Forage Kitchen - Event Space - Oakland, California

Jason P.

Restaurant Review: Okkon - A Delightful Japanese Soul Food Experience

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Okkon, a charming Japanese soul food restaurant that left me thoroughly impressed. From their delectable Yakisoba to their mouthwatering chicken dumplings, Okkon delivered an exceptional culinary experience that truly satisfied my taste buds. Let me take you on a journey through my visit to this hidden gem.

First and foremost, the ambiance at Okkon was inviting and comfortable. The restaurant offers both outdoor and indoor seating options, allowing guests to choose according to their preference. Whether you prefer soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of the outdoors or enjoying a cozy meal indoors, Okkon has you covered. The interior décor exudes a warm and welcoming feel, providing the perfect setting for an enjoyable dining experience.

Upon entering the restaurant, I was greeted by the friendly and attentive staff. Their warm smiles and genuine hospitality set the tone for the rest of the evening. The waitstaff was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and graciously answered all of my questions, ensuring I made the best choices to suit my taste.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show—the food. Okkon truly excels in delivering authentic and soul-satisfying Japanese cuisine. The Yakisoba, a traditional stir-fried noodle dish, was nothing short of amazing. The noodles were perfectly cooked and tossed with a medley of fresh vegetables and tender protein, resulting in a harmonious blend of flavors. Each bite was a delightful explosion of savory goodness.

The chicken dumplings at Okkon were also a highlight of the meal. The dumplings were expertly crafted, with a thin and delicate skin that enveloped a succulent filling. The accompanying dipping sauce added an extra layer of tanginess that complemented the dumplings beautifully. I couldn't get enough of these flavorful morsels.

While indulging in the culinary delights at Okkon, I appreciated their payment policy, which is worth noting. The restaurant accepts Venmo and cash payments only, so it's essential to come prepared. Although this may be a slight inconvenience for some, it is a small price to pay for the incredible experience that awaits you.

In conclusion, Okkon is a Japanese soul food haven that offers an exceptional dining experience. From the mouthwatering Yakisoba to the flavorful chicken dumplings, their menu boasts an array of dishes that will leave you craving more. The restaurant's cozy ambiance, friendly staff, and commitment to authenticity make it a must-visit for any lover of Japanese cuisine. Just remember to bring cash or have Venmo ready to savor the flavors of Okkon.

SC

Went by the reviews and was pleasantly surprised by the service, food and beer quality. There's always room for improvement starting from none alcoholic drinks through outside seating and shade, however place would get a solid 4 stars for outstanding service, beer in authentic mugs, mouth watering bratwurst, beads, sauerkraut snd pretzels. Pick your battle and try it all
Will see you next time, warm, welcoming Oakland's Forage Kitchen.

MattRoadsMusic

There's always a good pop up in this space, along with wonderful outdoor seating. Tucked away enough to feel private, but super close to everything. We had some wonderful Japanese food here recently, check out this super delicious okonomiyaki!

kim S.

I'm using this commercial"Forage kitchen" and so far I'm happy with the management and the kitchen. Administrators have very easy access to everything they need and at what time of day they get in touch. The kitchen is very perfect with what you need. I am satisfied with the service.

Bartholomew R.

I'd give this space 3 or 4 stars based on its open, outdoor concept, except there is one single-use public bathroom in the back that serves the entire space (there is a second single use bathroom for Tennants only). You'll find long lines queue up quickly back there.

Shel S.

Finally, beautiful, delicious food with the complex flavors and layers I missed! I have recommended Taa'va Kitchen to more than 5 friends and all have come back with glowing praise. Run, don't walk to pick up an order. I'll be sending more friends your way - thank you!

James W.

I'm a previous member of forage kitchen, We joined in late 2016 when shared kitchens were on the rise. Our story is unique and full of entertainment so I will keep it short as possible, let me just say the facility owners, both Matt and Iso did there thang and provided a space to help with our journey. We started in 2013 and as our business grew we needed a larger space (Forage Kitchen) to handle 700+ person events, lets just say these guys came through!!! The place is clean, organized an has plenty of room for a start up caterer or someone looking to do a popup, which is what we did, using their front café space allowed us to open to the public all the while still catering, and here is the best part with a low overhead. They allowed a film crew to come in and film our daily operation and we eventually out grew the space, something I remember when I first joined sitting with Matt & Iso and them saying "We want you to come here start and move on to better things. Thank you both for your vision. Apologies for the delayed review lol Ive been busy as you both know

Angie L.

When we first time stepped into this kitchen and had a tour, we were asked whether we know how to use one of the commercial grade machines in the kitchen, we answered no while felt a bit of embarrassment. The response we got immediately was "don't worry we will help you on that" -- at that moment, I know this is the place we want to start our business. That answer for us represented their mission of building a food community full of passion. Here, it's not about how many year of experiences you are having(but I must say there are lots of well respected chefs here with amazing experiences), it's all about whether you really love your food and your customers. and the community is built based on this concept. We started our business here, and we enjoyed the vibe in the kitchen -- everyone loves to say hi to each other, we exchange ideas, we supported each other, we learned from each other, and cheer for each other, and we fortunately saw many business grow overtime. We have never felt we were excluded because we were new to this industry, in contrast, there were lots of support we have got along the way. Today, we have successfully incubated our business, and made a lot of good friends. 🙂 If you are full of passion starting a new food business for craft-minded customer community. This is a really great place to start. Highly recommend.