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Theory

Bar · Oakland

Savor Oakland's flavors, where stories unfold

4.7 · 35 reviews Google

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About Theory

Nestled in the heart of Oakland at 1711 Telegraph Ave, Theory offers a unique blend of culinary innovation and warm hospitality. Our bar and dining space is not just a place to eat; it's where communities come together to share stories and savor exceptional flavors. With a diverse array of dining op...

Nestled in the heart of Oakland at 1711 Telegraph Ave, Theory offers a unique blend of culinary innovation and warm hospitality. Our bar and dining space is not just a place to eat; it's where communities come together to share stories and savor exceptional flavors. With a diverse array of dining options, we cater to every mood and craving—whether you're here for a cozy dinner or an lively night out with friends. Our menu reflects the vibrant flavors of global cuisine, crafted by our skilled chefs who bring creativity and passion to each dish. We pride ourselves on using fresh, local ingredients that highlight the best of what's available seasonally. With 4.5/5 ratings based on 101 reviews, we believe you'll find Theory a standout dining experience in Oakland. Join us for an unforgettable evening where every bite tells a story and every sip enhances your night.

What Customers Say About Theory

Theory, also known as Mama T's, is loved for its delicious, well-seasoned food and friendly service. The Famous Fish Sandwich is a standout, with many calling it the best they've ever had. Some find the fries subpar and service inconsistent.

Popular Dishes

Fried Fish Sandwich (14) Famous Fish Sandwich (6) chicken sandwiches wings Chicken tenders

Best For

Quick Bite Locals Tourists Casual

Tip: Order the Famous Fish Sandwich; many customers claim it's the best in Oakland. Be prepared for a potential wait as everything is made to order.

Features

Accessible
🎯 Casual 🛋️ Cozy Trendy 👥 Groups

What to see nearby

Latham Square Building
A 66m

Latham Square Building

edificio

View details
Q136083917
A 95m

Q136083917

edificio

View details
Roos Brothers Building
A 133m

Roos Brothers Building

edificio

View details
Q135999745
A 203m

Q135999745

edificio

View details
First National Bank Building
A 208m

First National Bank Building

edificio

View details
De Domenico Building
A 209m

De Domenico Building

edificio

View details

Data from Wikidata

Explore the area around Theory

Theory is located in Oakland, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.

Parks & Gardens

  • Frank H. Ogawa Plaza (A 229m) — square in Oakland, Alameda County, United States of America

Other Points of Interest

  • Latham Square Building (A 66m) — building in Oakland, California, USA
  • Q136083917 (A 95m) — building in Oakland, California, USA
  • Roos Brothers Building (A 133m) — building in Oakland, California, USA
  • Q135999745 (A 203m) — building in Oakland, California, USA
  • First National Bank Building (A 208m) — building in Oakland, California, USA
  • De Domenico Building (A 209m) — building in Oakland, California, USA
  • Oakland Title Insurance Building (A 211m) — building in Oakland, California, USA
  • The Syndicate Building (A 215m) — building in Oakland, California, USA
  • Central Building (A 248m) — building in Oakland, California, USA

Data from Wikidata

Frequently asked questions about Theory

Theory is located at 1644 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612, Oakland.
Near Theory you can find points of interest such as Latham Square Building, Q136083917, Roos Brothers Building, Q135999745.
Theory offers bar cuisine.
Theory has regular opening hours. Check their profile for updated schedules.
Theory offers the following services: dine-in.
The most recommended dishes at Theory based on customer reviews are: Fried Fish Sandwich, Famous Fish Sandwich, chicken sandwiches, wings, Chicken tenders.
Theory is ideal for quick bites, locals, tourists, casual dining.
Theory, also known as Mama T's, is loved for its delicious, well-seasoned food and friendly service. The Famous Fish Sandwich is a standout, with many calling it the best they've ever had. Some find the fries subpar and service inconsistent.
Order the Famous Fish Sandwich; many customers claim it's the best in Oakland. Be prepared for a potential wait as everything is made to order.
35
Reviews

Theory Oakland Reviews

4.7
35
5★
86%
4★
6%
3★
6%
2★
0%
1★
3%
Reviews (40)
C
Chanelle

Ordered the fish sandwich--immediately recommended to my close group of people. Plenty of fish for the price. The crisp of both the fish and fries were perfect: crunchy and not greasy. The seasoning was bomb.

S
Shawn P. M.

Fast / casual eatery - everything is made to order. I had to wait 12 minutes after paying for a fish basket; another customer had ordered food just ahead of me, which could explain some of the wait time. Mama T. stated 75% of her sales are their famous fish sandwich. Even though I ordered just after 4pm, they had run out of buns so I was unable to try it. The farm raised Basa fish was crispy on the outside, yet hot and tender on the inside. The portion was plentiful. Thick Fries had a light seasoning added to them. To help keep the order warm, pieces of paper were placed on the top and bottom of the cardboard basket containing my order; the food was then put in a plastic bag for takeout. The only place you can eat your order onsite is on the shelf / barstools out front. As far as I can tell, there is no restroom available for customers.

R
Rachel

Walked down to this little spot from our hotel feeling hungry and Mama T delivered. The Famous Fish Sandwich (pictured) is easily my new favorite fish sandwich. My boyfriend got the Famous Chicken and we just can’t decide which is better. Will be returning next time we are in town!

d
d y

Mama T’s Oakland is a hidden gem! It may be small in size, but it’s big on flavor with portion sizes that won’t leave you hungry. The prices are affordable, and the Basa fish is absolutely delicious! The charm of this place is matched by the warmth of the owner, Mama T, who treats every customer like family. Definitely my new go-to spot.

V
Valerie Troutt

Mama T’s cookin’ is a gift✨ her prices are right, and the energy is always love. She cooks to order, it’s always fresh. Get the little sweet potato pie she makes… So good and my fav is the fish sandwich. It’s worth every penny.

L
Lucas Nguyen

Tiny little shop that specializes in quick bites like burgers, sandwiches, and fried foods. I keep coming back for the "Famous Fish Sandwich" - a crispy southern-style fried fish filet battered with cornmeal. The sandwiches have always been made fresh, and the prices are very good compared to other shops within the area.

e
e c

This little place has the best chicken sandwich i've ever had!! Do your taste buds a favor go there!! Also very very friendly!! I'm going back real soon!!

T
Tim Long

Bout time I remembered to take a picture I was already at my last bite 😂😂 BEST FISH SANDWICH IN OAKLAND 💯💯

Shawn P. M.
Shawn P. M.

Fast / casual eatery - everything is made to order. I had to wait 12 minutes after paying for a fish basket; another customer had ordered food just ahead of me, which could explain some of the wait time. Mama T. stated 75% of her sales are their famous fish sandwich. Even though I ordered just after 4pm, they had run out of buns so I was unable to try it. The farm raised Basa fish was crispy on the outside, yet hot and tender on the inside. The portion was plentiful. Thick Fries had a light seasoning added to them. To help keep the order warm, pieces of paper were placed on the top and bottom of the cardboard basket containing my order; the food was then put in a plastic bag for takeout. The only place you can eat your order onsite is on the shelf / barstools out front. As far as I can tell, there is no restroom available for customers.

Rachel
Rachel

Walked down to this little spot from our hotel feeling hungry and Mama T delivered. The Famous Fish Sandwich (pictured) is easily my new favorite fish sandwich. My boyfriend got the Famous Chicken and we just can’t decide which is better. Will be returning next time we are in town!

d y
d y

Mama T’s Oakland is a hidden gem! It may be small in size, but it’s big on flavor with portion sizes that won’t leave you hungry. The prices are affordable, and the Basa fish is absolutely delicious! The charm of this place is matched by the warmth of the owner, Mama T, who treats every customer like family. Definitely my new go-to spot.

Valerie Troutt
Valerie Troutt

Mama T’s cookin’ is a gift✨ her prices are right, and the energy is always love. She cooks to order, it’s always fresh. Get the little sweet potato pie she makes… So good and my fav is the fish sandwich. It’s worth every penny.

Lucas Nguyen
Lucas Nguyen

Tiny little shop that specializes in quick bites like burgers, sandwiches, and fried foods. I keep coming back for the "Famous Fish Sandwich" - a crispy southern-style fried fish filet battered with cornmeal. The sandwiches have always been made fresh, and the prices are very good compared to other shops within the area.

e c
e c

This little place has the best chicken sandwich i've ever had!! Do your taste buds a favor go there!! Also very very friendly!! I'm going back real soon!!

Tim Long
Tim Long

Bout time I remembered to take a picture I was already at my last bite 😂😂 BEST FISH SANDWICH IN OAKLAND 💯💯

E
Erica Onyekachi Nwankwo

what an amazing spot! Mama T will have you comin’ back for her fried fish sandwich. for real! it’s honestly one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever tasted in my life.

K
King Roosevelt

Mama T been serving bomb food for years. Nothing has changed regarding the quality of her food. Always excellent, always made to order and fresh. I will always support her and her family business. A class act.

T
Theresa Bryant

The best Fish sandwich I ever ate, loved it!😍

N
Navie Giordano

Loving staff, excellent value, delicious food. No gimmicks.

C
C.A. FREE

We drove 90 miles to try this quaint spot. All I can say is when the fish sandwich hit my mouth it woke up every tastebud I have. It was an "OH my God" moment. I HIGHLY recommend this spot! Don't go expecting a 5 star restaurant but you'll definitely get a 5 star sandwich!

R
Rita Zulu

The fish sandwich here is the best one I've ever had! We've been coming here since my oldest Son was in the Hidden Genius Project and Mama T would prepare food for them. So happy she made it through the Pandemic! A must go to when you're in Oakland.

S
Sakiya Gallon

The fish was so good I almost shed a tear! I had to close my eyes and eat this sandwich... IYKYK. Best fish I've ever had, I can tell it was cooked with love

W
Wes

Yes, yes, and some more yes! This is one of Oakland’s hidden gems. My favorite is The Famous Fish Sandwich. If I want a change, I’ll grab some good ol’ fried chicken. Man the food is so good, I can order anything and my taste buds are happy. Mama T is a joy to have!! The love she has for the community is obvious! FYI Miss her with the BS lol 😂

C
Cynthia Rivera

Always on point ! I think I have tried almost everything on the menu minus the fish just because I don't eat fish. Never a disappointment. Both chicken sandwiches are delicious and the wings are juicy plump and crispy ! Chicken tenders are bomb too ! I come here at least 2 times a week! Very friendly staff as well!

J
Jazz Baruela

Uptown/Downtown Oakland is growing in dive bars and regular bars with their sprinkle of dance clubs. . . all those consumption of alcohol hankers some food and in this part of Oakland where majority of food places are open during business hours there are few places open at night and one of those places is Catered to You. I particularly was not getting my drink on, however it was getting late and I was desperately hungry. When I saw the sign out I knew I was saved!! The place is very small, like 2-3 people can be inside and their eating area is outside which consist of two small tables with a few chairs. I ordered their fish sandwich combo, which comes with fries; it came out to be a little around $11. Since they make everything to order they told me it will take 10-15 minutes. I know seafood can be pricey so I was expecting a fish sandwich as slightly bigger than my fist because of the more than reasonable price. The price was more than reasonable. The sandwich was huge!! You remember when Paris Hilton did that burger commercial? I felt like Paris in that commercial minus knowing I was being paid and feeling all physically exposed, yeah. . . It was GOOooooOOOoOODD!! Breaded lightly, great seasoning, and ALL FISH BABY!!! The fries were fried nicely as well. Catered to You gets an all-star rating because for those patrons on Friday and Saturday nights after some time consuming liquid courage and losing good chunk of change from consuming liquid courage you get hungry and this place is open into the late night and for cheap. P.S. This place is open in the early evening too so it's also a good dinner before the start of a night out ;)

Erica Onyekachi Nwankwo
Erica Onyekachi Nwankwo

what an amazing spot! Mama T will have you comin’ back for her fried fish sandwich. for real! it’s honestly one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever tasted in my life.

Navie Giordano
Navie Giordano

Loving staff, excellent value, delicious food. No gimmicks.

Theresa Bryant
Theresa Bryant

The best Fish sandwich I ever ate, loved it!😍

Sakiya Gallon
Sakiya Gallon

The fish was so good I almost shed a tear! I had to close my eyes and eat this sandwich... IYKYK. Best fish I've ever had, I can tell it was cooked with love

kia muldrow
kia muldrow

Food was amazing got the fish sandwich and fire!!! Nice and hot however the fries were trash. Service was great and area was coo it was safe! I would definitely recommend and would go back

Kisha Mavryck Richardson
Kisha Mavryck Richardson

I love Mama T's. It is the perfect toGo Spot. The very well seasoned, Fried Fish Sandwich with her special sauce, is my favorite thang. When you're in the neighborhood, grab a sandwich toGo & head over to Lake Merritt to sit, chill, jam & enjoy sandwich deliciousness in the sunshine.

C.A. FREE
C.A. FREE

We drove 90 miles to try this quaint spot. All I can say is when the fish sandwich hit my mouth it woke up every tastebud I have. It was an "OH my God" moment. I HIGHLY recommend this spot! Don't go expecting a 5 star restaurant but you'll definitely get a 5 star sandwich!

Rita Zulu
Rita Zulu

The fish sandwich here is the best one I've ever had! We've been coming here since my oldest Son was in the Hidden Genius Project and Mama T would prepare food for them. So happy she made it through the Pandemic! A must go to when you're in Oakland.

Wes
Wes

Yes, yes, and some more yes! This is one of Oakland’s hidden gems. My favorite is The Famous Fish Sandwich. If I want a change, I’ll grab some good ol’ fried chicken. Man the food is so good, I can order anything and my taste buds are happy. Mama T is a joy to have!! The love she has for the community is obvious! FYI Miss her with the BS lol 😂

Cynthia Rivera
Cynthia Rivera

Always on point ! I think I have tried almost everything on the menu minus the fish just because I don't eat fish. Never a disappointment. Both chicken sandwiches are delicious and the wings are juicy plump and crispy ! Chicken tenders are bomb too ! I come here at least 2 times a week! Very friendly staff as well!

Jazz Baruela
Jazz Baruela

Uptown/Downtown Oakland is growing in dive bars and regular bars with their sprinkle of dance clubs. . . all those consumption of alcohol hankers some food and in this part of Oakland where majority of food places are open during business hours there are few places open at night and one of those places is Catered to You. I particularly was not getting my drink on, however it was getting late and I was desperately hungry. When I saw the sign out I knew I was saved!! The place is very small, like 2-3 people can be inside and their eating area is outside which consist of two small tables with a few chairs. I ordered their fish sandwich combo, which comes with fries; it came out to be a little around $11. Since they make everything to order they told me it will take 10-15 minutes. I know seafood can be pricey so I was expecting a fish sandwich as slightly bigger than my fist because of the more than reasonable price. The price was more than reasonable. The sandwich was huge!! You remember when Paris Hilton did that burger commercial? I felt like Paris in that commercial minus knowing I was being paid and feeling all physically exposed, yeah. . . It was GOOooooOOOoOODD!! Breaded lightly, great seasoning, and ALL FISH BABY!!! The fries were fried nicely as well. Catered to You gets an all-star rating because for those patrons on Friday and Saturday nights after some time consuming liquid courage and losing good chunk of change from consuming liquid courage you get hungry and this place is open into the late night and for cheap. P.S. This place is open in the early evening too so it's also a good dinner before the start of a night out ;)

E
Empress Love

First time eating the infamous Mama T’s and I was totally disappointed. The food was seasoned, too much seasoning nice portions, but the fish was fried a little too hard for my taste and was rubbery! Paid a little over $40 for two fish sandwiches with fries. When I asked for hot sauce, she said 50 cent- I explained I didn’t have cash and had just paid $20 per sandwich. This lady snapped and said I charge my price ! I’ll never go back! Overrated !

Empress Love
Empress Love

First time eating the infamous Mama T’s and I was totally disappointed. The food was seasoned, too much seasoning nice portions, but the fish was fried a little too hard for my taste and was rubbery! Paid a little over $40 for two fish sandwiches with fries. When I asked for hot sauce, she said 50 cent- I explained I didn’t have cash and had just paid $20 per sandwich. This lady snapped and said I charge my price ! I’ll never go back! Overrated !

K
Kiah Hiley

Love the food here 10/10, but that isn’t the issue. It’s the workers attitude that’s not it. Had an attitude with me simply just standing in line behind my friend, she rushed us to grab our orders and I got confused because she had both me and my friends orders in her hand and she got loud with me for absolutely no reason. I understand if she’s busy, but there’s a right and wrong way to handle it. Again, the food is amazing but that women better fix her attitude cause she just lost a loyal customer.

Kiah Hiley
Kiah Hiley

Love the food here 10/10, but that isn’t the issue. It’s the workers attitude that’s not it. Had an attitude with me simply just standing in line behind my friend, she rushed us to grab our orders and I got confused because she had both me and my friends orders in her hand and she got loud with me for absolutely no reason. I understand if she’s busy, but there’s a right and wrong way to handle it. Again, the food is amazing but that women better fix her attitude cause she just lost a loyal customer.

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About Theory

How to get there

1644 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

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Highlights

Highly Rated
4.7/5 stars
💰
Moderate Price
Price level
👨‍🍳
bar
Cuisine type

Services

🍴 Dine-in

Dining Options

🍽️ Dine In

Restaurant Info

🕐 Hours Today
2PM-12AM
Rating
4.7/5
💬 Reviews
35
💰 Price Level
Moderately expensive
⏱️ Typical Visit
People typically spend 45 min to 3 hr here

Amenities

Wheelchair Accessible
🚻 Restroom
💳 Credit Cards
🏘️

The Neighborhood

Latham Square Building

building in Oakland, California, USA

A 66m
Roos Brothers Building

building in Oakland, California, USA

A 133m
First National Bank Building

building in Oakland, California, USA

A 208m
De Domenico Building

building in Oakland, California, USA

A 209m
Oakland Title Insurance Building

building in Oakland, California, USA

A 211m
The Syndicate Building

building in Oakland, California, USA

A 215m
Frank H. Ogawa Plaza

square in Oakland, Alameda County, United States of America

A 229m
Central Building

building in Oakland, California, USA

A 248m
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