An absolutely adorable little mom and son store! We've been wanting to try this place for a while now seeing it on instagram and it didn't disappoint. It's a small mom and son store and the food is delicious! Theres a few tables around the back of the store with shade as well as a table out front with a sun umbrella. We got the signature chicken wings (so crispy, juicy and so well seasoned), the japchae (perfectly cooked noodles!!) French fries, salt n pepper wings and everything else we tried were amazing! The owners are so nice and were absolutely adding this to our list of chicken places! Definitely would drive back up to Hayward for this! read more

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TL;DR: Look no further than Volcano Island for some BOMB KFC! Customer Service - 5/5* My husband found this place thanks to Reddit recs for best KFC places in the Easy bay. We came here with his siblings for a Saturday lunch (5 of us in total) and Eli immediately greeted us and gave us the full rundown of the menu and the story of how his mom and him came to own this place. We decided to actually just eat outside to be able to enjoy the food right away. Once Eli saw we were going to eat there, he was super accommodating and brought us a ton of napkins, salads, extra pickled daikon, and even some drinks! He even brought his mom Esther out to chat with us and it was so wholesome to hear their story! Food - 5/5* AMAZING. We ordered the Volcano Island (spicy) chicken, the Mama Seoul's signature chicken, and some pickled radish. We actually preferred the Mama Seoul's signature (his mom's recipe) over the Volcano island (the original store's recipe that they kept since it was a fan favorite), but they were both super crunchy, juicy, and flavorful. We were also lucky enough to try some of their salad. We learned that the radish and salad dressing were all Esther's own recipes and they paired really well with the chicken. The radish had such amazing crunch and freshness, and the salad dressing was light and tangy. We loved it so much, we actually bought a pint of the salad dressing to take home! All in all, Eli and Esther made us feel like we were eating dinner at their house. Looking forward to coming back again from Fremont (with friends!) and trying more of their KFC flavors and all the other dishes they have to offer. read more

I was in the area picking up supplies for work so I searched of a spot close to me. Volcano Island popped up so I decided to try it. I'll start with the good first, then the bad. The good was this chicken was the best I had in a while. It was crunchy and juicy, done just right. The salad was a nice touch, I love it when it's a good sesame dressing, reminds me of a cafe I use to get salads from. Now the customer service was amazing, I got my food fast, Eli came out to check in my a few times, we had a quick chat about the food, business, life. Gave me some cards to sign up to get exclusive information and discounts in the future. It seems like they have a lot of regulars, because mama was talking to everyone too, awesome family vibes. The spot is a cute little mom and pop style place, in and out with a self ordering kiosk. There's outdoor seating with tons of shade so it was a beautiful day to relax and enjoy the food. Now to the "bad...". When I first came here I was hoping a quick and easy meal that I can have and go about my day. This place is so good, it's been on my mind since I left. I stay up at night wondering how good the other items are and when will I ever get to try it. I live over 45 minutes away and was hoping the food would be average so I wouldn't have to make a trip out to eat it but it was amazing. Now I need more reasons to come out to Hayward... read more

Great tasting signature wings! Nice crisp on the outside and the sauce is a flavorful without being too sweet. The owner is super friendly, they took over this spot about a year ago and added new items to the menu. I've been here a few times several years back, and they still have wings but added a few more special ones based on the mom's signature recipes. There's a clean and updated outdoor seating area now, which is a great addition to the space. Will be coming back to try their other items. read more

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Quick Update to Volcano Island, now Mama Seoul! Mama Seoul is 2 years new at the Volcano Island location - signage still visible on the exterior (and Yelp page) but Mama Seoul logo in neon inside. Same takeout format with 2 patio tables to the side of the parking lot. SPOTLIGHT!!! :: MAMA'S SIGNATURE WINGS are seriously addictive with the sticky sweet, salty, slightly spicy coating double-fried wings. These wings hold up to the sauce and travels well To truly appreciate what I'm talking about be sure to sample 1 (or 2) as soon as you get in the car! Do it...but be sure to bring some wet naps! These wings are guaranteed sticky! The beef shortribs and japchae are also delicious along with their sesame dressing on their shredded cabbage slaw but I'm there for the wings! Service always friendly and food delivered on time! Truly a hidden gem and one of the best Asian-style wings in the East Bay. With gas prices ridiculously priced, increased toll and trying to find parking ...I'll get my wings at Mama Seoul @ Volcano Island...their soy- garlic sweet, spicy wings would make Sam Smith shed a tear and miss his show! Best to order online on their app (still Volcano Island) to minimize wait! Good way to get deals, rewards, specials! read more

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How can wings be saucy, crispy, and juicy at the same time? I'm convince the chef went to Harvard of chicken wings. FOOD Hands down one of the best Korean fried chicken spot I've ever had and that includes many spots in actual Korea. We ordered sweet and spicy and regular soy garlic wings. The sauce was mixed in perfection. Each had their own unique flavor without being compromisingly sweet. The wings were crunch and juicy. Each bite I had the satisfaction bite while the meat is easy to eat. SERVICE While I didn't dine in, I can tell that Eli and the rest of team is running a Korean spot for the community. Right off the bat, Eli greeted me and asked about my experience in the east bay. He was friendly, down to earth, and most importantly, he was kind to all the patrons at the shop. ALL IN ALL, mama Seoul/volcano island is a small hole in the wall Korea food spot that does it right. The food is a banger and people that serves them are genuine. This will now be my go to wings spot! read more

Volcano Island - Mama Seoul's Chicken 8 Piece - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

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FYI: This is mostly a quick pick up spot for to go food and all seating is outside. It can get a bit dark and super cold in the winter but the food is super delicious and should be eaten as hot as possible (or at least as hot as I can take). So even with this, it's worth it. They're developing their own app, but you can also order online. In store, there's an order kiosk. When your order is ready, you'll get a text message. Despite coming in am hour or so before closing on a Friday night, almost all the tables were occupied and there were several customers coming in and out and waiting to order from the kiosk. Popular spot and you can easily see why. The worker there and I believe his mom are super welcoming and friendly. Love that mom and pop small business community feel. After not too long, we got our dinner of: 1) Volcano Island Boneless Bites: -I'm a fan of boneless over bones to avoid the messy eating and maneuvering, and the boneless bites that they have here are super delicious. Nice doubly crispy exterior of the fried chicken bites and the chicken itself is nicely dense. It's not like the dry nuggets you get elsewhere. Great condensed bites of chicken and sauce. We got it with their soy garlic. Classic delicious flavor. -You can get this as 1 or 2 lbs, we got the 1lbs and we got the combo version which comes with a generous amount of white steamed rice, perfect with all the proteins that we got, side salad with a sesame base dressing, and pickled radish. Great combination of flavors and textures. 2) Island Crab: -Did NOT expect the pieces to be this huge. They're bigger than golf balls. Super filling and a delicious snack appetizer. They're imitation crab, battered and deep fried and then slathered in delicious volcano sauce (tastes like yum yum sauce and unagi sauce). -Huge burst of imitation crab on the inside and it comes with a generous amount of sauce to mix it in. I'm glad we got the combo with our boneless bites since we got to deliciously mix this in with the steamed rice. Good stuff. 3) Korean Donut: -This is a Korean dessert, it's hotteok! Definitely make sure you have napkins ready and be careful eating it since it's filled to the brim with warm and gooey sweet delicious brown sugar and cinnamon with nuts inside it too. Delicious slightly crispy exterior with the chewy gooeyness on the inside. Super delicious and more than enough for two hungry adults and we had leftovers for the next day. If I was local, I think I'd frequent this place super often considering how delicious everything was, but when I'm back in NorCal I don't mind stopping by again. read more

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Randomly discovered this hidden gem while driving through Hayward. Eli was so warm and welcoming - definitely made our trip out there memorable! You can tell they put their heart into the store and everything tastes authentic. Excited about their monthly specials where they showcase different items. There are a few seats outside if you can't wait to dig in. Will definitely be back for more. Mama Seoul's Chicken - The Signature flavor was soo good, especially since we tried it fresh and piping hot. And for only $2.00 more you get a good amount of sides. Move over San Tung! read more

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Who is Mama Seoul and why is her chicken so dang good?! I loved hearing that crisp with every bite! The sauce held up really well too. I'm usually a soy garlic guy, but their signature flavor was definitely a step up. Overall, really solid fried chicken here at affordable prices. The galbi was also good. Nice balance of flavors and yeah I cleaned the meat right off the bones. We didn't realized they were also doing a limited offering of raw marinated crab. There's special offering every other month or so (check their site). Highly recommend trying this place! read more

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If you love san tung but don't want to travel to the city, this place is for you! Their signature wings were perfectly cooked. We tried the sweet and spicy, perfect balance of both. The son of the owner was so pleasant and let us try the salt and pepper wings and I'm so glad he did because those were my favorite. We also got the jap chae which could feed a whole family! Perfectly cooked and rich. You can tell this place is family owned and the food is made with pure love. It was so good. We will be back! There's limited outdoor seating but they're working on building an area for more outdoor seating. Come give this place a try!! read more

Volcano Island - Mama Seoul's Chicken 16 Piece salt and pepper, sweet and spicy, signature - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

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One of the best KFC I've had in the area!!! I tried the soy garlic and the batter and sauce were great. Chicken was perfectly crispy even after coating in the sauce. Tteokbokki was yummy as well. Both dishes came out piping hot and fresh. Wish they had more seating area for dining but we were able to sit outside and enjoyed our lunch. We were greeted with warm welcome and great service. read more

Volcano Island - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

Wow I didn't expect to find my new favorite KFC tucked all the way in this lowkey area! It's mostly a takeout spot with some outdoor seating, but would be great for anyone living nearby. It's run by a super friendly guy named Eli and his mom who each make their own implementations of KFC and they're both crazy good in their own way. I highly recommend trying both the Volcano Island chicken and Mama Seoul's signature wings. Texture is super important to me, and the crunch was just perfect. Even though I live almost an hour away, the food didn't get soggy at all the one time I got takeout. I swear I'd come all the time if only they were closer! read more

Volcano Island - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

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so very yummy ! definitely will be coming back to this hidden gem, staff was very friendly and helpful which also makes the place very welcoming !! read more

Volcano Island - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

I was craving Korean chicken and this place was near my hotel. I didn't sample any other dishes but the wings were just what I was looking for. I went with Mama's Signature and Sweet Heat and it was exactly what I was hoping for. The owners were very hospitable and I enjoyed their music selection too. If I lived near here I would be a regular. read more

Volcano Island - Mural in patio seating area. - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

UPDATE STILL a 5 star, just had to rave about the Korean doughnut. So good. Also I had a Saturday's limited special see the short video below. That dish was WONDERFUL. read more

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i'm upset it's taking this long for me to give volcano Island a review but it's definitely our go to spot when we are in a bind for dinner. My kids love it. We love it and it's always delicious. There are some small tables outside for maybe four people but other than that we usually order to go. Our top items are the sweet garlic, chicken and the Japchae. We also love the salad, so I'm sure you can't go wrong with anything else. The service is great. It's a small parking lot, but I've never had problems. Finding parking all in all. Definitely one of our top. Korean spots near us. Highly recommend. read more

Delicious Korean fried chicken! I've ordered from here multiple times, and haven't been disappointed! This is a take-out only spot, as there is no seating indoors. But even through the minimal interactions, you can tell how sweet and friendly the owners of this establishment are! Korean fried chicken (sweet heat & soy garlic glaze) - 10/10, I always have trouble deciding which of these flavors I like better, they're that good. The sweet heat is not nearly as spicy as you would think, but is more sweet and savory! The soy garlic has such high points for flavor per bite. Both glazes are thick and sticky, perfectly coating the wings. We've also tried their boneless wings - they're not chicken tenders like many other places do boneless wings, but they're the actual meat from the bone removed!! Just note - you can only order these in 1lb increments, but they make for wonderful leftovers! Bibimbap - 9/10, a huge portion for the price you pay, and comes with all the fixings of a standard bibimbap. The sauce provided with the bowl is great as well! We have also ordered the Korean donuts, but beware!! These have peanuts inside, so I didn't get a chance to try it. But it smelled super nutty and sweet. read more

Yes yes yes and yes, under new management of Mama Seoul and the food is even better now! Please order the Japchae, you will not regret it, it's the best I've ever had and the portion size is good! Sooooo flavorful and packed with veggies and beef! The star of the show are the signature soy garlic wings, they come nicely glazed and perfectly crispy. It has a nice balance of sweet and salty. The service is always so wonderful here, everyone is so nice and accommodating. read more

Amazing Korean Fried Chicken. I go here at least once a week. I always get the japchae, fried chicken and mama's boneless.

Door dashed it last week and was disappointed by the smaller portion. Still tasty but it doesn't feed more than 2 people. I ordered a pound of chicken and it came in small pieces. I don't think it was a pound. read more

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My brothers and I were craving Korean Fried Chicken and randomly decided to try Volcano Island (Mama Seoul). Elli was amazing and walked us through the menu and we went with the Mama Seoul Signature and Korean Spicy. The chicken was so crunchy and the sauce was so yummy! It wasn't too sweet and had so much flavor. Also, don't sleep on the salad! The sesame dressing is homemade and so delicious, we even went back to buy a jar of the dressing to take back with us to Irvine. Eli and his mom were so sweet. Highly recommend to everyone in the area and can't wait to come back next time we visit the Bay Area. read more

You won't be disappointed by the food or service! It was so good and the service was on point! They also have a outdoor space to enjoy

The chicken was pretty fire. The seasoning and crisp on it was perfect. I wish the tteokbokki was a bit spicier but was just overall pretty good. Solid Korean street food spot. Kimbap was nothin too special but still tasty would come back again :) read more

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I ordered the Hawaiian barbecue chicken and the sweet, savory glaze was absolutely delicious.

Formerly known as Volcano Island and now renamed Mama Seoul, this is a pickup-only spot that serves phenomenal soy garlic fried chicken. The online ordering and pickup process is smooth, fast, and very convenient, making it easy to grab food without any hassle. We've also tried their bibimbap, japchae, and tofu soup, every dish tasted immaculate and full of flavor. Even without dine-in, the food quality and efficient service make it more than worth the stop. Highly recommend. read more

Haven't been here since the early days of college and it's just as good as it was. The rebranding gave more variety to the menu, and this location is primarily meant for catering. Got the sweet hot flavor meal. Wings were hot, food was plenty, also included a box of rice and a salad. Sauces were balanced, not too hot or too sweet! Definitely gotta give them a call whenever there's a party coming up! read more

This place is a little hidden gem . Great customer service and very flavorful food. The Mama's signature wings are sooo good you'll have to come back the same week and get them again. The salad dressing is really good and everything is very fresh. Must try 100% read more

Volcano Island - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

One of our favorite Korean restaurants recently closed down, so we've been on the hunt for a new go-to spot--and we finally found one! We discovered this gem through a vlogger and decided to check it out. It's located in Hayward, and from the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed. We were greeted by one of the owners, Eli, who was incredibly friendly and warm. He shared the story of how the restaurant started and spoke so lovingly about his mom, which was really touching. We even had the chance to meet his beautiful mom, who is also the chef--and let me tell you, her cooking is amazing! The customer service was top-notch, but the food... wow. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! We had the chicken wings, japchae, spicy bulgogi, French fries, and sushi--all packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. It honestly felt like we were eating at a friend's home. The vibe was cozy and comforting. While there's no indoor dining, we sat outside under an umbrella, and it was just perfect. The entire experience--from the people to the food--was amazing. Definitely check it out. You won't be disappointed! read more

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The best surprise happens when you least expect it!! I was getting my nails done next door at Lisa's when my the nail tech heard my stomach grumbling, we both looked at each other and laughed! It was getting a bit late and I had to order food fast or I'd die of starvation. The last thing I wanted to do was order at Volcano as their food back when I ordered 6 months ago was ok. At this point I didn't have much of a choice. I came in and immediately it was bright, airy and I was warmly greeted! I was taken back and told to order at their touch screen device and at this point I'm still thinking it's the same restaurant as before. I got a boneless chicken plain and soy garlic. After ordering I looked up and noticed the beautiful led light of Mama Seoul. I was told that it's under new management and the sign is made for his Mom who's the chef preparing the food in the back! She came out and gave me the warmest hello! Food was hot and the person who gave me my food was Mama Seouls son. He said said my name and said thanks for ordering! Even suggested I order his Moms signature flavor! The food smelled so yummy the chicken barely made it home! I've never had boneless Korean fried chicken taste that good before! I hands down have to say it's the best boneless Korean fried chicken I've had! I also came back 3 days later to order the signature flavor Mama Seoul boneless chicken and it's so finger licking good! My husband was like Omg wow! read more

This place is under new management! The place is now owned by a mother & son duo. Dropped by during my lunch break to get my chicken fix. When pulling into the parking lot I saw that they refreshed the window signs and inside the restaurant they spruced things up! The cute sign inside was made by the son. I saw that they had a lot of new items on the menu! I got my usual soy garlic wings but we also got the new Mama Signature wings too. They were SOOOO good! We finished those quickly and regretted not ordering more. Definitely recommend them. Customer service was great and the owners son was very kind! Looking forward to trying new food items next time. read more

Volcano Island - Inside the restaurant! Looking pretty nice inside and the owners son made her this sign! - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

Decent fried chicken for sure, but it wasn't the crispiest we've had. I think it would have been great if we ate it fresh but we did have a 25 min drive home before eating it. The bone in wings stayed a crispy but the boneless ones got soggy. Flavor was great though and we'd still recommend it! Staff here were also friendly and we waited probably 15 minutes after ordering in person. read more

Volcano Island - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

I actually stumbled across this place while I was in Hayward. I was on a time crunch, and was actually looking for a pizza place to eat. All the pizza places were a couple miles away from my hotel, but took 20-30 min to get to. I didn't have that much time. This place was close by, only 0.5 miles away. I came in, had a couple questions about the menu. The guy working was very nice, and thanked me for coming in. He told me these were all his mom's recipes. I ordered the bulgogi and rice, and an order of wings. The bulgogi was very good, but the wings were AMAZING! One of the best wings ive ever had (and ive had some excellent wings) They have 2 flavors, and I was actually disappointed that I didn't get a chance to come back for the other flavor. Im sure everything on the menu is good, but if you like wings, these are a MUST have. I don't know when, but I will be back again. read more

Salt & pepper wings are a 10/10 Fresh, juicy and perfectly-sized. Friendly staff as well. I'll definitely be back! read more

This spot recently changed owners and added new items to the menu and WOW! I tried the Galbi, Mama Seoul's Signature Garlic wings and Mama Seoul's Salt N' Pepper wings. Everything was delicious and flavorful and juicy. Might be the best korean fried chicken I've had in a while. The galbi was also perfectly charred and so juicy. The new owners were very friendly and helpful. Nice, small plaza parking lot. To-go only but they do have outdoor seating. I will definitely be back soon. read more

Volcano Island - Galbi - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

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Nice find for Korean food in Hayward. Small place, no seating indoor, and most everyone seems to order for delivery/pickup. We got the Korean wings and salt pepper wings. Korean wings were solid. The salt and pepper were fantastic. Looks like plenty of other good options on the menu but we were focused on wings. read more

New owners fantastic food still being served Walked in and the inside was all changed up New order kiosk Got the fried chicken it was so mean that I had to take my glasses off serious crunch with the sauce on it Garlic soy and gochujang Japchae is full of flavor with tender slice of beef Homemade salad dressing has a great flavor and it should be sold that good The new owners said they will be adding on to the menu They are polite and sat and talked with us about what to expect coming soon can't wait Love having something that is not a chain restaurant someone keeps the food fantastic and different They also have Korean donuts did not try will next time taiyaki was stuffed had nice crunch to it red beans had good flavor Please support your local spot Mama Seoul volcano island chicken read more

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I've ordered food to-go from this place twice so far. I really enjoy their standard Kimbap - it's so moist & floverful. The rice doesn't stick to you throat as you're trying to swallow. Best of all it has Spam in it which I love. I've also tried their Bulgogi Don and Japchae, they were also pretty good. The shop itself is small, takeout orders only. But the people working there are warm & welcoming. I would definitely recommend this place and will be coming back again. read more

Love their wings here! I always order in advance. You can order online just to make the experience, faster and easier. We have been coming here for years. The food just feels like comfort food here. The place is fairly small and only has outdoor seating so hence why we always order and pick up and just enjoy at home read more

Volcano Island - Korean Fried Wings 16pcs meal! - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

Ordered 2 of the beef soups and it sucked here's why: 1. If it says beef soup please add more beef than tofu. The beef was the size of a small piece of carne asada meat inside a burrito. It was a tiny square and there were 8 of those small pieces in a big ass bowl of broth with large chunks of tofu. 2. You are also sharing there are veggies (zucchini, carrots, cabbage, and onion) and all that was received was onions inside it. 3. The broth had no flavor 4. Order shared it was ready at 2:34 for pickup and upon arrival we waited an additional 15 minutes. read more

Was so good! Will come back for their Korean wings. So worth it, way better than bonchon