Lena's Soul Food Cafe--Oakland, CA

The ox tail with yams and collard greens

Our indirect journey to the Oakland Coliseum continued from Ming's (see post below) to Lena's Soul Food Cafe in Oakland. The atmosphere was jovial and from the banter you really got the feeling this is where locals ate. What I couldn't figure out, though, was why everyone else carried their food out when Lena's offered a perfectly space to dine.

For me, the sides were as enticing as the main event. The yams, for example were delightfully sweet, soft and very filling. The ox tail I ordered was good, though I've had more tender tail elsewhere. Also, I struggled to pry the meat off the bone.

Everyone loved Jenny's fish and rice. It was the first to go and it was also the healthiest option. For reasons they couldn't be specific about, the boys didn't quite finish the mac and cheese (perhaps it was the doughnuts at Ming's?). We got a side of fried chicken which was hot, tender and fresh. It was delivered to our table.

Lena's Soul Food Cafe
1462 High St.
Oakland, CA 94601
(510) 842-3510
www.lenassoulfoodcafe.com

Lena's menu