San Francisco boasts a storied food scene, but it’s far from the only spot in the region offering up trendy restaurants and delicious dishes. A smaller alternative to the big city is Hayward, home to 155,000 residents and located between San Francisco and San Jose. The city is perhaps best known for being the site of California State University, East Bay, though its multi-ethnic community is what truly makes it special. A study conducted by Filterbuy previously crowned Hayward as the best midsize city to move to for diversity, based on the 2020 American Community Survey (ACS) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
On Niche, one local explained just how visible this diversity is. “You can see it in the cultural grocery stores, the languages people speak, and the different kinds of small businesses you see all around.” Naturally, this includes Hayward’s dining options. For reference, Census Reporter states that the city has a predominantly Hispanic and Asian population. As such, visitors can expect to encounter an array of eateries from these cultures.
In fact, as of this writing, Hayward’s only Michelin Guide Restaurant is Los Carnalitos, serving cuisine from Mexico City. The San Francisco Chronicle once named this no-frills spot as having some of the top tacos in the East Bay. The publication mentions Los Carnalitos’ suadero (brisket) tacos, though there are plenty of other options on the menu. Popular on Yelp is the Gringa, a pastor (pork) taco stuffed with red pickled onions and cheese. Los Carnalitos is in a strip mall on Industrial Parkway Southwest. However, there are even more yummy bites in Downtown Hayward.
Local eats in Downtown Hayward, California
Downtown Hayward is arguably at the center of the city’s food scene (plus, the city’s multicultural background is celebrated here, with events like the annual Cinco de Mayo festival). One top-rated eatery you’ll find here is Aama’s Kitchen, rated 4.8 stars on Google based on more than 3,500 reviews. The eatery specializes in Nepalese and Indian fare, offering dishes like biryani and momo. “This is the kind of place that is only an article away from being thrown into the spotlight and needing reservations,” states a review…