Cafe Gabriela

I like Café Gabriela. The staff is always really nice and helpful and the service is super quick. I love the tomato and mozzarella sandwich with high quality ingredients and bread. The simple menu, tasty food, and fast service makes Café Gabriela my go-​to spot for an easy and delicious lunch.

Great sandwiches and salads. All fresh ingredients. Will definitely be back the next time i am in downtown oakland!

I was looking for proximal and local eateries in the area. Seeing the reviews on Unilocal,I got hooked.
Ambiance
Parking: There are limited parking lots but when in doubt, street parking. So be swift!
Seating:
* A pretty small place so it’s best to grab on the go.
Feels:
* An intimate and subtly vibrant place. The old school music, local art, and fresh smells hooked me. If you’re here for a quick break or to study it has the simple needs to do so but space is extremely limited.
Food:
Pulled Pork Adobo Sandwich (Recommended)
Definitely a sandwich that is one of a kind. The meat was served fresh and the bread was crunchy. The meat was well marinated which made it extremely flavorful and adobo flavor (onions, garlic, vinegar, soy sauce) sweetly salient.
Arugula Salad (Recommend)
A delicious balance to the pork sandwich. Strong greens but the fruits balances the greens to make it sweet.
New Orleans Iced Coffee (A-​Ok/​Recommended)
I’m not a coffee person, I just needed this drink to stay up (I had 2 hours of sleep prior). It is extremely strong!
Customer Service:
Relatively quick and honest. Can’t complain with that!
Overall:
4 stars. Food was delicious and the price was right. The location and service was quite charming. My only knock is when I came early in the morning, the adobo pork was still cooking.
TL;DR Tips:
* Pulled Pork Adobo Sandwich is delicious
* Be sure to call ahead of time, some times they run out due to their popular demand.
* Not a best place to study but moreover for a quick break and grab and go.

I wasn’t expecting this!
I had the famous adobo sandwich. There was a layering of flavors and delicacy to something that is pretty hearty. That takes cooking chops. Yes, it was rich. Yes, it was fatty. Oh lord was it good!
I also had the Lomi Soup. I’m not usually a thick noodle kinda gal. these were perfectly cooked and the broth was nicely seasoned. Could easily make a meal out of the soup.
All in all — I don’t know if I’d ever order to sit down since my office is close… the place is a tad claustrophobic. Don’t care. Just keep making the sandwiches!

I LOVE this place. The tomato and mozz. sandwiches are out of this world. Ingredients are super fresh, and all local. And the service is fabulous. Don’t miss out.

Unfortunately the pulled pork adobo sandwich was a bit of a disappointment for me. It was pretty good but the bread was pretty thick (and on the hard side) I could barely taste the adobo.
I think it would have been much better if they gave you a small bowl of adobo sauce on the side for dipping like you would a roast beef sandwich.
Their soup of the day was really good but extremely oily, very unappealingly so.
Service is friendly, cute spot. Not a bad place for lunch but I’d prefer to eat elsewhere personally.

Great cappuccinos! Pulled pork was top notch. They have limited space so get there early. Definitely recommend for lunch.

Today was my first and last time visiting this café. I work on 7^th street so I like to get lunch from places that are within walking distance. Today I decided to stop by here based upon the Unilocal reviews. I decided to get a half sandwich and a salad. I stood in line for about 5 minutes. A woman walked in behind me and the cashier greeted her by name. As the man finished paying for his meal she ignored me (even though I was standing in line) & assisted the woman. I became upset because I felt that was very rude and unprofessional. I told the cashier that I was actually next in line, & she looked at me then the woman she was helping and offered no apologies. I walked out and told her thanks but I will not be returning. I understand that during lunch things can become a bit hectic but please pay attention to ALL patrons in the future.

This is a small place with limited seats inside and outside. Inside seats face the street, perfect for people watching. No full breakfast here but staff is super helpful to get you something. I got the turkey sandwich in a bagel instead. Drip coffee is fantastic and FYI, there is $ 0.25 extra if using credit card. Bring cash if you can’t spare a quarter.

I ate here for lunch today and absolutely delicious! The people working were very kind and patient, especially when the line was out the door. They call you by name and the half and half was fresh. It was great!

The service here is always SUPER friendly and efficient, which is probably the main reason I come here. Their food that I’ve tried was decent. I normally get their turkey sandwich with a cranberry reduction sauce. It’s tasty, but nothing to write home about. My co-​workers ordered the pulled pork adobo sandwich and were underwhelmed by it, due to its price and size, but maybe that was an off day because everyone on Unilocal says it’s amazing. I am impartial because I do not eat pork.
Check this place out if you’re in the area, if anything because they serve Blue Bottle Coffee here!

Not your typical little café bordering Oakland Downtown, Chinatown, and Old Town:
* Named after a Filipina revolutionary and rooted in the support of social justice, art, and local businesses (evident in the various displays in their shop).
* Staffed by a friendly, strong team of womyn of color.
* Known year-​round for their pork adobo (Filipino-​style pulled pork) sandwich and my personal favorite, their comforting Filipino-​influenced soups during winter/​spring (sorry summer soup eaters… aka me)
* Simple but delicious sandwiches and salads, like the tomato mozzarella sandwich (so good), caprese salad, and arugula salad with cranberries (an extremely generous portion, I’ll add). They usually offer free bread – slices of the same fresh baguettes they use for the sammies – with the salads. I sometimes ask for my dressing on the side, as they tend to go a little liberal.
* ½ soup ½ sandwich, ½ sandwich ½ salad, ½ salad ½ soup combos available.
* Drip coffee from Oakland coffee roasters: Blue Bottle, Red Bay, and others.
I like this place a lot! It’s slightly more expensive than a lot of Chinatown lunch options, but less expensive than most Downtown/​Old Town options. But it’s also something more unique and interesting by comparison. Definitely worth checking out the next time you’re in the area!

Delicious salads and the salami sandwich is delectable. Coffee is pour over and nice and strong. Friendly, if slow service.
The only thing is that the wait for your food is ridiculous (even if there is no one eles there) and the place is tiny. Another thing is that they do not have any sleeves for the coffee cups, which is a little weird.

Nice little café to grab a drink and/​or bite! $ 8 for a pulled pork sandwich that may look a little on the smaller side but is filling, as it’s loaded with tasty moist meat. Friendly staff!

My #Oakland reviews for #NASPAWRC #shoplocal #oaklandloveit
Pulled pork adobo sandwich. #thatisall
well, not really… there’s more. A lot more… but my trip to Café Gabriela was all about this adobo sandwich. And it did not disappoint! The meat was so tender and juicy and the onions added a nice compliment to the sandwich. I liked the french baguette that the meat was served on… it was great for soaking up all the juice from the meat!
The line was out the door, but the service was still on point! So friendly and offered suggestions. Still moved me through the line but made time to hold conversation. The place isn’t huge but offers some great counter seating and a few outdoor tables.
Once you order, the food comes out pretty quickly. The lunch crowd seems to last the whole lunch hour, so come early or a little late to avoid the long line. I promise it is worth the wait!
I ordered a chai tea latte… which was tasty too! Locally owned. Named after a Filipina activist. Good eats. What’s not to love?! I will definitely be back for another meal here when I return to Oakland in November.

Bummed that they ran out of adobo but the soppressa sandwich was a tasty backup. Too much oil though but everything else was on point.

The Café is «Named after Gabriela Silang, a famous Filipina heroine, Café Gabriela strives to keep her courageous and independent spirit alive by making a conscious effort to support and promote local businesses in the East Bay.
From Blue Bottle Coffee Company, our Oakland based roaster and bean supplier, to The Bread Workshop and Starter Bakery, a local bakery based in Berkeley and Emeryville respectively, Café Gabriela offers high quality products from local, conscious businesses.»
Warm and friendly atmosphere. Great establishment that supports local Bay Area businesses while providing the neighborhood with high quality ingredients.
Café Gabriela is a Filipino-​owned and operated gem in Old Oakland on Broadway & 10^th. I first stumbled upon the café while at the Marriott City Center across the street and we’ve made it a point to return each time we’re in the area.
The Pulled Pork Adobo Sandwich is amazing: tender pork simmered in soy sauce, cane vinegar, garlic and bay leaves with grilled onions on a toasted french sweet baguette.
The Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich is simple and refreshing: fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, house-​made balsamic vinaigrette, sweet basil on a toasted french sweet baguette.
Pair some of their deliciousness with a cup of Blue Bottle Iced Coffee for the perfect meal.
Much respect for the conscious effort. See you next time!

I love this place. Staff is friendly and it’s nice to just sit outside and take in Oakland while enjoying a cup of their chai latte.
Also the alfajores (delicious cookies) with dulce de leche are amazing!

Im obsessed with their tomato mozzarella salad :) i always order the usual half salad and half pulled pork adobo sandwich.
The café is known for their awesome coffee but i go here mostly during lunch time. location is right along broadway close to transpacific building and Oakland Mariott hotel. i love how friendly the staffs are. Always welcomy and have upbeat attitude. They get pretty busy but the food prep time is acceptable.
Food are a bit pricey if you eat there regularly during your lunch break ($ 11bucks for a lunch plate with drinks). Maybe once a week is fine lol :):):)
overall i will come back and recommend this place :):):)

Soy mocha is on point, perfection! I really like the friendly and relaxing ambiance here. There’s lots of local artwork around the wall. The fresh concoction of coffee and food is all around the air, you definitely won’t miss it as you walk right outside the half block!
I love the fact that the staff members there are soooo genuine and friendly! It is definitely a great start to any day. Thank you for the exceptional service and coffee, of course!