Plenty
1825 San Pablo Ave.
Oakland
Unassuming but delightfully fresh, with pre-pandemic pricing, imposter cocktails (Sochu in place of hard liquor), friendly staff, and a lived-in feel, downtown Oakland’s Plenty brings deceptively simple fare to their shared tables. Their menu is small but expansive within the listed categories, with a host of vegan options as well as a slight Asian flair, with choices such as Japanese beef, unagi eel, a furikake salad, and kimchi as an add-on.
Served in large wooden bowls that harken to the ’70s (or grandparents’ home, in my case), the homey offerings are just that — fresh, home-cooked dishes with no frills but lots of flavor.
My friend ordered the brown rice bowl with roasted chicken added and I the sesame salad, making the mistake of not adding protein for myself. They were both hefty portions, with mine piled high and light.
At the cashier’s suggestion I opted for this over their “crunchy” salad as this was “fresher” and less sweet (the crunchy includes apples, pecans, and almonds).
I am a sucker for a bright juicy salad with tons of crunch and a bit of toasted depth, so this really hit the spot. The dressing was a tad sweeter than I’d like, though my tastes run less sweet than the norm, and the greens were well-but-not-overly dressed, so I think for most folks they really nailed it. The crispy shallots were divine, the sesame seeds both beautiful and toasty, and the shaved pickled daikon an excellent firm but tender texture.
The brown rice bowl was packed full, with soft and sticky grains at the bottom, with bean sprouts, broccoli, bok choy, kimchi, kale, cabbage and a poached egg topped with a chili-miso dressing. The veggies were juicy and seasoned, the egg just right, with crunchy shredded fresh veg to offset.
I had tried to order a grilled cheese to share but was informed they were out (of bread I presume?). So I opted instead for a toasted croissant ($2.50 – maybe the best price I’ve seen in some time), which was precisely as it should be. Piping hot, flaky enough to make a big mess, and containing more butter than 10 slices of diner toast.
After bussing our dishes I spied several bottles of what I, jumping to conclusions, am guessing is house-made hot sauce, which I immediately regretted not tasting. So I suppose a return trip is in order, perhaps to try again for that grilled cheese (liberally doused in the pepper juice).
Plenty is open Mon-Fri 11 am‑2:45pm and Sundays 12 – 4pm for brunch.
