Ben's

I went here after a Google search... I wanted some good Chinese Fried Rice! This place is tucked in the cuts off Broadway. The inside is not clean--its very dirty. The refrigerator where the refreshments are kept, the glass appears that it hasn't been cleaned in months! It's pretty ran down on the inside, with a super high counter, so you can't see into the kitchen area. I ordered the Ben's Special Fried Rice. The rice was good, although overpriced, and especially for the condition of the restaurant and are. I paid $30.00 for 2 orders of house special Fried rice. Although I actually loved their chilli/jalapeno sauce, I probably wouldn't go back because of the condition of the place.

Really good food, very fresh. I ordered the chicken fried rice as takeout, chicken was fresh and juicy, not overcooked and the taste was spot on. Goes well with the included hot sauce which is mildly hot. Ambience is not great as it is a warehouse neighborhood, recommend food as takeout.

Loved this place! I was visiting from Korea and I needed some Asian food with rice. The place is small and simple but Ben and the other perosn working there were very friendly. They offered hot tea, and more rice! Food was good and the prices were reasonable. I highly recommend!

Our lunch here was fantastic. The food was superb. David, the guy who greeted us and waited on us is truly a friendly person, and his dad, Ben is cooking in this wonderful hole-in-the-wall restaurant. We'll be back! We had Ben's fried rice, and Ben's Chow Mein. Both were delicious, and the topper is the chili sauce they make in-house. Yum!

Yum! Hole in the wall gem. Food is fresh and delicious, I ate my whole plate in one sitting. Ben was cooking up the food, friendly waiter, no wonder they’ve been open so long. Cash or PayPal/cash app only.

I got this beautiful lunch for $10.50, one thing folks, CASH ONLY. The gentleman who took my order was soo nice and the food is really good. They have lots of regulars so you know it’s good. Will be coming back for sure.

Excellent AUTHENTIC Chinese food in Oakland! If you are in the area I highly recommend you pay this small mom and pop restaurant a visit, food will not disappoint, prices for quality and size of the dishes are also great! Will be returning.

First time here, ordered the mapo tofu with pork, hasn’t even come out yet, and the owner is offering me free sides of the Wednesday special fried chicken strips... Mapo tofu comes out... very different style than Im used to, more stir fried fresh veggies with slices of pork and tofu... but delicious and huge! For the price, it’s kind of unbelievable!

First time here, jury out but we where welcomed in. Photos of menu with current prices. Older photos are have a $3.00 difference. Inflation. Place is small and Cash Only sign on counter. Beverages and some beer in the ice cooler. Tables needed to be cleaned off and floors too but I don't mind maybe they had a lunch rush. Food smell decent enough

Love this hole-in-the-wall place for lunch. Ben's the dad working the stove, Dave's the son who takes the orders. Tiny little greasy spoon (make sure you keep your jacket on if you're wearing something special b/c the space is small and the cooking smells will stick on ya). Americanized-Chinese but in a way that is old-school traditional. I order the same thing every time and I think that's pretty much how it is with all the regulars. Seriously yummy chili sauce. My entire lunch situation is about balancing the ratio of chili sauce with rice so I get the perfect mix. I try to avoid eating too much rice but these carbs are worth it with the sauce.

A very nice family run resto . David and Ben man the small place in the heart of Oakland`s produce market . I got the Wednesday Fried Chicken special . I think it was $11.00 . I got a diet Pepsi and it wass $ 14.00 total . The chicken was white breast meat , 5 thick 4 inch tenders served with white rice and the most fresh brocoli florettes I have ever had . The Chicken tenders came with a delicious spicy sauce for dipping ( Kung Pao possibly ) was great . Tiny pace , odd hours ( if you work late nights ... this place opens 7 am - 10 am then break 11 am till 2 pm close . I love a family resto . Support Ben and David , so worthy

Food on point like I grew up with that all have closed or moved. The place gets busy at 11:30 am if you want lunch. Parking on the street is easy. Now 7 am to 10 am is high time! Oakland Produce Terminal is open! They get the BEST PRODUCE! Great selection of American Chinese Food! There is only ONE menu for the restaurant. DO NOT TAKE IT HOME. If you get it to go it's awesome. We ate there in one of the 3 tables of 4. Hot tea on point. David who took our order was on top of it. And his dad the master chef (the only chef) fired up the wok and out came, beef chow, mapo tofu, and seafood delight. OMG better than Oakland Chinatown. And they make a home made pepper sauce oil to die for! We also got another beef chow fun and bbq pork tofu! The best! The holy grail of hole in the wall Chinese. Price point better than some places we been to! Great Monday to Friday restaurant!

Cash only with pretty straight forward menu. Shared the shrimp and chicken fried rice. I don't even like shrimp much but this was really clean, fresh flavors. The chili sauce was also special. Will try again.

Fast, easy, friendly, yummy. Make sure to bring cash, Ben will spot you if you forget, just get him back!

Ben's is ,without a doubt, no frills but always good. Limited menu but whatever you choose is always good. Portions are trencherman sized! There are a few tables. Best to get to go. Bring cash.

Great little spot Kinda has a weird smell like fermented vegetables Its in the produce market area Food and prices are great!

I assume a small family owned business. Workers know their customers well. Food & service is aways great!

It's a real hole in the wall, tiny place, old, and not updated, yet, regulars come to get the home style Chinese dishes, a few American-nized Chinese food. Tasty and affordable greasy spoon. Well worth your time and money to go and try it. A favorite is the fried chicken once' per week special but I preferred the rice plates.

Amazing. Great food, great service, great people. Highly recommend. Only complaint is they aren't open longer.

For lunch on Wednesday I arrived for the day's special - crispy garlic chicken. The chicken had an appropriate amount of crispiness without being oily or dry. The accompanying cucumbers, while simple, seemed quite fresh. Quite notably, the table had black bean sauce that carried such a complex flavor of umami from anchovies that it must have been homemade. No mass-produced black bean sauce would be more ingredient than sauce and that fragrant. The experience of going to Ben's merits mention. Even at 11:45 AM on Wednesday, 15 minutes after opening, Ben's was already full. A quick rapport with David, manning the cashier and front counter, gave me an hour's estimate for the wait. which proved quite accurate. As I waited outside and grabbing some Tsingtaos from the fridge, David, despite the rush, made conversation multiple times (aside from suggesting the beers) and talked about what orders had been lined up and I could piggyback off/change to get my order more quickly. He also discussed what times of the day have off-peak hours and that Wednesday was extra busy w/the daily special. Despite the long wait, I had an enjoyable time, which offsets my normal annoyance. The meal, simple yet fresh and satisfying, accompanied with the homemade black bean sauce, cements Ben's as an indispensable place to me. For those looking for a quick lunch, this most certainly is not the venue for you. However, I quite enjoyed what I consider the epitome of the mom-and-pop experience.

I ordered chicken with broccoli over rice. I liked that the broccoli was cooked al dente.

This place is so good. Couldn't recommend it enough. The prices are so reasonable for this city and the food is top notch.

Outstanding bang for your buck! No matter the plate, meat, noodle, or vegetable, Ben can make anything tasty. He and his son are top notch. A place like this is a true "hole in the wall". Can't miss is the bowl of chile that is a mox of black bean, jalapeño, cabbage, chiles in oil and more. Put it on your noodle dish and it's game over. Great food and better people here.

this was my spot on Wednesdays for the garlic chicken special, unfortunately the quality of food has gone downhill and the portions are a lot smaller with a higher price tag. The chicken tasted weird, it wasn't crispy it was soggy drenched in oil.

A lovely spot for a casual lunch in a cozy spot run by the sweetest elderly couple. Food was good and service was great!

Sadly Ben's have changed since the pandemic. The food is still as good as before but prices are about 30% more AND the worse part is the portions are now about 50% less than before. The take out containers are also now a very soft paper think shallow box. I still love their food but Yelpers be forewarned .....

This place is the diamond in the rough I have been searching for! Everything is so overpriced these days BUT NOT HERE. The quality is 5 stars. (the food was cooked perfectly, not overcooked nor undercooked, nothing burnt. Looks fresh and smells tasty!) The amount is 5 stars. (they give plentiful!) The taste is 5 stars. (spicy like it's supposed to be! used with the correct ingredients) The customer service is 5 stars. (great attitude) The wait time is 5 stars. (speedy cook) They have the sweetest guard dog which is a chow chow who tolerated my pom pom lol

Is that really Ben behind the line? N- e-way who ever it is, is the last of the legends. Cooks fresh and tasty. Mongolian Beef

Legit home cooked meal! I got their special garlic fried chicken and it was crispy and hot still as I walked home. 20-30 min walk as I stopped by at Sierra deli for teas. Daniel was very attentive and provided great customer service from me placing a pick up order to picking it up in person. This cute hole in the wall has been here for 35 yrs and hopefully more. I'll definitely come back and try other dishes to support local.

My boo is a huge fan of the food here and has brought home takeout from Ben's a few times before I was dispatched to pick up an order for lunch one day. You can't go wrong with their Wednesday special, which is fried chicken with a garlicky dipping sauce, and a generous portion of fried rice and veggies which can be upgraded to noodles for an additional $1.50. Today I was greeted at the door with a smile and an elbow bump, and the food came to me right out of the wok. I hear there's a skeleton crew working the shift, but we want to support our local businesses in this economy and we'll definitely be coming back for the awesome food and distance-appropriate friendly faces!

This place is BOMB! There plates are delicious. The family is friendly and David is always attentive. My favorite plate is the jalapeño onions chicken wings with steamed rice. The homemade spicy sauce is on point. The restaurant is small but decent.

Delicious, fresh, and cheap!!! And my new go-to for yummy chow fun, Chinese vermicelli dishes, and so much more. Only a few tables so order to go. Plus the owner sings beautiful Chinese opera!!!

This father-son duo is the BEES KNEES. So good that I will make a special trip out to JLS and bring cash for it. Pretty much every dish comes loaded with fresh veggies so you don't even feel that bad about eating a bunch of carbs. That logic checks out, right? And I don't even need to talk about the delectable, life-changing black bean hot sauce they make because everyone has already raved about it. Yum.

So good! This is the only place I order Chinese food from. Veggies are fresh and stove where food is prepared is right up front. I've had the fried rice and the vermicelli noodles (chicken, shrimp, and veggie). So much food. The hot sauce that comes on the side is also delicious. Definitely call ahead, if you don't order as soon as they open, your order can take up to an hour because it gets so busy!

Came here for lunch with a couple of friends on a Wednesday around noon. There was a bit of a wait to get our food, but we were told ahead of time a reasonable estimate and decided to wait it out. It was a smaller space, but we managed to grab one of the four tables inside. I had the fish with veggies over rice, and my friends had the salt and pepper pork and the chicken with black beans over rice. Each dish came with a healthy portion of protein, veggies, and rice. It was a hearty meal and very delicious. The fish was very tender and very tasty. Each table has a container of homemade sauce, which was also a nice add on to any dish. At the end of the meal I wasn't able to finish everything and they gladly provided me with a to-go container for my leftovers. Very friendly folks here and would recommend for anyone looking for a warm bite to eat. They are cash only, so make sure to bring some cash with you

As a regular in Oakland Chinatown I will venture into Jack London to Ben's for a classic "old school" cantonese style lunch plate. David and his father is one of the last old Chinese greasy spoon hole in the wall style restaurants around. One day I happened to come by for lunch on a Wednesday and noticed they have a Wednesday special of "crispy garlic chicken". A good portion of nicely battered fried chicken pieces with rice and vegetables. What set this apart was the two sauces provided which included a homemade black bean sauce and tangy sweet sauce. So if you are ever in Oakland Chinatown/Jack London and want to go back in time give this place a try!

yum, yum, yum. A work favorite. Scrambled egg and prawns, Ginger Beef so good. Cash only.

Great value in Jack London Square. A hole in the wall (family-run operation) with an upstairs area for more seating options. Portions are big and delicious. My go to is the Mapo tofu. Fried chicken on Wednesday's is a favorite.

Ben's gets review No. 250. I was thinking, I should write about something really special, because 250 is like some crazy auspicious number and it should be my take on something I find really amazing that knocked my socks off then I got hungry and thought of Ben's and love washed over me. Ben's actually is that special. Ben's looks like the kind of place I'd head to straight after my weekly at the methadone clinic. Appearances can be deceiving. For some reason from time to time I forget Ben's exists, all quietly tucked in the Produce Market without real signage hidden unless you're looking for it. I get sucked into my other JL lunchtime favorites. Yesterday they were worn out and I was all "think, Pooh, think" and the dim bulb illuminated for a second and I remembered Ben's. Yesterday I had the chicken with black bean sauce and it took me an hour of causally nibbling at my desk to finish it. Oh mylanta (which I didn't need) was it so good! In a sec I'm going back over for something porky. It makes me happy just thinking about it. Michael says it best: Ben the two of us need look no more We both found what we were looking for With a friend to call my own I'll never be alone And you my friend will see you've got a friend in me (you've got a friend in me) Ben you're always running here and there (here and there) You feel you're not wanted anywhere (anywhere) If you ever look behind and don't like what you find There's something you should know you've got a place to go (you've got a place to go) I used to say "I and me" Now it's us now it's we (I used to say "I is me") (now it's us now it's we) Ben most people would turn you away (turn you away) I don't listen to a word they say (a word they say) They don't see you as I do I wish they would try to I'm sure they'd think again if they had a friend like Ben Like Ben Lunchtime!

Famous for the Wednesday Special Fried Chicken. No, not the kind Sergio Garcia is serving at his house (Get'em Tiger!) but Garlic Fried Chicken over rice. Discovered this place walking around, yelping the area, Ben's is a Chinese to-go type eatery that basically caters to those working in the Waterfront Warehouse & Produce District. Obviously for the fact that they close at 2pm. The menu has all the normal beloved American Chinese food that we love. Heavy gravy, savory, large portioned lunches for the working folks for a reasonable price averaging around $6 to $8. But I only tried two items: Wednesday Special Garlic Fried Chicken: I thought this was a good sized portion, visually it's good looking, but I found it to be a little too over battered. And just a little too bland and plain for my tastes. Didn't make me think to myself, that I couldn't wait till next Wednesday to have some more. Mongolian Beef over rice: this was a nice amount of beef with heavy gravy. Really good dish. Heavy on onions but it seems like all restaurants do heavy onions in Mongolian beef these days. I'd order this over the chicken for sure. The couple who owns Ben's are friendly and because I called it in prior it was ready when we got there. A nice neighborhood spot for a quick lunch.

Ben's is great! You're immediately recognized if you've visited before and the food's worthy to make you return. Classic, straightforward menu - not overwhelming with too many options. Cash only.

Great veggies here.Everything is cooked beautifully and the family that runs it are the sweetest.,best people. My fave is eggs with shrimp...yum!

Great place. I went there for a meeting close by and they catered from here. Food was delicious. What was most memorable was their spicy sauce concoction. It was so good that I drove there after the meeting and bought a container of it. I've been basically drinking it with all my food lately. Delicious

This has been my favorite place to eat over the past few months. The price is decent, and the food is good (if a little on the mild side). They do most of the normal Chinese restaurant standards (although I have no idea if their takes on these recipes is particularly authentic) such as Mayo Tofu and Chicken in Black Bean Sauce. Aside from the food, their super friendly attitude keeps being me back over and over again, even though I basically work on the opposite side of downtown.

Their food is incredibly tasty and fresh. I absolutely love their chicken wings but everything else is equally good.

Incredible beef chow fun; fantastic shrimp, egg, pea pod over rice; excellent fried wings (Tuesdays); very good fried rice. But the real reason we keep coming back is the homemade hot sauce. Can get enough - unique blend of peppers, black beans, maybe garlic (?). Outstanding!!

Have lived in Oakland for awhile and didn't hear of this place until recently. ITS SO GOOD! Super homey tasting & fresh. We got the kung pao chicken & ben's fried rice. Ohh my and the hot chili sauce is the best. Nice people. Cash only. Very affordable. Great for takeout during Covid.

Came here for lunch at 1 pm with the lovey during the week and there was no line. Rush hour was done. We met the owners son David who was very nice and cordial. He suggested a few dishes for us to try because most of their pork dishes were already gone. The usuals ordered a lot and made up for the two weeks this resto was closed for installation of new grill/stove. We ordered the fish with greens, Mongolian beef and beef chow fun. All of the dishes were delish. Right on point with flavors and great portions. The owner makes the dish as ordered so if this place is busy I can see the wait being long. But again to avoid the crowd, you can call in for your order or come at 11:30 or 1 pm. This place is open from 7 am- 2 pm during the week so plan accordingly. They have a second floor for more seats. Will definitely be a regular here and will come back to try the pork dishes. Yum!! Trust!!

This place is a humble mom and pop shop that cooks authentic Chinese food. When I walk in, it feels like walking into my uncle's kitchen and smells just as good! They use fresh ingredients and the veggies seem to change depending on what's in season. Definitely a good sign! They are super friendly and talented. Seating is a bit limited but they are quick with service and there's usually always a seat. So far, I am in love with the veggie and tofu chow fun which is a flat wide rice noodle sauteed with tofu and veggies. They make it very much like my parents do at home so it's such a yummy comfort food! They also have a mysterious but super yummy hot sauce that changed the flavor of anything you eat it with. Heads up: They are cash only and they get busy over lunch time sometimes so order ahead!

Incredible food for even better prices. This place does come with a few downsides in the weird hours (closed after 2pm, closed on weekends) small size and I recommend you ALWAYS call ahead to place an order instead of ordering in person. I jsut wish they were open more hours of the week cause I would be a continuous customer!

Nice Chinese Food with affordable pricing. Home style service makes it more cozy and comfortable. Open style kitchen allows close interactions with cook and server. Fast service and decent taste. Always my go to for a quick and comfy Chinese food and when I call ahead they always have the food ready when I get there.

I can't believe this place doesn't have a five star rating. I went here for lunch with my girlfriend. There was an extremely cute chow dog outside and he was perfect. His name is Teddy. The very friendly person who served us gave us free hot tea as soon as we sat down. We ordered monk's vegetables and veggie chow mein and it was all delicious! The vegetables are super fresh and perfectly cooked. They have excellent hot sauce also, which was spicy but also very flavorful. We also got two diet cokes to go and the whole thing was less than $20. This is my new favorite lunch place near Jack London square and anybody trying to convince you otherwise is a straight up hater. That's my truth. One love.

This restaurant is always been in my rotation for years. I like that you can choose any special dish of the day any day besides the Wednesday chicken special. The black bean sauce is the best around dave is always on point with customer service even when it's busy. Food is really cheap and made with no MSG only thing it's cash only.

Go to spot every time I'm at Jack London! Delicious!! Chicken and vegetables is my fav!

I've heard great things about this place and was indeed very impressed. Food was cooked to order,quickly. Guy working the register is super nice! I tried the Mongolian beef, which was Amazing, especially once I added their hot chili sauce. I also got the mapo tofu, which came with half (white meat) chicken, and I've only ever seen it with ground pork. It was ok, but rather mild until I put in the chili sauce. I can't wait to go back and try more things, so it's sad they're only open for weekday lunch!

Great, old school Chinatown eats! Those old enough to remember Economy Cafe, @ the S/E corner of 7th & Franklin in Oakland, will enjoy the simple menu of no frills, Cantonese style dishes! Small place with only a few tables inside and two outside, the place is family run by good, hardworking folks, always friendly. Best to call ahead as the local produce workers and construction crews depend on this place for good, fast, hot meals on the go. My favs are the beef chow fun and char siu tofu fon! Check it out!

I was so hungry & grumpy at work... Then I found Ben's on Yelp & my day got so much better! *Warning: Do NOT use Google Maps/Mapquest to find this place... because you will get lost! Online directions get kinda funky around Jack London Square, so use the address listed on Yelp (3rd & between Webster/Franklin). Oh, and btw, PARKING SUCKS HERE. Following the recommendations from other Yelpers, I tried their Wednesday special: Garlic Chicken. And I was so pleasantly surprised by their awesomeness in portion, speed, and of course, taste! The chicken was nice & crispy, and the sauce was absolutely amazing. You get a choice between steamed or fried rice, plus a side of steamed broccoli with your meal. All that for $7 with fried rice, $5 with steamed rice. I ordered my food to-go, so I can't say much about their service. But while I was there, the lady was really sweet and friendly. She noticed that it was my first time there, and she made an effort to talk to me and make me feel welcomed. She even told me that from now on she'll remember my face haha :) Well, being friendly works for me & I promised her that I'd definitely be back for my next lunch break! Can't wait to try their other daily specials.

I came here yesterday wanting to try out the Wednesday special which was the "garlic chicken". It became a real battle just to get my food. I called in my order at about 11:45 and the lady on the phone said it will be ready within 15-20 mins. So i arrived at about 12:10 just incase, but there was a long line out the door. Once I walked in it looked like the couple running it couldn't handle the people in line. There were people sitting and waiting to order, people waiting in line to order. Basically it was a big mess, it seems that the folks that run this place have no restaurant experience. It was like they were cooking at home and serving people. I have no problem with that but after calling in my order 25mins prior to coming in and then waiting another 20mins there with no one saying anything was really wack. http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/YHl2fmpqP4Ro6pLKDyBVYg/l Lucky the food was pretty good, the chicken was like a Chinese version of the Japanese Chicken Katsu. It was a large piece of thigh battered and deep fried. It tasted real good and it came with a side order of veggies and rice. The dipping sauce they had went very well with the chicken, i believe they make it themselves. All that for $5, i cant complain. If you want something different i would recommend this place, but just try to avoid the 12 O'clock rush! They only open from 11am-2pm. 3.5 rounded up to 4 Stars for Ben's in the Jack London area of Oakland