Josephine

I’m really enjoying exploring Josephine meals — the meals are inventive and delicious, and prepared with wholesome ingredients and passion by individual home cooks. I’d probably purchase one meal weekly, but most meals aren’t anywhere close to where I live (N. Berkeley) and/​or contain foods I can’t eat. These problems are really my problems, not Josephine’s!

I love Josephine! Home-​cooked meals in my neighborhood– does it get better? It’s so easy to go online to see which cook is offering what meal each day of the week. Every meal I’ve had has been delicious, and the people have been so friendly. I truly enjoy the whole experience and look forward to seeing Josephine expand even more. My favorite meal has been Katie M.‘s chili. It was loaded with veggies and was super delicious!

Great cooks, great community, great experience! Can’t wait to try more of these meals and meet new people.

I’ll start by saying that I like the concept, the people are super nice, and the food is superrr tasty. Personally, I’m not sure if I would resort to Josephine often though. Maybe if my finances weren’t on such a tight budget, I would use it more.
Flavor of the food: ⁵⁄₅ stars. I had Krystle’s Deep South smothered chicken topped with gravy, with peas, bacon, and pearl onions on the side. Ummm, yum! Krystle, if you’re seeing this, can I have this recipe??? I’m drooling thinking about it. The chicken was incredibly tender, and the flavor of the chicken was amazing and full of depth! I did notice that the food was a tad bit on the oily side, and there was a lot of oil on the edge of the container and lid as well, but hey, I’m down to swallow a few more calories for that chicken rice and gravy anyyyytime. A couple weeks ago, my friend ordered from I think Elaine her mochi chicken adobo with garlic greens on the side? THAT meal was ALSO bomb!!! (Hi can I have the recipe for that too!!! Hehe)
Portions: ²⁄₅. Don’t boo me just yet. Yes, I’m an Asian girl, and yes I look small ish, but I eat a LOT. My boyfriend and I have been dating for almost 2 years now, but he still looks at me with awe every time we eat because graze the entire table. I wish that I had gotten more of everything: more meat, more rice, more peas and bacon. Maybe the container the food is served in is too small? I got one chicken drumstick and one piece of just the skin of the drumstick. Honestly, if the amount of food in the container was plated, I think it would be enough food for an average elementary school kid. This meal was priced at $ 9, which I would say is average meal price, but not cheap for sure. I’m on a budget, and I would rather pay for one meal and have enough food to keep me full-​ish till I sleep (it’s 11pm right now and I’m ravenous, and I didn’t even work out today!). If the other meals are $ 11 – 12 dollars but equal in portion size, then that wouldn’t work for me. If you don’t eat as much as me or have the luxury to afford 2 portions, then by all means, eat from Josephine’s all the time! Let’s just say that after I finished my food (couldn’t resist), I sat there wishing that I was Krystle’s friend so that I could get invited over to her house for potluck and eat friend– sized portions until a food coma ensued.
Concept: ⁴⁄₅ stars. When I opened the door, it really did feel cozy, like I was entering into a warm home, full of laughter and good music. I wouldn’t recommend Josephine to people who are more of the «grab and go» type of people. When you pick up the food, there will most likely be other customers or people there, and you’ll have to mingle with at least the cook as she/​he is packing up your food.
(I posted a picture of the meal– take a look! Mmmm so good)

Excellent food, «home-​cooked» in your neighbors’ kitchens! Does it get better that that?! I’ve tried a number of Josephine’s cooks in Emeryville and Oakland — they’re all great.
BUT, my favorites are Hai’s Vietnamese meals using his original recipes that he brought with him to Emeryville just 18 months ago from his home town, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
MAJOR YUM!

As a working parent with 4 boys, it is a challenge to get a healthy meal on the table every night.
has been a great find. Buying a home-​cooked meal from someone in my neighborhood, the next best thing to cooking myself. I have a number of options close to my house and there are unique menu options. The food has been delicious for better pricing than most restaurants.

Novel concept with extraordinary food every night of the week… And a lot of the cooks are right in my neighborhood!
There are obviously lots of great food options in Berkeley but nothing beats a home-​cooked meal when I don’t have time to cook myself. I’m a HUGE FAN of Lisette’s cuban food– my personal favorite is her amazing shrimp ceviche, but i’ve also had her Cubano sandwiches and pork stew. Can’t go wrong!

My wife and I recently moved from San Francisco to Oakland with our two-​year-​old son. We love healthy and simple home-​cooked food, but don’t always have time to prepare it, and dining out is more challenging with a toddler in tow. When we found out about Josephine we knew we had to try it. We’ve only had two meals so far but they were both delicious, and it was great to meet the cooks right in their own kitchens. I could see this becoming a regular thing. :)

I have had a lot of fun trying new dishes by cooks by me through Josephine. I was sick of ordering from restaurants not knowing what they were adding to my food. I have enjoyed all of the meals I have gotten and love the sense of community it brings. Special shout out to Kristin who makes delicious healthy food that I am obsessed with!