Overview: Small parking lot, small shop, big flavors…read more ---- A few outside tables and one inside bench, it can get a little chilly sitting outside esp in th Opening up a location in alameda Very beautiful presentation of all of the pastries and I'm SO, SO happy that they have prices on all of their items!! They offer a unique fusion of Asian flavors with classic French pastries. ---- Pistachio Kataifi Croissant $9.50 - croissant is filled with kataifi and topped with pistachio cream and crushed pistachios - the croissant itself was a little too salty for me and I think it needs the sweetness of the pistachio cream on top - the croissant was still crispy at room temperature, but tasted better heated up - I would recommend air frying it or rebaking it instead of microwaving it bc the kataifi gets soggy ---- Notes: - parking lot is small - service was really quick and friendly - a nice display case with a wide variety of items and with their prices listed!! ---- Overall: unique flavors, picture perfect pastries, I can't wait for the Alameda location to open up so I can try more of their items and their drinks!

This place specializes in croissants and I ordered 8 different ones with an even split with savory…read moreand sweet to take home to my family and we were all able to try a bite of everything. I wish I wrote down what I ordered but luckily, I did take a picture. I ordered: Ham and Cheese, Almond, French Custard, Black Sesame, Passion Fruit Ganache, Cheese and Mushroom, Shrimp, and lastly, a kouign-amann. They also had a pastrami one that I wanted to try but they were sold out. Everything was delicious and buttery, as a croissant should be. Nothing was too sweet nor too salty however, I would recommend pairing it with either a nice cup of coffee or tea. My favorite so far was the cheese and mushroom and the kuign-amann but honestly, you cant go wrong with anything. Price wise, they started around $6 each which, for the quality you are getting, I believe is fairly priced. The staff were all very lively and super friendly. Also, the smell of freshly made croissants is absolutely intoxicating. I will definitely return to try the other items as well as their coffee.

Service is fast and friendly, even during busy times. The shop itself is clean, modern, and a great…read moreplace to hang out--especially if you're a coffee lover. My favorite is the Vietnamese white coffee; it has just the right amount of caffeine for me. Definitely one of the best boba shops in the area. I'll be coming back often.

Love this new addition in downtown! We've been coming here to try different things. We def have our…read morefavorites - def the banana latte, double matcha, banana matcha and matcha w ube foam. Their drinks are good - they just put a lot of ice, so def ask for less ice. The foam sometimes could be too thick to drink the beverage but the flavor is good. Will def visit again to try other things! Service is fast, the cafe is always clean and service is quick.

Strong coffee! Just the way I like it…read more Order a cappucino with an extra shot and you're all set for the day, The best part is that it is located inside/ adjacent to the Hayward Public Library so you can get your cup of coffee *make sure there's a lid on it so you can take it inside with you* and head to where you have to go in the library and enjoy it there while you get work/ studying done.

I got a double espresso…read more They roast their own beans, this one seemed like a medium roast. Had good crema and a creamy texture. I got more volume than I expected (maybe two double shots) and the shot was a bit bitter-- but more dark chocolate than burnt. 2.5 / 5.   I'd come again if I was at the library and try buying the beans for home as well.

Had the Raspberry Mocha and the Dirty Chai iced. Both were sooooo good and the nicest lady took and…read moreprepared our order can't wait to come back. Pro tip: If you're driving when you come down A street go in the second driveway and loop around the parking spots are angled away from you if you go in the first driveway.

This place is a small cafe near downtown Hayward. The prices are very reasonable and they have a…read morelot of customizations you can do on your breakfast sandwiches. I'd highly recommend any of their coffees. Their coffee ice cubes are a great idea and really help avoid watering down coffees. I will definitely be back to try more.

Lovely place to hang out, enjoy empanadas and the beautiful paintings on the wall. Comfy vibe…read moreinvite you to stay a while.

Just an excellent place to be!…read more A friend had heard rave reviews about their authentic Argentinian empanadas and we were so happy to come and try it out on a Saturday afternoon. Parking was busy (the lot is shared with Trader Joe's) but we managed to find a spot and head into the busy but not packed cafe. There is a large assortment of empanadas, from meat options like chorizo and chicken, to vegetarian like corn and onion, to sweet options too like apples. The menu also boasts lots of great drinks including mate tea! Lucky us, the empanadas we ordered weren't in stock so we had to wait ~10 for freshly baked ones. They came out buttery and piping hot, even with little hand-stamped letters on them so you know what you're eating, and it was so delicious. Most are about $5.50 each. Add oregano chimichurri for a bit extra if you want or pair with a tea, but these empanadas really hit the snacky spot. Lots of wooden tables with fresh flowers make Pampas a great space to chat with friends or to sit and do some work. The most standout feature was the friendly and efficient staff who seem to build connections with everybody who walks in the door. Worth a drive to Castro Valley! Especially if you bring cash for a 10% discount off a dozen :)

The waffles here are amazing! I've ordered the same classic waffle multiple times this week with…read morebananas and strawberries with pecans and walnuts. That said, there have been a couple consistency issues since I've been coming. Earlier this week I was asked to come in to pick up my order about 45 minutes after the scheduled pickup time. I thought I would have at least received a discount or some offer of a complimentary small item but unfortunately nothing. I ordered again today and I received blueberries instead of bananas on a waffle I've ordered the same way this week as well. I love supporting Hayward small businesses but this store definitely needs to improve on accuracy and timing to make it a strong contender in the downtown Hayward area. I'd rate it a 3.5 to be accurate but will round up to a 4 because the owner seems very sweet. I think my waffle week run is over but I'll be back in the future one day and hope things get better as they grow!

I love Acai Bowls (got the Pt 1 bowl with additional peanut butter and pineapple), and found this…read morelocal place. The bowl was substantial and the lid couldn't fit. Fresh and filling. I will be back. The staff was super friendly as well.

If you enjoy cute character desserts, delicious drinks, and an overall cozy cafe experience, I…read morehighly recommend that you stop by Always Yours Bakery Cafe! Not only are you able to purchase from their bakery case, you can also request to have desserts made for special events! (In advance of course.) I very much enjoy their macarons and fresh fruit tarts. They also added Banana Matcha to their menu when it became a craze, and I 10/10 would recommend it. They use high quality matcha powder (Marukyu Koyamaen) for their drinks. This is one of the few things that drew me into their cafe. The baristas are extremely friendly and have a wonderful sense of humor, AND they support small businesses! While you wait for your order, you can browse their shelf full of crystal candies, matcha sets, candles, and they may also have Natsume matcha tins available! (This is not the matcha they use in their drinks, but it's nice to have other options available to buy.) ^^ So if you're in the East Bay and are looking for a business to support, go to Always Yours Bakery Cafe (they're also available on the Too Good To Go app)! They have beautiful outdoor seating available, as well as cutesy seating indoors. Not sponsored or anything, I just wanted to review one of my favourite cafes in Castro Valley. ^^

Over the years, I've been a loyal supporter of Always Yours, dating back to the early days. When…read moreNatalie opened up right here in Castro Valley, I was ecstatic to finally have a high-end macaron and drink spot in town. For the first few months, it completely lived up to the hype. The character macarons were incredibly intricate, and the drinks easily rivaled the top-tier boba shops in the area. However, as the shop has scaled and commercialized, there has been a noticeable shift in consistency. With quicker turnarounds and the typical high turnover of part-time staff, the execution just hasn't been the same. While Natalie has mentioned investing heavily in upgraded ingredients behind the scenes like scratch-made syrups and ceremonial grade matcha, those drinks often lack consistency in sweetness, in toppings, or overall execution. The macaron flavors feel much more muted than they used to be, and the character designs look a bit more rushed compared to the incredible creativity of the early days. I have immense respect for the incredible amount of solo grind and dedication it takes to run a local business for five years, which is why I've supported them for so long. But as a longtime fan, it's just disappointing to see the final execution drift from the incredible standard they originally set. I genuinely hope the team can find their rhythm again and bring back those nostalgic memories.

NICE!!! To me, GooluTea is hands down the best drink spot in the Bay Area I would say. Their drinks…read moretaste genuinely natural, and you can tell they don't rely on artificial flavoring. I'm really sensitive to artificial flavors, especially in milk tea, and I can usually tell immediately when a drink has added flavoring. I've tried pretty much all the popular boba spots around the Bay, and honestly, most of them taste heavily flavored or artificial to me. But Goolu Tea is different -- their drinks taste clean, natural, and the tea itself actually comes through. At this point, I barely even crave drinks from other boba shops anymore. Still waiting for my favorite Golden Tea to make a comeback.

Goolu tea has a distinct citrus flavor!…read more I really enjoyed the refreshing taste, especially with the tea added in. I ordered the strawberry and lime flavor, and it reminded me of ginger in a way. The tea flavor was very strong, and I also enjoyed the bits of strawberry throughout the drink. Staff were also super friendly when ordering!

Loved their mango blizzard drink. It was tasty and had a great texture to it. Would definitely…read morerecommend getting that drink. We also got some of their fried chicken. It was very juicy and crunchy. I loved it a lot. If you are hungry, definitely try the chicken. Parking is rough here so get the first parking spot you can find or try the free lots. It's alot of one way roads here so be careful with driving.

Once Tea is located close to the Century Theater. There is limited street parking but they also…read morehave some free public parking lots nearby. The service was friendly and nice. The ambiance of the place was...possibly still in a remodeling phase. Otherwise, it was dark and drab. Honey White Peach Oolong Tea - light, decent, yet faint flavor.

After having driven by this cafe on multiple occasions, I finally stopped in here with a friend for…read morebreakfast. We each got the salmon bagel, tea, and a latte, then found a table on their cozy and beautiful back patio. The drinks came out in beautifully painted drink ware. This place was such a nice spot to catch up and chit chat over good food. The servers were super friendly and helpful, and we never once felt rushed to leave or vacate our table. The noise level was just right, too. You would think being on A St would mean we'd hear cars the entire time and would have to talk over other tables, but everyone was respectful of each other and my friend and I could hear one another speaking just fine. Parking is limited; there were maybe 4-5 spots on the side of Sandra's Barberia, but you can park on the street and walk over.

Came in for a pot coffee (Cafe De Olla), it was delicious! The ladies that run the spot treat you…read morewith hospitality, kindness & respect, like you're at Abuelas house. The ambiance in the back feels just like it too, the seating & set up brings back that nostalgia. Great spot to enjoy a cup, good food, company or to work from. Vine por un café de olla y estaba delicioso. Las señoras que atienden el lugar te reciben con hospitalidad, cariño y respeto, como si estuvieras en casa de la abuela. El ambiente en la parte de atrás se siente igual: la forma de sentarse y el acomodo del espacio traen esa nostalgia tan bonita. Es un lugar excelente para disfrutar una taza de café, buena comida, buena compañía o incluso para trabajar desde ahí.