Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
Smellys, Oakland, CA

Smellys

4.5 (104)
$31 to $50
Creole / Cajun / Southern
2430 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 7 times today

About this restaurant

  • Lively
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
Full Service restaurant that specializes in Soulfusion.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Creole / Cajun / Southern, Seafood, Soul food
  • Hours of operation
    Sat, Sun 1:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Edward’L Wooley
  • Catering
    We cater to all events
  • Private party facilities
    Location is available for daily buyouts
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Oakland
  • Cross street
    Corner of 25th and Broadway
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    19th street Bart station 51 ac transit
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 104 people are saying

Smellys reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Chef Smelly's is a vibrant dining destination, celebrated for "flavors seasoned to perfection" and "excellent service." While wait times can be lengthy, many diners find the "food worth the wait." The ambiance, complemented by "old school R&B," offers a lively backdrop for enjoying standout dishes like "blackened prawns," "crab with garlic noodles," and "fried oysters."

104 Reviews
  1. Niesha

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As always the food was great, and the service was top tier also. The staff is always so knowledgeable and helpful.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Nastassija

    San Francisco1 review

    1.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    waited an hour for our food, when the food finally got to the table our mac and cheese was disrespectfully cold and after an hour of waiting i’d expect my food to be hot. the yams were hard and burnt we ordered an appetizer that didn’t come out until we got the bill. the server rarely checked on us

    Is this helpful?

  3. debra

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food had deep flavors of creole seasoning. We enjoyed the crab especially and the fried oysters that I tried for the first time. They did not disappoint Service was great. Ambiance fits the food. Yes, we will return.

    1 person found this helpful

  4. Amina

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I am never disappointed when coming to Chef Smelly's. I love love love the food. Only thing it is don't come here really really hungry because the wait is long but I feel like it's worth the wait.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Terri

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The staff was amazing. We came 5 mins before closing but they still sat us and gave us excellent service. We got the catfish and chicken breast tenders with yams crack and cheese(mac) and greens. Everything was flavorful and they make it to order so it was hot! Who I’m assuming is the owner came by to check on us and our waiter was great. What really made this a good choice was the vibes. They played early 90s r & b and we enjoyed ourself so much! Great choice!

    1 person found this helpful

  6. Harry

    Sacramento1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    There was little bit of a wait but the food was amazing. I had the Garlic Noodles and Crab. I will most definitely be back.

    1 person found this helpful

  7. Ivan

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Food is always excellent! We had the chicken tenders, fried red snapper, fried shrimp, greens, yams, mac n cheese, and creole garlic bread. Drinks were also great. We got the Unk and the Shake Ya Pom Pom. Ambiance is upbeat. Our server was s bit absent-minded. Will definitely be back.

    1 person found this helpful

  8. Kevin

    Washington DC2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was seasoned to perfection and the customer service from our waiter Christian was first rate.

    1 person found this helpful

  9. Budnie VIP

    San Francisco6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was great from the time we walked in the door, and the food was great! Everything was seasoned and very tasty . We ordered the couples platter with crab, garlic noodles, and blackened prawns. Also ordered a side of mac and yams. We loved the old school R and B music on the playlist. We are definitely going back or next Oakland trip to try some other dishes

    1 person found this helpful

  10. Marion

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 29, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The tables were a bit small. We order 4 plates and it was hard to put everything on the table.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Smellys using the Order Online button.

Smellys is rated 4.5 stars by 104 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. East Bay
  5. Oakland

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 7 times today
Google Map for Smellys

2430 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Corner of 25th and Broadway
  • Neighborhood
    Oakland
  • Hours of operation
    Sat, Sun 1:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Creole / Cajun / Southern, Seafood, Soul food
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    19th street Bart station 51 ac transit
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Edward’L Wooley
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    We cater to all events
  • Private party facilities
    Location is available for daily buyouts
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Businesses
  • Restaurant reservation software
  • Industry insights
  • Hospitality resources
  • Marketing resources
  • Operation resources
  • How to open a restaurant
  • For restaurants
  • For restaurant groups
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo