Mama Cho's is a GREAT Castro Valley bistro that serves Korean American fare. Due to it's location, it's a hidden gem that deserves a visit whenever you're in the area. It does not disappoint! I tried the Kalbi Burger and KBBQ Plate - both are delicious. The store carries a lot of Korean food products on their shelves. If you're looking for a one stop shop for lunch and kimchi - this place is worth checking out!
Nareena V.
Came to Mama Cho's after a day of fishing at Lake Chabot! Glad to find a place so close since we were starving. This place shares a space with other food stalls in the market. Mama Cho's also has a market where you can buy Korean groceries/drinks. I ordered the bulgogi cheesecake and Kalbi burrito. Not sure if it was because I was super hungry but the cheesecake was fireeee. I loved all the peppers in the sandwiches. The cheese and bulgogi went really well. I wish the bread was toasted though. The burrito was also good! I wish they had other sauce besides just tapatio but overall a good experience.
Grace O.
Tried the BBQ Plate and ordered the Ribeye bulgogi and Oakland Kalbi ribs and it was fantastic! The ribeye was so tender and flavorful. The ribs were juicy, tender and delicious. You need to eat this! I would daily if it was possible LOL! The broccoli was cooked perfectly too and had a nice sesame seasoning on it. Cute building that looked like it was a converted grocery store and had several other vendors in it. Great way to share the space for small businesses. I love when buildings are repurposed instead of being torn down. If you're near Castro Valley it's worth a trip to eat here!!
Kim l.
Called in my order while I was driving up and it was ready for pickup 25 minutes later when I arrived. They ran out of sweet potato tots so we ended up ordering: Bulgogi sando: looked like a big mess but my friend ate it. Kalbi plate and bowl: 4/5 got the Oakland style (thick cut) and they were thick! Tasty. Kalbi burger: Humm nothing special. Jalapeño tots: 4/5 these were good. Located in a cute food court.
Dale S.
My husband and I had lunch here this week. We ordered a 10 piece Korean Fried Chicken for $16 that came with steamed rice and daikon and added an order of Garlic fries for $5 to share. It was an adequate amount for both of us ad the chicken pieces are very small. The flavor on the chicken was light and crunchy. The garlic fries are really coated in the garlic so be ready; They pack a punch and I was pleasantly surprised. Not much in the way of drink options but they do have a small grocery area with a beer selection. They have some unique options like bulgogi cheesesteak that we will definitely try next time we come and they also have a bar with stools inside where you can sit and eat.
Rachel N.
I really enjoy stopping here for quick and tasty bites. The whole building can get pretty busy but Mama Cho's always seems on top of things and gets their food out to you quick! My fav on their menu is the spicy pork burrito and sweet potato tots. I know burritos are pretty common but the tots are awesome! You can't find sweet potato ones anywhere! Another tasty item is the KFC sando -- both the soy garlic and spicy chili are good, but I feel they both could use more sauce. They provide some sauces and soy on the side you can grab but it would really add to the sandwiches if they already came with it. While I haven't gone all out trying the whole menu yet I do enjoy what I've had and plan to be back regularly for more!
Cindy D.
Mama Cho's is a staple for my family and I. We've come here time and time again over the years. We even had them cater our son's birthday. The sides are delicious and the rice is really good. The only thing are the portions of the meat. For the additional cost, I'd expect more than one cut of galbi..
Sherman L.
Always a great experience. Food is spot on, and the service is friendly. What a great spot to grab lunch.
Michael M.
Even though you wouldn't expect an exceptional Korean BBQ place in a unassuming town like Castro Valley, this place would then pleasantly surprise you on that. You can't go wrong getting from here! Of course, the focal point of a Korean BBQ place is the Kalbi, and Mama Cho's does it right! You can tell they make sure that their Kalbi has just the right amount of sweet and saltiness to it, while also having their meat be notably tender. This comes through in their Short Rib KBBQ Tacos; which are ridiculously amazing not only because of how impressively exceptional their Kalbi comes out, but also because I can't help but love the mixing of Korean & Mexican cuisine; perfectly melding together to offer it combined to be such a delectable dish. If not just in the taco, it in their regular KBBQ plate (I really love the "Oakland cut") still shines through with all of these remarkable characteristics in its purest meat-on-bone form -- so tender and so tasty, it's simply BBQ Kalbi at its best! Because of this, I love that while you can order it cooked for you, you can also even take it home while it is still freshly marinating and cook it for yourself (to how you like it and so it can be the utmost freshest when eating it; and of course to serve to other people to show how tasty it can be). Another dish that I think is completely worth it is the Nacho Fries. It extends onto how I love the mixing of Korean/Mexican (and in this case, American; because of the addition of the fries) cuisine, if not in taco form, then in adding it with nacho cheese and fries! The crispy fries drenched in nacho sauce with short-rib meat (the chicken is really nummy too) sprinkled around it and pico de gallo distributed throughout it makes it such a great dish! They offer a good amount of many other options/selections and if how outstanding their kalbi and its marinate is, then I imagine all these other offerings will be just as delicious -- bibimbap, bulgogi, korean fried chicken, kalbi burger; it's a nice option that you can order all of those cooked or bring certain of those home to cook yourself (whether marinated or unmarinated [so you can choose to use your own marinate if you wanted]). This place is located in a small "public market" in Castro Valley with 6 other restaurant stalls. So I can't say there isn't plenty of sitting options in the middle of the market (the restaurant stalls are located along the walls), but it can get rowdy with a crowd of other people eating from all the other places; and with the concrete floor & no inside walls, the sound carries/echoes. The chairs are metal, and you get an option of either small 2-person or park-table-type tables. The parking lot isn't too expansive and can easily fill up; I would call it medium to medium-small. My only main criticism/complaint is the pricing of their taco -- particularly Short Rib Taco. While I think it is "impressively exceptional" (because I love the amazing Kalbi and it mixing with Mexican cuisine), the fact that it is $8 for one(1) taco -- $7 for Grilled Chicken or Spicy Pork, $1 added for Kalbi/Short Rib -- makes it so figuratively hard to swallow! I mean, I understand it is extremely high quality ingredients (it has to be to include the notably "exceptional" Kalbi and other taco ingredients), but still you have to admit, how many other places do you know charges $8 for a single serving of a taco [that are non-fish, of course]?? And while the amount of flavor and succulence have the taste come out as a big size, this order is not particularly big or even regular sized -- they are sized in the most minimal size amount for tacos; and at this price...! In the end, ordering from Mama Cho's BBQ is a special treat (when me and my wife have some extra money and can afford it; $14 for 2 small tacos and $23 for KBBQ Kalbi Oakland Style = those 2 orders amounting to $37 total), that you can be sure that we definitely look forward to the chance for when we can and know we're going to en
Rod J.
Best fried chicken in town. Also pork belly plate is a favorite too. Nice delicatessen with a variety of Korean-style meal kits. All fresh and clean.
This is my go to place whenever I'm not sure what I want to eat. When I'm depressed and can't stomach anything, my friends know to get me something here for some food. This restaurant is located in Lake Chabot Public market where there are different food items like Boba, ice cream and ramen too. There's a pretty decent sized parking lot where I've never seen really run out of space. If the front is full, there's another back parking lot with more spaces. You have to order the food first, and then grab food on the other side. Whether you call in, order online or order in person, the people working here are always helpful and a pleasure to talk to. There are a lot of picnic tables to choose from in the market from small tables for 2 to big tables for 12 people. My go to at Mama Cho's is the Kalbi burrito. It's the best remix of a burrito using Korean style marinated meat. I'll grab a picture of it soon. I also love all of the appetizers like the macho fries, highly recommend with pork; or try their sweet potato tots; Their regular garlic fries are worth trying as well. I was feeling like a burger today and I also got me the burrito to go (please don't judge me). The Kalbi cheeseburger hit the spot with the right amount of onions, pickles and slices of cheese on a Kalbi patty that adds a hint of sweetness to the savory. The tomato's are a hit or miss for me on a burger so to me, they were just there. As hungry as I was, the burger was not enough for me to be full. I broke into a quarter of my burrito as well and left completely happy and excited for my next meal to finish the rest of my burrito. This place is a must try and I mean everything on the menu.
oliver lou
I like the bbq platter and the burritos.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ashley C.
I've been searching for a Korean bbq burrito after my favorite one closed down so this place was a must-stop on our day trip to the East Bay. It's located inside of Lake Chabot Public Market to the right of the entrance. They sell branded merch that we were so tempted to buy! They also have a little grocery store section which is perfect if you needed to grab a few things. We ordered the kalbi burrito and bulgogi cheesesteak. She warned us of the wait time before we ordered, which we appreciated. She quoted us 20-25 minutes but it wasn't too long at all! We got our food in about 15 minutes but I appreciated their transparency. Had to take a bite of the French fries first - they tasted like McDonald's! My kalbi burrito was huge, and so good. The ingredients could be spread out a little better, I was eating just plain rice for the first 3 bites. And all of the kimchi was in the very last few bites on the other end. But otherwise the meat was tender, although could've been more of it! I also would've enjoyed some kind of spicy creamy sauce, maybe like a gochujang mayo. The size was plenty and I was able to take home half to eat for another meal. The burrito was closer to a 4 star but my review is going to be a 5 because of my husband's bulgogi cheesesteak. It was also very good size which is good since both were $15 each without any side or drink. The meat was so tender and there was a nice kick to the flavor. The tomato and lettuce were unnecessary since those aren't on cheesesteaks normally but I could eat those peppers all day. They were sweet and not overly spicy. I hope they read this review and tell me what kind of peppers those were because I need them in my everyday meals at home! Really great experience here - I'll definitely remember that cheesesteak!
Christine L.
This is located in a food cafeteria type place where there are multiple food options with seating in the middle. Lots of parking available. Korean Fried chicken - chicken wings that were big, juicy cooked perfectly and nicely crispy but the flavor tasted strongly of salt and sugar. For some reason the way the taste made me think of cafeteria food. They were good but a bit like it was made in bulk if that makes sense. Price was okay, if it was any more $$$ I would think it was overpriced. Radishes were a nice touch but they did taste a bit stale or just not as crunchy and fresh as BonChon. If I got this again I would get a different sauce option.
Ruk G.
The Kalbi burrito was good. I wished they offered spicy salsa instead of hot sauce lol. The taste is good. It was not a big as your arm but it was about almost two third of the arm. The price was a bit on the high side. It was a treat so I couldn't tell about service. It is one popular spot in Castro valley so give it a shot. They also have soju as well
Mama Cho's is a GREAT Castro Valley bistro that serves Korean American fare. Due to it's location, it's a hidden gem that deserves a visit whenever you're in the area. It does not disappoint! I tried the Kalbi Burger and KBBQ Plate - both are delicious. The store carries a lot of Korean food products on their shelves. If you're looking for a one stop shop for lunch and kimchi - this place is worth checking out!
Came to Mama Cho's after a day of fishing at Lake Chabot! Glad to find a place so close since we were starving. This place shares a space with other food stalls in the market. Mama Cho's also has a market where you can buy Korean groceries/drinks. I ordered the bulgogi cheesecake and Kalbi burrito. Not sure if it was because I was super hungry but the cheesecake was fireeee. I loved all the peppers in the sandwiches. The cheese and bulgogi went really well. I wish the bread was toasted though. The burrito was also good! I wish they had other sauce besides just tapatio but overall a good experience.
Tried the BBQ Plate and ordered the Ribeye bulgogi and Oakland Kalbi ribs and it was fantastic! The ribeye was so tender and flavorful. The ribs were juicy, tender and delicious. You need to eat this! I would daily if it was possible LOL! The broccoli was cooked perfectly too and had a nice sesame seasoning on it. Cute building that looked like it was a converted grocery store and had several other vendors in it. Great way to share the space for small businesses. I love when buildings are repurposed instead of being torn down. If you're near Castro Valley it's worth a trip to eat here!!
Called in my order while I was driving up and it was ready for pickup 25 minutes later when I arrived. They ran out of sweet potato tots so we ended up ordering: Bulgogi sando: looked like a big mess but my friend ate it. Kalbi plate and bowl: 4/5 got the Oakland style (thick cut) and they were thick! Tasty. Kalbi burger: Humm nothing special. Jalapeño tots: 4/5 these were good. Located in a cute food court.
My husband and I had lunch here this week. We ordered a 10 piece Korean Fried Chicken for $16 that came with steamed rice and daikon and added an order of Garlic fries for $5 to share. It was an adequate amount for both of us ad the chicken pieces are very small. The flavor on the chicken was light and crunchy. The garlic fries are really coated in the garlic so be ready; They pack a punch and I was pleasantly surprised. Not much in the way of drink options but they do have a small grocery area with a beer selection. They have some unique options like bulgogi cheesesteak that we will definitely try next time we come and they also have a bar with stools inside where you can sit and eat.
I really enjoy stopping here for quick and tasty bites. The whole building can get pretty busy but Mama Cho's always seems on top of things and gets their food out to you quick! My fav on their menu is the spicy pork burrito and sweet potato tots. I know burritos are pretty common but the tots are awesome! You can't find sweet potato ones anywhere! Another tasty item is the KFC sando -- both the soy garlic and spicy chili are good, but I feel they both could use more sauce. They provide some sauces and soy on the side you can grab but it would really add to the sandwiches if they already came with it. While I haven't gone all out trying the whole menu yet I do enjoy what I've had and plan to be back regularly for more!
Mama Cho's is a staple for my family and I. We've come here time and time again over the years. We even had them cater our son's birthday. The sides are delicious and the rice is really good. The only thing are the portions of the meat. For the additional cost, I'd expect more than one cut of galbi..
Always a great experience. Food is spot on, and the service is friendly. What a great spot to grab lunch.
Even though you wouldn't expect an exceptional Korean BBQ place in a unassuming town like Castro Valley, this place would then pleasantly surprise you on that. You can't go wrong getting from here! Of course, the focal point of a Korean BBQ place is the Kalbi, and Mama Cho's does it right! You can tell they make sure that their Kalbi has just the right amount of sweet and saltiness to it, while also having their meat be notably tender. This comes through in their Short Rib KBBQ Tacos; which are ridiculously amazing not only because of how impressively exceptional their Kalbi comes out, but also because I can't help but love the mixing of Korean & Mexican cuisine; perfectly melding together to offer it combined to be such a delectable dish. If not just in the taco, it in their regular KBBQ plate (I really love the "Oakland cut") still shines through with all of these remarkable characteristics in its purest meat-on-bone form -- so tender and so tasty, it's simply BBQ Kalbi at its best! Because of this, I love that while you can order it cooked for you, you can also even take it home while it is still freshly marinating and cook it for yourself (to how you like it and so it can be the utmost freshest when eating it; and of course to serve to other people to show how tasty it can be). Another dish that I think is completely worth it is the Nacho Fries. It extends onto how I love the mixing of Korean/Mexican (and in this case, American; because of the addition of the fries) cuisine, if not in taco form, then in adding it with nacho cheese and fries! The crispy fries drenched in nacho sauce with short-rib meat (the chicken is really nummy too) sprinkled around it and pico de gallo distributed throughout it makes it such a great dish! They offer a good amount of many other options/selections and if how outstanding their kalbi and its marinate is, then I imagine all these other offerings will be just as delicious -- bibimbap, bulgogi, korean fried chicken, kalbi burger; it's a nice option that you can order all of those cooked or bring certain of those home to cook yourself (whether marinated or unmarinated [so you can choose to use your own marinate if you wanted]). This place is located in a small "public market" in Castro Valley with 6 other restaurant stalls. So I can't say there isn't plenty of sitting options in the middle of the market (the restaurant stalls are located along the walls), but it can get rowdy with a crowd of other people eating from all the other places; and with the concrete floor & no inside walls, the sound carries/echoes. The chairs are metal, and you get an option of either small 2-person or park-table-type tables. The parking lot isn't too expansive and can easily fill up; I would call it medium to medium-small. My only main criticism/complaint is the pricing of their taco -- particularly Short Rib Taco. While I think it is "impressively exceptional" (because I love the amazing Kalbi and it mixing with Mexican cuisine), the fact that it is $8 for one(1) taco -- $7 for Grilled Chicken or Spicy Pork, $1 added for Kalbi/Short Rib -- makes it so figuratively hard to swallow! I mean, I understand it is extremely high quality ingredients (it has to be to include the notably "exceptional" Kalbi and other taco ingredients), but still you have to admit, how many other places do you know charges $8 for a single serving of a taco [that are non-fish, of course]?? And while the amount of flavor and succulence have the taste come out as a big size, this order is not particularly big or even regular sized -- they are sized in the most minimal size amount for tacos; and at this price...! In the end, ordering from Mama Cho's BBQ is a special treat (when me and my wife have some extra money and can afford it; $14 for 2 small tacos and $23 for KBBQ Kalbi Oakland Style = those 2 orders amounting to $37 total), that you can be sure that we definitely look forward to the chance for when we can and know we're going to en
Best fried chicken in town. Also pork belly plate is a favorite too. Nice delicatessen with a variety of Korean-style meal kits. All fresh and clean.
Restaurantji Recommends
This is my go to place whenever I'm not sure what I want to eat. When I'm depressed and can't stomach anything, my friends know to get me something here for some food. This restaurant is located in Lake Chabot Public market where there are different food items like Boba, ice cream and ramen too. There's a pretty decent sized parking lot where I've never seen really run out of space. If the front is full, there's another back parking lot with more spaces. You have to order the food first, and then grab food on the other side. Whether you call in, order online or order in person, the people working here are always helpful and a pleasure to talk to. There are a lot of picnic tables to choose from in the market from small tables for 2 to big tables for 12 people. My go to at Mama Cho's is the Kalbi burrito. It's the best remix of a burrito using Korean style marinated meat. I'll grab a picture of it soon. I also love all of the appetizers like the macho fries, highly recommend with pork; or try their sweet potato tots; Their regular garlic fries are worth trying as well. I was feeling like a burger today and I also got me the burrito to go (please don't judge me). The Kalbi cheeseburger hit the spot with the right amount of onions, pickles and slices of cheese on a Kalbi patty that adds a hint of sweetness to the savory. The tomato's are a hit or miss for me on a burger so to me, they were just there. As hungry as I was, the burger was not enough for me to be full. I broke into a quarter of my burrito as well and left completely happy and excited for my next meal to finish the rest of my burrito. This place is a must try and I mean everything on the menu.
I like the bbq platter and the burritos.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've been searching for a Korean bbq burrito after my favorite one closed down so this place was a must-stop on our day trip to the East Bay. It's located inside of Lake Chabot Public Market to the right of the entrance. They sell branded merch that we were so tempted to buy! They also have a little grocery store section which is perfect if you needed to grab a few things. We ordered the kalbi burrito and bulgogi cheesesteak. She warned us of the wait time before we ordered, which we appreciated. She quoted us 20-25 minutes but it wasn't too long at all! We got our food in about 15 minutes but I appreciated their transparency. Had to take a bite of the French fries first - they tasted like McDonald's! My kalbi burrito was huge, and so good. The ingredients could be spread out a little better, I was eating just plain rice for the first 3 bites. And all of the kimchi was in the very last few bites on the other end. But otherwise the meat was tender, although could've been more of it! I also would've enjoyed some kind of spicy creamy sauce, maybe like a gochujang mayo. The size was plenty and I was able to take home half to eat for another meal. The burrito was closer to a 4 star but my review is going to be a 5 because of my husband's bulgogi cheesesteak. It was also very good size which is good since both were $15 each without any side or drink. The meat was so tender and there was a nice kick to the flavor. The tomato and lettuce were unnecessary since those aren't on cheesesteaks normally but I could eat those peppers all day. They were sweet and not overly spicy. I hope they read this review and tell me what kind of peppers those were because I need them in my everyday meals at home! Really great experience here - I'll definitely remember that cheesesteak!
This is located in a food cafeteria type place where there are multiple food options with seating in the middle. Lots of parking available. Korean Fried chicken - chicken wings that were big, juicy cooked perfectly and nicely crispy but the flavor tasted strongly of salt and sugar. For some reason the way the taste made me think of cafeteria food. They were good but a bit like it was made in bulk if that makes sense. Price was okay, if it was any more $$$ I would think it was overpriced. Radishes were a nice touch but they did taste a bit stale or just not as crunchy and fresh as BonChon. If I got this again I would get a different sauce option.
The Kalbi burrito was good. I wished they offered spicy salsa instead of hot sauce lol. The taste is good. It was not a big as your arm but it was about almost two third of the arm. The price was a bit on the high side. It was a treat so I couldn't tell about service. It is one popular spot in Castro valley so give it a shot. They also have soju as well