They're serving up smashed fruit teas and I'm into it…read more I have tried their milk tea and guava lime tea. Both had a strong tea flavor which is what i like when I'm ordering tea. You can only add toppings to the fruit teas, you must try the water chestnut boba! I would recommend 30-50% sweet if you don't want your drink too sweet. They had a little craft store in front, and lots of seats inside. The only sad thing is that the only store is in the east bay and that's 40min from San Jose :(

I decided to give this a try while in Castro Valley since I've never been to Goolu before, and I do…read moretend to like lime. I ordered the pineapple lime tea, less sugar less ice. It was $8.50 before tip, which is very steep even with today's rising boba prices. They also have orchid oolong tea and a guava and peach flavor which I want to try next time, as well as selling hojicha and matcha. You can sign up for rewards at the ordering kiosk. It's sour and acidic but still sweet; I do wish in hindsight I'd asked for the lime to be removed, which is part of the drink customization settings, because the lime really overpowered it and it's harder to make out the pineapple. It had a rigid cup though, seems to be decent enough quality to reuse the cup. Overall, the drink was decent, but I took off a star because of how pricey it was. Still, I appreciate the premise of all the drinks containing lime and that they have some less common drink flavors.

Really nice cozy cafe with yummy vegan empanada options! My daughter and I specifically liked the…read morekale one.

Just an excellent place to be!…read more A friend had heard rave reviews about their authentic Argentinian empanadas and we were so happy to come and try it out on a Saturday afternoon. Parking was busy (the lot is shared with Trader Joe's) but we managed to find a spot and head into the busy but not packed cafe. There is a large assortment of empanadas, from meat options like chorizo and chicken, to vegetarian like corn and onion, to sweet options too like apples. The menu also boasts lots of great drinks including mate tea! Lucky us, the empanadas we ordered weren't in stock so we had to wait ~10 for freshly baked ones. They came out buttery and piping hot, even with little hand-stamped letters on them so you know what you're eating, and it was so delicious. Most are about $5.50 each. Add oregano chimichurri for a bit extra if you want or pair with a tea, but these empanadas really hit the snacky spot. Lots of wooden tables with fresh flowers make Pampas a great space to chat with friends or to sit and do some work. The most standout feature was the friendly and efficient staff who seem to build connections with everybody who walks in the door. Worth a drive to Castro Valley! Especially if you bring cash for a 10% discount off a dozen :)

For our wedding, we had a highly custom request for a wedding cake (Maplestory themed!), so we…read moreconsulted with Natalie before purchasing. She was extremely nice and accommodating, even outside of the bakery's business hours since we were super late. We taste tested and loved ALL the flavors, but ended up with matcha, ube, and vanilla. During the day of the wedding, Natalie and her team promptly delivered this beautiful 3 tiered custom themed cake. It was completely hassle free (I don't even know when she dropped it off on the hectic day), and exactly how we imagined it to be. Additionally all the guests loved the design and especially the flavor, so we were definitely feeling a little proud for choosing for this place. Thank you Natalie for this amazing cake!!

I can't believe I haven't written a review for a business my kids and I frequent all the time!…read moreWe've been coming to Always Yours since it opened. Hands down they have the best drinks, cookies, macarons, cakes, and now salt bread! I always come to get treats for my kid's teachers (for their birthdays, teacher appreciation week, just because, etc.). I've brought friends visiting the Bay Area to this bakery, which they have loved. Always Yours also has fun cup sleeve events, macaron classes and afternoon tea from time to time. We love supporting small businesses and this one is definitely worth supporting! P.S. with all these drink places popping up in the area...we still think the drinks at Always Yours not only taste better, but also are of higher quality.

Delicious boba! I love getting their okinawa, fruit teas, cheesma drinks, or the panda milk tea…read more They all hit the spot! I love getting the popcorn chicken, rice noodles, and the takoyaki. The popcorn chicken is so good all the time with the crunchy basil and garlic inside. I like how it has a little kick to it too. They have a big variety of food and drinks on their menu. There are no tables inside and just chairs to wait for your order. You can call ahead or place your order with them inside. The place is pretty big and plenty of parking all the time. Usually around 3pm after school, it does get busy with the high schoolers. This place is a really good treat for your boba craving.

The store location is spacious and welcoming when you step in. The place is kept clean and tidy…read more That is nice. The staff taking your order are friendly to help you take your order. Drinks are made quickly, so no long wait even when the place seems a little busy. I have not tried out their food yet so can't comment on that. But the drinks are good. Price is competitive but not overly marked up so that is a plus! :-)

Outstanding and beautiful drinks, indoor/ outdoor space and the right friends can make this a very…read morepleasant afternoon. My drink was very refreshing and fragrant. Perfect for an afternoon pick me up. Some mint on top and not overly sweet. I ordered something straight from the menu and it was just right as is. Indoor space with real leather couches and seating and some bar seating with views out to the boulevard. I spent some time here with a very close friend that I just didn't spend much time with in recent times. Covid and other reasons I suppose are to blame. Hours here could be a bit better but the general area is great with the BBQ and marketplace next door. Value seems good too.

Late review. My last visit here was the worst experience of any Philz locations. The person working…read moreat the order station is not personable and lacks customer service etiquette. Not a greeting or any kind of acknowledgement. To top it off, she had me repeat my simple order from their featured menu several times. It wasn't like it was loud indoors. And she made it seem like I was an inconvenience. How much more obviously rude can you be? Maybe she wasn't having a good day but she seemed fine chit chatting away with the fellow baristas afterwards. Not my type of Philz if workers here pick and choose who they want to service. Other than that, they have plenty of seating indoors and outdoors. I do like the spaciousness of their outdoor seating. Parking can sometimes be a nuisance even tho there's a parking lot available. Oh and their featured drinks tend to seem a little too sweet. I plan to stick with my philtered soul. Name says it all. But, not so sure if I'd frequent this location.

Ive visited a couple of times recently and have had great experiences! The people working are…read morealways super kind and I enjoy the food and drinks they serve. I most recently tried their peppermint mocha and lavender latte, both of which I got iced. They were delicious!! I'm a really big fan of minty chocolatey drinks and I thought the peppermint mocha was done really well for an iced version. The lavender latte was actually a pleasant surprise for me! I wasn't expecting to like it so much and the lavender and coffee were really balanced. The chicken gyro was good as well! It came with a sauce and was packed with veggies, which I appreciate. I do wish they had cucumbers in their gyros too though. Overall great experience :)

I'm not in Castro Valley very often, but when I am I stop by Cafe Rumi. It's a charming, cozy cafe…read morein an otherwise plain strip mall. It's a bit tight inside, but there is seating of various configurations. It's pretty easy to find what you need, like utensils, napkins, & water. There is free Wi-Fi & power strips, which are appreciated. The service is friendly and quick. My orders typically complete within 5-10 minutes. The drinks are pretty good. If you've never had any sort of pink chai, then I'd suggest the Pink Chai Latte. I had mine hot, and it was nicely foamed & sweetened. I also enjoyed the Peppermint Mocha, though the flavors were a bit subtler than I'd prefer. The food is fine. There aren't too many Mediterranean options in town (that I know), but you can probably find better if you go farther out. I liked the pita & yogurt in the Gyros (Beef & Lamb) Wrap, but the actual meat & veggies were just adequate. The Saffron Chicken Platter was a lot saucier & more tangy than I was prepared for.. an interesting dish but not one I'd get again.

Very friendly staff. 1) Ginger scone had lots of candied…read moreginger pieces that were not dried just perfect 2) Savory scone was not dried pefectly flavored with garlic, chives, cheese 3) Artichoke Pretzel when heated was so yummy! Pretzel was perfect with just the right amount of filling in the middle 4) Chocolate Espresso cookie was moist with lots of nuts, pieces of chocolate chips, and outside with a little crunch I was very happy that everything was delicious, I will come again when I'm in town! Thank you keep up the delicious pastries, and bread!

Absolutely love the Epi Baguette! I keep coming back for that. It almost looks like a braided…read moreversion of a baguette and it's so easy to break off a piece of it. Next thing I know, I've eaten at least three pieces! I first discovered Seven Hills when a friend introduced me to Castro Valley Marketplace. Naturally, I bought a couple pastries to try a bit of everything. I also brought my mom the second visit. Baked Goods: Epi Baguette Pumpkin Cranberry Muffin Savory Scone Berry Scone Morning Bun Butter Croissant Pumpkin Spice Roll Apple Crostata Olive Sourdough *sliced +fifty cents Excellent variety of pastries! There's something for everyone as long as they're not gluten sensitive. I think they do have a gluten free scone and a few other GF offerings. Staff is nice. Parking isn't bad at all for the marketplace. Lots of people coming and going. I shall return for the Epi baguette!

God forbid you need internet and an outlet while you wait. There is one outlet, and if you try to…read moreuse it, the owner will stop you because he "doesn't want to get sued if anything happens." Like... what? There is no universe in which that is a possibility. I used to come to this coffee shop while waiting for my car to be serviced, but I won't be coming again.

This is a long overdue review. I came here after a doctor's appointment in hopes of supporting a…read morelocal business. Looking over the menu, the owner asked rudely what I wanted. I wanted a latte. So he said, seemingly annoyed, "what flavor? We have all flavors. Anything you want." Taken back by his attitude, I asked if he had sugar free options. He replied, "oh, no. We don't have sugar free." Okay...then. You don't have ALL flavors. See the attached photo. What do you guys think I orders? A steak dinner? Sushi? 5 coffees? 3 lattes? A carton of eggs? All wrong. I ordered TWO drinks and a $6 pastry. One of them being a "seasonal iced drink". YES, you're looking at the actual receipt. THIRTY DOLLARS! I understand that everything is organic, but $30?! The owner, seeing the sheer disbelief on my face said. The prices on the menu are for hot drinks only and any cold drinks are extra. This place is the biggest scam ever. I recommend going up the hill and going to the coffee shop in the church or Philz. Hell, Starbucks is better than this jip joint.