Ive visited a couple of times recently and have had great experiences! The people working are always super kind and I enjoy the food and drinks they serve. I most recently tried their peppermint mocha and lavender latte, both of which I got iced. They were delicious!! I'm a really big fan of minty chocolatey drinks and I thought the peppermint mocha was done really well for an iced version. The lavender latte was actually a pleasant surprise for me! I wasn't expecting to like it so much and the lavender and coffee were really balanced. The chicken gyro was good as well! It came with a sauce and was packed with veggies, which I appreciate. I do wish they had cucumbers in their gyros too though. Overall great experience :) read more

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I'm not in Castro Valley very often, but when I am I stop by Cafe Rumi. It's a charming, cozy cafe in an otherwise plain strip mall. It's a bit tight inside, but there is seating of various configurations. It's pretty easy to find what you need, like utensils, napkins, & water. There is free Wi-Fi & power strips, which are appreciated. The service is friendly and quick. My orders typically complete within 5-10 minutes. The drinks are pretty good. If you've never had any sort of pink chai, then I'd suggest the Pink Chai Latte. I had mine hot, and it was nicely foamed & sweetened. I also enjoyed the Peppermint Mocha, though the flavors were a bit subtler than I'd prefer. The food is fine. There aren't too many Mediterranean options in town (that I know), but you can probably find better if you go farther out. I liked the pita & yogurt in the Gyros (Beef & Lamb) Wrap, but the actual meat & veggies were just adequate. The Saffron Chicken Platter was a lot saucier & more tangy than I was prepared for.. an interesting dish but not one I'd get again. read more

Cafe Rumi - Gyros (Beef & Lamb). Pink Chai Latte. - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Even though I went to school near here for so many years, I haven't known about this place until my boyfriend showed me 2 years ago lol. I recommend trying the lox bagels! Out of all the places I've tried, this one makes it the best! It's consistent and never too packed where everything is falling out. They also don't cheap out on the smoked salmon, very delicious! And if you're feeling a sweet treat, the Belgian Waffle is great! Very thick and with the right amount of sweetness. I recommend adding Nutella for extra sweetness. This place is definitely a hidden gem and I'd recommend it to anyone who's visiting! read more

The new owners ( new like 2 years ago) got rid of the eggplant. That was the best thing in the menu! They added a breakfast plate that is good. It has shawerma meat and eggs and tomatoes The side salad of tomato and cucumber is undressed. They provide a small container of balsamic dressing and a green dressing. Neither are the right flavor profiles for middle eastern cucumber tomato salad. The chicken was good enough ( but I miss the eggplant) They have a large following and many get cafe drinks and hang out. I usually don't do the drinks and now the food is meh. After 2 years they have not updated the menu on their website. I guess the eggplant lives on-- but only virtually. read more

This time we tried the breakfast plate which is a newer (not new but new since they opened like a decade ago lol) item. There was a significant amount of food for the price, with perfectly cooked potatoes and really good pieces of beef gyros grilled to perfection. The sauce they put on top was flavorful but soooo spicy. I'm ok with some spice but this was more than expected, it was painful. The person I was with agreed that it tasted really good and he also wished it was just slightly less spicy so we could appreciate the flavor more. As always cafe rumi is polite about my service dog and they get the food and drink to you quickly. Yum! read more

Cafe Rumi - Lavender tea latte (lavender chai) - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Absolutely LOVE this place! The food has always tasted fresh, I love their Mediterranean salad and Chicken Gyros the best. The sauces are so fresh and tasty. I love that they make their own lavender syrup with clean ingredients. The lavender tea latte is to die for, so yummy! It's light, and the lavender perfectly complements the black tea. I'm not a coffee drinker but both my husband and my dad love the lavender latte, so I'd say that's a great option as well for those who enjoy coffee. read more

I went here a lot when I was younger and since was back in town I decided to hit this place up. On top of being a trip down memory lane it was also just as good as I remembered. Need a cafe to have quick catch up? This place has got great pink chai lattes to pair with a yap sesh. Want a place to study or work? There's plenty of space and outlets here. Looking for a quick and perfectly seasoned lunch for an affordable price? The beef and lamb gyro is FIRE. The folks who run it are also polite and kind; it really is that sort of neighborhood spot that everyone wishes they lived near. (I mean, I definitely did!) read more

My husband and I were introduced to Cafe Rumi by my brother and sister-in-law, and now it's a mandatory stop on every single visit we make to the Bay Area. The charming interior immediately makes you feel welcome, providing the perfect cozy backdrop for a relaxing break. While the atmosphere is lovely, the chai is the true star of the show. We've had the pleasure of sampling several options, and they are all fantastic, whether served hot or cold. The Pink Chai is beautifully subtle with a delicate, refined flavor. The Dervish Chai is a spiced revelation, tasting rich and warm-- delightful Christmasy flavors. However, the undeniable champion is the Spiced Chai Latte. It is absolutely heavenly, combining comforting spice notes with a smooth, sweet vanilla flavor. If you love chai, this drink is an absolute must-try. It's my personal favorite and a perfect example of the care and quality they put into every beverage. If you're looking for fantastic drinks and a truly charming spot to relax, Cafe Rumi comes with my highest recommendation. read more

I seldom am in the area, but the last two times I have stopped at this cafe. It is a quality stop...good service good coffee and a good and clean WC. Though I have not eaten anything the menu looks good and the food others were eating looked to be tasty. And parking is a breeze. read more

Cafe Rumi - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Got an $8 cheese dog... It was kind of like a gyro, which was a nice twist on a plain old dog, but $8...? The space is okay, but could use some organizing and decluttering. I'm also sensitive to various smells, and since it's a compact space, the combination of odors from the open kitchen and cleaning fluids had me taking my $8 dog outside. The best part of this experience? They were open, and I was starving. I might try them again sometime, just to see what the situation's all about. read more

I had the Pink Chai at this café and I'm still thinking about it. It was hands down one of the best specialty drinks I've had in a long time. The flavor was rich and creamy with the perfect level of sweetness, and the spices were smooth and well balanced nothing overpowering, just pure comfort in a cup. read more

Cafe Rumi - Pink Chai Lattè - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Still the best chai latte around but I have had better experiences going mid morning and mid-afternoon. Arrived at 3:30 today, they close at 4, the guy was outside chaining the chairs and tables. I asked if they still close at 4 and he said yes, I mentioned how I was looking forward to sitting outside, but oh well now. Inside is too hot. I ordered my usual Chai latte in a mug for here. They give it in a to go cup but poured it into a mug when I asked for one. I ended up using a chair from inside to sit outside and dropped the mug and chair inside around 3:57pm with no issues. Maybe they were just burnt out from the middle school punks. read more

We used to frequent Café Rumi for their drinks and their food. The last 3 visits left us heavily disappointed. I didn't want to write a review after the first or second visit, but it has been consistently disappointing. We ordered the gyro sandwiches and the pita bread was stale, the meat was very dry and flavorless, and the vegetables were wilted. All 3 times, the food does not seem to be fresh. Not sure what happened or if they have a change of ownership, but we probably won't be returning anytime soon. Super unfortunate because we want to support Local Castro Valley businesses. read more

The lavender latte and the spice chai were delicious. Al also had a chicken dishes but the chicken was a bit dry. I loved the ambiance and decor. I felt very happy and the vibe was relaxed. read more

Rumi is as good as it gets around here. Coffees are great and the food is great. My family lives coming here too. I brought my cousins here and they loved it as well. My kids love the smoothies. Smaller place, but all of the patrons are deep in their converatiin and enjoying their time at Cafe Rumi. I hope to come here for years to come. read more

I loved Cafe Rumi! From the quick and great service to the tasty food/drinks, this is the perfect lunch spot whether you want to dine in or are on the go. I ordered their popular pink chai latte (iced) and it definitely lived up to the hype - it wasn't too sweet and it was super tasty! Only thing is there is no spice flavor like you normally find in a traditional chai latte. I also ordered the beef & lamb gyro with their green and yogurt side sauces - all amazingly delicious and a great portion given. I highly recommend trying this place out and supporting this lovely business! read more

Cafe Rumi - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Breakfast sandwiches and wraps were pretty large and filling. They were pretty hefty which was great for my guy friends. Sadly, the Pink chai I had didn't really have much taste. I was hoping for something different and flavorful given this small local spot. There's plenty of seating inside and parking so it's very convenient if you live nearby. read more

A cute little Turkish cafe, with good drinks and good food. Perfect for a quick bite, or a place to do work/study. The lady behind the counter was nice and informative in explaining the menu items. The Turkish coffee was good, and the pink chai is nothing like I've had before. Definitly not spiced like I've had before, it's almost like drinking a lightly sweetened red velvet tea if that makes sense. The gyro looked delicious, nice and loaded!! I loved being able to get the combo platter with chicken and the lamb/beef. All of the meat was delicious, it comes over a bed of rice, naan, and a side salad. I really liked the white sauce and the green sauce! I think the white sauce was a tzatziki and the green one was a jalapeño lemon? It paired well with meat over rice. It is in a little plaza and parking was not bad at all, be sure to stop by to try something out of your comfort zone! :) ask for recommendations and don't be shy! read more

Cafe Rumi - A delicious lunch :) - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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(1 out of 5) Sigh... I'm not big on giving low reviews but I'm not gonna lie, the food here was awful. The kebab was flavorless, dry, all around not good, the borani banjan wasn't good either, tasted like the cook didn't know what they were making. I've heard good things about their drinks but this is a food review. Service was exceptional, and ambiance is nice. Rothyy. read more

Cafe Rumi - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I got a mango smoothie it was so good and it had like this tangy flavor but you could really taste the mango I'd give it a 10/10

Get the pink chai! It's really good and something different. The bagels here are pretty good too

Cafe Rumi makes a mean beef and lamb gyro. Their "pink chai" drink is delicious and unique too. When I asked the cashier what's it made of, she replied, "Green tea". The vegetarian wrap featured eggplant and was definitely saucy and messy to eat. Served with additional sauce on the side, it was still good. I would come back for the gyro. read more

Cafe Rumi - Beef and Lamb gyro - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

LOVED their coffee and lox bagel! I would also highly recommend their chai (: There's ample parking, a restroom for customers, and indoor + outdoor seating. I'm definitely adding this cafe to my rotation of WFH spots! read more

Love this neighborhood joint 3 minutes away from my house! We moved to the area two weeks ago and we've already been here over five times. Love their breakfast sandwich and wraps with chutney, chai lattes and pistachio latte! read more

Rumi is one of my favorite local coffee shops. I come here often. My usual order is a Rumi latte and a Veggie Mediterranean Wrap. I've tried other things and everything has always been delicious and very quality. The Rumi latte is so nice, and the spices in it make it feel like a warm hug. I think that Rumi is a unique coffee shop because of the Mediterranean inspired flavors. The employees are always welcoming, friendly, and accommodating. They talk to you in a way that feels so sweet and personal. They always check in to see if you like what you ordered. The cafe has a fair amount of indoor and outdoor seating as well as parking. It is a good place to sit for a while with friends or study. I highly recommend it. I always take my friends and family here when they are visiting or want a new coffee shop to go to. They've all really enjoyed it. read more

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Fast service and please my ambience. The food portion could be more, the food is tasty. Please work on your cleanliness since some people are ocd and want everything to be sanitized. read more

Cafe Rumi - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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This place is so nice! Came here with my dog before going to the dog park close by on a you can sit outside if your dog since they don't allow them inside. (It would be amazing to have someone come take orders for the ones with a dog who sit outside) but it's nice they even have a doggie water bowl. Their selection is so good and I can't wait to try more things off their menu! This time I had the Belgian waffle and the Turkish shot and both were so good! The folks working were super nice and I can't wait to come back and try more of their items! read more

Cafe Rumi - Belgian waffle with Nutella and Turkish shot - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Great service. Lovely ambience. Delicious food and drinks. Pet friendly!! It's a staple in Castro Valley, I love visiting from Hayward. Their espresso drinks are smooth, rich and so yummy, as well as their Chai. You gotta try any of their platters, get a drink and take a sweet baklava on your way out. Perfect place for breakfast, brunch or lunch + normally a great place to study, read, talk with friends or eat outside when the weather is nice. read more

Cafe Rumi - Iced latte with cinnamon. Delicious! - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Love their food & drinks . I definitely recommend this place to all my friends, family & colleagues.

Love this local cafe in Castro Valley! I'm a huge fan of their pink chai latte, which is always my go-to. It's made from a special green tea grown in the Himalayas. With just the right amount of bicarbonate (a.k.a baking soda) added to this green tea, you get a lovely pink shade. Taste-wise, it reminds me of a sweet matcha latte. I can't attest to the food, but it looks delicious! Alongside some typical cafe fare, they also have Mediterranean wraps, plates, and salads. Just writing this review makes me want to go back and try out their food items ASAP. Interior is bit cluttered, but they have plenty of outdoor seating. This is the perfect place to grab a cup of coffee and catch up with a friend. Will be back soon! read more

Lovely little neighborhood cafe with delish food and lattes. I've had their gyro plate before and am a fan of their rose latte. Sweet staff and relaxed vibes. Glad this exists in CV! read more

Cafe Rumi - More Rumi quotes that made me smile - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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I used to love this place. I work down the street and would frequent often, I would crave it. I get the same things every time, breakfast... whether it be the steamed egg plate, rumi egg wrap or egg sandwich. They all used to be great! The portions used to be good and I used to also get all ingredients listed. It's false advertising at this point and have given them the benefit of the doubt for a while now but they can't seem to get it right anymore. Rumi egg wrap: not a pita as listed, a tortilla. No potatoes and no steamed eggs, a hard fried egg. Disappointed and will not be giving them any more tries unfortunately. This is happening all too frequently. read more

Cafe Rumi - Rumi egg wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I don't know why it's taken me so long to visit Cafe Rumi, but I'm glad I finally did! My friend and I came here for a quick coffee and breakfast after an early morning weekday walk. It's sort of up in the hills in a residential area of castro valley I don't frequent often. They do have plenty of parking because they're in a plaza with other shops. The cafe itself is not large, but they do have a handful of tables inside for people to hang out or get some work done. There's also a few tables outside which we opted to go for since it was a nice sunny day. I also liked the colorful decor of the cafe. Service was pretty straightforward - we went up to the counter and ordered pretty easily. The food came out not too long after. We didn't hear them call our names/numbers from outside so we checked in a couple of times to see if our food was ready. I went with their sausage egg sandwich and a turkish latte. The sandwich was good, though I thought it was interesting that they cut up the sausage. I guess I'm just used to sausage patties being used in breakfast sandwiches. I also really enjoyed the turkish latte! read more

Cafe Rumi - Sausage egg sandwich - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Finally had a chance to stop here and get a breakfast wrap. From the start the service was very friendly. I got my wrap with spicy sauce and it was honestly very delicious. The wrap was made right there and then with fresh ingredients. I'd like to go back there soon and try more items on the menu. The seating area is very cozy and you can definitely work on your projects while drinking some tea or coffee. All in all, I definitely recommend this place and it's for sure worth a try read more

I'm not very picky with Chai as I usually will get the starbucks one.. but the chai here puts all the other ones I've had to shame lol. Tastes very authentic and has that spice to it that a standard coffee shop will not have. If I'm craving an actual chai I will always come here. I also enjoy their waffle with nutella and banana. They also have a yummy lox bagel that I recommend. I've been coming here since I went to Creekside middle school and I'm glad to see they haven't changed. Atmosphere is very cozy inside it's great to visit on a cold day read more

Family owned cafe. Cute interior with home vibe. The food tastes great though comes in take out containers. Very welcoming staff. read more

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Very cute corner restaurant with ample indoor seating and patio seating. Courteous staff. We had a Saffron Chicken platter and a side of hummus. Delicious. Chicken was tender and flavorful. Hummus was perfectly textured, NOT thin and lacking substance. Will definitely go again!! read more

Literally obsessed! We went on a hike this weekend and were starving after our walk. I yelped a place nearby and was a little skeptical at first but decided to try it anyways. When we arrived it literally smelled like heaven. The smell of the gyros or idk what ALMOST made me want to get lunch going early but I decided to stick to my coffee. I ordered a pumpkin spice latte and my husband got the Turkish latte and maaaaan. That's the best coffee I've ever had! Forget Starbucks come here. I usually dislike sweets but this was perfect! I also placed an order for the homemade hummus and pita bread. Y'all. Best hummus I've ever had! Lunch breakfast doesn't matter this is the perfect place! read more

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Café Rumi is a lovely little neighborhood café nestled in an unassuming shopping center along Center street. I came here for a quick bite after hiking in the area. They specialize in coffee and Chai tea and offer breakfast and Mediterranean lunch plates. I love that they offer a variety of teas, juices, and smoothies. I'm not much of a coffee drinker and I found their drink menu to be very diverse when compared to the average coffee shop. They have a specialty Pink Chai which is known as their signature drink. The Pink Chai is made with a special green tea imported from the Himalayas. This is what gives the Chai its' distinct pink color (no artificial color is added to it). I'm a diehard Chai tea lover, so I knew that I had to try this when I saw it on the menu. Ordered the pink chai along with the beef and lamb gyro. Wheeew baby, this was a winner! Winner, winner, gyro dinner! The Pink Chai is exceptional. It has the most enjoyable earthy tones in its' taste. It's not too sweet but just sweet enough. Those Himalayan spices really shine through in this tea. No wonder it's their signature drink. So delicious! And that beef and lamb gyro wrap?! Wowza! You would have thought that this cafe was a full blown Mediterranean/Greek restaurant with that thang! The pita was soft and warm, almost like they had just taken that bad boy out of the oven. The beef and lamb meat were well seasoned and very tender. Plus, it was pretty damn huge too! The pictures that I took just doesn't do it justice. Service at the counter was stellar. Super polite and efficient employees for the win! I didn't eat inside as I took everything to-go, but I love how cute and cozy their shop is. If I lived closer, this would be a shop that I'd visit regularly. Still amazed that this high quality beef and lamb gyro came out of this little coffee shop. But, Cafe Rumi is so much more than just a "coffee shop". It's a wonderful local hub that you can count on to produce some delicious food and specialty drinks. read more

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So, this was a little unexpected but now that I see the other positive reviews...I agree. I was just looking to grab a cup of coffee in my neighborhood. I got the pink Chai and it is so good. A little lighter on spices but I like that. Also had a beef/lamb gyro and it was bomb. The fresh tomatoes and red onions gave it a nice extra punch if flavor. The meat was very tender and full of flavor. The pita was a soft and yummy but strong enough to hold everything on the inside. And I don't know what the green sauce was but I'm gonna need like 4 of those next time. The place is really cute inside and the staff was kind, pleasant and fast. Enjoy. read more

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