Shoutout to Eli over at Volcano Island in Hayward! This was my first time checking out the restaurant after seeing a few videos on TikTok, and I'm so glad I decided to stop by. Eli provided some of the best customer service I've experienced in a while. He was welcoming, friendly, and genuinely made me feel appreciated as a first-time customer. Because of that alone, I'll definitely be coming back! I ordered the chicken wings (his mom's special), French fries, and the Island Crab Cake Balls, and everything was delicious. I really wanted to try the Salt & Pepper Wings, but I told myself I'd save those for my next visit. When my order was ready, Eli surprised me by giving me a sample of the Salt & Pepper Wings. That meant a lot because I really wanted to try them! On top of that, he gave me a free canned soda since it was my first time visiting. I just want to give Eli and the entire Volcano Island team a huge shoutout and thank you for the great food and amazing hospitality. Customer service like that definitely makes a difference. I'll be back for those Salt & Pepper Wings! read more

Crispy Wings & Really Good Korean Comfort Food! I finally checked out Volcano Island in Hayward, and I'm glad I did! Just a heads-up -- this is primarily a takeout spot, so there isn't really an indoor "eat-in" area. They do have a small amount of outdoor seating, but I'd plan on taking your food home or somewhere else if you're looking for a sit-down meal. We started with their Signature Wings, and these were the star of the show! They were crispy, juicy, and delicious, but what really impressed me was how incredibly crispy they stayed. Even after sitting for a while, they still had that great crunch. That's not always easy to pull off with wings! We also tried the Soft Tofu Soup, which was tasty and comforting. I personally would have liked the broth to have a little thicker consistency, but the flavor was still really good. There were also lots of ingredients and different bites throughout the soup, which made it satisfying. The Gyoza were another winner. Nicely cooked, flavorful, and a great addition to the meal. Love the Kimchi! And I have to mention the customer service, which was excellent. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Overall, Volcano Island is a great little spot if you're looking for crispy wings and Korean-inspired comfort food in Hayward. Just know that seating is very limited, so this is more of a grab-and-go experience. Those wings alone are worth coming back for! read more

Love their japchae and soy garlic wings, the wings are fried, crispy, and smothered in their sweet soy garlic sauce. That's all I usually order. Download their app, place your order, and pick up your food. Super easy. You earn points too! read more

Volcano Island - Soy Garlic wings - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

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Korean food for dinner so we got volcano island. I was expecting the portion sizes to be small but all dishes we ordered were enough to share. Definitely worth the price! All dishes were flavorful. The wings with the original sauce was so good I wanted to order more wings. The tteokbokki was a little spicy for me but still very flavorful and loved that were was an egg, carrots and fish cakes. The spicy pork was also delicious. I had enough to take for lunch the next day. The volcano roll tasted like a deep-fried California roll. We enjoyed dinner and will go back next time to sit in their new patio. Ambiance is casual. Seating is limited. Kiosk or in person ordering. Service was quick and friendly. read more

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Great service and super yummy! This is a small restaurant with only outdoor seating. We ordered on the screen inside and it's a cute place. The son of the owner was there and he was very friendly to talk about the menu with us. He recommended getting the signature wings and the salt and pepper. We got the soy garlic on the side. The signature sauce was sooo good! That was our favorite! If you like sweet, I highly recommend it!! They also have a variety of Korean dishes and side dishes like gyoza and rolls. Their seating area is very cute with a mural telling their story. I can't wait to come back and try their food again. read more

Volcano Island - Mural outside - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

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This place is awesome! The son from the Mom and Son duo was helping out in the front. Very friendly and quick to get everything down even after us asking lots of questions about the food, the place and how they started. Food came out quick, fresh and best of all delicious! Seriously loved every bite and was already planning our next trip to try other things even before we left. Place is very small, so take out would be best especially if they get busy. Or be comfortable eating in your car :) Still fantastic spot, fantastic people and fantastic food! Will be back again! read more

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This was our first time coming but have been in this area many years. We never noticed the place and owner changed again. They are one year young. They took over the Volcano Island but it's really under Mama Seoul. The owner son and mom team are very friendly and helpful; very welcoming. Makes me want to come back again. No real seating inside though, maybe a two person table only. They're mainly for ordering but they do have seating in their patio they made on the side. It's shaded but not from the heat or cold. They are closed Sunday and Monday, and have short hours. There is a good amount of parking in this little plaza. We ordered their Mama signature chicken wings which was highly recommended as it's sweet, tangy and a little spice. It was very good. They also had regular chicken wing flavor or boneless. Surprisingly, they use dark meat too which is better in my opinion for more flavor of the chicken. We ordered a small amount of boneless and and wings to bring home to the family. It has very good flavors and not too much batter but of course better eaten fresh like the son recommended. We meant to order to go only but the son convinced us to try it fresh while we were there. After trying it, we were blown away. We drove off then drove back as we decided to place an order for half tray for a party we had on Saturday. They recommend at least, 48 hours if we needed cater trays. Don't call but email is better for them to place big orders. Decent prices but even chicken wings are getting expensive in the Bay Area. Totally, Recommend this little place. [29R,2026] read more

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My wife read about this restaurant and put it on our bucket list to try when we were in the area. I happened to run an errand out in the Hayward area and ensured I had time to visit the restaurant. The restaurant is a definite solid 4.5 stars and maybe 5 stars if I ate the chicken hot out of the fryer. I decided to get a snack and ordered an 8 piece wing half plain and half soy garlic with an order of fries. I chatted with the gentleman who took my order while the wings were being g fried up fresh. He said his Mom had been cooking over 40 years and the two of them started the restaurant a little over a year ago. Really nice guy. He also gave me some Signature Wings which he said I needed to really try. My wife and liked the wings we ordered but the signature wings were absolutely the best. By the time I get home the plain and soy wings weren't as crunchy as I like but the signature wings retained the crunch. Support a family owned restaurant. You need to go here for the signature wings. You can't go wrong with any of the wings. This restaurant is a diamond in the rough and I will definitely make a detour to get some yummy wings if I am anywhere in the area. read more

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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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This place has got to be the BEST place for Korean Fried Chicken in Hayward!!! My husband & I went here while doing laundry & since it was dinner time, we decided to give this place a try. The guy was super nice & he even had us try some of the salt & pepper wings. Plus, they have a little outdoor seating area with a cute mural in the back. I will be returning!!! I wish I had known this place sooner bc it's midnight & I'm still thinking about those crispy, crunchy, chicken wings. If you want some KFC, go here!! read more

Volcano Island - Bone in salt & pepper wings MUST TRY - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

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- Mama's Sweet Heat Wings (extra spicy): 9.5/10 - Mama's Signature Wings: 9/10 Without a doubt the best Korean fried chicken in the Bay Area. I don't ever review places, but this one was the one exception because of how good it was. I requested extra spicy on the heat wings and for the first time ever the wings were challengingly spicy while being extremely flavorful. Service went above and beyond to make you feel welcomed. Very friendly people with a lot of heart serving a family recipe 40 years in the making. Really can't say enough good things about this place and if there really has to be one negative it would be that they don't serve extra large drumsticks which are my favorite pieces. Definitely go support this family owned shop they're better than any Korean fried chicken chain in the Bay Area. read more

Volcano Island - Mama's Sweet Heat Wings and Mama's Signature Wings - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

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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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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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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My girl and I decided to give this place a try since it's be awhile since we had Korean fried chicken and this place did not disappoint! We had the soy garlic fried chicken and the signature fried chicken which had a nice crunch. The salad with a mayo sesame dressing was great and the crab balls were delicious! The staff were also nice and attentive. We will definitely come back. Highly recommended! read more

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My husband and I tried this place last night and it was bombbbb we fasho coming back read more

Volcano Island - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

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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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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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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

I was looking for a Korean wings . We searched Yelp to see what's around Hayward. Saw this place Volcano Island. It's a must try. Friendly staff. Touch screen ordering. Has a side seating and very nice. We ordered wings with the mamas signature sauce. Very delicious and didn't disappoint us. We also ordered TTEOKBOKKI...nice sauce and good on spicy. Thank you Eli for recommending the wings sauce. If you want to try this place...delicious wings. They have others food on the menu. read more

Volcano Island - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

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WOW!! We were absolutely blown away by this place! We happen to stumble upon on our way from from SF Not only was the food AMAZING, but the service was just as incredible. We lived in Korea for 2 years, so we know what authentic Korean food should taste like--and honestly, this is the closest we've found since coming back! You can truly taste the love and authenticity in every bite. If you've been looking for a Korean spot that feels like the real deal, GO HERE! We're praying many blessings over this business and hope they continue to thrive! You have to give them a try--you won't regret it! read more

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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Mom and son run this tiny cute hole in the wall that sells the most amazing Korean fried chicken in the Bay Area. I am obsessed with fried chicken, particularly Korean style that isn't too spicy. The signature flavor chicken wings is the best item on the menu. Mama explained that it's not spicy at all, but full of umami and a caramelized crunchy sweetness that is extremely similar to what you can get in Seoul. She was absolutely right! I also ordered the plain chicken which was also excellent. Everything was fresh, hot, and crunchy, the wings are plump and juicy. They rival 5 star wings I have tried from SF to SJ. But what really makes them stand out is the fact that they always use fresh oil to fry every day. They said they never compromise on using fresh oil even while the cost is rising. And friends, if you love fried food you can absolutely tell when your food has been cooked in fresh or old oil. The chicken was clean, not greasy, and you only taste the chicken and not the oil it was cooked in. They are conveniently located just a few min from the San Mateo bridge and I would 100% recommend stopping there on your way. I only wish they were located on the San Mateo side so I could visit more often! read more

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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they have dine in options now. the service is top notch. Eli is very friendly and has an excellent customer service skills. their boneless fried chicken is a must try. it's giving a hole in the wall vibe. will definitely be coming back. read more

generous portions, very nice customer service and the food tasted great! support your local businesses!! read more

Volcano Island - Mama's Japchae and Signature Flavor Chicken Wings - Chicken Wings Near Me - Hayward, California

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We had such a great experience at Volcano Island Chicken- Mama Seoul! We ordered the beef bulgogi combo and it was absolutely delicious. The owner was incredibly kind and even gave us a complimentary serving of their special chicken recipe that's been in his family for about 40 years. It was so flavorful and definitely a highlight of our meal! The restaurant was clean, welcoming, and had a great atmosphere. Between the amazing food and the warm hospitality, we'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend! - nicole & irish read more

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Delicious Korean fries chicken! Can not recommend the classic and salt and pepper chicken more! The co-owner works the front and is the chillest guy I met around Hayward! The outdoor seat is so comfortable, especially on a hot day where the shade and the breeze makes it heaven. As a person who travels back and forth to South Korea, this restaurant can absolutely go head-to-head with fried chicken places there. Give it a try and enjoy the first crunch! read more

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I love this place so much. It's independently owned by a mom and her son, they're always SUPER sweet and kind. I love their food so much. The soy garlic and signature are my go to's all the time. I think I get this like once a week which is so bad but I love it that much !! lol but they're very sweet and the place is super small but in a homey kinda way. I love all of it. I highly recommend. read more

Delicious food! If you want attentive service, a clean environment, and try yummy food this is the place to go!

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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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

Love the soy garlic chicken!!! It's tasty and the chicken is very crispy. The spicy pork is very good too . Not too spicy just right amount . We stumbled on this place during Covid . The new owners have expanded the menu but I always order chicken and the kept the same recipe . read more

A friend was here last night and recommended this place. Hubby and I stopped by today and this place did not disappoint. Ordered: 8 pc Mama's signature chicken wings 8 pc Sweet heat chicken wings Sweet potato fries Island crab The mama's signature chicken was our favorite but the sweet heat was also good! The sweet potato fries were good and crispy. We definitely want to come back and try other items on the menu. It can get busy, but that means it's good. The people who work/own this place are very kind as well! read more

Everything was soooo so DELICIOUS. We got the wings (soy garlic & sweet heat) both crispy & super flavorful all throughout the wing. The owner brought us their signature wing to try & 10/10 First time trying kimchi too & I look forward to having it again. The patio sitting area is cute & I loved their mural on the wall showing their story 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

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

It's small an tucked away in a corner but the food definitely stands out!!! The fries had a nice coat of seasoning and came out fresh and hot the wings are fire!!!! Wish it had more setting but it's a nice day out so the seats outside work fine . The Guy The counter was cool and momma was whippin in the kitchen I'll definitely be back read more

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

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