Vegan
Chinese
Beer/Wine
Take-out
Chinese and Singaporean restaurant serving rice dishes, sandwiches, noodles and more. Has an extensive beverage selection. Reported closed April 2024.
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380 17th St, Oakland, California, USA, 94612
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Last update on 28 May 2024 by craigmc
Update business info -
Added by craigmc on 10 Sep 2020
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36 Reviews
First Review by lehyeong
nikisvegan
Points +531
great! - Edit
I think I need to do a better job ordering next time bc I am very spice-intolerant, so my actual meal was not incredibly enjoyable. love the soy milk and the pandan dessert!!
Read morekinda sad they’re closing and will be attempting to go back to try something less spicy before then and have the cake one last time
Guest
Tonesflavor
Points +29
More hyped than anything - Edit
Appetizers didn't arrive at the same time, nor did main dishes. Some meals had excellent presentation while others looked blend. Nothing was extra ordinary. Same way of cooking tofu was used in main dishes, little bit disappointing to not get more of variation. Service was bad. Was told tip was including in the price after I already paid and pushed on tip…
Read morePros: Cute looking place
Cons: Pricy , Bad service
Guest
ccbreezy18
Points +138
Beautiful Dining Experience - Edit
I was so impressed by Lion Dance Cafe! I want to start by saying that I’ve been following (SM Vegan) C-Y and Shane for awhile now. Years ago my husband and I went to a vegan English breakfast that they hosted at their apartment. We also attended many of their popups and we’ve always enjoyed our dining experiences. Lion Dance Cafe definitely met and exceeded my expectations. We ordered a bunch of things and they were all so good. We started with the pink salad, mushroom goreng and pea shoots. Then we had the laksa and a sandwich. Everything was so good, but the laksa was the star in my opinion. I definitely will go back.
Read moreI also wanted to add that since the new year they are no longer doing reservations. They have a great website which they keep updated to communicate any changes.
Pros: Laksa, Quality ingredients , Good service
Guest
welder
Points +74
Very disappointed - Edit
I was so excited to try this place but was really disappointed. First, it wasn’t clear that reservations were required. We were on our way to a show at the Fox and didn’t have time to find an alternative so we ate in their little outdoor parking space which was freezing in December. Then we found out that their dishes aren’t meant to actually feed a person and was told to order 4-5 dishes for two of us. That’s outrageous at $15-30 a dish. The mushrooms were nothing special. The eggplant was good but half the size of an appetizer. We then split the latke soup, which was actually the most tasty of the dishes, but got cold almost immediately. The meal cost the two of us almost $100 and we left hungry. Will not return.
Read morePros: All vegan
Cons: Overpriced, Unclear about needing multiple dishes per person, Reservations required
Guest
ellathedogsmom
Points +29
Fantastic - Edit
We had the potato chips, no prawn chips, zucchini, laksa, and the GF dessert, and we both got drinks. It was decadent, special, and fairly priced. We can’t wait to come back to try the rest of the menu.
Read moreGuest
leahk
Points +333
Fell short for us - Edit
Advice is to make a reservation to sit inside (walk-ups usually sit in the parklet). Although still pretty dingy with a concrete floor and cramped space abutting the kitchen, the inside is still much cleaner than the parklet. The sidewalk between the restaurant and parklet and the floor of the parklet didn’t look clean. The parklet was dark, loud with street noise, and we just felt uncomfortable there.
Read moreWe had two small plates, one main and a dessert. One of the small plates was very good (a supple eggplant dish), one was excessively salty (a bean dish). The laksa entree was also so salty we could not finish it. We were disappointed at the portions considering the prices. The star of the evening was the pandan dessert, which although so small (for $12), it had great flavor and texture and was pleasantly warm.
For us, the food wasn’t enough to make up for the rest of the experience and expense, so we’ll probably continue to enjoy our other vegan favorites in Berkeley, Oakland, and beyond.
Pros: All vegan menu, Singaporean & Italian offerings , Interesting combinations of flavors
Cons: Parklet needs a cleaning, Multiple dishes too salty, Not a good enough experience for the price
Guest
Babyfreud
Points +266
Must try Oakland hot spot - Edit
Amazing food and such kind and sweet service. The menu is fresh, inventive and delish. The small plates mean you can try many different things making this a great place to go for date night!!
Read moreGuest
SarahS88
Points +2601
Really love this place, very spicy - Edit
We love this place, but is a bit pricey and very spicy! Order sauces on the side if you are not wanting super spicy! Allow time they get super busy and sellout! The sandwiches are delish! As is the mushroom goreg!
Read moreUpdate: came back for inside dining service, food was amazing! Staff incredible! Must come back as we got table envy from others’ orders!
Updated from previous review on 2022-07-30
Pros: Vegan place, Unusual flavors, Delicious food
Cons: Kinda pricey, Long waits, Can be super spicy
Guest
livegreenwearblack
Points +313
Innovative & Delicious - Edit
The menu has lots of variety - I have never had a bad item -- noodles and fresh veggies, fried mushrooms and peanuts. They update the menu with seasonally available ingredients -- you cannot go wrong with anything on their menu (allergies aside, of course).
Read moreGuest
sandykaren
Points +388
Outstanding! - Edit
This restaurant is amazing! The food is so delicious-particularly the sauces, which have so much complexity. This is a very small restaurant (less than 10 tables), and as a result, you are charged $20 per person when you make a reservation. However, as soon as you check in that money is credited back to your card. I love that they focus on seasonal produce. Also, the staff was great- friendly and very knowledgeable. I can’t wait to go back!
Read morePros: All vegan , Delicious food
Guest
GoodNewsVeg
Points +411
Bold Flavors, Perfect Vibe - Edit
Don't know why we waited so long to eat here. But we can't wait to go back. EVERY dish was packed full of flavor - flavors we have not tasted anywhere else. Definitely make a reservation because it's a tiny place with a huge reputation. They deserve a Michelin star. (And I bet they get one). Thank you for creating and serving up such amazing vegan food. p.s. Every person who works at Lion Dance is warm and welcoming.
Read moreGuest
Angelo23
Points +286
Awesome food and amazing, creative chefs - Edit
The food here is spectacular and bursting with flavor. The laksa is by far the best I've ever eaten hands down. I'd suggest trying everything because I've never had a dish from this dynamic duo that I didn't enjoy. Well thought out creations, amazing ingredients, and lots of love equals consistent masterpieces. Highly recommend!
Read moreGuest
ajaff
Points +216
An Oakland vegan haven - Edit
This place is awesome. The boy choy and cacio y pepe noodles were the favorites. I’ve also tried one of the sandwiches, the mushrooms and a salad, which were ok not great. The pandan cake is also amazing!
Read morePros: Pandan cake!
Cons: Limited hours
Guest
villain
Points +8685
Delicious spicy food - Edit
Everything is vegan and theyre so great at labeling for gluten free and nut free! Thank you!! I don't usually go for spicy food but this was worth it. I got the Sesame L.G.M. Noodles and the flavors were fantastic. I also had some of the Three Cup Tofu, it was such a great dish and their tofu is seriously worth trying. I was pleasantly surprised by the desserts here, so unique and delicious. For a nice chewy cake you can try the Pandan Butter Nian Gao. The A.S.S. cookies are also highly recommended. There's an interesting Cheese Foam Tea as well and some great peanuts for sale. I'll be coming back ASAP!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-08-25
Pros: Tons of gluten free options, All vegan, Great menu labeling for nut and gluten
Guest
djsienne
Points +113
My favorite spot in oakland - Edit
The food is always amazing. They change their menu throughout the week so you have to go more than once. I love the tofu nuggets, the mushroom goreng, and the salad. Everything here is amazing. I also love their social media presence and how they do donations and events for important social causes.
Read morePros: Amazing vegan food, Supports social justice causes, Seasonal menu
Guest
veganhummingbird
Points +212
Very Good - Edit
We had the three cup tofu, rice noodle soup, and the sesame noodles. Delicious!
Read moreCons: Expensive
Guest
Sjjk12
Points +1113
Good! - Edit
I had the sesame noodles, which were definitely tasty and a bit different spice wise. I enjoyed the meal but it was far too overpriced for me to return. Not worth $17 and $6.50 for winter melon drink.
Read moreCons: Expensive
Guest
Lupin_3rd510
Points +82
Over rated food - Edit
I feel like they slap the same sauce on everything , too much tofu used
Read morePros: None
Cons: Over rated
Guest
oraxia
Points +233
Current Favorite Restaurant - Edit
I think this is genuinely my current favorite restaurant😄I have loved just about everything I have gotten here and I have friends who used to live in SF that always want to go here when they come to visit (which is good, because I rarely make the excuse for myself to drive up to Oakland on my own)!
Read moreYou can't go wrong with the Shaobing Sandwiches, the Laksa, or the Nuggets. I'm a huge fan of the Almond Sesame Shallot Cookies and the Pandan Butter Nian Gao, and the ice cream is great, too, although I'm less likely to order it simply because I'm always ordering takeout and driving it back to either SF or Milpitas. Often there's an item or two I end up with that are spicier than I can typically handle (usually it's the Shaobing Sandwich), but it's always so good I eat the whole thing anyway :P
You can order ahead of time online to avoid the (often huge) line at/after 5pm on their website, but you can't order the specials (argh!). Gotta be quick or sometimes things sell out fast, especially on the weekends. Pickup is also kind of crazy, because it's nearly impossible to find parking near there, but if you have a second person, you can have them hop out and circle the block.
Pros: All Vegan, Creative Food, Can Order Online Ahead of Time for Pickup
Cons: Very Long Lines, Can't Order Specials Online Ahead of Time
Guest
anitacat
Points +187
Wow! Delicious!! - Edit
Got takeout here after visiting a bar nearby. The Tauhu Goreng sandwich may be the best thing I have eaten in recent memory! Also got the Sesame L.G.M noodles -- the spice and sesame made my tongue feel a little weird, but I think that is because it was my first time trying that particular kind of chili pepper. I can't wait to go back and eat everything else on this menu! And it was such a delight to not have to worry about what is or is not vegan on the menu -- everything is! A comment on ordering: I originally tried to order online but the website wouldn't let me do so for the same day. I decide to walk over and place my order and they did accept it. They might cut off online ordering earlier than in-person. The staff were very friendly and welcoming! And the order was ready within 15 minutes of placing the order.
Read morePros: All vegan and all delicious!, Friendly and welcoming staff, quick service , Large portions
Guest
ynwa
Points +2111
Flavor, creative and all vegan - Edit
What an amazing experience. The menu is incredible. So unique, yummy and a full on taste buds dance party. Laksa is best in town. Literally everything is fabulous.
Read morePros: All vegan, BIPOC LGBT Woman owned, Unique and creative
Forman
This place has been on radar for sometime. Soon
Read moreGuest
NickTustin
Points +1216
Great - Edit
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Read moreGuest
floreciendo
Points +17
incredible - Edit
The food is out of this world — delicious, very flavorful, in original, distinct ways.
Read moreThe seasonally-changing shaobing sandwiches are a consistent hit.
The daily specials (posted on instagram shortly before opening hour) are often incredibly creative and unforgettable.
The only thing is that everything skews very spicy, and although they used to have a heat rating on their dishes, they no longer do. If you're sensitive to spice (like me) you have to ask questions. If it says "spicy" on the dish description, trust that it will be VERY spicy!
Pros: absolutely delicious, highly original food you won't find anywhere else , thoughtfully-sourced ingredients
Cons: no way to tell or control how spicy a dish will be, can get pricey if you order more than one thing!
Guest
badgirlsvegan
Points +2104
Love it! - Edit
I highly recommend the Laksa and all the sandwiches. Most flavorful cuisine!
Read moreGuest
Gopala108
Points +4004
authentic Singaporean vegan cuisine in Oakland - Edit
I recently went to Lion Dance Cafe with a friend for dinner. This was the first time I tried food from Singapore. I love that a lot of care is taken with the menu and most everything is made in house. An all vegan menu and authentic Singaporean cuisine which is a unique offering.
Read moreI went with the Tauhu Goreng Sandwich. It features fried tofu, spicy peanut Assam sauce, market lime leaf and pickled chili mayo, cilantro, shallot and cucumber on a freshly baked golden coconut bun. It is served with prawn less chips.
The sandwich was quite alright. It was fresh, flavorful, and spicy. I love that the menu is innovative and other items on the menu looked amazing. I will surely return at some point.
There are a few room for improvements. Eating the sandwich en route home back to San Francisco I found the sandwich very messy to eat as could have been packaged much better perhaps double wrapped in tin foil like a Mission burrito to prevent the sandwich from dripping. Could have used some more napkins as well.
Found prices a bit expensive. The sandwich was flavorful and filling yet after tip was $17 so at nearly $20 for a sandwich is a bit costly.
Finally I realize that we are more than two years into the historic pandemic. Glad some restaurants survived the pandemic yet when I dine out I prefer to eat at the establishment as am not big into take out. There was no place to eat at Lion Dance Cafe and they only offered take out. It would be nice if they offered a simple table with a few chairs outside their establishment.
Despite my three suggestions for improvements that would have shifted my review from four stars to five stars I will still come back here to explore more of the menu.
Pros: fresh, flavorful, and spicy, all vegan menu and authentic Singaporean cuisine , most everything is made in house
Cons: they only offered take out, Found prices a bit expensive., could have been packaged much better
Guest
Worldvegkitchen
Points +1317
Incredible - Edit
I have been wanting to come here for awhile. The only reason I haven’t is because it’s take out only in limited hours in a very busy area (no parking). We finally made it out here and ordered 5 things from the menu. Oh wow, it’s knock your socks off good. Laksa is was my favorite, but my meat eating husband was a fan of the fried mushroom (looks and pulls like chicken which was kind of freaky). I’ll definitely brave the parking situation to come here again!
Read morePros: Delicious food
Cons: Limited hours , Take out only
Guest
meghan2017
Points +177
Spicy - Edit
The food was great, the portion size for the “bigger plates” were moderate, not too big. My husband and I split a small plate and a big plate, I wish we had gotten at least 2 big plates
Read moreGuest
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