Black Forest Kitchen

German restaurant · Northgate

Black Forest Kitchen

German restaurant · Northgate

1

478 25th St, Oakland, CA 94612

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Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null
Black Forest Kitchen by null

Highlights

Berlin-style döner kebab, chicken or mushroom, Biergarten  

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478 25th St, Oakland, CA 94612 Get directions

blackforestkitchen.square.site
@theblackforestkitchen

$10–20

Information

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478 25th St, Oakland, CA 94612 Get directions

+1 510 680 3063
blackforestkitchen.square.site
@theblackforestkitchen

$10–20

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reservations

Last updated

Oct 26, 2025

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@infatuation

Black Forest Kitchen - Review - Northgate-Waverly - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"German street food has landed in Uptown Oakland. Black Forest Kitchen serves Berlin-style döner kebab in sandwich or salad form (they also have a plant-based version). We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Julia Chen

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/reviews/black-forest-kitchen
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L L

Google
Just a review of the vegan döner'ish. Like others have said, it's amazing. Deliciously seasoned oyster mushrooms, piled high with crunchy veggies, and covered with creamy sauce, all on perfectly toasted bread - it's messy, it's extra, and it's totally worth it. Also, super cute outdoor space.

Karthik Sekar

Google
It’s rare that I get excited about a non-vegan spot, but Black Forest Kitchen is genuinely amazing. 🌿✨ What stood out is that they actually crafted a fantastic vegan option instead of just taking some tasteless, poorly cooked veggie burger and saying “hold the cheese/egg/sauce.” The plant-based döner-ish is next-level—savory mushrooms, great flavor, that turmeric spice mix… all of it 👌. Plus, the vibe is awesome—such a beautiful space with a great German aesthetic. Perfect place to just hang out.

Madison Hale

Google
My first döner! Super delicious - perfect combination of meat and veggies. Messy, but worth it 😅 Hubby got the Dönerito - it looked much easier to eat! They have a nice selection of beers and a sweet little outdoor space to eat.

Markus Gnirck

Google
Very good Döner Kebab! Very, very close to my Döner at home in Germany - pretty much authentic German Döner. The bread is super crisp, the meat is very fresh, and, most importantly, the sauce is perfect (that's the key for a great Döner). I'll for sure come back.

Setu Upadhya

Google
The plant based donor was SOOO TASTY!! And they'll even cut it in half if you like. Nice seating area too with fun board games. I'll be back! Thanks for having a vegan option.

Jeff Stock

Google
Döner made by someone who has no idea what a döner is. If you're looking for authentic döner, this is NOT the place. It was more like a giant taco than anything you would get in Germany. The food was tasty, but almost entirely wrong, and not at all what I expected. The bread was right, but the döner was poorly constructed with completely wrong proportions. It was almost entirely meat and lettuce. Practically no feta - just a tiny little piece at the bottom. The sauce was good, but was sprinkled on the top of the lettuce only, so there was no sauce on 90% of the döner. Everything was layered like a taco - a ton of lettuce on top of a ton of meat. There was way too much stuffed into the bread, like they were trying to make it look huge without a thought given to how anyone would eat it. The food was tasty, so I gave it an extra star, but really disappointing, if you know what a döner is.

Marek Möckel

Google
As someone who comes from Berlin, the city of kebabs, this was a surprisingly good kebab. Nice atmosphere, friendly service, good meat. The only downside is the price; I think there's room for improvement there. And: wheat beer should be served in the appropriate glass 😀😀 but I won't defend German beer culture any further at this point. 😀 All in all, it was really good for Oakland.

Eric

Google
Amazing quality Authentic Döner. Even has a twist for vegetarian options. Go and enjoy tasty food and sit outside enjoy a tasty beverage. Danke!

Matt H.

Yelp
Dare i say it, but on average this is a far higher culinary experience than you would find in germany, period. Doener is perfectly cooked, staff is great, the owner is from frankfurt and paid his dues apprenticing back home before taking this food to the states, and he also just has a friendly vibe that makes your time here great. Also isnt afraid to share a fact or two about his Heimat or speak german with you if you so desire. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the bay area to spend time at and i wish this biz the most success going forward!
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Binh T.

Yelp
It took a while to find parking, since there are only meter parkings around. I picked this place, because we were going to parkway theater afterwards. Wow the service was quick and friendly. We tried the original and sunset soda. What a great combo! Never heard of it before, but it taste like orange cola. I'm not a fan of orange, but it's very light flavor. There a patio in the back with a couple sitting next to us. I ate the whole thing and glad we had hand sanitizer. It's so good, but can get super messy. There were board games and tv. Great date night place. Would recommend this place for anyone that in the area. You would not be disappointed. I appreciate the simple small menu selection, which helped me narrow down my choice fast.
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Victor G.

Yelp
Black Forest Kitchen is the latest food vendor to reside at Forage Kitchen. Their Berlin-style donor kebabs is the hottest fast food trend in Germany now. The kebabs were brought to Germany by Turkish immigrants. Offerings: (German): Beers, donor kebabs, sides & extras. Seating in "beer garden" outside. Small flatscreen tubes to sports. Placed order at counter. Pd. Food Came 20 minutes later due to large lunch order at 2:00. Bites: Donor-ish (16) Vegan version -all entrees have the basic same ingredients. Lunch box has fries. Don King has beef & lamb, served on Fri. & Sat. Donor-ish has Oyster Mushrooms & Vegan ingredients. Flatbread Sandwich looks YUGE as there's lot of freshly sliced crunchy lettuce within the center. Definitely overflowing with the pieces of oyster mushrooms, feta cheese on the exterior. The veggies (red onion, red cabbage, jalepenos, red cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes) in between didn't fall out. The house vegan garlic & spicy sauce was infused into every bite of the sandwich et. Al. Which made addicting to the last bite. Definitely messy to eat. Aluminum pan available to catch all droppings. 4.5 stars Worthy! Quantity: semi-worthy unless one doesn't like veggies. Quality: reasonably-very fresh. Parking may be iffy during peak hours (weekdays).
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Ray B.

Yelp
Given that it's a German place... I got the feeling that food is not their primary focus, I'm guessing they have great beer. I don't drink so I wouldn't know, but the chicken in my sandwich was overcooked and extremely dry. Also, they forgot to add the chicken to my salad. This may have been because it was about an hour before closing. The place had a nice vibe and the people working there seemed cool. Perhaps I'll give it another try. To the owners of BFK, thank you for your thoughtful response. BB
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Mikaela S.

Yelp
Downtown needed a gyro spot! Black Forest is so good. I especially love their chicken. Their gyro sandwiches are stuffed to the brim with meat, lettuce, tomatoes and sauce in a lovely pita. I also love the loaded fries, which are also a huge portion! They also serve some solid beers that go perfect with the gyros and the outdoor beer garden seating outside.
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Nuran S.

Yelp
The döner was amazing. A culinary experience as authentic as Berlin. And it's halal!!!
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Gina G.

Yelp
From pop up to having their own spot (check hours) in Oakland at the Forage Kitchen Event Space, Black Forest Kitchen is the bees knees when it comes to amazing and authentic Berlin-style Döner Kebab! Parking is a bit tough (but not impossible) outside, and let me add worth spending a few additional minutes. Friends & Family Bar is next door and awesome to note as well :) Many of us in the group had to go with The Don (Döner Original), which resembles more handheld open sandwich-like (see photos), while some members of our group ordered the Döner Box (essentially the same innards just over fries), and lastly the Döner'Rito (a twist to all of the above, wrapped like a burrito!) We also ordered the OG fries which come topped with their delicious IYKYK white garlic sauce. Plant-based options also available. I will say this is not a first-date meal that you're trying to impress the person sitting on the other side of the picnic bench 'eating dainty' type of meal. This is a meal that quite honestly is sooooo deliciously unique, ya don't mind getting your hands dirty (literally). I think the owner was doing fun challenges on social with a 'one-napkin challenge' while eating the Döner Original..I failed within the first few minutes using a bajillion napkins haha! Great service, passion, and heart from the owner who delivered our meals & brews to us. Yes, another thing to note, awesome brews (and steins if that's your thing) to wash down the tender meat (chicken or plant-based options), spices, and flavorings with. Check the website for everything that's included in the filling of the Döner Original, there's so many yummy things in there, I probably wouldn't be able to successfully name them all! Can't wait to hear about your experience if you try them out! Fair pricing, fun outdoor atmosphere.
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Annabelle R.

Yelp
This is a cozy german pub and eatery with a casual and inviting setting and a bit of indoor and outdoor seating. They offer a limited but appetizing menu of doner kebab wraps, fries, and salads, as well as beer of course. Ordered the Don with lamb/beef, minus the spicy sauce and cucumber (they have a chicken version too). Service was fast and friendly. My order was ready in less than 10 minutes. The meat was slightly dry and a bit gamey in taste, with some pieces too chewy. It had a generous amount of sauce and toppings, but it was not evenly spread inside the sandwich, and they forgot to put jalapenos. Also, the bread was kinda hard (and hard to eat). Parking was difficult on a Saturday evening... this area of town sucks in general.
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Chad M.

Yelp
So dang good. Never heard of a Döner Kebab prior to seeing this spot. They had a service outage the first time we swung by. Sauces are great without being overpowering. Meat is crispy and delicious. Cool, hot, crunchy, meaty. It just checks so many boxes flavor wise and texture wise. And the staff, gal that helped us was awesome. Friendly, warm. Just a great person to run into when you're grabbing a meal. Doner Rito was the lesser of the two but is a cleaner quicker option. The Don was amazing, but you are gonna get messy. It's totally worth it. You don't need to take my word for it. Go hammer one and report back. Only thing I would do different is order some sauce on the side.
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Jean C.

Yelp
So I have been hearing about these sandwiches in Germany and have been wanting to try one for a while. Then I saw this restaurant in my Instagram feed and had to go immediately. We went on a Friday soon after they opened. We ordered a couple German beers and 2 classic Doner Kebabs with chicken. First of all they have 2 liter, liter and boots for the beer! Second, these sandwiches are huge! The first bite is mainly delicious spices and sauces followed by fesh crisp cabbage slaw, onions, cucumbers and fresh tomatoes. Then comes the well spiced chicken and lots of it. Neither of us could finish our sandwich. We say outside in the beer garden and enjoyed a really nice day. Service was great and friendly. We will definitely be back!
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Jin C.

Yelp
Absolutely the best neighborhood joint ever! Great outside seating, great vibes, great food, and awesome local AND imported German beer.
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Sabine M.

Yelp
Great doener kebab and such a nice outdoor seating area perfect for the summer. They also have veggie options and non bread options and great selection for the drinks! Everyone is always super friendly! Definitely recommend trying them out

Carlita M.

Yelp
If you like oyster mushrooms try their Vegan Donnerish - it is a generous amount of food and tastes yummy. I do recommend you try it -or just get a nice large beer in a real GLASS!!!! There are also sharwama style meat offerings. Go out and see the awesome art galleries right across the street afterwards (galleries are only mostly open Saturdays till 5pm)
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David P.

Yelp
Glad I could make it to the grand opening of their brick and mortar establishment today. Not that I'm into oompah bands, one of which was playing later that afternoon, but I always enjoy a lively beer garden with communal tables and benches. They've been soft opened for a few weeks, but I appreciate how everyone stepping up with a steady flow of customers and going through several tropos building built in the back. Nice light sauce with garlic, lemon juice, and dill. Nice amount of veggies and meat. I didn't get anything to drink but several beers on tap and soft drinks. Wir kommen wieder.
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Rachel S.

Yelp
Super delicious food and so great to try another cuisine! It's big, juicy, flavorful and hits the spot! Everyone is so friendly and the indoor/outdoor vibes are where it's at. Was super fun with the live band on first Friday! This is easily a staple that the town was missing!

Raisin B.

Yelp
The bread is perfect! Great spot for those that miss Doner and a Brew! Clean and nice service.

Donny B.

Yelp
New spot in uptown, serving bomb A$$ doner sandos. Well seasoned chicken shaved off the trompo, served in a rustic style kind of "pita" bread thingy. Topped with a nice slaw of lettuce, raw red onions, sliced jalapeno, and a creamy dressing. The round is slathered in a dill sauce and a spicy sauce. SO GOOD! My only gripe is I wish the slaw was spread more evenly over the sando. Also got some extra sauce, but kind of skimpy for $2.50/small solo cup portion. Looks like they have a great German beer selection- tap and bottles. Worth checking out! I live close by, so I walked over there. Otherwise, parking might be a PITA

Ricardo D.

Yelp
Visited the place yesterday and the food was fantastic. Most go and have a good meal and an enjoyable time. Ricardo
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Cyrus N.

Yelp
The Doner here is delicious!! It's a great spot good vibes and everything here is tasty

Martin M.

Yelp
As close to Döner in Germany that I've had in the US! Currently only have chicken available but lamb/beef coming soon and can't wait to come back to try that!

Alberto A.

Yelp
Donca! Donca! Everyone will eat well. People were friendly and enjoy a Pilsner with your lunch or dinner.

Christine C.

Yelp
Their Doner is a fabulous "sandwich". Delicious meat, great sauce and a nice amount of vegetables. I enjoyed a German beer and loved the biergarten ambiance. And the service was fantastic. We will be back!!

Arem D.

Yelp
Delicious!! Best sandwich in The Bay, hands down! Amazing flavor, chicken edges crisped to perfection. And I don't know where they source their bread but wow, it's the icing on the cake. And it's one of a kind!