Champa Garden

Was looking for a comforting meal around ~20 drive from Berkeley and didn’t want to spend more than $20. This homey neighborhood spot fit the bill exactly! Service was very friendly and fast. Food was delicious and well priced. The side of rice was perfectly portioned. Also had a nice array of sauces and condiments for those who like a little spice. Was delighted to see tamarind mix and pickled Serranos! We got the yellow curry and the pad see ew as well as the calamari. I would recommend eating the calamari first because it’s not as good when it’s cold. Also I got an empty calamari but it was prob a mistake. My one complaint was the soy sauce; I have a sneaking suspicion it was watered down, but then again my taste buds are particularly attuned to soy sauce quality.

Pad Thai was pretty good, and big portion. Green curry was excellent. Thai iced tea also good, and they even put less ice when asked. Mango sticky rice just okay. Rice was a little dense, but coconut sauce is flavorful, and mangoes were rice. Friendly service

Staff were kind and very happy to explain everything on the menu. Pad Thai was a bit too sweet for my liking, but the salads, platter, and curry was nice! Thai tea was authentic and well-spiced, although not for those who don't have a sweet tooth. Our company also recommended the mango sticky rice!

I love to take out of town visitors to Champa Garden. A trip here is a trip off the beaten path, away from the trendy parts of town, a trip to East Oakland, out of a lot of people's comfort zones. What kind of cuisine is it?? Is it Thai? Is it Lao? Is it Tai Lue? It's all of the above -- a cultural hodgepodge, hard to pigeonhole like the City itself. To further extend the metaphor, like Oakland, the flavors of Champa Garden are funky & fresh! The tables are covered in condiments inviting you to further customize these mashed up dishes. I haven't had anything I didn't like here. But don't miss the rice ball salad, or the Lao sausage. My son swears by their fried rice. Come take a trip to the avenues, be patient if you arrive at 7pm, over order (it's not expensive), and bring a few friends.

Nestled in a highly residential neighborhood in Oakland, Champa Garden is a great local spot with friendly service, great food, and reasonable prices. The place has very homey decor and vibes, and the staff is very attentive and good at making you feel at home. Each of the items we ordered was great. The iced tea was among the most flavorful I’ve had. The basil fried rice is a staple. The spring rolls are fun to wrap and eat. The fish was brilliantly seasoned. Can’t wait to go back!