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    Kapow Thai Eatery

    4.2 (232 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Seafood, Noodles
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Kapow Thai Eatery Photos

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    KAPOW THAI EATERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Kapow Thai Eatery

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    Mango Mango with sticky rice
    Kelsy H.

    Kapow Thai Eatery has quickly become one of my favorite Thai spots in the East Bay! My fiancé and I had such a great experience--from the friendly service to the incredible food. Some of our favorites were the Wings of Kapow, which were perfectly crispy with a sweet and spicy glaze, the crispy garlic pork belly, and the Crying Tiger sirloin steak, which was tender, flavorful, and paired perfectly with the dipping sauce. We also couldn't leave without ordering the mango sticky rice, and it was the perfect way to end the meal. Everything tasted fresh, the portions were generous, and you can tell a lot of care goes into each dish. The staff was welcoming and attentive throughout our visit, making the experience even better. If you're looking for delicious Thai food in Union City, I highly recommend checking out Kapow Thai Eatery. We'll definitely be back to try more of the menu!

    Tom Yum with shrimp
    Jessie C.

    Food was good. The crying tiger sirloin steak was a little more charred than I had preferred but the meat was very tender. The scallop zap is refreshing. For the chicken wings they cut them in half so each piece is half a wing which makes it easier to eat. Service was good and they were very nice. The restaurant is small with limited seating so if you have a big party you might want to go early or call ahead.

    Thai green tea
    Leanne C.

    Kapow is our favorite Thai place in the area. Every dish we've had here so far has been a hit and their drinks are also good. We've dined in 4 times now and have enjoyed it every time! Definitely come early or be prepared to wait. I highly recommend the papaya salad, sizzling steak dishes, chicken satay, and tamarind shrimp. The chicken satay is the best I've had - very tender and moist. They have a wide selection of specials that are authentic and unique. The noodle dishes and curries are standard but good as well.

    Tom Yum
    Sabrina C.

    Wow is an understatement for this establishment. Everything we ordered was the best I've ever had. The Thai Ice Tea had overly perfect flavor. Both soup and dishes are packed with delicious flavors. We will definitely be back.

    Donna L.

    We came here for dinner and it was amazing. I haven't been to a Thai restaurant in a long long time. But we dropped by and the staff was so pleasant And humble. The menu had a lot of items I haven't had in a long time. Some of the dishes such as crispy pata are Filipino dishes. The 4 of us opted for the scallops, sirloin with basil rice, chicken green curry, Thai papaya salad and garlic crispy pork belly. Every dish was flavorful and excellent. We couldn't be happier. The sirloin was cooked a perfect medium rare on a hot plate. Basil Rice was delicious. The pork belly was so crispy. And the scallop was tender and flavorful. I wish it was an extra large scallop! Perfect with the flying fish eggs and mint leaf! Job well done Kapow!! Half a bottle of Chardonnay was excellent! We shall be back to try the other foods one missed.

    Larb wrap
    Sharen H.

    Went here for my birthday and loved their larb and papaya salad! Their non-alcoholic drinks were just okay, but overall, the food was really good. Friendly staff and a nice ambiance too! Free parking if you're able to secure one in the plaza. I highly recommend trying out this place esp if you're around the area :)

    Scallop Zapp
    Alisa B.

    WOWWWW! Some of the best Thai food I have had in a while. Incredibly high quality food. A small restaurant, but worth the wait to get a table! Every item I ordered here was incredible. Truly a hidden gem!!! I will 100% be back to try their other menu items again. + Scallop Zapp (5/5): Possibly some of the best raw scallops I've had outside of omakase! The scallops were fresh and sweet. The mint, masago, sauce, and garlic paired perfectly!!! I ate all 4 spoons by myself hahaha + Kow Soi Duck (4/5): TENDER DUCK! Perfectly cooked. The Khao Soi sauce was rich and decadent. Not spicy, which was perfect for me. My only gripe were the noodles were a little overcooked and difficult to eat. + Crispy Pork Belly (5/5): An expensive appetizer... but holy moly, this pork was cooked so well. So crispy, but juicy, and simply flavorful - even without sauce!!! + Holy Basil Soup (4/5): Really memorable broth! It was light and fragrant, and let the mussels shine! Each mussel was already halved for us and they were pretty big in size! It was also clearly prepped really well. The mussels were clean and did not have any sand/residue.

    Jaymie V.

    Sunday afternoon was pretty packed but didn't wait too long for a table of 3. Everything looked so good on the menu it was hard to choose! We pretty much enjoyed all the food we ordered and had no leftovers. Probably one of my top Thai places so far

    Scallop Zapp
    cadence p.

    Service was really really good. Food on the other hand is pretty mid. We had the scallop zapp, crying sirloin steak and the kasoy duck that everyone seems to get. The kasoy duck was good.. but the kasoy broth was lacking flavor. I had high hopes for this dish as it seems like lots of people get it. But it was the best dish we had between the three we ordered. For the crying sirloin steak, I had expected a much spicier and more sour sauce that came with it. It's just steak with a sweet and sour sauce in my opinion. Scallop zapp was good, just wish they had put more lime juice and I think that would definitely elevated the dish completely. Overall, I think this place is pretty mid. I would rather go to Sala Thai for thai food over this place.

    Kow Soi duck - A must
    Amando B.

    The place is tiny in a tiny plaza! Service is always great every time we eat here but there can be a long wait before you get a table. Get the duck for sure, it's a must. So good!!! Prices are a little bit pricey but it's expected of a Thai restaurants. The price for the food is worth it.

    Tom Kha
    Sherman T.

    A relatively new Thai restaurant making a splash in the Union City food scene! Tucked into a strip mall just blocks away from the BART station, Kapow Thai Eatery has generated a lot of interest from locals with their photogenic, yet delicious dishes authentically representing Thai cuisine. The parking lot is tight during peak times but this strip mall isn't frequented much aside from a few shops and has good churn. You'll find a spot most definitely but the restaurant itself isn't huge so a short wait may be expected. We came for an early dinner and they had plenty of tables for us to choose from. Most of their tables fit small to medium sized groups but larger groups may need to consider reserving in advance. As we stepped in, the staff greeted us and sat us with waters and menus. There were two menus, one for the food and one for the drinks. Both are pretty simple to peruse through but the food menu doesn't have any pictures. The descriptions are pretty good at previewing what you'll get for each dish but I found asking the staff or referring to pictures online did more justice. If in doubt, their chef specials are solid options, but being a Thai eatery, curries and duck are likely your best bet. The drink menu on the other hand does have some pictures and has a few specialty drinks for the sweet toothed folks. Naturally, we ordered a few items to give this place a good try. Gui chai thod (chive cake) - hands down one of the best appetizers I've had of this variety and for me, a must get each time. Each piece is bite sized and can be skewered with the wooden pick they give you. The crispy exterior pairs exceptionally well with the chewiness of its center. The smell, taste, and texture of this dish with the dipping sauce as an added component makes this simple, yet complex chunk of veggie infused mochi a fantastic first impression. Tom kha - creamy soup heavy with lemongrass fragrance and flavor. You have the option to add protein (chicken, tofu, shrimp, seafood) to make this a filling bowl. It comes out hot and maintains its temperature quite well! Kow Soi Duck - succulent slices of duck served atop noodles and intended to be smothered or dipped in the delicious curry. This dish was hearty, presented beautifully deconstructed, and flavorful. A bit pricey for a bowl of noodles but quality is there. Crab fried rice - big portion of fried rice with big chunks of crab. Another hearty dish perfect for sharing and can easily feed 4-6 people with seconds to spare. As the menu indicates, this dish is big on umami. Thai tea - I opted for no ice as I'm not a fan and despite no ice to dilute the flavor, it wasn't too overly sweet and satisfied my craving. Pink Thai milk - unless you're a fan of peptobismol, I would stay away from this despite its beautiful, radiant color The staff were wonderful in communicating with us on what to expect with flavors, ingredients, portion size, sweetness (regarding drinks) and methods of consumption. They all had smiles and were quick to clear our tables. Overall, Kapow Thai Eatery has made a mark in this small city and I hope it's here to stay with its authentic Thai dishes and exceptional quality of food and service. The prices certainly reflect these qualities but as a novice of the Thai cuisine, this place was worth a visit and many more in the future, just perhaps once in a long while due to the prices of eating out nowadays. Although we didn't venture into big spices this time around, they do have the spices to kick some dishes up a notch. The sirloin fried rice looked good and I hope to try it next time. For those looking for something new and fresh to eat, let Kapow show you the way!

    Larb wrap
    Jeankaylyn E.

    Came to Kapow for my birthday dinner to close out the month Ordered the Sirloin Nam Tok (part of the new menu), Larb Wrap, Thai green & pink tea, and mango sticky rice. The Sirloin Nam Tok came grilled with Thai herbs, toasted rice powder, dried chili, kaffir lime leaves, and a house-made tamarind sauce--but the meat was pretty tough to slice and chew. Wouldn't order again. The Larb Wrap (minced pork with roasted rice powder, chili flakes, citrus, herbs, and fried garlic) had good flavor but felt like it was missing something. Both the green and pink Thai teas were overly sweet--the pink one tasted like Pepto Bismo.. Mango sticky rice was decent, but nothing memorable. We ordered a papaya salad to go and we did really like that one. Overall, kinda underwhelming. I'd rate it a 2/5.

    Yellow curry and crispy Chili pork belly. Oh, and some rice. Dang right.
    Ran D.

    Okay I just found my favorite Thai restaurant. I met the owner, and Jaz and were already like family. The food, from appetizer to main course and dessert were outstanding. The restaurant is a bit smaller, but they're dynamite. The way they decorated, the mural, awesome. Appetizer: crispy garlic chili pork belly. This was absolutely insane good. Don't be foolish. Get it. Dinner: Gang karee (yellow curry). Gang gang. Dessert: I Tim Bo ran (coconut ice cream with pastry, fruit, nuts). Amazing. Everything is incredibly fresh here. The cucumbers snap when bitten. The mango is so light sweet. It's like they know how to pick the best ingredients. You'll find them in a small strip mall. Don't blink, you'll miss the dynamite. Circle back. It's well worth it.

    Crispy pork belly garlic

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    Ask the Community - Kapow Thai Eatery

    Ocean Oyster Bar & Grill - Clam Linguine

    Ocean Oyster Bar & Grill

    4.1(849 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    A long-overdue review!…read more My husband and I had dinner here when it had just opened, almost seven years ago. Looking through old photos recently brought back memories, and I realized I never got around to sharing our experience. We had a wonderful time--the food was delicious, the service was great, and overall it was a very enjoyable dining experience. While I never made it back, my husband has visited a few times with friends and always had good things to say. The main reason we haven't returned as a family is because both of our boys (now adults) are allergic to seafood, and I usually prefer having them with us when we dine out. But after seeing these photos again, I think it's finally time for another visit and see if it's just as good as I remember!

    Dear Manager, I…read morewould like to share my experience at your restaurant today. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the way I was treated by the host, Mirella. When I arrived, I politely asked for a table in an area that was clearly available. The restaurant was basically empty at the time, but Mirella gave me what appeared to be one of the worst tables in the restaurant. When I asked about getting a different table, her attitude toward me was rude and unwelcoming. I understand that restaurants have seating policies and that sometimes certain tables may be reserved, but I believe customers should still be treated with courtesy and respect. In this situation, I felt that I was treated unnecessarily poorly, especially considering that there were plenty of other tables available. I am not writing this complaint to cause trouble for anyone. I simply believe management should be aware of how customers are being treated. I hope you can look into this situation and make sure that guests are welcomed and treated respectfully regardless of which table they request. Thank you for taking the time to hear my concern. And by the way the food and the server were great Except the host Mirella Thank you

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    Ocean Oyster Bar & Grill - Crunchy Jalapeño Prawns

    Crunchy Jalapeño Prawns

    Ocean Oyster Bar & Grill
    Ocean Oyster Bar & Grill

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    Bar Bay Grill - Grilled mussels

    Bar Bay Grill

    4.0(775 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    If you want an asian tapas spot - THIS IS IT!…read more O R D E R E D - Korean beef bone soup - Curry Chicken Toast - Bbq beef ribs - Grilled Mussels - Samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) V E R D I C T OMG i cannot get enough of the toast from the curry chicken toast, i think i can eat so many orders of the bread alone. it's so soft and fluffy, like eating cloud, if I ever ate that haha. Their portions are bigger than I expected, worth it! This is a fun spot to hangout with friends to grab a bite to eat and to watch a spots game or listen to and watch some Kpop MVs. The service is friendly and attentive, I came on a weekend lunch - dine in wasn't too busy, lucky me but I definitely noticed a lot of to go orders. Parking is easy because they're in a plaza, so no stress there.

    Ordered several dishes: Singapore vermicelli noodles:…read moreawesome. Worth going here just for this. The shrimp in this is succulent and awesome. The chicken is bland (like typical thai restaurant chicken). Should substitute this out for shrimp if they allow. Chicken curry toast: this is a qunie item and worth ordering. Had it twice now and liked it on both occasions. Garlic cheese bread: it's fine. Nothing to write home. Lamb chop: sweet in taste. Not so good. Older child finished but did not savor it. Chicken skewer: not good. Daughter did not like it either Hot pot: very fishy (tom yum flavor was good). Did not like any of the meat choices in there (fish ball, fish tofu, Chicken). But flavorful. Awesome service. Fast service. Good ambience with tons of TVs with several options. K-pop was a tad bit loud, but fine.

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    Bar Bay Grill - Hot pot: very fishy (tom yum flavor was good). Did not like any of the meat choices in there (fish ball, fish tofu, Chicken)

    Hot pot: very fishy (tom yum flavor was good). Did not like any of the meat choices in there (fish ball, fish tofu, Chicken)

    Bar Bay Grill - Bbq beef ribs

    Bbq beef ribs

    Bar Bay Grill - Korean beef bone soup

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    Korean beef bone soup

    Playa Azul - Fresh Chicken, Steak and Shrimp Fajitas

    Playa Azul

    4.6(89 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Playa Azul -- Where Food Meets Genuine Human Connection As…read moresoon as we walked in, we were greeted with warmth and friendliness by Mauricio while we bobbed our heads to Hall and Oates' "Maneater" playing in the background -- followed by "Funky Little Beat" by Connie. We knew immediately this was our vibe. We sat down and read through the menu. A lot of dishes I wasn't familiar with, so naturally I defaulted to what I knew -- quesadilla de camarón. My wife did the smart thing and asked for recommendations. Mauricio suggested three dishes and she chose the last one- I think it was because something about tequila . When it was my turn, I proudly placed my order. Without missing a beat, Mauricio looked at me and said, "Bro, you can get that anywhere -- you should try this." He began describing the dish, then pointed to his dad sitting patiently at a corner table. "That's his invention." No more words needed. I said sold. Our dishes arrived and we immediately moved them to the center of the table so we could share both. I had the seafood fajitas -- shrimp, fish, fajita vegetables, and the most tender, flavorful pulpo I've ever had. All the seafood was cooked perfectly: tender but not falling apart. But the octopus and the sauce were something special. Chef Jose came to check on us and I told him about the pulpo. His eyes lit up as he began describing his preparation process -- then he said, "You want to see?" He walked me right into his kitchen and showed me the octopus being prepared. That moment alone was worth the visit. By the time we returned to our table, the restaurant had started to fill up. We continued enjoying our food, including the handmade soft tortillas that came with my dish -- don't sleep on those. Chef Jose stopped by again, sharing more stories, more passion, more of himself. Before we even finished eating, we were already planning our next visit for happy hour and dinner with the family. This is a perfect example of what Will Guidara calls Unreasonable Hospitality -- unexpected, personalized, and genuinely human. Mauricio and Chef Jose aren't just running a restaurant. They're sharing something they love, and you feel it in every bite and every interaction. Thank you, Mauricio and Jose. We'll be back.

    A neat family-owned spot with authentic tasting Mexican seafood dishes! My mom and I shared two…read moredishes and a free chips and salsa. The Fajitas de Mariscos came with tons of seafood in a savory sauce. It came with rice w/corn and beans. We also had the Camarones Costa Azul which was jumbo shrimp wrapped with bacon in a savory tomato sauce + cheese. Definitely a heavy dish but pretty tasty! I really liked the homemade tortillas here; they were so soft and went well with the shrimp and fajitas. Prices are in the higher end but portions are also huge! There seemed to be just a husband and wife when we dined. They were very welcoming and helpful with explaining the menu. Place was very spacious with lots of seating.

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    Playa Azul - Best Ever Guacamole.!

    Best Ever Guacamole.!

    Playa Azul - Full Dinner

    Full Dinner

    Playa Azul - Rice and Beans

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    Rice and Beans

    Crabby Crabby - King crab legs in Cajun style....

    Crabby Crabby

    4.0(600 reviews)
    9.0 mi
    $$
    Certified professionals
    Happy hour specials

    Please give this place a try! I have been to many seafood boil restaurants this year and let me…read moretell you... This place is very special. The combo #2 my girlfriend and I had was cooked very well, had a great mix of flavors (got the "Crabby Crabby" mild mix sauce), and the ambiance gave away a homey vibe. The service was quick, friendly, and the staff were attentive. One of the staff members, Bing, was kind and very easy-going with our order process. Massive respect and thanks to Bing! Thanks for reading and have a great day!

    Crabby Crabby was a disappointment. We ordered the catfish with fries and a seafood combo…read more(calamari, prawns, catfish, and oysters). The catfish and fries were the only things worth eating -- crispy and actually good. Everything else? Low tier. The calamari was unevenly fried, the prawns were forgettable, and the oysters were the worst part. Instead of whole deep‑fried oysters, they gave us several oysters that had been chopped into halves and even quarters, turning into little oyster nuggets -- and those nuggets were fried way too hard, so you don't even get the real oyster experience. I've never seen anyone cut oysters like that. Overall, the food gets a C from me. I'm curious about their crab boil, but not curious enough to waste my money and risk another letdown. If you want good deep‑fried seafood, skip this place and find somewhere that actually knows what they're doing. Cashier was pleasant ambiance was nice.

    Photos
    Crabby Crabby - Watch all the NFL season games

    Watch all the NFL season games

    Crabby Crabby - Whole dungenes crab

    Whole dungenes crab

    Crabby Crabby - Football  special

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    Football special

    Kapow Thai Eatery - thai - Updated September 2026

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