Joodooboo — Restaurant in Oakland

I got to visit Joodooboo in Oakland and it absolutely deserves five stars! This bustling yet efficient deli, run by renowned local chef Steve Joo, offers a delightful culinary experience rooted in local farms and traditional diaspora.

The concept of serving Korean small dishes, known as banchan, made from fresh produce sourced from local farms, including the famous Cannard Family Farm, truly impressed me. I opted for the 6-pack banchan, which showcased the intricate flavors and labor that went into each dish. Despite not eating fish, I was thrilled to find an array of delicious options that catered to my preferences.

Among my favorites were the soy-picked carrots and the DooBooMooChiim, an assortment of vegetables with tofu bits. The simplicity of the dish was heavenly, and the balance of flavors was impeccable. I also had the pleasure of trying their squid and crispy rice lunch special, which was simply magical. The accompanying picture shows a double portion as I shared it with a friend who also marveled at the flavors.

Joodooboo offers subscriptions for those looking to enjoy a larger variety of their healthy banchans and fresh tofu throughout the week. It's a fantastic option for those seeking convenient and wholesome meals.

My only complaint is the limited opening hours, which makes it a bit challenging to visit more frequently. I do hope that Joodooboo expands its hours soon, as the experience and flavors they offer are truly exceptional.

In conclusion, Joodooboo in Oakland is a hidden gem that combines delicious and clean dining with a hospitable atmosphere. The dedication to sourcing fresh, local ingredients and the intricate flavors of their banchans make it a must-visit for anyone craving a unique culinary experience. Even if you don't eat fish, like myself, you'll still find a delightful array of options to enjoy. Five stars...

I find myself more and more drawn to this place the more I come here; and the longer I'm away the more I catch myself thinking about every little detail of it.

This, despite the fact that there's no serious effort made by the staff to make sure you "get it" when you're in Joodooboo. From the weightiness of the bowls and small plates that they use, to the disposable chopsticks that are of noticeable better feel, to the texture of the noodles or rice, the spiciness of their rice thief, the sound of the bustle when it's busy or the serene music when it's quiet, to even the random little touches scattered around like Easter eggs - there if you want to find them but not particularly concerned if you do. Little notes that say "you got this!", little tofu characters that have an uncanny resemblance to Steve Joo's face, a very impressive and heartwarming rosters of special events and collabs and pop ups coming up, visible on the wall as you trek to the restroom.

Yeah, I first came because someone I knew had mentioned it offhand as a sort of afterthought recommendation. But I left thoroughly enamored.

And the amazing this is that there's only 4 things on the menu, all of which center around tofu and homemade banchan. Nothing at all worth writing home about on paper.

And yet, at least from where I'm standing, it's perfect. I at least wouldn't want to change a single thing about it, I'm only looking forward to the next time I can come and to find out what the staff has planned next.

The world would be a kinder, quieter, happier place if all of us had places like this to live out some corner of our life in. I hope we don't take it for granted because doing what Joodooboo does is hard and there's no guarantee that we will have places like this in the future.

Yeah, I guess you can say I'm pretty obsessed.

And team Joodooboo:

You...

Amazing food, DIY service at luxury prices

Joodooboo, oh Joodooboo. The food? Absolutely delicious — fresh, authentic, and with that “homemade but make it fancy” vibe. We cleaned every plate and loved the flavors.

But then the reality check: $22 for a meatless dooboo set and $19 for a rice bowl that’s just rice and veggies. At that price point I expect a sit-down restaurant with real service, not a “line up at the cashier, fight for a seat, scan a QR code that doesn’t work, and beg the one stressed-out server to help” setup. Saturday was packed, things were sold out online but not in person, and honestly it just felt messy.

And then after you finish your premium-priced meal (having already tipped at the register, because of course the screen asks you to), you’re expected to bus your own mountain of plates. Cute station, sure, but… come on. I didn’t sign up for dish duty after dropping $60 on two meatless dishes and a soda.

Bottom line: Joodooboo serves fantastic food but the service model feels like the owner is pinching pennies while charging a premium (i get it that you need to run short in order to make money in that industry but yes it felt like too much) . I’ll be dreaming about the flavors, but not so much...