Forage Kitchen - Event Space

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

I work down the street, eat lunch here at the cafe least once a week. Best food in the area. Great spot for lunch. Check out their "first friday" events, great vibe. Not to mention their mission to support local food producers is superb. Fun to look at the people there practicing their trade in the windowed industrial kitchen as I sit outside and eat my lunch.

The owner is always hospitable I usually go to Taava kitchen. Today I was on my way to the beauty supply....on a quest for food before heading back home. I followed the sound of the live DJ and was pleased to find it was coming from a place I get food from a bit regularly. Chef Alreca's food is delicious! Thank you for the environment and the food and thank you to Forage for hosting this wonderful Chef. Will be following more of her.

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.

I love this venue as it is outdoor, spacious, just beautiful with the lights! Hofkuche was a pop up and we enjoyed the drinks and food. Now it is gone but Forage Kitchen is now serving beers on First Friday and I am happy one of my fave local bands is still playing here! Hope they sell some nibbles to go with the beer!

*Open for outdoor dining* Popped by this beautifully lit outdoor area to see what it was all about. Food and drinks: This is a German food and drinks shop (not sure if it's considered a restaurant or not). Various German beers to choose from (from light to darker), wine, and German food (sausages, kraut, salads, etc.). We came here just to try it out, so got two beers and skipped out on the food. It did smell very good though! Service: To get drinks, there is a counter you can go up to for ordering. To get food, there is a QR code (in picture) on top of each table to scan for the menu. There's roughly 12 or so tables, some for smaller groups and some for larger groups.

Forage is a fantastic place to host a private party. We hosted a private 50th birthday party with about 70 guests. Forage staff were super helpful in designing a custom drink menu and small bites food. They also rearranged the tables and heat lamps to create a small outside section that perfectly fit our group size. We had a ton of fun and I really credit Forage for their attention to detail. I highly recommend considering Forage for an event...large or small. Both the inside space and larger outside space are lovely and have a great intimate feel. I will definitely use them again.

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.

We came the opening day of Hofkuche pop up at Forage Kitchen. There are a lot of outdoor tables, all spaced out nicely. We had to wait about 20 minutes to get seated. We got a text when the table was ready. We both got beverages and shared a hot pretzel. FYI Obatza was more like a cream cheese. We love coming to Forage's pop ups, but this one was such a fun experience. People were dressed up and there was a two person band playing folk music. It felt like I wasn't even in a city. It almost felt, if I dare say, ~normal~.

Awesome location for first Friday events or your wedding! This is a charming cafe vibe and outdoor venue. The site is beautifully curated with lighting, black walnut bar tops, and stunning cot-ten steel planter boxes. You will feel cozy and well cared for by the owners and staff! The food rotates quite frequently, so contact them to see what is available. You won't be disappointed!

I have been a member of Forage Kitchen for over 5 years and my company 5 Element Food Therapy would not be nearly as successful as it is without Forage. This spacious commercial kitchen stocked full of the best equipment and has allowed me to grow from R&D to full on production. The kitchen is supported by co-owners Matt and Iso, two people who truly care about maintaining the quality, cleanliness and creative culture of the kitchen. Forage alive with food entrepreneurs who share ideas, food and laughter, it is truly a wonderful space to be a part of.

Went for first Friday and they had a Jian bing pop up. The Jian bing were good. The crepes were thin, tasty, and soft. We had the classic, which was stuffed with shredded dried pork and crispy bits of dough. It had a slightly sweet and tangy sauce inside. Very light and tasty. We also tried the beef Jian bing, which was loaded with a thinly sliced sweet, soy beef. This was very meaty and pretty good. I also had the pandan mochi waffle with sweetened condensed milk and almonds, which was crispy and chewy from the mochi flour. This was a nice dessert. One thing to note, the cashiers taking orders seemed really spaced out and apathetic. At times the line was pretty long and the cashiers were taking selfies and texting, while ignoring customers waiting to put in their orders. Very unprofessional.

Wonderful space, awesome beer, great food. Great way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon :)

Pretzel was good. HORRIBLE customer service. Absolutely rude. Will not be back. Work on how you speak to customers.

This review is for Forage Kitchen as a wedding venue. My husband and I held our reception at Forage Kitchen in September. We believe in its mission and wanted to support a local business. While it's a relatively affordable venue for the Bay Area and it's close to downtown Oakland, it comes with some cons. The biggest con is that their staff were unprofessional and rude to my husband and to our vendors on our wedding day. One of their staff admitted to my wedding coordinator on the day of the wedding that he "was thrown into working that day" and therefore had no idea what has happening. None of his responsibilities were communicated to him by the owners nor the venue's coordinator that we had been emailing with. This resulted in him not being aware of his responsibilities, not being able to verbally communicate what he needs from the other vendors, and not being present for the entirety of the event. We purchased the beer and wine package from Forage Kitchen so that we would have an open bar for our guests. It was not until the end of the night that we realized that our guests had been charged for beer and wine. Again, this was because there was a lapse in communication and the staff working that day did not know that we had already purchased the package. They ultimately refunded all of the guests what they paid. We only got a partial refund, and we feel like we definitely didn't get what we paid for. Other than that, the layout of the space is tricky to work with. We were able to fit 100 guests with long banquet tables and have space for a dance floor. If you want to leave room for a DJ and a dance floor, I would say 100 guests would be the max guest count. If you want to actually get what you paid for and to be treated with respect, I would recommend looking at other venues.

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

Pal's Takeaway has moved into Forage Kitchen Cafe, M-Sat, 11 a.m.-5., just about a block from his old location on broadway. menu: salads, sammies: American Kobe Roast Beef, Veggie, Poached Albacore, Aunt Malai's Famous Lao Sausage. Eats: American Kobe Roast Beef (12) -"on poppy Kaiser roll with house pimenton cheese spread, spicy red cabbage slaw, bbq sauce, heirloom greens". -fascinating, complex flavors. -couldn't fit everything onto bun. especially the round white miniballs. -menu changes regurlarly take outs: -some seating inside, some outside -parking difficult, just happen upon one. -big rigs double park on street all the time, tight fit for cars passing by.

Feastly Pop-up with Chef Tu David, serving authentic Vietnamese Pho noodle soup. Was hella good!! I'll be sure to check their website for more of his offerings. The soups were filling and flavorful. I'll be sure to keep my eyes open to see who else showcases their talent at the kitchen!

Forage Kitchen has hatched its beautiful commercial kitchen on 25th St in Oakland for professional chefs, food product businesses and amateur chefs needing a kitchen to make big batches of food or see what it's like to work in a commercial kitchen. The staff are really cool and working on the best models for equipment and schedule. In a couple of years they surely will have hatched a bunch of new food businesses and food careers.

My wife and I held our self-catered wedding dinner here, so this review is for Forage Kitchen as a venue and as a commercial kitchen. You know when you rent a venue and all the venue wants to do is to do the bare minimum, nickle and dime you, and generally not care about the success of the event? Well, Forage Kitchen, especially Iso, is the exact opposite. The space itself is unique and functions well. We converted the parking lot into the dining and partying area, and while not picture perfect, it's open yet private - with a rustic yet industrial feel. Since Forage Kitchen's kitchen itself operates as a commercial kitchen for rent during the day, it's extremely easy to use, with both equipment and the infrastructure available on premise. All we had to do was bring in food, serving rentals and staff, and everything else we needed was right there. As mentioned above, during the prep, the event itself, and through the clean-up, Iso was responsive and flexible, playing an important part in the success of the event. I can't understate how valuable this was to us. All in all, you can't go wrong with this venue/kitchen. Highly recommended.

Super excited about this place! very pleasant to be there, nice energy, simple / great food! I've been there a few times already at different occasions: for a lunch on a saturday and for some of their pop-up events. I've always been a fan of Jeff's sandwiches and the lao sausage sandwich is my ultimate favorite -- great texture, the sausage is legit and that asian slaw gives a great balance! The vegetarian sandwich also is amazing (and I don't usually like vegetarian sandwiches). Prices are completely reasonable and you can even make it a salad if you're not into carbs. Something that i was SUPER excited to see on their menu is the rotisserie chicken! i've had half a chicken with the couscous and little gem. It's juicy, moist, the umami rub is delish and it's NOT overcooked like most chicken i've had. Reminds me of the "poulet fume" we have in France. I even took the leftovers home and reheated later and it still tastes good. I strongly recommend it to all the chicken lovers. it's legit.

one-night-a-year dinner event. don't wrrr abt getting the (free) advance ticket online bc once you're at the venue 1) no one gets checked against a ticket vs non-ticket list and 2) everyone can order from the event & non-event menus anyway. don't b skrrrd by the mild germany / europe theme; there's hegga southern / cajun / american food. which is what i was here for lol. foh / boh logistics snafu = i never got 1 of the 3 dishes i paid for, but what i did get was rather tasty. when i return i'll tell the cashier i'm "rick james beeiiiij" or sth so my food isn't lost in a sea of ppl copycatting my name.

Absolutely delicious!! A must try if you are in the neighborhood. I would highly suggest Mac n' cheese, tri-tips, baked beans & collard greens. You will not be disappointed. :)

Food is great. The bockwurst is the best. Tastes very fresh. The sauerkraut and beets are a great source of natural fermented foods.

Had the fried cod sandwich and Caesar salad. Half a beer because....lunch. Sat in the sun under a tree. People watched. Admired growing Japanese eggplant. Listened to music. Headed home and took a nap. Thanks Forage and Pal's for a perfect afternoon.

Great food, this time being a roast beef sandwich, and the space is nice inside and out

A wonderful space for pop up food booths and inspiring chefs. I went to a pop up sampling event here on a Friday night that was lots of fun and the food was great and the service was good. A beautiful outdoor seating area is located in the back so to speak and there is seating on an upper level deck. Would recommend this location to adults looking for a fun community event and foodies.

Forage has given me the space and opportunity to take my business to another level! Great vibes in the kitchen, amazing staff, and lots of resources answering questions regarding running a successful business! Highly recommended, I wouldn't rather be working in any other kitchen, thanks forage!

Forage Kitchen is awesome. I have a food business and regularly rent out space to do small production runs and prototyping. The space is gorgeous and clean, with lots of great, new equipment. My favorite part about Forage is the community created by the other folks who work out of the kitchen, and the staff who are very tied in to the local food scene. It seems like there's always a great event happening here, pop-ups or first Friday food markets, and the cafe is great (excellent food and !beer!) - totally recommend keeping this spot on your radar if you love food, people and good vibes! Great place to work or visit!

We recently began renting commercial space in this kitchen and it has been a wonderful experience. The folks who run it are thoughtful and intentional with the space and are a joy to work with. The other businesses who use the space are also super down & friendly folks. The kitchen has tons of natural light and a fantastic kitchen manager who washes dishes and keeps everything sparkling during regular biz hours. I can't recommend them enough.

Best Co-cheffing space in the bay! Definitely recommend them if you're looking into cooking spaces...also there's always great pop ups, lunch bars and events happening there that are worth checking out. Highly recommend :)

Wonderful concept! The pop up in front, Smokin Woods BBQ is delish! You must check it out.

First time here and definitely won't be the last. I had the Tri tip and and Mac and Cheese. The meat was so tender and just melted in my mouth and the Mac and Cheese OMG what a treat for your taste buds!! I met the owner James he was very humble as he talked about his start and where he got his recipes which are his moms by the way. I just love to see people like him do well. The place was clean his staff were super friendly and accommodating. Will definitely be back! Good Luck to you and your staff James.

This review is for Forage Kitchen as the fantastic new kitchen incubator (commissary kitchen) that it is! I started working there just over two months ago. It took a while to get used to how commissaries work (I'd never worked in one before), but the founders were (and continue to be) very open to questions and feedback. I've loved getting to know other 'residents', and do wish there were more folks to observe and learn from, but I think it's just a matter of time! This place has lots of space, opportunities for collaboration, connection to the community, and a desire to help people make an impact in the food scene! Woohoo! As good as it gets!

Yum! Delicious simple sandwiches in this new bright and beautiful spot for food in Oakland. I love the veggie sandwich with daal. Also, I love the whole rotisserie chicken with yuzu mayo to go for dinner.

Great clean atmosphere, very friendly host and sandwich is amazing and the bread 2 Die For Love It!

Delicious food, beautiful place and great people!!! I've been to a few awesome events there and I really enjoyed the food and the space. I highly recommend Forage Kitchen!!

I've known and worked with Iso and Matt and they do a great job at Forage. They've given me and Pal's support, advice and opportunity. If you're looking for a commercial kitchen with lots of support for your emerging food-business or just need a great space for your event call Forage!!!'

Forage is a space where magic happens! Between pop-ups, first friday, special events and huge opportunities for small businesses and private chefs, this space has it all. Highly recommended as a chef or a customer!

Forage Kitchen is a great commercial kitchen/commissary for veteran chefs or up and coming chefs/caterers to rent kitchen space or host a Special Event/Pop Up. The atmosphere is very inviting, friendly and a cool place to help elevate your business to the next level. You can also stop by the cafe to have delicious BBQ by Smokin Woods BBQ or every 1st Friday the cafe features food by different amazing chefs. Forage Kitchen has a neat layout and is a special place to visit whether you're looking to rent out kitchen space, host an event or in the area for great food and local beer. Check it out!

First time visit. The food was fantastic. Perfectly flavored meats and the sides were baked to perfection. I immediately wanted to order another plate. I will be back.

I own a small food startup and make all my products at Forage Kitchen. It's been great so far! The owners and staff are dedicated to running a beautiful, clean and efficient space, and support their members in creative ways. The cafe up front is awesome, the co-working space is a great bonus and the dishwashers on staff are the best and save me so much time! I look forward to working in this space each time I come in. I highly recommend it and am excited to see this community grow.

This is one of those places that reminds you how great it is to live in Oakland. I stumbled across this place a bit hidden between Telegraph and Broadway on 25th while looking for Saturday parking for the YMCA. Though I didn't go then I came back a few days later. I had a special which was a totally amazing lamb sandwich. It was warm and succulent without being greasy or messy and served with a mild feta. Some great pickled veggies on the side. Food was served quickly but atmosphere was relaxed. Check this place out if you are the area.

we had our sandwiches salad-style and they were yum. good portion size too. lunch came quickly and service was friendly. Lao sausage is tasty, not so spicy but sweeter than I expected. the special of lamb sloppy joe turned into a creditable nacho plate. the veggie sandwich looked good too. we will be coming back to try it