Our mission is to serve solid Filipino food, and vibrant drinks inspired by the islands while creating a space that cultivates community, good vibes, and brings awareness to the amazing flavors of Filipino food. A pop-up up since 2015, FOB Kitchen has now opened is first brick-and-mortar. What excites us the most about opening our doors, is that for the first time, customers will get to come in a get the true FOB Kitchen experience, from the bold wall paper and vibrant tile, to the open kitchen. We envision hip-hop coming through the speakers, a fun and warm staff who makes it feel as though you were visiting old friends. FOB Kitchen is our home, and we want everyone to feel welcome here.
MICHELIN Guide’s Point Of View
Bib Gourmand: good quality, good value cooking
The dynamic duo—of Brandi and Janice Dulce—is behind this popular Filipino restaurant that began as a pop-up. Tucked into the Temescal neighborhood, the space may be diminutive but it is ingeniously designed—with whimsical wallpaper and a relaxed, island vibe.
Cozy up to the bar while you wait—a situation made infinitely more bearable with a stirring cocktail in hand. The menu is loaded with keepers, but keep your options open for tantalizing specials, like sweet and sour sinigang with pork, eggplant and daikon; or Janice’s Ribs, slow-roasted with coffee, coconut beer and banana ketchup. Suman, a steamed rice cake in a banana leaf, is then served with coconut crumble, coconut sauce and mango for a none-too-sweet treat.
Weekends are brunch only.
ABOUT CHEF JANICE DULCE
Janice Dulce (she/they) is the Chef and Owner of FOB Kitchen. She was born into a large Filipino family and grew up in the Bay Area and Guam. Her favorite childhood memories involve “handaan” dinner parties, where food was always plentiful.
In 2015, Dulce flew to the Philippines to cook alongside her mother and grandmother, learning and mastering the recipes from her youth. When she returned to the Bay Area, FOB Kitchen was born, first as a weekly pop-up, and three years later into a permanent residence in Oakland, CA. Dulce received the StarChefs Rising Star Community Chef award in 2019 and most recently was selected to be a 2021 California Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide. She consistently receives recognition from the SF Chronicle, including Top 100 and Top 88 Restaurants List in 2019 and 2020, and 2021’s Top East Bay Restaurants. She has also received write-ups from noteworthy publications including Forbes, East Bay Express, and Berkeleyside.
Dulce has created a one-of-kind space where lively island vibes compliment an array of complex, flavorful dishes. Where guests may feel as proudly FOB or American as they want, and people of color, women, and the LGBTQ+ community can come to gather for a meal. Dulce is a proud parent of two beautiful 4-year-old twin girls. She loves to attend festivals in her spare time and has enjoyed an 11-year Burning Man tradition with her friends.
