Family owned cafe. Cute interior with home vibe. The food tastes great though comes in take out containers. Very welcoming staff. read more

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Very cute corner restaurant with ample indoor seating and patio seating. Courteous staff. We had a Saffron Chicken platter and a side of hummus. Delicious. Chicken was tender and flavorful. Hummus was perfectly textured, NOT thin and lacking substance. Will definitely go again!! read more

Was looking forward to brunch and studying here since some other reviews have it as their go-to spot, but was instead disappointed at the unseasoned nature of the food and diluted drinks, as well as the distracting ambiance. Food: Despite how good it looks in photos, the Rumi egg wrap was bland overall-- the only hints of flavor came from the creamy, slighty tangy sauce and tartness of the tomatoes. The sauce was good, but it was unevenly dispersed and there was not enough to adequately flavor the wrap throughout. The eggs were not seasoned at all, and the meat and cheese were barely even salty. The wrap was filling, but otherwise unmemorable. Drinks: Was excited to try their pink chai, but it was much more dilute than expected. The chai flavor was so faint the drink was more like a warm foamy milk. The iced Turkish latte was flavorful, but they charge an exorbitant price of $2 for almond or oat milk substitution. One thing I do appreciate is the light ice and the strong and unique coffee flavor in the Turkish latte, which is why this review is 2 stars instead of one. Ambiance: There is ample indoor and outdoor seating, but the music was uncomfortably loud. Even with noise-cancelling earbuds, it was impossible to focus because the speakers are located in the ceiling right above the table, and blare so loudly you can still hear it even when sitting outside. The ads from Pandora radio were distracting as well, adding to the cacophony rather than drowning out the conversations happening at other tables. Service was slow as well, despite there only being one other party in the café at the time. It's expected that good things take time, but to wait longer than normal for tasteless food and drink was highly disappointing. Overall, spending around $30 plus tip for a wrap and 2 drinks here is just not worth it. read more

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Cute little spot. I've been here several times and we usually only get a coffee and hangout for a minute and split. This time we ordered our coffees and a breakfast burrito to go. The coffees come out quick, hot, and tasty.... A solid little coffee joint but that's where it stops. The place is so small and they have no plan for people... they just stand in the middle of the place turning into a crowded mess. We also continued to wait over 45 minutes for a to go order.... 45 minutes.... An absolute shame. I will not be returning. I can get the same coffee anywhere else and not wait 45 minutes for a bad breakfast burrito. read more

Disclaimer: I only had their brewed coffee. But I loved it! Some days a girl doesn't want a $7 latte or try a drink with a colourful name. I've been to shops where there's attitude when I ask for a brewed coffee. When I asked, they gave me non-dairy milk for no extra charge. I had a totally pleasant experience. Also a personal bonus, their bathroom was clean. I would come back to try their pink chai. read more

Cafe Rumi - Inside seating - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Tried their egg bagel sandwich with sausage, it was a hefty portion. I enjoy the look of the cafe itself. Very warm and inviting. The guy was kind enough to recommend me a coffee. Everything was so delicious and everyone was extremely friendly and kind. read more

Cafe Rumi - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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I'm pretty disappointed with this place given its high reviews. I ordered a beef gyro, Chicken gyro, and eggplant dip and bread. The beef gyro was fine; well seasoned but it was cut into big pieces. The chicken was not well seasoned and it was an odd color - yellow but had no good flavor to it. The chicken was also big chunks and so it just means that there was less flavor - none of the meet was "gyro" style because it was neither thin or flat but large chunks. On top of that, there was no garlic sauce or some other type of sauce in the wrap to make it better either. The only good thing about the gyro was that there was soft fresh bread around it. The chicken gyro just wasn't great and I couldn't finish it. The eggplant dip was also just okay - it came warm with a lot of bread. But I've had better eggplant dips elsewhere. They also didn't offer fries like most places. I think I would stick to Habibi's in Hayward hands down. Honestly, I'm surprised this place has such good reviews when the food was just average, if that. read more

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This is a great place to grab a casual bite and catch up with a friend. I was curious about the pink chai latte but was worried it might be too sweet. The lady at the register was kind enough to offer me a sample. I thought that was very nice of her. Also, I can confirm it wasn't too sweet and tasted great iced. My friend and I were so busy chatting that we didn't hear them call our order from the window next to the register. A really lovely lady was kind enough to bring our order to our table. I think she works there, but I'm not sure since she had a purse. lol Maybe she was getting off work? Anyway, this cafe has nice friendly vibes, and I will certainly be back. read more

The pink chai with almond milk is delicious- very floral and sweet and flavorful. If you're expecting a Starbucks black tea "chai" harsher spice flavor, this isn't what you'll get and that's fantastic. I had a breakfast egg wrap with the gluten free wrap. The flavors are good and the spicy sauce was delicious, but the GF wrap was sticky and just fell apart immediately. Maybe just get the breakfast plate instead if you must be gluten free, as it's not really hand-held food anyway. Friendly folks at the counter too, they explained the pink chai to me and were nice about helping me find a dairy-free and gluten-free option for breakfast. read more

Pretty good food at a decent price. Coffee is strong, which I appreciate. They are kind people serving this community and the place is a good hangout spot. read more

Delightful café with plenty of parking. Food was really good, too! Nice seating inside and out. Friendly staff. Will go again.

THE BEST CAFE IN CASTRO VALLEY. Must try's: Veggie wrap, breakfast sandwich & Pink Chai latte (hot) read more

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

Everything was delicious! Even my picky eaters ate everything! From the food to the drinks and desserts, this place will make you smile and satisfy your taste buds. If you are in the mood for coffee (or tea) and a great Mediterranean food, this spot is it! The pictures show no justice to the flavors, but trust me they are there! I had the beef/lamb gyro and one of my kids had the chicken kabob plate. The meat was tender and flavorful. I highly recommend you add the green sauce they offer on the side to your gyro, it's the perfect spicy level. I also had the chai coffee with an expresso shot. It was perfectly balanced with sweatness and coffee/chai flavors. The kids ordered fresh Lemonade and that was also the right amount of sweetness. We don't normally like lemonade because it's rarely fresh and overly sweet. To top off our meal we got treats and we were soo happy that we did! The cookies are big and the kids highly complimented them 5/5! The bar was also delicious, a little sweet but the perfect size. The maple scone was soft and also a little sweet, but very delicious. Overall, great service, delicious food, drinks, and desserts. Outdoor seating is nice for a morning coffee or lunch setting and the food was ready in about 10 minutes! Staff are wearing masks, gloves and there is signage displayed for CDC protocols like social distancing and face masks being required. There is also hand sanitizer available at the register along with plexy glass and a sign asking customers to use hand sanitizer before grabbing items from the condiment counter. read more

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Found this place on Yelp. Ordered a beef/lamb gyro, it's really good & full of meat. Red onion was a little overpowering other than it was delicious. read more

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A pleasant delight. At first I didn't recognize the place because it doesn't have any fancy gimmicks, just a corner shop on a small shopping center. Walking in it gave a calming vibe, tone set by the eclectic wood decor, plants, and music. The drinks on point, every time I ordered, staff extremely kind. The bagels are warmed to perfection.overall great experience read more

Cafe Rumi - Kids Hot Coco - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I have a dozen food sensitivities and the kindly chefs made it work. The owner went out of her way to make sure we had a delicious dinner. We had the "Rumi's Tacos" which were fresh and filling. We also had spring rolls with fresh veggies. read more

Cafe Rumi - Tacos Rumi - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I am here 3-4x weekly. Handsdoown, best coffee spot in the area. Love their saffron chicken, rumi egg sandwich and rumi special! They never fall short on quality coffee, food, and service. Staff is very friendly and accommodating! read more

Saffron Chicken Rice plate is delicious, the sauce alone with the rice is BOMB. Also enjoyed their green chili hot sauce and the yogurt dip with the pita bread. Lavender latte is a favorite as well. Cute little spot in Castro Valley, perfect for a quick lunch. read more

Great atmosphere and delicious food. We had the safron chicken with pita. The staff is very friendly.

Their pink chai is my favorite drink. It's amazing hot and iced. I don't typically order food here, but the few times I have, it was so good. read more

What a delicious, treasure to discover in Castro Valley. Cute ambiance, with indoor and outdoor seating. I ordered the salad with lamb/beef and it was a large serving and very tasty. My husband ordered the gyro plate with lamb and beef and that was equally as tasty. His plate had the addition of a flavorful wonderfully fragranced rice. The orders came with pita bread and various sauces. I especially loved the Rumi sauce which was their hot sauce. We also ordered a hummus and pita to go which they make in house. We've been going to a yummy place in Alameda for Mediterranean food as well as a couple of great places in San Leandro and I think we'll add this to our rotation as it's close and a nicer spot yet still casual. They also had coffee and pastries, what a great neighborhood place. Definitely worth a try, love to support these unique restaurants with nice service. read more

*One of my favorite spots for a gyro. I usually get their beef and lamb gyro *Nice and friendly *Relaxed setting. Great for sitting down to chat, read, studying, and etc. Sometimes it does get busy and loud depending on the time you go. read more

This gluten-intolerant appreciates their gluten-free options! Not often you'll see a Mediterranean restaurant carry GF bread. Finally was able to enjoy a gyro wrap again Their GF flatbread chicken wrap + iced pink chai was the perfect lunch pairing read more

Cafe Rumi - Gluten free flatbread chicken wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Was craving Mediterranean food and this place hit the spot! Decided to try the pink chai tea and it was so tasty, velvety smooth and oh so delicious! The gyro wrap and lamb/beef plate did not disappoint. Go here over the Nick the Greek. read more

Cafe Rumi - Iced pink chai and lamb/beef gyro - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I was there a week ago because my friend recommended ... The coffee was so good and the food as well Keep it up ! Highly recommend ! read more

FANTASTICALS we typically order takeout. The food is always so amazing and flavorful. We have also dined there twice. It was always a wonderful atmosphere, and always super helpful when I was so undecided. read more

Stopped in for a pink chai on my drive back to San Jose. It was an off one stop off I wasn't sure of but found myself wondering when and how I could come back for my next cup before I even finished my first. I've had many a cup of chai. Overpriced, under spiced, artisanal, Starbucks, local. You name it, I probably already have a strong opinion about how good it is. I fall short of words to describe the warm and fuzzy goodness in this cup of pink chai. Drinking this cup felt like a hug. A real hug. The kind that washes your body with relief and comfort. Thats this cup of chai in every sip. What do they put in it!! Coffee shop is a good size with 4 two tops and two large seating areas great for groups. They also have counter and one little chair tucked away in the corner for the more solitary coffee drinker. They also have outdoor seating. Was very comfortable drinking my chai. Didn't feel rushed or like I was taking up space. Really relaxed vibes here. Ample parking. Take cash, credit, no apple pay yet. read more

Cafe Rumi - The best chai I've ever had - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I rarely write a review while I'm in a restaurant, and have never written one while I'm eating my food, but this little café in Castro Valley deserves it! The atmosphere is chill, the patrons are mostly regulars and seem to be happy hanging out, and service is friendly. But the gyro I'm having takes it over the top! Fresh ingredients - crisp red onions and tomatoes, delicious chunks of beef and lamb, and just the right amount of sauce! I'll certainly be back next time I'm in the neighborhood! read more

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Disappointed with Salad Beef/lamb I told to owner and employee that this is not what I ordered. Response was:" this is what we have here" I think it's common sense that It's need to be specified that it's gyro. People expect chunks of meat not cheap gyro that being served. I tried that gyro which was in my salad it tasted like spiced paper. Lots of spices that give heartburn. read more

Cafe Rumi - Salad Beef/Lamb They put gyro just FYI - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Wow I wish I found this place sooner. I love coming for a spicy gyro and smoothie and just sitting outside and enjoying the weather. Staff is an amazing group of people, their service is always on point, it's quick and delicious. What else can I say, one of the best spots in town! read more

4.5 to 5 stars. Cafe Rumi for breakfast = YUM. They're a family-owned business in Castro Valley that serves really delicious and different options for breakfast that you can't just find anywhere. With all my recent egg and breakfast cravings, this was exactly what I was looking for. I loved that the breakfast sandwiches could be ordered with either Beef or Lamb Gyro (or vegetarian) rather than the traditional American bacon, ham, or sausage and that you could special order it however you wanted with other kinds of bread (gluten-free is an option), cheese, and fresh veggies. Since I couldn't try just one thing, I ordered: - Rumi Egg Sandwich with Beef Gyro, steamed eggs, tomato, red onion, mozzarella (instead of pepperjack), and potatoes on pita bread. No spicy garlic aioli. This was one hearty and tasty sandwich that would be perfect when you're super hungry. - Breakfast Egg Sandwich on Bagel with Mozzarella and Beef Gyro. Simple, yet delicious with fluffy eggs, savory meat, and perfectly toasted bagel. If I could, I totally would eat this every day. - Breakfast Egg Sandwich on English Muffin with Mozzarella and Beef Gyro. Same as above and something I'd eat every day. They also have Mediterranean lunch or dinner plates and bowls with Beef, Lamb, or Chicken Gyro, Eggplant, etc. I've tried their Chicken, but prefer their Gyro. They also have a pretty extensive list of beverage options, but since I've never been a big coffee or tea drinker, I'll be sticking to their breakfast items for now. Hope you'll be as much of a fan of their breakfast sandwiches as I was! read more

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Happy to report that this place is still delicious! I haven't been in years, but it's as good as I remember. I love studying here. Get the hot lavender latte and then when you get hungry, get the combo plate. It's the best Would definitely return and would recommend read more

Cafe Rumi - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Tried their gyro platter for lunch. What it includes is rice, pita bread, salad, dressings and of course gyro with sauces. Size is on the large side. Enough for 1.5 meals. However the gyro wasn't as flavorful compared to other gyros I have had before. So it wasn't anything particularly unique or mouthwatering that I would drive out of my way for it. read more

Cafe Rumi - Order counter with menu in background - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I like Mediterranean food in general, so I finally got to try this place out! I love hummus and pita bread, so I couldn't help but get that as an appetizer. Yummy! The bread was so nice and warm. The hummus; perfecto! So happy to get the combo, with the mixed beef/lamb meat and chicken. It comes w/ basmati rice, salad, & few pieces of pita bread. Not to mention, tzatziki sauce. It was basically a gyro on a plate. (The rice was just an extra thing to add.) OMG #LoveIt. Both meats were so tender, and the flavor from the chicken adds to the rice for some flavor & it tastes AMAZEBALLS!! My husband got a regular gyro & he seem to enjoy it too. Everyone on Yelp has been raving about that pink chai, and that is what I ordered too. It actually reminds me of a Thai tea. Really good! The people there were really nice, and one of the girls that helped me, was very patient with me, because I was a little confused on what I was getting at first. Since I know how the combo is now, I can't wait to go back and get it again! Yes, this place is not fancy, but it's cute. As you can see in my photos/videos, this is basically what I loved about it. Love the decorations. Also, while my husband and I were there, I couldn't help but Shazam every single song they had playing. Sounded so good! Will be back again with friends! read more

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Lovely place. Delicious food and awesome ambiance. I would recommend it Service is smooth and fast. read more

Just had an incredible dining experience at Rumi Cafe! The food was delicious, the service was fantastic, and the cozy vibe made it a perfect meal. I highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for a top-notch brunch !! read more

The customer service was amazing. Anita and Araceli were wonderful. Women owned cafe. Gotta love that. Pink chai latte. At first I was like what in the world is this I must try it. This is how Anita explain what it is. Himalayan tea brewed to certain extend that it becomes alkaline so the pink comes out from the special green tea leaves. Anita also said it contains a lot of caffeine. Well let me report to you guys it's a lavish flavor. Iv never tried anything like this before. The only down side is they don't accept Apple Pay. read more

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Been eating often over the past 10 years. Beef and lamb gyros here are always delicious! Thai tea and pink chai are yum too. read more

Cafe Rumi - Menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Cafe Rumi is my favorite neighborhood cafe to savor a pot of tea with a friend or to grab a coffee on the way to work. Lovely servers, yummy gyros and a relaxing atmosphere where the neighborhood loves to congregate and enjoy the philosophical sayings of the poet and philosopher Rumi. read more

So glad we found this place!! We got the beef/lamb gyro and chicken gyro with spiced chai tea. Both the gyros have excellent flavor and they don't skimp on the meat. The meat is also cut into cubes and is quite tender. The spiced chai tea is excellent. It is a little too sweet for our taste, but overall, one of the better chai teas we've had. I think this place is quite cute and looks to be a great hangout spot pre or post pandemic times. It's in a odd shopping center, but there's ample parking. Support small biz :) read more

Cafe Rumi - Chicken gyro on the left, beef/lamb gyro on the right - Mediterranean Near Me - Castro Valley, California