This is my favorite restaurant in Oakland! The restaurant is in a warehouse style building with Basquiat style art. They have a DJ on weekends and the genre varies. Overall it's a very Oakland vibe. The service is generally good, though they can get very busy. I recommend reservations for Friday and Saturday nights. All the food and drinks are delicious! The food options are a variety of cuisines, you can come here different and have a completely different style meal, and yet all the dishes pair well together. Whenever I come, I always get the no cheese mac n cheese. It sounds strange, but it's amazing. My favorite drink is the Billie Jean. They also have happy hour all night Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday and 5pm-7pm Friday and Saturday at the bar only.
Came here on a Friday evening for a friend's birthday dinner. Luckily she had made reservations because the place was packed. Checking in was a breeze and we were quickly seated. The venue and ambiance is such a vibe, really loved the candlelight and live DJ. Our server was great! He quickly came by to introduce himself and immediately took our order since we were ready to go. We ended up ordering family style and mostly only ordered appetizers. Appetizers: - Garlic Prawns: This dish SOO good! Really loved the sauce it was cooked in and how juicy the shrimp was. However the dish portion is quite small (4 prawns & 3 slices of baguette). - Guacamole & Chips: Can't go wrong with this classic appetizer! The Guacamole was very fresh, nicely seasoned and paired well with the crunchy chips. - Chicken Wings: Very saucy but packed with flavor! The flavor of the sauce was nicely balanced. - Brussel Sprouts: These were just ok, probably wouldn't order again. We just ordered it to have some greens lol. - Beef Bone Marrow: Probably one of our top fav appetizers of the night. I didn't like the pickles but that's just cus dislike pickles. - Fried Calamari: My fav dish of the night, it was breaded nicely and was so light/crispy. Comes with two sauces but honestly great on its own with some lemon juice on top! - Ribs: The meat was falling off the bone, it was soo good! Loved the sauce it was smothered in. A little messy to eat (obviously) but totally worth it! Entree: - Fried Chicken: My partner and I shared this entree. The cornbread was really good and moist. The chicken wasn't heavily breaded and was fried to perfection, chicken was also juice/moist. The coleslaw was just ok, wish we could've subbed for fries but they don't allow modifications. Luckily we ordered a side of fries so that paired nicely with the fried chicken. Overall, this is a great meeting spot for drinks and light snacks. If getting entrees, just know the portions aren't the biggest but the food is really delicious! Parking is a bit rough on busy nights, there is a parking lot however the lot and the surrounding street was already packed at 7:30pm. Luckily we took a rideshare so we didn't have to deal with the parking. I will definitely be back again to try their other dishes!
Gosh it's been a minute since I've been to Mua. From what I can remember was back in 2019 for a friends bday and I wanted to plan a date night, so Mua was on my mind. So many new restaurants in the town of Oakland which I had no idea. Anyhoot, I'd like to say my experience was the same from the first time I went and we both enjoyed our dinner. No complaint's, and food was great. Definitely felt the same vibe and spacious venue, love they still have a dj and fun atmosphere
Great southern food with great music. Not too loud and not too busy on a Thursday evening after the holidays. The catfish with rice was a hit. Actually everything was a hit and the burger was to die for. I will definitely come here again.
Mua is a gem in Oakland's dining scene, and if you haven't been there yet, you're in for a treat. The industrial-chic ambiance adds a unique vibe, making it a great spot for an evening out, whether you're with friends or on a date. Now, let's talk about the food. The Bone Marrow, is an absolute must-try. The marrow itself is rich and buttery, served with a crusty bread that perfectly complements its velvety texture. It's indulgent without being over-the-top, and every bite leaves you wanting more. The portion is just right, ensuring you can still explore other items on their eclectic menu. Service at Mua is consistently friendly and attentive. The staff is knowledgeable about the menu and happy to make recommendations, which adds to the overall great experience. In summary, Mua offers a memorable dining experience with standout dishes like the Bone Marrow that keep you coming back. If you're looking for a place with great food, a lively atmosphere, and excellent service, Mua is definitely worth a visit.
We stopped at @muaoakland in Oakland, for a quick dinner and I must say that the small plates are as impressive as the vibe. We enjoyed a few standouts that definitely make it a must-visit. The Chicken Liver Pate which was luxuriously smooth, and perfectly seasoned, served with a crostini baguette The Chicken Wings are incredibly crispy outside while remaining tender and juicy inside, with a coating that balances sweet and spicy flavors beautifully. The Garlic Prawns are cooked to perfection--plump and tender with a garlicky, buttery sauce that begs for extra bread to soak it up. The Collard Greens with Bacon are fresh and well-seasoned, a vibrant and flavorful complement to the richer dishes. Those who know me, know that I'm a tough Greens critic but these definitely passed the test! The Bismarck was fruity and sweet while The Rusty Nail was smooth, smoky and sweet For desert, The Pineapple Upside-Down Cake paired with The 10-Year Port was absolutely amazing a delicious burst of flavors in your mouth that you will enjoy! Highly recommended for anyone exploring Oakland's culinary scene!
Came here without reservation right before going to Usher's concert. Place was so cute and actually pretty big,they have some seating outdoor and also upstairs. We did not realize how busy this place can get,host said to try to grab seats at the bar and lucky for us we got lucky and found two. The bar served everything on the menu. We ordered fried calamari for appetizers and we trued their ribeye served with french fries and loved it. Our bartender David made us some awesome drinks that was not on the menu and it was our favorite called naked and famous it was so delicious. We'll definitely be coming back to this placero enjoy the dining experience.
My husband and I got a night out without our toddler! I knew Mua as an Oakland staple and after reading more and a menu once over, seemed like the perfect date night spot. Did not disappoint! The vibe was fun! Romantic, soft lighting, almost dark. Live DJ spinning on the atrium second level. Service was friendly and attentive from beginning to end. Cocktails were fun and fresh! We shared plates and enjoyed everything. Well spiced and seasoned, each dish packed unique flavor. The real highlight though were the pork spare ribs... The meat was fall off the bone tender but had a nice charred crisp you still had to cut through. The sauce had a mole quality. It was thick, heavily savory spiced but sweet and bright with cinnamon and herbs. Left a comforting coat in your mouth. I'd love to know for how long and how low they cook these for! Absolutely yum! We will absolutely be back for more ribs and other delights! Thanks to all at Mua for a lovely evening in Oakland!
The vibe and space is amazing! They even have a room for private events. Loved the artwork and the staff there! The food was decent but sometimes hit or miss. The Brussels sprouts for us just were not seasoned enough and not crispy enough. The wings were saucy and so flavorful! The bone marrow was tasty but the presentation made it more difficult to serve. If it was cut in half it would be easier to scoop out and serve to the table etc. I really enjoyed the no cheese mac and cheese! It definitely doesn't taste like cheese but the flavors were still tasty and creamy! The fried polenta and that sauce was packed full of spices and flavor with just a slight heat. You've got to try the grilled Caesar salad! I'm not one for cutting my salad but the love was definitely put into this salad. The ribeye steak was so yummy with that herb butter and so big it is perfect to share! Now the real star of the show in my opinion are the cocktails! Beautifully mixed and they know what they are doing! The flourless almond cake was unfortunately super dry. I know what you are thinking, sometimes that happens with flourless cakes, but I've had really balanced flourless treats and this one just didn't meet the mark for me. The affogato however, that was perfect. Our server, Justin was fabulous and took good care of us! The staff were friendly and really fun too!