Okay seriously?! The chicken and beef empanadas are absolutely incredible. They're almost like a…read morecroissant - buttery, flaky, and perfectly layered, yet somehow sturdy enough to hold all of the amazing filling inside! Every bite is packed with flavor and the fillings are seriously out of this world. Let's just say they're not your tita's ordinary empanadas. And can we talk about the garlic sauce? They should honestly sell it by the gallon because it's THAT good. I found myself wanting to put it on everything. Thanks for changing the empanada game, Joe & Kate!

Sugar Toof - Hercules, CA…read more A sweet stop that never disappoints. Stopped by Sugar Toof for my usual cream puff and somehow ended up leaving with more than I planned -- which seems to happen every time I visit. While I was there, I got distracted by their merchandise corner and found the cutest neighborhood market-inspired tote bag that I had to grab for The Kid. For treats, I picked up the Choco Caramel Cupcake, a rich chocolate cupcake filled with chocolate ganache and topped with decadent caramel buttercream. If you're a chocolate lover, this one is definitely worth trying. I also got my favorite cream puff, topped with a crunchy brûléed sugar crust. The choux pastry is light and airy, the custard filling is rich and creamy, and the contrast in textures makes it one of my favorite desserts in the area. I couldn't leave without trying the Bombolino, which was described as a doughnut filled with a crème brûlée-style custard. One bite and I understood why people love it. The pastries here are consistently delicious, and the service is always warm and welcoming. So happy to have Sugar Toof back. Definitely one of my favorite spots when I'm craving something sweet.

Best mochi donuts hands down! I've enjoyed mochi donuts from other companies but since I was…read morereferred to Mochata, I have not looked back (sorry other companies!) I reached out to Eric to cater mini mochi donuts for my wedding in March and his customer service was superb. He was so personable and friendly that I just wanted to order just because of that! I ended up ordering 5 dozen minis and everyone at my wedding LOVED them. So much that I didn't even get to have any myself during reception. What stands out the most about Mochata's donuts is that the flavor is actually IN the donut itself. Not just the icing that we're all used to. And the texture? Exactly the way a mochi should taste. Flavors? ON POINT!! The toppings are very generous, especially the Cookies N Cream and Mint Oreo. My absolute favorites are Coconut Pandan, Ube and Strawberries N Cream and my husband always goes for the Mint Oreo. I haven't tried all the flavors yet but I have no doubt that they all taste delicious. I also got myself a Thai Horchata drink. I never thought about combining the two flavors together and it was super good! Now I feel like I need to try every flavor of that as well. Definitely plan to be a regular customer for whenever I have a craving

During this pandemic we have been trying our best to support small businesses and try new things! I…read morestumbled upon Mochata on Instagram, I think I read the story and decided I wanted to support. Their customer service is amazing and so friendly! The ordering form was easy to understand and fill out, along with payment options. They delivered all the way out to San Leandro for a small fee. The donuts were good! The right amount of chewiness that I like in my mochi! The donuts have flavor infused into the dough as well as the glaze-- unlike other places where the glaze is the only part with flavor. I ordered strawberry, Thai tea and Ube. My kids loved them and so did the adults. I do wish the Thai tea and Ube tasted a little bit more like the flavor, but they were still yummy! Next time I'll have to try the horchata to go with it!

Very friendly, efficient service. Ordered two of 3-meat combis (ribs, chicken & brisket) with beans…read more& coleslaw, and potato salad & collard greens, as the 2-side options. Food came out quickly, generous portions, very well cooked & tasty, Ate in restaurant and food conveniently served in partitioned to-go containers, so we could easily take home leftovers. Also ordered two mini key lime pies to-go and they were delicious! All around a great experience and worth the drive from El Cerrito to Hercules for great BBQ!

Wow, I can't believe over the weekend we finally got to try and thoroughly enjoy Tommy's BBQ in…read moreHercules. What an absolute treat! We've been to his smash burger spot in Richmond, and my parents tried his pop up back in the day over by the Crane way Pavilion (IYKYK). We were all impressed by the overall look and feel of this spot, from initial walk-in, to the food, and service. With country music playing, a clean and bright interior, and the sweet smells of juicy meat and sides waiting, we knew we entered the right place. We tried it all! Nachos for the table to start with deliciously diced brisket, beans, chives, cheese, BBQ sauce, and more, a loaded potato with pulled pork, meat plates including the ribs, sliced brisket, chicken, and a pulled pork sandwich. Everything was amazing and done right. You could tell there was love and care in each bite, which I feel for East Bay BBQ, is important. The portions were stellar, the quality was excellent, and we enjoyed sides of corn, mac and cheese, and cole slaw. There really isn't much else to it! We sat at a long table and there were rolls of paper towels attached to it which I wish we could get our "after" pic besides just the before pics because we def got saucy! I like the innovation of the loaded nachos and potato with proteins if you don't want a sandwich or a plate..great shareables, but also great portions for your own meal (or second meal too). They also do their smash burgers here, and had key lime mini pies for dessert. No beer/wine, but soft drinks. Plenty of parking adjacent and fair pricing for BBQ. We already can't wait to come back ~ I have my eye on those hot links! Thank you for bringing the vibes to Hercules.

This spot has been here for as long as I can remember, and for good reason! They have something for…read moreeveryone beyond just yogurt. Since the start of this year, my friends and I order from here almost every other weekend when we want a quick dessert. Their online ordering system is simple, and it's always ready for pickup once we get there. Most of my friends and I get the avocado smoothie as our usual, but we'll change it up sometimes with a fruit smoothie or yogurt sundae. I recently tried their mango matcha latte and it was great! Definitely on the sweeter side, but the mango helped balance out the earthy matcha flavor

My favorite neighborhood icecream, yogurt and boba shop. Ive been coming here since my teenage…read moreyears and love the owners, service, and items. They just remodeled the place and is super cute.

I stumbled upon Gigi's One Bite Wonder at the Pinole Farmers Market the other day, and I'm so glad…read moreI did, truly a match made in heaven. From the very first bite, I knew this was something special. The coconut brioche donut was absolutely out of this world. Not too sweet, perfectly light and fluffy, and unbelievably creamy, with just the right amount of coconut. Balanced, delicate, and indulgent without being heavy. Honestly, unforgettable. We also tried the arroz con leche and the Nutella donut, and both were delicious in their own right. Everything was beautifully made and full of flavor. But that coconut brioche? That one really stole the show and lives rent-free in my mind. If you see Gigi's One Bite Wonder at a market, do yourself a favor and stop by. Your taste buds will thank you.

Love Gigi's One Bite Wonder so much!…read more I look forward to the Farmers' Market every weekend, just so I can visit Gigi's booth. The donuts are only slightly sweet, which makes them perfect vessels for the sweet fillings. And let me tell you, the donuts are generously filled I also love all her iced drinks! The banana bread latte is my fave. Definitely check this place out!

Cabalen serves true authentic filipino food. As a filipina myself, the food here hits very close to…read morehome and although it is a little pricey, trips here are worth it due to the high quality of food and service. First off, portions are huge. Love their silogs and the many protein options they offer such as bangus, longanisa etc. Second, not only do they offer breakfast plates but they have sooo many other entree options that seem to rotate daily. It ranges from chicken adobo, to dinuguan, all the way to kare kare and much more. Lastly, they have tons of filipino dessert options spread across shelves on the walls for those who love their carbs and sweets. For 3 breakfast plates, and XL entree, one juice and chicharron, we paid a total of $88 (not including tip). Pretty pricey overall but dang did we buss down on the plates when we got home LOL. Love Cabalen as well as all the workers. They're all very sweet and helpful! Get here early because they will run out of food throughout the day and they close at 4:30p on weekends and 6p on weekdays.

I got their lumpia fresh out of the fryer and they were super good! I also got an order of their…read morepancit, which I really liked as well. This place is pretty consistent and I've been coming here for years. My favorites from here are their adobo, pancit, bistek and sisig, oh and of course, lumpia!

Hands down one of the best bakeries in the Bay! Family-owned, serving Filipino-Hawaiian inspired…read moredesserts, and home to the most unforgettable buko-ube pie I've ever tasted. The owners are incredibly kind and passionate, and it shows in everything they create. If you haven't been yet, treat yourself. You'll be hooked. Pro tip: Their pies go fast, so call ahead to make sure they've got the dessert you're craving.

I loved the ube cassava. Ube delicious. Cassava delicious. My daughter liked it too! Thank you so…read moremuch!

Paola's Desserts are the absolute best, she is my go to for all delicious treats. I've been buying…read morealfajores from her for about 2 years and they are always consistent on the rich flavor. The Peruvian alfajores she makes are authentic in size and flavor. She only provides top service and a professional to work with. I will continue to order from her. This review is long over due.

If you want professional and delicious desserts, YOU HAVE TO TRY PAOLA'S DESSERTS!!…read more From the beginning, she was very professional. I got strawberries covered with chocolate, mini flans, and mini cheesecakes, plus she sent me some pionono samples to try (they are DELICIOUS). They delivered the desserts right on the time and place we scheduled... her prices are very reasonable for the high quality job she performs! So happy I found her!