Black Forest Kitchen

Great food and beer, but the staff are exceptional! The vegan option with the mushrooms is excellent. Meat eaters and vegetarians alike will love this spot. Portions are huge! They also have wine if beer isn't your drink if choice. Will definitely be back!

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.

Absolutely the best German Dőner Kebab in the Bay Area! So good, on par with what I had in Berlin. Nice selection of German beers. Lovely outdoor patio to enjoy your goods!

A TASTE OF BERLIN!! Must try!! They get the meat flavor just right, and filled with veggies. We visited Berlin a few years ago and couldn’t stop thinking about the Doner Kebab, and finally can enjoy it here!

This place is awesome! The loaded fries and sandwiches are so good. The team is super friendly. The beer is excellent. & they have a cozy outdoor seating area with games! Will be back.

Nice little spot for lunch and a drink. They have a nice patio that's nice and sunny. The food flavours are good though on the spicy side. Need to come back and try their vegan doner since it was sold out! So if you want the vegan dish you should try to go earlier!

Haven’t been able to get anything close to a proper Doner since my last trip to Europe so discovering this gem in Oakland was a pleasant surprise. The flavors of my meal were just….chefs kiss. The meat was tender, the lettuce fresh and crunchy and the sauces were the bomb. The portion size was decent so make sure to bring an appetite. Great selection of beers, vegetarian options and the service was great. Will definitely be back!!

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.

A friend mentioned this new german place opened up and we all went to try it out post pickleball. We ordered Paulaner Hefeweizen, The Don and Doner box. The food took some time to come out and the server was very friendly and checked in with us on the status of our food. Our food arrived and did not disappoint. The bread is nice and crispy, the meat was fresh, the food was packed of sauces and was very flavorful. We enjoyed our food in a nice and private area and there's plenty of board games to play too~ Highly recommend this place for the stellar customer service and food.

This review is for the Doner-ish: plant based doner with oyster mushrooms, red onions, red cabbage, cucumbers, plant based feta cheese, lettuce tomatoes, jalapenos, mayo and egg sauce, which I tried at the West Oakland night market. The food was done within 5 minutes or so. It has a sour and slightly spicy flavor profile from the jalapenos and sauce, and the ingredients tended to fall out easily. Unfortunately I don't feel like the plant-based 'meat' was really coming forward strongly in the flavor, I tasted mostly the vegetables and spiciness, and plant-based cheese isn't quite at the level of being able to replicate dairy cheese yet. Also, for the quantity of food, it was rather expensive since with tax and tip, it was about $20. I could imagine some of Black Forest Kitchen's other options are great, but the plant-based option likely wasn't replicating what a meat-based doner would taste like.

We were in the area so we stopped in to try a new place, Black Forest Kitchen. My husband loves doner and Black Forest Kitchen had outside seating, so we ordered a Don and Doner-rito. The honey loved his dish, but mine came out covered in their spicy sauce, which made it too spicy for me to enjoy. No biggie and she remade it when I let her know there'd been a mixup. I've seen BFK at other events and their food leans towards the spicier, which isn't my thing. I wish they had a version with pickles to give the doner some zest (almost Turkish style) instead of sauce, but the honey enjoyed their food quite a bit and I could definitely see us ordering from them in the future.

Black Forest Kitchen is in a long alley way off main roads. There is some parking to be found but there are also cars that are there long term; e.g. tires flat and people living in them. The ambiance of Black Forest is welcoming and clean. They have a bunch of beer to choose from, and some side items, like pretzels. We ordered the don and the box. We ordered extra garlic sauce on the side but they accidentally placed it on the don itself. Totally fine since they also just gave me the side when I asked. Both items were delicious - the fries crispy to the end and the don packed with yummy veggies. I would say that I wish the don was layered better since all our initial bites were vegetables then the end bites was all chicken. Would have loved to have tasted all the different ingredients with each bite. Also the sauce needed a bit more herbs, it was delicious but comparing the ones we've had on our trips to Germany, the sauce was lacking. Nonetheless, I would recommend this spot to any locals. They also have a HH deal and lots of games for people to play. So definitely a fun time.

The irony of this place is just too much. They managed to take all the good things out of a doner and inject plenty of authentic german experience. Slow services: check. Blend food: check. Lack of options: check. Disappointment: check. Way too much lettuce and barely any cabbage (it's not a burrito lol) scharf sauce has no flavor, no option of falafel, or halloumi cheese (only chicken on most days)

I lived in Berlin for a year and I can attest that Black Forest Kitchen was a better döner than I had there. My main gripe with Berliner-style döner is they add mayonnaise sauce, which should never happen! Black Forest Kitchen does it right with a yogurt sauce. The mushroom-based vegetarian version was incredibly! The fries were special too, extra crispy. We will definitely be back. Hopefully they have heat lamps because most of the seating is in an outdoor patio.

As a kid who grew up in Germany, this was a VERY important visit! The döner has to be the most underrated sandwich in the world and it pains me how slow it's gaining traction in the U.S. Black Forest Kitchen executes the sandwich with high precision and attention to detail. From the bread press, modern spezi, yogurt sahne and rotisserie spit, I felt like I was right back at home :) I wish them so much success and hopefully growth over the bay in the near future! An imbiss with sandwich customization would be the best thing since sliced bread somewhere in the city, maybe sf new deal might know what's best? Stellar food, stellar ambiance, a classic in my book.

Döner macht schöner! What else is there to say? I am super happy that they have a real brick and mortar place now and not just pop ups. More time for me to satisfy my döner cravings. Thanks for always bringing the best food on my plate and a smile to my face!

Black Forest Kitchen at Forage Kitchen offers incredible Berlin-style German street food. The Don (Döner Original) is well worth $15. It's a big sandwich that takes two hands to maneuver. I love the flavor of the chicken. The spicy garlic sauce is supremely tasty. I did not go with the jalapeños because that could be too hot for me. But it's standard if you order it with everything. The Don-King with lamb and beef is fantastic too. But it's only available on Friday and Saturday - so I finally got it on my third visit. Fantastic beers to choose from on draft. Yeah, there's great local beers but why not try something German? The Helles is hella delicious! Happy Hour Tuesday - Thursday 4-7 There are a few seats inside, but it's so Oakland perfect that there's a big patio outside where you can enjoy your sandwich in the sun. The owner, Pierre, has a glowingly positive, infectious personality. Ebullient isn't a word I get to use that often, but it suits him. He grew up here and in Germany and has been in the area for 8 years. He had a pop-up and decided to really make a go of it this year. His passion for the food translates into incredible flavor. Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. Closed on Mondays.

I've literally been searching all around the Bay Area for a decent döner kebab since living in Europe. Let me tell you: this is WAY better than just decent. It's a freaking solid doner kebab that teleports me back to Berlin. It's the perfect mix of spicy, saucy, pickled, savory that transports you back to those drunken nights, stumbling out of the club or pub, heading to the kebab stands and scarfing down delicious grilled meats. We went during lunch today, so we were only able to get the chicken döners. Will come back on the weekend so we can get the beef/lamb. However, true to its roots, it's got all of the German stuff: proper beer, döner kebab paper, and sides. I'm definitely coming back on the weekend to taste the other meats, but this place is so dope. So glad to have this here.

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).

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.

They have a decent filling vegan option! There's outdoor seating. Great place to grab dinner and then drinks at Friends and Family before/after.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Forage kitchen has been the hub of some of the best places in Oakland for years now, and this is no exception! If you spent any time in Europe at all, you probably remember Doner kebab. This hits the spot perfectly, and he also has a ton of the sauces and stuff that make kebab great. Interestingly, the lamb/beef is only available on weekends and sells out quickly, but the chicken is very good as well. Even better is the vegetarian option of the oyster mushroom! Service is great and the outdoor area is even nicer- great place to sit back with some german brews and go to town on a nice kebab. Very much worth the drive from anywhere in the Bay

I have been coming here for the last couple of months and I'm still obsessed with it. The Doner rito is my favorite, with all the spicy flavors. Great amount of chicken and sauce, tortilla is nice and crisp. Owner is super nice and loves to chat. The outside area is tucked away so nice and private while still getting fresh air. They've also got games and heat lamps for when you're ordering a beer flight and chatting with friends.

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.

WOW! just wow. i had the Doner King beef and lamb shawarma that is only available on weekends and it was BOMB.com. i have had Doner in Berlin and and Vienna and nothing came this close to being good. the bread quality makes a huge difference. the right balance of juicy meat, crunchy veggies and sauce. i have been thinking about it since yesterday

The food I miss most from Germany is not sausages, pretzels, or sauerkraut--it's Döner kebab, the ubiquitous Turkish-inspired street food made of meat shaved from a rotating spit, salad, and sauces in a bread roll. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover Döner kebabs offered at Black Forest Kitchen in Oakland in a beer garden setting (something you wouldn't find in Germany)! The Don sandwich was made of spiced chicken shaved from a rotating spit, along with lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, red onions, red cabbage, crumbled feta, and jalapeños, all beautifully dressed with a mountain of creamy yogurt-based garlic sauce and a red hot sauce, all served in a crusty bread. They also offered a vegan version, the Döner'ish, which featured oyster mushrooms cooked in a curry sauce (instead of chicken), along with all the other toppings. Both sandwiches were flavorful and delicious (though slightly different from what you'd find in Germany), and the service was super friendly too. The picnic bench seating in the outdoor shaded beer garden made for a nice casual setting, though the area could've been cleaner.

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!

Fantastic and authentic doner kabob. The fries with the garlic sauce are required reading. Strange to say but my favorite aspect was all the wonderful dill they put into their sauces.

Döner macht schöner! These döners delivered. I can't wait for them to have some lamb or beef döners, but nonetheless these chicken Döners scratched the itch. Next time I'll get a side of yogurt sauce, but I like mine extra saucy. My only gripe was it took about 25 minutes from ordering to get it and it wasn't busy.

I fell in love with döner kebab in Berlin and was so sad coming back home knowing that it would be impossible to find here... until I found Black Forest Kitchen! All the food here is delicious and brings me back memories of late nights in Berlin standing in line for some döner. Solid beer selection as well!

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

Excellent Berlin-style doner! The combination of spicy garlic sauce, feta cheese, and chicken doner was so well balanced -- juicy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. The chicken was especially tender and delicious. Don't forget to grab a German cola -- it completes the experience! Taste: 10/10. My only complaint? It gets a bit messy to eat -- so make sure you have plenty of napkins!

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

First visit. Quiet today before the early afternoon sun came out. Wonderful service from Ali. Excellent chicken for $15 bucks. Generous portion spectacularly dressed. Am praying to the queer lesbo goddesses for a dessert to be added: Black Forest Cake! Lived in Chicago my 1st 40 years. So I know how this dessert would soar in Oakland. Oakland Rising. Stronger Together.

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.

I find the Vegiterian "Donarrito" very tasty, and generous portions. This is the only thing I eat there though..

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!

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!

Service and ambience were great. I was hoping for an authentic döner. Unfortunately this was not quite there. The meat is overcooked and just not cut right. Instead of thin, crispy pieces, they served chunks of meat that were far too chewy. If you like that, go for it; otherwise, skip.

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Tough review to write because they people are really nice and the establishment is nicely layout and very clean. Great atmosphere. However, this was the worst lamb and beet Doner Kebab I have ever had and the delivery was very slow. I read about them on line and made a 40min drive to try them out. They said it would be 20min which turned out to be 45min. For the staff they had with the number of people they were serving, they need to work out a better system for making the food as there was plenty of room at the tables. The doner itself was not full of flavor and there was very little meat. Worst thing was trying to bite through the hockey puck like bread which came from over pressing it while trying to toast it. The manager was nice and tried to refund me but I put it on Apple Pay and that makes it near impossible for vendors (not their fault). Really disappointed. Maybe try the wrap if you feel there's a possibility.

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!!

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!