I love Bombera. It's one of my favorite restaurants to return to for special occasions (we probably go 2-3 times a year). I really enjoyed my birthday dinner there tonight. Personally, the beets are always a favorite. I need to make that sauce at home. I'm curious to try to the chicken and maybe the carnitas, but my husband and I can never resist the steak. Other than that we usually rotate different appetizers and smaller plates.
Sam
What a meal! I've heard so many great things about Bombera. On a whim and with no reservation, we stopped by to see if we could grab a seat, and I'm so glad we did. The vibes were amazing; the music was just loud enough to be festive but quiet enough to still talk. There is plenty of seating options, from the covered patio to the bar and dining room. I ordered only a few things because I wasn't too hungry, but everything was amazing! My favorite dishes were surprisingly the vegetarian ones—I loved the spicy carrots. The staff was incredibly generous and actually gifted us the beets and the mint tea. The beets were delicious, and the tea was the perfect pairing for the chocolate dessert. The duck was also a highlight. Service was amazing and the staff could not be any nicer. I cannot wait to return. Highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
James Rabuco
First let me preface that this restaurant is located just a few blocks from the house I grew up in. So I was surprised when I planned to have dinner in this area. I was thrilled to find this restaurant not just surviving, but absolutely thriving. Despite the pouring rain, finding parking was easy, and the sight of the packed house—a true testament to its success—instantly built excitement. The great vibe was palpable, though I should note right away that the music was quite loud inside, making conversation a bit of a challenge. You may want to ask for a table outside.
The menu immediately grabbed my attention with the promise of Duck Carnitas, but I ultimately settled on the Pork Carnitas and the Roasted Chicken Mojo De Ajo. We ordered a classic House Margarita and a Paloma for drinks. While both drinks were enjoyable, the serving size felt a little small considering the price point.
The food, however, quickly won us over. The Pork Carnitas were absolutely delicious, bursting with flavor, and surprisingly generous in portion size—a welcome sight. My one small wish was for more of the side pickled, spicy carrots and jalapeños. The Roasted Chicken Mojo De Ajo was equally impressive, served as a beautifully flavored half chicken on the bone.
What truly stole the show and is, without question, a must-have dish was the Spicy Carrots Toasted Almond Misantla. This side was amazing, delicious, and an absolute standout. The spice was about a 3 or 4 but it did not linger. Just order it.
Overall, despite the slightly high cost and the volume of the music inside, the quality and flavor of the food made for a truly memorable dinner. If you find yourself in the Diamond District and are looking for a fantastic meal, stop here. I'll bring others here to experience the food and vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Sushant M
The service left quite a lot to be desired. The fish tacos were not good but the beet appetizer was amazing. There was also a hair on one of the plates.
Hudson Arnold
While it took us a while to get going with drinks…the food and ambiance here are top notch. The carrots with chili crunch oil and almonds and beans is a real standout. The carnitas and chicken had a delicacy to the preparation, married with very bold flavors and textures, elevating the simple and ubiquitous into something memorable .
Execution is very good, the drinks are good, the service is warm if a bit slammed at peak hour. The ambiance is homey but sophisticated - we had a table on the patio with heaters and stayed well past the end of our meal with drinks and conversations.
Bombera is an Oakland standout and worth going out of your way for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jensen Novak
Blue corn quesadilla with pork was so delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
George Hawkins
TLDR: The food here is excellent, but the service is horrendous. We went on a Monday night and it was busy but not packed. The people at the bar were nice and the cocktails were fantastic. After being seated, we were introduced to our (very unfriendly) server who had absolutely no personality and hardly even acknowledged the things we were saying as he wrote down our order. Throughout the night, him and others would bring our food to the table and just put it down in front of the person closest to them, not even asking who it was for. We asked multiple times for condiments and other things and were largely ignored. If you do eat here, I recommend the whole chicken and the fish tacos, but I can’t recommend it overall because the service was so poor. For Michelin, they should do better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
R2 D2
Chef Dominica Rice-Cisneros once again proves her culinary brilliance at Bombera, an evolution of the warmth and soul she brought to her beloved Cosecha. While Bombera feels more polished—an elevated expression of her vision—the food remains deeply rooted in authenticity and spirit.
Her mole stands apart, a masterwork of balance and depth that defies comparison. It’s not merely a sauce but a statement—layered, aromatic, and transformative—redefining what Mexican cuisine can be in the California context.
Among the many dishes that showcase Rice-Cisneros’s craft, her seasonal salad is a quiet revelation. Each bite feels composed and intentional, a play of textures and flavors that shifts with the market and seasonal Bay Area availability yet always delivers nuance and vitality.
Housed in a refurbished fire station, Bombera is both architectural gem and culinary temple. The space manages to be strikingly elegant yet grounded—a perfect reflection of the cuisine itself. Even without its well-earned Michelin star, Bombera stands as one of Oakland’s most essential dining experiences.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rosanna White
Bombera ruined my birthday dinner!
I made a reservation for five at 5 pm outside for a birthday dinner. When the restaurant finally opened at 5:05 pm, we were escorted to a table inside. I reminded them we wanted to be seated outside. They moved our party of five to a table for four. Okay, no big deal. Fixed.
We had a nice, enough initial server. She took our drink and appetizer order. For $8 the salsa and guac weren’t quite sufficient, but again, whatevs. Quite some time went by. And by quite some time, I mean we were done with drinks and all appetizers for at least 30 minutes while we waited for our server to return. We finally snagged someone. It would have been nice since we were there for dinner if someone had come to take our order for… well, DINNER! But our server disappeared. We never received a notice of a server change and as such, no explanation of the menu or any follow up to clear plates or check on us after the appetizers. Once we snagged someone random so that we would order dinner, the disappointment continued. We ordered another salsa and guacamole that never came out, but which we were billed for. We had another long wait after ordering the chicken and we ended up with way too many beans because we ordered extra when we placed an order for the chicken. An actual server doing the job would have told us that the chicken comes with beans and there was no need to order more.
The chicken was delicious so there was that… but then we had to wait a really, really long time for the bill and I had to ask them myself as the birthday person, to please bring the cake and candle that had been requested with the reservation. This seemed to be a revelation to the person I asked, which comes as no surprise since again, no one had any remote ownership of our table. Guess what happened next… another long wait. For context, by now it was 7:30. When and where does a 5pm reservation last 2.5 hours? When the cake arrived, two half singing servers arrived with two slices of cake - again, ordered one, billed for two.
No apologies or acknowledgment all evening.
By then we just wanted to leave. I didn’t want to make a stink on my birthday and my guests didn’t wantt to complain on my birthday. However, on the way home, my partner and I turned to one another and began to compare notes. Was it as terrible as we each had imagined? Why yes, it was.
He promptly returned to the restaurant. We don’t live far. He arrived back at the restaurant and was promptly dismissed by the only person he could snag, a server. The server was no help and ultimately pointed him to the bartender. That’s where things took the worst turn of all. He offered no apology and offered a snarky “what do you want us to do?”. When asked to speak to a manager or someone in charge he said he would pass the message along and to “just trust me” that we would receive a returned call the next day. We have now waited six days for a call that never came.
It pains me to write this review. I chose a woman of color owned business for my birthday wanting to support my folx, only to be treated worse than I would have been at a Taco Bell. The food was fine, but the service and lack of follow up have been ruinous, Seeking a full refund and an apology.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Dylan Hoffman
I ordered the smoked trout tostadas and duck carnitas. The food lacked flavor. The service was mediocre and the location isn’t great either. I had really high expectations and was sorely disappointed. Definitely not worth the price
⭐️ Excellent Food, but Service Felt Like Self-Service ⭐️ The food was absolutely delicious—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. However, the service felt more like self-service. I had to ask for the drink menu, to-go boxes, and even the check. We were never offered a dessert menu, even though it was my mother’s birthday. Our entrées also came out immediately after the appetizer, making the meal feel rushed. The food was fantastic, but I hope next time the service matches the quality of the kitchen.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Jaime Sanchez
Good food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cinthya Del bosque
Good food amazing service Lucia was terrific very attentive amazing attitude Food is fresh , I was hoping to get the guava cookies But no big deal new Dessert 🍮 was delicious
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
David Brickner
Amazing food and atmosphere
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Greg Collins
I'm still full 2.5 hours after leaving Bombera tonight and I don't regret a single bite. We went with 4 people and shared 4 apps/masa plates and 2 entrees. It was a lot but we all enjoyed each and every dish. The highlights were the duck carnitas and quesadilla with mushrooms. Would love to return next time we're in town.
I love Bombera. It's one of my favorite restaurants to return to for special occasions (we probably go 2-3 times a year). I really enjoyed my birthday dinner there tonight. Personally, the beets are always a favorite. I need to make that sauce at home. I'm curious to try to the chicken and maybe the carnitas, but my husband and I can never resist the steak. Other than that we usually rotate different appetizers and smaller plates.
What a meal! I've heard so many great things about Bombera. On a whim and with no reservation, we stopped by to see if we could grab a seat, and I'm so glad we did. The vibes were amazing; the music was just loud enough to be festive but quiet enough to still talk. There is plenty of seating options, from the covered patio to the bar and dining room.
I ordered only a few things because I wasn't too hungry, but everything was amazing! My favorite dishes were surprisingly the vegetarian ones—I loved the spicy carrots. The staff was incredibly generous and actually gifted us the beets and the mint tea. The beets were delicious, and the tea was the perfect pairing for the chocolate dessert. The duck was also a highlight. Service was amazing and the staff could not be any nicer. I cannot wait to return. Highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First let me preface that this restaurant is located just a few blocks from the house I grew up in. So I was surprised when I planned to have dinner in this area. I was thrilled to find this restaurant not just surviving, but absolutely thriving. Despite the pouring rain, finding parking was easy, and the sight of the packed house—a true testament to its success—instantly built excitement. The great vibe was palpable, though I should note right away that the music was quite loud inside, making conversation a bit of a challenge. You may want to ask for a table outside.
The menu immediately grabbed my attention with the promise of Duck Carnitas, but I ultimately settled on the Pork Carnitas and the Roasted Chicken Mojo De Ajo. We ordered a classic House Margarita and a Paloma for drinks. While both drinks were enjoyable, the serving size felt a little small considering the price point.
The food, however, quickly won us over. The Pork Carnitas were absolutely delicious, bursting with flavor, and surprisingly generous in portion size—a welcome sight. My one small wish was for more of the side pickled, spicy carrots and jalapeños. The Roasted Chicken Mojo De Ajo was equally impressive, served as a beautifully flavored half chicken on the bone.
What truly stole the show and is, without question, a must-have dish was the Spicy Carrots Toasted Almond Misantla. This side was amazing, delicious, and an absolute standout. The spice was about a 3 or 4 but it did not linger. Just order it.
Overall, despite the slightly high cost and the volume of the music inside, the quality and flavor of the food made for a truly memorable dinner. If you find yourself in the Diamond District and are looking for a fantastic meal, stop here. I'll bring others here to experience the food and vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
The service left quite a lot to be desired. The fish tacos were not good but the beet appetizer was amazing. There was also a hair on one of the plates.
While it took us a while to get going with drinks…the food and ambiance here are top notch. The carrots with chili crunch oil and almonds and beans is a real standout. The carnitas and chicken had a delicacy to the preparation, married with very bold flavors and textures, elevating the simple and ubiquitous into something memorable .
Execution is very good, the drinks are good, the service is warm if a bit slammed at peak hour. The ambiance is homey but sophisticated - we had a table on the patio with heaters and stayed well past the end of our meal with drinks and conversations.
Bombera is an Oakland standout and worth going out of your way for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Blue corn quesadilla with pork was so delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
TLDR: The food here is excellent, but the service is horrendous. We went on a Monday night and it was busy but not packed. The people at the bar were nice and the cocktails were fantastic. After being seated, we were introduced to our (very unfriendly) server who had absolutely no personality and hardly even acknowledged the things we were saying as he wrote down our order. Throughout the night, him and others would bring our food to the table and just put it down in front of the person closest to them, not even asking who it was for. We asked multiple times for condiments and other things and were largely ignored. If you do eat here, I recommend the whole chicken and the fish tacos, but I can’t recommend it overall because the service was so poor. For Michelin, they should do better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Chef Dominica Rice-Cisneros once again proves her culinary brilliance at Bombera, an evolution of the warmth and soul she brought to her beloved Cosecha. While Bombera feels more polished—an elevated expression of her vision—the food remains deeply rooted in authenticity and spirit.
Her mole stands apart, a masterwork of balance and depth that defies comparison. It’s not merely a sauce but a statement—layered, aromatic, and transformative—redefining what Mexican cuisine can be in the California context.
Among the many dishes that showcase Rice-Cisneros’s craft, her seasonal salad is a quiet revelation. Each bite feels composed and intentional, a play of textures and flavors that shifts with the market and seasonal Bay Area availability yet always delivers nuance and vitality.
Housed in a refurbished fire station, Bombera is both architectural gem and culinary temple. The space manages to be strikingly elegant yet grounded—a perfect reflection of the cuisine itself. Even without its well-earned Michelin star, Bombera stands as one of Oakland’s most essential dining experiences.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bombera ruined my birthday dinner!
I made a reservation for five at 5 pm outside for a birthday dinner. When the restaurant finally opened at 5:05 pm, we were escorted to a table inside. I reminded them we wanted to be seated outside. They moved our party of five to a table for four. Okay, no big deal. Fixed.
We had a nice, enough initial server. She took our drink and appetizer order. For $8 the salsa and guac weren’t quite sufficient, but again, whatevs. Quite some time went by. And by quite some time, I mean we were done with drinks and all appetizers for at least 30 minutes while we waited for our server to return. We finally snagged someone. It would have been nice since we were there for dinner if someone had come to take our order for… well, DINNER! But our server disappeared. We never received a notice of a server change and as such, no explanation of the menu or any follow up to clear plates or check on us after the appetizers. Once we snagged someone random so that we would order dinner, the disappointment continued. We ordered another salsa and guacamole that never came out, but which we were billed for. We had another long wait after ordering the chicken and we ended up with way too many beans because we ordered extra when we placed an order for the chicken. An actual server doing the job would have told us that the chicken comes with beans and there was no need to order more.
The chicken was delicious so there was that… but then we had to wait a really, really long time for the bill and I had to ask them myself as the birthday person, to please bring the cake and candle that had been requested with the reservation. This seemed to be a revelation to the person I asked, which comes as no surprise since again, no one had any remote ownership of our table. Guess what happened next… another long wait. For context, by now it was 7:30. When and where does a 5pm reservation last 2.5 hours? When the cake arrived, two half singing servers arrived with two slices of cake - again, ordered one, billed for two.
No apologies or acknowledgment all evening.
By then we just wanted to leave. I didn’t want to make a stink on my birthday and my guests didn’t wantt to complain on my birthday. However, on the way home, my partner and I turned to one another and began to compare notes. Was it as terrible as we each had imagined? Why yes, it was.
He promptly returned to the restaurant. We don’t live far. He arrived back at the restaurant and was promptly dismissed by the only person he could snag, a server. The server was no help and ultimately pointed him to the bartender. That’s where things took the worst turn of all. He offered no apology and offered a snarky “what do you want us to do?”. When asked to speak to a manager or someone in charge he said he would pass the message along and to “just trust me” that we would receive a returned call the next day. We have now waited six days for a call that never came.
It pains me to write this review. I chose a woman of color owned business for my birthday wanting to support my folx, only to be treated worse than I would have been at a Taco Bell. The food was fine, but the service and lack of follow up have been ruinous, Seeking a full refund and an apology.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
I ordered the smoked trout tostadas and duck carnitas. The food lacked flavor. The service was mediocre and the location isn’t great either. I had really high expectations and was sorely disappointed. Definitely not worth the price
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
⭐️ Excellent Food, but Service Felt Like Self-Service ⭐️
The food was absolutely delicious—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. However, the service felt more like self-service. I had to ask for the drink menu, to-go boxes, and even the check. We were never offered a dessert menu, even though it was my mother’s birthday. Our entrées also came out immediately after the appetizer, making the meal feel rushed. The food was fantastic, but I hope next time the service matches the quality of the kitchen.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Good food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good food amazing service Lucia was terrific very attentive amazing attitude Food is fresh , I was hoping to get the guava cookies But no big deal new
Dessert 🍮 was delicious
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Amazing food and atmosphere
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I'm still full 2.5 hours after leaving Bombera tonight and I don't regret a single bite. We went with 4 people and shared 4 apps/masa plates and 2 entrees. It was a lot but we all enjoyed each and every dish. The highlights were the duck carnitas and quesadilla with mushrooms. Would love to return next time we're in town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loading...