4 1/2 -- Fresh, Home-Style Soul Food and Definitely Worth Trying- rounded up on Yelp …read more
I stopped by Josephine Southern Cuisine for lunch today around 1:30 PM. They're currently operating as a pop-up inside the Star Catering & Cafe location at 1202 W. Winton Ave in Hayward. It's in the Winton Avenue area of Hayward, near the commercial and industrial side of town, and there is plenty of parking, which made it very easy to stop in.
I was actually expecting a much bigger crowd, but the restaurant was pretty quiet with light traffic inside, so ordering was simple.
They had a $30 plate that included fried chicken, greens, yams, and cornbread. I didn't notice until after I ordered that extra chicken was an additional $10 and mac & cheese was $9, so I added the mac & cheese separately. For two plates, tax, and tip, our total came to about $76.
The fried chicken was the highlight. It was extremely crispy, hot and fresh -- not spicy hot, but clearly just out of the fryer. I had read that the food is cooked to order, and that definitely seemed to be the case. There was a slight wait, but I would much rather wait a little for food that is fresh than have something sitting under a warmer.
The greens were perfectly seasoned. Personally, I like mine with a little more heat, but I understand they're cooking for everybody, not just my taste buds. The seasoning was still very good.
The yams were excellent -- just the right amount of sweetness and honestly reminded me of the kind my grandmother used to make.
The blueberry cornbread surprised me in a good way. I was expecting it to be overly sweet, but it wasn't at all. It had just the right amount of sweetness, was moist, and was very well cooked.
The mac & cheese had a good texture, was cheesy, and had plenty of flavor. I personally prefer mine a little cheesier and more like the baked mac & cheese I grew up with. I did notice some oil at the bottom of the container, so that was probably the one food item I liked slightly less than everything else, but it was still good.
We decided to dine in, even though the food was packaged to go. They do have tables and seating inside. The dining area was simple and functional, but I think the atmosphere could use a little upgrading. The floor in particular didn't look especially clean to me, although that may have been partly because of the type or age of the flooring. A little more décor, a more polished dining area, and a few more beverage options would elevate the experience, especially at this price point.
The portions were good, although I did feel the meal was a little pricey for the serving size. That said, the food tasted fresh, homemade, and well prepared, so I still felt good about the experience.
They told me the menu changes depending on the day, which actually makes me want to come back. I'm especially curious to catch them on a day when they have oxtails and try some of their other dishes.
Overall, this was a very good first experience and I would definitely return. I'd give the food itself close to 5 stars and the overall experience about 4 1/2 stars, with the half-star deduction mostly for the dining-room ambience and value for the portion size.
If you're looking for good soul food in Hayward, look for Josephine Southern Cuisine at the Star Catering & Cafe location on W. Winton Ave. There's plenty of parking, the food is cooked fresh, and it's definitely worth giving them a try.