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! 🍣✨”

“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.”

“Yummy food! Big portions!”

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

“Excellent food … excellent service”

“Loved this place from the moment you enter you are greeted. Food comes out fast and hot. Recommend this place ordered the ribeye pho and ribeye and flank and it was so yummy.”

“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.”

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

“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.”

“I couldn't find it inside marketplace, so I called them and got precise direction.
It is winter time, no tables outside, so I took a table between them and a butchery.
Chef's truffle tuna rolls are to die for.
They also have good selection of japanese sake in bottles.”

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

“My favorite Italian sandwich place in the East Bay. They get busy at times, but it’s worth it. The food is good and they are consistent. Parking is easy on the side streets, but very limited in the front. There is a lot in the back too if needed.”

“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 👍”

“I love this bakery! The food is always delicious, and they go above and beyond with the portion sizes. The Arabic tres-leches style cake and the jalapeño & cheddar bread are my favs. The only frustrating thing is that they only have 1 item available for GF eaters and that's sold out every time I go. Fortunately I don't have celiac disease, so even though it does affect me negatively, at least I'm still able to enjoy a small treat every once in awhile and pay the price later. Hoping they'll expand their GF menu soon, and that they'll be nice enough to include a variety of baked goods, (preferably some items that don't contain chocolate, unlike their GF choc chip cookie). I don't know what it is about people who offer GF baked goods that they seem to think we all enjoy eating stuff with chocolate in it. Some of us are very sensitive to chocolate. Regardless, their food is delicious and definitely worth giving a try. And for me, knowing that it's also halal is the icing on the cake.”

“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.”

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

“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.”

“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!”

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

“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.”

“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.!!!!!”

“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!”

“Best Yogurt in Town! Very friendly owners!😃”

“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.”

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

“Service was exceptional and good was delicious!”

“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!”

“You will enjoy this place I sure do.”

“Best Puerto Rican food in the Bay Area!”

“Love taking my family here. Wide tables, perfect for families and friends. This chicken is to die for. I honestly don’t know how they get it so perfectly and evenly crispy while being super moist inside. It’s a true art. Pricing is great for what you get. Fries are also very good and crunchy. The place has a nice and comfy feel to it. Sometimes they have only one person servicing which could be better but most of the time it’s perfectly fine.”

“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..”

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

“We LOVE Knudsens!!! Our favorite!!”

“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 .”

“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.”

“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 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.”

“TOGOS Castro Valley is fantastic! Fresh, flavorful sandwiches and super-friendly service. The staff is quick, and the cosy, clean ambience makes every visit enjoyable.”

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

“Can’t praise Aaron and Jocelyn enough for being so kind, supportive and loving. Seeing Aaron work and serving school kids like his own or probably more love just made me feel so happy and grateful! Love Mod Pizza”

“exelente servicio y muy rica la comida 🙏🏻🌻♥️”

“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 ?”

“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”

“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”

“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!”

“Visited this place for the first time and liked it. Food is OK and the portion is descent. I found the drinks very sweet, and wish there could be an option to add less sugar. Order a chicken salad sandwich that kind of tasted good but had a fishy smell to it (may be due to Tuna being served there as well).
Atmosphere is cozy and is a great place if you need a corner to hang out with a friend over coffee.
Service is fast and cordial- sweet couple running this place.
Will definitely re-visit to experience this place again.”

“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.”

“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.”

“This Philz Coffee is very convenient — and usually is my go-to location as I work around the Castro Valley/San Lorenzo area. I was very excited for the opening of this Philz Coffee, as it has been quite long awaited by the community, and for commuters like me, who work either from the South Bay or the Valley.

They make the drinks quick, and with precision — and are very patient when it comes to the making of the drink. It’s also very conveniently located, as it’s right off the Main Street, which is Castro Valley Blvd.

I usually get my iced coffee rose from this location, and among the many times I’ve tried to pick up via online order, they almost make it fresh on the spot (which isn’t a bad thing — they make the drinks in real-time which I honestly really appreciate a lot)!

I would definitely go back and support more, and even partner with them should a fundraiser idea arise.”

“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.”

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

“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!!!!”

“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!!”

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

“Great Friendly Girls, always make my order correctly and service with a smile !! <3”

“Love this locations. All the baristas are friendly, helpful. Nice when I walk in & they greet by name. Fabulous employees”

“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.”