I think I need to do a better job ordering next time bc I am very spice-intolerant, so my actual meal was not incredibly enjoyable. love the soy milk and the pandan dessert!!
kinda sad they're closing and will be attempting to go back to try something less spicy before then and have the cake one last time
Mike Kent
I Really like their product excellent food and great service.That place had great food, but I don't think I would go there again...becausethe idea that you MUST pay at least 20% tip is ludicrous.The whole premise of a "tip" is that you pay the wait person a little something extra for good service, it is not required.If they really want to cover their staff then build it up front into the price of the meal ( though they are already at the top end of expensive)"We apply a 20% gratuity to parties of less than 5, and 22% to parties of 5 and more. This gratuity is fully redistributed among our entire staff and helps guarantee stability in an increasingly expensive area to live, on top of their above-minimum-wage salaries."
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tate Hernandez
Honestly, I was left disappointed and upset with how much money I threw out the door to eat here. I had seen many posts online and videos about this amazing all vegan place and the food looked amazing so I drove 2 hours to eat here. The establishments set up just messes with the whole experince from the start, ordering and paying before even being seated feels awkward and doesn't allow an assessment of anything before ordering desserts. The prices with the portions is honestly insane I felt as if I had eaten nothing after an app and an entree as well as dessert. I do not understand the automatic gratituity when customers are not being waited on. The establishment is not child friendly whatsoever. I just overall would rate it start to finish a negative experince and could've spent half the money for better food quality and portions.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Yifan Wang
40 min of wait, make sure to get there before 6pm or after 8:30pm. We persisted because other people in the queue muttered words such as “best food I’ve ever had”, “absolutely wort the wait”.When seated, we sampled laksa, rendang, fried oyster mushroom and a dessert.For two, I think that was a proper amount of food, since the portion is relatively small.The food in general has is very tasty and very flavorful, but I would not say that it’s the best food I’ve ever had. But as their menu changes often, I don’t mind trying here another time if the line is shorter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Laksa Lemak
F M
I would rather 11 stars if I could. Best tasting food in Oakland. Super unique menu. The ShaoBing sandwich was phenomenal. Expensive but totally worth it. Can get really busy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Green Lasagna, Shaobing Sandwich, Tofu Nuggets, A S S Cookies, Zhajiangmian
Valerie Miles-Tribble
Foodies will enjoy this tiny gem. Yummy vegan break from heavy /fatty foods. Expect a line.Vegetarian options: Very flavorful and freshly prepared vegan ingredients
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Mark Pilloff
Overall a disappointing experience. Our group made the mistake of doubling down on the fried tofu sandwich which none of us liked. Personally I found the Chinese mustard overpowering. The laksa soup was not bad, but like so many of the dishes we tried, overpriced for a small portion. The potatoes were the only truly satisfying dish we ordered.
Hannah Cheng
Yummy food! Got there around 5:10pm, and there was a long line already! We waited for 30-40 min to order and get a table.The food came out quickly! We got a bunch of food and it was all great! Loved the mushroom goreng, laksa, and pandan Nina gao.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Clare Cui
Cute vibes and good service. We got the fried oyster mushrooms, laksa, pan fried noodles, and 2 sparkling waters. The food was definitely flavorful (laksa broth was esp rich) and the menu had a good variety. But, for our dishes specifically, there was much more breading than mushroom meat, and the noodles were overcooked in both dishes. Not worth it for the prices. We ended up spending $93 with a mandatory 20% gratuity and other fees which just feels exorbitant for the quality.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Swetha Iyer
Hands down the most delicious food in bay area! I've never been disappointed by anything I've eaten here over the last 2+ years. And this speaks to a lot because their menu changes pretty frequently. Please give them your business! ?
This place is everything I’ve ever wanted: very flavorful, vegan, and made with local ingredients. They weren’t afraid to have a little spice in there, but not everything was spicy.Dietary restrictions: Vegan
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Shaobing Sandwich, Laksa Lemak, Sesame L G M Noodles
Filza V.
This place has been on my list to try for quite a while now and I finally had the opportunity! We were a party of 6 and I know it was a small place, so we reached out ahead of time to try and make a reservation but they wouldn't take it- walk in only, they told us. We arrived on a Saturday evening and patiently waited 50 minutes in line, only to be told they could not seat our party of 6 (even in separate tables). We were shocked- they told us for parties of 6 and over they require e-mail reservations. We wish this was communicated to us prior when we tried to make a reservation. They told us they had some standing room outside until we waited for the barstools to clear up. This was really disappointing considering we made my friends parents and family members already wait for 50 minutes standing in line. Eventually someone came outside with us to help find some barstools- but it was still not a proper seating experience. The timing of food was also just a mess. No water until the first few items were served, not enough utensils the first time it was brought out to us, the dishes they served did not have serving spoons, and they forgot about our last dish and dessert until we had to remind them about it separately both times. I've been in restaurants not known for service but this was next-level. The food was all excellent and I really want to come back but being forced to pay the 22% gratuity really left a bitter taste in my mouth after that experience. If the food was not phenomenal this would've been 1 stars. We ordered almost everything on the menu and it was incredible. The fried mushroom appetizer, potato appetizer, and mushroom mince entrees were my favorite. I really hope they can get their customer service together because this food is truly outstanding.
Michele L.
Lion Dance Cafe had been on my Yelp list for a longggggg time. I actually mentioned this restaurant to my partner almost a year ago, but we never got around to trying Lion Dance Cafe until today due to the location, limited seating, and it just wasn't at a convenient location for us to just pop by. There was buzz about this restaurant for a while now, and for good reason. The vibe here is unique, and their menu, though small selection, is very well crafted and put together. If you want to give this place a try, a few notes: - Be expected to wait. We arrived around 5:30PM, and there was already a line forming. It still took us 20 mins or so just to be seated - Most of the menu items have some sort of spiciness to it, so be sure you can take the spice! - Payment is made upfront when you order at the counter, and a 20% gratuity is already automatically added. This was mentioned to us by the employee handling our order and there is a screen to tip in addition to that when you swipe your card. - Service can be slow, but this is probably due to the amount of effort they put into making the dishes. They didn't seem understaffed, so I can only assume it's for this reason - Indoor seating is pretty tight. Most tables are made for parties of two, max four by combining, but it's quite squishy and not the most comfortable. My chair was practically against the wall with no room to move back. But the inside of the restaurant is such a vibe, and I wonder if they placed the tables so closely for the intimate setting. I'm loving the lanterns. Between my partner and I, we ordered: 1) Mala Cutlet Sandwich - It was a good call to share this sando because this is a hefty burger for one person. The tofu in here had a crunchy outer layer - I really liked the texture and flavor of it. And it was a big slab of tofu! The spicy sauce was almost too spicy for me to tolerate, but the veggies help cut the spiciness. There almost seemed to bit a hint of wasabi in it because of a sharp, pungent flavor. This was the highlight of all the main dishes we ordered. My partner really liked this sando, and I thought it was a pretty uniquely crafted. It's like a vegan version of a Fried Chicken Sandwich. Definitely recommend this one if you can handle the spice! We were pleasantly surprised that this dish came with a small side of what we assume to be their Prawn-Less Crackers. I'm not sure how they were able to imitate that texture and flavor, but it definitely tasted like an elevated shrimp chip - more tastier! 5/5 2) Teochew Char Kway Teow - This was nice and flavorful, but I think it was a little lacking for the price point. It's pretty carb heavy as it's a noodle dish. There's a mix of the same seasonal veggies as the Green Garlic Greens, and they mixed in thin slices of tofu, which was also really good. They just have their tofu down! But it wasn't as unique as the sando, and I feel you can find something similar in other restaurants for a lower price point. 3.5/5 3) Green Garlic Greens - Well flavored and steamed perfectly. I like my green veggies to still have a bit of a bite to it, and these had that, but again, price point was a bit high for the quantity in my opinion. 3.5/5 4) A.S.S Cookies - This stood out as perfect dessert! I'm not sure it counts as dessert, and it's more savory than sweet, but they are cookies. I would describe them as similar to Almond Mung Bean Cookies, but with a savory note at the end of the bite, thanks to the shallot component. It's covered with sesame seeds, which I love! And the cookie is on the dry side - crumbly, and buttery feeling. 5/5 5) Calicraft Coast Kolsch - I'm not a drinker, but this was pretty good. Light and refreshing. Goes well with the heavy food! 4/5 All in all, I'm glad I gave this place a go. It's definitely a more unique food spot and well-deserving of the spotlight it has. Service is slow, but friendly. I wouldn't mind giving this place another go when the menu changes.
Ginna B.
Food was incredible! Particularly loved the mushrooms and the faux shrimp crackers. Super busy though so be prepared to wait.
Tonesflavor
Appetizers didn't arrive at the same time, nor did main dishes. Some meals had excellent presentation while others looked blend. Nothing was extra ordinary. Same way of cooking tofu was used in main dishes, little bit disappointing to not get more of variation. Service was bad. Was told tip was including in the price after I already paid and pushed on tip…
I think I need to do a better job ordering next time bc I am very spice-intolerant, so my actual meal was not incredibly enjoyable. love the soy milk and the pandan dessert!! kinda sad they're closing and will be attempting to go back to try something less spicy before then and have the cake one last time
I Really like their product excellent food and great service.That place had great food, but I don't think I would go there again...becausethe idea that you MUST pay at least 20% tip is ludicrous.The whole premise of a "tip" is that you pay the wait person a little something extra for good service, it is not required.If they really want to cover their staff then build it up front into the price of the meal ( though they are already at the top end of expensive)"We apply a 20% gratuity to parties of less than 5, and 22% to parties of 5 and more. This gratuity is fully redistributed among our entire staff and helps guarantee stability in an increasingly expensive area to live, on top of their above-minimum-wage salaries."
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Honestly, I was left disappointed and upset with how much money I threw out the door to eat here. I had seen many posts online and videos about this amazing all vegan place and the food looked amazing so I drove 2 hours to eat here. The establishments set up just messes with the whole experince from the start, ordering and paying before even being seated feels awkward and doesn't allow an assessment of anything before ordering desserts. The prices with the portions is honestly insane I felt as if I had eaten nothing after an app and an entree as well as dessert. I do not understand the automatic gratituity when customers are not being waited on. The establishment is not child friendly whatsoever. I just overall would rate it start to finish a negative experince and could've spent half the money for better food quality and portions.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
40 min of wait, make sure to get there before 6pm or after 8:30pm. We persisted because other people in the queue muttered words such as “best food I’ve ever had”, “absolutely wort the wait”.When seated, we sampled laksa, rendang, fried oyster mushroom and a dessert.For two, I think that was a proper amount of food, since the portion is relatively small.The food in general has is very tasty and very flavorful, but I would not say that it’s the best food I’ve ever had. But as their menu changes often, I don’t mind trying here another time if the line is shorter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Laksa Lemak
I would rather 11 stars if I could. Best tasting food in Oakland. Super unique menu. The ShaoBing sandwich was phenomenal. Expensive but totally worth it. Can get really busy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Green Lasagna, Shaobing Sandwich, Tofu Nuggets, A S S Cookies, Zhajiangmian
Foodies will enjoy this tiny gem. Yummy vegan break from heavy /fatty foods. Expect a line.Vegetarian options: Very flavorful and freshly prepared vegan ingredients
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Overall a disappointing experience. Our group made the mistake of doubling down on the fried tofu sandwich which none of us liked. Personally I found the Chinese mustard overpowering. The laksa soup was not bad, but like so many of the dishes we tried, overpriced for a small portion. The potatoes were the only truly satisfying dish we ordered.
Yummy food! Got there around 5:10pm, and there was a long line already! We waited for 30-40 min to order and get a table.The food came out quickly! We got a bunch of food and it was all great! Loved the mushroom goreng, laksa, and pandan Nina gao.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cute vibes and good service. We got the fried oyster mushrooms, laksa, pan fried noodles, and 2 sparkling waters. The food was definitely flavorful (laksa broth was esp rich) and the menu had a good variety. But, for our dishes specifically, there was much more breading than mushroom meat, and the noodles were overcooked in both dishes. Not worth it for the prices. We ended up spending $93 with a mandatory 20% gratuity and other fees which just feels exorbitant for the quality.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Hands down the most delicious food in bay area! I've never been disappointed by anything I've eaten here over the last 2+ years. And this speaks to a lot because their menu changes pretty frequently. Please give them your business! ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
This place is everything I’ve ever wanted: very flavorful, vegan, and made with local ingredients. They weren’t afraid to have a little spice in there, but not everything was spicy.Dietary restrictions: Vegan
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Shaobing Sandwich, Laksa Lemak, Sesame L G M Noodles
This place has been on my list to try for quite a while now and I finally had the opportunity! We were a party of 6 and I know it was a small place, so we reached out ahead of time to try and make a reservation but they wouldn't take it- walk in only, they told us. We arrived on a Saturday evening and patiently waited 50 minutes in line, only to be told they could not seat our party of 6 (even in separate tables). We were shocked- they told us for parties of 6 and over they require e-mail reservations. We wish this was communicated to us prior when we tried to make a reservation. They told us they had some standing room outside until we waited for the barstools to clear up. This was really disappointing considering we made my friends parents and family members already wait for 50 minutes standing in line. Eventually someone came outside with us to help find some barstools- but it was still not a proper seating experience. The timing of food was also just a mess. No water until the first few items were served, not enough utensils the first time it was brought out to us, the dishes they served did not have serving spoons, and they forgot about our last dish and dessert until we had to remind them about it separately both times. I've been in restaurants not known for service but this was next-level. The food was all excellent and I really want to come back but being forced to pay the 22% gratuity really left a bitter taste in my mouth after that experience. If the food was not phenomenal this would've been 1 stars. We ordered almost everything on the menu and it was incredible. The fried mushroom appetizer, potato appetizer, and mushroom mince entrees were my favorite. I really hope they can get their customer service together because this food is truly outstanding.
Lion Dance Cafe had been on my Yelp list for a longggggg time. I actually mentioned this restaurant to my partner almost a year ago, but we never got around to trying Lion Dance Cafe until today due to the location, limited seating, and it just wasn't at a convenient location for us to just pop by. There was buzz about this restaurant for a while now, and for good reason. The vibe here is unique, and their menu, though small selection, is very well crafted and put together. If you want to give this place a try, a few notes: - Be expected to wait. We arrived around 5:30PM, and there was already a line forming. It still took us 20 mins or so just to be seated - Most of the menu items have some sort of spiciness to it, so be sure you can take the spice! - Payment is made upfront when you order at the counter, and a 20% gratuity is already automatically added. This was mentioned to us by the employee handling our order and there is a screen to tip in addition to that when you swipe your card. - Service can be slow, but this is probably due to the amount of effort they put into making the dishes. They didn't seem understaffed, so I can only assume it's for this reason - Indoor seating is pretty tight. Most tables are made for parties of two, max four by combining, but it's quite squishy and not the most comfortable. My chair was practically against the wall with no room to move back. But the inside of the restaurant is such a vibe, and I wonder if they placed the tables so closely for the intimate setting. I'm loving the lanterns. Between my partner and I, we ordered: 1) Mala Cutlet Sandwich - It was a good call to share this sando because this is a hefty burger for one person. The tofu in here had a crunchy outer layer - I really liked the texture and flavor of it. And it was a big slab of tofu! The spicy sauce was almost too spicy for me to tolerate, but the veggies help cut the spiciness. There almost seemed to bit a hint of wasabi in it because of a sharp, pungent flavor. This was the highlight of all the main dishes we ordered. My partner really liked this sando, and I thought it was a pretty uniquely crafted. It's like a vegan version of a Fried Chicken Sandwich. Definitely recommend this one if you can handle the spice! We were pleasantly surprised that this dish came with a small side of what we assume to be their Prawn-Less Crackers. I'm not sure how they were able to imitate that texture and flavor, but it definitely tasted like an elevated shrimp chip - more tastier! 5/5 2) Teochew Char Kway Teow - This was nice and flavorful, but I think it was a little lacking for the price point. It's pretty carb heavy as it's a noodle dish. There's a mix of the same seasonal veggies as the Green Garlic Greens, and they mixed in thin slices of tofu, which was also really good. They just have their tofu down! But it wasn't as unique as the sando, and I feel you can find something similar in other restaurants for a lower price point. 3.5/5 3) Green Garlic Greens - Well flavored and steamed perfectly. I like my green veggies to still have a bit of a bite to it, and these had that, but again, price point was a bit high for the quantity in my opinion. 3.5/5 4) A.S.S Cookies - This stood out as perfect dessert! I'm not sure it counts as dessert, and it's more savory than sweet, but they are cookies. I would describe them as similar to Almond Mung Bean Cookies, but with a savory note at the end of the bite, thanks to the shallot component. It's covered with sesame seeds, which I love! And the cookie is on the dry side - crumbly, and buttery feeling. 5/5 5) Calicraft Coast Kolsch - I'm not a drinker, but this was pretty good. Light and refreshing. Goes well with the heavy food! 4/5 All in all, I'm glad I gave this place a go. It's definitely a more unique food spot and well-deserving of the spotlight it has. Service is slow, but friendly. I wouldn't mind giving this place another go when the menu changes.
Food was incredible! Particularly loved the mushrooms and the faux shrimp crackers. Super busy though so be prepared to wait.
Appetizers didn't arrive at the same time, nor did main dishes. Some meals had excellent presentation while others looked blend. Nothing was extra ordinary. Same way of cooking tofu was used in main dishes, little bit disappointing to not get more of variation. Service was bad. Was told tip was including in the price after I already paid and pushed on tip…