Hometown Favorite

Elite '08

70

324

Tiffany W.

San Jose, CA

I haven't actually been to Hometown Favorite yet, but I did eat their food because my mom brought takeout back. I was excited to see that we had another cheap & authentic Chinese food restaurant in Fremont. And the best thing about this place is that it's even closer to my house, only like a minute drive.

Unfortunately, the takeout wasn't for me, so I just got to try the measely leftovers, which was a fish dish. I don't know what it was called since I didn't order it, but it was sooooooo good. So definitely next time I'm at home and craving Chinese, I will order from here and add more to my review.

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Elite '08

76

807

Rob C.

Miami, FL

hole in the wall chinese takeout, 5.50/ea or 3 for $15.  large menu mixing americanized with mostly simple authentic dishes, check out the wall.  i wish the fish dish (white sauce) was a little fresher, and i had expected the wuxi ribs to be more tender.  well, for inexpensive takeout it is ok.

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Elite '08

65

173

Victor C.

Fremont, CA

Dinner/Take-Out Review

Nothing fancy about this place at all... but you can't go wrong with the food. The food is just solid, classic chinese food that your mom would kick (assuming your mom is a chinese mom that knows how to cook).

I haven't been here yet (only eaten here when others have picked up the food)... but that doesn't matter.

Good stuff.

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Elite '08

41

139

Jocelyn F.

Castro Valley, CA

Went here tonight with DJme. 3.5, cheap, good, great service, fun people. Not the place for the super hygienic.  Not sure if it is authentic, I have never been to any Asian continents, but when we walked in people had this look like damn, word is out, the non-Asians have arrived. I like that. The dining area is really small, 6 tables and two were occupied by the restaurant prepping stuff. Three dishes for 15 bucks, we had the wuxi pork ribs (must order), spring rolls (decent), kung pao chicken (would skip), rice, beer (excellent, super cold heine), 21.50 without tip. Nothing was spicy, but they had an awesome chili pepper sauce on the table, nice and savory. Would def go back. I wasn't  sure if they took plastic, so I ducked out and hit the B of A a block away.

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18

227

David L.

Fremont, CA

Since the dining area of this restaurant is so small, they must do a lot of takeout business to stay in business.  We recently tried six dishes to go for a party of 8 ($30 since it's 3 dishes for $15, menu has 105 items to choose from).  

Hometown Favorite excels in dishes that are traditionally Shanghaiese, while their other dishes are acceptable but ordinary.  Highlights of my meal include the #39 Wuxi style pork ribs and the #2 Hometown salted chicken.  I understand that ordering by numbers is the easiest way to communicate with the staff for non-Mandarin speaking customers.

Bottom Line:  Try to pick the more unusual dishes, and you should be satisfied.

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5

660

shanghai k.

Oakland, CA

can't believe i got lost getting here. it's actually directly across  from ohlone college.  located on the side in the middle of a commercial building, there are only 6 tables inside.

the owner/waiter aims to please. while we were ordering the hot & sour soup. shanghai meatballs, and beef chow fun (3 for $15),  we inquired about the pancake like omlette the staff was going to eat. he said it wasn't on the menu and promplty gave it to us gratis. it was a tasty combination of eggs, flour, scallons, home style.

the meatballs are nicknamed tze g tou(lion head's) and are considered a delicacy in china. the chow fun was good as in chi town.
the hot and sour soup was as good as i've tasted.

my recommedation is based on the value menu of the 3 for $15 items. not the reverse side where menu items are slightly higher than other restaurants. their business model is based on being the kitchen away from home. thus the hometown name.

they also have take out delicacies priced 1.99-2.75
this owner is not affiliated with the milpitas branch. they split their partnership when the milpitas located opened.

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4

34

John W.

Fremont, CA

Yeah--THIS is the place!  Yes, it's rather difficult to see, but once found, awesome & memorable!  This is NOT the place to bring your fear-filled, fried-sweet-pork-lump-and-fried-wonton-loving friends & relations--Hometown Favorite's food is authentic Chinese cuisine, and delicous Chinese cuisine.  The small room is often packed when I go in, and there is regular takeout food traffic at the door.  Takeout is what I most often do, trying something new most times.  I try a dish once, and it gets added to my must-have list from then on--my bag gets taller every time I go!  Get ready to try something new, and get ready to have a new hometown favorite.

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Elite '08

135

230

Eric W.

Hayward, CA

By far, the most inconspicuous location for a restaurant you can find (or not find), Hometown Favorite lies in what essentially is a basement below street level. Well, let me rephrase that. It is actually on the first floor of a little strip mall, however, a tall embankment looms out front, blocking any view of the street or surrounding areas. It feels as if you are magically transported to Oklahoma, into a tornado shelter. As you drive down Mission Blvd., rolling by Ohlone College, you will not even notice it.

The sign out front is so difficult to see, it might as well cease to exist. In addition, the parking lot entrance can be difficult to manuever into. If you do manage to spot the joint, you will soon realize that it is extremely small. As a matter of fact, hardly anyone eats here. Most of the time I walk into the door, I am the only customer. It guess that means it must be pretty bad then, right?

Well, put it this way. There may not be many actual people sitting on the three or four tables, but perhaps the overflow of white boxes and plastic bags taking up all the space on those very tables and chairs should give you the idea. Take out is the way to go.

The specialty here is Central Chinese cuisine (Shanghai region and beyond). The menu is definitely catered to the authentic Chinese palate, and as the name indicates, the cooking style is the downhome formula you might find back in grandma's house in the old country. I personally love the lion's head meatballs, and make sure I cop some of that every single time.

Don't let the unassuming facade fool you. More often than not, it's the least pretentious, low key locales that prove most worthy of your hard earned dollar. The only thing is that due to its size and majority take out business, it's probably more geared towards locals, and not for out of towners who prefer a formal sit down atmosphere.

However, have no fear. A newer branch has recently opened in Milpitas Square, in the former site of Tainan Restaurant. Although sad to see Tainan go, at least I can take solace in knowing that a deserving tenant has taken its spot.

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Elite '08

335

468

arnold g.

Fremont, CA

There may be a slight language barrier here since the employees and most of the patrons are Chinese. This is a good thing! The food here is really good homestyle Chinese food. Portions are big and for the most part delicious.

They also have two menus, an English one and a Chinese one. The English one is more familiar, obviously, but i had some friends translate the Chinese menu, and that one is definitely more adventurous and caters to a more "native" palette. Next time we go, we might surprise them by ordering off the Chinese menu!

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