Restaurants in Castro Valley

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – A Hidden Gem Worth Every Bite!

We had an incredible Omakase experience at this unassuming gem in Castro Valley, and it truly exceeded all expectations. The service was a perfect 10/10 — the host was extremely attentive, warm, and made us feel genuinely taken care of throughout the evening.

The food was exceptional — fresh, beautifully composed, and full of thoughtful flavors that worked harmoniously together. Each course felt intentional and elevated, showcasing top-notch quality without the pretentiousness.

And the dessert? Unforgettable. The Hojicha panna cotta was an absolute standout — silky, flavorful, and the perfect ending to a phenomenal meal.

Overall, this place easily gets 100 out of 100 from us. If you’re looking for amazing food, impeccable service, and a truly memorable dining experience, this is the spot. A must-visit in Castro Valley! 🍣✨”

“Yummy food! Big portions!”

“Just visit!! You won’t be disappointed”

“Excellent food … excellent service”

“We had food catered & delivered from them. All the food was authentic, super tasty, well packaged and presented. Everyone loved it & mentioned multiple times. I recommend them wholeheartedly. We ordered Chicken Curry, Dal Makhani, Paneer Veggie Sabji, Raita, Naan, Rice, Salad & Rose Kheer. Rose Kheer was so yummy. Chicken Curry tasted homemade Punjabi. It was delicious. Paneer Sabji & Daal were also very yummy. Spices were mild. You can't go wrong by ordering from them.”

“Everybody is just hanging out having a good time! No drama!”

“Real, honest BBQ. I had the 2 meat combo with brisket, ribs, mac & cheese and potato salad. Best BBQ I have had since I was in Austin Texas! The owner was working hard with the rest of his employees and was the one to take my order. He seemed very nice and was helpful. I work within walking distance so I can see myself becoming a regular here. Canyons is an excellent addition to Castro Valley's food scene.”

“Fantastic Experience at Don Jose’s Mexican Restaurant!

I had an amazing time at Don Jose’s! The food was absolutely delicious — full of flavor, fresh, and beautifully presented. Our server, Natalie P., was outstanding — friendly, attentive, and made sure everything was perfect from start to finish.

Highly recommended to anyone looking for great Mexican food and excellent service. I’ll definitely be coming back again soon! 🌮👏”

“Disappointed in the new seating arrangement, seems like they don’t like it if there is just two people. Only allowed to sit on the side, not at a table. Ignored and slow service, unfriendly. To bad i did like it!”

“Great service. The Staff is always friendly and polite. Best sushi in Town.”

“Today was my first time eating here and I thought it was worth the wait. The chicken cordon blue omelet with hollandaise sauce was delicious as we're the bloody Mary's.”

“We will always go for their Bluefin Truffle roll (see pic) and their Lion King Roll.

Sometime it would take a while for orders to be ready but knowing it's freshly made and they have a small operating kitchen, it's understandable. We are willing to wait cuz it's worth it.

I hope they will be expanding their business soon. 😉”

“I usually come here for sandwiches, however this time I came for the quick dinners. Lucca's has a few refrigerators full of different dishes. I bought the meat ravioli, lasagna, tortellini, etc The meat ravioli was delicious enough for two and it heats up within minutes. The prices are affordable and it great for folks that don't want to cook.”

“Nice atmosphere, pet friendly and delicious food and drinks.”

“Good atmosphere and a good beer selection. Great food but can be pricey. Great breakfast Friendly staff. Can get a little noisy in the bar but that's to be expected. Always a good experience.”

“😋 definitely recommend. Get the vegan Potato, the apple and also the beef for sure!! Their espresso is amazing too 😊”

“This is our secret weapon to getting our daughter out of bed on a school day. Their morning buns, baguettes, quiche, and chocolate croissants are a favorite. Fresh bakery and awesome team working there 👍”

“Lake Chabot is a great place to walk - shorter walks or even the 9 mile very scenic loop around the Lake starting and ending at the Marina Snack Bar/Cafe. Not much of a place to eat through very limited selection - much much less than a 7-11.”

“Best Mexican food in Castro Valley to add to the wonderful taste of ghost food, their owner Doña Rosa it’s a gem, she’s wonderful, caring, so kind and make you feel right at home! Best of the best!”

“I absolutely love this pizza joint. Their pizzas are amazing! My wife and I usually order a pepperoni, or their veggie garden pizza; it's perfection, every time. To boot, over the phone or in person, their staff have always been kind to me and my family.”

“great atmosphere and a very relaxing place to get some work done or fellowship. Very accepting of everyone No judgment just great ambiance.”

“I had the pleasure of working with Natalie & Always Yours Bakery for our last wedding of the event season! Always Yours Bakery has the best tiny desserts, boba, and service! I was initially afraid that we had too many desserts for the guests; but everything was gone within minutes of Natalie setting up the dessert & boba bar!

From the beginning of the planning process, Natalie was responsive, kind, and flexible. As a wedding planner, it is so imperative that I work with vendors who are experts in their craft & get the job done, all with a smile and Natalie did just that. She kept me in the loop prior to the event, arrived on time, set everything up so beautifully, and provided delicious desserts! I especially loved her milk tea + boba; I had about 3+ cups by the end of the night. 10/10 would recommend Always Yours Bakery for a cute, unique, and delicious touch to anyones event!”

“I had a great experience at this Thai restaurant. It has a nice cozy mom n’ pop atmosphere to it. Service was good, I ordered a cup of tom yum soup with a side of jasmine rice and it was very yummy. My friend who I went with is from Castro Valley and they always order the Pad Kee Mao. Super solid option if you’re craving noodles and a bit of spice! This is just my preference but I really liked how they used glass cups for water rather than plastic like how most restaurants use. The only thing that I wish they included on their menu is a papaya salad. I love papaya salad so I was a bit disappointed when I couldn’t find it on the menu. Overall, this was a solid Thai restaurant so I would recommend trying it and supporting their small business!”

“Great owners! I loved this place growing up. I moved out of state but recently visited while in my home town. miss this place!”

“Had time off due to moving to Castro Valley. With having to unbox and clean our new home there was no time to cook breakfast. Got breakfast at Nations in Castro Valley. Everyone behind the counter was welcoming and friendly and even reminded me by name. I ordered breakfast every other morning. 😁The food is so good and for a great price. It’s one of my favorite places to visit.”

“Best.yogurt ever! Love the variety of flavors they have. So good, I go 2 times a week.”

“You will enjoy this place I sure do.”

“Picked Up My God Sister & God Brother From Oakkand Airport. My God Brother Picked Los Molcajetes Fresh & Grill. We Ordered The Beef Nachos & We Each Ordered The Beef Enchiladas. Both Dishes Were So Delicious!”

“Service was exceptional and good was delicious!”

“1st time here.!!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🙏🏽❤️ Great Customer Service, server and busboys are Very attentive, Food was really good…constantly saw them clean tables and floor.. Definitely a FN Really good spot to eat Breakfast or Brunch.!! Given them a chance. Come try it out. I will be back.!!!!!”

“Best Puerto Rican food in the Bay Area!”

“The restraunt is small, simple and very neat and clean. Wait staff is friendly and attentive. It appears most of their chicken is to go orders. This is the BEST fried chicken I've had in my entire life. I managed a KFC in the late 60s when their chicken was good. Not this good but good. I like to cook and have tried various fried chicken recipes. I get very close to The Chicken on Fire chicken. But their chicken is as good if not better than mine and always perfect. I only get wings. These wings are extra large and fresh. The drumsticks are very good and it isn't that I don't like them, I do! I prefer wings as my favorite piece of chicken. The chicken comes to your table hot, perfectly cooked with a crust that that shatters when you bite it. If your a first timer I suggest getting the sauce on the side so you can try each type that is of interest to you. It's best if you let the chef sauce the chicken in kitchen if you know your sauce preference. Its coated better and the flavor is evenly spread across each piece. So if you know the sauce you want just order it with the chicken. The sauce does not bother the crackingly crisp skin.
I always order enough chicken to have leftovers. Just reheat on low power in the microwave (high-power over cooks and drys the meat). It's still crispy or enjoy cold from the fridge.
I was in the restraunt a few months ago and there were 3 people dining on their chicken order. As they were preparing to leave the waiter gave them two large bags with chicken to go. I asked them if they were having a party. They said no they came in the day before while staying in CV, liked the chicken so much they came in the next day to have more and were now taking chicken back for friends and family in Washington state. They laughed that they got 2 large orders hoping at least one made it all the way home.”

“Great spot. Trivia Night on Wednesday’s are a must.”

“My Family and I are new to the neighborhood and We often explore.. We ended up at Papa Murphys to bring home some lunch.. We were just there about an hour ago.. The Gentleman that helped us was so nice.. He had no way of knowing that I’m going through a very emotional time right now.. He was the ray to my sunshine ☀️ I left smiling feeling so lite.. I’m now home enjoying Our fresh, delicious , high quality treat with my family 💜 I will be back and I would recommend that all my friends stop by and grab a great lunch or dinner and show some love.. There’s salads and desserts too..”

“Possibly the worlds greatest cream puffs!! So excited to have them in Castro Valley now inside the Castro Valley Marketplace.”

“We LOVE Knudsens!!! Our favorite!!”

“I had a great experience at Happy Lemon! While waiting for my order, I noticed a young male staff member thoughtfully washing his hands after handling money from a customer. It was such a simple gesture, but it really stood out to me and made the whole visit feel even more pleasant and hygienic. It gave me even more confidence in how they handle everything. And of course, my mango matcha smoothie was absolutely delicious, fresh, flavorful, and just the right balance of sweet and earthy. Will definitely be coming back!”

“It’s hard to find parking in the shopping center but it’s worth driving around to find a spot. They are friendly and make the best coffee. The ice coffees are my favorite .”

“It's kinda pricy but I have to say, I'm at least never disappointed with the main entrees. Bread isn't bad and if you dine in, you have access to more bread. They have a soda fountain as well. I'm not particularly impressed by the dessert plus there's several other really good dessert places nearby.

The service is pretty quick and the staff is super friendly. I have no issues here.

The restaurant is a good size, decent space between tables so it never feels too crowded, even when it's filled with customers. Nice big windows so it feels open but there's also outdoor seating. The space is generally clean, including the bathrooms.

My issue with this area (which isn't the restaurant's fault) is the parking. It's a very popular area so fighting for parking is pretty normal.

Overall, I really like this place. If my family and I need a quick Italian fix, it's our go-to!”

“They are lucky that the pizza is unquestionably the best, because the wait times are always long, nobody answers the phones, and the online ordering doesnt work unless you use a 3rd party application that upcharges 10% for your convenience.

I hope they bolster their staff on Saturdays in the future.”

“My husband and I were craving pizza. However, the places here in Castro Valley have been disappointing recently. We decided to give Villa Roma a try and see how we liked it. We loved it! We ordered a custom pizza and garden salad. Both were delicious. The garden salad was fresh, flavorful, and filled with a scrumptious variety of vegetables. We will be going back soon.”

“everything!! made us the best turtle cheesecake for a Birthday ❤️ it was incredible”

“Service was lighting fast. Super warm and friendly atmosphere. Good for a casual date night!
The thai food here was fresh, hot, not spicy and not greasy. The ice cream was okay.”

“Been going here for almost 3yrs now and still consistent with their tasty food and awesome customer service. Our new favorite is Souvlaki Plate! My 1st grader cannot get enough of it”

“珍珠奶茶Boba boba 芝士奶蓋烏龍Cream Topped ooolong 榴連酥 Durian So 雞蛋仔 Egglettes”

“The hot dog with cheese and bacon is so fire the cheese melted and the bacon is crispy crunchy recommend 10/10 it is fire come and try it at tacos Jessy in Tracy ?”

“Great tacos fast served healthy Food nice people”

“my sunnyside burger was very good next time im going to ask for the fried egg to be cooked a little bit more but my meal was filling...thanx u!!!”

“I have been coming to Burrito Shop for years, decades really, and I've never been disappointed. I've tried numerous items on their menu and have always enjoyed being surprised at how good their food is. Any evening that ends with a burrito shop meal is a good end to the day!”

“This cafe is a hidden gem! The owner's friendliness creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for unwinding with a delicious meal. Their breakfast burritos are amazing. If you're searching for a cafe with top-notch food, friendly service, and a relaxing vibe, this is the place to be!”

“We had the best service! The man went above and beyond to help us. He had a smile and it was genuine. What a great world it would be if everyone gave customer service like him. I wish I knew his name. When I go back I'll find out.”

“Wonderful to have a new Mexican restaurant in town. We dined in. Ample parking. The Quesabirria was flavorful with the Mexican onions. The chicken fajitas were tender with lovely char on the veg. I particularly liked the added mushrooms. The chips could be better, but the salsa enhances them. The restaurant is super clean and the staff is friendly. The takeout burritos are also very good.”

“Your basic place so we tried some basic dishes. Broccoli chicken over rice and there was braised pork over rice.
Sorry for the picture.
We were hungry”

“Stopped by Togo’s Sandwiches in Castro Valley after work and tried their Pastrami cheesesteak sandwich. Super fresh, great portion, and the team was friendly and fast. Perfect spot when you need a quick, filling meal. Highly recommend!”

“I grew up eating here when I live in CV. The lady that ran this establishment did it for 35 years, I'm glad it's still in the family. I happened to stop by for the first time in over a decade, and the ice cream and service were still 5 how I remembered. Keep it up.”

“I had called in my order the lady who took my order was very well spoken she repeated my order so they would get it correct. It was ready when I got there I recognized the lady's voice and ask her for the manger she told me she was the manager on duty. She asked me if there was something wrong with the order.I told I just wanted to let her boss know how pleasant she was talking to something about her voice . She said thank you and asked me if there was anything else she could do for me . I stop coming to this location because of the service but decided to give it another chance because I live so close. Joan made me change my mind about it so for the last 2 months I have been coming every week. Great employee. I only go in there when I know she is working.”

“We LOVE Knudsens!!! Our favorite!!”

“I enjoyed my Hawaiian BBQ. Customer was Great! The Restaurant very clean including the Restroom! I've been here at least 4 to 3 times a month! Enjoyed it!!!!”

“Really good !!! My kids love this place”

“I've been there twice & I enjoyed it both times, I haven't been to the new place yet.”

“FOOD…. They really good… and the service is great. Go and find out . Bulalo is the our favorite. All the food is so good…👍❤️❤️❤️”

“Food are delicious !!”

“General poor service. Milk purchased here often goes bad within three days and long before the expiration date. Manager wasn't interested in why. All kinds of water on the floors from refrigerator and freezer leaks. I tried complaining to corporate but no interest. Out of stock on about 15% of the items I needed but that may be common now days.

I wanted to update my review. I'm happy to say that things have improved at this store. The staff seems more helpful and even a bit happier. They seem to have things in stock now and all the refrigerator and freezer leaks seem to be repaired. I think they put some investment back into the store. Changing my rating from 2 to 4.”

“Who would have expected a really good bagel place in Castro Valley? And yet this place consistently impresses. The service is beyond reproach, polite but professional with a smile. The bagels are great: bready, just chewy enough but not so much that it will hurt your jaw, crisp on the outside. Toothsome, would be a good way to describe them. The cream cheese is always fresh and tasty, Overall, for the area, a very good bagel place. PS Try the crepe with whipped cream and Strawberries, yummy!!”

“Easy chill vibe.

4 pool tables (1.00 / 4 quarters) per play) Taco truck outside

When ordering straight or mixed drinks, they pour heavy.

California cider 7.00 (tap), double honey Tennessee whiskey 14.00

Karaoke in-between to darts and a single pinball machine.

Older crowd, mid 30s up.

Monday night Feb 10.

UFC and games on the screens.”

“One of our go-to boba places! For this visit, I got my favorite fresh taro milk tea and hubby tried the brown sugar boba tea caffe which was good especially for the coffee lovers out there.”