Such and awesome place. Probably the best kebab in the east bay. They used the finest ingredients!

This is the cutest little neighborhood cafe! The director of my son's preschool suggested I try this place and am so glad she did! Cafe Rumi offers a wide variety of hot and cold drinks, from lattes to smoothies to Thai iced tea.. yum! They also offer kid sized drinks and a kid's hot dog - yay! Gluten free options are available as well as fresh fruit and salads. I had the egg sandwich and a latte and they were made just right.. with love. read more

Cafe Rumi - Enjoying a latte at the neighborhood cafe.. - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

The family who runs this place are so sweet! They have rumi quotes as the theme of the cafe, of course. The pink chai is a mussssst try!!! It is the reason I come back again and again, all the way from oakland. read more

Great place for coffee and gyros! tried: iced pink chai 3/5 flourless cake: 2/5 beef gyro: 5/5 good place to go if you want gyro and other Mediterranean goodies at 7am, since most places open aroubd 10 or 11. Friendly staff, fast service. Easy parking. read more

I get the chicken gyro and it's fresh and huge! I like to try and support small business too! Will be back!

The food and drinks at this place are 4.5-5 star quality, but I'm not a huge fan on negative attitudes which is why I gave this place an overall 3. The study aesthetic isn't as comfortable as other cafes, but it has a chill vibe and decent WiFi. I always get their chicken gyro and iced chai latte. Both are some of my favorite food and drinks to get there and they're pretty good compared to the many other gyros and chai lattes I've had. I also like their hummus and pita bread as well as their no flour chocolate cake. My only concern is the few times I've come there, I've received attitude from a middle-aged/older female employee. I just dealt with the death of a family member and was running to get a snack on the way to my hour commute to work. I call to order so I can just pick up on my way to work. I know I didn't get my own order confused especially because I order this all the time. I asked for a iced chai latte as well as hummus and pita. My exact words were "can I get an iced chai latte, the regular chai latte" because there's the pink chai latte and I prefer the regular one. She took me saying "regular" as hot even though I said iced. On arrival another staff, who was very friendly and a younger lady, made sure my drink was iced since I re-emphasized the iced part of my drink while paying. She asked the middle-aged lady if she could just pour my drink into ice since I asked for iced and the middle-aged lady seem frustrated and came to me saying "next time don't say regular, mention iced" and I politely replied "oh okay, I do remember say 'iced, but regular chai'" and the middle-aged lady proceeded to correct me and say "I know you said regular because I took your order." Now I'm not upset she messed up the drink, I'm upset because she persisted to blame me for the situation and came off slightly defensive (I'm not sure if it's because she didn't want to remake the drink) when I was being understanding and willing to move past the situation. I would've taken the hot drink even if it was a hot day, but the younger lady started to remake my iced version. It was upsetting to have the middle-aged woman make me feel attacked even though I wasn't even trying to argue and for her to say I didn't order an iced drink when I clearly remember doing so. If she misunderstood me saying "iced and regular" she could've clarified, but instead of "the customer is always right" I got attitude and felt like I was to blame. My friend who was in the room with me when I ordered even remembers me saying iced in my order. I'm not sure why the middle-aged lady thought it was necessary to confront me then re-emphasize I was wrong by saying "no I took your order you said regular". On top of that, I know I was not the only one to experience this type of attitude as the middle-aged woman also made the same mistake with another woman who ordered before me. Similar situation, but different beverage. The woman ordered an iced drink, but the middle-aged staff said the order wasn't iced then the middle-aged staff persisting to give attitude to the woman who ordered the drink. Maybe if I have a better encounter with the middle-aged lady then I will change my rating, but for now attitude trumps food quality so it's a 3 for me. read more

Beef and lamb gyro was amazing, fresh ingredients and the flavors mesh really well. My girlfriend always gets the lavender latte great service as well. read more

I've eaten here twice. First time, the food was amazing and I wonder if the owner's presence had to do something with it. The meat gyros were delectable and the pink chai great. He was also very personable to talk to. I forget what my guest ordered. This was around 11 am on a weekday. A few weeks later I drove here especially for the same gyro for lunch on a weekday. It was very poorly made. There two young ladies at the counter. Neither food not service were great. Haven't gone back after that. It isn't on my way. read more

This is a haven for coffee lovers!! It has a university cafe theme which I love! We had gyros and humus. Both were very good!! Very friendly staff!! read more

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Cafe Rumi is a cute little place! I came there for the Pink Tea!! The food is good, friendly staff and and clean. I really like the little playing corner, my little 2 year old enjoyed it and it gave me time to actually sit down and eat. However, I ordered baked fries and received fried fries. Not sure if that was a mistake, but didn't want to complain we ate it anyway! read more

Love this place!! I'm sitting here enjoying a super delicious Dervish Chai Latte with oat milk and an egg and sausage breakfast sandwich. Not only is the food and drink exceptional, the staff is amazing. Hailey is the sweetest! Always with a smile and great suggestions when I can't decide what I want. I highly recommend that you give Rumi a try!! read more

The greek gyros are absolutely the best. Amazingly flavorful and the wait time is fast. Coffees great too!

Ambience- cozy but there are lots of students who come here to study. Everyone seemed to be working on their school stuffs. Food- 3 star, would not say its an authentic Mediterranean place, its a cafe with sandwich and platter options. We ordered chicken gyro, and saffron chicken rice platter. Gyro was okay, but the saffron chicken platter was chicken in tomato base. I wouldn't recommend it. We also ordered Thai ice tea with sago pearls- my friend who is a boba tea fan was disappointed I noticed my clothes smell like food after I came out of the cafe. read more

UPDATE #2 6/21/17...This update is in response to the review on 4/23/17. The owners reached out to me regarding our customer service on 4/23 and handled our concern in a genuine and professional manner. It is apparent how much love and energy they put into their local business to ensure that their guests walk in as customers and leave as family. Thank you Sal and Sarah for your exemplary customer service and support to your customers. UPDATE 4/23/17(1 star was given)....This review is solely on the recent service. We've been coming for the past 2 years and love this place. However, the past few times, they have skipped our order and have been in complete disarray. Today, the employee proceeded to argue that she already made it and that she will remake it. I told her that we never received our order and that 3 other numbers after ours was called. Customer service goes a long way...don't argue that you already made it and placed it on the counter and we took it. We are sitting right next to where you pick up your order and nobody else took it either. How about..."sorry ma'm. No problem, we will get your order out to you next." ORIGINAL REVIEW (5 stars given)...This place is a staple in our family. Have car--will drive. The best gyros and chai lattes. They are dog friendly (tables outside with water). When I need to get my zen on I read the motivational quotes that are circulating on a TV screen. They really help me center my life and get in a good place with reflecting. The owner and staff are fabulous as well. read more

Beyond impressed from their customer service to food. It's exceptional. Visiting from La and came back to get breakfast the second day too cause they feel like family. read more

My husband and I love this place. It's a frequent spot for dinner when I'm not in the mood to cook. Their Thai ice tea with soy is delicious. Also, everything is halal and their vegetarian food is actually vegetarian. I've must have eaten that eggplant platter 40+ times by now and never have found any meat in it. Such consistency is super awesome. If you're a student this would be a great place to study as it's very quiet. read more

Cafe Rumi - Our usual dinner... eggplant platter, chicken sandwhich, soy thai ice tea, and smoothie. So yummy. - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Yummy food. Delicious coffees and teas. The staff is friendly and greets everyone as they walk in the cafe. It's comfortable. Great place to relax! read more

I love this café! I found it on accident when I was hanging out in the Hayward area and wanted to kill some time with my sister and baby niece. I was pleasantly surprised that they have a kids corner with books and toys and a diaper changing area in the bathroom. The food and drinks are amazing! Hands-down it is one of the best chai lattes I've ever had, although I always asked them to make it less sweet. The saffron chicken is amazing and something that I would pay a lot more money and eat at a sit-down fancy restaurant. I love the middle eastern decor of colorful lanterns and curtains and the owner is super nice. Highly recommend!! read more

Having a lunch date with a friend. My friend K introduced this Mediterranean restaurant to me. When we arrived , I felt it was a cozy atmosphere. You order first, K got the chicken kabob, chai tea and I got the Saffron Chicken, earl grey tea. It's was a great day for tea because it was cold and raining. They were quick getting us our order. It is a somewhat a self service restaurant. You order, when food is ready they call your orders out and you get it through a counter top for pick up of your food and drinks. We both finish our food and drinks and we enjoy each other company's. The food was delicious and hopefully I can come here with my family to try other dishes. read more

Today I had the Gyro Lamb & Beef, every bite was bomb! Ambiance in here is really fun too (I want my room to look like this) but 5 stars cause food is good and customer service is really good too! I used to come her on my lunch breaks all the time and they always had my food ready when I came in for my 30min lunch. read more

Cafe Rumi - Gyro (lamb and beef) - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Definitely come here to get the Pink Chai. It's so good. The people here are always really nice when I go in before running to work. The muffins are simply Costco faire, so not entirely worth the money. But the coffee is good, and that Pink Chai is to die for. They also have a Thai Iced tea that's good, too. Their Flourless chocolate cake is super yummy, too. :) When it comes to actual food, they have some delicious hummus and pita. The pita is super hot and the hummus is solid. It's a little on the oily side, but really good when stirred. I've also had the lamb platter thing, and they have this green, spicy, vinegar-y sauce that's delicious over the rice pilaf. read more

After wanting to come here for so long for their pink chai, my friend and I finally got the chance! Cafe Rumi is located in the corner of Heyer Center and is very cozy and welcoming. They have many seasonal drinks and items offered and I was trying my best to resist not purchasing a food item because we had plans to eat lunch afterwards. We decided to go with one hot Pink Chai and one iced Pink Chai. The workers were super friendly when taking our order and service was fast. Both drinks were pretty good. I'd say I prefer the iced Pink Chai though; however, that's just a personal preference. I've always been a fan of cold drinks. The drink wasn't what I expected though. I expected it to taste exactly like a chai latte- just pink. However, this didn't taste anything like chai to me at all. There wasn't any sign of ginger or cinnamon and I was very confused with what the drink was made up of. Nevertheless, it was still pretty good; however, I think I'll be choosing the regular Chai over the Pink Chai. Overall, 4/5. Service was nice and quick. Interior was clean, welcoming, and warm. Drinks weren't bad. I'll probably be back to try their other selection of drinks, because the pink chai just wasn't something I was crazy over. read more

Cafe Rumi - Iced Pink Chai - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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This is a lovely little cafe hidden in Castro Valley. We found it as we wanted a casual dinner to avoid rush hour traffic on 580. What a great place. Thank goodness for yelp. The place is small and casual which is perfect. We will come back (even though we live in Livermore)! It was that good. My husband had the gyro and loved it. I had the gyro platter and have enough left for lunch! The meat is so flavorful with just the right amount of peppery bite. The salad was even good .. great light dressing on it. The yogurt sauce is tasty. I also had to try their maple scone! So good. Remember when Starbucks used to have maple scones? The ones from Cafe Rumi are even better. I want to come back and try their pastries with their coffee (it is an actual coffee cafe too!). We have friends in Castro Valley who are vegetarians and we have bring them to Cafe Rumi and try their veggie options..eggplant platter, maybe. read more

They make eggs with their Espresso Machine... disgusting. I saw this a while back when I came to visit and haven't gotten a chance to make a review. It looked like a great small town cafe but that did it for me. I was truly in disbelief read more

I am going to punch the next hipster I see in the face. This place is noooo way 4.5 stars. I've run into this before. Play some "hip" ambient music in the background, have thick rimmed glass d-bags infiltrate and mention the word "vegan" somewhere and then....blamo.....the review is inflated by 2.5 stars. It doesn't take much to impress skinny jean people whom subconsciencly subscribe to a sub group. People who are cultured....really cultured are not so easily swayed. Small portions, cheap dining ware, super overpriced for the quantity of food. One huge ass scoop of rice, some sprinkling of cucumber/tomato's, one tiny skewer of chicken for $12!!! Hell no. Uncomfortable ikea-ish furniture. Food is mediocre at best. Try "Wally's" in Emeryville if you want some true kick ass 4 star mediteranian food. I would avoid this money trap. read more

Best coffee place in the area hands down! Great Mediterranean menu, excellent customer service, it's a gem. We are lucky to have this place in the area read more

Peet's. Starbucks. Tully's. I'm sorry. But I've fallen in love with a new coffee place, and I don't think I'll ever be able to leave them for another coffee shop again. The boyfriend was actually the one who discovered this gem of a coffee place in Castro Valley. He had read about it on Yelp and had been itching to try it for a week before we finally found the time to go. And we were definitely not disappointed. When you first walk in, you are promptly greeted by whoever is behind the counter. And they're genuinely friendly -- none of that canned, forced friendliness. On this first, amazing visit, the boyfriend got their Nutella hot chocolate and I ordered their soy green tea chai latte. Ohhhhhhhhhhh my goodness. Hello, deliciousness. While the Nutella hot chocolate was super rich, it was still one of the most delicious things I'd ever had before. But it did not top my soy green tea chai latte. Sweet, but with that chai spice kick, I could hardly put it down. Even the boyfriend, who is not a fan of chai, loved my drink and kept stealing sips of it when he thought I wasn't looking. So of course we kept going back. I have yet to move away from my go-to drink, but the boyfriend's also tried their Italian sodas and he wasn't disappointed. We've also tried their gyros (delicious, juicy, tender, and filling) as well as their chicken kabob platter (whatever it is they do to their rice, it's incredible). So far, we've introduced quite a few people to the delight that is Café Rumi, and they've also had nothing but good things to say about the place. Keep up whatever it is that you're doing, Rumi, and you will have a loyal customer in me for life. read more

Café Rumi is a nice place to do work if you have a job, run away from mother, if she imprisons you in her lair, or procrastinate wildly, if you're a student. I like to come here because my house smells like death, plus I like the coffee. There are 2 flat screens that display the menu which is totally overkill. I feel like the owner got a good deal on flatscreens at Costco and said, eff it, we'll put two! Unless the menu contains some cgi special effects, stick to a chalk board or a plaque, Mr fancy pants! I'm splitting hairs here, it's really a nice little place to evade mother. There's even a little library where you can take a book or drop one off for others to read. Mother tells me in her day, there were whole buildings where people would go to "borrow" (not steal) books, and the government allowed it! Oh mother, you can be such a dumb dumb sometimes. read more

By far the best chicken gyro I've tasted! ! I highly recommend! ! Hella good! ! read more

Cafe Rumi - Mmmmm chicken gyro - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Another gem in Castro Valley. Friends, family and I thoroughly enjoyed coming here. Cafe Rumi offers a nice selection (including vegetarian friendly) of Mediterranean-esque snacks and meals in a classy, rustic but cozy environment. The staff is very friendly, and there is plenty of parking. read more

I recently visited Café Rumi on a Saturday around noon. It wasn't empty, but it wasn't crowded either. The atmosphere is inviting, with very friendly staff, and it's a great place to get some work done -- there are tons of outlets. The menu has your standard café items, as well as some less common fare. My eyes widened when I saw the Rumi hot dog sandwich: grilled hot dogs in a sandwich roll with a jalapeño and cilantro chutney. It was delicious! Add to that an Italian soda with a little bit of cream mixed in, and you've got yourself a tasty little treat you can't get at any Starbucks. read more

When I think delicious food, I usually don't seek out a small location nestled in the armpit of a Liquor store and Lady Fitness. Perhaps some of the ex Video Magic awesomeness rubbed off on this place. I judged this place quite harshly when I saw it had first opened. Yea, I'm going to pull into this parking lot and try a place just for a cup of coffee of unknown quality. I would constantly drive by on Heyer and give it a mental "psssssh". I'm glad I finally broke down and checked this place out. I got a Chicken Kabob sandwich, and it was delicious. The chicken didn't really stand out, but the fresh veggies, Tzatziki, and the super soft bread made it delicious. They toasted some pita triangles to go along with the hummus. They obviously took great pains to make the inside look nice, and have it be a comfortable environment to enjoy your food. Both the regular Mocha and Nutella hot chocolate were delicious, even if they ignored a request for no whip (deep down, we all want whip). The flourless chocolate cake was Jodeci lyric worthy... read more

I'm really sorry, but Ysenia gives inexcusably bad service. She literally threw a bag of cooling food at our table and instructed me to "listen out for my name next time" because they were "really busy" and couldn't bring our order as they have every other time we've ever visited. Apparently "really busy" is 'cafe 2/3rds empty, everybody served, nobody in line, 3 people working'. I can't go back. This was the third time we've been treated like filth. Ysenia was even rude to my mother last week! I'm really sorry, I loved this place. read more

Outstanding customer service and delicious Pink Chai Lattes in town! Definitely recommend trying this please if you're seeking something unique or excellent quality coffee & tea! read more

Looking for a comfy cup of jo in the CV area other than the commercial stuff like Starbucks and Peets, where you always run into people you know? You'll find comfort and change in scenery with Cafe Rumi. It's tucked away next to Lady of America gym on Heyer, 5-ish-minute drive in from the busy Boulevard. Coffee: So far I've only had green chai tea lattes (a favorite beverage), and they've been pretty phenomenal. Not as sweet as some coffee shops make them, and made to a perfect temperature. Food: Always enticed by their choices of sandwiches (breakfast and lunch), salads, pastries and desserts (I was very tempted by the brownies and pound cake sitting by the register)! Prices: Average price for a 12oz. latte=$2.50. In general, at least a dollar cheaper than other places, like Starbucks. And no compromise in quality or taste! Staff: So friendly; really appreciate it when the barista comes out from behind the counter to hand me my beverage as I sit and wait. Environment: This is a peaceful place with richly-decorated interiors-- sort of Bohemian vintage style- love it, so much character! Small tables, high-stool and counter space, and a few lounge one-seaters next to the window. read more

Came here yesterday with a friend for a late lunch. We were so happy that this place was close by, because let's be honest, CV doesn't have very many good places to eat at. We were greeted by a very cheery staff. We both ordered the beef & lamb gyro. It came on a soft & buttery pita bread, sliced tender & flavorful beef & lamb sausage, yogurt sauce, tomato, lettuce & mint. I got mine without mint. I honestly have never had a better tasting & feeling gyro. I don't want to hype it up, hence the 4 stars. I haven't tried a ton of places, because the meat at other places is generally dry and the pita hard. Thats probably the cause of my hesitation to eat gyros on a regular basis. However, this place has restored my willingness to eat it again. The gyro cost $8 or so and they almost got me to try one of their delectable desserts on display that they make on site, but I controlled myself & passed. I don't know that I'll have that much restraint the next time I visit.. Try this place! read more

Okay, so I previously gave Cafe Rumi a two star review after a server decided to tip himself with my change after I purchased a coffee. I felt sort of bad for doing it after having received decent service here before, but stealing isn't something that you tend to give stars for. On occasion, I would receive an e-mail from the owner to try their cafe again, and I have a few times when I needed a coffee fix. I didn't even bother to take them up on their offer for free food or drinks. It was generally fine, order coffee, pay, leave. Today I decided to order some food. I had some time to kill before an appointment. I order my food at around 12:55PM, a nice Middle Eastern girl helps me out. I sit down and start doing some work on my laptop. About 15 minutes pass and the counter and kitchen look busy, so I just assume my food is waiting to get prepped after someone else's order. I keep working and look at my phone. THIRTY FIVE MINUTES have passed and I don't have my food! The entire two person staff is busy washing dishes. The mustache dude walks up and I ask him if he's working on my sandwich. He says "uh, sandwich?" And I tell him that I ordered a gyro over 30 minutes ago. He looks nervous, then kind of motions the girl over. I asked her if she remembers me ordering a sandwich OVER THIRTY MINUTES AGO. She looks like she's thinking and goes "yeah....." Mustache dude is like "I can make one for you to go right now." By this time it's nearly FORTY MINUTES since I ordered my sandwich. I tell him that I don't even have time to eat it. The girl gives me my money back and barely apologizes. I left, hungry and very disappointed. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Cafe Rumi, thumbs down. read more

This place is nice and warm ^.^ it's small but I love the decoration and atmosphere. There is a shelf that has iced water, spoon, straws,... which is so convenient. Services: Fast and friendly. It's like cafeteria at high school/middle school xd They quickly take the orders, give you a receipt that has your numbers, then call the number so you can get the food at the counter. The food always comes out faster than I expected - good customer service Food: The pink chai is so so good (their famous drink). I'd prefer the hot pink chai than the cold one. They gave me a huge cup. The texture of the pink chai is strong and fresh. It's not sweet which is a plus plus side for your health (I don't like food that has a lot of sugar~) The gyros is yummy and delicious. They put a lot of meat and veges. The bread that wrapped it is soft and tasty. However, if you are not a fan of yellow onion, ask them not to put in Q.Q I didn't know that there is a huge amount of onion in there. Maccaron is ok. It's not soft but crunchy. I'd prefer the flourless chocolate cake. The price is average - about $15~$23 per person Good place to hang out with friends and family read more

Cafe Rumi - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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You'll have to decide for yourself if this is more cafe or more restaurant. I thought it was initially the latter from reading reviews but it's more the former. The best thing that I noticed wasn't the drinks or the food, they were the books. They have a modest shelf packed with books where you can take from, give to, or just trade. I THINK you can take them home because it's called an "Open Exchange". A community driven mini-library; I love it. As for the food, I tried both the beef/lamb gyro and the chicken kabob plate. If you're craving Afghan food in the CV area and can't drive to Fremont, this suffices for $6. It's packed with meat, fresh veggies, and yogurt sauce. And it comes with a green chutney which for the first time, isn't too tart! (Sorry if it's supposed to be that way). The chicken kabob plate was disappointing because it's dinky with the meat but that does explain why it only costs $9. I would say this is just alright. Originally we wanted the saffron chicken plate but they ran out of saffron sauce. Really nice service... the girl here is cheery beyond belief. read more

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I was meeting a client and his realtor here to sign some docs, they recommend this place. I brought my mom along cause I noticed that it was a Mediterranean cafe. The store was a petit but full of warm and friendly staffs. I ordered the pink Chai and half/half saffron chicken and chicken kabob and it was delicious. The aromatic of chai and the taste blended so well together and according to them there no artificial colors or flavoring. The plate was delicious too, not the best I've had but still good read more

Cafe Rumi - Pink Chai - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California