Denica's Real Food Kitchen

Breakfast was delicious. Huge proportions. I ordered the prime rib mococ loco style, and my daughter ordered the chicken and waffles. We were both happy with our food. Had to get a box for the leftovers because it was a lot. We will be coming back, even if it's just for their giant cinnamon rolls. Friendly staff, good food, and easy parking.

This is a new favorite of mine. My daughter found this brunch spot on her own and wanted to celebrate her 17th birthday here. It is a quaint establishment in Castro Valley that is always busy because the food is simple and delicious. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered and the ambiance is relaxed and friendly. The physical experience is this: you walk in and need to meander over to the counter to place your order. They have pastries and sweets at the counter that you can order as well. Once you place your order you locate a place to sit as this establishment is open seating. If you are hungry they have chips and salsa for you and water. I find this to be a really nice touch so you serve yourself chips / salsa and just chill until your food arrives. Patrons here are friendly this place is very family friendly. I especially like the picnic area outside where I imagine people who want to be outdoors would get their food to go and eat at the picnic table where there is shade and some privacy. Love this place ❣️You should come here 🥰

Haven't been here for a minute. The place wasn't packed like it was before in the past. But there was a good size crowd. The service was okay. The food was okay too, but I found the protein a bit dry. We ordered the Kailua Pork hash and the mokino chicken and waffles. The waffles were a bit dry too. Even though the place wasn't packed we found the restaurant a bit louder than most places. Overall a solid 3 star place.

This is an order your food and pay at the counter first, get a number, and find any table. The waitress will bring the food to your desired table. We ordered the Ube stuffed French toast and Denica's Scramble. Everything was delicious! I've been here before and will continue to come back.

The breakfast food is really good with a very pretty presentation. Walking in it was a little confusing. We had never been there before and there isn't any clear signage telling you how or where to order. You walk in and it looks like a regular dine in restaurant, so you think you will be greeted and seated, but it doesn't work like that. You order at the counter and then sit. It did seem a little pricey for the level of service you get though.

This was the first time I placed an order and wasn’t greeted at all. When I approached the counter, the girl just looked at me silently, as if to say, “Are you going to order?” — no “hello,” no “what would you like?” — nothing. She just stared at me. It was honestly a bit shocking. I even got confused for a moment. I’m not entirely sure, but I think I ordered a cappuccino, and it wasn’t included in the order, so I had to order it again. The girl didn’t even clarify whether I wanted a drink — even if I forgot to mention the coffee, it’s a standard part of breakfast, right? Coffee, tea, or some kind of beverage. At first, I really liked the place — the interior and the menu looked great, and the food was good. But that one girl left a very bad impression. It makes me wonder what’s going on with her and why someone like that is working in customer service. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch her name. There was another woman working there, older and very pleasant and friendly. But the girl I’m referring to was young, with long dark hair in a ponytail.

Large portions! Amazing food! I got my order to go, but wasn’t disappointed with the food. I got enough to share. Chicken and waffles with spicy syrup and eggs with home fries was divine, definitely will order again. Tried the cookie croissant it was rich, and yummy! I’ll definitely dine in next time, I can see why they are busy.

We had the Chicken and Waffles, and the Chile Benedict. Both were a revelation! The way it works here is you order at the front, then take a number and sit at a table of your choice. You serve your own coffee or water. A server brings your food when it's ready. Honestly, the food was good (not the best ever), but set a high standard for breakfast when I dine out. I plan to return to eat here

Order at the counter, take a number and find a seat :) Ordered the King Kamehameha loco moco and I thought I was going to be a patty made of ribeye... but it was a chunk of ribeye! Hugeeee protein and portion. Rice was undercooked and not nice to eat so I just ate the eggs and ribeye with the sauce. The latte was not bad and served in a glass cup. Thank you!

The pancakes are AMAZING!!! I will be back for these. I also thought the chai tea latte was good. My wife enjoyed her veggie omelette and her fruit cup was very FRESH (We LOVED this! We do not like mushy fruit or older fruit, this was NOT THAT ).

Usually I love Denica's but not this time. My favorite Ube pancakes were overcooked and dry with not enough syrup. But the biggest disappoint was the chilequiles. They were drowning in the sauce which made all the chips soggy. A definite waste of my $20. They definitely need to step it up. They're not putting in the quality they used to.

Denica's Real Food Kitchen is a popular fusion brunch spot in the east bay that's been around since 1999 and featured in several local media outlets. They serve food that has a mixture of America, Mexican, Hawaiian, and Filipino influences. The creating founders James and Denica Freitas both started off as the "Cookie Man" and "Cake Lady" creating Denica's Pastry Cafe, and savory breakfast plates were actually added in 2006! James's cookies apparently put Denica's on the map. Upon entering this spacious Castro Valley location with its own parking lot in the back, you must line up and pass their pastry display to order food at the counter. You pay, get a number, choose your own seat, and set your number down at the table. While waiting for the food, I tried the croissant wheel and cookies, which were good enough for me. The croissant wheel was a little more dense and cold than I would have enjoyed, but it was cute for the photo. The cookies were pretty decent, though I imagine they'd be much nicer warm; they had soft insides and a sturdy bite. I love how they package your pastry selections in a big blue box! As a first time customer, I wish I had known about the self-serve complimentary chips and salsa bar on the right side of the building, as well as a beverage station with infused water and jamaica. - Epic Chicken & Waffle This is your basic fried chicken strips & waffle dish. What is different is the syrup it comes with is spicy, which tastes like a combination of regular syrup and sweet chili sauce. Both the waffle and chicken were a little cold upon receiving it, so I guess they waited to serve it with the loco moco. The chicken breading had a subtly sweet Asian taste, and the meat was tender. The chicken could have been crunchier, but not bad overall. - Loco Moco Have you ever had a salisbury steak TV dinner? This reminded me so much of that - not necessarily in a good or bad way, but the cornstarch and gelatinous consistency was there as well as that specific beef stock flavor, and some stewed chopped onions floating around the sauce. It was a little sweeter for my preference, but was still enjoyable with the ground beef patty, which had its own onion-y mixture of flavor. The small bit of green garnishes and sunny-side egg on top tied everything together, and the sticky rice was good. I really enjoyed how low key the place was, even at a normal brunch hour on a weekday. While I've had better versions of the specific brunch items I've tried here in the bay, I love the accessibility and relaxed vibe of Denica's. They are a brunch spot that I'd recommend if you're in the east bay!

Food is always good and consistent! Love how they have changing specials! service is always nice and they turn tables quick! It's always busy but have always found a table to sit at. Lattes are definitely on the sweeter side, something to kind in mind. Chip and salsa bar are addicting!! and love their complimentary drink/flavored water options. Parking can be tricky- it gets busy and fill quickly. Always enjoy coming here.

Solid brunch spot in Castro Valley with huge portions. I came for Sunday brunch with a friend around 11 and had a good time. First thing is the parking lot... you have to enter it on Lake Chabot Road. It's also not a huge parking lot so finding a spot might be difficult. I got lucky and managed to snag a spot when a car left right in front of me. By the time I left around 1, the lot was a little bit emptier and there were a couple spots available. The way ordering works is you order at the counter at the front. If you parked in their parking lot, that means you have to enter from the back door and walk all the way through to the front of the restaurant. It was my first time here so I was a bit confused. After ordering, they give you your number and you find a table on your own. They also have a large selection of cookies and pastries next to the ordering counter if you want to indulge your sweet tooth. The menu has a good selection of brunch items, from egg dishes to pancakes and waffles to sandwiches. There's a special section at the bottom for vegetarians as well. They also offer Hawaiian specials like Kalua pig hash and mochiko chicken & waffle. I got the loco moco for $23. While you wait for the food, you can grab complimentary chips and salsa to snack on. When my loco moco arrived, I was shocked by how much gravy it comes with. The whole plate is practically swimming in gravy lol To my surprise, I ended up using all of the gravy. What I didn't manage to finish was the rice, since they give you way more than you need to eat with the patty. I really enjoyed everything about my meal except I wish there was a second egg, which is what I'm used to for loco mocos. Plus the egg they gave me was tiny and definitely wasn't enough for the huge patty and large amount of rice. Overall I really enjoyed my meal here and will definitely come back for their saucy loco moco again.

Met a couple friends for a weekday brunch at Denica's Castro Valley location, and we all enjoyed it so much we plan to return to sample more of the menu. Since it was a Thursday, it wasn't crowded at all (we were there 10:30 to 1:00) and we were able to linger over our meals and not feel rushed. Dining room is spacious and clean. We ordered the Kalua Pork Hash, French Toast, and Loco Moco, and found everything to be tasty and well-prepared, with generous portions. Food came out quickly and served nice and hot. Complimentary chips (kept warm) and salsa was nice to nibble on. Also nabbed a couple of cookies from their dessert case to bring home afterwards, and they were well-received by my family. All around, nothing to complain about. Will return!

This is a great breakfast place and usually this place is super packed but we lucked out with parking(it's a small parking lot) AND tables for our group of 8 with a toddler and a baby! You order at the counter where there are also pastries and cookies to purchase. * Eggs Benedict - two poached eggs, ham, english muffin, hollandaise $21 * This and That - two pancakes, two eggs scrambled and two pork link sausage $21 * Ube Cookie - Covered in snowy sugar $3 * Macaroon - Ube Coconut - coconut and ube baked with crispy edges $5.50

I this brunch joint. Food never fails..everything on the menu is really good!! And the servings are humongous so be ready to take some home. If you're an ube fan, anything ube I recommend. French toast, pancakes, crinkles, latte, you name it. Service was good, they brought our food quickly. They have outdoor sitting which is awesome as we brought our dog with us. The free chips and salsa is a plus and extra kudos on the fruit infused water. The inside can use a remodeling but it's not a showstopper. 4 stars because it is pricey but def will go back again if we're in the area

I tried Denicas at the Pleasanton location few years ago but just vistited this location with a friend and a few dogs. Overall the food tasted great! The patio is very dog friendly, which I appreciated because it's hard to find actual dog friendly restaurants in the east bay (easier in SF). They don't really service you that much. You go to the counter, place your order, you get your number, and they bring you out your ordered items. For that much, I think it was a positive experience. Everything came out correctly and everyone was friendly (: Food-wise, there's just so many great options to try. I like the different types of Hawaiian fusion mixed with other cultures. I think there's something for everyone. My friend and I shared the mochiko chicken and waffles + pink guava pancakes. The mochiko chicken tasted amazing, but the waffles tasted nothing like pandan. I am Vietnamese so I know what good pandan waffles taste like, and it lacked the coconut-pandan flavor. I do appreciate them trying though, and I did still enjoy the chicken. The pink guava pancakes tasted great. It was packed with flavor, and didn't just taste like plain batter. The presentation of the food is "photo" worthy and the proportions are huge so definitely share if you don't eat as much, or would like to try out different options. I love the complimentary chips too, and they are crispy and fresh with multiple dipping options for dine-in only. Parking is a NIGHTMARE. I would say it is friendly for large groups especially the patio because they have long picnic tables to accommodate, but the parking situation is not inviting at all. For a Thursday afternoon, I could not find parking for the life of me, and had to circle around a bit until parking opened up. I'm not sure how they can solve for this, but something to be aware about if you plan to come here on a time crunch or with multiple cars. I would give 5 stars, but the Pandan waffles tasting bland, and especially the parking situation just makes it hard for me to come considering I'd love to invite friends and parking is a make it or break it situation.

Heard friends talk about Denica's walked in and you order and pay and sit. The cashiers service was mediocre, but what would you expect? Then the pricing everything seems pricey here my bill came out to nearly $67 for two dishes and drinks my Friends was nearly $100 with tip and it was a single dish and some side orders. The food was meh and I have had better elsewhere, there was no wow factor in their food. Their chips and salsa were better. They have a bunch of tables and parking lot is huge. So my huevos rancheros for $17 it was a bunch of beans tortillas and didn't even notice the eggs. The quality of the food was probably worst then the competition which I will not name. My experience at Denica's was meh and definitely not coming back. Unless want to pay for expensive breakfast dishes, I'd do not recommend Denica's. Lastly their food gave us an upset stomach. My wife had the hash browns shortly afterwards she didn't feel well. They can review their prices and the quality and perhaps cleanliness of their food.

Pretty good food, but way too overpriced - especially considering that you don't get actual table service. I would've given them three stars, but the fourth star is earned for their cookies alone.

Parking is horrendous here, so good luck to you and I hope the parking fairy is in your side! Once you do find parking, there's an entrance by the lot and go through the restaurant to get to the front, or you can walk around the outside utilizing the ramp to make it to the front door where the register is. There, you'll place your order and then seating is free for all. There are plenty of tables to sit at, even during peak hours so that shouldn't be a problem. When you place your order, they'll give you a number for the servers to be able to find you and serve you your food. There are several options, but nothing really there for the basic person wanting a basic breakfast ha. The food is delicious and I love that they have a self serve, complimentary chips and dips bar along with getting your own water. Overall great time and would definitely come back, even with the parking situation.

The food here is just okay. The items are all very big but in terms of flavor it can be a hit or miss. My partner really enjoyed the mochi pandan chicken and waffles. However the vegan tostada was all random taco seasoning type flavor with little care for the actual dish -- it just had a bunch of beans and vegan chorizo but it just didn't have much flavor to it, which is how I would describe the breakfast potatoes, so I wasn't able to even eat a quarter of it. However, it is nice they give out tortilla chips. This place is busy even on weekday mornings and so clearly people have found their go-to items. I have yet to do so...

Went to this place on a Wednesday late morning after doing a trail at Lake Chabot. It's just a 5 minute drive down the street. There's plenty of available parking. You order first at the register, they give you a number, and you choose any available table. There are so many options and a lot of baked goods to look at while you're in line to order. There are free chips that are heated with your choice of salsa between the register and water. We ordered the summer salad that had bacon, grilled chicken, avocado, goat cheese, tomato, spring greens, balsamic vinaigrette and a veggie omelette with mushrooms, green onions, tomatoes, ortega chiles, and monterey jack cheese and pog (passion fruit, orange, and guava juice). The portions are a pretty big so we took the remaining veggie omelette dish to-go. If you're ever in the area, it's a good brunch place to go to. I've been to their other locations.

I have been wanting to try this place, but it's always very busy so ordered it on DoorDash instead. I'm definitely surprised by how good the food was. High quality ingredients and delicious. We order a breakfast burrito and a sandwich but based on the high quality of the food I can imagine how delicious their actual breakfast must be! Next time I'll try a pancake or French toast, yum!

We came here for the Ube pancakes and they did not disappoint. We also ordered the Denica's Scramble. There was nothing really special about that dish and I don't think the price was justified for what was served. Lastly, I ordered a Viet coffee. The coffee was okay. You order first and then find an open table. We came around brunch time on a Sunday and were able to order pretty quickly. There were several open tables both inside and outside. We also got our food really fast. Overall the place is a little bit pricy in my opinion for the food. But I'd come back for the novelty items

We love coming here. The prices have been going up. It wasn't as clean as I remembered it to be. The food was ok this time. I was kind of disappointed since I know they do better in their food and I look forward to coming here. Will try again. I came on a weekday and there were more people than normal.

Had brunch with my Son shine Venue is clean and well organized, parking was easy to come by and there is a lot of seating available Menu has a lot of options for to choose from Prices are somewhat reasonable but more on the higher scale the starting price for the scramble I ordered was $21 then I added avocado extra $3 and I also added jalapeño extra $1 so total for the scramble was $25 !!!! Food is good Ingredients seem fresh Chips and salsa are complimentary and that is a plus They offer a nice water station I can't wait to come back and try their UBE ingredient options

The service was fast and easy. The staff's were friendly and polite. Plenty of space for big groups parties. The ambiance was very simple and clean. The food was okay but it was pricey. There desserts were a hit so I'll probably just come back for the desserts.

Denica's set a high bar for breakfast spots. Between the vast menu of options to their impressive display case of pastries, it's hard not to want to buy something from every section to please your eyes. I came through on a Saturday morning to have breakfast with some friends and got lucky enough to snag a parking spot in their parking lot. Do be warn that it did get pretty busy around noon and there were cars waiting for a spot. I opted thier a glass of their orange juice and their loco moco and it was good, although it did feel like the rice was a bit undercooked as it was hard at times. I also appreciated their free chips and salsa bar - a nice way to start your meal before your main entree came. Overall, Denica's is a solid breakfast option if you're in the area and I hope you have a wonderful meal.

You know this place is kinda OK it's getting less and less friendly. You wait in line in the customers like kind of block you from getting around them they'll huddle in the doorway and you have to excuse yourself around them then you get in line and the people are nice. I mean they're OK. I mean they ask you questions. They're really fast for that tip. They're really fast for the tip And they try to put the highest one up higher. It's just this weird tipping culture thing going on right now, which is really strange. I'm finding this in a lot of places it's not just here so I'm just wasting it here because this is what the review is. My friend got this waffle with strawberries. It was nice. Mine was a egg white omelette, veggie egg white omelette, which was OK. But there's just something missing about the place now. Something different about it And I don't know what it is. The parking is hellacious hellacious is very difficult to park here. It's better to park up the street and then walk down. I would say it's average now on a Saturday if you get the kamehameha loco Moko OK come on in I think that's a great idea. The rest of the food is just average. I don't find anything special about it. It's super sweet. You know they've got a little juice bar thing they've got some chips. I really don't know where to go in that area but I'm not gonna be back here if I do, I'm gonna try to find somewhere else

Our kids love the purple pancakes! I like the chorizo burrito. As a side note, it's great hangover food.

Pretty modern breakfast spot! You order at the front counter, take a number, and then seat yourself. They offer samples of bakery items while you wait in line which is pretty sweet! I ordered the avocado toast, which comes with a side salad. I added two over easy eggs and a side of chicken apple sausage. My dad got the James Omelette which came with a side of potatoes. We also each had a drip coffee. The total came out to $65. The coffee is self-serve and they also offer free chips and salsa. When our food arrived, my plate came with potatoes instead of the salad. The server quickly took it back and returned a few minutes later with the correct plate. However, my chicken apple sausage didn't arrive until halfway through the meal. Overall, the food was decent. I was impressed with avocado toast, which was generously loaded with avocado. They definitely didn't skimp there! I would've liked more red pepper flakes, and I had to add quite a bit of salt and pepper myself. The salad was a bit overdressed. My dad really enjoyed his omelette. I was too full to finish the sausage so I took it home. It came with three links and I did try one. It was very tasty and again, a generous portion! A decent spot for breakfast, but when I'm in Castro Valley, I still prefer Doug's over anywhere else!

I love the concept of this restaurant! The ability to order your food and then sit wherever you like is such a great idea. However, parking is a bit of a challenge. They're so busy that the parking lot isn't nearly big enough, and it's also awkwardly shaped. We ended up parking down the street and walking over. When we arrived, the line looked long, but it moved surprisingly fast. With 2-3 cashiers working, the wait wasn't bad at all. The service was quick--friendly enough but nothing remarkable, which was fine for the setup. I ordered the Loco Moco with Fried Chicken. Since it was my first time trying a Loco Moco, I didn't really know what to expect. The presentation was a solid 10/10, but the taste fell short for me. The gravy was way too thick and overly salty, which I didn't enjoy. My friend got the Chilaquiles (no pork or beef), and they looked amazing. She really liked her dish, so next time, I think I'll go with something more familiar to my tastes. One thing I really appreciated was the relaxed atmosphere. We were able to sit and talk for hours without feeling rushed, and it was great not having a server hovering or pressuring us to leave. It's definitely a nice spot to catch up with friends in a comfortable setting.

An oldie but a goodie. If you're looking for solid diner food with an asian/hawaiian twist this is the place. Although you can't compare the decor between this location and the newer Pleasanton location, the Castro Valley location is still very clean, warm, and inviting. The food obviously is still fantastic though I will say that it tastes like the tortilla chips here are a little less salted compared to the Pleasanton location, still great though. You order at the front and are given a number, the food and drinks will be brought over to your table. I had the Niko's two greats, two sausage links, two strips of bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns which came out quickly. Standard diner fare done well. The parking situation here seems much better on the weekends compared to the past, but still make sure to park in their lot and not in the adjacent businesses as you will be towed. Highly recommend to check out if you are in CV/Hayward.

On the weekends whenever I have a day off, I like coming here for breakfast/brunch. The parking lot is big but it's always packed on the weekends. Just be a little patient and you'll grab a spot, or you'll have to park on the street around the corner. All the workers are always really nice here with a smile on their faces. It looks like a diner type vibe where you order first and then sit with your number before they bring your food to you. There's a couple of seatings outside but the view is the crowded parking lot. I personally like coming here over the weekend because that's when they have the upcountry fried rice on the special menu. I don't know what it is about their fried rice, it hits different, it tastes real good. I really like that you can request your fried egg to be fried with crispy edges, that's the best way to eat an egg, I will die on that hill. My girlfriend loves their chorizo burrito and it consistently hits. We also usually get their ube French toast to share. You can't go wrong with any of their French toast or pancake options if you don't know what to get. On the weekend their wait time to sit might be a little long, but it's never too bad. Getting it to go is a good option, the food travels pretty well and their service is excellent. Their specials on the weekdays and weekends are different, so pay attention to that. I recommend buying directly from their website rather than DoorDash (it's more expensive for no reason).

Sad to say that every time I come here I'm a little more disappointed each time. They've gotten too big and service is abysmal. When you're ordering, the waiter barely waits for you to pay before scooting over to start taking orders for the next person. Give me a minute to finish paying and grabbing my stuff - way too rushed and they honestly just see you as a number. My bf and I were pretty disappointed by our last visit. Food is still pretty okay but I feel like quality has gone down. Their drinks are just ok and I'm never wowed by them. The coffees are not my favorite - I prefer going elsewhere for coffee either before or after Denicas. Overall there's a bunch of better brunch places. Denicas really just isn't it for me anymore which is a shame since I've been coming here for so many years.

Ube pancakes in a cozy diner, super close proximity to the shopping plaza? Say no more, I was so excited to check out Denica's! I came for a Sunday morning brunch, and was very thankful that I found parking in the parking space in the back. It's a huge diner with plenty of seating, and we got seated in a window booth. I'm a huge sucker for ube pancakes, and these were such fluffy, thick, heavenly pancakes packed with ube flavor! Certainly helps that they're a beautiful vibrant shade of purple, worthy of any foodie's Instagram story (or in my case, a Yelp Elite's review hehe). A quirky bonus is a complimentary tortilla chip and salsa bar! I'm a sucker for tortilla chips, especially when they're fresh and warm. I found myself going back for more chips and salsa. Free refills on coffee too? I'll need to come back here for the ube pancakes again. I'm daydreaming of them. I want to try some of their other baked goods too!

Denica's has its own parking lot which can get full fast. I stopped by around 11am on a Saturday and lucked out on getting a spot as soon as I pulled in. If it's your first time here, you order at the counter, find a table and the staff will deliver the food to you! Make sure to grab your utensils. There's also a self serve drink station for water and I believe jamaica. I ordered the ube pancakes and made a combo which includes eggs and bacon or sausage. I also got a POG (passion fruit, orange juice & guava) for the first time. The ube pancake was sooo good. It was the perfect amount of sweetness for me. Eggs for fluffy and delicious. The first few sips of the POG was delicious but eventually became too sweet for me. Including tip, my meal was easily over $40.

Come here for brunch to negate all of the calories you just burned hiking nearby Lake Chabot. My friend and I ordered the classic breakfast burrito because we were craving the ones at the Lake Chabot marina shack but didn't make it in time for breakfast hours. Good thing Denica's serves breakfast until 3! The burrito wasn't incredible but it was hefty and hit the spot. Next time I'll have to try the ube pancakes or the loco moco dish. Skip the Vietnamese iced coffee though, it was unmixed and watery. Logistics: - mostly indoor seating with a few outdoor picnic tables - small and tight parking lot attached to restaurants - it's an order at the counter then sit and they bring you the food - great for big groups for the big booths!

The food was everything I wanted it to be! We came early on a saturday morning, like 9am and there was no wait! But within the hour, line out the door! The french toast with mascarpone and caramel and berries, WOW. I like that it's serve your own water and tea and chips! Definitely recommended brunch place

Tried the Hundred Chile Benedict, and it was really flavorful with fresh ingredients. However, I'd recommend adding the salsa if you're looking for more spice--it wasn't spicy as I had hoped, but still delicious overall. My only small critique was that one of my egg yolks was already popped when served. One of my absolute favorite items on the menu has to be the cookies! They're perfectly moist on the inside with a delightful crust on the outside--great texture. I also ordered the Cookie Butter Latte,and it was absolutely delicious. In the past, I've had their breakfast burrito, which was excellent and definitely something I'd order again. The Loco Moco was just okay. While the ingredients were fresh, the gravy was a bit bland for my taste, so I'd suggest exploring other options on their menu--they have plenty of great choices. The cozy, inviting atmosphere makes this a perfect brunch spot to visit with family or friends. Plus, they offer mimosas, which is always a nice touch! Overall, I love the food, and the cookies are a must-try. Definitely worth checking out!

Love the unique brunch options-- got the mochicko waffle with chicken. Chicken is a little dry but portion is great. The waffle has a nice crunch though the pandan flavor wasn't too evident. No wait on a Friday afternoon. On a side note, the parking is easy to miss since you have to turn in from the Main Street to get into the parking lot. The main street side is exit only. Next door mall parking has tow away warning signs.

Came back with some girlfriends for brunch and while it wasn't the mind-blowing experience I had the first time around, it was still thoroughly enjoyable and a spot I'd happily suggest in the future (assuming the group is willing to get up early since tis place gets CROOOOOWDED!). I got the Ube French Toast special and my friends got the mochiko chicken and waffle and the King Kamehameha Loco Moco. I have no idea how expensive the Loco Moco was but that thing was FIIIIIRE. Basically prime rib with 3 overeasy eggs over rice topped with gravy. The chef might have just been having a good day though because the mochiko chicken was also fried to perfection, which was not the case the last time I came. My Ube French Toast was probably my least favorite, but we also needed the sweet to balance out the heavy savory so together it was the perfect meal.

Delicious breakfast food with many options! You have an amazing selection of sweet and savory food! It's more of self serve service but the workers are nice! It's very cute inside and it does get busy on the weekends so make sure to come early! You'll order your food and pay for it first so when you're done eating you can leave which is nice not having to wait to pay!

We go to Denica's when we're celebrating big or small. This time we came by to celebrate my partners birthday. We get our usual Eggs Benedict, French toast and mimosa. Today we got a flight instead of a single big glass. The service is always seamless and accommodating, whether it's your first visit or you're a regular. I need to come by and try their fresh pastries. The portions are so good that I don't usually have room for more especially since my partner and I share our plates. The mimosa flight was worth it--the mixes were pineapple, orange, guava and lastly POG. The ambiance always reminds me of Downtown Disney because of the interior design, the intimate personal family photographs on the wall, and the overall whimsical customer service. I love that it's ran by Spanish speaking people of color. You can tell it's a successful business! I'm a happy customer at Denica's always

Expensive but really good. Classic American breakfast with Hawaiian flare. Large restaurant, good for large parties. Order at counter, choose your seat, and food is brought to you. Cute local neighborhood diner decor. What I appreciate most besides the friendly staff, is the complimentary fresh chips and salsa bar. The salsas are hella good! Plus they serve cocktails. Oh, and the variety of self serve waters! THE FOOD Chicken and waffles- not your traditional deep fried chicken, but rather a well marinated and seasoned, non- breaded, pan fried thigh piece of chicken on top of a thick, soft, yet crispy on the outside waffle. So good. Huevos Ranchero - so non conventional, so damn booomb! Like. So good. Bloody Mary- solid. I've had better but was still tasty. Ube cookies - ugh. Amazing. Still good two weeks old (probably shouldn't have ate it).

Since I moved to the east bay in 2020, denica has been a trusty brunch spot. It's def a busy, neighborhood brunch spot. This time we came on a Sunday. There's a decent sized parking and tho it looked busy we found parking right away. You order at the counter, and you get to look at all the delicious pastries you're going to take home lol. Ordering is easy, then you grab your number and patiently wait! There's plenty of seats with a couple tables outside in the back I'll start with the good. Guava Pancakes 5/5: my favorite of the day!! They were sweet but tasted so fruity and bright. The pancakes were fluffy and served with some fresh strawberries and kiwis. My fiancée and I shared a stack but I could've easily whacked it all myself lol x Florentine omelette: comes with pesto, spinach, tomato, onion. It was so good! Everything balanced really well. The potatoes were crispy and yummy. The meh: Ube latte 2/5: the ube latte is $8 but doesn't come with espresso. So is it just ube milk then? You can make it dirty for 1.50. It didn't have a strong ube flavor and I don't like how the latte doesn't come with espresso in it. It also kind of made my tummy hurt. Prime rib 2/5: it was their special for a Sunday. I asked medium rare and it came it more medium well. It was a bit tough. Came with a gravy instead of a au jus. It was a $42 and I wish I ordered literally anything else. At least the potatoes were good. Free chips and salsa!! That's a big plus!!

This is my son's go-to spot for breakfast and brunch. We make it a point to stop by whenever we're in the area. The Ube Pancakes are a must-order, and after that, just go with whatever catches your eye--you really can't go wrong. Everything from the kitchen is consistently amazing. It's a popular place, especially on weekends, so if you're not in a rush or starving, consider coming a bit later, maybe an hour before closing, to avoid the long lines., but don't expect the tables and the place to be clean around that time, not a problem with me.

It's been a few days and I'm still dreaming about these Pink Guava Pancakes! Came here on Sunday during prime brunch time and while there was a line and the place looked packed, it went fast and my friends and I were able to find a table easily. Crowd seemed to be friend groups, families, couples. Casual and comfy. All staff were really nice, love the self serve chips/salsa and Jamaica! Got the loco moco which was good but not that memorable. My friends and I shared the pink guava pancakes and wowwwww. The pancake has a light guava taste and not too sweet and paired with the guava sauce topping, SO freaking good! Great guava flavor. The sauce is the sweet part but it's thick so you can choose how sweet by how much you get of it and I love that. Typically decadent pancakes like these are so crazy sweet and soaks all the sauces so you can't do anything about sweetness level and can only have a few bites but not the case here. DEFINITELY will be back when I'm in the area just to get these pancakes (or try the ube ones) again.

Denica's Real Food Kitchen in Castro Valley offers a wide selection of dishes, making it a popular weekend brunch spot--but be prepared for a wait! I went on a Saturday morning and waited about 30 minutes to get seated. The long line is a testament to its popularity, though it can be a bit of a drawback if you're in a rush. I tried the loco moco and, unfortunately, found it underwhelming. The dish was lacking in flavor, especially the gravy, which could have used a bit more seasoning to make it stand out. On the other hand, the ube pancake was delightful--fluffy, vibrant, and just the right amount of sweetness. I'd definitely go back for the pancakes! If you're looking to try Denica's, just keep in mind that weekends are busy, but it's worth the wait for some of their standout items.

Quick service and food tasted good. However bad customer service over the phone, I was not done talking and the lady just hung up on me.

This place is so delicious! You first order with the cashier, then find a seat to eat. I've enjoyed their eggs Benedict, their lavender mocha, and their ube cookies. Everything is so tasty. The portions are huge and the service is extremely fast. This place IS very popular, so plan accordingly. Although the food is fast, it may take a minute to stand in line and find a place to sit. Free chips and salsa. Which is a bit odd in the morning, but my 5 year old LOVED having chips for breakfast before his piggy pancake.

My friend brought me to Danica's saying that it was her favorite place to eat. After having brunch there, I understand why. This is a quaint coffee shop very reminiscing of old-school diners. However, the food is anything but old-school. The menu was Hawaiian themed. They had an amazing pastry case when you come up to order and everything in it just looked so tempting. The format is simple. You order at the cashier take a number and have a seat. We ordered the local moco as well as the ube stuffed French toast. I also got a rolled croissant, which I have been dying to try. I was so impressed with this item. The loco moco was amazing! The hamburger patty was handmade. It was so tasty even without the gravy. They served the patty with rice and topped with gravy and an egg. This dish was so rich, but not overpowering. The same could also be said for the French toast. It was sweet, but not overly sweet and decadent, but not to the point where it was so rich you couldn't eat it. My friend and I split each item and I'm glad we did because, each item was enough for two people, and it was a good way for us to taste a few different items After our meal, I went back to the pastry to bring some things back to my family. I ordered a cinnamon roll, pecan bar, lilikoi bar and guava pastry. The cinnamon roll was enormous. The little guava pastries were flaky and flavorful. If I am ever in the area again, this would definitely be a stop for me .

Love coming here for a solid brunch with great sweet and savory options. It can get busy on the weekends but service is fast and efficient. The food quality has always been consistent. You order at the counter, find a seat, and they'll bring you your food. There's self-serve chips & salsa and water/jamaica. Having been here multiple times, I must say my favorites are the Mochiko chicken and the Ube pancakes/stuffed French toast. The pandan waffle and ube flavors are so so good. The kalua pork hash is good as well. The loco moco dishes have been more misses for me. The guava pancakes are also good but I find the ube ones just better and you can only eat so much! The portions are sizable here. Highly recommend trying if you're in the area!

Ube pancakes are good with the sauce on the side. The pancakes themselves are lightly sweetened and they're decently moist and fluffy. The kalua pork hash was ok - the barbecue sauce was too sweet. I wouldn't get this again. The coffee is pretty bitter and expensive, so that wasn't great. The chips and salsa were awesome. Overall kind of a mixed experience.

Food is phenomenal! Unique menu, priced appropriately, and tasty all around. But most importantly, treat yourself to any of the sweet sweet brunch items, indulging in your sugar allotment for the week in one meal is worth it here. Sadly, this place gets one dock in a star only because parking is competitive sport and seating is rough. But, that does indicate how great the food is. Visit the other locations and you get the full 5 star experience. Service is great if you get a parking spot and a table.

Lots of seating, pretty much self service kind of restaurant. The food was not that good, doesn't live up to the hype on social media. The egg Benedict tasted very plain. The pancakes were undercooked. Wouldn't come back or recommend this place.