AS B-Dama

Food was great, have had the salmon, fried chicken and udon soup! All have been great choices. :D

We tried the hari hari nabe which is sort of like a mini hotpot with sliced pork belly, tofu, clear noodles, and vegetables in a house consommé soup. The soup was phenomenal and had great flavor, I also really enjoyed the pork belly. We also got the salmon belly nigiri which comes with three pieces. The fish was delicious and was served at a great temperature, it tasted a little bit fattier than regular salmon.
The tables inside Swan Market all seemed to be marked with their respective restaurants, so it was a little confusing trying to figure out where we could sit since we bought food from different vendors. We ended up sitting at a B-​dama table (also got food from The Cook and Her Farmer) but no one from B-​dama seemed opposed to it.

OWSCMP
I’d never been to Swan’s Market and just loved the vibe here. All the businesses flow into each other and there’s a very open and communal vibe here.
While it was busy here, it’s quick to order at the register and there was no wait. We called ahead 30 minutes in advance with a takeout order, and they had all our food ready about 10 minutes early.
COST: $ 74 total for dinner for four.
See my pics for additional details!
* Garlic Brussels Sprouts ($ 5.50) — 4 stars
Great side, everyone liked this. They were a tad soggy but still had enough of a crisp.
* Beef Tataki ($ 12) — 3.5 stars
The meat could’ve been more tender — it was a bit hard. FYI this is a cold dish, which I didn’t realize.
* Agedashi Tofu ($ 5.50) — 4.5 stars
Fantastic stretchy texture, with a super light fried breading. Really nice!
* Sashimi Mori ($ 18.50) — 4 stars
Good quality fish — I only tried one piece but enjoyed it.

B-​Dama is amazing! I’m so glad that they moved to Swan’s Market. They are now just a walk away. They join the excellent selection at the gourmet food court but rest assured, B-​Dama holds it’s own.
I’ve been here a few times and each time I’m discovering something new. I enjoy exploring their menu to try what the chef has cooked up.
Today I had the Lunch Special S: the sushi set. It’s a small collection of their rolls and it’s a great sample of what they have to offer. In addition to the rolls, they serve it with miso soup and a salad. It’s a well balanced meal that is filling but light. More than enough to power me through the day but not make me sleepy when I get back to work.
Looking forward to coming back again soon.
That’s my peace.

Very very solid. Had the pork belly, sashimi combo, ohitashi and some nihonshu. All was freshly prepared with precision and understanding of the ingredients. I will definitely be back.

Whoa — this little stand in Swan’s Market can get busy at lunch time. So go early. What I love about B-​Dama are the fresh ingredients, moderate spices, and daily specials. My go to lunch meal right now is clam udon. The clams are plentiful, along with mushrooms, seaweed, and vegetables. Get the clam udon now because they only serve this during the winter season. Yummy!

I hate having to give B-​Dama a mediocre review, but they can’t seem to get things figured out.
Their food is great, no question. But their service is just terrible. Over the past two months, they’ve completely forgotten my order twice. My wife is served her meal, and I wait, and wait. The first time, all I got was a shrug from the server when asked what happened. Last night, although they were apologetic, it was still infuriating. It was a slow night, to boot!
Anyhow, you should go here, but brace yourself for the lack of service. You’ll eat well — if you ever manage to get your food.

I’ve always dreamed of living next to a Japanese place this good. Amazing lunch deals, dinner can be as fancy as you want it to be. Great wine /​sake selection. Awesome service!

One of the best Japanese food experiences I had. At first I was a little skeptical of this place, because it was in a food court. I had a couple bad experiences at Japanese restaurants in food courts in the past. This time it was good. The food was delicious and creative and the owner was very kind. I tried their agedashi tomato (fried tomato), hari hari nabe, saka mushi (clam soup), fishhead soup (tai/​red sea bream), gyutan shioyaki and they were all amazing. agedahi tomato and the fishhead soup were most memorable, because it was the first time trying these dishes. This place is a hidden gem in Oakland and I would definitely come back to try other dishes.

I’ve been to B-​Dama when it was on Piedmont Ave but I haven’t been to the new location. This was my first time at Swan’s Market in Old Oakland. I was pretty much in awe of everything being that I’ve never been here. I didn’t even realize that I walked right past B Dama until I walked inside the building from the Washington Street entrance next to Rosamunde Sausage Grill. We were told that you order first, get a number, pick a seat, and your order would be delivered to you. Easy enough. The setup is somewhat like the Public Market in Emeryville is like except that there are tables in the center and you’re surrounded by five different eateries. We were told we could sit anywhere we wanted but as we were looking for seats, many of the empty tables had labels on the table saying that they were only for Cosecha customers. And many of the taken tables weren’t labeled at all. So we weren’t really sure if it was still a free for all if there were designated tables.
After finding a table and switching the too high stools for the shorter stools that fit our table, waiting for our food didn’t take too long. The first item that came out were the spicy tuna rolls. I didn’t eat any but by boyfriend said that they were good because they used fresh rice and gave you fresh wasabi.
Next was the small hari hari nabe, which was the hot pot with sliced pork belly, tofu, clear noodles, and vegetables. This definitely hit the spot and was the perfect size for two people to share. I loved the flavor of the broth. It had a deep mushroom flavor to it. The sliced pork belly, tofu, clear noodles, and vegetables paired really well with the broth. It was a bunch of yummy goodness in my belly. Plus, I’m a really huge fan of clear noodles, tofu, and veggies, so it all worked out in my favor. Once all the noodles, meat, and vegetables were eaten, the broth by itself started to taste a bit bitter, but it wasn’t a gross bitter. It still tasted good but the bitterness in the broth is more pronounced by itself than with other things in it. Also, the hot pot came with this dark green paste to put in the broth. I don’t remember what our server said it was because it was a bit too loud to hear. It had a slight kick to it, so we didn’t add it to the broth, but my boyfriend liked it enough to add soy sauce to it and use it as a dipping tray.
Next was the sashimi dinner set. It came on a tray with salad, miso, white rice, and vegetables. The salad and its dressing was simple, yet tasty. The miso was good, yet the coloring was a bit darker than what I’m used to. There was a hint of soy sauce put in the miso soup, though it wasn’t salty. The vegetables were nicely cooked with a bit of crunch to it. The sashimi came with salmon and three different types of tuna on a bed of daikon, topped with sliced red onions and some wasabi and kimchi fish roe on the side. The sashimi itself was super fresh. It literally melts in your mouth. It was that good and that fresh, I kid you not. The sashimi dinner set is a great deal. We got all this for $ 18.95. That’s a pretty awesome price compared to other restaurants that would give you the sashimi by itself for that price without all those sides.
Lastly, the best thing that we ordered that came out last was the uni chawanmushi. It’s the bomb. You have to order it. It’s mushroom, chicken, and spinach cooked in egg custard topped with uni. I always jump at the opportunity to order uni and this dish did not disappoint. And you have to eat it right away because it comes out hot in this little cup thing with a lid. It’s super cute and super tasty. If you’ve ever had the egg soufflé from Bowl’d, think that with chicken, mushroom, and spinach cooked inside, topped with uni, but better. I would most definitely order this again every time I come here in the future.
Despite it seeming like we ordered way too much food for just too people, we actually finished all our food. The food was fantastic and our bellies were full, but not overstuffed. Definitely a successful dinner for two.

Sometimes, on a cold day, I’d rather just stay home and open up a can of chili or something like that. But when I muster up enough effort, As B-​Dama is the first place I’ll think of. A simple, but flavorful bowl of zosui in a cast iron bowl is the perfect way to keep the cold at bay. It’s also good if you’ve got a weak stomach, getting over a flu, and that kind of thing. Same goes for the hari hari nabe, which is only offered for dinner. The small is great for one person. It’s not too salty and just hearty. I’ve also had the veggie udon and tsukimi udon, both come in a heaping bowl. I highly recommend the agedashi tomato, which is yummy and unique. They also have cold dishes. Spicy tuna roll was solid and I enjoyed the zucchini tempura + ricotta gaburi. Located inside Swan’s Market. nice counter space and plenty of shared tables too.

Came on a Wednesday at 11:30am and was able to order immediately. I got the chicken karaage set meal ($ 12, Wednesdays only) which comes with miso soup, salad, rice, and a side of vegetables. Perhaps it was because we got in as soon as Swan’s opened, but my dish came out extremely quickly.
Pros:
–Karaage was freshly fried and moist
–Free self-​serve tea
Eh:
–Soup/​salad were standard
–Karaage was bone-​in, which would have been great but for some suspect butchering (read: bone shards in several pieces)
–Seating in Swan’s cafeteria-​style central area got way too crowded way too quickly
Con:
–Vegetables (rather mushy zucchini/​eggplant) were room temperature at best and did not look or taste like they were made with the rest of my order. Pictures from other Unilocalers show B-​Dama switches the veggies up pretty often, so I might have come on the wrong day for those.
Overall, I would try AS B-​Dama again, and for dinner next time, but not before trying other joints inside Swan’s. So much food, so little precious time and stomach space.

Just went there for dinner with family and their food was so good. Everything we ordered is good. The ambiance is casual and the sitting capacity is small (it’s like a food court style) and they can be packed for dinner. But just be patient cuz it’s worth the wait.

Lists do not lie! Get the hare hare nabe. It’s completely perfect for the cold weather of late in the bay area. The nabe is quite unique, and it has a lot of different flavors that meld perfectly with one another. It’s not too strong on the dashi, and there’s this sweetness and citrus flavor. Good balance of tofu, protein, mushrooms and veggie. For four the large was more than enough (we were starved).
Other highlights, fried chicken and the miso pork. Those are my recommendations. The tomato agedashi was okay, and gimicky.

I’m glad that I don’t live/​work near here or I’d be here ALL. THE. TIME.
B-​dama is a Japanese restaurant located inside of Swan’s Market, in a food court sort of area shared with other establishments. You order and pay at the counter then take a seat to wait for your food. But don’t be deceived — while seemingly casual like a cafeteria, the atmosphere is hip and trendy, with sake flights offered and wine bottles being ordered from other businesses (classy!).
Check out the menu online or at the counter — we came for dinner and there’s a variety of salads, meat dishes, noodles, and other appetizers available, in addition to current seasonal specials such as oden and seafood nabe.
I ordered the udon ($ 8) with chicken (+$ 2) and the agedashi tofu ($ 5.50). Both were VERY generous portion-​wise for the price, the udon coming as a large bowl filled to the brim with broth, and the agedashi tofu presented aesthetically well in a nice dish with 3 – 4 large pieces garnished with eggplant slices. While the udon was not particularly mind-​blowing in flavor, the pure heat of it in the cold weather made it taste like wonderful, hearty comfort food. I finished maybe half of the broth overall, just because there was so much.
My friend also ordered the matcha affogato for us to share as dessert, and it was absolutely ADORABLE, with two mini scoops of vanilla ice cream in a mini bowl on top of a mini wooden board paired with a mini pitcher of matcha tea to pour over everything (did I say MINI enough times!?). The combination together was delicious, but I would just note that the tea literally tasted like concentrated matcha powder in hot water instead of the sweet syrup we were expecting.
Service at the counter was friendly and food didn’t take too long to come out. We were lucky to find an empty table in the bustling food court area, so beware if you’re arriving during prime time.
While the general area is tempting with all of the other food establishments, I would love to come back here in the future to try the curry, a sake flight, or the elusive uni chawanmushi!

Large bento sets worthy of the $ 15 price tag and huge portions for the chicken karage (it does have bones so be careful when eating) Delicious and filling. you could possibly split a dinner set and a side with someone.
Different specials each time. I had the fish karaage, very puffy and delicious.
Complimentary tea,
Bar seating so you can watch them cook if you’re dining solo.
Quick service.
They also have sake flights!

Happy hour cocktails. Check!
A dozen oysters. Check!
Dinner at B-​Dama. Check! Check! Check!
I don’t know how I can consume all the alcohols and oysters and still had a stomach for B-​Dama.
We started off with hot sake to the white tuna sashimi drench in ponzu sauce to the light fried tempura shrimp and vegetable. The nari nair nabe soup was very hearty and tasty. I really enjoyed the flavor of the broth along with the pork, tofu, mushroom, and clear noodles.
Skip the beef tataki. It was very chewy and unswallowable.
Overall, B-​Dama location is very convenient in Swan Market where people can samples different food as well. Great ambiance. Not to mention, plenty of parking in the street.
I hope you give this place a try. Cheers!

After a few years of enjoying random happy hours at Swann Market I tried b-​dama and am so glad I did! The Udon soup is a winter wonder food and I can’t wait to have it again. Perfect for cold evenings. The vegetables were perfectly cooked and the added chicken was almost as tender as the noodles.
I did some side table sleuthing and the sashimi specials looked very presentable. Too bad I only got a photo of the Udon!
Side tip: For Swann Market this is my go-​to spot before $ 6 movie Tuesdays at Jack London Regal theater.

Still miss 1.0 on Piedmont. But they probably couldn’t keep up with all the other izakayas in the area.
Leans more on the ‘soul food’ of Japan. Think karaage, curries etc. I prefer, fish, raw is even better. So I was happy to see they have temaki and for lunch a special sushi set!
$ 12 and you get:
–spicy tuna
–avo
–crab, imitation, if I knew this beforehand, I would have swapped for veg
–marinated green beans, a bit overdressed, but they were cooked al dente
–mixed green salad
–miso soup, with a generous amount of tofu and seaweed
Even though these rolls are cliché, they were still well done, perfect rice, good quality fish and didn’t overdose on the mayo.
Great quality food, if you poke around the menu, you can find some semi-​healthy options. At least it’s portion controlled, right?!?

Loved my meal here today for lunch. I got the Japanese curry, with chicken.
The plate was large and filled with vegetables. The white rice was sticky and delicious. I did not ask specifically if it was fully gluten-​free, but I feel fine so far and places like this are usually safe if you’re avoiding overt gluten menu items. They overcharged A LOT for the amount of chicken I got, which was measly, so keep that in mind when you’re ordering and expecting more protein! (Why they got docked a star)
I love all these Old Town Oakland restaurants! They haven’t disappointed yet!

Time: 7:33pm/61°F clear
Purpose: It was way pass dinner for me, latest is 7pm. Debating about heading back home to eat or what? That’ll be at least another 45 min to an hour. Scrambling for a bowl of phở, ramen, udon, won-​ton noodle soup? What ever! Scan of Unilocal monocle suggest otherwise.
Ambiance: Located southeast corner of the Swan’s Market in old oakland district. Right behind «The Cook and Her Farmer» in front of Hen House. This is a real simple easy to understand joint. You walk up to tripod corkboard menu look it over. Then you head over to cashier pay and grab one of eight stools available, if not yet all taken then sit and wait. Basically a kitchen bar type of place were you eat and watch workers. That may also explain why some of them gives the stink eye look. Place can be loud at peak times, but most of the time its not too harsh. Now if theres no seating, you can tell them to send order to communal table. Make sure to hold on to order number given on spring coil spike holder.
Staff: 4 – 5 workers guys and girls all doing their part. I just dealt with cashier for ordering, payment and receiving food. She does it all, multitasker. Warm services with not much smiles, but we all get days like that. Other workers won’t even acknowledge your presence. Oh well, I’m waiting for my food now…
Cleanliness: Grade A, counter area clean with no debris. Some high stools were a little rocky, but simple adjustment will do fine. Partition glass clean on patron side, but splashes on prepping side.
Eats/​Drinks: Hari Hari Nabe small size $ 12. Bowl came piping hot with steam that makes you feel like you’re doing facial cleaning instead. What I like about the Hari is the house consommé soup. Not fatty looking tasted real healthy. Pork belly added much needed protein and flavor. Clear noodles seems it was the bottom of package bunch with some broken up really bad. All different length never long strands. Tofu was soft and tasty along with veggies, but didn’t care for it. No taste of msg use even when I got home, no thirst. Overall a great bowl to have during those cold shriveling nights.
Main Features: Katsu curry and pork misozuke
Products/​Services: Tori karaage, tonkatsu, beef tataki, pork misozuke, udon, zosui, sashimi, ebi tempura, seaweed/​tofu salad, agedashi tofu, chicken karaage, potato croquette, noodle, side, salad, sushi roll, lunch sets, matcha affagato.
Punch Lines: High energy, dim lights, seats are minimal, pleasing flavors, modest cost, drool-​worthy, well-​prepared, always buzzing, devotees, light bites, zippy service, loud and busy, can’t go wrong, casual and delicious, worth the wait.
Tradeoffs: High prices for a not so formal eatery. Others are around just need to find it.
Final Thoughts: AS B-​Dama is one of those places that you come in handle your business and leave. This was the first time in my life that, I’ve actually had a bowl of Hari Hari Nabe. Nothing special just hits the spot for me especially hopping on Bart after. I’ll be back and try other items as well in near future. Hopefully new offerings will inspired me more to the point of making weekly visits. It’s not quite there for me yet.

Hmm. How to rate a restaurant in a food court? I have to say, I would probably give this experience a slightly higher rating for lunch rather than dinner.
I grew up in Oakland but for years I have not been in the swans market. The market has been converted to a high end food court with everything from Japanese to mexican to organic greens. Great concept but definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. I for one, like to be seated comfortably on a chair with backing rather than a stool. No fault of the restaurants but just the way the court is set up.
The food? Creative and yummy. I must say, I was a lot happier with the old piedmont stand alone restaurant. Too many choices conflicts with the creativity of the dishes. The food is definitely a 4. The flounder karage was the winner of the night. Beautiful presentation and taste. The fish head soup was not quite hot enough but has all the right elements of a good fish soup. The only complaint with food was the beef tataki, bad cut of beef. Last disappointment was that I specifically came for the uni chawan mushi. I showed at 7:15 and they told me they sold out. How? It’s steamed eggs, not otoro…
Overall experience was ok but I prefer a sit down restaurant. If you want a fine «communal dining» experience, you will love this. Be prepared to have your palate confused. Too many choices so you end up ordering from multiple places…
Parking was good considering it was Friday night. Didn’t have a chance to check the restrooms out. Maybe next time. Hopefully B-​Dama will consider a different location soon.
In any case, still worth your visit. Bön appetit. Until next time, ciao.

Usually for lunch during the week, I buy food and take it back to the studio. This past Monday, I was in a terrible mood and decided to go out for lunch. I ended up going to B-​Dama because it has been sitting in my bookmarks for quite some time.
While waiting in line behind some annoying customers, I decided that I was going to order the Katsu Curry and sit at the bar. After ordering and making sure to tip the poor cashier well, I say at the bar and waited less than 10 minutes for my food.
The Katsu Curry was delicious and not too heavy. The pork was fried nicely and the portion was pretty good. Definitely a place I’ll be coming back to.

Now that AS B-​Dama has hit full stride it has grown perfectly. As far as lunch goes not only in Old Oakland but almost anywhere in the Bay Area that I’ve experienced they do it the best. Not only with efficiency and food quality but value as well. You will not find a better lunch for between 8 – 12 dollars anywhere.
Portion size is always above average for whatever you order. Usually a restaurant (especially lunch) that over portions skimps on quality but not B-​Dama. Every bite is quality and full of flavor. Everything I’ve had on the menu (and I’ve had nearly everything) is made with great technique and flavor. The rice here is a great example of how rice should be made. Salads are made with good dressings and bring value to the meal rather than just being plate filler like most places.
The entrees are all phenomenal in my opinion. The latest one I tried yesterday was the ginger pork. Sliced thin to capture the ginger marinade perfectly. This might be my new favorite dish there. Chicken karage, Udon, Wild Salmon are all no slouch in anyway. The pork was a perfect edition to the rotation.
Service is minimal as I mentioned so you are required to get your own water, tea, and utensils. But that’s a fair price to pay for the best valued lunch in the Bay Area.