I was recommended this place by a stranger from a hot dog spot a couple blocks away and what an absolute gem of a recommendation. I love the New Orleans food scene and therefore had a pretty high bar for Cajun food outside of Louisiana. I came in a little hesitant because I've been disappointed too many times by the options we have in the bay for Cajun food. But after I opened the box and took my first bite of that blackened shrimp Po Boy I could've sworn I thought I was sitting in the French Quarter again. The nice young lady that took my order recommended the blackened shrimp as an underrated choice on the po boys so I had to try it out. I came stuffed with a Red wine coleslaw, tomatoes,pickle slices and a drizzle of their special sauce (that I can only describe as spicy cajun mayo). 12/10 and I'm not exaggerating I also had a side (and when I say side take it with a grain of salt cause this feeds like 3 people for being a side) of the fresh Crab fries. Not overdone with the ingredients yet what a powerful hit of flavor, the Cajun seasoning usually comes out a bit salty on fries but these guys figured out how to balance it with the fresh shredded crab on top, garnished off with some green onion and more special sauce, this thing made me look around the room to see if anyone else was reacting like this over the food. (And they were! People were sitting there talking about "last time I tried ___ and ___ and it was fire") In the end I saw a guy that looked very proud to be there and was helping around the place while running back to his computer, that was Brett, the owner. I had to go and shake the man's hand and pick his mind a bit. He's a born and raised in New Orleans guy and you could tell by his kindness and southern hospitality. (Dude gave me a delicious carrot cake to go) Unfortunately in the end I had to walk back out into the reminder that I was in Castro valley and not New Orleans but for minute I was able to remember everything that had previously experienced from my trips there and that's what a great meal should do for you. His city should be proud of what he created here. I will absolutely be back to work my way through the full menu and add more pics to this review. read more

Went to lunch on a Sunday at Southern Comfort kitchen. Ordered jambalaya, catfish shrimp with cheese grits, Brussel sprouts and beignets. Catfish shrimp and cheese grits were a 10/10! The batter and crunch from the fish and shrimp was delicious. I didn't finish my grist and had them the next day and just as good. Brussels sprouts could have been chopped in 1/4 to get more sauce on them or cooked a little more tender. The Jambalaya was seasoned perfectly for me. The beignets were very dense and not light on the inside, maybe skip those next time. The brown sugar lemonade was on point!! Would recommend for a brunch date on a the weekends. The staff were helpful and responsive. Food came out quickly and the music set the ambiance read more

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I was craving for southern food so decided to try this place. There's parking outside and also in the back. The restaurant itself is not too big with several tables outside and on the right inside. Since it's a hot day, it was difficult to sit outside. It's an open kitchen concept so you can kind of see your food being prepared. Ordering food was easy and took about 10 minutes for the food to be ready. I ordered the catfish with oysters and Cajun fries. The fish tasted fishy but the oysters were good, even though kind of small. Some of the fries tasted hot and fresh while others were kind of cold. I assumed the were mixed together. One thing I didn't like is the faucet in the bathroom that would not turn off. It's very wasting of water. When I asked the employee, I was told that it would eventually turn off. However I went in there twice to check and both times it was still on. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Catfish with oysters and Cajun fries - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Came here on a Friday afternoon for lunch and had a good first impression. The restaurant is cland . It's a nice, clean, quaint spot with friendly service. We ordered the Cajun crab fries and the fried chicken sandwich. The chicken sandwich was the standout. It was crispy, well-seasoned, juicy, and full of flavor. I'd happily order it again. The Cajun crab fries started off really good, but as we dug deeper, they became overwhelmingly salty. It seemed like the Cajun seasoning was layered heavily throughout, and unfortunately I couldn't finish them because of it. I'm leaving one star off for the fries, but overall I enjoyed the experience and would definitely come back to try more of the menu. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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We ordered the Cajun Crab Fries and had mixed feelings about them. The seasoning and sauce were excellent--full of flavor and probably the highlight of the dish. The fries themselves tasted a little undercooked, although that may have been due to the temperature of the crab cooling them down. While I wouldn't necessarily come back specifically for the crab fries, the quality of the seasoning definitely left an impression. It was flavorful enough that I'd be interested in trying other items on the menu. If the rest of their dishes are seasoned as well as the fries, there's plenty of reason to give Southern Comfort Kitchen another shot. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Cajun Crab Fries - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

It's actually pretty good, even with it delivered! Here's what we tried: Blackened trout - this one was not spicy. It came with two thin fillets, coated in blackened spices. DH liked the flavor and that it came with a side salad. This could be a healthier option. Red beans and rice - this one had some spicy sausage in with the beans. It had a lot of herbs too. Rice seemed well cooked. DH said it was fine, but not something he gets quite often. Crab fries - kids liked this one. Pretty good portion size and classic flavors. Not too saucy. This one is not spicy. Little one wanted more crab, lol. Catfish and fries - nice cornmeal batter, light layer that remained crispy through the delivery. The inside was moist and not musty. It came in thin strips, not large fillets. Pleasantly surprised at how good it was! We got regular fries instead of cajun fries. There were two different dips that both tasted like thousand island & mayo. Little one used it for the catfish and I used it for the fries. DH said this place beat his low expectations for seafood delivery. He said it's not a bad option for Southern food. It's probably better to eat it fresh. Everything was solid, but didn't have that "wow" factor. We'll likely try it again, but it's not a regular spot. read more

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4.5/5 Their soul food was flavorful, satiating, and absolutely delicious! I haven't tried many soul food restaurants, but based on the reviews, I think I already stumbled across one of the best ones in the Bay Area. Sadly, they only offer beignets on Sundays. 4/5 Cajun Crab Fries: Hot and fresh french fries combined with crab? Super good! There was a fair portion of shredded crab ontop. 4/5 Who Dat Shrimp: It was flavorful and nicely deep fried. It was delicious but I did get a bit of flavor fatigue after a couple pieces of shrimp. The sauce with french fries was also a good pairing. 3/5 Mac & Cheese: It was pretty average and my least favorite item that I tried from the menu. I'd recommend another side. read more

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We were craving a little something different for lunch today and decided to go for some southern flavor. This place is clean and bright and the staff are friendly and attentive. We got the catfish po boy sandwich, the salad with fried chicken and blackened ranch, and a side of cheesy grits. Everything was absolutely delicious. The flavors most definitely hit the spot! I found that it tasted authentic but with a clean "California" twist. Fish and chicken were cooked to perfection. We're going back to try the shrimp and grits. If you like New Orleans flavor you must check it out! read more

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I ordered the catfish with regular fries. Added a side of beans and rice. $22 .What I received was Four thin strips of hard fried catfish. No fries at all. ! A container with some thickly beans? with some sort of sliced link, about a tablespoon of rice, green onion on top.The beans and rice didn't taste like anything I've ever had. I couldn't eat the link because it also tasted like the beans that I've never tasted before. Save your money. I think the ship is sinking. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

The chicken strips here are insane. Juicest chicken strips I've ever had and fried to perfection. The blackened fish is flavorful and grilled wonderfully. Brussels sprouts have a sweetness to it while also having a nice crisp. We had a kiddo with us today and he downed the rice and beans plate. The server recommended who dat shrimp which had a yummy sauce but I do prefer the chicken strips myself. They recommended that I try the poboy next time. I've been here twice and one time they brought the food to the table and the other, we picked up at the counter. Maybe this depends on how busy it is? There's plenty of sauce, water and utensils inside for you to help yourself. The lot in front hardly has any parking, but there's a parking lot in the back! read more

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Another delicious meal from my favorite go-to Southern style home cooking! 5 stars easily earned for this establishment as the entire staff and food offerings stay true to their name! I always make it a point to stop by a grab a bite when I am in the area or just passing through. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Oyster po'boy - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Still in love with this place!! the chicken is so juicy and fresh! Service was amazing! Super clean inside and definitely very attentive to us!! read more

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First timers here!! Will say not a bad souther spot. The winner for today would have to be the fried catfish and the crab fries they were chefs kiss. As for the gumbo and jambalaya, nothing standing out but they are great dishes overall. Service was great and friendly. There is seating inside with tables. Fairly clean for the most part read more

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Forget Brenda's, Cherie's, Clementine's, etc, etc, etc. This joint doesn't do that hipster vibe nor claim to be the original this and that nonsense. They just win you over with great food and good vibes. Hands down the best grits and fried fish. You can tell they are just happy & proud to be serving delicious food. They take care of you with smiles and laughter every time. Had to put wifey on and boyyyy were we satisfied. Everything on the menu r straight hitters no misses. 15/10 would absolutely recommend. read more

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Love the food here! Real authentic New Orleans cuisine. Reminds me of our trips to the south. This time I switch up to the Blackened Shrimp and Grits from my usually Who Dat Shrimp and Grits. You can't go wrong with either. Their grits are so creamy and flavorful!! They have a few Abita beer on hand as well as wine and soft drinks. The staff is friendly and professional. The restaurant itself is tuck in a little strip with 3-4 other small businesses so the parking lot is small, as is the restaurant inside. There's half a dozen or so tables to eat inside and a few outside but either way wear a jacket because even inside is very industrial with metal chairs. read more

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We came in for some late lunch 2pm on Saturday and there was plenty of parking. It's a spot where you order and then sit wherever is open. It seemed like they had a lot of takeout orders and a lot of people coming in and out. The seating was limited so it felt a bit homey. We ordered a crawfish etouffe and fried catfish with fries. That was plenty of food to share for two and we had leftovers after. The fried catfish was delicious. The batter wasn't too thick and everything wasn't too oily. Loved the fish flavor came through. Crawfish etouffe didn't have a lot of crawfish but the overall flavor was nice. I would probably order takeout and maybe add some cooked frozen crawfish to it. Want to try the grits next time! read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Fried Catfish w/ Cajun Fries - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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I live in San Francisco, but Southern Comfort Kitchen is always on my wishlist for places that I wish weren't so far! It's not often I come out to CV, but every time I do, I think about coming here. It's an order at the front and find your own table type of restaurant, but they have very solid tasting southern food that hits the spot and satisfies that craving! The catfish is consistently tender, well seasoned, and mighty flavorful. Portions are nice and quite filling overall. Good amount of seating, not too noisy, and very friendly staff make this place a definite recommend! read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Seafood Gumbo - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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I had really high hopes for this place considering the reviews. Sadly will not be coming back. Carb to protein ratio is super off. In what world is anyone eating 3 cups+ worth of grits? 7 pieces of burnt tasting shrimp. There is a difference between burned and blackened. Flavor profile was flat, no dimension, just salt & cajun. Ordered Hush puppies and the least to say is I've had better. Texture was tok grainy for my liking personally. I would recommend in investing in better quality ingredients instead of high quantity carbs that will def lead to unnecessary food waste. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Blackened Shrimp w/ Grits - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

The staff were very friendly which is always a good start and the interior was very warm feeling! The food was next level though I would heavily recommend the Cajun Crab Fries, everything else was great too but it definitely took the crown. Im just drooling thinking about it . Everything was clean and overall this is one of the best spots Ive been to in CV. If you want a full review of the food I tried you could check out the videos Insta: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYEFhGzhFJM/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8p6R9JP/ read more

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First time here found in a whim driving from Sunol to Oakland at lunch. Jambalaya was outstanding. Hush puppies were excellent also. Muffaletta was ok. Very authentic vegetable spread. Bread was the correct shape but missing sesame seeds. Meat was good not as diverse as some places we have had it. Overall we were pleased and highly recommend the place. Took a while to try food but it was prepared fresh and lunch rush. Counter service only. Atmosphere was pretty basic. read more

We ordered a dinner takeout on a Friday night and there's private lot for parking! The restaurant itself seems small, and seems to be a place where you order at the counter and find your own table. We ordered the 50/50 with cajun fries, fried chicken strips, and the appetizer crawfish etouffee. I wasn't the biggest fan of the fish - it had a really overpowering fishy smell to it, but the breading was so crispy and flavorful! The shrimp were pretty small, but again, the flavor of the breading saved it for me! The tartar sauce they provide was also great! I thought the fries were a little soggy, but that could be from the drive back home. The chicken strips were juicy - a standard well done chicken strip. The crawfish etouffee was my favorite thing that we ordered. The roux was delightful, so savory, and they definitely do not skimp on the crawfish! Super peppery and warming, just such a hearty dish! read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Crawfish etouffee - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Absolutely delicious! We ordered a fried oyster po'boy and fried catfish with Cajun fries and were happy and satisfied. Just stopped in the area to walk around the lake and we are so happy that we did. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Fried Classic Po' Boy with oysters - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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This place is deliciousss and has allll the classic Southern comfort foods as in New Orleans from seafood like crawfish and blackened shrimp, jambalaya, Brussels sprouts, gumbo, beignets on Sundays, banana pudding, grits, Cajun fries, hush puppies...you name it. Nothing too spicy either. Try the sweet brown sugar lemonade. I had difficulty ordering! I feel likely we have a quick place in the Bay to get our fix of Creole food. Warning that the parking lot is small, maybe ~10 spots or so. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Hush puppies - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

The dish was small, but delicious! This place is always busy. I learned about it after I had the food truck at work.

My parents go here all the time about two years ago before moved. First it was my little brother with the crab fires then my aunt with the fish so u know what I had to do 3 weeks later I had to try the po boy crab sandwich which they don't have anymore. That is very disappointing but aye it's busines but man when I tell you take one bite felt like I was Thanos. Then you walk in they always pack so that means business is booming and the flavor is curing this place is a heaven in the pay y'all need more spots I swear to God the flavor of this place makes no sense in a good way plus everybody smiles and make you feel welcomed read more

Staff was very kind and the restaurant had plenty of parking / seating. I ordered the shrimp sandwich and my friend got the jambalaya. I thought the shrimp was very juicy and had a crispy texture while being seasoned perfectly. The jambalaya was way too salty though and was hard to have a lot of it. I'm sure the fried chicken sandwich would have been good too read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Jambalaya - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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What a hidden gem! Easy to miss, parking lot is small and gets crowded fast. Restaurant is small with limited seating indoors and two tables outdoors. It can get busy and crowded very fast. I would recommend going during non busy hours so you can find parking as well as find a table so you can sit and enjoy your meal! The food here is incredible -- flavorful and comforting! Definitely would recommend and one of the best restaurants in Castro Valley! read more

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I got the catfish and crawfish étouffée. It was okay. The catfish tasted good, but the portion was smaller than expected compared to review photos. The crawfish étouffée was just okay. It tasted one-note, and the rice was undercooked even after a 30-minute drive for takeout. It tasted fine overall, but I wouldn't go back. The only positive was that it came with a lot of crawfish, and it was fresh, not frozen. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - thin catfish strip - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Stumbled across this place because the restaurant I originally wanted to go to was unexpectedly closed. I was excited because love Southern creole. I ordered the seafood gumbo and the brown sugar lemonade. Counter service was fine but waited for a few minutes even though there was no line. Guy took the person's order in front of me and then walked away. After a couple minutes, the other girl had to tell him to come back. Food was good and had a good amount of seafood/protein in it, but a tad salty. I'll likely be back to try other menu items if in the area. Nothing the crystal hot sauce packets couldn't fix. Nothing special about the brown sugar lemonade. It was really tart. Probably because it was nearly gone so I got the bottom of the pitcher. Definitely should be mixed. I ended up mixing it with tea because it was so tart. Something a little worrisome was that their ice machine was broken so they just had this giant bucket of ice on the counter with no lid and customers were to stick their hand in there and grab the scooper and fill their cups. Ummm what if customers had dirty hands or coughed/sneezed?? and they're all just grabbing the scooper and throwing it back in there. Y'all should've really had this behind the counter, sanitary, and the staff filling the cups with ice when a drink was ordered. Pretty sure that not up to code. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - seafood gumbo - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

This seems to be hands down my favorite soul food place when it comes to gumbo, fried chicken, fried catfish, etc in the East Bay. So glad that they now have a branch in Alameda and not just a food truck that comes on Saturday at South shore. At the CV site, service especially on weekends and holidays are rough. There's just a long line of people waiting and being in a small place and also a small parking lot, it can get difficult if you're not ready. So this is a fair warning. The ambiance of the place is on the louder side and due to it being packed on weekends and holidays, you know what to expect with the mass of people, a busy kitchen crew, and busy staff. If you have the right expectation, then you'll do fine. read more

Ordered 50 50 shrimp and catfish and got, catfish and something else as you can see on the receipt in the picture below. This was a DoorDash order. We usually get what we order this is the second time ordering and having an issue with the order we placed. We do love the food but unfortunately disappointed this happened again. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Catfish and something else instead of shrimp - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

This is such a great Southern comfort food spot in East Bay, close to the shopping center in Castro Valley. Definitely recommend what we got! 1. 50/50 with Cajun fries (shrimp and catfish) 2.Gumbo 3. Hush puppies--5 pieces Parking was easy to find in front of the restaurant, thought I'm sure it helped that we came before noon. read more

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Bomb chicken sandwich with so much flavor! On the spicier side, but so worth it! Highly recommend. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Blackened Chicken Sandwich - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Family would tell me about this place but never gave me the name, the level of frustration. So I did a little digging and found it on my own. They used to have I believe soft crab Po boy's lord have mercy. Mind you I don't eat seafood (EVER) but y'all changed that for surely read more

Tried southern comfort kitchen for dinner. Everything on the menu sounded great and we wanted to try a variety, so we got a side macaroni, side jambalaya, and seafood gumbo. The sides are large portions. You could get a couple of sides and call it a meal. The seafood gumbo was filling and flavorful. Prices were reasonable for the amount of food given. The service was quick. But where we were sitting there were quite a few bugs, which was uncomfortable when eating. Otherwise food was good and we will be back next time to try more items. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Side Jambalaya and side Mac & Cheese - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Food is fresh, hot, authentic, and surprisingly nostalgic. Highly recommend ordering a lemonade and dessert as a sweet treat. I'll be back for jambalaya, cajun fries, and beignets next month. read more

I went to Southern Comfort Kitchen again and as per usual ordered my regular order of gumbo and it was amazing. I really do enjoy coming to this place and being able to have access to such great gumbo in the Bay Area is really a special thing to have. The service is always warm and friendly. Everyone there seems like they're part of the neighborhood. The fried catfish is absolutely delicious as well. It's got the right kind of breading if you know what I mean. Everything was speedy. The food comes out on time and nice and hot. There's plenty of seating inside and outside. Overall, it's always an experience for the senses to dine here and I will continue to recommend this place. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - gumbo - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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This mac and cheese honestly hits on a different level. From the first bite, you can tell it's not just thrown together it's crafted. The cheese is rich, smooth, and perfectly melted, coating every piece of pasta without being too heavy or greasy. It's that balance a lot of places miss: creamy without feeling overwhelming. The texture is where it really stands out. The noodles are cooked just right not too soft, not too firm so every bite has that perfect consistency. And if there's a baked top layer, it adds that slight crisp that contrasts the creaminess underneath, making it even better. Flavor-wise, it's deep. You can taste the blend of cheeses instead of just one basic note. It's savory, slightly sharp, and comforting at the same time. It's the kind of dish that doesn't need extras to prove itself it already stands strong on its own. What really makes it memorable though is how it feels like more than just food. It's the type of mac and cheese that reminds you why simple dishes matter when they're done right. It's warm, satisfying, and leaves you thinking about it even after you're done. Some meals fill you up... this one stays with you. I am impressed!! read more

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This place has either gone very far downhill or today was a bad day for them. Dry, overcooked and flavorless. The fries are stale asf and everything is under seasoned. I got catfish and chicken strips with fries and a side of jambalaya. The catfish strips were as skinny as the fries and the jambalaya taste like spaghetti. Even the sauce was dissapointing, it was the only thing with a little flavor and they fill the cups less than half way. Barely had enough for my strips. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - So dry and over cooked. No flavor - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Came to have lunch with my fiance. The service was pretty good. The menu is posted higher up, no pics of the food are on the menu. If you want to eat there, you order and pay for food first and then take it to your table when it's ready. The bathroom was fairly clean. There is only one private stall for men and women in the restaurant to share. Food was delicious. Definitely plan on coming back. read more

Southern Comfort Kitchen - Southern Near Me - Castro Valley, California