3-4 item plate, fried chicken, papaya salad, Thai tea

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    1 year ago

    Amazing, authentic Thai food at the Berkeley Thai temple. Such a special experience and the food is SO GOOD!

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    The food, the service, and the ambience are all excellent. We highly recommend this restaurant.

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    Page 2 of 25

    Ask the Community - Wat Mongkolratanaram

    Are small well behaved dogs ok?

    As of February 2022, are they open for outdoor dining? If so, which pandemic restrictions are in place?

    Yes, most people were wearing masks today, but not everyone.

    Wll they be open Sunday July 4th 2021 for brunch?

    Yes - they open Sunday July 4th 2021 for brunch.

    Do they have vegan options with no fish/oyster sauce?

    Yes, last I checked their vegetarian curry was vegan and I believe some of their noodle dishes are vegan, you can ask where you order. Other vendors also have some vegan offerings.

    Asking this as of Feb 9th, 2021 -- Anyone know when they will open back up? It's about to be a year since they've closed! I miss going and have been wanting to show my husband this place for so long.

    They just posted on Facebook and will be open for take out only starting March 7, 10am-1pm

    It's September 19, are they currently open during the pandemic?

    I just called and they said no, they're not open

    Is this place open on Sunday during shelter in place?

    just called them; they are not open

    When are they open again?

    March 7, 2021 - limited menu for take out only.

    Is this place a working temple or restaurant ? Seems every post is about the food.

    It is an active Thai temple that serves food to the public every Sunday.

    Is it open every Sunday? I heard it may just be open one Sunday a month now but I don't know if that's true.

    It's open every Sunday. I've been there the last 3 weeks in a row.

    Is this open tomorrow, Sunday 1/20?

    It's open every Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm

    I have a gluten allergy (allergy to wheat, barley, rye). Are there gluten-free options?

    Are the noodles rice noodles?

    Aside from popular holidays, is the food and festivity offered every Sunday year-round?

    The food is available every Sunday but they only have music, dance & chanting on Thai festival days.

    Are dogs allowed?

    yes

    Are English/ non-Thai speakers allowed to come practice? Are there classes or events available for English speakers?

    Yes

    Is there vegan food?

    Yes. There are vegan items

    Open on western holidays, like Christmas Eve and/or New Years Eve 2018?

    Nope

    Open in the rain?

    Yup! Rain or shine, they're open. I've been there in the sunshine and in a downpour.

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    Review Highlights - Wat Mongkolratanaram

    Thai temple takes cash only and I would consider bringing 20 dollars in cash to try all the different foods.

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    Berkeley Buddhist Monastery - Berkeley Buddhist Monastery Institute for World Religions

    Berkeley Buddhist Monastery

    4.6(13 reviews)
    0.7 miDowntown Berkeley

    An Indonesian friend introduced me to this place. I have to admit I thought the white monks were…read moreweird. Not because they did or said anything weird. Just because they were the first white monks I ever met. But it was good to know I was wasn't the only Buddhist born person there. I trust they don't use Buddhism for commercial profit. How could they be Buddhist if they did? My brother goes here every time he comes to visit from the east coast. He's not Buddhist anymore, but still likes the meditation classes. I wish they would convince him to stay Buddhist. I also wish they had more Sri Lankan monks, more kids activities, yoga, and female monks. The location is perfect for kids. The temple is in between 2 elementary schools. Teaching children how to meditate would be so nice! The space would also be good for family yoga. I hope they take these suggestions into consideration.

    We went here recently to sit with Ajahn Amaro, a Theravadan monk in the Thai Forest tradition. He…read moreteaches here once a month. It's an interfaith Buddhist monastery, and there is a variety of stuff that happens here -- sittings, classes, ceremonies, etc. The space is absolutely gorgeous! The main temple room is like 3 stories high, with gorgeous stained glass. There are cushions and chairs, the chairs being quite comfortable and sturdy. You have to remove your shoes, and there is a nice plush carpet (light blue, no less!) in the temple room. If it's winter and you're going to sit here, I recommend wearing a lot of clothing or bringing a blanket. We were freezing when we were there. I imagine it's hard to heat a room that's 3 stories high.

    Photos
    Berkeley Buddhist Monastery - Berkeley Buddhist Monastery Institute for World Religions

    Berkeley Buddhist Monastery Institute for World Religions

    Berkeley Buddhist Monastery - Berkeley Buddhist Monastery Institute for World Religions

    Berkeley Buddhist Monastery Institute for World Religions

    Berkeley Buddhist Monastery - Berkeley Buddhist Monastery Institute for World Religions

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    Berkeley Buddhist Monastery Institute for World Religions

    Nyingma Institute - Sylvia Gretchen teaching an Advanced Meditation class 2012.

    Nyingma Institute

    4.9(15 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Great Tibetan Buddhist place to relax meditate and find yourself…read more Excellent teachers.

    First off, let me say that this is NOT an actual temple or monastary. That does not take away from…read morethe fact that this is a beautiful & peaceful place that you can learn from. Ive been in an odd situation so out of semi desperation I took the liberty in making my stay into a "mini retreat". The workshop I took was a half day (10-1) intro to meditation, chanting & kum nye at $45 w/ accommodations of an overnight stay being another $45. If you stay overnight you get free access to to the morning meditation & kum nye session of the next day. The instructor Ken was a very light, open minded person who had a very peaceful vibe to him. While he did mention some overall basic tools towards meditation I found that I had gathered more information/knowledge on my own through reading books and articles online. I think the longest we sat was 15 mins w/ generally a couple of 10 min intervals. I did enjoy the chanting & the kum nye. Although chanting wasn't necessarily new to me kum nye was a whole new experience. Quite different from other yogas I had partaken in. It seemed that there was more focus on the entire body, paying attention to "smaller" details that other yogas (at least from my experience) tend to overlook. This definitely helped me to relax more and get into a deeper practice. Around 11:30 we took a 20 min break for tea and snacks. I thought this was a nice touch, but with such a short workshop I felt the break was a little too long. After our workshop we were served food in their dining room. Although there are signs everywhere in that room thanking people for respecting their requests to keep meals silent, I guess our instructor said it was okay to have "light talking". I still personally chose to eat my meal in silence. This of course is for people to become more mindful of their food/eating habits. If you wish to talk there is a separate room w/ a gorgeous view in which you can do so. After that I went to my room which had an absolutely BEAUTIFUL view. I cannot believe I had paid only $45 for the room considering that is generally motel prices. However i used that room to justify my overall purchase of $90 since i didnt think the workshop was worth the $45. It was on the very top of the "new house" (there are two buildings) w/ a view of both the bay & golden gate bridge, absolutely breathtaking during sunset! Their meditation garden is also very beautiful & peaceful. They had a large prayer wheel which spins 24/7 as w/ the rest of the prayer wheels that border the back of the main house. I found it peculiar that all of the prayer wheels were mechanical since it seems to defeat the purpose; however, as mentioned earlier this is not a temple. One of my favorite things about this place though was the library. They had quite a few number of books which can be overwhelming but I stuck with reading "The Way of the Bodhisattva" for hours and even almost finished it. The only odd thing was that they requested for people to leave the books in the library & said that if you wanted to take them to your room you should buy it in the main house (they have a little gift shop but i suggest you go to an actual Tibetan store/ amazon instead). Luckily the library is VERY comfortable so i preffered reading in there anyways. The library is in the new house, which you actually need to have a key to get in so I don't believe it is open to the public. Maybe if you offer a donation they'll let you in. That is another thing I'm not so sure about. With workshops being $45+ what are the needs for donations? There is no mention as to giving back to the actual Tibetan community or anything so this was something I was skeptical of..I should have asked so it's nothing I'll hold against them. They do not serve dinner Saturdays but there are options close by and downtown is about a 20 minute walk (maybe a good time to practice walking meditation). Even though they arr closed to the public they give you keys so you don't have to worry about getting locked out. This place is not wheel chair accessible. If you have bad knees or whatever there are quite a few set of stairs throughout the place. They have free chanting session and dharma talks Sunday evenings! You can also do a drop in for their Sunday morning meditation and kum nye for a decent price. If you stay overnight it is suggested that you wash your sheets. Quarters are needed and it's a dollar for both the washer and dryer (8 quarters needed, they have change in the main building). You are allowed to use their kitchen in the main house to cook meals. They have a small fridge & an electric kettle in the new house. While I did really enjoy my stay, if I had honestly had more time, not only planning but for retreat in general and had better means of transportation I would prefer to go to an actual temple. Also temples will often offer free meditation classes. But if you just need a quick getaway or are planning last minute I think this is a good alternative

    Photos
    Nyingma Institute - Meditation classes

    Meditation classes

    Nyingma Institute - The Institute grounds feature many traditional Tibetan prayer flags, bringing merit and good fortune to all on the premises.

    The Institute grounds feature many traditional Tibetan prayer flags, bringing merit and good fortune to all on the premises.

    Nyingma Institute

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    Berkeley Buddhist Temple - Memorial for a wonderful person - M Takeda- she lived her 85 years to the fullest

    Berkeley Buddhist Temple

    4.0(3 reviews)
    0.7 miDowntown Berkeley

    I came a few weeks ago for the first time and really liked it and was interested in returning. But…read moreI decided not to return, because everytime someone associated with the temple was talking to me about it, they were also touching my shoulder. It made me very uncomfortable and I was never asked by anyone if I felt okay with touch. I was unresponsive to the touches, but on most days, this would be extremely upsetting for me. While I have this experience many places I go, I was shocked to be having it at a Buddhist temple, and this has inspired me to buy and wear accessories that spell out to people that they need to ask before they just start touching people. It should not be necessary to point out that not everyone is comfortable with unconsensual casual touch, but BBT has helped prove to me that it is, and that even in the Buddhist community I'll be treated this way if I set foot outside. Not quite the experience I was hoping for in my first visit to a Buddhist temple.

    I will admit this review is a little bias. I've been going to this church and working this bazaar…read moresince I was in the second grade which is a long time. But it's totally worth the 5 Stars. Things I know: -It's small. We're a small church but very family oriented church. - We don't serve Alcohol. Hey, we're a small church and those permits are expensive. Reason why this bazaar is better then others: -Our food: All of our food is prepared w/ lots of love and personal touch. I have personally squeezed the age for the inari. Meaning we use the real stuff and yes, it's fresh. None of that canned stuff. We serve loco mocos and portabella mushroom burgers, which I have never seen at any other Bazaar. The Steak Dinners, Chicken Dinners, eggrolls, manju, and baked goods are all very good as well. -Our Silent Auction: We always get some good donations for the silent auction. This year I got a box for the A's game's Japanese Heritage night. We also had a bunch of bonsai trees, beautiful art, and every year one of our chef members donates a sushi dinner for 30-40 people. The donations change every year but we always have some pretty good items and I always seem to spend more then I hoped for. -Our Sunday Entertainment: On Sunday of the Bazaar we close the street down and set up a stage for a number of different performers. This year, Grammy Award nominee Anthony Brown and acclaimed Bay Area writer-performer Brenda Wong Aoki headlined the entertainment. Also, Kalena Gregory's Hawaiian dance group, Hui Hula o na Pu'u i ka Noe; the Destiny Arts Center's youth hip-hop dance group; and the Dii Lewis Band, featuring Lorin Kagehiro all had some awesome performances. I go to a number of bazaar's throughout the year and i must say ours has the most personal touch. Many of the bigger festivals mass mass produce their food and it's made poorly. I've even been to one where they made their veggie sushi w/ celery.. GROSS.. its supposed to be made w/ a nice blanched string bean. I mean if you don't want to spend the money on the string bean at least get cucumber, not celery. So, if you're not doing anything next year during Bay to Breaker time, check it out. I'll be sure to greet you at the Hamburger booth.

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    Berkeley Buddhist Temple
    Berkeley Buddhist Temple
    Berkeley Buddhist Temple

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    Oakland California Temple - Part of Sky mural in visitors center

    Oakland California Temple

    4.7(164 reviews)
    5.1 miLower Hills

    We took a tour inside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temple's Visitor's Center…read more The Visitor's center is open to the pubic and it's free. In addition you don't need to make reservations. We were warmly welcomed when we entered and were asked if we wanted a tour or would we just like to look around on our own. We opted for the tour. There was a short video presentation on families and them being together for ever. It was a sweet presentation. Unlike the Carousel of Progress at Disney World where the room moves for you, in this presentation you have to walk to each viewing area. It wasn't an issue. You just moved down the seats 5 feet or so to the next stage. It was a well done presentation. After that we wandered around. In the back part of the visitor's center there are floor to ceiling windows and today was a clear day and you could clearly see the Golden Gate Bridge. What a sight. They also had 3 examples of historic temples. One all the way back in the Old Testament to Moses's time. I thought that was really cool to see temples were built back in the biblical times and not something just made up for today. My parents enjoyed their theater and sat though many of the 8 stores of missionaries and there journeys of faith and service. I listened to 2 and really enjoy hearing about their stories and struggles. The Visitor's Center is Staffed with full time missionaries from the Church off Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Unlike what you may have heard about missionaries, these are just sweet kids trying to make everyone feel welcome and if you're intreasted they will tell you about God and his plan of happiness. These are not used car salesmen they aren't trying to sell you something or pull wool over your eyes. If you are interested in knowing more about them or there church you are free to inquire, but they aren't going to push anything on you. The grounds are beautifully maintained and well manicured. There are always flowers in bloom and the trash is always lush. If you go to the top of the temple you can see a view of the city. There is a staircase to the right and left of the entrance that will take you to the roof. Parking is great. They have there own private lot and parking is free. The spaces are wide and I had no issue parking. Bathrooms, the visitors center has plenty of clean well stocked bathrooms. Concerts and Programs, all free of charge- Their are lots of different offerings depending on the season. I wanted to take a picture of the Easter Celebrations for the week, but my phone died on me. They have some Holy Week activities, if you are interested I'd give them a call and asked for the list of activities that are happening soon. During December there are lots of programs and organizations and other churches participated. I believe they have an interfaith concert which brings people of many faiths together. The last concert I went to was a bell concert. People with musical bells came to perform in the concert hall. It was something I've never heard of before, but enjoyed. Family history center- They have a family history also referred to as genealogy center in the basement and that is also free to the public. We didn't pop our heads in, but we heard it's there.

    Really gorgeous building and sunset view but they didn't allow service animals past the gate onto…read morethe rooftop garden (I asked security). I was confused because temples and churches are meant to be inclusive to all people... some cannot go too long without their service animal for medical reasons. It felt like it goes against the message establishments like these pride themselves on... Hoping they will change this soon, for safety reasons.

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    Oakland California Temple - View from the parking lot

    View from the parking lot

    Oakland California Temple - Jesus

    Jesus

    Oakland California Temple

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    Buddhist Church of Oakland

    Buddhist Church of Oakland

    4.3(12 reviews)
    4.0 miLake Merritt

    I was asked to bring some mochi for my father's funeral, per the reverends request. But the only…read moreplace that sells funeral mochi in the area now is in San Jose. So on the morning of the funeral, I waited outside the San Jose mochi place for a half hour, first in line with my preorder. Came as fast as I could to this church but arrived 15 minutes late do to traffic. When I finally arrived, the whole place was completely locked and my wife and I were locked out of my father's entire funeral service. Someone finally let us in after it was over. My family has been having services here for generations. But that will stop with me. I will never forgive myself for going on a fools errand to grab some stupid mochi per some ridiculous traditions. And I will never come to support this place again, no matter who dies.

    Date: 8/1/2015 Time: 5:35 PM 70° Sunny…read more Even though I grew up in Oakland Chinatown and attended Lincoln Elementary School (a block from this church), I have never attended the annual Obon Festival. Today is my first time. This is indeed an enjoyable and entertaining cultural event - the music, the Taiko drummers, the dancers in their colorful kimonos, the food, and the handcrafted greeting cards ($3.00 or $5.00 each). They also have chicken/steak/short ribs dinners and baked goods (cakes and cookies) for sale - fundraising for the church. I am highly impressed with the music and singing. Wow...jazz and beautiful singing in Japanese; CD's going for $15.00 each. Then hearing the song, Sukiyaki, brings back memories of my childhood days. I am glad that my husband and I decided to stop by to take in the festive celebration. Much appreciation to the members of this church for organizing and putting on this lovely event. Finally, the Obon Festival was worth attending - free entertainment at its best. It may not be as popular as the Art and Soul Festival several blocks away in Downtown Oakland, but I have to say one thing. I did not have to pay $12.00 to watch and listen to a cultural event.

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    Buddhist Church of Oakland
    Buddhist Church of Oakland
    Buddhist Church of Oakland

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    East Bay Meditation Center - Photo by Katie Loncke

    East Bay Meditation Center

    4.9(41 reviews)
    3.6 miLake Merritt

    Super welcoming, efficient and kind... Keep trying the various teachers and I find there's someone…read morefor everyone in terms of style and Dharma offerings with the various programs in wide variety of teachers... Improvement could be made with donating one portal easy like IMC Redwood City and I would really appreciate less aggressive dana talks and an easier portal /platform for donating going to each individual teachers platform and having to sign up with the platform is not a solution and I appreciate your kind attention and hope this can be made easier for all beings to donate to East Bay Meditation Center because basically I'm waiting until the teachers come to Insight Meditation Center Redwood City and donating to them at that venue because easier. Also another Meditation Center that even has an easier platform for donation is Flagstaff Meditation Center you go in pull down the teacher's name click in the donation arrives to the teacher and or Center....

    I have been attending workshops at EBMC sporadically for close to 2 years now. I am not a regular…read moremeditator, despite my intentions, I accept what is for now lol. I value EBMC so much as a learning space. The workshops I have attended always provided information for me, whether about the nature of things or about my inner world that was right on time! I have definitely grown as a result and feel helped along through life's challenges & lessons. I love the gift economics model they use, I just wish we could venmo our donations or some other way online where eventbrite doesn't charge fees. I try to pay cash on site instead when I have it, but yea I hate the fees. Tip: scent free space, and they mean it! I actually love fabric softener (it was a luxury my family did not afford when I was a kid) and now I dump it enthusiastically all over my laundry, so attending events at EBMC requires some extra planning on my part, but I appreciate that they are serious to make it accessible for everyone and it's well worth my effort.

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    East Bay Meditation Center - Photo by Katie Loncke

    Photo by Katie Loncke

    East Bay Meditation Center - Beyond Ferguson Honoring Ancestors 2014. Photo Human Element Photography

    Beyond Ferguson Honoring Ancestors 2014. Photo Human Element Photography

    East Bay Meditation Center - Photo by Katie Loncke

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    Photo by Katie Loncke

    Wat Mongkolratanaram - thai - Updated May 2026

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