Despite residing in the Oakland area, I rarely find myself eating here because to be honest, most of the eateries are just not that good or full of drunken undergrads. However, in a sea of mediocre bars and crappy restaurants, Spice Island is well...and island of deliciousness. We have been there several times and even thought the restaurant is EXTREMELY small and usually busy, we've always gotten seated and served fairly quickly. The food is consistently good and their house blend teas are delicious (this is coming from a coffee drinker.) It's slightly off of the beaten path and as other reviewers have said, the facade is quite ugly, but once you pass through the curtain, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Give Spice Island a try. You won't regret it.