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Oasis Food Market
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Food Specialty Food Ethnic Food Middle Eastern, Ethnic Food [Edit]
3045 Telegraph Ave(between 30th St & 31st St)
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 655-5111
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9:30 am - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
146 reviews for Oasis Food Market
Review Highlights
"After dinner I took home $6 worth of pistachio baklava."
(in 30 reviews)
"I got a tasty Lamb Shawarma for $7.99."
(in 10 reviews)
"The falafel were flavorful with a perfect crispy outside."
(in 40 reviews)
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146 reviews in English
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Review from maggie l.
Oakland, CA
12/25/2011
i gotta admit, my life kinda revolves around Oasis market. if i haven't gotten there this week, i'm barely able to cook.
first off, there's the bakery. i made the mistake of coming in the day before Eid and the displays looked so amazing i went a little buck-wild on the sweets. the kind of thing where you pop the cookie in your mouth and then you can't help but close your eyes and let your brain recover from the endorphin overload. butter and sugar, a match made in heaven.
then, there's lunch. yummy kefta. their hot sauce is a bit on the sweeter side than i like, but still, i have to get lunch here on the regular, even if AJE on the telly just gets me in a bad mood, haha.
THEN there's the bulk section! forget you, berkeley bowl, this is the bulk stuff i'm looking for. every spice i need, plus all manner of lentils and rice!
PICKLES! not just pickled *pickles*, mind you americans, but pickled everything. yum yum. and they have my tea, in the big package of loose leaves, so i don't have to pay three times as much for twenty tiny bags of not-quite-the-right-flavor tea at b-bowl.
and the FRESH BREAD!!! sometimes i've already waited in line and been rung up and just as i'm about to leave the guy comes out with bags of hot, steaming bread, only four dollars a bag! you have to get right back in line! of course, we can't resist ripping into it in the car and only half makes it home.
service is great, too. the owner is nice enough, the younger guys are always asking if they can help you find something, and whether on the cafe side or in the grocery store i always seem to get rung up by the same sweet, friendly young hijabi. i should probably learn her name at some point :)
embarrassing to say that i haven't actually hit the butchery yet though, it's always very busy back there and a bit intimidating. maybe some day... -
Review from Kissandte L.
San Francisco, CA
1/31/2012
Just spent 40 minutes of my 30 minute lunch break waiting for my mediocre food. I called in well ahead of time and still had to wait 10 minutes. Got my order, and it was wrong. So I went back. They gave me a new order... and it was wrong too. I seriously asked for 4 items and that's it.
Very unorganized. Scattered service. Just okay food.
WASTE of a lunch break -
Review from Anita W.
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
when im craving a lamb shawarma plate, i think of OFM. the plate comes with a lot of food and a wheat pita, which is also tasty.
they have a pastry section, which introduced me to different types of baklava.
you order and pick up your order at the counter.
parking can be extremely difficult on weekends and lunch hours. -
Review from Robert And Anny C.
Oakland, CA
1/21/2012
Great, quick food & a nice selection of Sheesha to boot! Oakland represent!
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Review from Jim D.
Oakland, CA
12/30/2011
THE BEST!! I remember when this place first open I never used yelp back then, but feel like I need to write a review on this place. If you like fresh baked pita and lavash and fresh made middle eastern food then go here. I used to go to ali babas in SF, but now I don't have to.
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Review from alex c.
Berkeley, CA
10/4/2011
Excuse my language, but I fucking love this place. As a Berkeley Bowl fanboy who has drifted southward in lean times, Oasis has proven itself a worthy food-store replacement. While its selection is not as exhaustive as the Berkeley Bowl (is anywhere?), it has:
1. Excellent prepared foods. Check out the four dollar bags of piping hot flatbread in front, the shwarma and pasta counter, and the desert counter.
2. An almost complete selection of other foods: pasta, rice, bulghur, lentils, tons of spices.
3. A produce section.
4. A meat counter: the chicken and the lamb/beef sausages are excellent!
5. Low prices: a buck twenty or something per pound of bulghur.
6. Great hours: they close at 9:30. That's where they really slay the Bowl, in my opinion. I love the Bowl, but the ability to shop here at 9:25pm is definitely worth something.
Also, sometimes they're playing rockin' middle eastern music, or there's al-jazeera playing on the tube (a premium news outlet, if you didn't know).
Bottom line: an excellent neighborhood grocery with almost anything one could want, with low prices, high standards of quality, excellent hours; and a friendly, culturally exploratory experience. -
Review from Eli G.
San Mateo, CA
10/16/2011
Im just reviewing the restaurant part.... I wanted to like this place.. & maybe I will on a different occasion... But I came here on a Sunday Afternoon at like 2ish.. expecting it wouldnt be too busy to grab something on a quick escape from work...
Well it was a little crowded, whatever.. less than 5 minutes after being in there I ordered... everyone seemed so confused, there was so much going on... too many middle easterners in one place lol...
anyways im standing there waiting for my shawerma & it starts taking abnormally wrong... so while standing there i inquire about some rice & "OH BY THE WAY IS MY SHAWERMA READY?"... meanwhile I have a hot blooded middle eastern guy yelling about where is his as well... All the workers are just tooo confused & have an unorganized system...
They lady was about to give me the shawerma & after the other guy is yelling where is his.. she asked if I would give it to him... i said "well does that one have extra hot sauce like i asked" & it didint... so she gave it to him.. & i had to wait a few more min...
But ya.. crowded (which is cool.. but VERY UNORGANIZED).. & all in all... i Wasnt that impressed with my chicken shawerma... I am greek so am aware of greek & middle eastern food...
maybe ill catch em on a better day.. but after that i hardly feel like going back -
Review from Toni G.
Oakland, CA
1/1/2012
Everything about Oasis is warm and inviting. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, as well as the food and friendly service from everyone. There are always quite a few families eating here with their kids. The lamb shawarma wrap was yummy and juicy, and the pistachio baklava is divine.
Eat here, shop here, hang out here. I certainly will be! -
Review from Noemi W.
Concord, CA
8/9/2011
The food quality for this place went from really good to gross in the last few months. Just got the Chicken Hummus Plate which in the past came with a nice garnishment of pickled vegetables and/or tubule but not today. Today's presentation looks like something you'd get in prison for bad behavior (I'll post a pic for your entertainmet). I was hoping the flavor would make up for the bad presentation but no luck there. I've had plenty hummus in my day and I don't think its supposed to be runny and flavorless. Go figure.
The staff is disorganized, lose orders right in front of you and are at times rude. Would not bother stopping in unless you are starving and don't mind paying $12 for a spoon of runny hummus and overcooked chicken. This is the LAST visit.... sadly! -
Review from Fatty A.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/9/2012 4 Check-ins Here
this place is going down hill. it has become very inconsistent. they use to have a male cook that was good. but the chick that works the grill now sucks. lame.
1 Previous Review:
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10/25/2011
Decent food. $10 for a plate of meat, rice, and bread. I'd hit it once a week.
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Review from P O.
Alameda, CA
1/18/2012
The food used to be better before they gained popularity and "remodeled" the eating area. By remodeled, I mean installed some tacky, busted ass shit. When they weren't as popular, and the lines weren't as long, they took time to serve a quality meal. Now they are always frantically running around, completely overwhelmed. I always order a falafel wrap, and the quality has gone completely downhill. They have substituted and lowered the quality of the ingredients that they choose to put inside and now they hastily slop it together. They also need to change the way they run the hot food counter. They always mix up orders because they have a shitty system where they call the name of the dish you order, not the number of your ticket. If they did some market research on how to run a better business, they could turn things around.
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Review from Marie S.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2011
Minus one star because my order was made with rice when I asked it to be substituted out for salad instead.
Chicken shawarma was the bomb! The meat and rice were seasoned perfectly and the fresh flat bread to accompany the plate was a wonderful combination.
I didn't eat there btw. The "restaurant" area is to the left of the super market. The set up is a little weird to eat there I think. You are in fact surrounded by boxes of dried dates and other heavily processed foods. -
Review from brian j.
Berkeley, CA
9/16/2011
When it comes to mediterranean / arabic style food Oasis Market is hand-down the best around. Everything I've tried tasty, but it's all pale in comparison to the #10. Schawerma combo plate. I've tried the the lamb schawerma plate but its a tad dry without the chicken schawerma. I've been here with someone who's originally from michigan and she said this is as good a you'll find there. That's saying a lot, since michigan has the largest arab population anywhere outside of the middle east.
I highly recommend this place. Freakin' Amazing! -
Review from A. M.
San Francisco, CA
8/30/2011
super nice owner, friendly girls working behind the counters and in the kitchen and amazing REAL middle eastern desserts.
The owner was at the register wringing people up, he left it all and came to help me when he realized I was still waiting for service.
Sweet man and thank you all for being kind and helpful.
I am addicted to your dessert counter. Please help, my ASS is getting bigger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
Review from Shannon L.
Fremont, CA
Wow.
And I really mean WOW.
I walked in here not really expecting much. I always drive by thinking that the outside looks rather lavish and cheesy for that part of Oakland.
You walk in and there's the sufficiently stocked grocery section if you're looking for Middle Eastern goods. Then you walk to the eating area where it's set up like a cafeteria but for some reason, your eyes are drawn to the counter on your right which holds enough varieties of baklava to keep you eating a different one for probably a month straight.
There were obviously regulars sitting around. And whenever I see regulars at a restaurant that serves food I think the customers can cook or have grown up eating or is a part of their background, I am immediately swayed. Like lots of Chinese people in a Chinese restaurant.
You pay $9.99 for a lamb shawarma plate and get enough food for at least two meals. You pay $7.99 for the veggie combo and get enough dip to last you two to four rounds of appetizing. Everything was so flavorful and smooth. With their hummus and baba ghanoush, it's blended to a puree which some may or may not like but regardless, the taste is unforgettable. Then you have the lamb which, to my friend, looks like tanbark but I say that is some tender and tasty tanbark.
If I lived near Oasis, this would be my takeout place of choice. -
Review from jan s.
Oakland, CA
8/25/2011
Love this joint.
I been here a handful of times but still look like an idiot everytime I go... ...I pay before i get my food, right? Or wait, is it after? ...and I go over THERE to pay, right? Okay, cool.
Just take my scrills and gimme them bomb ass eats!
Open hella late during Ramadan (i assume that's why). -
Review from t l.
Berkeley, CA
12/5/2011
this is a great place to eat mediterainian food
i ordered the shawarma plate and it really reminded me of the taste i have in the middle east
the staff was nice and i like this place ! -
Review from Sonia M.
6/9/2011
Sit-down dining in the middle of a Middle Eastern market might seem a little odd, but it's actually really good!
A party of four split three dishes (chicken kebab and 2 chickens hawerma), and there was plenty to go around. They were out of falafels when we got there, but I would like to try those some time as well.
As far as the "market" part of the place, it's small but well stocked with goodies. And, it's not just Middle Eastern items you'll find. I came across European candies and snacks as well. And price-wise, they're quite reasonable. Bottom line- be it a quick, yummy, and filling meal, or some hard-to-find foreign grocery items, this place is solid choice. -
Review from Daniel S.
4/18/2011
OK, I'm just here reviewing the food and the baklava, but the food has been pretty good.
I tried the "tandoori" chicken and the chicken kebab -- both served as a plate with spiced rice and a generous salad. The chicken kebab was especially good, smothered in spices and freshly grilled. Be sure to get the seasoned rice, which is flavored with cinnamon and I know not what else. I'm very interested in trying the other items here.
The baklava was a mixed bag, some good, some a little boring, which may have been due to getting it at the end of the day. Surprises were the wonderfully light and crispy "fingers," a dense one flavored with rose water, and the little "crowns." (Sorry, this is where my language knowledge is limited.) -
Review from Nikki S.
Fremont, CA
6/21/2011
What I would give to have a place like this in Fremont! Granted, Fremont has a lot of Afghan, Indian, asian markets, but we don't have a good Arabic store/restaurant, or a store that includes a bakery and restaurant all in one.
I LOVE this place, the variety is one of the best I've seen in the Bay Area. You have your halal meats, an amazing selection of baklava, ma'amoul, even kunafa (a yummy, sweet, cheesy dessert mmm) We took home about $20 dollars JUST in pastries. The veggie section could use a bit of help but who cares about the veggies? You have a bulk spice section, a huge assortment of coffees, teas, breads, olives, cheese, Moroccan merquez, frozen foods etc etc.
If I had a store like this in my area, I'd be in there every single day. To top it off the employees are very friendly and make sure you find what you're looking for. The restaurant is very good too....
Here's how good this place is; we stopped in to get some shawerma (I got a keft kebob wrap) on our way to Berkeley and stopped in a 2nd time on our way back for groceries, pastries and some fresh homeade lemonade =D
Yummy in my tummy, just wish I didn't have to drive all the way to Oakland to enjoy this place :( -
Review from Elina W.
Walnut Creek, CA
11/8/2011
I have for the most part had pretty good experiences at this place. They have relatively good Mediterranean food, for about 8-10 dollars per person. The portions are huge! , you could easily share with another person. I definitely feel like I am in the middle east in some random little hole in the wall place which is what it really is. You walk in, and there are people speaking farsi, and serving humus.... which to me = awesome times in the middle east in oakland. They also have a fantastic little market area where I have bought excellent (and cheap) olive oil and spices and FRESH BAKLAVA! YUM!
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Review from U B.
Oakland, CA
4/3/2011
My husband discovered this little gem of a place a few months ago, when we moved into the neighborhood. We always love picking up freshly baked baklavas and Mamoul cookies there, and they also have a great selection of Middle Eastern spices.
We had the lamb shawarmas today, and yay, I am a FAN! It was delicious, and the last time I enjoyed a shawarma this much was in Goa, India, in a back street of Panjim where a Lebanese guy would make the best shawarmas for the crowds gathered around his stall. -
Review from Mac S.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2011
I live in SF and I'm sure there are plenty of places closer, but I'd rather drive over the bridge than take that chance. I had the combo plate and it was amazing it was fast, it wasn't messy, the place wasn't loud, I felt no rush to leave.
Only down side, the lady behind the counter really wanted us to order quickly. I'll go back and take my time a bit, but everything looked great.
And I've not even reviewed the store part yet! That look really complete and well stocked. -
Review from Kenson K.
6/20/2011
I was pleasantly suprised with this place. From athe outside it looks like an ethnic grocery store but they have a deli & take out section. They have a sit down area where you can eat your meal too. Its standard middle eastern fare, shwarmas, lamb and kefta, etc.
I opted for the kefta plate. It was very spicy and flavorful. It came with a side of spiced rice, cucumbers in yogurt sauce and a salad. and a side of flatbread. Very delicious.
Im not familiar with middle eastern spieces but it seemed they had a lot of items on grocery side to satisfy a middle eastern kitchen. The fresh fruit and veggies were a little sparse though. I was a bit turned off by the pile of rotting cantaloupes they had on the side with the infestation of fruit flies. -
Review from Marck n.
6/19/2011
I finally got to eat here for lunch. Had the lamb and chicken shwarama. It was very juicy and though it was spicy, I kept on adding more spice sauce to my wrap. It was that good. The kefta plate that my partner had was also very juicy and tasty. If I read the menu more thoroughly, I would have ordered the rack of lamb that was in the hot plate section. It looked really good. Or the other roasted, braised lamb dish. Next time I come here, I will get them. Screw the traditional board that is above and go for the menu that is above the hot food section.
Side note, the dessert display counter is also inviting. So note to self, save room for dessert. The seminole cake is calling my name. -
Review from Eva Leona Lerriqs S.
Berkeley, CA
4/12/2011
I had the chicken kebab wrap, which was good, but a little skimpy for the price (7.99). For just two dollars more, you get a plate full of food and better pieces of kebab. My boyfriend got the chicken shwaerma platter, and I think I will get that next time. The chicken was so good, better than what I have had elsewhere. The wrap is worth getting if you get a plate full of desserts, which I did. I recommend the harisa with rose blossom water, the shredded dough with pistachios, and baklava with walnuts.
Yum! Also, the grocery is filled with interesting items as well as a great bulk section. I can't wait to return. -
Review from Ana B.
San Francisco, CA
3/7/2011
Oasis is truly a yelp find, unless of course, you live nearby or drive through that stretch of Telegraph on a regular basis and are curious enough to venture inside. I'm a sucker for ethnic food markets and trying to find those obscure hard to find ingredients that make all the difference in the world when trying out new recipes. I have yet to purchase any halal meat from their butcher or anything else from their market, but I have tried their Shawerma combo and Kefta Kebab plate. For $9.99 a plate, you get a mountain of tasty meatilicious goodness with a heaping pile of seasoned rice, salad and lavash bread. They also have a nice display of baklava and other sweets and pastries, not to mention many more items on their menu.
Oasis is one of those places that truly makes living in Oakland so great. It's a little taste of the Middle East right in your backyard.Listed in: I hella love Oakland!
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Review from Donna H.
Oakland, CA
3/1/2011
I love this Middle Eastern deli/grocery store and come here about twice a month for dates,greek coffee, and best of all, the naan and the injera. The naan, a large package for $4.00 is still warm from the oven. The injera is
fresh, soft, and very sour....delicious.
In the back is a meat counter, where the butcher will grind lamb...lean and flavorful for $5.95 a pound. It makes great meat balls.
Although the pastries and the deli items smell and look very tempting, the line is usually so long that it has deterred me from sampling their dishes.
A word of warning....do NOT go on Fridays to leisurely shop. That is the day that the mosque on the adjacent street has services, and parking is nearly impossible! -
Review from Mike F.
Oakland, CA
2/19/2011 15 Check-ins Here
Let me start off with, THE LAMB SWARAMA WRAP IS THE ISH! I could have ended the review right there.
Seriously though, this place is a good neighborhood spot. The kabobs are pretty good, the chicken is seasoned well, the falafels are tasty, and I think I already mentioned the swarama. The only food I haven't enjoyed, was that watery salad, you get with the plates. What is that? Maybe I should ask them hold the watery coleslaw salad thingy. Just not working for me, you might like it.
Parking is okay, depends on the part of the day. I never have to wait in line too long, if there is one. The people are friendly in here. It always seems like they are having a great debate when they speaking to each other in Arabic. "Is something about to pop off?" lol But that's just how their language sounds. What about all the hookahs for sale, and on sale. I think they put more than tobacco in there, we are in Oakland....
Enjoy people.... -
Review from angela l.
Updated - 9/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
paul got a deep fryer. first order of business: homemade falafels.
the first batch was a disaster. the mix wouldn't hold and would fall apart the second it hit the oil. so, instead of using canned chick peas, I figured it would be better to get dry ones and soak them overnight. Was going to try my luck at luckys, but I pass by oasis from my job and realized they MUST have them. of course they did. and it's only 99 cents a pound! I got two pounds of chick peas for less than $2, and it was absolutely worth the extra work. I poked around grocery section and saw some items I will have to come back for. Love this place!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/21/2010
i cannot believe i've never been here before.
boyfriend is a gym rat, and he refuses to skip a day.… Read more »
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Review from Stacey C.
Emeryville, CA
8/27/2011
If I could 6 stars, I would.
My Lebanese friend went with me and was in heaven.
We took everything to go but we bought 1 of everything in the store, including take-out.
We got:
Lebnya - Sounds phoenetically like Butt-Larry to me. It is cream cheese made from yogurt! YUM - I am officially an addict!
Olives - Yum
Tabouleh - Yum
Bread - Arabic Style Pita - Huge - Yum
Dolma - We thought was dry
Hummus - Yum
Baklava- good but I have had better (but not by much)
Gyro Plate - Wasn't what we were used too. Seemed like too much lamb and we were used to beef/lamb combo...but good. We ate it all but it took 2 days...a lot of food.
I got lamb kebab which I like alot.
Basically we loved everything. Totally authentic and yummy. -
Review from Taz A.
Oakland, CA
3/12/2011
I'm always hesitant in going to halal markets. I always feel out of place, or that the place is dirty, or something is always just a little sketchy.
But not this place. It's bright, clean, and friendly. I love the selection at the deli counter and it was a place I'd stop by during Ramadan when I was craving comfort food to break my fast with. The sweet counter is amazing too. I can (and have) often spent hours here just eating the food and shopping in the aisles.
If you've always driven by here and never stopped by. You should. It's great. -
Review from I N.
San Francisco, CA
3/1/2011
I gotta say this place surprised me.
First visit I was having a one in a million day. When I voluntarily chose the dreaded VEGGIE plate. It must have been one of those blackout moments similar to A Christmas Story when Ralphie unconsciously tells Santa he wants a football. Only I didn't snap out of it in time to change my order, and surprisingly I'm glad I got it.
The falafels were simply the best I've had. It wasn't that crispy outside with mystery paste within that I see so often. Surprisingly light and tasty, exactly what I always imagined a falafel COULD be.
The hummus and Baba ghanoush were top notch (with lots of tasty garlic) and the pita bread was also a level above the norm. Not to mention the portions were huge.
My second visit, I ran into someone who works in the same building as a client of mine who grabbed me by the scruff of the neck, pointed and simply said, "you hungry? you will eat Greek Lasagna, best in the world". I don't recall the name off hand but I've had it a couple of times in the past at different places and they were both non descript. Their version really was excellent. It has much less tomtatoey sauce than the Italian variety and has bechamel and somehow wasn't as heavy as I thought it would be. It came with a sides of tabouleh, slaw, pickles, and more delicious pita.
No its not the most upscale place, it is in a grocery store. But the food wasn't just good, it was excellent both visits. So much so that I would again happily (and this time consciously) order a veggie plate. -
Review from Mary P.
Oakland, CA
12/20/2010
I FREAKIN' LOVE THIS PLACE!
Every other Christmas we do Lebanese Food and this year we are at it again. Yummy! Can't wait! So I wanted to find a new, better and closer place than the one we shopped at over the last few years.
Found fresh lamb and they ground it for us. Pretty sure they gave us about 7 pounds worth but he only charged us for about 5 pounds. Cool! Thanks! Found all the spices, Bulghur, Grape leaves, etc. that I needed.This place quite possibly has everything Middle Eastern or Near Eastern that a person could want or need. Well, except for pine nuts. Manager said they were about $40.00 a pound, which was too expensive so he stopped carrying them. Bummer. Produce section was a bit small but that's okay, it did have lovely eggplant for Babba Ghannuj.
My kids stared in awe at the case with all the Middle Eastern sweets and asked if mommy could make those too. 'Oh, uh, sure kids.' No problem. Mommy will just pop over here to buy some baklava and pass it off as her own.
My husband stared in awe at the shwarma in the deli even though he'd just eaten lunch. I patted his belly and said 'Maybe for lunch on Monday.' Pretty sure he'll be here on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday...
I love that it has groceries as well as a deli and sweet shop and butcher in one place. The store was insanely clean for a place that had SO many customers shopping for food as well as dining in the small food court area.
The employees were super nice, and helped me locate everything I needed. The young lady who rang us up even gave my daughter some candy and asked her is she spoke Arabic. My poor kid just blushed and said, Que? LOL! Perhaps we'll all have to learn some Arabic so we can at the very least say Hello. How are you? Please and thank you.
Another reason to shop/dine Oakland. -
Review from Gloria F.
Oakland, CA
5/17/2011
To begin- I have not tried everything on their lunch menu, but what I have had is definitely worth mentioning and recommending.
This gem of a deli and store is located very close to my school, and though import grocery stores are very fun for me, I had no idea I would find so much behind the doors to Oasis.
This is a great place to come for lunch, and you can get a quick plate of food and sit in a nice ambiance as a group for a very affordable price. The chicken plate is very filling and delicious.
The falafel wrap is also very tasty, but less food and better on the go and you save a couple bucks. For the ideal falafel wrap, I have asked for it grilled longer (so that lavash is extra crispy) and I have gotten some yogurt sauce on the side for dipping. That was my only complaint- that it tasted a little dry, but the yogurt sauce is a perfect remedy. There is hot sauce that's optional and I recommend that for those who think that's yum as well.
Go and check it out for yourselves. There is a big spread of desserts and cookies which I have not tried yet but I intend to!
These are great people to support, all of the staff are very kind and they work very fast with the lunch rush.
If you have a long lunch, meander the store to find imported gems and oddities to take home. From groceries to jewelry, they've got it! -
Review from Andrew C.
** Deli Review Only **
Thanks to Mary P (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) I came to Oasis in search of shawarma!
Half of the market is a deli / restaurant area with hot foods and salads and a pastry counter. Typical Middle Eastern / Mediterranean items like falafel, shawarma, kabobs, baklava etc.
I got a tasty Lamb Shawarma for $7.99. It's stuffed with meat which is sliced from the vertical rotiserrie and then grilled to order on a flat-top with onions & tomatoes before being rolled into lavash with some tahini.
Moist and delicious lamb. Just enough extras to keep things interesting. The flavors reminded me of Truly Mediterranean in SF. I forgot to ask for any hot sauce and there was none added as standard so if you like things spicy be sure to ask.
I noticed several other deli / markets within a block. Oakland's Shawarma triangle??Listed in: Falafels and shawarma and…, Uptown Down Oakland
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Review from Mi H.
Oakland, CA
2/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oasis Cafe Review Only...
If you are in search of Shawerma! Come on this way!
This is an Middle Eastern / Mediterranean Market and Cafe. Walk to your left after entering this market to get to the cafe area. There will be tables inside and outside of the market where you can sit down and eat after you order your food. Oasis Cafe serves hot foods and salads. Not to mention, there's also a pastry counter. The typical food you can find here is food items like Falafel, Shawerma and Kabob wraps or combination plates... etc.
What I ordered today? A tasty Lamb Shawerma Wrap with extra hot sauce for $7.99. If you are not familiar with Shawerma Wrap... this is similar to a burrito... It's stuffed with flavorful lamb meat which is sliced from the vertical rotisserie and then grilled to order with onions and tomatoes before being rolled into lavash (wrap) with some yogurt base sauce. I also ordered a small Hummus with a side of bread to share with my friends. Delicious!!! I can never get tired of eating this...
The Lamb Shawerma Wrap was super fresh and moist. Each and every bite you take makes you want more of it! Also, the Hummus here is wonderful... this is the only Hummus I would eat!!! You have got to try this spot out... I guarantee that you will be satisfied with the food!!!
It gets busy here around 1pm... come earlier if you can!!! Staff here is nice and efficient... it didn't take too long for me to get my order!!! -
Review from Camille K.
Alameda, CA
6/20/2011
I love an independent ethnic grocer. Oasis proved quite the delight. $20.16 bought me paneer cheese, two canned anchovies, four canned sardines, cherries, nectarines and a pineapple. Osman, my checker was awesome!!!! There is so much to choose from, including a deli and a bakery. Produce is amazing. Cheers to so many varied ethnicities coexisting at this outstanding market.
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Review from Michael C.
Berkeley, CA
12/17/2010
After binging on the halal carts in New York, I've been looking for something to hold me over until the next time I'm able to make it to the Big Apple. This place definitely does the trick. After hearing about it from my gf, we finally decided to try it.
The establishment is split in half, with one side being a "deli" and the other being a market that sells various Middle Eastern goods. It's always fun to walk around in ethnic stores and see all the cool/unique stuff they sell. The honey (with beeswax in it) caught my eye in particular, and they were selling hookahs too.
I ordered a shawerma combo plate, with lamb and chicken. The missus had a chicken kefta plate. We also got an order of hummus, which I HIGHLY recommend, as it was served with very, very awesome pita bread. It was different than any other pita bread I'd ever had, much thinner and flatter, and "grainier" rather than smooth.
The plates were served with lots of rice, and a bit of lettuce and tomato. It also comes with a yogurt sauce which is delicious. If you want an extra kick, you can ask for some hot sauce, which is very flavorful and makes the food that much better. I mixed it all together and had a fantastic (and very very filling) lunch. The chicken kefta that the missus had was basically a quarter rotisserie chicken. While tasty, it was a bit on the dry side. Each plate cost about $10.
Service was very good, and the staff was very very nice, from the owner, to the chefs, to the guy giving recommendations behind the "pastry" counter. You could tell he enjoyed his job, and gave excellent recommendations for this baklava vs. that baklava, cookies, etc.
Going here really is an experience, so take you time to soak it all in. Enjoy the food, make sure to get dessert, and spend a little time looking at all the wares. I'm glad we have a place like this in Oakland. It's an amazing place, buuuuuut...there's just no substitute for the halal carts in NY. -
Review from Nina B.
Emeryville, CA
7/23/2011
I was starving and needed a quick affordable bite to eat. I love Middle Eastern food and Oasis Food Market popped up on my Yelp app.
The food was good, the atmosphere was friendly. I didn't venture over to the market but stayed in the deli. My falafel wrap was delicious and I loved there assortment of ginger beers.
If I find myself in the area again it would definitely eat there again
