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Bakesale Betty
Categories: Food Bakeries Restaurants Sandwiches Bakeries, Sandwiches [Edit]
5098 Telegraph Ave(between 51st St & 49th St)
Oakland, CA 94609
Neighborhoods: Temescal, Rockridge, North Oakland
(510) 985-1213
- Hours:
Wed-Sat 11 am - 2 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
2746 reviews for Bakesale Betty
Review Highlights
-
"strawberry shortcake is hands down favorite." In 724 reviews -
"Fried chicken was absolute perfection." In 1365 reviews -
"Ahh, the ironing board tables are cute and eclectic." In 105 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
2746 reviews in English
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Review from Angela B.
Walnut Creek, CA
5/19/2012 1 photo
this place is in a league of it's own when it comes to chicken sandwiches!! The days/hours of operation are odd, but if you can get there then you will not be sorry. I recommend to go early because the line can get long.
For anyone looking for that special place to eat in the Bay Area, then Bakesale Betty is what you need. -
Review from Michael L.
Brooklyn, NY
5/24/2012
Ate: Fried chicken sandwich, ginger snap cookie
Drank: water
Liked: That they pretty much do one thing and they do it well
Disliked: Lack of seating inside, but lots of ironing boards outside to eat on,
Chicken: OMG yes
Would mom like it?: She finish hers and try to eat some of mine if I didn't finish fast enough
Wait: None, but we just missed the lunchtime rush.
Would I go back: yes!
Recommend: The lemon ice looked yummy. Next time. -
Review from Kyu L.
Updated - 5/24/2012
ive been here a handful of times since my last review and "something" has changed as of late...
the chicken has been colder and dryer...
the bread has been too moist from the slaw sauce...
the quality of the sandwich just isnt there anymore.
baked goods, still great.
hope somebody there changes what they've changed...too much hype leads to a steep letdown in the product.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/13/2012
bakesale betty's is great! i work down the street from them and its a luxury to be able to get… Read more »
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Review from Karen S.
Emeryville, CA
5/23/2012
First off, Iove their food. BUT this place is really starting to irk me. They change their store hours more often than I change my underwear (which is pretty often) and they don't update their yelp page or website accordingly. On numerous occasions I have had a craving for their chicken salad, only to drive over there (they never answer their phone) and have it be closed. GRRRR!!!
Finally, today I was able to get my salad...but then half way through eating it, I found a long white piece of plastic hiding in the coleslaw. It was one of those plastic tabs around a bottle cap that you have to unwind before opening a bottle. I tried calling them before yelping about it and, go figure, they didn't answer their phone! Their website has no email address, so here I am. I'm not squeamish, and will finish my salad, but COME ON!! REALLY!!??? You can do better than this.
Your food is great (minus the plastic) and your staff is friendly. So what is the problem? I suggest less plastic, more stable store hours, and answer your phone! I counted 12 of you behind the counter one day. TWELVE! One of you should be able to grab the phone. I'm just sayin'. -
Review from Joycelyn L.
San Jose, CA
5/22/2012
Yummy fried chicken sandwich, but the line can be long if you get there late.
The fried chicken sandwich has crispy skin and lots of white meat inside. It also has a tasty coleslaw of cabbage, cucumbers, jalapenos, and cilantro. I think I like it so much because it doesn't have the mayonnaise taste to drench the chicken. So yummy!! Cookies are alright, the ginger cookies, have a strong ginger taste. Skip on the strawberry shortcake, but DO get their lemonade.
I've also been to the shop on Broadway. It has fewer tables but still offers the sandwich and cookies. Note, they have some stools inside the shop too. -
Review from elisabeth c.
San Jose, CA
5/18/2012
Considering their menu only consists of like 5 items, this review is going to be similar to that of my fellow yelpers.
My friend called me in a panic, saying Bakesale Betty's was open and was just HAD to go. I didn't get why it was such an emergency but apparently they have really weird hours. We arrived a little after noon on a Friday and there was no wait at all! We even found a seat outside.
I'm not one to typically order a chicken sandwich but this was incredible. The chicken was extremely moist, not at all greasy, and the breading had a bit of a kick to it. The "coleslaw" that came on the sandwich was awesome- it added the right amount of crunch that complimented the soft bread nicely.
Do yourself a favor and order the lemon ice, as well. You'll need it if you decide to pour that hot sauce on your sandwich (and duh, of course you will cause its AWESOME).
In case you couldn't tell, I'm a fan! -
Review from Christopher P.
Oakland, CA
5/26/2012
I thought the chicken sandwich was delicious. I'll get them regularly.
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Review from Donna M.
Milpitas, CA
5/19/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Ahh how could you not love this place?! I'm a huge fried chicken fan and Bakesale Betty does it and does it right.
While I don't particularly like cole slaw, I LOVE their's! It gives the sandwich a nice bite with an interesting kick and flavor. Not to mention the cute tapatio packets! I don't know about you but I haven't seen many places incorporate these which should be a staple condiment next to the BBQ sauce, ketchup, and mustard.
The desserts are also pretty good. I've gotten several of the cookies and strawberry shortcake (season - summer) and they're all the right balance of sweetness in them. -
Review from Lizzy H.
Oakland, CA
5/19/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Okay, the lines are ridiculous, but Bakesale Betty's has the best sandwich I have ever had.
The chicken in the famous chicken sandwich is moist without being weird (like some very moist chicken is), and the breading is totally delicious and flavorful. The coleslaw is super fresh with cilantro and who knows what other amazing ingredients. Lastly, the bread is the perfect compliment to the rest of the sandwich, and doesn't get soggy after I left half of the delectable sammich in the fridge overnight.
The service is incredible, and anyone who comes can tell that these people have obviously got the whole thing worked out in a system that makes service short and sweet. -
Review from Susy C.
The line can be really, really long. Don't be intimidated, it moves fairly quickly.
Bakesale Betty is a no frills get in line, order your damn fried chicken sandwich, pay, gtfo and sit at an ironing board type of place.
Simple menu. They have fried chicken sandwiches, lemon ice, cookies, strawberry shortcakes. That's it.
Fried chicken sandwich ($8.50)
First thing to note: super greasy.
The bread is soft. Coleslaw is coarsely chopped cabbage w/ sliced jalapenos and extremely light on the dressing. Fried chicken is maybe lukewarm when you get. Skin can be crispy but all white meat inside is dry.. The sandwich just seems dry to me since the coleslaw is light on the dressing. I also kept feeling like it was missing a salty component. Perhaps I should have utilized the Tapatio packets. all in all, it's just aiiiiiiiiiiiiiite.
The strawberry shortcake was very good though. I appreciate REAL LEGIT whipped cream and not that crap out of the can, thanks. -
Review from jocelyn l.
San Francisco, CA
5/7/2012
I'm not a fan of white meat, so I'll have to give this a 3*.
We also picked it up and drove to sf before consuming, so the chicken skin was soggy while the meat was dry. The slaw is delish though.
The choc chip cookie was good but really nothing to rave about. -
Review from Jonathan M.
Mahwah, NJ
5/14/2012
Simple and Tasty.
You don't have to think too hard about what to order here, you are getting a chicken sandwich, or a chicken salad. Oh, and maybe you have to choose your drink. Since the coleslaw is oil-based (with a hint of vinegar) rather than mayo-based, it compliments the fried chicken quite nicely. My suggesiton, get a lemonade ice and a cookie to go with it for a complete, well-balance meal which will run you about $12.
If you have some time and the weather is nice, stay a while and enjoy lunch on the outdoor wooden ironing board shaped tables. -
Review from Dilys Y.
Oakland, CA
5/2/2012
The fried chicken sandwich here are awesome!!!! So worth it to stand in line to
wait for!!
The strawberry shortcake here is also super delicious! -
Review from Kirsty M.
Berkeley, CA
5/13/2012
This place is pretty amazing. Only a short line when we went, and it only took a minute to get our food! Paid and straightaway they handed us the sandwiches. All the cute ironing board tables were taken when we got back outside, but one of the guys working there rigged us up a temporary table with stools, which was really nice of him.
The sandwich was a little spicier than I expected, but it was really good. Chicken was juicy and tasty, and the sandwiches are pretty big. a bit on the expensive side, we got two sandwiches and a lemon ice and it was like $21. We saw someone else eating the strawberry shortcake and it looked amazing, so maybe we'll try that next time. -
Review from Edward W.
Bakesale Betty must be seriously overhyped.
There was a pretty long line by the time we arrived at 11:30, but this place has a streamlined process of ordering your food, getting your money, and having you walking out of the door with that food, all under 3 minutes. I must say I was impressed at the speed the long line moved.
We ordered two chicken sandwiches and a strawberry short cake. The chicken didn't have much flavor although thank goodness it wasn't dry or over fried. I'm not a big fan of the pickled vegetables and the jalapeno gave it an extra spicy kick that I wasn't expecting. Maybe it was a bad day, but I've had much better chicken elsewhere.
I'm not usually a huge fan of dessert, but I have to recommend ordering the strawberry short cake. The strawberries are candied just enough to make it sweet to the tongue, yet any more would be too sweet. The short cake itself doesn't have much flavor, but paired with the strawberry and you'll have very happy tastebuds.
There are tables outside shaped like ironing boards outside that fit 2-4 people comfortably.
I also noticed that all their brown bags have a PLEASE RECYCLE message yet I see no recycle bin within 50 feet and only a trash can outside of Bakesale Betty. Seems kind of silly if you ask me. -
Review from Debbie L.
Berkeley, CA
5/9/2012 1 photo
AHHHHHHHHHHHH love this place! Honestly best chicken sandwich I've ever had... definitely worth the line (which is really not that bad!)
So when I first arrived I thought dayummmm this is a huuuuge line! Turns out that this place really only serves 3 things: fried chicken/tofu sandwich or salad, lemonade, and cookies, which makes service super fast. You go in, tell the guy what you want, he pulls it out for you, pay, and you're done. I got the chicken salad and a lemon ice - chicken salad was amazing! Their lemon-y jalapeno coleslaw has the perfect kick to complement the fried chicken. The lemon ice, on the other hand... didn't see what was so great about it.
Didn't get to try their strawberry shortcake which everyone seems to rave about, but got an oatmeal raisin cookie... good but nothing special. I'd definitely come here again and be willing to pay the $8 for another chicken salad. -
Review from Carol D.
Emeryville, CA
4/18/2012
It's a love/hate relationship I have with you Betty. I adore your food. I do! It's fabulous. I love the scones. I cannot find any scone to compete with your scone. Arizmendi does a decent job, but not the same wonderful moist, flavorful magic of the apricot almond or the ginger scones that you offer. Nope, they just can't compete. Molasses cookies, sooo good. I'm drooling thinking about it. The chicken sandwiches are no slouch either. So yummy---
but Betty, I hate you.
As much as I love you Betty, you won't have me. I don't know what I've done wrong, why you hate me so bad. But it's clear, you don't love me back. You're never open. Your hours keep changing. We plan to get scones in the morning before taking a 3 hour driving trip- oops, they now aren't open till 10am, then 11am. Well, now what? Where will I get my delicious scone? Gasp! I decide to hit you up on a weekday working from home for a sandwich and again, closed. Damn it- you got me hooked and now you cast me aside like a battered lover. The next time you're open- HOORAY! It's minutes within opening time, and what? You are already out of scones? How is this possible? HOW?
Please Betty take me back, have consistent hours, have the wonderful food I'm there to buy, and I'll stop cheating on you with Arizmendi and Brown Sugar Kitchen. -
Review from Carrie A.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 5/6/2012
This place is still my favorite. I go here as much as possible.
I wanted to update about the people complaining of a line - the line moves SO fast. The employees work their butts off. YOU MUST GO HERE!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/20/2012
I have actually yet to visit the store in person, but a friend keeps bringing me these sandwiches… Read more »
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Review from scott s.
Martinez, CA
5/25/2012
if i could give this place 6 stars-i would. live in the burbs and when i come to oakland, i usually travel down telegraph. always wondered why such a long line of people at this one place. so i investigated. recently i stopped and got a chicken sandwich and a ginger cookie. AMAZING!!!! words are hard to explain the taste of the best chicken sandwich in my whole life. even the ginger cookie was the best ever. i will be back-its worth the trip. you must check it out.
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Review from Liz C.
Redwood City, CA
5/5/2012
Their sandwiches are OK and definitely over-hyped.
When people say you HAVE to try the fried chicken sandwich, it's not like you have a choice. That's essentially all they serve. I went today and the only other option was a fried tofu sandwich or some egg salad.
But I got to hand it to their efficiency. You'll see a line that spans down the block, but the wait-time is less than 20 minutes (way faster than the lines at ici's). And it's cute how you can eat outside on ironing boards.
The take-away: The chicken is crispy and the slaw spicy, but nothing that I'd go out of my way for. If you want well-seasoned, crispy fried chicken that's moist and delicious on the inside, it's 900 Grayson that you want. -
Review from Nadiyah S.
Imperial Beach, CA
4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
It looks like keeping it simple and making good food has kept a loyal customer base at Bakesale Betty. The line gets pretty long, but they have a hard-working team doing a fantastic job of keeping line moving so that you can get your food fast. The chicken sandwich is tasty with the vinegar-based coleslaw. Don't forget to take a few Franks hot sauce with you. It completes the sandwich.
My favorite was the pecan shortbread. Next time I go I'm buying a whole box! The strawberry shortbread is super good too. It's not too sweet and they use a nice soft and moist scone for the cake part. Nom! -
Review from Brenda L.
Oakland, CA
5/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is an awesome place and the chicken pot pie is amazing. But the restaurant is very nerve wrecking and parking is awful
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Review from handy i.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2012
This rating is primarily for this place for having inconvenient hours which is complicated by over-hype of their chicken sandwich which is mediocre. If you want to eat here, then be prepared to stand in a line that resembles a star wars opening or an iPhone release.
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Review from Kim A.
San Bruno, CA
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
A beautiful day in the Bay Area. Drove to Oakland to have lunch with a friend. He brought me to Bakesale Betty. Houston, we have a problem... (in the making)
We ordered the most amazing Fried Chicken sammies piled high with crunchy vinegar slaw. Are you kidding me? The sammies were great! Loved the flavor combination. My friend said when you get the sammies during the week they come with 1 1/2 pieces of chicken and on the weekends you get one. Guess I'll have to come back during the week...
We also ordered cookies to go. Chocolate chip, Oatmeal Raisin, and Molasses Ginger. I had the Molasses Ginger...perfectly chewy with a lot of ginger flavor, loved it. We also shared the Fresh Strawberry Shortcake. OMG. A crunchy, creamy biscuit/scone with thin sliced strawberries and a dollop of fresh whipped cream. Next time, we're each getting our own!
There was a fairly long line when we arrived but it moves quickly. The Bakesale Betty staff are really friendly, quick and efficient. You'll have your order in no time. When we walked outside, we scored an ironing board table in front. I'd say it was a perfect Saturday afternoon.
Already thinking about my return trip. -
Review from Samuel C.
Berkeley, CA
4/12/2012
Tasty sandwich, but definitely overpriced.
Service: Awesome people. I was greeted by a "WELCOME" when I entered the door. I looked around for a menu and couldn't find any, but I told them it was my first time there and they proceeded to tell me about all the things they had, going into detail about every part of the sandwich when I asked them about it. They were really generous and I was very satisfied with service when I left the restaurant.
Food: I got the fried chicken sandwich, which turned out to be $9.50. Yeah, pretty expensive. The sandwich had a large chunk of deep fried, boneless chicken breast and spicy coleslaw on a french roll. The chicken was well seasoned and had a somewhat crispy breading, and it wasn't dry like chicken breast tends to be. The bread was average, but the slaw was pretty good. From what I could see, it had some parsley, cabbage, green bell peppers, and chile peppers, but I wish the slaw had a bigger kick; the vinaigrette tasted diluted and weak. Overall, the sandwich was good, but the slaw was a disappointment.
Now, my big issue with this place is that they premake their sandwiches and then just give them out as people order them. I got my sandwich literally after I ordered, and I have no idea how long it was sitting out there. From what I could see, there were around 15 bags lying out there to be given out during the lunch rush, and I only went in at 11:15am. Paying $9.50 for a premade sandwich is absolutely ridiculous. Even subway does better than that. -
Review from Emily C.
Houston, TX
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
The chicken sandwich is only good if you like tons of pickled/coleslaw kinda stuff inside your sandwich. It's also very sloppy. The bread could be much better tasting too. It is definitely not my taste.
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Review from Jason Z.
Cupertino, CA
5/24/2012
Probably the worlds best chicken sandwich. Fresh bread. Flavorful moist fried chicken with perfect breading. A jalapeño slaw. That's it. And that's all you need. Randomly sampled some cookies and pastries. All very good. Have not tried the chicken pot pie, but it intrigues me. This sandwich is amazingly simple and delicious. Worth wating in a long line and not having any place to sit. Everyone should try this.
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Review from Lola S.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 5/16/2012
No coffee. No scones. Success as ruined this place
When they first opened, it felt like - how could we deserve such an amazing place in this funky area? Then the first time I had a fried chicken sandwich, egg salad sandwich - memorable. Then other great eateries and culinary cuisine came in - just great.
I am now so sad that these guys have elected to just do cookies and no coffee. I looked forward to that all morning. And forget ever getting a chicken sandwich. The lines are too long. In fact with so many workers in there - it looks like thats all they do. Preparing for the chicken sandwich rush. I mean its great and all, but its still called Bakesale Betty's and I think they should continue to satisfy their core local neighborhood customer and sell coffee and a scone. Is that too much to ask?
This should be called chicken fried betty's. hrmpf.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/9/2008
This is a great neighborhood bakery. Sure I liked it better when they first started the fried… Read more »
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Review from Linny P.
Berkeley, CA
4/27/2012
The girl from the cash register told me that I had to get the fried chicken sandwich, which everybody apparently raves about.
The fried chicken wasn't as crispy as I wanted it to be, and the roll was alright (the standard french roll), though the cole slaw topping was nice and vinegary.
But the sandwich was $9 (including tax). Not sure I'll go again because it is a bit on the pricy side for just a sandwich - though a very filling one, I'll have to say.
I'll give this place a four stars because they have this "first time customer policy" where they gave my friend and I each a free cookie. The chocolate ginger cookie was soooo goooood. It wasn't overpoweringly gingery, and really soft and chewy. I was so pleasantly surprised by their generosity! If it's your first time going to Bakesale Betty, tell them so you can get a free cookie!
If you want to avoid the line, go on Fridays at around 1. -
Review from Joe Y.
Cerritos, CA
4/15/2012
Gosh Darn it! This is where a "6th" star would really do the trick. What Can I say that has not been said?! Over 2000 people can't all lie!!
I drove by this place for YEARS en route to where all the yummy Korean Restaurants are in Oakland. I was always so curious to see the ENORMOUS line that was always in front (and side) of this little place. So my buddy and I finally waited in that line. Was it worth the hype? Was it worth the long wait? Uhm, the answer would be YES and YES. Fried Chicken Sammies, oh YUM :).
I approve. Oh again, that "6th" star would of been completely justifiably appropriate! -
Review from Shela J.
Berkeley, CA
4/11/2012
Three words: WHAT THE HYPE?!
People talk it up, there is a long line when I get there, I take one glorious bite... and bloorp. Normal chicken sandwich. I mean yeah cool, coleslaw!, but had I known I would have such a mediocre sandwiching experience, I would have passed up the drive, the parking, and the wait. Now, I'm not saying this sandwich was not tasty. It sure was! But it's not like other chicken sandwiches taste like poo. Basically I do not understand why people would wait to pay 9 bucks for this sandwich again and again.
Another question: where the heck is your "Bakesale Betty" sign?! How will anyone know that this is your location if they're not from around here? Is it like an artistic statement? Or did I miss the sign? Also, why is your menu a piece of paper with stuff written in sharpie? Why isn't it posted up inside where everyone can see it? (I mean I guess that could be kind of hipster cool, but it's just not that helpful for newbies.) Just sayin.
The pumpkin pie was tasty, but again, it didn't blow me away .
Basically, if people hype up a place, you're going to be compelled to try it out regardless of negative reviews like mine. So go forth and decide for yourself, whether or not you'll become Betty's regulars. If your tastebuds so decide to declare that you will be, I will be genuinely happy for you, but I will grieve for your wallet a little. -
Review from Josh A.
Oakland, CA
3/29/2012
The whole hours issue is getting out of hand. Either someone is banking so much money they don't have to work or someone is trying to create certain 'buzz' by only being open a handful of hours each week...ignore the hours listed by Yelp they don't even stand.
Either way, I'm over the needlessly long lines and showing up to closed shop. I hope some new competition opens up in the area. I'm sure someone will figure it out. -
Review from Tab C.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2012
I'm sad. I really want to give this place 4 or even 5 stars. I LOVE Bakesale Betty's and have sung their praises for so long. I haven't had a chance to go back in the last few months and today stopped in on my way to work and grabbed a sandwich.
So I've been to Bakesale Betty's a ton of times. I work at CHO down the street and have had access to them for the last 4 years but in the last 6 months I haven't had a chance to go because of my work schedule and I've been bringing my lunch in more often. I think their food is amazing. I have loved their fried chicken sandwich/salad, their egg salad and their pastries are to die for.
I will say that their Strawberry Shortcake is something of wonder. Their homemade shortcake is so amazing. I could eat it by itself. But when you top it with the sweet strawberries, homemade glaze/sauce and their fresh whipped cream...just stop it! I could live off those for the rest of my life...well at least have it for dessert every night.
So why 3 stars?
Well, I ordered a fried chicken sandwich and brought it to work for lunch. I remember their sandwiches as monstrous. They give huge, generous pieces of fried chicken (usually 2 large pieces) garnished with a generous helping of their slaw/salad and all heaped on a giant fresh baked bun. I would take one look and think, how am I going to eat this thing? It was ginormous!
So when I reached into the bag for my sandwich I already noticed how much smaller it was. It was noticeably smaller. I opened it up and found that instead of the monsterous sandwich that I was used to seeing, it looked liked like a chicken sandwich I bought at Burger King. No longer was it stuffed overflowing with fried chicken but instead had one piece of fried chicken and a small amount of the slaw/salad underneath. It was very disappointing to say the least. And while I was satisfied from the portion, it still left me wanting for that giant juicy piece of fried chicken that would be left over simply because there was too much chicken for the bread. I know that the economy is tough and prices are rising but for the same amount of money that it cost before, I have a significantly smaller sandwich. Plus for $8, that sandwich did not seem worth the money any longer.
The flavors and tastes are just as good as they've always been but for those prices and the portions they give you, I don't feel like I am getting the bang for my buck. I would come for the pastries and definitely the shortcake but would think twice before shelling out that amount of money for the size of the sandwich. I could easily get a great sandwich across the street at Genoa's. -
Review from Robert L.
Tustin, CA
4/17/2012
Man this place his hard to eat at! I live in Socal now but come up to the bay to visit family every once in awhile. I had been wanting to try this place for probably a year, but their highly limited hours on weekends (closed at 2pm Sat, closed Sun) made it a pain to find time. One Saturday I finally made it here and was so excited... but was disappointed.
The chicken sandwich was completely cold -- not even luke warm, and the chicken wasn't crispy. Those two facts alone would have made me drop their rating to 1 or 2 stars, but their unique coleslaw was actually quite good. For that, I give them 2.5 stars and will round it up to 3. I don't understand the hype here and STRONGLY prefer Chick Fila!
Also, they're pricey! Our meal was $35 for 3 chicken sandwiches, a couple cookies and a slice of apple pie.Listed in: Sandwiches!
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Review from Ozzetta B.
Berkeley, CA
4/23/2012
I'm sorry, but I must say that I've had better! I STILL can't figure out what the big "to do" is about this place. I think the world will never know, (at least I won't) lol! However, I must say that they must be doing something right, the line is always wrapped around the corner. I'll give them that...But as for me, I think it's just OK.
Your friend,
OB -
Review from Lisa W.
Sacramento, CA
4/2/2012
Greatest discovery ever!
My sis and I were actually going to Scream Sorbet next door. My sis noticed a line of people going into some corner store and folks leaving with white paper bags. The shop has no signage, but posted a large hand written menu on the window with the choices of fried chicken sandwich and fried tofu sandwich.
We asked our mom if she wanted a sandwich and she replied, "Heck yeah!" Good thing my sis has good eyes and my mama wanted a sandwich.
We walked in and it was super chaotic --- with the counter staff screaming out orders to the kitchen staff. But the cool thing about Bakesale Betty was the staff was efficient and worked their butts off like a well oiled machine. We were welcomed by several of the counter staff. Our helper, I didn't catch her name, was so helpful. She asked if it was our first time and we said yes. She patiently explained the process, the food, etc. We ordered 2 fried chicken sandwiches and one of the fried tofu sandwiches.
FOOD:
FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH --- My mom and I had this and were in love!! Served on a soft roll, the chicken patty was fried to perfection. The meat itself was not dry at all. And that breading --- OMG! So flavorful and so crispy! The slaw -- a mix of cabbage, parsley, shallots, salt, vinegar and sugar -- was nestled between the roll and chicken was amazing! I usually don't like slaw, but theirs is the best!
I don't know about the Tofu Sandwich because my sis ordered that, but she liked it alot. She mentioned they used firm tofu and fried the tofu very well.
We also ordered a cup of their lemonade. A little too sweet for our liking. We actually had to dilute the drink with some water. After that, it was drinkable.
Totally coming back! -
Review from Jessica R.
Oakland, CA
4/6/2012
Is there a novelty to the oddity the hours?
A mystery of the barely marked building?
And what about the small yet scrumptious menu?
Of course!
But does the chicken sandwich live up to the hype?
Do the cookies make you salivate upon a glance?
Is the lemonade not too sweet, and not too sour?
And can a lady get a sauce that is tangy and spicy?
Hmmmmm.....I think I need another round of B.B....JUST to be sure!!!!! -
Review from Dararith L.
Oakland, CA
3/26/2012
The chicken sandwich is over-priced, costing about 8 bucks a pop. The sandwich IS large though, so you get a lot. There are essentially just three ingredients that make up this sandwich: bread, coleslaw (shredded lettuce), chicken...four if you count the grease.
I thought the sandwich was just okay. The bread is really thick, and the chicken is really thick as well and it doesn't go down very easily (I like dark meat, but they use chicken breast ... so you can imagine the level of dryness). The grease helps with the dryness, and the hot sauce makes this TREMENDOUSLY better...it automagically brings out the flavor more...especially if you like spice.
The cookies are also really delicious and very thick. I prefer it to be a bit more moist so it can melt in your mouth more, but it's still quite delectable as is.
There isn't anything really special about this place, and I would give this place two stars, but the service is very top notch that I want to bump it up to 4 stars (but I'm not...3 stars sounds about right). Super fast. Super friendly. They'll give you free samples from time to time and they care a lot about getting you food fast and getting you satisfied. -
Review from Tara F.
Fullerton, CA
4/13/2012
While the eating area isn't anything fancy, Bakesale Betty makes DELICIOUS food! I seriously ordered almost everything on the menu and was not disappointed in ANY way - Soooooooooooooooooo good! The staff was SO friendly! They really seem to enjoy serving people, like they know how awesome the food is and are happy to let you join in on the experience. The menu is SUPER-basic -- three types of sandwiches (Fried Chicken, Tofu, and Egg Salad), with a variety of freshly baked cookies, a strawberry shortcake option, and lemon slush to drink. For my meal --
Fried Chicken Sandwich -- It's FABULOUS! The chicken is cooked to perfection - yummy white meat with crispy delectable crust. Topped with homemade coleslaw (that I wish I'd know was going to be on the sandwich, because I ordered some on the side and didn't end up needing it) - the coleslaw has lots of jalepenos in it for kick and really enhances the tasty sandwich!
Chocolate Chip Cookie - Probably one of my top five cookie experiences EVER - just the perfect blend of soft with crispy edges, not too many chips, and mildly cakey - YUMMY!
Lemon Slush - The perfect mix of sweet and tart - my friend and I just kept drinking it saying it was the best lemonade we'd ever had!
And the piece de resistance! The Strawberry Shortcake - Picture, if you will, a cakey biscuit that's super soft and sugar covered (more cake-tasting than biscuit), topped with fresh succulent strawberry slices, with a dollup of the creamiest, perfect-amount-of-sweetness cream on the side (I love that they put the cream on the side, so you can measure your own cream distribution and the cake doesn't get soggy) - it's seriously the BEST STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE I have EVER eaten!
The whole experience was literally a party in my mouth and I know the next time I'm up here visiting, I'm going back! The only tricky part of the place is that it has REALLY short business hours (get there by 2 or you're SOL) and isn't open Sun-Tues. -- but when you taste the freshness of the food and feel the warmth of the friendly staff, you forgive them for anything - it's just superb!
I HIGHLY recommend this spot if you get the chance! -
Review from Sean P.
Oakland, CA
5/11/2012
I live down the street from this place for several years. I have been going here on and off since 2007. It started out as a small intimate bakery and now has grown into a rather large business. They have two shops I think. Their food is excellent and ranges from chicken sandwiches with cole slaw to an assortment of cookies and pies. Betty is a sweet woman and is always willing to chat with you. She is a busy woman though but she loves what she does. I also like the iron board tables and stools to sit on. I would give it 6 stars if i could.
