Yes it is getting more expensive but quality of meats is a grade above your average supermarket/WF deli so it's a premium to pay for. I agree the sit down food menu is not that reasonably priced since the last visit in early 2020 but times are tough. As for your potential home cookout/k-bbq, I think this is probably the best available option in the East Bay vs trekking to Sunnyvale Korean spots. Most meats come marinated (chicken, pork, kalbi) but the minimum purchase in-person is 2 pounds per meat. You can only get one pound if there's any prepackaged ones left in the counter fridge or by reserving it for pickup. The packaged meats do sit in the marinade, which I wish there was less of. It adds to the weight per lb. There is a also a fair selection of prepacked banchan to the left. Pickled radishes, sesame spinach/anchovies, kimchi, bean sprouts, fish cakes. Frozen section also has a bit of dumplings, rice cake tteoboki, lotte yogurt sorbet. A pretty impressive selection of beer and soju as well. This should be a sufficient one-stop shop to plan a family feast. Around the holidays, they usually announce special deals on their IG page. Be sure to check those out as they usually are a good deal and a good opportunity to support a local business. read more

I've been to Mama Cho's a couple times over the past year as I love Korean food and this is basically the only Korean restaurant in the town. In the past we've ordered the Kalbi burger, the bulgogi cheesesteak, and the bbq bowl. We've also tried their marinated meats to take home and cook ourselves but even those are quite pricey. Unfortunately our most recent visit was so disappointing I don't think we'll be back after this. We stopped by to pick up lunch around 12:30 and we seemed to be the only customer being served. Ordered two Korean fried chicken sandos with soy garlic sauce, and a side of garlic fries. Our order took 20 minutes to cook, and we left after checking everything was in our bag. When we got home, my husband took a few bites out of his sandwich and found the chicken was not cooked through. Also, neither of our sandwiches were dressed in the soy garlic sauce that we ordered it was just plain. The garlic fries were good, but it was such a small portion for $5. The previous times we visited were fine, but hard to get over this latest negative experience. read more

I always love a good chicken wing but damn the crunchy chicken wings are super addicting. I wish I would have ordered the 10 piece platter instead of the 5 piece. When they say it's crunchy it really is. And these are not just small wings they are actually decent size with a healthy portion of rice. My husband also had some pork with rice as well as an extra side of it. It was our first time ordering from Grubhub and they did a fantastic job of preparing our order. I would order from this place again. They do deliver to Hayward from Grubhub as well. read more

Tried this place for the first time today, and I have to say, it's forsure overpriced. I ordered the Korean BBQ Plate and let me tell you, it starts out at $15, but if you want certain meats they add more $$ onto it. So, I ordered the Bulgogi and LA Short Ribs. Bulgogi was an extra $2, and LA Short Ribs was an extra $3! That's ridiculous! Otherwise for just $15, your choices are limited to either Chicken, Spicy Chicken, Pork or Pork Belly. Again, quite ridiculous! Also, for the LA Short Rib which costs $3 extra, they only give you one strip!!! Seriously?? You should at least give two strips!! For $20, it's a huge rip off. This is not a full service Korean restaurant, and to charge this much, it's outrageous! read more

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After our group's hike, we had Mama Cho's on our agenda for lunch. It's one of five vendors inside the Lake Chabot Public Market. Upon entering, they are on the right side. Their menu consists of a Kalbi cheeseburger, Cheesesteak hoagie, Ma'Cho Nachos and the Mama Cho's Korean BBQ plate, Korean bbq burrito and Korean bbq taco and several side dishes. The protein choices for most items were chicken, spicy pork, beef short ribs, "Bulgogi" beef rib eye. They also had Korean fried chicken as a daily special. I opted for the Kalbi cheeseburger. After ordering, your number will be called when the food is ready at the opposite end of the counter. The burger consisted of a 7oz short rib blend patty with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, lemon garlic aioli, pickles and grilled onions, which I requested. The nearly half pound double cheese patty was tasty and juicy. At $10.95, it was reasonable. They didn't have spicy pork, which disappointed a couple of my friends. One got a short rib burrito and she was happy with it. The friend who got the Korean fried chicken was disappointed as he felt the soy and garlic wings were small and were on the dry side. You can enjoy your food at several large tables and at the counter seating by the window or outside in the patio. A good option for Korean food if you're in the area. I would like to try the kalbi burrito next time. read more

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Was charging the Tesla while looking for a good place to eat. I'm originally from LA and miss all the great KBBQ places back home. Checked Yelp to see if I can find any decent KBBQ places in the area. Came across Mama Cho's BBQ which had great reviews and gave me a hankering for some BBQ. Called and placed an order for the BBQ plate and took my chances. Food was made quick and folks there are very nice. The BBQ itself was pretty good and so was the Kimchi. My old qualm was that I wish it had a lil more spice to it like I'm used to. But I'm sure they dialed it back a bit for the pallet around the area. Either way a good place to get BBQ if you are in the area! read more

Mama Cho's BBQ - BBQ plate! - Barbeque Near Me - Castro Valley, California

The food is really good here, but on the pricey side. Instead of opting for the cheaper chicken/pork combos. I decided to go for the gold!! I ordered the Bulgogi which is a thinly sliced marinated beef rib eye. The portion size was good and the flavor was great. The veggies were also perfect. I did pass on the Kimchi however, just call me chicken. Nothing wrong with it, but for me I thinks it's an acquired taste. Everything was fresh and clean, we got the food to go! Oh last but not least! We did get an order of spicy wings for daughter dearest, and they were the bomb! Whatever that means...lol I think it means good! Over all the food is good here. read more

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Was on a search for a local shop to pick up some Korean bbq to grill for my sister's birthday and found out Mama Cho's carries just that! I came in on a Tuesday after lunch time. The Lake Chabot marketplace had quiet a number of folks enjoying their food at the outside seating available. I went straight to the refrigeration area in the back. Unfortunately, the only side dishes available were the fish cakes and radish. I also picked up a jar of kimchi since I had just ran out. I went over to Mama Cho's kiosk and got a container of their marinated Oakland kalbi ribs, bulgogi, and spicy pork. I had heard good things about the Oakland style ribs so I had to try them! The person behind the counter let me know that the sides are restocked every Wednesday, explaining why there was so little left. Also, if you want less than 2lbs of meat (items are prepackaged to 2lb), then order 24 hours ahead of time. Overall, enjoyed every single meat. The pork could have been a little more fatty (to add tenderness and flavor). My favorite, hands down, was their Oakland style ribs! They're meaty, tender, and chewy! My sister also enjoyed them as well! The sides weren't bad either. Nothing too fancy. Can't go wrong with any of them! read more

Mama Cho's BBQ - What I bought plus rice, broccoli, and veggie pancake to top it off! - Barbeque Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Of course i yelped this place and so glad i did! I got the korean plate with oakland short ribs and pork belly, and i got my boyfriend the kalbi burger with french fries. And i also got the chicken wings for appetizers. My dish was delicious! so flavorful and nicely cooked i loved it! my boyfriend only complaint about his burger as he felt like he could taste the bbq meat on his burger, i tried it and i like it! and i got the extra fries and it does not come with the burger! my overbill came out to $40 plus $23. for the bulgogi. I have not tried the bulgogi yet but will update my review tomorrow. Will i be back? of for sure! and they take apple pay!! read more

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Friend and I met here yesterday for the first time. Didn't know this mostly Asian Food Court was here. Ordered Bibimbap. It was good. Great presentation. Beef was not fatty . Would have liked a little more meat tho read more

Mama Cho's BBQ - bibimbop (see the perfect egg) and super flavorful mushroom, but where's the beef? ;) - Barbeque Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Very special Korean-Maxican fusion for kimchi lovers. A bit pricey but my wife and I like them a lot.

*******COVID 19 Call and Pick up Order*********^ I tried ordering last week Mama Cho's off one of those horrible food delivery apps but they cancelled my order :(. Since we were off today and still had KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) on our minds, I suggested let's go to the park near by with the kids and the order some Mama Chos to take home. I am kind of in a little bit of a food coma ATM, it has been a while since I had something so good doing take out! I really miss going out, but it's the time we live in right? So we phoned in our order from the Park, said it would be 15 minutes, got there about 10 min later and the food was pretty much ready! So they were hella fast! I have driven by this place so many time and I have never been inside, it's like a mini market. As soon as you walk in you are hit with the smells of all kinds of amazing food. A lot of the places were lined up on a Monday afternoon (mind you it's a Holiday for some people today) Since we don't get out much these days we ordered a little bit of everything. We ordered Korean fried chicken, bulgogi and short rib plate, short rib taco, and the bbq chicken burrito. Out of all of it, the short rib taco was my favorite, it was so delicious! Like OMG I can eat them for a week straight delicious. The burrito was good, however it was a lot more rice then meat, which was a let down, but other than that it was freakin good too. I did not get to try much bulgogi and short rib since it vanished real quick! But the little pieces I did get to try were sooo sooo good! I definitely will be back to try the rest of the menu! TLDR: Legit Korean BBQ place, a must try in CV! read more

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While I love the food at Mama Cho's (especially the burger and the chicken), this review is for the meat department. I saw that they were selling turkeys for Thanksgiving and I ordered two 12-pounders. The catch was that I wanted them cut into pieces. They seemed a little taken a back by this, but took down my name and order. From then until I picked them up, I had received 3 different phone calls from different people confirming my order and making sure they knew exactly what I wanted. The turkeys were absolutely perfect! I wasn't sure what to expect because I have had a really bad experience in San Leandro. The last two years I ordered my turkey from a well-known butcher in San Leandro (feel free to look up my review) and they absolutely ruined it: chunks of skin were slashed from the thighs, making it imposible to get a crispy skin, for example. Mind you, I spent over $100 both times (I went the 2nd time because I thought maybe I hadn't been clear or something; NO, they are just bad at what they do and they have extremely bad customer service). But I am so happy I ordered my turkeys from Mama Cho's. From the staff, to the care with my order, to the value and price, they really did a great job. I could not have asked for more (see pic for just how well they cut the birds and how nicely it is packaged). I will continue to buy meat from them, and of course, to eat there. If you go, do yourself the favor of buying the locally crafted kkakdugi (radish) kimchi. If is exceptional. read more

Mama Cho's BBQ - Mama Cho's butchery did a phenomenal job quartering my Thanksgiving turkeys. Highly recommend. - Barbeque Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Mama Cho's is located on Lake Chabot Road which serves Korean style beef with Mexican fusion tacos, burritos, and rice plate. They also have butcher counters that sell fresh short ribs, steaks, chickens, pork, and convenience marinated meat for easy cook top grills. The combo plate, meat with rice and salads with the extra special short ribs are quite costly, close to $18. Tacos and burritos are market price, $3.5 - $9. I had a chicken and spicy pork tacos. It comprised of the main star of meat, salas, and crunchy kimchi. Excellent combination of ingredients that brought savory and sweet notes together and elevated with their special Korean spicy/sweet sauce with a light touch of cheese, opt out the sour cream. It is a wholesome bite. read more

Mama Cho's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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MENU AND FOOD: Mama Cho's offers a variety of Korean dishes, including Korean fried chicken, and other American and Mexican favorites with a Korean twist. SERVICE AND ATMOSPHERE: Service is quick and efficient. Their decor is appropriate and simple. They have both indoor and outdoor seating as part of the public market. PARKING: They have a large parking lot shared with other vendors. IMPRESSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: I usually get their plate with their LA galbi, which is good, but does get a bit pricey. I'm a big fan of pork belly, however theirs is cut a bit thin and their marinade is not the best. Their burrito and fries are pretty good as well. read more

Not convenient for us by no means but I won a giveaway on Instagram so it brought us out to Castro Valley. The funny thing is that my cousin used to live out here and at one point we were out here every weekend visiting but never knew about the "food hall" out here. I preordered the meat for pick up but also made time for lunch to try their offerings. Luckily at the time, we were able to eat outside in the front at the few tables they had. The parking lot has lots of spaces so no worry about finding parking. D2 and I shared an order of soy garlic wings, and the 2 item bbq plate to which we ordered bbq chicken and the Oakland Kalbi. The chicken wings were hot and fresh to order, super crunchy and the flavor was delicious. The bbq chicken was just okay, like most every other chicken bbq. The Oakland Kalbi was bomb.com. Never had that cut of meat but it was meaty and tender. My kids have this thing about eating kalbi off of bones and this didn't disappoint. Nicely marinated and nice char from the bbq. From the meat we ordered to bring home; we ordered the LA kalbi and kalbi burgers to cook at home. NIcely marinated and easy to cook at home read more

Oh heavens thank you Mama Cho's!!!!! Finally I got a chance to come to this place! Fusion of Mexican and Korean is a match! (Although I prefer my burrito with no beans and no salsa.). Flavors are alllll there. The burrito is quite filling and I could've shared it with someone, but I was being a foodie monster. Goes super great with their tatter totts. I am a huge fan!!!! Coming back to try their tacos! read more

Mama Cho's BBQ - Spicy pork burrito - Barbeque Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Castro Valley's best kept secret. Mama Cho's! After experiencing this amazing little kiosk type grub spot, a few months ago, I'm finally coming around to write a review. Having lived in the East bay for a few decades, it's been absolutely wonderful to see more and more Koreans coming up here, or down here. Hence, more yummy Korean spots. I have never known Mama Cho's to be here. But so glad they are. Goodbye LA Galbi, hello Oakalnd Galbi. So much better than that LA Galbi. Now only if our beloved A's were better than the Fodgers lol. read more

My friend and I were in town and wanted to try something new! We ordered 3 menu items: spicy pork KBBQ taco, jalapeno cheese tots, and bulgogi cheese steak. Out of the three, my favorite was the bulgogi cheese steak (3.5/5) ! The bread was really soggy in some areas, but I liked the cheesy parts! The taco was just okay to me like a 2/5. MY least favorite would be the jalapeno cheese tots. I felt like this was also a bit pricier than some other korean fusion places I have tried. I don't think I would come back here, but I would recommend coming here at least once if you are in the area to at least give it a try! read more

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I have been meaning to try out Mama Cho's BBQ since last year but only had a chance recently and really enjoyed it! They have a lot of marinated meat options for you to buy and take home to grill yourself which I personally like. If I ever have a bigger family event, this is definitely a place I would go to do a bit of my poultry shopping. We tried their kbbq bowl which is one serving of mama cho's marinated meat complimented with rice, kimchi and broccoli. We chose the LA Kalbi (beef short ribs) which is an additional 3. This was delicious and marinated so well. They did give 3 pieces of kalbi so it was a decent portion. This bowl is originally $10 and depending on the choice of meat you choose, the price will increase. We also tried their ma'cho nachos with their spicy pork. Their pork was really tender and again super flavorful. The cheese got a bit hard to eat once we starting eating it but overall super solid and would get again. The ma'cho nachos were $12 and come in an option of either chicken or spicy pork. This place is located inside the Lake Chabot public market. If you do not want anything on their menu, there are other food choice options in this mini public market. Both indoor and outdoor seating are available. You can even get dessert in here when you are done eating. There is a good amount of seating and both times I have been at this public market, I did not have any issue finding parking or seating. read more

Before entering Lake Chabot Public Market for the first time, I was super excited to shop for local items not found in mainstream markets. I had my shopping bag ready on hand and stepped foot inside... where are the aisles of snacks? The fresh grown veggies? The smelly cheeses? Little did I know, this "market" was a restaurant type of market; think food court. I was surprised to see Asian businesses lined up around the large dining area in the center. They had poke, ramen, boba, ice cream, and Korean. Mama Cho's bulgogi cheesesteak w/ fries - the roll was nice and soft, the bulgogi was perfectly cooked and had great flavor, and the fries were nicely seasoned Service was great, the vicinity was clean. A tad pricey for the two items. read more

Mama Cho's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I love this place so much. I get the burrito, the burger or the Bibimbap (which always makes me think of the 1997 hit song Mmmbop by Hanson). I also love to get some of their marinated meat to cook later. The bulgogi burgers in particular are exquisite. It's a higher price range than my other go to places but totally worth it. Especially when I want to remind my wife of the 1997 hit song Mmmbop by Hanson. read more

Everything is like pure soy sauce would never come again Got LA kalbi bowl, kimchi really disgusting flavor, 3 pieces of broccoli, meat sauce wasn't good just soy sauce dipped Japchae has strange noodles very hard very thin Avoid at all cost read more

Very sorry the entire business went up in flames! You will be very much missed! We were going to go there for a bowl the next night! The food was great! Hope to see you again if you get it repaired later! Bless all of you that lost everything! will be thinking of you! Bless you! read more

With COVID limiting our dining options, we've been really happy to be able to use Mama Cho's delivery service! We've used it twice already and have been really pleased both times! The minimum is a $75 order and there's a $10 delivery charge, but it's worth it! The meats are high quality and very tasty! We've especially enjoyed the marinated meats- the chicken, bulgogi, and kalbi have all been awesome. The last order we got a couple of their ban chan (side dishes) and those were tasty as well. We'll definitely take advantage of the delivery service and continue to pick up their great meat! read more

Big fan of Mama Cho's BBQ. This place is located at the lake Chabot public market on the right hand side it takes up about the whole back half of the market. They have a variety of foods on their menu from rice plates, to cheese stakes, stuffed tater tots, fries that come loaded with goods and you can also buy meat from their deli as well! Along with fresh kimchi and I don't know about y'all... but I love me some kimchi! I usually get the rice plate, it comes with rice, a broccoli salad and 2 types of meat & a side of kimichi. My bf likes the pork & bulgogi and I like the teriyaki. It's packed with a ton of flavor (I'm assuming because it's hella marinated, I love extra sauce on my food and this doesn't need any) the price is affordable and the plate is big enough to share in my opinion but it depends on how much you eat. The only con is I wish it would come with a drink, it's like $15 for a rice plate and a drink and the place can get pretty loud and packed. read more

Mama Cho's BBQ - My hunnies Pork & Chicken Rice plate - Barbeque Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Decided to give this place a try. It's in a market place where there are 2 other eateries and 2 dessert places. Food: 1) bulgogi bibimbap - it has all the regular fixings of a bibimbap but the meat lacks flavor that it didn't really end up being something I would come back here for. It's ok if going to other Korean places is a little far away... 2) Jalapeno taters - these were good. Wasn't spicy hot so it is good for those of us who don't like the burning sensation of eating jalapenos. Good to share. 3) Macho's nacho - they have options for chicken, spicy pork and beef. Had the spicy pork. It was good but would have been better if they made it last and serve it when it was completed. By the time we are, the tortilla chips were soggy. Nonetheless, it tasted good if you won't be bothered by the soggy chips. read more

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Mama Cho has been crucial during these times of uncertainty. At the beginning of the pandemic it was difficult to find any proteins but they've always come through with great variety and of course always fresh. Not only do they provide fresh cuts of meat, they have vegetables and Korean staples like kimchi, mool and other banchan items! They also do delivery services throughout the week which is a godsend as well! Check their website for more info! Love to see these guys doing everything they can to keep their staff and business open and don't mind supporting them during these trying times. read more

4.5 Stars! This review is for the home delivery of their premarinated meats. Yes, it is pricey, but if you think about the quality of meat and the delish marinade AND the time you save...it's SO worth it!!! Make sure you read the home delivery schedule online as they only deliver to your area once a week and you have to place the order a day in advance of the designated delivery date; order needs to be in by 4pm. I got 4 lbs of chicken and 8 lbs of Oakland kalbi and the family very much enjoyed the food. The marinade for both are flavorful, but not overpowering. I want to try to the LA kalbi and spicy chicken next time as well. read more

Soo Good... The flavor combinatiin the kimchi and the size, Yummy. And love supporting small local business read more

4.5 stars. My #ThankYouThursday review is going out to Mama Cho's BBQ. I was craving Korean food and my husband was craving a burrito, so this was the perfect place as not many places offer both! We ordered delivery on DoorDash and our lunch was packaged securely. I ordered the traditional KBBQ Plate with Chicken and Bulgogi, which came with Rice, Kimchi, and Broccoli (requested no Bean Sprouts). The meat was marinated and cooked well, flavorful, and fresh. The Kimchi and Broccoli brought everything together and made the meal tasty. My husband ordered the KBBQ Burrito with Spicy Pork, Black Beans, Rice, Guacamole, etc. but also made a request to have no Cheese or Sour Cream. He said it was packed with flavor and liked that the tortilla was grilled. Would he eat it again? Yes! Would I eat my meal again? Yes! (...but tempted to try their fusion dishes next time!) Prices can be considered on the higher end for their traditional plates and also for the portion you get of their sides (we got Sweet Potato Tots and Fries), but you can also order their fusion burritos, burgers, or nachos that are more in the $9.95 to $10.95 range. Ordering on DoorDash was very easy and we could customize almost all of the dishes, which was a huge plus! We loved the concept and would like to continue supporting family-owned restaurants like this one. Thank you! read more

Mama Cho's BBQ - KBBQ Plate with Chicken and Bulgogi - Barbeque Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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! read more

We love Mama Cho's!! Whether it's cruising over afterschool to pick up fries and tater tots or grabbing tacos for dinner, this place is awesome!!!! read more

Passed by here after our hike. I appreciate the precautions set in place for COVID. Always love their bulgogi and never fails! Customer service is always at its best. Parking lot is small but it wasn't an issue yesterday. Pre-COVID place has always been clean and organized. read more

Mama Cho's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Great korean food to go. This place is a bit of fusion korean place with Korean burritos which are awesome and the kalbe plate is pretty good. You can also pick up some craft beers and some Koran groceries. All around cool place read more

Ehhh. The burrito was over $17 with tax and by the time you tip it's insanity. It was big, but wasn't special in any way. wouldn't get it again to be honest and am sad I spent so much money on it. It doesn't taste like a fusion burrito either. A lot of rice in there that was a bit mushy and meh. I like that they grilled the burrito itself and that it had guacamole, but that can't carry the burrito (especially for that price). I've been spoiled by good fusion burritos from Belly (Oakland) and Senor Sisig. Maybe other items are better here? read more

I've visited Mama Cho's BBQ several times, usually every couple of months. The best things about Mama Cho's are their food consistency and cleanliness. My favorite menu item is Mama Cho's kbbq plate, which is always enough to be full; a few times, I was satisfied with just eating half and saving the rest for another meal. You get a warm ball of moist, fluffy rice, a mini sampler of their banchan, and a choice of meat: chicken, spicy pork, "bulgogi" beef rib eye, "L.A." kalbi beef short ribs, and "Oakland" kalbi beef short ribs. My favorite is the "Oakland" kalbi - you get three pieces, but they're big bones with thick, meaty flesh attached. There's so much flavor and juiciness within! I generally order chicken too, as they're moist and nicely charred. I'm not a fan of the spicy pork or bulgogi - I think the bulgogi comes out the driest of their meats, and I'm not that fond of the spicy pork flavor. It tastes like a dry rub version of gochujang and ginger; on the bright side, this is one of the least spicy daeji bulgogi I've ever come across, so if you're sensitive to spice, this shouldn't be that bad. I always like how the rice and banchan taste. The rice is high quality with short grains to retain all that moisture and fluff. The banchan also always tastes fresh with subtle sesame oil, and isn't drenched in oil or water. The kimchi always has a fresh crunch and right amount of gochujang! Their tacos and burritos are popular, but I still prefer the rice plate a whole lot more. The taco has an interesting mixture of pico de gallo, kimchi, salsa verde, sour cream, and cotija cheese, but I think that ends up overpowering the flavor of the meats. However, the flour tortilla was well made and grilled, and offered a really good grip when holding onto the bigger taco. The burrito was kind of cold when I ate it on location. While the ingredients tasted good together, it really just reminded me of a less filled Chipotle burrito, which isn't bad, but I'm not tryna go here to eat a Chipotle burrito, haha. I love that Mama Cho's also doubles as a marketplace and butcher counter. You can buy quality raw meat or pre-marinated meat to cook at home! Also, you can fill up on some pretty addictive, sweet and smooth gochujang and some other sauces they have out for customers along with a water dispenser. read more

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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 enjoy it! read more

We were looking for some quick Asian food to eat on the road without resorting to fast food or Panda Express, and this place was perfect! It's fusion but the Asian flavors are prominent in these creative dishes. Burrito with crispy pork: I was torn between this and the burger and honestly they're both delicious, so I'm not much help with decision-making. But the crispy meat really elevated this dish. It had an incredible amount of flavor and paired with the salsa, rice, and other ingredients this is got to be one of the best fusion burritos I've had. Burger: you really taste of the Asian flavors in the meat patty, it's EXTREMELY juicy! Traditional burger toppings make this an amazing burger. I'd rather pick this up on the go than any other fast food burger out there. It's not as big as the burrito, but flavor and quality wise they are both amazing. Jalapeño tater tot's: really cheesy and freshly made. There's jalapeños in almost every tot and you definitely taste the jalapeño flavor. Garlic fries: Garlic on garlic on garlic. This is one of the few locations outside of the Gilroy garlic festival where they add such a high amount of garlic. I'm obsessed with garlic, so the freshly grated garlic pieces made these fries finger licking good! read more

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It's Saturday and I'm trying to order for delivery but it keeps scheduling me for a Monday delivery instead of today. Yelp and Google says they're open and even called to confirm. Person who picked up says maybe its a tech issue so yeah.. that's it. IDK how come its just them and not the other restaurants. read more