- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Val's Burgers
Category: Restaurants Burgers Burgers [Edit]
2115 Kelly St(between B St & Center St)
Hayward, CA 94541
(510) 889-8257
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 6:30 am - 10 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
867 reviews for Val's Burgers
Review Highlights
"Their onion rings are delicious too."
(in 198 reviews)
"The burgers are great, the shakes divine."
(in 237 reviews)
"You get a big basket of hot steak fries that are superb."
(in 89 reviews)
Loading...
867 reviews in English
-
Review from Amir B.
Hayward, CA
1/21/2012
One of the best experiences I have ever had. Definitely try the milkshakes, they're great. a true american dinner!
btw, its CASH ONLY! -
Review from Patty C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/28/2012
You've gotta love a burger that is bigger than its buns. I drooled at the site of the Mama burger with bacon. The patty was not like those pre-cut frozen mass produced variety. It tasted like a family member that really knows how to throw down in the kitchen made this burger. This guy at another booth kept looking in my direction. He finally confessed he had been eying my burger. And all of my favorite condiments were readily available at your table- no asking for more pickles. Help yourself. As I was ready to leave, a server switched out the old condiments to put in fresh ones, so if you arrive later in the day, you won't be eating 7-hour old onions. The service was awesome and I was excited there was a parking lot (I spend way too much time driving around San Fran so minor conveniences are such a big thing).
FYI- Its cash only. Thank goodness I actually had some cash on me otherwise... Not like there wasn't a sign posted. I just was so hungry I didn't pay attention to it. I'll be back for more with money in hand! -
Review from J. O.
San Leandro, CA
1/8/2012
So all I must say is how can one not love Vals. I've been going here since I was a little kid, and I will order usually mama burger's or anything else they have on the menu. Lets just say everything they have is just tasty, and should be tried. The service here is great in my opinion you get your food in a good amount of time. Oh the best part is your MILKSHAKES! The reason I say this is that they are not stingy with what they give to you since they give you the container they used as well about halfway full of extra milkshake. I love the sides that they give because the sides are just big type of portions to give away to at least 2-3 people share with. Don't expect when you get for example a side of mushrooms to get them nicely sliced to place on your burger. They are full sized like the ones you would get at a Safeway. Oh they are really good to though, so I would at least recommend you to try the mushrooms.
Now to add the staff is great at handling the customers with courtesy, and are very easy to talk with. You can also see them work as a team to get a job done faster such as the bus boy helps out serving drinks, or another waitress with help the waitress assisting you by bringing another plate or two if you have a big party. I as well love the fact that you can only pay in cash. Not that many businesses do that, and I would rather pay them in cash instead of credit, or debit.
Now the only downside I can say is usually the wait, but it only depends on what time you get their for the wait. If you get their around the busy schedule time you can at least wait for 10-20 minutes, but the wait is worth it.
Just take some time to stop by here, and try what they got. Trust me your gonna like the experience. I guarantee it. But you don't have to take my word for it.Listed in: Everything I Yelp, Food only, Lunch and Dinner Time
-
Review from John T.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2012
One of the best burgers I had in my life. Fresh and hot right off the grill. I killed my 1/2 pound mama burger within minutes. The burger was juicy/bloody just the way I like it. So much chewing my jaw muscles got tired. Going to try the papa burger (1lb I believe) next time. Prices are reasonable too.
P.S. Don' t listen to Jian S. review because he's just a straight hater. I'm from the city and I know a good burger when I eat one. Plus all his reviews are negatives so you know he's a hater. -
Review from Kourtney L.
Hayward, CA
2/3/2012
Only 3 stars for a few reason! Nothing to do with the food because it was great. Has that real home cooked fresh of the grill taste. You can select the size that you like which is a plus. Here's my issue, the location is a pain in the rear as far as coming and going. Also the parking is horrific. Lastly its 2012..Cash only? Really? If you are going to make it cash only, at least put a sign on the front door where guest are aware. A small business card saying cash only hanging from the register when you go to check out and do not have cash is not acceptable. I liked the food but may not return for that reason alone. I'm not going to make an extra trip to the bank to take out cash to get a burger, theres plenty of places I could go instead. A little slow also, but the food is fresh so understandable. I just really dont get cash only...Seems like a common trend in the bay, in LA you can use your card anywhere. Its not like this place doesnt make enough to buy the machine. Annoying.
-
Review from Pammy j.
Pleasanton, CA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'd say the food was pretty good. I was disappointed at the customer service however. The cashier was for a lack of a better word..unfriendly. Its really too bad cuz I so looked forward to dining here. Now I may not return.. Another gripe I have is cash only.
-
Review from BigJohnS F.
San Francisco, CA
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
CASH ONLY!!!
This place is what is dream in American diner.
Servings are way too big. -
Review from Justin S.
Castro Valley, CA
1/6/2012
Delicious burgers, onion rings, and banana shakes/chocolate malts. I always have to put a napkin down on my plate to catch all the meat juice and prevent it from sogging up my bottom bun. I guess I could just let the meat rest a bit, but wheres the fun in that?
The add on sides like sauteed mushrooms can easily be shared by at least two people. 3/4 waitresses will be able to tell you what its like to kick a meth habit. Small parking lots and the douchebaggery that is Castro Valley/Hayward drivers (nice lift kit bro! are you compensating for something?) don't mix.
The best part of this place has to be young Mr. Mustache. He's such a spitting image of his old man its crazy. He even had a little peach fuzz on his upper lip last time I saw him. -
Review from Corey P.
The first time I ever ate at this place was in 1999 and I recall it being a terrible experience. To be fair, I was 12, Yelp didn't even exist yet, and my palate probably wasn't very refined.
I returned December 28, 2011 and ordered the half pound Mama Burger ($5.45) with Swiss cheese ($.25), bacon ($.75), and tomatoes ($.25). If you order grilled onions ($.75) you can share them because they give you a huge plate. The buns are TINY, which makes the meat patty look way bigger than it actually is. The burger was juicy, but that may have been the grease. I wish the bacon was crispier. I put mayonnaise and ketchup on it, but it just becomes all mixed together. It was a sloppy mess and I had to ultimately eat it with a fork and a knife.
I heard a lot of hype about their onion rings ($4.55), but they were just decent. They use a deep-fried breading rather than beer-batter. It's SUPER crispy, which is good, but they weren't the world's best onion rings.
Service is super friendly and moderately quick considering how busy they are. I had high expectations coming here and I want to say that I'm disappointed. I was semi-full when we were done and I felt really dirty.
People love this place, they give it rave reviews, but it's just all right in my book. Actually, for the amount of food I got, it wasn't too expensive, maybe $10 for my share, but I was with 6 other people. You won't do yourself any harm coming here if you love hamburgers.
Cash only. -
Review from Ruobin W.
Rancho Cordova, CA
1/3/2012
Burgers as big as your face? Where do I sign up?
Seriously, the Papa burger is amazing. So juicy and delicious. I love the fact that the burgers are so simple and that the toppings are self-assembled. I've eaten the Papa and Mama burgers here and I think that they're a great deal for the price you pay. The fries are well-seasoned too and each order is plentiful. Same goes for the shakes. The staff is also polite and well-mannered.
Only complaint I have is that the buns for the burgers are too small for the patties and aren't as delicious as the rest of the burger. -
Review from JENNIFER A.
Hayward, CA
12/22/2011
Had a craving for a good burger..Where else can you go and get a "baby burger 1/3lb" "mama burger 1/2lb" for alittle over $10?? They serve you thick cut fries, thick home made shakes and its down right good. Stick to the burgers which is their specialty. Haven't tried their breakfast, but the menu looks pretty good.
They are closed Sun/Mons and parking is *tight*..But all worth it! -
Review from Steve T.
Pleasanton, CA
1/24/2012
It doesn't get any better than this for hamburgers, root beer floats and onion rings. The service is good and people are nice here. Love everything about this place except for parking.
-
Review from LoLo H.
Castro Valley, CA
11/27/2011
Yummy, grilled cheese, steak fries and RC cola? yes please!
Huuuuge downside - doesn't take credit/debit cards. Who in this day and age doesn't?
Also, the priced menu on the wall...all of the prices have been covered up which looks a little weird. It's a loud place with a high wood beamed ceiling. Parking can be tough, especially when it's crowded around lunch and dinner. -
Review from Shannon L.
Fremont, CA
Updated - 11/12/2011
If you've read my previous reviews, well here's an update:
-Waitresses are still grumpy.
-Burger patties were JUICY today. They could be a little more seasoned but it's nothing that a dash of salt can't cure. It was really a joy eating this though.
-If you have some sense of health consciousness, just order 1 milkshake for 1-3 people. One milkshake can fill up 3 milkshakes glasses up to 90% full. I couldn't believe how many people each ordered their own.
-If you want to add grilled onions to your burger, just get 1 person to do it. You'll get enough for 3-4 people even if you load it up generously.
-Still a wait even at 2:30pm on a Saturday.
-Extras still cost... extra. Now that I know the grilled onion tip, the only additional thing to pay for is cheese. To pay around $5.50 for a 1/3 lb. quality made burger, it's worth it.
I'll probably continue dining here 1x/year. Funny thing is that I've ordered the baby burger EVERY single time. Next time, I will have to venture off to the left and right sides of the menu. Val's is definitely a special place but I don't want to get a heart attack. This one meal kept my stomach full for the rest of the day and arteries clogged for the rest of the year.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
4/4/2009
I come here about once a year and it's always packed. On a Saturday afternoon, the wait for a table… Read more »
-
-
Review from Ellen H.
San Francisco, CA
11/22/2011
Finally had a chance to try Val's famous burger and found it decidedly average.
Good size, but not much flavor and under salted. The bun is pretty average too.
Steak Sandwich is also huge. Bun was way too small for the steak.
French Fries are thick but under salted. -
Review from Teruo N.
Alameda, CA
1/29/2012
Average at best. Way too pricey! Good thing we had a lot of cash that day. Cashier was really rude too!
-
Review from Wakaknee J.
San Francisco, CA
11/30/2011
I always have the Baby Burger, cooked rare, add tomato & onion and no lettuce.
By ordering the same thing every time, you'll notice the food here is NOT consistent. I have had some overcooked, bad tasting baby burgers here but I can say 85% of the time my baby burger was great.
Overall I am a fan of this place's burger and their burger tastes way better than many places that charges twice as much! -
Review from Olivia N.
San Lorenzo, CA
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Val's is wonderful. Old-school diner feel with some of the best burgers in the Bay Area. I love this place because of the great service and the amazing food. The environment is so cozy. Old school menus still posted which is pretty neat.
The wait can get pretty long, be ready to wait! The waiting is actually fun for me because of all the pictures and autographs they have posted in the waiting area.
i usually start off by getting a milkshake. Big enough for 2 and there is definitely leftover. They come in neat milkshake glasses which I love because you get a more diner feel out of the shake. They have a variety of flavors and you can watch them being made at the milkshake bar.
I've been coming here since I was little. i have graduated form a Baby burger to a Mama burger since those younger days. The burger is cooked to perfection and the condiments are provided for you at the table so you can put as much or as little as you'd like. They give you the option of tomatoes. Not much else to say except this is a great burger!
Onion rings are fabulous! A wonderful complement to the burger! Perfectly breaded and crispy!
Cash only so make sure to stop by the ATM!Listed in: MEATCHEESE
-
Review from Ramo T.
Pleasanton, CA
11/30/2011
DA BOMB. Man, I can't remember enjoying a burger this much. The mama burger ate me up instead LOL. I couldn't finish it. I know, I know...
Staff were wonderful, atmosphere was great and the portions are more than plentiful and will satisfy even the hungriest of men. Feelin' hungry? Head over to Val's for a meal that can't be beat!! -
Review from Jian S.
San Diego, CA
1/4/2012
Service: Absolutely the worst service I've ever had in my entire life. The waitress was reluctant to give us an answer when we questioned her what other flavours of milkshakes are available aside from the 3 listed on the menu. She replied by saying there are so many it would take forever to list them all. Are you kidding me? She also complained about the small amount of dishes we ordered. Sorry, Shrek, but I'm not trying to be another American fighting obesity.
Food: We ordered the banana milk shake, which was good. I'll give you that. The Chili Cheese fries and burgers were nothing to rave about. Burgers were tasteless and soggy on cheap buns. Initially, I was completely baffled by the amount of high reviews this place has received but then I realized most people who gave this place 4-5 stars are teenagers who have never ventured out of the Castro Valley/Hayward area to know what's good and what's not.
Will not be coming back here again. -
Review from Carson M.
Fremont, CA
11/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The portions are HUGE, especially the root beer floats and the fries.
The Papa Burger and Baby Burger, which were both very juicy, especially if you squeeze them. Expect to get your hands messy when eating their burger. Staff is very courteous.
The pancakes are delicious; they are light and perfectly cooked. They make a perfect pairing with the large pieces of linguica.
Depending on when you go, the wait can be around 10-15 minutes or so.
I would definitely recommend Val's Burger if you are in the area. The portions are huge and will definitely fill you up. Prices are pretty fair also. -
Review from Jeff C.
San Francisco, CA
10/11/2011
Sweet and to the point.. best burger I ever had.
Val's burger is the definition of a perfect burger. The burger is simple (buns, meat, and cheese), perfectly grilled, full of flavor, and leaves a puddle of juice on your plate. You can order their papa burger if you are really hungry. It is their 1 pound burger.
The steak fries and milkshakes are also really good. Eat the fries quick while they hot because they aren't very good once they are "fresh" anymore and the milkshakes are perfect for two.
Classic diner atmosphere. The service could use some work, but the burger makes up for it. But to end on a 5 star note, BURGER BURGER BURGER. soo good. -
Review from Mike J.
Rodeo, CA
12/27/2011
The best burger around... buns are kinda small and strange, but good hairy jesus, those burgers are good. And onion rings that don't have the onion slide out and get all nasty on your face - perfect onion rings!
-
Review from Randi K.
Pleasanton, CA
12/13/2011
BEST burger ever. Hands down. The flavor of the beef is so amazing. The burger is perfectly juicy and cooked to perfection. Their coffee milkshakes are also mind blowing. I could seriously eat a Val's burger everyday. (Thank goodness I don't, but I COULD if cholesterol and weight gain were not human curses.)
-
Review from Lai L.
Menlo Park, CA
12/29/2011 1 photo
papa burger and milkshake, actually 3 of them. Neapolitan, chocolate banana and a pineapple. Heard about this from a co worker who lives in the area. If i lived in the area I would
-
Review from Andy H.
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Opting for some soul food I stopped at a place just down the street from Val's. After ordering some fried chicken and sides, they asked me for $26. I walked out and went down to Val's. I had the best burger of my life...again. Chocolate Shake and Onion Rings are not to be missed.
This is the best burger in the bay. The only rival is my other favorite, the Rodzilla at The Little Pear in Blackhawk. -
Review from joseph f.
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
WHY ISN'T THIS PLACE BUSIER!?!?!
Papa burger with grilled onions ( I cannot express the importance of adding these!!), fries and a shake. So good! The burger was charred, meaty and juicy, and the sweet grilled onions put it over the top. One of thee best burgers I've ever had. Everrrr. Awesome Diner atmosphere, this place reaks, Ah-say Ah-say REAKS of Americana. This will be on the top of the laundry-list of reasons to make the 12 hour drive to Hayward. -
Review from Mandy T.
Fremont, CA
1/7/2012
omg. amazing. i guess it is a little pricey but geez. it is amazing. old time shakes, burgers, fries. mmm. it doesnt really matter how long the wait is to me.
-
Review from nicole k.
Oakland, CA
1/17/2012
I hadn't been to Val's in years and forgot how the system worked. You put your name down at the register and wait for your name to be called and then order at the table. Service was mediocre but my sense is that it was an off day for the server we had. They weren't warm and welcoming like I remember, but the burger was still good. I love the fact that I can add my own condiments at the table and that I can wash it down with a root beer float or giant milkshake. My table-mates love the steak fries.
-
Review from Evan K.
San Leandro, CA
Updated - 8/21/2011
I was treated again to a lunch at Val's Burgers. This followup review is about why their burgers suck.
This place doesn't know how to cook burgers. If a Val's cook happens to read this review, the secret to cooking burgers is you add salt to the meat during the cooking process.
It's completely baffling that people gush over this place when they just cook meat that is for all intents and purposes completely tasteless. Putting on the salt and perhaps pepper during the cooking process is so crucial. This is not rocket science, and Val's Burgers are a consistent flavourless failure.
No salt and pepper to the cooking process. Really cheap looking and tasting buns. You garnish your own burger out of unappetizing tupperware containers containing condiments.
If someone mentions this place as a great place to get burgers, don't take any of their other recommendations seriously. Val's serves as an institution filled with people pretending that they are enjoying the best burger around the Hayward area.
Go elsewhere.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/15/2009
This place baffles me.
I am not a fan of Val's Burgers. I don't know why this place constantly gets… Read more »
-
-
Review from Karen S.
Paradise, CA
12/25/2011
Been going to Val's since I was a teenager... since I'm 65 now, you can see that's been a long time.... don't kow that I've had anything besides a Momma Burger, fries and chocolate shake.... when you've had the best why try the rest... my uncle did some sheet metal work for them in the 60's and took his fee his beef! If you leave this place hungry it was because it was too crowded and you didn't stay to order! Only negative is the parking.
-
Review from Tony N.
San Ramon, CA
10/7/2011
Great ol school diner. Burger menu is al carte for cheese, grilled onions, and tomatoes. I understand the cheese and grilled onions, but was caught off guard on the tomatoes. But I guess I understand. We were a party of 3 on Sat around 1pm and waited approx 15minutes for a table.
Waitress was extremely pleasant and helpful as two of us ordered grilled onions. She brought us a single order of grilled onions and asked if a single order was enough instead of taking advantage of our ignorance, it was more than enough, nice!
I asked if they grid their own beef and she said yes so we all ordered medium rare. Burgers came out perfectly pink in the middle and very juicy. One order of onion rings was pently for the three of us.
Shakes are served in classic tall metal cups thats typical of a classic fountain and was enough for 2-3 people.
Buns are soft but does melt down with the juicy meat so be prepared to have plenty of napkins. Loved the experience and will be back. -
Review from Noah C.
7/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Tucked into a random, dilapidated (okay, even MORE dilapidated than the rest of Hayweird) corner of town, Val's exudes that old school charm that you want in a diner.
Counter seating, shake machines lining the walls, lots of brown interior decorating - the time warp is in effect here.
But how's the food? Especially the famous burgers?
I found the burger here to be perfectly...acceptable. Not wet myself good, not spit it out bad, but just...fine.
Now, in a statement likely to make my wife faint, I ate the 1lb Papa Burger. I take issue with being charged as much as I was to add basic things to the burger, but I'm also fine paying for bacon (who isn't?).
When the burger arrived, it was almost comical - the bun top looked hilariously tiny next to the giant mountain of meat that the patties consisted of. And the bottom bun was soaked in the grease and juices of the burger patties, making it hard to pick up and eat.
I put some ketchup on the burger to make it a bit slicker, and also had to tear up the bacon slices so they adorned the burger better. The burger also arrived with a flimsy piece of lettuce, free of charge. I ignored the lettuce.
The burger patty itself was a bit underseasoned for my tastes, especially since the sheer enormity of the patties and the miniature nature of the bun meant it was difficult for the ketchup to add anything to the burger. The meat quality was good, though, and there was the right amount of pink that I wanted to see.
This place is cash only, and the staff was gracious about me needed to run to the ATM to cover my bill. In fact, the wait staff here is pretty great - attentive, funny, charming and fun to be around. I can see why they have a loyal following. I don't know if I'd be back, though, since I can get a superior burger elsewhere for less than the 10 bucks that the Papa Burger set me back. -
Review from Aishling R.
Fremont, CA
My mom practically lived at Val's in her teen years. I have had to spend the last 22 years of my life listening to her talk of the magic of the Mama Burger. Today, I finally stopped by.
I ordered a grilled cheese with a side of fries and a chocolate malt and my mom ordered the Mama. All were delicious.
Burgers and sandwiches are made simply and there are a variety of condiments on your table to garnish your burger with. Ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish, pickles and onions are all provided should you wish to add them.
Parking here is very tricky. It's a one-way parking lot that dead-ends. Seems like it would be tricky to maneuver your way out if it's busy. -
Review from Jennifer V.
Ann Arbor, MI
9/4/2011
Val's holds a special place in my heart. There's something about squeezing your way into a tiny diner, a tiny booth, ordering a greasy, juicy burger, steak fries, and a huge, thick shake, and digging in. It's just the 'Murrcan way, or something.
Val's has been around for ages. I started coming here as a teen, and have been having a love affair with their burgers ever since. They use top quality beef, which you can taste in the burgers. Frankly, great beef makes a great burger, and Val's has it. Their steak fries are perfect, too - crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside. LOVE them. Their shakes are so thick that you better use a spoon to help scoop them from the mixing tin to the cup, or they'll spill all over the place.
In a place known for their burgers, you might think their other food falls to the wayside. Not true at Val's. Val's serves amazing steaks (seriously!), breakfast, sauteed mushrooms, and chicken strips, too! I can't really speak for the other stuff, since I haven't had it. But I do know those other items on the menu are AMAZING. Val's is definitely worth heading to, repeatedly. Also, bring CASH! No credit cards, checks, etc. accepted.
The place gets packed on the weekends, so show up early, or prepare to have a long wait. Also, it may be worth calling ahead. They do a lot of business, so they take a lot of vacations (really, they do). They're closed for a couple weeks around Christmas, about a week around Thanksgiving, a week in the fall sometime, a week or something in the spring, and a couple of weeks in the summer. Apparently the burger business is booming. -
Review from L'Arseiline E.
Hayward, CA
12/2/2011
Angels start to sing when someone invites me to go to Val's with them. I've been going here since... I don't remember when! This place is the definition of comfort food!
-
Review from Andrew S.
Hampton, VA
7/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been here so many times when I needed to have a good burger. I go here with my uncle (Ree-Och G) whenever I'm back in the Bay. I go here whenever I need a good chocolate banana shake. I used to go here when I was intoxicated and I wasn't in the military.
Best burger I've ever had , always fresh and cooked to order. A lot of fries. The shakes are made of ice cream, and with all of the ingredients. For example, I usually get chocolate banana, and banana chunks are still there. I like flavor and texture. Val's has that.
Decor is cool too. I like vintage things, and this place screams "old as hell." Pictures everywhere, wood walls and all.
I would never go anywhere else if I could. Val's is on top, and whenever I'm needing a burger, this is the place. -
Review from Grace H.
Vals is definately the best burger joint in the bay. Its greasy and delicious. Why go anywhere else? My husband took me here when we first started dating. Super cute! Tiny little 50s diner right here in the East Bay. They serve up a mean milkshake (one serving is enough for 3!!)
and you know what? They also serve breakfast ;) -
Review from Allan S.
San Jose, CA
11/26/2011 4 photos
My fourth time at Val's Burgers and have yet to be disappointed. The food is fresh and delicious and the service never disappointing. Our waitress, Wendy, was attentive and friendly; I hope we have her again someday!. I've had the Mama Burger a few times and a Patty Melt. Val's is definitely a local's place and was introduced to the place by a local. Don't be surprise if you encounter a short wait before being seated.
-
Review from Benician V.
Benicia, CA
11/29/2011
Papa Burger is to die for. Worth the drive coming from Benicia. Can't wait to come back again.
