Cooking school · Berkeley, CA
Kitchen on Fire
Hands-on Berkeley kitchen on Shattuck Avenue since 2005, known for its 12-week basics series
No ratings yetItalian & pasta · Sushi & Asian · French
- Private & groups
- Team events
- Kids & teens
- Gift cards
Community kitchen · San Francisco
18 Reasons
Mission District nonprofit teaching kitchen whose class fees help fund free food programs
4.728 Google reviewsRanked #6 of 20 cooking schools in San Francisco
Beginners
No experience needed
Birthdays & groups
Birthdays and private parties
Team events
Team building with a chef running the room
About 18 Reasons
18 Reasons is a nonprofit teaching kitchen on 18th Street in the Mission, next door to Bi-Rite Creamery. It grew out of Bi-Rite Market's tasting classes and community dinners in 2008 and is now an independent nonprofit. Ticket sales help pay for its free Cooking Matters, Food as Medicine and Nourishing Pregnancy programs.
Classes are hands-on. You arrive to local snacks and a short introduction. Then you cook in small groups with volunteer assistants, and at the end everyone sits down to eat the meal together. Topics include knife skills, baking and pastry, butchery and cooking from around the world. Recent classes include Basic Knife Skills with Helena Zindel, Tantalizing Turkey with Gracie Schatz and Malaysian Nyonya: Pork Five Ways with Linda Tay Esposito. Public classes run $115 to $195, and members pay $10 less.
Private cooking classes hold up to 25 guests and private dinners up to 36, with ingredients from Bi-Rite Market. Private dinners welcome BYO wine or beer with no corkage fee. Groups can also book online classes on Zoom. The kitchen has a 4.7 rating on Google from 28 reviews.
Known for
- Basic Knife Skills
- Malaysian Nyonya: Pork Five Ways
- Tantalizing Turkey
- Transforming Tofu II: Now with Tempeh
Good to know
- Cancel at least 7 calendar days ahead by email for event credit (less a 4% fee). There are no cash refunds, but you can send someone in your place.
- No children under 14. Teens aged 14 to 18 may attend with an adult on a case-by-case basis, and wine tasting seminars are 21 and over.
- The nearest BART stop is 16th & Mission. Most street parking nearby has a 2-hour limit on weekdays until 9pm.
- It is a shared kitchen. Email about allergies or dietary needs before you buy tickets.
- The classroom entrance and bathroom are ADA-compliant, and other accommodations are available if you ask.
Written from 18 Reasons’s own site and class listings, October 2026. How we write these
Inside 18 Reasons
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Photos from 18reasons.org
Classes
Read from their own listings and checked weekly. Prices are per person.
We can’t read 18 Reasons’s schedule automatically yet. See their classes on their own site.
What people say
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18 Reasons: common questions
Can I get a refund if I can't make my class?
You get event credit only, not a refund, and only if you cancel by email at least 7 calendar days before the class. A 4% processing fee is taken out. If you cancel later than that, you can send a friend in your place.
Can I bring my kids?
Children under 14 can't attend cooking classes. Teens aged 14 to 18 can join with a responsible adult if the chef approves it first, and each person needs their own ticket.
Do I need any cooking experience?
No. The kitchen welcomes every skill level, and volunteer assistants help you through each step while you cook in small groups.
How do I get there?
The kitchen is on 18th Street in the Mission, next door to Bi-Rite Creamery. It's a short walk from the 16th & Mission BART station, and MUNI lines 14, 22, 24, 33, 47, 49 and J stop within a few blocks.
What does a private cooking class cost?
A private class starts at a $2,500 base fee plus $110 per person. It covers up to 25 guests for 3.5 hours. An 18% service charge applies to all bookings, and a rush fee applies if you book within 21 days.
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