Our Story

Meet Chef Weyanti “Y” Ahmed

Before she ever owned a restaurant, Chef Y was stirring pots beside her mother, learning that food wasn’t just nourishment—it was culture, love, and legacy.

Growing up with a Tigrayan mother and a Turkish father, Chef Y’s childhood was rooted in good food. Acting as her mother’s tiny sous chef, she would help her prepare traditional African cuisine that fed not only their family, but often the wider community.

As she grew older, Chef Y discovered soul food. She taught herself how to prepare its flavorful dishes simply by trusting her palate and relying on her instincts.

But it was her journey through motherhood, raising four kids (now a proud grandmother of one) and cooking for them daily, that catapulted her into the culinary career she pursues today.

Born in the Republic of Sudan, Chef Y came to the U.S. at age six, first landing in Texas before putting down roots in West Oakland, California. With her beautiful African name often mispronounced, she became affectionately known as “Y.”

In 2019, Weyanti founded Y’s Choice, and the beginning was nothing short of a grind. She cooked every day, selling scratch-made plates, just like the ones she prepared for her own family. She stayed open from 11 am to 11 pm, and she even made deliveries. The only goal was to remain consistent because she knew one day it would pay off…and pay off, it did!

Eventually, Chef Y outgrew her home kitchen and was able to sublease a commercial kitchen space inside a popular Oakland bar. No frozen shortcuts, no canned ingredients—just real food done well, and her name on the wall. The dream was finally taking shape.

Fast forward to today, and Chef Y is the proud owner of a brick-and-mortar soul food sanctuary in the heart of downtown Oakland, serving everyone from generational families to local politicians.

She works alongside her children, and her granddaughter will often make an appearance at some point in the day. A mural of her mother watches over the dining room, welcoming every guest like they’re a member of the family.

Her story is a testament to her faith, which she hopes will inspire the next woman, the next mother, to believe in themselves and their talent—knowing that if it’s possible for her, it’s possible for anyone.