Elite Event: Savor Oakland Chinatown Tours

I jumped at the opportunity to take the ultimate food tour through Oakland’s Chinatown by Savor Oakland. I was very excited to learn about the neighborhood and where to go and eat. Honestly I can’t wait to go back again and bring my friends!
Our first stop was Classic Guillin Rice Noodles for a bowl of the house classic noodles. I was really into the chili peppers and loaded up my soup with spice to soothe my throat. This was one of my favorite stops on the tour because the soup was so comforting. I can’t wait to come back here.
We walked through the neighborhood while Carlo told us about the history and showed us around. We learned the secrets of fortune cookies, where to buy fantastic roast duck, the history of Oakland’s chinatown and where and when to go.
It’s hard to pick favorites, but Banh Cuon Tay Ho Restaurant was such a real find and one of our favorites! The food was amazing, great service who went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and a great Happy Hour. Just check out my pictures.
And just when you think you are full, Carlo brought us to Nature’s Vegetarian. The food was so amazing, satisfying for any carnivore yet better and was lucky enough to take some home.
We explored a bit in between meals, learning about the history of the area, certain buildings and exploring the stores and medicinal shops in Chinatown. Carlo is the best host.
After that, we ended our tour at Battambang Restaurant with amazing service and food. A great new find that I will be coming back to. We tried the beef larb salad and the fried banana with coconut ice cream dessert (ice-​cream from Mitchell’s — the BEST). I was so happy yet so full.
I love the Savor Oakland Tours, they are the best way to explore the city of Oakland and the Culinary greats. Carlo is amazing, he has a great personality and knows his stuff. Thank you Unilocal and Nique for introducing me to such a wonderful food and fun experience!

OK, I’m gonna take the easy way out on this review by just copy/​pasting the link to my review for Savor Oakland Food Tours:
But, I’m actually cheesing out for a reason. You see, when you’re Unilocal Elite at a YEE, you’re very likely to get the very best from whatever business is hosting that YEE. It’s only natural that they would want to put their best foot forward for such a discerning bunch as Unilocal Elites.
& that’s what was amazing about the Savor Oakland Chinatown Tours YEE. To me, it felt like we got the standard tour, the same exact tour that anyone could sign up for with Savor Oakland Food Tours. & it was indisputably a 5 star YEE experience. For Savor Oakland Food Tours, standard is pretty stellar.
Thanks NiqueF., a whole lot, for including me in this small group Gold Badge YEE. Thanks Carlo for expertly navigating our group through & around Oakland Chinatown. & thanks Gold Badge Elite friends, old & new, for a fun day skipping out on work.

I’ve always said, «Yelping Ain’t Easy» but, after this event, Im sure happy and proud that my efforts are recognized and were rewarded by Nique F. who truly hooked me up.
A few days before this event, Nique sent out a message that there were some spots open and asked if anyone wanted to bring a plus one. I responded and was able to bring my Dad on our outing.
We met Carlo and the rest of the Elites at Lincoln Square Center at 10 am and then, set off on one of the best Unilocal Elite (Gold) events I’ve ever attended.
Thanks much Nique for allowing me to show my Dad what Unilocal all about. Shouts out to the other great Elites I met along the way and a special thanks to you Carlo for being a great host and historian of what I never knew existed in Oakland.
I would highly recommend Carlo Medina and taking his Savor Oakland tour, especially if you like food, history and the fresh air.

This was a fantastic tour. Carlo is super knowledgeable about Chinatown and its history, and knows the story behind all of the restaurants we visited — who opened them and why. The restaurants he chose for the tour were all different in style, each representing a slice of the patchwork quilt of culture that is Oakland’s Chinatown, and each delicious in their own ways.
Beyond the food, Carlo was able to tell us about the architecture of several unique buildings, and even took us to some out-​of-​the-​way places. Where else can you see fortune cookies being made? And more types of ginseng than you can count? The tour took me to areas of the city I was very unfamiliar with, and helped me learn more about the history of Chinatown. All in all, very much worth it, and one I would happily take a friend on again.

Most favorite Unilocal Event ever. And I mean it this time.
I’ve been wanting to visit Oakland Chinatown for years and have never gotten around to it until this tour. That makes me glad and sad.
Glad that I saved my first taste of Chinatown for a spectacular foodie tour. I’m not one for tours, but this was beyond amazing from the highly knowledgeable and friendly tour guide (thanks Carlos!), a fun group of people, to the fantastic food and business owners.
Sad because now I know what I’ve missed out on all these years.
Oakland Chinatown here we come.

I vote we need more of these Elite events during the week… so I can have more good excuses NOT to go to work!
I looked forward to this event, once I knew I was IN! I learned new tidbits, saw things and ate at places in Chinatown that I thought I’d never get to or even knew about!
I now wanna do the Jack London tour! Can we get an event for that one???
Thanks to this tour I was able to clear some bookmarks!

What a great event, Savor Oakland does amazing tours! This one in Chinatown was excellent. Other reviewers have covered the food and the restaurants and the reviewers were spot-​on. I should have taken notes to know what to order then I go back. All the food we had was excellent.
I want to add that this tour is more than just good food. Carlo, our guide, shared the history and cultural of this Oakland neighborhood. I thought I knew a lot about Oakland. However, I learned a few fascinating facts about this vibrant neighborhood. What are those facts you might ask, I’ll never tell you need to take this tour to find out what you don’t know?

This was an amazing event! Good food, good people. And as someone who goes to Chinatown often, I was surprised by the hidden gems that Carlo introduced us to. Guilin Noodles? Tay Ho? I cannot believe I had never heard of these places until now. And the fun facts helped me feel more connected to the history of Oakland Chinatown.
A great tour that every local should try. Thanks Savor Oakland and Unilocal for a life-​changing experience of Oakland.

I was excited that I got into this Unilocal Gold Elite Event. I woke up a little earlier than usual and manicured my Pet Butterfly Japanese Maple to get into the Mood .
I then jumped into my Whip Blue Thunder and rolled down 880 and pulled into the parking garage at 11^th and Harrison and stashed my Whip up stairs and rolled to Lincoln Park which is one of the more established parts of Chinatown. Its also the Staging area for Savor Oakland Chinatown Tours .
Oakland Chinatown hold a Big part of my Heart and Family History but that’s for another time.
Carlo M is a walking Book of Knowledge and Facts when it comes to Chinatown and its History. He was our Tour Guide and the Founder or Savor Oakland Food Tours .
Our first stop was — Classic Gulin Rice Noodles. We were served a bowl of fresh noodles and the fixing’s and a separate bowl of soup. The noodles were very tasty and refreshing. The soup was savory .
Second Stop was Tom Fortune Cookie Factory. Oakland Chinatowns oldest fortune cookie factory. We got to observe the assembly line.
Third Stop was the Chinese Cultural center. Its one of the few Marble Gothic Buildings in Oakland.
Fourth stop was Banh Cuon Tay Ho. We were served Sweet Potato fritters to roll into Lettuce and Dip into Fish Sauce and Coconut Water very tasty. We were served Hand rolled stuffed Rice noodles, Spring rolls and Vietnamese Coffee. They took very good care of us. This was a Highlight of the Tour for me.
Fifth stop was Nature Vegetarian the owners are Buddhists. They Served us all Vegetarian Food we had Pork Fried Rice, Sesame Chicken and Hot Pot Egg Plant. This was very Yummy Also. The Chicken and the Pork were made from a Meat Substitute Another Highlight of the Tour For Me .
Sixth stop was a Herb Shop with Various Grades of Ginseng which is used in a lot of Chinese Medicine. and other Herbs and Spices.
Seventh Stop was Legendary Palace its a Stereotypical Asian looking building that was built by a Caucasian guy lol. Fun fact
Eighth Stop Bataambang we were served a Beef Larb Salad very Tasty. Then we were served Fried Bananas with Mitchell’s Coconut Ice Cream Yum Yum.
Thanks Carlo from Savor Tours Oakland. Great Tour Full Of Fun Facts and Information and Great Food. Well worth your time and money to do.
Thanks to our own Unilocal CM Nique your a hard one to Beat you Rock !!!
2014 The Year Of Opportunity and New Beginnings !!!

That tour has to be tops on my list for fantastic Unilocal Elite (Gold) events!
I’m Bay Area born and bred but today was the most time I have ever spent exploring Oakland’s Chinatown. Instead of my usual blowing through to partake in a quick bite, Carlo lead us through time and introduced us to many interesting and historical points of interest, not to mention stopping at 4 fine restaurants to sample their gourmet fare. Gastronomy at it’s finest.
Truly enjoyed the company and the experience and will sign up for other Savor Oakland Tours soon!

I *thoroughly* enjoyed playing hooky from the office for an opportunity to attend an exclusive Unilocal Elite GOLD event today.
Carlo M, our tour guide and founder of Savor Oakland Food Tours
, was a gracious host and super knowledgeable about Oakland Chinatown’s neighborhood history, as well as the many fine restaurants.
Our tour included:
Classic Guilin Rice Noodles:
2000 year old recipe for authentic (non-​americanized) Chinese food. Delicious and super affordable. I’ll be back for sure. They do something magical to get that pork skin so crispy.
Banh Cuon Tay Ho
My favorite stop on the tour for sure. The sweet potato fritters were PERFECTION. I would have been completely satisfied with just that (Dayenu!). The bánh cun hand-​rolled rice noodles were mind-​blowing. So good. The special vietnamese ice coffee at the end put me over the top. I was in heaven.
Nature Vegetarian:
I used to think tofu should be tofu, and imitation meat was a mistake that vegetarians make out of jealousy. My previous ventures into faux meat tasted like liquid smoke and salt, with weird texture and consistency. In short: inedible. Nature Vegetarian changed my religion. There does exist faux-​meat that is AMAZING. I especially enjoyed the Sesame Chiken and the Porq Fried Rice.
Bataambang:
Our final stop was an exercise in gluttony in all my favorite ways. I wasn’t at all hungry, and yet that beef salad went down easy, and when they brought out the fried banana with Mitchell’s coconut ice-​cream, I somehow still had plenty of room left.
Thank you so much Nique! This was one of the best Elite events I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying.
BONUS RECOMMENDATION!
We didn’t stop there, but we walked past the bakery that sells the BEST Char Siu Bao (steamed pork buns) I’ve ever had. Next time you’re in Chinatown, stop by Tau Yuen
for delicious and cheap take-​out dim sum. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the line going out the door and down the block at lunch time.
PS: Two packets of salted peanuts and 3 pints of lager is what Arthur Dent is given to consume shortly before being beamed aboard the Vogon ship at the beginning of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I think my references are too obscure.