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Jodie's Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Southern Restaurants American (Traditional) Southern, American (Traditional) [Edit]
902 Masonic Ave(between Marin Ave & Solano Ave)
Albany, CA 94706
(510) 526-1109
- Hours:
Wed-Fri 8 am - 3 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 4 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:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
156 reviews for Jodie's Restaurant
Review Highlights
"But did I mention their fried chicken is to die for."
(in 101 reviews)
"I've never had such creamy grits before."
(in 34 reviews)
"The hot sauce goes on everything."
(in 9 reviews)
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156 reviews in English
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Review from Raynell C.
El Cerrito, CA
12/22/2011
Jodie is an incredibly warm and welcoming person. 5 stars just for that alone. The food comes in a close second to his incredible personality.
The walls are covered with pictures of locals who have been coming for years. As I waited for my food, Jodie pointed to a decade's worth of family pictures that belonged to a man who was enjoying his meal across the counter.
Another wall is entirely covered with a menu of options. I had "Nothing with Something." "Something" is an egg, and "Nothing" is whatever Jodie's grandson decides to whip up for you. This time it was beef, hash browns, green peppers and a few other delicious ingredients.
This is not the place for you if you're claustrophobic; even if you are, just order to go, because the food is that good.
I've heard the fried chicken is legendary, but I didn't get to try it. It's "on vacation" until Jodie can move to a site that can accommodate a refrigerator big enough to store it.
Jodie's Future is a fund set up to help him make the move. I hope he can stay in the area; it would be a shame to see him go after over 20 years of good food. -
Review from Norma I.
American Canyon, CA
1/20/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Jodie's has been here for as long as I can remember! I recall being a young college student and hearing all about Jodie's fried chicken and anticipating the idea of taking in every crunchy, savory bite! I still get that feeling of anticipation even after the numerous times I have eaten his awesome fried chicken. He is the best!
The place is small, but some of the locals know Jodie's as their home away from home. A place to get together and meet up with long-time friends to have some great conversation and an awesome home cooked breakfast. There is so much interesting conversation that takes place at this little hole in the wall joint. I have heard so many cool stories about the history of the neighborhood, the many debates about the local politics, the very emotional stories of friends passing, sports, news, and just about anything else that you can think of! The best is when Jodie and his closest friends start jeering on each other. They are a sheer riot! Sometimes I am laughing so hard that I nearly pee on myself! Wow! I can't believe I just admitted that one. I hope Jodie doesn't read this and recognizes my name. i am sure that I will be the one being taunted the next time I go case the joint.
The food is INCREDIBLE! There are so many great tasting items that I can not recommend just one!
Be sure to get a bowl of his famously renowned grits! I, myself,. am not even a fan of grits, but Jodie's extra spicy grits is such a turn on! I get extremely excited thinking about them. They are sooooo soooo yummy!! The only thing is I think he only serves them on Friday and Saturdays. Hey! Today is Friday!! I better hurry up and get in there before it is all gone!
Try the fried chicken! It is really awesome! Oh! Well, you may have to wait until he opens up his new location because he is no longer allowed to do his fried chicken. It takes a lot of prep work, which includes soaking the chicken in lemon water and removing all the excess fat. The space that he has occupied for nearly 20 years is very small, so he would do the prep work at home. He is now being told that he can no longer do this or he would be shut down, so the fried chicken is temporarily off the menu. I am still trying to figure out a way to get invited to his home, so I can savor the taste of his fried chicken again! I will have to do an update on this, if it ever happens!
I have a favorite on his "Wall" menu. You have to actual go there to check it out! I can not think of the name of it, but it is what I always order form breakfast, along with my extra spicy grits! The spicy grits are named after a guy that Jodie remembers asking for them, awhile back. I think they should be named after me because no one wants them as spicy as I do! I like it to make me sweat! He loves it!
Gotta run and head over there before all my grits are gone! I hope to see you there!Listed in: My Neighborhood, Favorite Breakfast Spots!
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Review from Jamie V.
Venice, CA
12/14/2011
I love Jodie! When I lived near Albany this was a go-to spot for me and all my friends. The fried chicken is good, yes, but that's not what I go there for. ALL the breakfast specials on the wall are the best! Now that I live 500 miles away and can only go back when I visit, the only meal I've had for years is my personal favorite, Eggs Royston - 2 eggs over 2 of those giant grilled english muffins with tomatoes and bacon, covered in this awesome spicy secret sauce that is to die for. And a side of those country hashbrowns with all those peppers and onions in them. Just thinking about this is making me want to hop in the car and drive 500 miles north.
This is a tiny place, you can never guarantee you will get seating. This is NOT a place to bring your toddler to, to come if you are in a rush and need guaranteed priority service. NO. People who go with that in mind will be giving bad reviews.
This is a place to come in on a lazy morning or early afternoon, take what seating or standing room you can get, mingle with the locals, chat with Jodie while he makes your breakfast... people sometimes just go behind the counter and help, my friend once got an extra seat by sitting behind the counter and serving up the coffee and OJ while Jodie cooked breakfast. If you go with a relaxed attitude and understand what this place is all about, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Katherine K.
Berkeley, CA
2/4/2012
YUUUUM! My fiance and I came here for lunch and split the Western burger- soooo good! $12 and huge- enough for a good lunch for 2. Jodie is so friendly and kind. We sat outside in the sun with our dog and ate- and Jodie even gave us treats for her. I highly recommend it and can't wait to go back to try more stuff- the pancakes looked amazing!
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Review from Jeffrey R.
Vallejo, CA
1/24/2012
This is a great one-of-a-kind restaurant! I can't wait to go again, and the Monte Cristo is the best in the Bay.
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Review from Dav C.
Berkeley, CA
1/17/2012
Despite the glowing reviews, this place was still a surprise. Jodie and his grandson were serving up late breakfasts, and the place was still packed. Somehow, Jodie manages to foster a community that welcomes strangers (like me) and instantly makes them feel at home.
The food is great too... decadent, really. But don't rely on advice from here - ask the regulars when you go for a visit! -
Review from Jennifer W.
Berkeley, CA
11/2/2011
This is more of a 3.5 but I'm going to have to round down for this one. I've gotten the Nothing with something, fried chicken, bart station, and others and everything was really good. I especially enjoy how they cook their eggs and hashbrowns. However, everything is a bit oily for my liking which prevents me from going back more often.
Seating is cramped, service is okay, and be prepared to wait for your food because due to the small kitchen, they only do one ticket at a time.
Also, they don't have their fried chicken anymore :( which was AMAZING. so hopefully they'll find a bigger space where they can start serving it again. -
Review from miss b.
Albany, CA
11/7/2011 2 photos
My friends came in from out of town and I had been meaning to check out Jodies since I moved to Albany a couple months ago. When we walked up we were welcomed by Jodie himself and he handed up over to the waitress who explained how the menu worked. They have a regular menu and then a WALL FULL of specials. AMAZING!!!
At Jodie's all of the food is made to order so we did have to wait awhile. I was fine with this since we were seated right next to the grill and got to watch the cook do her thing. She made me want to learn how to cook everything! The waitress that was at the counter was awesome too. She was very personable and spoke with my friends and I.
You can tell this place her is going on. Jodie was very nice and so was the staff. I'm so glad that I live down the street from this place. I will return. But don't come if you are SUPER hungry since there will be a wait. The wait was well worth the amazing Monte Cristo that I got. YUMMMMMMM! -
Review from jane s.
Albany, CA
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sadface. This was supposed to be our 'go-to' Sat AM breakfast spot. It is perfectly positioned mere blocks from our new pad and with a view of the zooming Bart every few minutes to entertain the lil dude. And Jodie and his team are downright enchanting.
But.
We waited 50 minutes for our food.
50 minutes, damn near an hour.
That's too long. Especially with said toddler who was saintly only occasionally yelling Bacon!!
Hubs and I sadly walked away, having enjoyed the food. Yes. Absolutely, in that comfort food kinda greasy but interesting way. But due to the restaurant paradigm which says food comes between 15-25 minutes, we just can't go back. Even though we will probably kinda want to. -
Review from A P.
San Francisco, CA
12/24/2011
First impression review - (written based on only 1 visit)
Quickie Take-Away - Bad news: No more fried chicken.
Long review - As mentioned in many other reviews, this is very much a hole-in-the-wall type of place, with a few outdoor tables and nothing but countertop stools inside.
I made my first trip to Jodie's in the summer (of 2011) the hopes of trying the much talked-about fried chicken, only to find that the restaurant isn't serving it anymore. Jodie himself seems extremely unhappy about the matter and has printed up a lengthy explanation he'll probably insist you read. Long story short, the health inspector apparently got Jodie on some kind of fine-print technicality and now none of the nice people who come to this restaurant can have the fried chicken they crave. Boo. Not sure if the situation has improved since then.
I ended up going with one of the many plates listed on the wall (as mentioned in other reviews, the wall inside of Jodie's is positively covered with different menu plates that include some combination of eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, rice, roast veggies, and other brunch/diner fare).
I settled on a porkchop, hash browns, and eggs platter (the name escapes me). The hash browns and eggs were fine; the porkchop seemed to have been heavily marinated in a salty, vinegary sauce. It wasn't bad but I don't know that I'd be eager to try it again, at least in favor of all the other menu items I passed on this time out. -
Review from CHLOE M.
El Cerrito, CA
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is a bit small, well more like very small. Majority of their tables are all outside. The service is very friendly but also odd. If you are in a hurry, this isn't the place to stop by. The location is right next to the Bart track which can be really loud.
Half of the menu is on the wall
inside, therefore it won't be in the menu. Did I mention this place is very small!
The food is really good. I had the DJ and it was very good. The bacon was super crispy and the french toast was super yummy! -
Review from emilie r.
Oakland, CA
7/29/2011
Jodie's is one of my favorite breakfast spots for so many reasons. I love the variety and food quality, the quirky space and the unique and wonderful owner.
But I'm sad to report that, at least for now, the fried chicken is no more. Learn why on Albany Patch (http://patch.com/A-kB8f).
This definitely won't stop me from enjoying the rest of the fantastic offerings as regularly as my schedule allows. Albany is so lucky to have Jodie's -- fried chicken or not! -
Review from Anne H.
Berkeley, CA
6/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Yummy, yummy, yummy! Glad I excercised this morning because after being treated like family by Jodie and having his tasty home cookin' I just wanted to hang in the sun for the rest of the day!
Best potato salad I have ever tasted out, and although the place is tiny, and admittedly a bit grubby looking, one of the most friendly dining experiences I have had in a long time.
My tip: Go to Jodie's, order what he suggests (forget the diet), treat everyone friendly, and don't be in a rush.
Will I return? Soon and often :) -
Review from Craig G.
Emeryville, CA
Updated - 8/6/2011
I read with sorrow (and some anger) about the government droid killing off the fried chicken here. But today I went in and asked Jodie for something yummy, and he made me a "real chicken burger" with his special sauce, a side of fried tomatoes with pesto, and I topped it off with a delightful banana/strawberry cheesecake made by his daughter.
Oh, yes. A simply wonderful lunch.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/2/2010
The scrambled eggs and grits that came with my fried chicken were perfection. The pancakes, with… Read more »
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Review from Kenneth K.
San Francisco, CA
8/15/2011
Here is a rare bad review from me. If I could give 0 stars, I totally would.
First, they don't have fried chicken anymore. This was the one thing everyone talked about.
Second, they take FOREVER to get the food to you.
I ordered a brisket sandwich. A SANDWICH. 2 people were ahead of me. Guess how long it took to get 1 sandwich and a small scoop of potato salad? 40 minutes. I also got an orange juice. Small cup, probably 8 oz or so. The sandwich meal was about 12 and the orange juice was about 3 bucks. 3 bucks for a small glass of OJ? You're probably thinking, "well, what if it was fresh squeezed?" nope. I saw the guy pour the oj and it looked like something you'd buy from a 99 cent store.
So, let's tally it up. 40 minutes for a damn sandwich and small scoop of potato salad, with a small/crappy cup of oj all for 16 bucks.
I should have read the reviews in depth. I saw the great star rating and figured it was go for launch. Boy, was I WRONG. I'm never going there again and I'm telling everyone how bad it was. -
Review from Ryan M.
4/23/2011
This is a real definition of a hole in the wall diner, with real home cooking behind it. Jodie's has been around for local Albany/Berkeley folks for ages and people come from all walks of life just to get into his 6 seated diner. I came here with Mr. JTS who's been acquainted with the owner himself for a while.
Ordered the weekend special: Fried Chicken w/ a Side of French Toast and sprinkled with a generous amount of powdered Cinnamon Sugar
Upon first glance, I thought it would be a bit dry but I was totally wrong. The Chicken has a real good breading on the outside, keeping it crispy. The moist dark meat on the inside, falls right off the bone. The french toast had a generous amount of of cinnamon powdered sugar, which literally melted in your mouth. Fortunately it didn't have a sand-like texture, that I was expecting from the get-go.
Overall, come to Jodie's with an open mind and warm heart. Just make sure you try the food without any modifications (adding condiments), before he'll get ya. -
Review from mimi k.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2011
Although they may not have fried chicken at the moment, you have to go back when they do!
In the meantime, try the grits and omelettes with coffee. -
Review from Avi J.
Berkeley, CA
8/14/2011
Two years ago, I had a wondrous fried-chicken brunch here and it was the best I had ever had. (I'm 57 and have eaten tons of good fried chicken in half a dozen countries.) Jody was at the griddle, providing wonderful conversation and insight. I vowed to come back often (I live in the neighborhood and walk by a couple of times a week), but I am ashamed to say I never did.
Until this morning, when my daughter recommended it highly to me. It's hard to make perfect bacon, harder to make perfect easy-overs, and hardest of all to maintain grace under pressure while lovingly preparing from-scratch home-cooked meals for dozens of people, while taking the time to sincerely greet and thank every single patron. Charles (at the griddle, Jodie's grandson) did all of this and more, along with the very professional and affable server whose name I unfortunately do not know.
The food was great, and the variety was tantalizing. Though I was not in the mood for chicken today, I was dismayed to learn of the woes that have caused Jodie's to temporarily remove its trademark chicken from the menu -- it's a story of odd city bureaucracy (http://patch.com/A-kB8f) that hits close to home. But I was delighted to see that the disappearance of chicken has not affected the volume of patrons. -
Review from Kristi C.
Vallejo, CA
4/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
We went there last week following an article that was written about them in the newspaper. It was pretty neat and the FRIED CHICKEN is worth all the hype. I don't even really like fried chicken that much, maybe it is because I have not had fried chicken like this.
SOME ADVICE!!!!!
1. CALL AHEAD, they make things one order at a time, average wait for anything is 1.5 hours.
2. If they tell you when they get there that you will have to wait 1.5 hours for chicken, still order it, everything else takes 1.5 hours too.
This place is small and cramped. However, I am from the south and this place kind of feels like it belongs there. Everyone is so friendly, the staff and the customers, and it is a great place to meet new folks over delicious food.
Heed my advice, but go there. -1 star for being so darn inefficient. -
Review from Ruby G.
Berkeley, CA
3/6/2011
Dining at Jodie's is a marvelous experience. How often do you find yourself in a seven stool comfort food restaurant makes you feel right at home?
The regulars are nice and welcoming. Rubbing elbows with a stranger has never been so much fun. The guy sitting next to me even offered me a bite of his pancakes!
It's down to earth and inviting atmosphere puts you at ease. The walls are covered with laminated menu items, index cards with more options scribbled in sharpie, and pictures of customers and loving family members. The dynamic in the kitchen between Jodie and his grandson, Charles is endearing and hilarious to watch.
Now, the food...
Eggs Royston blew my mind. Perfectly crisp bacon, over easy eggs, and grilled tomato served on an English muffin smothered in a divine herb sauce with a heaping side of hash browns. Simple but delicious. The herb sauce is really what pulls it all together. Light and flavorful with just enough seasoning. I highly recommend ordering this!
The fried chicken was some of the best I'd ever had in my life.
It really doesn't get much better than this. I will definitely be back to try almost everything on the wall of glory. The brisket sandwich with potato salad looks KILLER.
You'd be a fool not to try Jodie's. I'd even suggest that people with claustrophobia suck it up because the food is THAT good. -
Review from Stacey C.
Berkeley, CA
3/27/2011
I have mixed feelings about Jodies because it is a really cute small restaurant with the friendliest owner and employees and patrons and we made the mistake of showing up hungry at 9:30 in the morning and had some bad luck (it is at least a 3.5 star place but our experience was a 3 star one) ...
We arrived at the hole in the wall restaurant and were greeted by the friendliest people who explained the menu (which is a little confusing). Boyfriend and I each got fried chicken breakfast plates and were told to wait for a seat so we placed our orders (9:45 a.m.)and then sat in the car till we got a seat inside. We got a seat inside and then waited a lot longer, in the restaurant that was freezing because the door was being held open by people waiting... our food arrived at approximately 11:12. My fried chicken and spicy rice and muffin was delicious and boyfriend liked his pancakes and fried chicken. Unfortunately one of the fried chicken pieces was lost on the way to him and we had to wait another half hour for it...so we left at 11:45 full of delicious fried chicken, less $30 and a little cranky.
So my advice is to
1. Not arrive hungry
2. Order TO GO (while bf and I were waiting for food they took delivery orders and gave 40 min. estimates... we waited almost 90 minutes for our food)
3. Get the fried chicken...it really is wonderful, Jodie made some claim about it not having fat or something, which I didn't really care about but I know he does something to it to make it soooo tasty. -
Review from BRSKI B.
San Francisco, CA
5/4/2011
Yes, it's as small as you ever imagined, and yes, it could take some time to get an order prepared. The solution is simple - order take out. The fried chicken plate/lunch comes with (crisp) hash browns or (buttery) grits, (nicely) scrambled eggs, and (buttery) English muffins.
But what about the fried chicken? I'm not one of those people who will tell you I don't like fried chicken but I love Jodie's fried chicken - I happen to love fried chicken and you need to do a pretty bad job for me to dislike your fried chicken. The most commonly egregious flaw is doing a bad job with the frying. No matter how thick or thin the batter, the meat needs to be moist and the skin needs to be crisp. That's more than half the battle - if a cook can consistently fry chicken, it's damn near impossible to make bad fried chicken. Outside frying ability, what separates American fried chicken from otherwise identical preparations is the quality (spicing) of the batter it is dipped into - for me, the closer to Cajun, the closer to god. What's my point? As much as I love fried chicken, I'd pick a thousand other things for a last meal.
So what about Jodie's fried chicken? As good as any I've ever tried - beautifully seasoned (salty full flavors), hot (heat, not spice), crunchy, and not the least bit dry (even the breast, though that may be a variable given the nature of fried chicken). You can choose either dark meat or white meat for your plate and I can't see you going wrong either way. [Note: ask for extra hot sauce if you get take out - it is excellent.] So what's the problem? Why am I not saying you'd be a fool not to eat this fried chicken? Well, I'm not going to lie, it's not easy to get - it's only available on the weekend and even if you order take out you're going to be eating about an hour after you place your call. If you're too impatient or busy or scatterbrained for this philosophy of leisure, a place like Louisiana Fried Chicken or Popeye's Fried Chicken should be more than enough for you.
How impatient am I? Pretty damn impatient. But I will be back - every element on my plate was good. I could use more salt on some of the sides, but it's all simply tasty. This is one of those places where a few dishes can tell you how everything else is going to be - here it's all going to be good, whatever you order. And trust me, if you're not damn near comatose from being stuffed to the brim after the chicken meal, you've got major health issues ahead of you, so set down that extra chicken wing, soldier. -
Review from M O.
Berkeley, CA
10/7/2011
I love this place. I've been coming here since about the time it opened in 1992. Jodie and his family are like family to me. Now that I'm a Dad I bring my kids with me to enjoy his fabulous food. This place has it's quirks, but that's why it's attractive. In this day and age of homogenized, chain restaurants it's really nice to have a home cooked meal made by the owner.
I've read through some of the negative reviews. I see the most frequent complaint is timing. Let's face it. They are slow. Each meal is cooked to order and they cook one meal at a time. They do the best they can with a truly micro kitchen. So don't come if you're in a hurry. If you want quick, go to "fast food" place. Get there when it opens. Drive by and if you can see it's crowded come back another day. Or better yet, go in Wednesday - Friday. -
Review from Kathleen A.
Los Angeles, CA
3/2/2011
At first, I wasn't going to review this place because there are already so many great reviews, what's one more? but OMG! the cheesecake!!!
Okay, before I get to that, let me wax nostalgic for a moment. When I was a kid, I loved coming home from school and dropping in on our next door neighbors. Mae Sutton, so very dear to me, would make me anything I wanted to eat. I and her other guests would delight in her delicious creations and each other while sitting around her kitchen table. This is why I fell in love with Jodie's this first time being there.
There are only seven barstools around the counter that separates patrons from the tight kitchen, so yes, although I did not, you might have to wait a while for seating during busy hours. But your order is made fresh WHEN you order it. After a warm and heartfelt introduction, Jodie asked me what I wanted to eat - the "Nothing w/ Something" if you want to order it from the menu - and made me a unique and delicious breakfast, followed up with a slice of the most to-die-for lemon cheesecake. I sat between my lovely friend, Deb, and as it happened, Tuskegee Airman, David James. How lucky am I?
If nothing else, Jodie's is what our fast moving, anonymous society NEEDS, a place of real community. On top of that, there are the culinary delights foodie friend, Deb, melted over ("This is the best bacon I have ever had in my entire life!" "These eggs are the best!").
I am already counting down the days until someone's - anyone's - next birthday celebration so I can show up with a Jodie's cheesecake ($24 for a whole). YUMMY YUMMY!!!! -
Review from Naomi R.
Oakland, CA
6/12/2011
*Sigh* I'm probably gonna get grief for this review, but hey, I am just telling it like it is for me.
I've been here all of two times. I looooove hole-in-the-wall eats. LOVE. L-O-V-freakin'-E, and when I'd moved to Albany, I'd suggested to the dink I was dating at the time that we stop there for breakfast, my absolute favorite meal of the weekend (breakfast on weekdays? Get outta here with your "time" and other fictional creatures.) We peeked in and I fell in love with the quirky, saturated interior... but we sat outside because we both didn't feel comfortable in crowded spaces (Jodie's tends to be packed and jumpin'.) And the food was great! I tried grits for the first time ever there, and they were quite tasty. My French Toast was so delicious and abundant, and Jodie himself was very nice and attentive, even though I tend to be wary of people who are unapologetic about keepin' it real the way he does. The French Toast would call to me whenever I'd pass by, but the realness made me reluctant to go in.
Let me explain something. I am a shy person, and that trait seems more evident when I'm out to eat. I'm not picky, I don't like bothering the waiter for just the right mustard, I order, I eat, I tip well and cheerily call out "thank youuu" as I leave. But if I'm eating somewhere, I like the service to be ... polite and removed. Don't ask me about the bit of food I left. Others may find it cute and warm and genuine, but I don't, and while it's no big deal, I'm sure I'm not alone.
Cut to a couple of years later. I'm in finals and I had some weird girly trauma going on and my current BF tries to console me by taking me out to breakfast. We go to Jodie's and we sit inside (you gotta retry stuff once in a while and see if you like it better than before, ya dig?... I still hated it.) I have a hard time deciding what I want off the wall, but I finally decide on something and order it... but my sweet BF notices it has jam in it, and I'm not at all a fan of fruit (I know, I'm a mutant, deal.) He tries to order it without jam annnnnd we get a no. I say no biggie, I'll order something else, but for some reason the BF and the cook are still talking about it, and the cook says something like you get what you order and no changes. "Fine. I said I'm fine with getting something else, not a big deal," is my terse reply. Then he asks Jodie for confirmation, loudly and clear across the admittedly small restaurant.
Seriously? I'll change my *honk*ing order, what the hell? Stop drawing attention to my gaffe. I ended up snapping that I didn't want anything except coffee, effectively looking like an ass in front of all the regulars and my BF, and feeling worse than when I came in. I get an apology, which WAS gracious since I forgot that this is just how everyone talks to each other there and snapped, but still. Just let me order something else if it's that big a deal not to put jam on a sandwich.
This sounds seriously whiny but when I go out to eat, I'm not looking for a squabble, good-natured or not. My advice is, go there if you're feeling good and even a little punchy. The food is pretty good. But if you're just looking for a quiet, incognito breakfast meal to soothe jangled, finals-week nerves, you might want to look elsewhere. -
Review from Caroline O.
Alameda, CA
9/13/2011
Get their fried chicken and waffles on the weekends. The rest of their breakfast dishes are alright but fried chicken and waffles is amazing. The place itself is an experience. It's extremely small, perhaps only 10 people can fit at once but their is outside seating. I haven't been there in months, maybe it's time I go back.
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Review from Kathy K.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2011
I guess we were lucky to come in on Super Bowl Sunday and get a seat right away. The server at the counter was really nice and she gave us the lowdown on the menu and told us that the fried chicken took about 25 minutes.
We had read the Yelp reviews in advance and knew not to arrive starving and prepare for a bit of a wait. We got a combo with eggs over grits, pancakes, bacon and an english muffin and another of fried chicken and french toast. Everything was really good and the pancakes were some of the best I've ever had. The server told me to make sure I tasted them before putting any syrup on. They were sweet, flavorful and fluffy even without a drop of syrup. The fried chicken was great. It wasn't too greasy and was moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside.
Besides the food I loved the old timey feel of the place and that the owner still works in the kitchen 25 years after he opened the place. -
Review from Brandon J.
Oakland, CA
2/8/2011 1 photo
I'll be posting pics tmrw but in the mean time I'll say this...I Love This Place!! Jodie is a character and makes each visit enjoyable. I became an instant regular after my first visit. You can easily go here a dozen times and never order the same thing twice!
**My fav Bay Area Breakfast spot!!** -
Review from Elaine Z.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2011
I used to live down the street from Jodie's! I had self-control -- that's how I didn't gain tons and tons of weight eating all of their delicious fried chicken and fluffy eggs with their yummy hot sauce.
Oddly enough this place takes checks. There will be a bit of a wait on the weekends because the place is tiny (no where to sit inside). If you don't mind, just take it to go -- the chicken won't get soggy or anything. -
Review from Augusto T.
Berkeley, CA
10/7/2010
Tiny restaurant, great experience.
I have been to Jodie's about three times since coming to Berkeley. I always go for Brunch on the weekends, because that is when they have their fried chicken. Their fried chicken is great. It has crispy skin, it is seasoned perfectly, and it is cooked slowly.
Be warned that you will be spending a fair amount of time waiting at Jodie's. Jodie's is the definition of a whole-in-the wall. The restaurant can sit around 10 people. The chicken also takes a long time to cook, so I recommend calling in your order an hour ahead of time.
You can also just order take out. If you sit inside, you will be sitting on the bar being served directly by the cooks. If you sit on one of their outside tables, you go inside and give your order to the cooks, and then Jodie himself will be serving you coffee and bringing your food to you once it is ready.
I recommend you try their grits. They are some of the best I have tried outside of the South. Their spicy rice is also a great side order. Jodie also offers a special hot sauce that goes well with about everything.
The menu is huge and it is not nicely compiled in a single place. You have dished on a handout, you have dished posted on the wall on the inside, you have specials on a chalkboard, etc. Ordering can be quite daunting. If you are going on the weekends, just be sure to include the fried chicken somewhere in your order. As good as the chicken is, don't be afraid of a little exploration. I tried their Spanish-style eggs once and they were great.
An unfortunate limitation is that Jodie only offers scrambled eggs. That said, Jodie takes pride in his properly cooked eggs, and they are good enough for me to forgive him.
You can expect to pay slightly over $10 if you get sides, orange juice, etc. Cash only.
Be sure to come to Jodie's at least once if you live in the East Bay, just remember that good things come to those who wait.
Highly recommended!
jodie is great. -
Review from Michael C.
Berkeley, CA
11/3/2010
On a very rainy Sunday morning (11 AM), I made my second trip to Jodie's (the first one had been over a year ago). As it's a tiny place (with seating indoors for about 7 ppl), Jodie himself asked us where we were parked, then told us to wait in the car, and that he would come get us when seats were available. After about 10-15 minutes, Jodie (bless his heart) braved the downpour and knocked on our car window.
That story tells you what to expect here. As with REAL and AUTHENTIC southern food joints, the service is what makes it special. At Jodie's (and other places like the Brick Pig's BBQ in Oakland), the owners are the NICEST people in the world. And the food is amazing. We also sat right next to Jodie the entire meal.
Weekends are special because of the fried chicken. The stuff is other-worldly, and can't be compared to regular fried chicken. It is so flavorful and moist there's just nothing like it. Throw in hash browns and an "english muffin" and it's pure goodness. As a new-comer to grits, I didn't get any initially, but after having a bite of my friend's, I ordered my own side of "cheesy grits." Highly recommended.
The place has a cozy feel to it, and I love the extensive menu. I'm pretty sure that everything here is amazing, even if I haven't had everything. Be prepared for a wait, as even after we got in it took 15 minutes for our food to be cooked. But it's worth it. My only caveat is that after you eat here, you'll feel it in your stomach for hours upon hours. It's greasy, as expected, and it might leave you feeling kind of gross afterwards. But SO WORTH IT. -
Review from Duran R.
San Pablo, CA
9/28/2011
I love this tiny little place with the great breakfast and don't even mind the (sometime) wait. The food is incredible and Jodie is a wonderful and funny host
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Review from Mike C.
El Cerrito, CA
10/28/2010
The fried chicken and grits were delicious. Jodie was really helpful with our young daughter, being the picky eater.
The scrambled eggs were really good, just the way I like em. Soft and rich!
Glad for the Crystals hot sauce on the counter to go with the wonderfully cooked chicken. Definitely a treat. I'll be going back for the BBQ "Obama Special" breakfast. -
Review from Rebecca R.
Berkeley, CA
Jodie makes fried chicken that would make my Southern Grandma cry. It is next to the best I've ever had in my life. Not THE best because you just can't beat my Grandma's, sorry. But Jodie comes pretty damn close. If you like fried chicken, this is THE place to get it. I also had the grits which were perfect, and eggs which were, well, good eggs. My friends had french fries with their chicken and those were super yummy, as well.
But be prepared. It IS very small. It's not your average restaurant with a bunch of seating. I think there are maybe four or five four-seater tables outside and a counter inside that MIGHT seat up to eight but that might even be too many. But that's fine. It's worth the wait! And speaking of the wait, it is pretty long. I think it took an hour to get our food. But it was okay. We knew it would take awhile and were mentally prepared. We had a nice seat outside in the beautiful weather and had two tables with seven people who adore each other but don't get to spend a lot of time together. In fact, we were there at the request of a friend who moved to L.A. and was visiting. He HAD to go to Jodie's on his visit.
Jodie and his staff made sure our drinks were in good order throughout our wait, too. Jodie would check in and talk to us. He's a really neat guy! He really cares about how you like the food and wants to be sure you have a good time and feel welcome there.
OH! They had tea from Cymru, Wales for the uninitiated. He even gave me the box to read once I told him I studied Welsh at Cal. It was very cool.
Don't come to Jodie's if you're in a hurry. Come to have a nice relaxing and delicious meal. You can always call ahead your fried chicken order or so I've heard. And if you can't handle a wait, please don't come and stand around, sighing all heavy, acting like a self-entitled jerk. No one wants that vibe at Jodie's because it's mellow, cool, and friendly. And Jodie might come out and have something to say to you, too. Fer reals.
Oh yeah! Ask Jodie to show you the carved figurine a friend made in his likeness for him. It's awesome!Listed in: The Best of the Beast
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Review from Sasitorn S.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2010
"What's on the wall isn't in the menu and what's in the menu isn't all there is. If you don't see what you want, ask Jodie." I totally agree with this sentence. My first visit at Jodie's restaurant on last Sunday. My bf and I went there for just fried chicken. If you like some good old fashion souther home style cooking, this is the best place in Albany.
And If you are not in a hurry, take it easy then you will enjoy the food and this place. Fried chicken only has on the weekend and take about half an hour to prepare but it will worth it.
Jodie and others were really nice and i had a great time in the restaurant, Sooner i will come back again. -
Review from Brittany D.
San Francisco, CA
Its been over 6 months since my first stint at Jodie's. Since then i have taken my mother and my boyfriend here...they both crave it daily. went he BF gets dropped off at work and I say "Bye babe i'm off to go see Jodi now!" He gets a lil miffed and feels empty inside. I have an away message that says simply "@ Jodie's" when i return to my computer all stuffed and fat, I have a huge amount of hate mail from my mother. I argue with Jodie constantly, yesterday it was about wether or not there were hashbrowns in my Barbara's Firehouse. I have proposed to Charles, Jodie's grandson. He has yet to answer me and we talk about it every weekend day that I'm there. But what I don't get is this fool keeps asking about my momma.... SLOW YA ROLL THERE BOY! Naw but seriously, every time Charles puts the deliciousness in front of my face I KNOW its a Yes!
I'll be at Jodies on Friday, before my hair appointment, enjoying Evie's Black Pepper. Please come join me, you will not be disappointed!Listed in: The Itis, I Hella Heart Yelp
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/26/2007
This place is a lil piece of heaven with a side of sass. So basically the perfect place for Jamaica… Read more »
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Review from Christyna S.
Albany, CA
7/11/2009
Okay, I'm probably going to make quite a few enemies with this review (and I'm sorry for that), but Jodie's fried chicken has to be the nastiest, most awful fried chicken I have ever eaten in my whole entire life!!!
I know! I'm sorry :( I really don't understand how this place has as many good reviews as it does. It doesn't make any sense to me at all, but there is that saying: "there's no accounting for taste." Perhaps it is mine that is off??? I don't know.... what I do know is that I have had many a fried chicken dinner/breakfast from different folks from the South, and I have to tell ya, Jodie's couldn't hold a candle to theirs.
Even more disturbing than the fried chicken is that I believe all of these great reviews have gotten to Jodie's head! When my fiance and I went to eat here, we didn't like the chicken and left a good portion of it on the plate. When Jodie came to clean our table, we were all the way across the street getting in the car, and he yelled out to us: "You didn't like the chicken?!!!" I wanted to say, "Hell, no! it was nasty!!"
I really didn't appreciate being called out on my unwillingness to eat that sorry excuse for fried chicken in the middle of the street, I mean, who does that?! Anyway, my fiance was having a nice moment and lied to the poor man, making up some random excuse that I can't even recall at this moment.
I would absolutely NOT recommend this place, which makes me sad because I don't know of any other places in the Albany/El Cerritto area that have good fried chicken. If anyone has a recommendation, I would appreciate it. -
Review from Mortiche W.
Oakland, CA
3/9/2007 4 photos
My first thought when we walked up was," What in the hell, Bobby?" (said in the Hank Hill voice)
We were accosted by Jodie and Tina the minute we crossed their threshold- this is our weekend special, this is our Friday/Saturday/Sunday special, Grits only on weekends, fried chicken by the piece is this much...
I think I just wanted to read the menu, then examine all the different laminated options IN ADDITION to what was on the menu named after people on the wall, but Jodie and Tina and another regular who had two children that worked there (TMI, anyone?) kept offering suggestions so my head was spinning with suggestions of chorizo this, Jodie's special way of Eggs Benedict that, english muffin with something other. ME OVERWHELMED!
But I knew... almost the moment it was uttered from her lips, the dish that passed before me which someone else ordered, that it was to be MINE.
FRIED CHICKEN. With grits. And eggs. Fuck the toast. Well ok, we had a still-hot rustic baguette from La Farine 45 minutes before that, can't even think about following that act with sliced white bread
Now HOW can I pass THAT up in a 6- stool counter-seating-only joint where the two other patrons at the time had family working there? See? You couldn't either.
The fried chicken was good... NOT as good as Roscoe's in SoCal IMHO, but it was really quite good. They said they peeled back the skin a bit, removed all excess fat and then put the skin back on before drwedging and frying. I did find quite a bit of fat still, but hey, a few extra calories won't hurt me.
The eggs were the best. I AM A HUGE FAN OF THEIR SCRAMBLED EGGS. I usually don't order scrambled eggs because most places just do it all wrong and I only trust my own hand, but I've never had them like this before and I think I'm a changed woman. Seems like they just cracked the eggs on the griddle or pan (I wasn't watching them cook it- bad ME) and as soon as it lightly set, they mixed it all up; broke the yolk up and mixed it up with the semi-set whites. it was creamy, soft, and oh-so delicious. Next time I come here I'm not fucking around. I'm getting 4 eggs, scrambled, with half a pound of bacon.
Their hash browns and grits were stellar too- I can honestly say the best hash browns I've ever had. Unbelieveably fresh potato flavor; not this thick hunk of outside-crispy, inside-uncooked potatoes, and the absence of stale, rancid oil was heaven to my tummy. It was so good it almost hurt. Their grits were nice and creamy with just the right consistency, not too thick, not too soft.
I wanted to run around the block and tell people how great this place was but I was so full from buttery grits and fried chicken that I couldn't do much but say "OOF" and waddle back to the car. Needless to say, good portions, good flavor. They don't just pay attention to taste but to texture too.
I like Tina because she talks back to Jodie, but in such an endearing way, and I like Jodie because he reminds me of my dad and tries to push food on me. It was like eating at home, except my mom was a large Caucasian woman and my dad was dark skinned man.
I stopped reading reviews for places when JR suggests we try a new place- I tend to trust his judgement. After this place, I'm sold!
Update 4/2007 I found out why their scrambled eggs are so damn good as I watched them make it. They crack the eggs into as skillet, then use a nice ladelful of melted butter to scramble it up. No wonder it tastes so damn good and is so light and fluffy. After seeing that, I vowed to get their scrambled eggs only twice a year, no more. My poor little hummingbird heart can't take more than that, but boy is it deeelish! -
Review from Bona K.
Albany, CA
10/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
We probably got lucky, because among other things, it was fleet week in SF and the Cal game was during lunch hours. In short, our wait was incredibly short (considering rumours) - about 20 minutes (for ordering 1 minute, waiting for food 19-ish minutes) and the food was amazing.
We got the famous fried chicken (dark meat, YEA!) with spicy grits (Jodie: "You know how we make 'em? We cook the peppers and then fold in the grits. That's how you get all the pepper flavor into the grits. No salt!"), scrambled eggs, biscuits, and pancakes.
Fried chicken: AWESOME. Crispy and SO CLEAN. No fat or grease slime dripping everywhere. I've never felt so healthy and light after eating fried chicken. I usually pass out right afterwards.
Spicy grits: This is where you get your oily goodness. Tons of pepper flavor and bits with the grits and cheese on both the top and bottom. Mix it up real good with a spoon before you dive in.
Eggs: Not underdone, not overdone. Smooth and perfect.
Biscuit: The only way to describe this is that it tastes like it was panfried over butter. mmmmmm butter. I didn't need any jam or honey to stuff this one down. It was already full of flavor.
Pancakes: It's a good thing Jodie suggested we try this without syrup first. They were SO fluffy and SO delicious. I don't know what they put in their batter, but there definitely has got to be some butter magic going on in there.
All in all, a flavorful satisfying lunch on a beautiful Saturday.
Oh, but fried chicken and something else (maybe the pancakes? I don't remember) are available only on weekends, and it's really small (about 7 barstools and 3 or 4 tables outside), so it might be hard to find seating on really busy days. -
Review from Jared L.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2008
Between the chicken and the ribald banter of the crew and the regulars, I didn't stop grinning for a solid 2 hours. But I did finish ALL of my fried chicken as directed, transcendent french toast, incredible "spicy rice" (yeah I never heard of it either but it's damn good), and a great deal of cheesecake. My friend had grits with her fried chicken, and they were actually good! Never before have i had grits I would eat by choice.
This is a fabulous place if you can handle the small quarters and the style. It should be noted that this isn't the kind of place you go to have it _your_ way. You go to have it Jodie's way. Which is a good way, a wise and experienced way, but is not flexible. Pick something from the wall and enjoy the ride! The fried chicken alone was worth the trip and the rest is a bonus.
