Ruth's Buka — Restaurant in Oakland

The food is awesome! I've never had Nigerian Ghana food before and it was awesome. The flavors oh my gosh where do I start. They're jollof rice on point colorful spicy I could eat that by itself. We got the jollof rice with vegetables and plantains which comes with your choice of protein for us it was chicken and beef. The vegetables is like fresh collard semi-cooked greens with spice. The plantains soft and sweet perfect to go with the spice of the dish. The beef was a little dry and tough although Good. The chicken fell off the bone and the flavors of the sauce permeated throughout the chicken in each bite. I did have a side dish of the goat for me it was a little too gamey and I've had gamey meats. The soups come with a protein of your choice fish chicken beef goat. We had chicken with our Egusi soup. It was warm and spicy and the fufu (sticky cassava that has been boiled and pounded) this would be like sticky mashed potato complemented the Egusi soup. On another trip we had the red snapper and that was well deeply fried. There are bones but if you like fish you will like it. Also had a bottle of the tropical rhythms fruit punch which was sweet and fruity. Also try the puff puff - similar to donut holes without the sugar. If you are messy eater ask for extra napkins. Did I mention the food is spicy... Ask for extra napkins LOL Sometimes expect a line and if there is a line be patient the food is worth it. And if you have any questions ask the people behind the counter they're Good at explaining the ingredients and making suggestions especially If It's your first time. Their bathroom clean and...

✳️MUST READ* ✳️I had high hopes for Ruth’s Buka, but my experience was beyond disappointing. I arrived two hours before closing, expecting to have a variety of options, only to be told they only had turkey wings left. Fine, I thought—until I asked how many came with an order and was told ONE PIECE. One single turkey wing, with Jollof rice and plantains, for $19. I was shocked.

Since I was starving, I asked if I could switch to goat instead, and they said it would be $10 more for just THREE small pieces. At this point, I was trying to figure out what was even worth spending my money on, but the staff was clearly rushing me (Being super Rude), making me feel like I was nothing but an inconvenience.

Desperate for something to eat, I settled for a meat pie. Since I was hungry and planned to eat it on my drive, I politely asked if they could warm it up—only to be told NO without any explanation. Really? A restaurant that refuses to warm up food for a paying customer?

I walked out feeling frustrated, ripped off, and unwelcome. The lack of options, ridiculous prices, and rude service made this one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone unless they enjoy being rushed, overcharged, and treated like a burden. Absolute waste of time and money!

️⃣Please be advised, the restaurant was very untidy and unorganized. Glass was fogged on food case so you could hardly see what was...

BE INFORMED-A MUST READ: I was excited about trying the food at Ruth’s Buka and supporting this local Nigerian Business. Unfortunately, when ordering, I was met with a cold and rude tone of passive aggressiveness by the young lady taking my order. It was hard to see the items through the glass as it was foggy, and the area was noticeably untidy and hadn’t been cleaned for some time. When I asked about the different options in deciding my order, she made me feel as if I was disturbing and bothering her, rolling her eyes and rushing me as if my purchase was a nuisance.

The food was subpar and the portions were small for the immense price paid for each item ($20 for 14 ounces).

Making matters even more concerning was the fact that there were children who were clearly under the age of 12 working in the kitchen with the meat. As a Law Student, this violates the Children Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and children 13 years old or younger may not work in California. I am not sure how this business has flown under the radar of the US Department of Labor, but this is truly concerning.

My receipt had a cashier name of Deborah and I felt conflicted about sharing my experience as I was looking forward to pouring into Ruth’s Buka as a regular customer, but given these multiple circumstances, I can’t in my good conscious do so. It is simply not worth it. Save your money and time and take your...