The food is pretty decent...wouldn't call it amazing. In general, I would say this place is a puffed-up hype job. The experience of eating there, though, is more like a cafeteria than a place with $35 mains. We were seated in the very back section beside the dish-washing station on folding chairs that collapse when you hang your coat on the back. The salsa and guac were served in disposable plastic cups. Service was awful. I put in my reservation that WE NEED A HIGHCHAIR because we brought our 18-month old. They had no highchair available and so we had to eat passing the baby back and forth. The dishes trend toward exotic ingredients, but the flavors of those exotic ingredients don't really shine through -- you're better off going to your regular mexican place where the prices are reasonable and they have cushy booths.
Walt S.
Upscale Mexican restaurant with out of the ordinary dishes prepared by an experienced chef.
Elizabeth G.
The food and drinks were incredible! I was really glad that we had a reservation, the restaurant was really busy. I'd absolutely come back anytime!!
Erica F.
The food was amazing!!!! From the beets appetizer to the dessert. We loved it so much we came twice in a week.
Denzel T.
I've been meaning to try Bombera for awhile, so I was excited to finally get the chance to check them out. I ended up getting the fish tacos, duck, and mango gem salad and splitting it all with a friend. First off, the mango salad was excellent, very citrus forward and flavorful. It's pretty much the same recipe the chef used during their Cosecha days. The fish tacos were huge and fried well. The duck dish was also super tasty, although I wish the portion was a bit larger since most items here are meant to be shared family style. I thought the general vibe was quite nice. Definitely a packed and chatty atmosphere with lots of outdoor seating. They even had blankets in case customers seated outside were cold. I would say that Bombera offers some tasty food options and great atmosphere. I do wish some of the portions were slightly larger given the price point, but that doesn't detract from the food quality itself. I'll be coming back to try more dishes!
Reni N.
We went here on a Thursday evening. Reservations are a must, call or book online. We started with chips, guac, and salsa. The chips are so tasty, crunchy and flavorful. The salsa has a bold flavor, very mild in spice. We got a couple of margaritas, the pomegranate margarita and margarita de Fresca. The drinks weren't too sweet (which i like) and had nice decorations. There are lots of drink options! We got the fish tacos and roasted chicken mojo de ajo (half portion). The fish tacos were delicious and a very good portion for one person. The fish was crispy and light! The roasted chicken was so juicy and flavorful. The dish came with beans, rice and greens. I would definitely get this dish again!
Carlos C.
This is a fun place to meet up with friends and try some delicious Mexican food. The ingredients are fresh. The drinks are wonderful as well. I like the indoor and outdoor dining options.
Lisa P.
Definitely a cut above a good Mexican restaurant. There are many specialty dishes on the menu beyond what one hopes to find. The staff is professional, drinks are creative and the ambience is festive. I have tried different items each of the three time I've dined and all three were authentico y rico!
Marcia R.
Bombera is a hidden gem in an unassuming Oakland neighborhood that has had it's share of recent crime. The restaurant is really loud but the food is yummy, decor is cute and service was great. We all ordered different things and it was all tasty. Chips and guac, mango salad and carrots were great starters and I enjoyed the duck with mole verde. Everything was flavorful, will definitely go back!
Wanda D.
When I watch cooking shows I always think, "That looks delicious! I wish I could eat that!" Wishes do come true! Bombera is your chance to have the beautiful food of Chef Dominica! Everything we ate was so fresh and innovative and delicious! We had the smoked trout tostadas, and every component was delightful from the avocado cream to the smokey fish combining nicely with the sweet mustard arugula salad. The spicy carrots were a revelation with crispy almonds and smokey spicy chili sauce with perfect creamy gigante beans. But the best was the carne asada huarache supreme! After being unsure how to eat it, we just dug in and cut the giant tortilla into smaller mini tacos with each of the components: The greens! The beans! The steak was the most tender and flavorful meat I've ever eaten! Don't forget the drinks! I had the fermented soda, a delightful combo of orange, lemon, and cardamom seeds complete with a tamarindo straw! And the cocktail my friend had was so light and refreshing! The decor was airy and light but it was pretty loud inside. I can't wait for the nice weather to have another amazing meal in the lovely outdoor seating area!
Service was really good and we were happy about the server. I had more expectations for fish tacos but it was too oily and was not tasty. I love the patio area . It is nice and livery beautifully lit
Kendra M.
Delicious food, excellent service and beautiful ambiance. Tamales, salad, duck and sausage were perfect (sausage was a surprise favorite!). It was a little loud and hard to hear my table mate- would help to add some acoustic panels. Excited to come back & eat outside.
Mb2
I normally run from places with market lights and lines, but they were not messing around.
Matt L.
Ordered "crispy fish tacos" which any reasonable person would interpret to mean crispy tacos with fish. Instead we got soft tacos with deep fried fish. In addition, the fish was almost all breading and very little fish, and twice the size of the tortilla. Not at all what we ordered, and unfortunately 3 of the 4 of us ordered it. When the server came by and I politely explained how poorly written and misleading the menu was, she said I should leave a Yelp review. I said I would rather she pass along a message to the owner/manager. She said she was afraid because she would get mad. Instead she brought over another server who merely apologized, but made not effort to accommodate in any way. Also, ordered guac and got a huge bowl of chips and less than 1/8 cup of guac. Will never go back.
Till L.
Beautiful ambience. Amazing wait staff. Everything is sooo good Mia is the best Try the swordfish naranja salad cardamom cake and pot de crème
The food is pretty decent...wouldn't call it amazing. In general, I would say this place is a puffed-up hype job. The experience of eating there, though, is more like a cafeteria than a place with $35 mains. We were seated in the very back section beside the dish-washing station on folding chairs that collapse when you hang your coat on the back. The salsa and guac were served in disposable plastic cups. Service was awful. I put in my reservation that WE NEED A HIGHCHAIR because we brought our 18-month old. They had no highchair available and so we had to eat passing the baby back and forth. The dishes trend toward exotic ingredients, but the flavors of those exotic ingredients don't really shine through -- you're better off going to your regular mexican place where the prices are reasonable and they have cushy booths.
Upscale Mexican restaurant with out of the ordinary dishes prepared by an experienced chef.
The food and drinks were incredible! I was really glad that we had a reservation, the restaurant was really busy. I'd absolutely come back anytime!!
The food was amazing!!!! From the beets appetizer to the dessert. We loved it so much we came twice in a week.
I've been meaning to try Bombera for awhile, so I was excited to finally get the chance to check them out. I ended up getting the fish tacos, duck, and mango gem salad and splitting it all with a friend. First off, the mango salad was excellent, very citrus forward and flavorful. It's pretty much the same recipe the chef used during their Cosecha days. The fish tacos were huge and fried well. The duck dish was also super tasty, although I wish the portion was a bit larger since most items here are meant to be shared family style. I thought the general vibe was quite nice. Definitely a packed and chatty atmosphere with lots of outdoor seating. They even had blankets in case customers seated outside were cold. I would say that Bombera offers some tasty food options and great atmosphere. I do wish some of the portions were slightly larger given the price point, but that doesn't detract from the food quality itself. I'll be coming back to try more dishes!
We went here on a Thursday evening. Reservations are a must, call or book online. We started with chips, guac, and salsa. The chips are so tasty, crunchy and flavorful. The salsa has a bold flavor, very mild in spice. We got a couple of margaritas, the pomegranate margarita and margarita de Fresca. The drinks weren't too sweet (which i like) and had nice decorations. There are lots of drink options! We got the fish tacos and roasted chicken mojo de ajo (half portion). The fish tacos were delicious and a very good portion for one person. The fish was crispy and light! The roasted chicken was so juicy and flavorful. The dish came with beans, rice and greens. I would definitely get this dish again!
This is a fun place to meet up with friends and try some delicious Mexican food. The ingredients are fresh. The drinks are wonderful as well. I like the indoor and outdoor dining options.
Definitely a cut above a good Mexican restaurant. There are many specialty dishes on the menu beyond what one hopes to find. The staff is professional, drinks are creative and the ambience is festive. I have tried different items each of the three time I've dined and all three were authentico y rico!
Bombera is a hidden gem in an unassuming Oakland neighborhood that has had it's share of recent crime. The restaurant is really loud but the food is yummy, decor is cute and service was great. We all ordered different things and it was all tasty. Chips and guac, mango salad and carrots were great starters and I enjoyed the duck with mole verde. Everything was flavorful, will definitely go back!
When I watch cooking shows I always think, "That looks delicious! I wish I could eat that!" Wishes do come true! Bombera is your chance to have the beautiful food of Chef Dominica! Everything we ate was so fresh and innovative and delicious! We had the smoked trout tostadas, and every component was delightful from the avocado cream to the smokey fish combining nicely with the sweet mustard arugula salad. The spicy carrots were a revelation with crispy almonds and smokey spicy chili sauce with perfect creamy gigante beans. But the best was the carne asada huarache supreme! After being unsure how to eat it, we just dug in and cut the giant tortilla into smaller mini tacos with each of the components: The greens! The beans! The steak was the most tender and flavorful meat I've ever eaten! Don't forget the drinks! I had the fermented soda, a delightful combo of orange, lemon, and cardamom seeds complete with a tamarindo straw! And the cocktail my friend had was so light and refreshing! The decor was airy and light but it was pretty loud inside. I can't wait for the nice weather to have another amazing meal in the lovely outdoor seating area!
Restaurantji Recommends
Service was really good and we were happy about the server. I had more expectations for fish tacos but it was too oily and was not tasty. I love the patio area . It is nice and livery beautifully lit
Delicious food, excellent service and beautiful ambiance. Tamales, salad, duck and sausage were perfect (sausage was a surprise favorite!). It was a little loud and hard to hear my table mate- would help to add some acoustic panels. Excited to come back & eat outside.
I normally run from places with market lights and lines, but they were not messing around.
Ordered "crispy fish tacos" which any reasonable person would interpret to mean crispy tacos with fish. Instead we got soft tacos with deep fried fish. In addition, the fish was almost all breading and very little fish, and twice the size of the tortilla. Not at all what we ordered, and unfortunately 3 of the 4 of us ordered it. When the server came by and I politely explained how poorly written and misleading the menu was, she said I should leave a Yelp review. I said I would rather she pass along a message to the owner/manager. She said she was afraid because she would get mad. Instead she brought over another server who merely apologized, but made not effort to accommodate in any way. Also, ordered guac and got a huge bowl of chips and less than 1/8 cup of guac. Will never go back.
Beautiful ambience. Amazing wait staff. Everything is sooo good Mia is the best Try the swordfish naranja salad cardamom cake and pot de crème