The Original Red Onion

Great spot for good grub. They have an awesome variety on their menu, making it easy for your whole party to find something to eat.

Detailed review. 😊 Yesterday, I ordered the Swiss Burger, onion rings, and sweet potato fries. In my opinion, the Swiss Burger was the most juiciest and flavorable burger I've ever tried in my 30+ years old of life. Though the burger was a bit messy on my hands (had to use many napkins), and thinking maybe it's due to ordering everything in it and sliced on top of that. I wonder if I didn't have it cut in half, that it would've been less messy to eat this delicious goodness. In terms of the onion rings, it was soooo crunchy even when dipped in ketchup and was devoured quick. Best for last, the sweet potato fries were hot, crunchy, and when bit, had sweet potato oozing out in the center. I always order these fries at different restaurants. However, The Original Red Onion wins due to its freshness, crunchiness, and portion size. It truly hits the spot and I rate it the BEST sweet potato fries. 😋

What an amazing place to eat.The even gave us a brownie ice cream from my daughter's birthday.

Great burgers, but the Rueben is to die for! I will be back every time I am in Pinole! Service is really good, staff very friendly and the owner goes above and beyond.

Not sure what the hype around this place is. It’s mediocre and exorbitantly priced. A plate of spaghetti and meatballs for one was over $25. All burgers were in the $20-25 range. Fries for 4 were $13. My Reuben sandwich was something like $19. No clue why it’s all so pricey since it wasn’t food to write home about. Seems like the owners are too caught up in making it seem like a fancy place, but forgot about the quality of the food. At least they reminded me how to use a hand soap dispenser, in case I forgot.

Food was yummy per the usual. Fresh ingredients and same great taste. I got a bacon Cheeseburger with a large fries. Fries were big enough for 3 people. When I'm in the area I'll return for another delicious burger.

Great place for breakfast and lunch. Big omelets and breakfast platters on the menu. The burgers are excellent here. Bundle the fries and onions rings to share. The portions are large here. The prices are very decent. Try it! ALOHA!

A great place to stop by after work or a game, or for no reason at all and have a freshly made, great tasting burger or any other item on their menu. Their Onion Rings and Seasoned Fries combo is very generous and flavorful. They offer some interesting dishes and very good service in a very informal and cozy place.

A five star review on The Original Red Onion in Pinole What is it that I like about Red Onion...this was the place to eat at after school. I use to eat here after 7th period (PE) when I was a freshmen at Pinole Valley. A lot of students would be eating here including cutting classes. It has gone through a lot of redevelopment and owners through the years. You were able to dine outside the place years ago. I did remember having breakfast here during my senior year at Pinole Valley. Parking can be hard to find at this location and my suggestion is the walk from the shopping center nearby if you want to park. Original Red Onion in Pinole in the place to dine and have fond memories.

When I started to work out in the Bay Area in 2007 I would try to find dinner spots on the road trip home. I found myself stoping around Pinole to top off gas and exploring around a bit. I found this spot and to this day I still go here whenever I'm coming back from the Bay Area. I've taken family and friends here and they rave about the burgers here. My fav order is Bacon cheeseburger w/grilled and raw onions Half fries/half onion rings Mini corn dogs The burgers are amazing here and highly recommend this place to anyone making a trip to or from the Bay Area

From the moment you walk in, the service is exceptionally warm and welcoming. The staff makes you feel right at home. It's the kind of place where the people are as great as the food. The menu has everything you could possibly want. From sandwiches to pasta, it will likely satisfy any craving you have. I had the mushroom burger that was flavorful, fresh, and delicious. And the crinkle cut and fries were amazing. The burger was cooked to perfection and again the staff was just wonderful. If you go definitely get the chili cheese fries!!

A burger and fries for $25 hurts my soul, but I'm always happy to support local businesses. This Red Onion has been around for probably as long as I've been born. It's a staple in Pinole, and I hope it will continue to serve for many more years! I got the Bacon Cheeseburger ($15) and an individual fries ($6.79). The burger was great and hit the spot! Feels like a standard boiguh, but with plenty of flavor. Fries were good, just needed more salt in my opinion. But $7 for an order of fries for one person is absurd. Granted, the portion was still huge! But I just always want fries with my burger, and didn't need that much. I wish they had a half order of the individual size. If I'm okay with splurging for a good burger, I can count on Red Onion to fill that.

Never had a bad meal here. My now wife brought me here for the first time 9 years ago. I looked at her like she was insane considering I frequent very high end restaurants, but she, as always, knew where she was bringing me. The food is perfect! Best onion rings, best burger, best everything I've had! Johnny is a great guy and the way I've seen him care and shape the lives of the young kids who he employs over the last decade is an especially important aspect of a local neighbourhood restaurant! They do everything well and I love this place!

Excellent food. Perhaps too much, but it is quality. Service very attentive to needs. Parking can be difficult during peak times

It was nice to have a place that offers meat alternatives here in Pinole. Their outside area is pretty nice. It looks out to some trees and a stream, which give it some nice forest vibes. Of course, the tables outside are a little dirty compared to the inside ones but you're outside -- so that's natural. The hashbrowns were crispy and they don't play with the servicing size for the eggs Benedict!

My family has been coming here for years for their bacon, ranch, and cheddar fries. We usually just take that to go, but we decided to grab a table and eat there. The bacon cheeseburger with grilled onions was just alright, honestly nothing too special. I would still come back for the bacon, ranch, and cheddar fries though!! It's pretty large and shareable, and they're not stingy with the toppings. Quick service and not too busy. It's small inside but there are seats inside and outside on the patio.

Delicious comfort food Breakfast anytime Huge portions The milk shakes is so thick that it requires a spoon to eat it! Has way too many good flavors too. Has too many favorites to list. You just gotta go try it yourself! Great local watering hole.

The Original Red Onion sets the foundation for Pinole! The perfect spot for your typical diner style dinner with huge portions. This spot has very hefty burgers, amazing chili cheese fries, and amazing desserts. Arrived on a Thursday night for dinner with my boyfriend and dog and we were sat outside. We were served by Isa (girl with red hair) and she was so kind and attentive. Thank you for your amazing service! She also got me an extra soda to go and I forgot to take it with me before leaving :(( lol. If you're reading this Isa IM SO SORRY GIRL HAHA Please come try this place out! This joint is consistently good and service is very fast. I'll 100% be coming back for my burger and milkshake fix.

The new Elaine scramble was incredibly tasty and filling. I ordered it out of curiosity of the pineapple spam combination and was very pleased with the salty tangy flavor. Can't beat scrambled cheesy eggs and handmade hash browns. This is a great family and dog friendly place. The servers were extremely friendly and catered to my labradoodle too.

Food, service, everything was 5 stars. We got the patty melt, chili cheese fries, and thai chilli wings and the corned beef burger. Everything was phenomenal and the owner was very attentive. Would 100% come back again and again.

Ahhhhh what a neighborhood staple!! It hasn't changed in years ((IN A VERY GOOD WAY))!! Food: amazing! Hot, fresh, made to order!! Plenty food for seconds/leftovers always!! Staff: super sweet, accommodating and friendly. Even when they are busy they are still kind. Price: prices are good for all the food you get. Wether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner. You will get your moneys worth! Ambiance: small on the inside but can't still accommodate a nice amount of people ((IT IS VERY WARM INSIDE)). Outside patio area is very nice and covered! GET THE CHICKEN CRACKLINS!!! They are SOOOOOO GOOOOOOD AND SO ADDICTING!!!

Great burger! Used to come here a lot and it's been a while but still as good as I remember and still as hefty (usually ends up as two meals for me). I don't think I've had anything other than a burger but why would you They have new milkshake flavors and desserts, which were always solid choices. Looks like they built out a nice outdoor patio as part of a refreshed interior. On this visit, some of the staff was friendly and helpful, one or two seemed they didn't care to be there. Not sure if that's typical (hopefully not).

Super responsive and friendly staff. Good, hot food. Reasonable prices. Clean facility. Beautiful, quiet garden in the back.

We just ordered here after living in Pinole for a few months. We ordered: - ground turkey burger with Swiss cheese -cheeseburger -half order of fries -grilled cheese with scrambled eggs -kids chicken strip and half grilled cheese w/drink -chicken drumsticks 5 count - Thai iced tea Food was amazing! I couldn't finish the turkey burger and half order of fries fed a family of 3, and we still had leftovers. My fiancé said grilled cheese was great and the chicken drumsticks were really great with ranch. The Thai tea was amazing not too sweet, just right. Thai tea is one of my faves and this is probably the best one I've had! All this food was about 80$ so kinda pricey but worth it. Service was nice and we ordered to go and I thought it was sweet that the lady who took our order brought the order outside. We will def be back and will be bringing out of town guests here.

Our 19th hole was here today. Of the seven of us only hubby & myself had never been here. It's located in a strip mall by the local high school. The parking lot is one way only. We missed the driveway and had to loop back around. The entrance looks like a side door. There's a service counter to your immediate right and a unisex bathroom to your immediate left. Once we were all seated and had an opportunity to look over the breakfast & lunch menus, our orders were taken. Hubby went with chicken and waffle. Once his order was brought to the table there were 7 drumsticks with a thin crisp waffle. I went with the bacon pepper jack cheeseburger with grilled onions and everything on it. Medium well. Cooked to order. Food was very good. A couple folks ordered fries and onion rings. Generous baskets and fried hot and crispy. The menu is very diverse. They offer a wide range of different food. There's something for everyone. Service was friendly and efficient We requested three separate checks which was no issue as they use a handheld device where you tap your credit card.

The Original Red Onion will always have my heart! Growing up in Pinole, I've had so many memories here over the years from family take out nights to first dates to sharing this nostalgic spot with my husband and friends. There is truly nothing better than an old school burger, comforting chilli cheese fries and an ice cold soda - The Original Red Onion does just that really well! Juicy meat, crispy potatoes, and years later so many other fun menu options to choose from..but I can never steer away from the classics! While there make sure to say hi to Johnny, the gem of The Original Red Onion - for quick service, quality food, indoor/outdoor seating in a homey atmosphere, easy parking in the shopping center next to Pinole Valley HS, all the stars align for burger time! You can even order through the Yelp app for delivery/takeout.

I paid 70$ for 2 breakfast meals and nothing was good at all. The country breakfast worker was nasty eggs were dry, the bacon was over cooked & overall just a bad experience.

4.5!!! We drive all the way from Sacramento for the "Chicken Crack"! Worth every mile! We also had: Spaghetti, Steak Fried Rice, Moco Loco, Lemon Pepper wings, Fries, Fried Banana & Churro to share between 4 adults and we all still took food home. The service was great, the restaurant was packed, and everyone was enjoying their food and the atmosphere! We will return, the menu is huge so we have to try everything!

Dirty patio tables, sticky spills, and trash--even in the morning. The floors had sticky black spots from drink spills that were never hosed down, and inside is just as grimy, which is why even my friends refuse to eat there. My burger, fries, and milkshake cost over $40 with tip, and for that price I expect cleanliness. I won't be back to the Pinole location but may try Richmond since the food was good. Also, I once bought a shake to go (because I won't eat inside) and the bottom of the cup dropped out inside my car. My center console was filled with milkshake, it was all over my lap and car and I went inside to let someone know there's something wrong with the drink cups plus I needed paper towels to clean up the mess. The lady just asked, "What do you want me to do about it?" like I was bothering her. Cleanliness and customer service just aren't their thing.

"I told them to expect the surprise of a lifetime. My mother's making her roasted potatoes!" - George Costanza, Seinfeld Da Scene: Decided to try again and was rewarded... the hashbrowns are BACK BABY! Not only that, items that sort of unofficially fell off the menu seem to he back... Da Grub: last time I tried to order pork chops or local moco, SOL... but today they had 2 chops so I went all in. Crispy and plentiful hashbrowns, soooo glad they are back. The chops were simply seasoned and cooked on the flattop w/ butter, also a generous portion, more like 3 chops! 3 eggs over easy, toast, ketchup, hot sauce and coffee rounds it out. It was alot of food, but I killed it, sooo good. Da Service: not too busy mid-morning on a Saturday, servers checked in just enough and kept my coffee cup filled. Chef did a great job and always has a great disposition. It's not the same when he's not at the grill. Next up, Loco Moco... hope they have rice next time!

Very good burgers and fries. It's been many years since I last visited, but the taste is still good enough to keep you "quiet" while eating. Very small establishment, but has an at home feeling.

Good food,most of the time.Depends on the cook.good service,friendly people.Large portions,great salads

The food is always good but they make mistakes. Place is dirty. Service is hit or miss depends who is working.

Big portions. A bit pricey, and out of my way, but they were always friendly and kind. When the owner isn't there, however, the staff doesn't seem as friendly, or was it that I came in an hour and a half before closing? The regular waitress had to ask the young female cook to make my order. [Cool! A young lady cook while the men serve. Nice change :) ] She was sitting in the back with her earbuds on. I actually said sorry because she looked tired. I came from work too, but I'd still reply to a customer. The main waitress didn't say anything either -- she doesn't usually smile anyway. No one smiled, ever. The food wasn't as good this time :/

The service here is often one, or the other,.... However the food is ALWAYS exceptional. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, this place is AMAZING. I travel do work across the country and world and shockingly, red onion is the VERY BEST I've had for breakfast and burgers. Portions are old school yuuuuge and the flavor fantastic.... When they eventually close, I don't know WTF I'm going to do.

Service was ok. I got a cheeseburger with zucchini fries and a drink for $35 which is expensive considering the quality and it was all bland. Will not be coming back.

Okay, it's totally old school divvy but the food & menu is pretty amazing I haven't been there since probably high school or college. I got the waffles with drumsticks with syrup only and a vanilla milkshake. The milkshake was a very thick soft serve. I had to wait a bit while it melted. Waffle was thin & tasty. Chicken was good too (plain)

My husband wanted a burger and he wanted a good burger so I suggested this place since I wanted to stop and shop in Pinole. I was a little hesitant at first because I don't eat beef burgers and I thought that was what their menu consisted of basically however I was pleasantly surprised by how varied their menu was. Everything from salads to fried rice to burgers and various vegan options. Pricey but I think the surrounding area and quality ingredients encourages the $17 double bacon cheeseburger "BIG DOG" that is sold separately from the $6.50 order of seasoned fries is warranted. I think this would be easily a 4 star review but when I called the server over to inquire about the jalapeño that was supposed to be in my salad the cook spoke up over the counter to inform me that he definitely put jalapeno on the salad. She grabbed a menu to look at the ingredients and he came to the table where we were eating after my husband responded to the outburst regarding freaking peppers. For me, the jalapeno peppers as an ingredient in the fried shrimp salad ($25), was a selling point. My husband was pissed about the cross talk . Anyway, the salad came in a huge bowl with plump Roma tomatoes, red onions( of course), lush greens, and avocado. The salad was perfect except for the missing or hiding jalapeno. I also had an order of vegetable spring rolls. My husband rated the burger a 7 however I think the jalapeno debacle soured his appetite even though we hadn't eaten all day. The establishment is very divvy with the kitchen being visibly in view from each of the 6 or 7 dining tables . I was actually surprised by the table service since the takeout orders were obviously a great part of this establishment. Parking is easy in the lot.

Horrible! The frozen fish and shrimp at the grocery store taste better. This was freezer-burned seafood deep fried in old oil and served with frozen fries that were fried in the same old oil. I hadn't ate here since high-school and I guess my memories were better than the food.

This is a really great diner and burger joint. The menu is huge, so you have lots of options. The portions are definitely big. One order is enough for two people. They have these fried chicken drumsticks with no breading on their menu. This is my go-to in this restaurant. I've tried other items, and they are good. They don't skimp on the condiments they provude. Prices are very reasonable. The staff is awesome. The restaurant is clean.

The best red onion in the east bay by far. Huge menu selection. Hefty portions, consistent quality. It's been years and I still haven't had everything on the menu. Can't get past a few favorites of mine. But I'll get to the others soon enough.

Hot diggity damn- what a filling and tasty brunch! I had a craving for chicken fried steak and eggs and was happy that TORO had it on the menu. I know it's known for their delish burgers, which I also love, but from the looks on Yelp, brunch also wins. You definitely need to come here starving because the portions are huge. My chicken fried steak, hash browns, 2 over easy eggs filled a large plate - plus it came with toast! I knew I was going to be in for it later if I didn't get a to-go box. The food was hella good- the familiar flavorful crispy bite of the chicken fried steak was yummy and those HASH BROWNS! They were so deliciously crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It was enough for 2 meals at around $18 with tip and in this day and age, it's bang for your buck worthy. Service was fine but indoor dining got a little stuffy and since everything is cooking in the same area, your clothes can smell greasy after. Maybe I'll eat in the patio next time. Definitely stop by for this one- it's a Pinole staple!

My Family and I love this place. They have so many options and everything is always so good. The portion sizes are insane and will never have you leaving hungry.

I usually order from the El Sobrante location, but tried this location recently because they're open later! My boyfriend and I ordered for pick up and were fortunately able to make it before closing time. We had the following: - Grilled chicken sandwich - Bacon cheeseburger - Criss crox fries (half) Everything was made fresh and fast, and OH SO YUMMY. My boyfriend kept commenting on how the portions for the fries were huge despite being a half size; he loved it. Food here is affordable and the Red Onion has so many options. Excited to come back to this location for more!

You'll be happy to know that I have not entered the Burger Challenge here. Apparently the incentive is to have your photo posted on their Wall of Fame, but it requires eating about a dozen burgers against a timer. Give me credit for not volunteering to be a gluttonous carnivore, but that doesn't mean Jamie W. and I don't have the occasional burger craving. That was what led us here before a long walk we were planning to take along San Pablo Bay. While the interior looked small, the back patio was gratefully spacious. There were so many choices we were momentarily perplexed, but Jamie decided first on the $8.79 Patty Melt, an old favorite of his with gooey cheese and grilled onions keeping the burger company between two slices of toasted rye (photo: https://bit.ly/2WW3PgL). He was pleased. I went for the $9.29 Mushroom Burger but added $6 to have them replace the beef with an impossible burger (photo: https://bit.ly/3yAiQ5O). With lettuce, tomato slices, and plenty of mayo, that was a delicious treat, a throwback to a time when I'd have burgers at the drop of a hat. Of course burgers require fries, and we shared the $6.59 "Small" order of Crinkle Cut French Fries (photo; https://bit.ly/3xqwN56). We hoovered those like there was no tomorrow. Hey, they have salads, but we didn't bother turning the menu page. Craving satisfied, but did our meal mean the Burger Challenge will be my next step? God, I hope not. FOOD - 4 stars...hefty burgers and big baskets of fries AMBIANCE - 4 stars...the patio was pleasant if you don't mind the occasional stray cat SERVICE - 4 stars...very conscientious TOTAL - 4 stars...I'm up for the Burger Challenge. Bring it on! RELATED - Exploring this part of Contra Costa County? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18

This place has really gone down hill over the years. As soon as we walked in, I wanted to walk back out and I should have. The employees just stared and didn't even acknowledge us. They looked irritated and no one was even there. We ordered 2 burgers and the half and half fries and onion rings. I remember the portions used to be big and this was a small bag with over burnt onion rings and fries that were hard and under seasoned. We were very dissatisfied with service, food and ambiance. I have never seen such unhappy employees, maybe hire staff who actually appreciate having a job.

The food was horrible!!!!! and the prices are no where near what they should be charging. Freezer burnt food just thrown together (breakfast and lunch) The place was dirty.... the health department should visit there asap. They should be ashamed.

We really do appreciate the quick service, high quality food, and nice staff. One of our favorite go-to places.

This place is a great go to spot for the locals and has a lot of nostalgic value for us who grew up in the area and ll would stop by here after school for their $1.50 bag of fries. Good memories. The fries are now my kids favorite. The menu itself is hit or miss. But if you know what to order and find what you like, this is definitely a 5* place. If you don't find it... well, the misses are big misses. I love love love their chicken wings... lemon pepper all day every day. Sadly, they've been out for a while. The onion rings are great, but need the ranch to get the full flavor. Their supreme burger is also super tasty. The shakes are good, the chili cheese fries are yummy. I've heard good things about their breakfast, but have yet to try it. Just be mindful that the servings are huge!

This place needs a huge renovation and attitude check: Walk in party of 10.. straight eye roll. I mean you should see it as MONEY esp with the over priced restaurant depot food. Food: Buffalo Wings Fried Chicken Philly cheese steak Fried Zucchini Sticks Kids corn dog & half grilled cheese Order: Reading the menu my kids wanted the wings with an egg and rice and fried chicken drums with eggs and rice. No rice.. okay can I sub a baked potato? No sorry can't do that, so what can you serve in place of rice? Nothing.. what?! I'm confused..? My husband ordered Philly cheese steak, and was saying out loud if he should get the fried jalapeño rings and she immediately said NOPE we haven't had those for 6 months.. again update your place of business. Okay, wings a la carte then and 5 fried drumsticks. Had I known the fried drumsticks were the size of drumettes I would've ordered my daughter more than 5.. Our server was okay, the employees all look like they hate working there. I'd hate to have my employees give off that vibe where customers can feel it. A party of 3 came in and took some menus that were sitting near the register and sat down, one of the cooks or maybe a server said "excuse me where'd you get the menus" he must've not heard you but he replied and said oh it's okay we can share one, she said that's not the question I asked, I said where'd you get the menus?! He said right here.. why do you need to address a paying customer so rudely? What happened to patience and compassion, just good customer service? That party was embarrassed and left. You want a burger go to 5 Guys get a grilled cheese and add a patty along with your fixings.

Omg need a nap after this one! I've always driven by this place and finally had to try it out. Loved the cheeseburger and they live up to their name "Red Onion" with the choice of grilled or raw massive amount of onions. I ordered a 1/2 order of onion rings and seasoned fries and it was enough to feed 3 people. They literally give you a brown paper bag full to the brim. Their menu has a lot from burgers, sandwiches, rice dishes, wings etc. If they're anything like the burgers, I'm sure it will be good!

By far my favorite place to go get a burger in the Bay. I always leave satisfied and stuffed! Burgers are juicy and fries are just as amazing. A small order of fries feeds 2-3 people and they come out nice and hot for you! If I ever crave a burger (which is usually once a week) I will always choose Red Onion!

Best burger I have had in a long long time. We put our order in by phone for pickup. 3 burgers, a spicy chicken sandwich and a ham and cheese sandwich. Everything came as ordered; gluten free bun on one burger, well done for another and a different type of cheese on each. A single order of large French fries was enough for the 5 of us. 5 small milkshakes. When we arrived the shakes were ready and we only had to wait a few minutes for the burgers to come off the grill. Everything was delicious. The portions were large. I don't think I will have room for dinner. I will be back.

Solid burger joint! I love any place that will load up on raw onions on my burger and this place did not disappoint! I tried a regular cheeseburger with garlic fries. The fries were good but I do wish there was more minced garlic. I'd love to try their other stuff like fish and chips and loco moco.

The shrimp and avocado burger with jalapeños is incredible. You would think shrimp and beef might be too much, but it's not too much. It's just right. It is a righteous burger. Also, the menu is huge! They make everything here. You gotta get the waffle fries. It's a little greasy and gloomy inside. The back patio is picturesque, but there are a lot of cobwebs when you look up close. It's nice being next to the creek and sitting under the shade. The service is disappointing, yeah. I have to be patient here. I have to prepare myself for a little wait. That's OK, though. It's good food.

I can't think of any other restaurant that justifies its price as much as the red onion in the food portions. When they say LARGE fries, they definitely mean a shareable portion. I've had red onion's food sporadically in the past few years and they NEVER displeased. I leave with a good sense of the money spent, as well as a full belly. Few times I've had friends comment on how they should serve alcohol, but I'm really glad to see a local business hiring out high schoolers - especially knowing how secluded Pinole could be. The service is great! Recently, I was enjoying a meal with my partner in their outside seating (SO NICE, think it was an extension during COVID) and a back of house personal was nice enough to give their 2 cents on our Mad Max conversation (we were extra and asked, to which the crew humbly obliged). This location will always be a favorite of mine on highway 80. Thank you for the awesome experiences!

Looks like a family owned hole in the wall diner establishment. Almost reminiscent of something like a nations. The cashier was very friendly. Prices were decent, not too expensive, and the food was good. I think the quality at a place like nations is a little better in my opinion but this place really wasn't bad at all. I would still come here to get a burger fix esp. if I was close by.