I can see this place getting ridiculous busy with long wait times. Fortunately, on my visit, around 2:30 in the afternoon, it wasn't too crowded. A couple of people sitting at tables. Another couple who walked in just before me but stepped back to negotiate the menu. I wanted to sample a variety of dishes, so I ordered four items to go. Cole Slaw - 4 - Not super sweet like some places. Theirs had a spice that I liked but couldn't figure out. Spicy Salmon Poke - 4 - The Salmon tasted fresh, but the spicy was SPICY! The pieces of fish are com in a small dice. Very palatable but sweat inducing for sure. The Tobiko on top added a nice crunchy texture. Unfortunately, the other two Poke dishes on offer are both Shoyu based, and I've developed a taste for the Wasabi Ahi Poke sold a major big box store. The portion was appetizer sized. Deep Fried Seafood Combo - 4 - Three smaller pieces of fish; six pieces of shrimp; three oysters and some crinkle cut chips. This also came with two lemon wedges and two small cups of tartare sauce. Everything on this combo is okay. I prefer Haddock or Cod. Nice thick pieces of fish that you recognize as being fish fillets. I didn't ask what kind of fish was being served but it was very flat and somewhat overwhelmed by the batter. The shrimp were good because you could eat the whole thing, the tail had been removed. The oysters were great. I usually don't eat the fries and when I remember, I ask to sub them with anything else. This time, I forgot. Clam Chowder - ? - Sorry, we're all out. (sigh!) I guess this will have to wait for another time. Overall, not the best. Certainly not the worse. Wait time seemed longer that I had expected. Kudos to them for having restaurant pagers that vibrate and make noise, so everyone doesn't have to stand at the counter waiting. As they figure out their systems, hopefully they'll more dishes to the menu and perhaps different sizes to the poke. The staff was nice. I'd be game to give them another go. read more

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Soft opening weekend! I was excited to check out Basa because I used to go to the SF location frequently when I worked out there. Sadly, my enthusiasm quickly turned to disappointment. When I was in line, I was extremely put off when one of the staff members walked up to would be customers mentioning that if we write them a fake five star review BEFORE placing an order and obviously before even trying any food, we would receive a 10% discount! As you can see with all the one or two sentence reviews here, many people took them up on this offer, but I don't play that game! I just walked off after letting them know how unethical this is. I already sensed something was a bit fishy (no pun intended) with sooo many reviews posted after only one day of operation, and an artificially high score. However, my acquaintance still wanted to give them a try, so she went back in by herself. Unsurprisingly, she was not offered the deal (because a certain somebody told them off), and she just paid full price for her Poké. Of course, I was still curious, so I tried a bit of it. If not for the previous interaction, I would give the food alone a solid four stars, but as a whole, I'd grant them a very generous three. The shop is also not that large. It's more of a barebones café style setting, with limited seating. Parking is also a mess, with vehicles spilling onto Castro Valley Blvd., but that may be alleviated once it gets less hectic. Only time will tell if I will return or not. We'll see how things fare once Hokkaido down the street opens up. read more

Basa Seafood Express - One thing I did not appreciate is that they asked me to write a Yelp review BEFORE I even ordered in exchange for 10% off! I told them no. - Poke Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I was so excited to see that Basa is opening a location on the East Bay! Don't get me wrong, if you're going to poke it's still a great spot and the fish was flavorful and fresh. The spicy salmon poke deserves 5 stars. Definitely spicy and best eaten with rice. For $8 it'll hit like Foodland in Hawaii. If you're not ordering the spicy salmon poke, you're likely in for disappointment. The shoyu salmon is a bit bland. We also tried the fish and chips for our son and he wouldn't eat it. When I tried it I found it to be dry and over cooked the fish was too thin and therefore not juicy inside. my BIL wanted the chicken teriyaki and omg the portion was so small for $13! See pic. Overall a good spot if you want poke but everything else on their menu leaves much to be desired. read more

Basa Seafood Express - Spicy salmon poke $8 - Poke Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Came during soft opening on friday night. Not a super long line. The fish was super fresh & delicious. We liked the spicy salmon the most. Fish and chips were bad so don't get that. Next time we want to try clam chowder and ceviche. Improvements: show what you actually have on the menu or have a sold out sign indicating what's sold out read more

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Fish was loaded with salt and pepper to kill the taste. It was dry and nasty. I ate half and thru the rest away. First time I ate there it was good the second time was bad. Won't be back. read more

A nice little hole in the wall for your poke fix. I don't eat raw fish but my friend ordered the salmon poke style mix and the salmon shoyu. You can make it a meal and it comes with rice, seaweed salad and a water. We also go the squid salad and a small clam chowder. Kind of comparing it to Alicia's in Hawaii, but my friend said the salmon is even better. The squid salad was okay, nothing near Alicia's Tako salad. And the chowder was good but not the best. read more

Basa Seafood Express - Poke Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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I'm so glad I finally got to try it! I've heard so many great things about their original location in San Francisco that is quite popular. Now that they've opened another spot in Castro Valley, it's much more convenient for East Bay folks like myself. The new location is really cute, with plenty of parking, and it's right in the heart of downtown Castro Valley. They're currently offering a buy one, get one free deal until 5/25 for their soft opening! Also, keep in mind that their poke price is only for the fish and it doesn't include rice. I made a rookie mistake by not knowing that! I would order the #1 poke combo next time. Overall the poke is not bad but the portion is kind of small. Be careful with the lids because it isn't secured on that tight. It spilled inside the bag once I got home :( read more

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I was excited to see Basa Seafood Express open in Castro Valley after following their updates on Instagram. I've been wanting to try it since their original location in San Francisco has such a good reputation. There's a small parking lot on the side which is convenient, but I can imagine it filling up quickly during lunch or dinner. The customer service was great. Everyone was friendly and helpful. I ordered the grilled fish salad and a large clam chowder. The fish salad was the highlight. It was fresh, flavorful, and packed with way more veggies than it looked like at first. The dressing had a unique taste, kind of like miso with maybe a bit of fish sauce to give it that extra umami. It was a great value and I would definitely order it again. The clam chowder was decent but nothing special. I've had clam chowder all over the Bay Area, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Pismo Beach, so I've had a range of styles. This one was on the thicker side, but it was missing that rich, buttery flavor I usually expect from that kind of base. I probably wouldn't order it again. They also offer poke, but only in spicy salmon. I'm more into tuna, so I passed on that. Overall, I would come back for the salad. It's fresh, filling, and affordable. But unless they expand the menu or rotate some options, it's not a place I'd visit regularly. read more

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Loving seeing all these great new eateries pop up in my hometown, and this on took over the former Dell Cafe. Basa offers a nice variety of seafood snacks at very reasonable prices, so before you balk at the serving sizes, know you're getting a great value for the price. I had no expectations going in, but if I had, they would have been met. The only item I would not repeat was the scallop burger, which I was kind of skeptical about in the first place. Quality and flavor were fine, but the breading came off and there just wasn't enough protein. I'd say it will probably see a lot more take out than dine in, but there is ample space if you do decide to chow down on site. All in all, friendly service, and great value for quick and tasty seafood meals. read more

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I was so excited to try this place, I drove by during their soft opening and wish I was standing in line! I finally made time to come out and see what was going on and man was I so happy I did! The food was absolutely delicious! For the price and portions, you'll leave feeling totally satisfied and not over filled. It's great! Their seaweed salad is so yummy compared to other poke spots I've tried and their fish ceviche was so fresh and delicious. I bought 2 fish ceviches and saved one for the next day and it was still just as delicious! No weird smells or fishy taste, everything was great fresh and very yummy. The service was good too! Nice gal at the register taking orders, we waited about 5-7 minutes for our order before it was ready. My poke combo meal came with rice, seaweed salad and a water! It was great! The ambiance is good too. Feels very homey inside, mom and pop type of vibe, nothing fancy which is not a deal breaker for me! They have a restroom that you need a key for which is great! A lot of customers coming thru when I went in with my family the other day. Great to see a lot of us out to support local business. Keep up the great work guys!! read more

Basa Seafood Express - Shoyu salmon and fish ceviche - Poke Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Basa seafood express deserves a solid 4 stars after my recent visit. I could tell they've worked out most of the kinks and the business is flourishing, despite the other Japanese market opening nearby. We ordered the salmon poke combo and the tuna poke. Service was very efficient and the portion sizes were much better compared to their soft opening. Everything tasted fresh. The prices cannot be beat given the amount of food and quality you are getting. Keep up the good work! I can't wait to come back to try other stuff on their menu, especially when they start serving sushi. read more

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Came in on Memorial Day and got a few things to go. The gentleman at the counter taking order was nice. He was telling every customer they will received a 10% discount for their soft opening. Small place with about 6 to 8 small tables. Spicy Salmon Poke was average, nothing special but the salmon tasted fresh. Shoyu Salmon & Shoyo Ahi Tuna Poke, both were average, the Shoyu Sauce was pretty and the fish was fresh. Seafood Fried Combo came with Fish, Shrimps & Oysters with Fries. The fries had more seasoning than the seafood. The fish was cooked, dried and flaky. I have never been to a poke restaurant that charges extra for ginger and wasabi. Major turn off for me!!! read more

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Delicious pink lady roll! Drove by and happened to see this place. Stopped to get a snack. Lots of choices at a decent price. Plenty of rolls and bowls and sides. Cashier was friendly and informative. Cute little place with tables to dine in. Coming back next time for fish and chips! read more

Basa Seafood Express - 212. Pink Salmon Roll - Poke Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Long line for the first day of opening!! At 11 am there was a line, until 5 pm!! They are offering buy one get one for grand opening weekend on Salmon Poke. 10% off for students and first responders! What a nice addition to the community! Small corner spot, with a decent amount of parking! Excited for Basa to be here. Same as in SF!! read more

Basa Seafood Express - First day line! - Poke Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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I really wanted to like this place, just very underwhelmed with the food I ordered. Went in midday, not crowded at all. Ordered the salmon teriyaki w/shrimp, and it was bland and it was 3 little pieces of salmon and 4 shrimp with rice. Just not motivated to go back and try something different. Staff was nice enough... read more

Have been wanting to try this place for a little while, finally got a chance to go for lunch! I ordered online and they were pretty quick to prepare my order in time for my lunch break. Definitely a small parking lot so if you're planning to be in & out, it'll depend if you can snag a parking spot. Other than that, the service is very quick and friendly. The poke was spicy enough that I didn't need to add more sriracha and the fish tasted pretty good, texture was firm not too squishy, not super fishy. I would definitely want to try more form the menu read more

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Really decent poke for how fast and affordable it is. It's a small place mostly for just take out, but the quality doesn't miss . I got the hamachi roll and spicy salmon poke combo to share and my food came out super quickly and it was really good. Always a place I'd stop by whenever I'm in CV! read more

Basa is so incredibly good. I used to go to the one in SF when I lived there, this newer one in CS is just as good. Perfect, affordable and super fresh. read more

Cute small place with decently priced seafood. Good for to go, but there's also several tables for dine in. They got lots of options like sushi rolls, poke, and seafood burgers. I got the shoyu salmon poke and the salmon sashimi and it was pretty good. The salmon poke combo also comes with water as well. read more

Basa Seafood Express - Shoyu Salmon Poke - Poke Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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The food is tasty but I wish the portions were better it is so tiny. If I were to clump it up into sashimi I'd prob get 5 pieces of sashimi total. The price is good which is nice but just wish there were bigger portions read more

Basa Seafood Express - Salmon - Poke Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Service and food was nice. Value was just okay. I won't be coming back, honestly. For 2 people, we bought 2 poke combos and then shared 1 plain tuna poke for extra protein. For the same $30 and what you get, I'd rather go to a poké place where you can build your own bowl. Bigger portions, more options (such as crab mix, salad instead of rice), more sauce, toppings, and it all comes with your purchase. You don't pay extra for ginger. read more

My husband came here today and bought California sushi roll bentos and California sushi and spicy tuna roll bento to go. I just tried the spicy tuna roll for dinner, it is delicious! My son ate the California rolls super fast in minutes. I can't wait to go there and see what else to buy and try. I will be back! read more

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Stopped by basa seafood express for lunch and got the spicy salmon poke. The price is reasonable, although I thought there would be more fish in the box. The amount of fish was only enough to cover the bottom of the container. There is a $10 minimum amount to use credit card. The fish is fresh and service was great. This is a great place to grab a quick lunch or dinner. There was a good amount of seating at the restaurant. Looking forward to try more items off the menu. read more

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We decided to give Basa Seafood Express a try under the guidance of a friend. And compared to a nearby similar fast casual seafood restaurant, the prices here are much more reasonable, and there was no doubt that even with a bit of a drive from where we live, it was going to be worth a try. Located in an unassuming street front location with a decent sized parking lot on the side, Basa Seafood Express is a no-frills, mostly take-out stop for more than just your usual fried seafood stop. Surprisingly, they offer a number of sushi rolls, fresh poke, and other traditional Japanese accompaniments such as miso soup and rice. There is nothing fancy about this place. During our 45 minute stay here, as we also chose to dine in with just 30 minutes left before their early 7:30 pm closing time (on a Saturday!) the continuous flow of customers were all for takeout pickup orders. For our group, we ordered the five piece fish and chips, miso salmon poke, the Sunset roll, and the Lion King roll. Despite just the steady trickle of pickup orders to go, our order of four items took 22 minutes to be exact. Fortunately, whom we believe to be the owner, we were allowed to stay past closing time to consume our dinner. The sushi rolls and poke were very fresh and of decent portion. The only minor issue we had with the Sunset roll was that the eel was practically invisible to our naked eye, and it wasn't until I brought the roll back up to the front counter did the owner show me where it was tucked inside the roll. So despite the almost negligible amount of eel in this Lion King roll, I was pleased that the salmon on top of the roll was a decent amount. The fish and chips was not with your typical batter, so it was slightly underwhelming and maybe even disappointing. It was almost like a Southern Louisiana fish fry batter, so we may not reorder this on a future visit and instead try something different. Our entire meal was just over $50 with tax included. We love the value and don't mind the bare-bones dine-in experience. The interior probably seats no more than 14 and total, where most tables are for two people; although it is very easy to put a few tables together for a slightly larger party. Service was adequate from our front counter order to our order pick up. In fact, the owner did apologize for the confusion we had with our Lion King roll. One more tip - they do not offer conplime tary water. So unless you prepare in advance and bring your own water, you'll need to purchase drinks. Nonetheless, I look forward to a future meal experience here. read more

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Probably a 3.5 rounded up. After seeing lots of hype online, my family and I decided to check out Basa for a quick lunch. It's located right off the main road in Castro Valley with a decent size parking lot. The shop itself is pretty small with enough room for their register and food displays along with a handful of tables in the back. They've got quite an extensive menu of seafood choices (mostly poke and sushi) along with a rice bowl or two for meat eaters like me. If you're getting poke, you'll pretty much get it immediately because they have everything portioned and ready to go. Rolls may take a bit more time and the cooked items will have you wait maybe 10 min. I went with their garlic shrimp rice plate: lots of rice, a handful of shrimp (could've been more garlicky in my opinion) and some veggies. Overall, just ok and probably wouldn't go out of my way for it. But it's an easy lunch for $12. My family got an assortment of poke and rolls. Their opinion was that it wasn't the best poke, but it was a good enough offer for the price point ($8 per order). I'll still return to try maybe some fried options on the menu and it'll be convenient if the fam is every craving poke again. read more

Basa Seafood Express - Poke Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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I've been waiting to try this place and finally did. I got the pokey, crab burger, and fish and chips. The place is quite small. You walk into a counter and there are a few seats and small tables inside. My favorite was the crab burger my least favorite was The fish and chips. The fish and chips were pretty dry and too thin for my liking however, the crab burger was a pleasant surprise. I really appreciated the overall taste and pricing. Overall, I would probably come back if I needed something quick and local . read more

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Picked up some nigiri, fish ceviche, and fish and chips. Got the tuna, salmon, hamachi, and eel nigiri. Fish very fish and fair size pieces. The hamachi melted in the mouth. The fish and chips were a bit dry, but I appreciated that the fish was not dripping in oil and covered in grease. The ceviche was ok, really bland, for me, I need to add more lime juice or something. Did not try the poke but will be back to do that. Also got their catering menu, prices seems fair for party platters. read more

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Came here on a Saturday afternoon and it wasn't busy, I got the salmon shoyu poke and an unagi roll for my boyfriend. The salmon poke was super fresh and the portion was hefty for $8. I wish I had gotten 2 instead as it was so good and melts in your mouth. My boyfriend said the unagi roll was also really good as he liked the unagi sauce and the added cucumbers and avocado in the roll. read more

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Food was hella good! We got the: - spicy salmon combo, salmon tasted super fresh!! - clam chowder, tastes so good and home made. - seafood combo, tastes great with lemon and hot sauce. oyster pieces are a nice big size! Overall great experience, food tasted very fresh. And my biggest thing was that the seafood combo/fried piece did not taste too oily like other fried fish places. Some places taste like they don't change their frying oil, but this place did not taste like that at all. read more

A great addition to Castro Valley! Their salmon poke is fresh, flavorful and a great option for a quick to-go meal. However, their fish and chips were just okay. They also offer sashimi filets and sushi rolls, which looks really promising. Can't wait to come back and try those next time. read more

New place that opened up. They have sushi and poke bowls, when you order the Poke bowl you have to build it yourself and the portion. It's good poke and the rolls are kind of pricy for the number in a roll. They can get busy and there can be a wait sometimes. Been there twice. There is many tables to sit down and eat as well, but can be crowded at times. read more

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First time here . Fish was fresh , the price was decent for what we got ! Clean open space . We got the meal deal . I wish I was able to add toppings to my poke I think it would have made it better with having more greens read more

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We thought the concept was great - Hawaiian style poke and other sushi items for affordable price. After spending at least $40 and still being hungry, we were left underwhelmed. The ahi tuna poke was definitely not fresh but the sauce that it came with was good. Tasted a bit old. The salmon in the spicy sauce was decent - maybe the sauce masked the freshness of the fish. We made one of the fish item a meal which came with bottled water and rice. That's it... I would save the few extra bucks and skip it the meal upgrade. The sauce was tasty though. We also got a California roll which was good, small portions though. The ceviche was the best item we tried for $7 a cup. Very tiny cup, wish more came with it! Overall it was an OK spot, just sad we were full after spend a good amount. Parking lot had good amount of parking. It was really hot inside the shop, they need to crank up the AC if they're going to serve fresh fish in there. read more

Tables could be cleaned more often. 3 of 5 tables available at 2:30 pm and all dirty Also please ask if we are planning to dine in or eat out so as not to use extra plastic Sushi now available We got 3 rolls. Rock and roll, Negihama, unagi. Negihama -- should have green onion. It did not. Totally bland Rock and roll -- bland. The fish is fresh but there is no seasoning or flavor here Unagi roll- small unagi portion. Sauce makes it all taste good Fish is fresh. I think if you want some poke, or burgers it's 4 star but for general sushi rolls 3 star. read more

Ordered spicy salmon, soft shell crab burger and calamari tentacles. All was very tasty. Will be back for more, especially the tentacles. Yum read more

I came here during their soft opening weekend - Sunday (last day for their bogo special). The line was out the door but it moved pretty fast. I only ordered the bogo deal to try out their salmon (shoyu salmon poke and spicy salmon poke) + seaweed salad. The order was small but it was fresh. I would not order the seaweed salad as it was $6 and a very small portion. Since I didn't order any fried stuff, my order was fulfilled quickly. Space is small inside so I would not recommend you eating here as there are only a few tables. There is a parking lot for customers, but it is fairly small. The cashier did not seem very welcoming but I assumed it's because it was the last day of their grand opening special. She did not say hi or thank you after ordering. :/ read more

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Everytime I order on DoorDash or pick up in person. The fish is always fresh, food is always good! Service is fast. Staff if amazing and helpful. I decided to call in and thank her myself for the meal I got today through DoorDash. I'm glad we have this here in CV. Love this food! Thank you Basa J. read more

Basa Seafood Express - Poke - Poke Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Welcome to the better side of the bay, Basa-San! I've been getting take out poke from their OG sf location for picnics at Dolores since way back. Pretty affordable poke! I love their spicy salmon and shoyu salmon the best. I hope this location offers the sushi rolls soon because the basa special roll is amazing! The fried seafood platters are tasty too. I love the batter. More than the usual fish and chips batter. The inside is pretty small with probably 8-10 tables to seat. So I've only done take out and enjoyed it at home. All in all, a solid hole in the wall place to get your poke and fried seafood fix! read more

I ordered two salads one: salmon salad for hubby and one: grilled fish Salad for myself. The mixed greens w/tomatoes, red onions and cucumbers salad w/a side of possibly Chipotle dressing..was super fresh and delicious. The service was fast /nice and the ambiance was clean and inviting. There was a little bit of a line but nothing too crazy. I'll be back 9/10 read more

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Went to their soft opening and it was packed! The staff was very nice and they went outside to ask if people needed a menu. The fish was good and fresh. Sadly, I didn't get to try the tuna since it was sold out but I hope to try it next time! The place is small but expected for an express shop. I enjoyed their bogo deal of spicy salmon and shoyu salmon. The portions were a bit small but the prices were good so I can't complain! There is a small parking lot there which was nice. Great addition to Castro Valley! Will be coming back to try the tuna! read more

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