Oh man, I freaking love this place. I've been wanting to try Tao's Fresh for the longest time since I found out its location in San Leandro. This location looks like it just opened up recently. It's very clean looking inside and pretty spaced out. Their ordering system is all done mobile it seems because that's how they asked us to order. You can also pay via mobile after you're done, but otherwise they can still hand you the check. I ordered the beef & salmon sizzling plate, which was bombbb. Loved my order - had great flavor. Even though this is obviously very similar to Sizzling Lunch and Pepper Lunch, there was something just very satisfying about this meal. I also LOVED their popcorn chicken. BEST popcorn chicken I've had - hands down. Beats all the boba shops in comparison in my opinion. They were extremely juicy and had great flavor. The portion was also decent. I may want to give their boba tea drinks a try sometime too. read more

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Food options for Asian fusion are plentiful. The jasmine tea was delicious. Service was fast. Ambiance was very - cool, tvs, music. Ordering system was easy to understand. read more

Tao's Fresh (SLZ) opens their 2nd location in Cham Sae Bistro's space. the renovated space is bigger/fancier than the lst location. inside dining or takeout only. flat screens of basketball and makbang (korean eating broadcast) offerings: Asian Fusion/Hawaiian BBQ, Sizzling Platter, Boba drinks. no Korean eats seen. eats: Katsu Chicken (11.95) -bland cabbage, carrot slices, broccoli stems were ok, wasn't salty -2 scoops of rice, a bland macaroni scoop was the usual, tasted fresh -fried chicken pieces were aplenty, not overfried, chicken meat within juicy, tender, not dried nor overcooked. fried crust easily detachable. no need to eat. (unless u wanted to). -katsu sauce wasn't the usual brown sauce. it was a yellowish, sugary dip, flavor neutral. chili sauce, garlic sauce, ketchup? condiments on table. Takoyaki (8/7.95) -freshly made fried octopus balls with bits of octopus and melty liquid inside. not all had bonito flakes on top. *taste resembles Japanese quality. take outs: -food isn't exactly like Hawaiian BBQ/Japanese food. good portions. reasonable pricing. tasted very good. had slight aftertaste either sugar or sodium. -hours may be different from posted. past owner posted new hours on old site. -food served in take out boxes. related to covid safety protocol/labor issues? 4.5 stars read more

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The popular Tao's Fresh from San Lorenzo has found its way to Newark! In the spot of the former Cham Sae Bistro, Tao's brings its highly rated sizzling platters as well as Hawaiian BBQ to fans in the Lower East Bay and beyond. Once I caught wind of the opening, even though we in the Bay Area are experiencing the brunt of the "atmospheric river" storm, I couldn't resist taking a jaunt down here. Despite the treacherous journey in which I hydroplaned a few times, nearly losing control, it was all worth it! The menu has been slightly streamlined (no more won ton soup, which is actually quite good), but many of the main favorites are still readily available. My usual order is the Salmon/Beef Rice or Salmon/Beef Yakiniku, and in both locations, these have never disappointed. As the name implies, ingredients are fresh and of high quality, and portions are just about the right size. In addition, the sizzling platters tend to be much less greasy than in other similar establishments. The owners are also extremely friendly. When I first stepped in, they instantly recognized me, even with a mask on. I was able to chop it up with them for a bit, and they gave me the scoop. They were so kind and grateful for my continued business, but I could tell that they truly appreciate all of their customers, as they were speaking with other patrons in the same polite manner. Also, I'm not sure if it was a grand opening promotion or them hooking up a repeat visitor, but I received an extra cheese corn on the house! I must say it was pretty darn good, and comparable to something I would gulp down at an actual Korean restaurant (owners here speak Mandarin). The interior is much roomier and more upscale than the SLZ location, and even though a few of the recognizable design elements from Cham Sae were carried over, Tao's did a wonderful job adding their own personal touch. Even though the SLZ spot isn't necessarily far (I gladly made the journey), this is much more convenient for me. In addition, there is a lot more in the immediate area to see and do before and after. As a matter of fact, this "Four Corners" district of Newark is probably one my more frequented areas (supermarkets, boba shops, tons of restaurants, etc.), so I am more than elated to have Tao's Fresh now joining the party. I have no doubt it will likely quickly vault to near the top of the list of my most visited establishments. read more

Tried this location out for a late Saturday lunch with my cousin and they did not disappoint. Customer Service: definitely on point. The server was very nice, greeted us as we walked in, seated us and gave us water. Their menu and ordering system was through a QR code that's on the table. That app was actually pretty awesome since my cousin was able to see my order from her QR code as well. I ordered the salmon pasta with additional beef and cheese and my cousin ordered the beef pasta. They both came with some sort of white sauce and both our meal was very tasty. Ofcourse we had to order our boba drinks. Overall my experience at this location was extremely good. I've been to the one in San Leandro and the Newark location is more spacious. read more

Tao‘s Fresh - Cousin got the beef pasta - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newark, California

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i haven't been here in a while and when i went back, nothing has changed - tao's fresh still hits the spot! quick service, nice location, and easy parking :) read more

My friend and I stumbled upon this restaurant on a Sunday afternoon. It was a cold winter day so it was perfect to eat some sizzling hot food! Atmosphere: Very welcoming and clean. Good air circulation. Good lighting with big windows. Service: The staff were really friendly. One of the staff quickly sat us down as we entered the restaurant. We ordered our food and received them really fast. It was nice the staff came to refill our water glasses. However, it took awhile for the staff to return to give us the check. Food: My friend and I ordered the popcorn chicken, Curry Beef Cheese and Curry Cheese Beef Udon. The popcorn chicken arrived first. It was hot in temperature, very flavorful, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. My friend and I ordered pretty much the same thing except hers had rice and mine had udon. The beef was very tender and cooked really well on the plate. It tasted good when it's seared so be sure to flip the meat to sear both sides when you get your dish. I also enjoyed the cheese and the corn mixed into the dish. If I were to order the curry beef cheese again, I would get it with rice instead of udon because the udon did not absorb the flavor as well as rice. On the upside, they have condiments on the table, such as garlic sauce, hot sauce, teriyaki sauce, salt, black pepper and chili powder. If needed, you can use these condiments to give your dish more flavor. Price: Decent, affordable price. Parking: Plenty of parking. The restaurant is located in a plaza so there is a big parking lot outside. Overall, I recommend trying their sizzling plates! It's a great option on a cold day. The food comes hot and there is a good variety of plates to choose from. read more

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Overpriced with automatic tipping although they call it service charge. I don't understand what service since I ordered using my phone and never had to talk to anyone. And when you receive your bill it asks for more tip. Outrageous. Strange that some people would comment favorably about the portion of food. They're not especially for the price they charge. read more

Great good! Husband and I loved the beef rice bowl. Would come back! Comes out on a cast iron skillet which keeps it warm the whole meal.

Located in Newark next to Sprout's, Tao's Fresh is a literal definition of hole in the wall. Hard to find the space without much advertising in its surrounding area. When we arrived, there were two food delivery drivers standing in the entrance without anyone assisting them. I assume it's because they are busy since it's rush hour. Finally was seated after 5 minutes, but the tables and the chairs that they directed us to were dirty and oily. Menu was through a QR code, and it's a wide selection of skillet meals similar to pepper lunch, and some fusion Hawaiian food like the chicken katsu. Food was quick. And let me know say their chicken katsu were divine. Perfect amount of breading, and the chicken was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I asked for curry sauce on the side and it complimented the dish so well. Mac salad was great also. But the salmon curry cheese udon was a miss. The udon got soggy, the plate is drenched with butter, salmon was tasty but it was nothing special. Curry sauce lacks a kick, and the cheese were barely presented. The entire restaurant is managed by 2 staff from taking orders to cleaning up, so do have some patient with some of the other services outside of the food. But overall, we enjoyed the chicken katsu a whole lot and will return for it. read more

Tao‘s Fresh - Chicken Katsu combo - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newark, California

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One of the best shrimps I've had, It had really good flavor. The Mac was pretty good as well. We also got the spam musubi was good but, I've had better. Definitely coming back!! read more

Tao‘s Fresh - Garlic Shrimp Rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newark, California

Food was great. Very similar to sizzling lunch in Fremont, but has more options like boba and masubi and crab rangoons. Their Crab Rangoons are huge! What made me rate this place at 1 star is because no matter if the food was great, the service makes or break it for me. They complained about my tip before and had a bad tone to their voice that felt pressuring to tip. Not sure if the place are still like this but I see other people had similar experiences to me, hope something can be done with the service so that i can have a better time! read more

The food was amazing, definitely one of the best sizzling plate restaurants I've ever been to. But what really struck me was when my partner and I went to go to our car, we looked out the window to find it pouring outside. As we gameplanned to run to the car, the lady at the front counter grabbed her OWN umbrella and escorted us to our car! We are blown away by the hospitality and this one act of kindness and we will definitely be coming back read more

Good spot for lunch or dinner. Prices are inline with other local offerings. Salmon and ribeye with broccoli and corn was awesome, enough for 2 people and order an extra side of rice. I look forward to going back and having the soup. read more

I love this place!!! I feel like many places don't offer boba and snacks anymore and although they advertise their sizzling plates more than their appetizers, I think they still offer a great selection of boba & snacks (i.e. calamari, takoyaki, popcorn chicken, etc.). This place almost feels like a hidden gem as I don't see many people coming here during the weekdays which I think is a win for me.... but also! I think this business needs some good recognition!!! If you decide to dine-in, everything is ordered through a mobile app, so if you're an old person like me (LOL), just wanted to throw that out there! The sizzling plates also offer many variations and there are plenty of sauces offered on the side as well for you to adjust the taste to your liking! Absolute faves: calamari, peach tea boba & beef/salmon sizzling plate!!!! read more

Huge shoutout to management here. We had a mixup ordering through yelp that caused the order to be placed for next day pickup. I placed a second order bc restaurant couldn't see the first one for about 20 minutes. Long story short, we went back and forth on the phone but finally got one cancelled and they hooked us up with a free drink. Food from here is always amazing but they really went the extra mile with service today. Thanks guys! read more

Service is pretty fast even when they get busy. You order through QR code and pay up front. Portions are pretty filling and everything was yummy. I feel like no matter what you order, you can't go wrong with anything. You can always add sauces if needed read more

The food was very good, lovely and hot and I would definitely recommend. My issue is the waiter who was excellent but wore the same disposable gloves to mop the floor and serve the food plates. Thus 4 stars. read more

If you want a little sizzle in your life, considering dining here! They have an extensive menu and there is something for everyone. From already cooked meals to meals you cook in front you, you'll end up wanting the entire menu. The vibe is very welcoming and loud because of all the sizzles. Once we were seated, there's a QR menu to pull up on your phone and order by phone. Once it's sent in, the turn around time to table is pretty quick and efficient. It's definitely pricey for the sizzle plate depending on what you order. I would highly recommend ordering the sauce on the side because for my curry salmon udon sizzle plate, the curry was a bit overpowering. I wanted to order more noodles to dilute it more. When placing your orders, you have free range to add or subtract items and adjust to your liking. I'll definitely return! read more

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What a cute, clean and peaceful ambiance this food stop gives off! We dined in and out food came in hot and fresh. The staff are very friendly and you order on your phone. Both chicken plates utilized well-seasoned, super juicy and tender chicken thighs! The takoyaki was right off the hot plate and the little shredded lettuce that caught the sauce made it taste even better! Good spot for a quick lunch! read more

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I always get the Hawaiian BBQ! We keep coming back here or ordering take out. Service is fast and great! It's always busy but we get seated pretty fast. Definitely our family's go-to place for dinner. read more

First time here from the Valley. Food was amazing. Definitely coming back! I ordered the "beef with rice" and my fiancé ordered the "salmon beef with rice". They have 3 different sauces; hot sauce, teriyaki sauce, and garlic sauce. We recommend adding the teriyaki and garlic sauce together! It will elevate the flavors even more! Sooooo good! read more

We came in on a Thursday night and it wasn't busy. The host greeted us and sat us down quickly as it was not busy at all. As a first timer, I really enjoyed the popcorn chicken and beef rice plate. I like how the popcorn chicken is very meaty. The popcorn chicken you order at other places taste like batter - but not this place! The ambiance made me feel like I was in a nice small restaurant in Itaewan class ;) Definitely coming back to try more items on the menu! Popcorn Chicken 10/10 Beef Rice Plate 10/10 read more

Tao‘s Fresh - Popcorn Chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newark, California

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Pepper lunch / Sizzling Lunch / Hawaiian L&L cannot compare to this! The chicken is sooo tender and juicy. The garlic sauce tastes amazing with this, everything was perfect. I can't believe I've only tried this now.. I would eat this everyday if I could. read more

Tao‘s Fresh - Chicken Udon and Hawaiian BBQ Chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newark, California

First time at Tao's fresh. Plenty of parking outside. Interior is clean and nicely decorated. Due to the location or maybe it's AT&T problem, me and my friends got no signals there. Couldn't check the online menu with the QR code. We noticed the same thing with other customers. Lucky they have paper menu. We got the #10 salmon and rib eye one. Flavor is legit. Remember to flip the meat. Don't be like me. Kept taking picture, forgot to flip the meat and salmon and almost got it burned. It's good though. We also got the garlic fried wings. It's a bit sweet in my opinion and not enough garlic. Cheesy corn could use more cheese. I was hoping for cheese pull but didn't see a bit. It's a bit sweet also. Very peaceful and comfy time there. Especially when we can't browse on phone while eating. Everything is nice but I wish they can use proper plate and cups instead of paper plate and plastic disposable cups. Service is nice. It can get packed at lunch time. I would come back to try other items. read more

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Hostess does get up to walk you to your table. All ordering is done from a QR code on the table. Water is served in a plastic bottle with cheesy plastic cups, The food is decent with generous portions. If you order an appetizer dont surprised when it shows up with your main meal or even after. Plenty of parking. All in all 3.5 stars. read more

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I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food here. I definitely would come again. It's gonna be my new Newark Favorite!!!

Very very yummy food!!! The service can be slow when they are very busy. My favorites are: main dish - BBQ beef with rice and macaroni, fried chicken with honey mustard on top, and beef sizzling plate, appetizer - popcorn chicken and Takoyaki. read more

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Love this place whenever I'm in the area! Really delicious sizzling plates. Comfortable and clean place. Service is quick.

From my first visit to my twentieth, Tao's Fresh has been nothing but superb! To start the food is always tasty and you have so many choices on the menu. If you're not feeling the sizzling plates one day, you can get Hawaiian BBQ, other snacks or boba. For the price I would say you get a pretty good portion as well. The thing that makes Tao's stand out from other similar restaurants is the service. Everyone is friendly and the food comes out super fast. Overall, I highly recommend Tao's Fresh if you're looking for a great sizzling plate restaurant. I know that as soon as I walk in and I smell the food cooking all around that I am in for a good time. read more

Tao‘s Fresh - Curry Beef Cheese Rice w/ Extra Veggies - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newark, California

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Service was perfect and friendly. The restaurant is clean. The four of us enjoyed the food. I am gluten free so I couldn't enjoy the appetizers and dishes my friends had. I was very happy with the rice dish I had. read more

Tao's Fresh is a little hidden gem here in Newark. I personally prefer this place over Sizzling Lunch because the place is less crowded, hawaiian bbq appetizers, and alcohol! Sometimes you want to drink with dinner and this place is great! The servers are all nice and quick even for large groups. I always order the Salmon Rice with a fried egg! It is my favorite! Maybe it's the hot plate that it comes on, but the mixture of crispy rice, juicy salmon, and all the different sauces fuze together to make something so delicious! My husband usually gets the Curry Beef with udon and a fried egg. I don't know what they do to those udon noodles, but they are delicious! My husband always eats the whole thing and falls into a food coma after. read more

Great restaurant. Great quality food and nice employees. Ambience 10/10 Food is always hot and delicious. Doesn't get too crowded or loud, perfect table placement and size. Over 5/5 ! read more

Came here to compare it to Sizzling Lunch. It is very similar with its own twists. Multiple options as far as food. My husband and I like the hot plates so we both got one. We then flavored our food with some of the sauces on the table such as teriyaki, garlic sauce, and hot sauce. The pot stickers were okay. I wouldn't order them again, nothing too special about them and I didn't like the sauce. The boba milk tea was good as well. Overall I would come back but would choose sizzling lunch instead because this place is more expensive. read more

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Had a wonderful lunch experience. Thank you for you amazing service and high quality food and flawless atmosphere! See you soon. read more

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Sizzling plates are unique and the taste is also good. The Sriracha sauce and garlic sauce on the table are needed with rice to get extra taste. The Boba drinks looks good and are very cheaply priced at 6.50$. read more

Tao‘s Fresh - Fried chicken/ Katsu Chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newark, California

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Finally got to try Tao's Fresh and overall, it wasn't bad! However, rating it a 3.5 due to slight issues we had with the ordering process. A group of friends and I went to Tao's for dinner over the weekend, which it was decently busy, but not too crowded. You can seat yourself, scan the QR code on the corner of the table, and place your order. Easy. After placing our order, we were waiting for a bit and noticed other parties that arrived after us were receiving their meals. After asking a staff, they said we had placed our order to-go... Perhaps we pressed a wrong button by accident during the ordering process, but we're pretty sure we didn't; possible design flaw in the system, as a party who is seated at a table most likely wouldn't order to-go. Other than that, everything else was fine. Food was good, although it wasn't the typical sizzling plate, as it was already cooked and packaged to-go. I do hope to return at a later time to give it another try. read more

Stopped by to see what new restaurant took over the space used to be Cham Sae Bistro. Honestly I was happy to find out that it was as good as Sizzling Lunch which has been my new go to sizzling plate place in the Fremont area. Price wise I believe it's comparable. Popcorn Chicken was just what you'd want - bite size, juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Had a hint of basil and herbs, I topped it off with the spicy powder for a kick. Cheese Corn has a nice consistency to it, good balance of creamy and cheesy. Beef Rice Sizzling Plate - first of all you can't go wrong with adding garlic butter. Wow it smelled so good. Would definitely recommend mixing it as soon as it comes and leaving the rice to crisp up. I'll be coming here when I'm craving a Sizzling Plate, don't have to wait in the long lines at Sizzling Lunch anymore. This was a happy discovery glad I decided to give it a shot. read more

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Good fresh good! Fast service and affordable pricing. My first time trying! Place was pleasantly clean! read more

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A real hidden gem!! This place serves sizzling plates, but never has a wait. It's honestly on par or even better than Sizzling Lunch (I said what I said). We ordered Salmon Beef Rice and the Hamburger Steak. Both were really good! The plate gets really hot so it makes the rice super crispy. The only thing I wished they had is some type of spicy paste. They have hot sauce on the table but the paste would be *chef's kiss*. Also, the seasoned calamari is DELICIOUS O M G! It's not rubbery and the seasoning is on point! One of the best fried calamari I've had This place is cheaper than other places serving the same thing and the quality and quantity is so good!! HELLA VALUE!!! Definitely give this place a try! read more

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