Southern Flavors

Best soul food in Hayward for sure ! I always order to go so I don’t know about the wait times. But the people that work there friendly. I like supporting small businesses especially when they have good products. I think if they would improve their service and maybe hire more people then they could work more efficiently. The food is EXCELLENT! I’ve had the fried chicken, catfish, greens, yams, Mac n cheese, red beans and rice and black eyed peas. So delicious ! I’m from the south and I really love home-​cooked southern food ! I noticed the other reviews said that the wait for the food is long… the food is fresh. The ppl writing those reviews are probably used to Everett & Jones where the food sits out all day. The food is WELL worth the wait here, very fresh and perfect flavor !

My best friend and I dined in about two weeks ago while visiting the area. Immediately we noticed «Cash only» on the top of the menu. No worries. My friend was willing to go to the nearest ATM which she was told by our waitress «it was in walking distance». Unfortunately, it was not across the street and around the corner. My friend drove almost 2 miles away. Tip #1: bring cash.
It took a lot of time waiting to place the order, waiting for the waitress, waiting for them to make the order and get the check to pay for the order. We ordered our meal (shrimp, grits, and catfish dinner with two sides) before my friend left to get cash and when she returned our food still was not ready. I notice other patrons were still waiting for their meals. After 1 hour and 13 minutes our food was served but without the Macaroni & cheese. The owner said she did not have time to make it because they were busy. I could not believe her response. She tried to redeem herself and offered potato salad or greens as an alternative. The greens were tasty but salty. Tip #2: Make sure you have time for a long wait and pack a snack.
I believe all the food was made as it was ordered and not prepared in advance. Hence, the long wait time. In addition, the owner was servicing carry out orders as well but did not have enough staff. The pleasant surprise in this experience: The food tasted good and it looked good. The service and wait time needs improvement.

Don’t waste your time. I stopped by after bookmarking this place several weeks ago. I wanted to support a local business. The woman who took my order was pleasant. However, I place my order and then after paying was told they were not making poor boy today (one of the items I ordered). I eventually get a refund for the item. After waiting over 25 minutes for my to go order I ask for a status. I am told 10 more minutes. For fried chicken? Really?
The owner eventually comes out and explains that she has waited longer for her food at some places. She then said it takes longer because she makes it from scratch and people don’t appreciate that. She was rude and had the nerve to be offended that I asked about my order. She has no idea what customer service looks like. Will not waste my time or money there ever again.

This place is a total disaster. My friend I walk in and the artwork and atmosphere where Afrocentric and sheek. They were slow to tell us to see ourselves. They took our order. 15 – 20 mins later someone else comes and says they don’t have any mac& cheese right now and they would give it to use if it was available before we leave. We both order catfish dinners. They take a while to come out. The catfish was not whole fish, it was catfish strips like you get at Aldi or Walmart frozen. The fresh collard greens we’re flavorless and canned. I don’t even remember my other side. All the food was so salty. The service was terrible! I had to ask 5 times for a fork. Getting the check took forever. The other pee in the restaurant were having similar problems. One table they brought food out for 2 people and only the side salad for the third party. Hey all finished eating and asked to have the third person ‘s meal taken off the tab because they never received it and they said no! After asking for the check and a to go container 10 – 15 minutes passed and they asked do we want a to go container. We said no just get the check– their response: you don’t want to give that food to a homeless person? I told them they could do it. I was ready to go. There’s more but it’s too ridiculous. The whole experience was a comedy of errors. I would not waste my time going back there.

Loved the fried chicken breast. Portions are huge drumsticks were alright enjoyed breast so much more. Corn bread was not great in my opinion I had fries and the Mac & cheese pretty basic. I’ll go back for the breast and to try some diffrent sides. Food takes time to make, but it’s fresh. I fed myself boyfriend and 2 kids for $ 34 that’s unheard of and we left stuffed. This place is cash only so we had to go grab cash

So bummed .
Anticipated a great meal after a long days of work but instead I got a SALT feast. EVERYTHING IS SATLY! I can’t even finish my $ 22 meal which I made a specific ATM stop for.
Cat fish dinner
Large grits
Large red beans and rice
Substitute for the cornbread; I promise you won’t be disappointed. Matter fact save your time

Food is awsome cant waite to get some more. Service is good. Food was hella hot. Both thumbs up including and big toes lol also the old lady is very nice and her kids just dont be a rude customer cuz what u put out is what u will get back… Dont forget it says that in the bible…

Oh hell no !!! That steak don’t ever get that my 4 year old daughter could have done better … Even Stevie
Wonder could have done better then that. The steak was very thick and tuff. Now the fish and prawns was good. All the sides are bomb. Mac n cheese I give it an A+ … Anything smothered don’t get it .oh and it took a hour and 13 mins to cook the food

Visited family from the Bay and decided to stop by here. Very good homey feel and the chicken was probably the best I had in a long time. The collard greens were screamin tasty… Wife had fish which was delicious, will definitely be stopping by in the near future.

You know, I really do try my best to support small businesses, especially ones that are black owned and operated even if I have to pay a little bit more, HOWEVER the experience I just had with Southern Flavors of Hayward, Ca is the EXACT reason why people choose to go with more corporate ran places.
Per their OWN voicemail and Unilocal page, it says they open at noon. So I call to place an order for pick up at 12:15, only to have the gentleman answer «We open at 1, good bye» and hang up in my face!
As someone who works in customer service, that is NOT the way you treat a guest and believe me, have definitely lost my buisness for sure!
I’m not going to stop supporting small businesses because of this rude jerk, however it just unfortunate that he wasn’t properly trained on to help out customers!
If you ever want soul food in Hayward, be sure to go anywhere but here!

This place surprised us with their great food and hospitality. Serving portion was huge with the chickens. We loved the greens for our side and we felt like we were home. Our server was very sweet and attentive.
Maybe they can tint the windows or out some blinds so we are not exposed with the cars passing by at night. Lol. Other than that, we are coming back!

Worst brunch experience ever! Food was pricey and bland. Greens tasted like bell peppers so I traded for red beans and rice. Slightly better, but not worth the price. The service was sub par as well, and the waitress seem bothered by our questions.
We came for chicken and waffles but were abruptly told «no chicken and waffles» with no explanation. Then it was question and answer period. Do you have coffee? Do you have unsweetened ice tea? No! Well if they had the drinks listed on the menu, it wouldn’t have required any questions. We are never going back.
If that wasn’t bad enough, I ordered the fried chicken which was bland and tasted like it was fried in fish grease. Then it says 2 breasts, but it’s really 1 breaststroke split in half. One with the ribs attached, and one with the meat on top. Not good at all got $ 15.
First and last time. I am so surprised at the 4 star rating. Don’t get it.

Fried Chicken is a favorite of mine, and I’m always in search of good tasting Fried Chicken. I searched for Unilocal and this place was one of the suggestions. My whole family drove out and we got lucky to find an empty parking spot in its small lot. Inside the small place, cute décor greeted us. One friendly server told us to seat wherever we wanted. They had a TV on while we perused their menu. We ordered a lot of food: two orders of 6 pc chix and chix and waffles with tons of sides. (It looked a lot when it was served.) We expected the wait, because we knew that everything was cooked as ordered. The TV entertained us, since it was showing a football game. When the food arrived, we were all happy. I love their side of greens. Their chicken was perfectly deep fried, crispy and juicy. My stepdaughter said that the side of cornbread was like cake. :-) It was yummy! Anyway, they only accept cash, so be prepared before you go. They also have tons of take-​out orders. Lots of people visit this place! You definitely want to try their food.

First, a warning: CASH ONLY. Dont worry about it, its well worth the trip to the atm to experience this place.
Second, I’ve never dined in here, I always order to go, so I’m not rating this place based on a sit down experience. If you’re looking for great service, go somewhere else, if you’re looking for just amazing fu**ing southern food and dont mind waiting, or are down to order it to go, give them a shot!
I’ve ordered food to-​go from here several times and I’ve never been disappointed
Here’s the run down:
Avg cost of a fish dinner: $ 15-​$ 22 and thats with 2 sides/​cornbread
3-​piece chicken wing meal will run you around $ 13 with one side
I’ve had the snapper and catfish before, both of which were awesome and perfectly fried. The prawns were large and juicy, the batter was slightly different from the fish, but it worked well.
Best sides:
* Rice and Gravy (seriously, this sh** is ridiculously good, a must try if you dont order any other side. Feeling bad about your «diet»? do an extra round of your circuit and indulge)
* Greens (Perfectly seasoned southern greens, not from a can)
* Mac and Cheese (not for the faint of heart, no, but really, so much cheese and grease, very little mac but my girlfriend loved the rich greasy deliciousness.)
Sides I could go without:
* Red beans and rice, they just didnt do it for me
Also, the three different ladies I’ve encountered at the register have all been extremely delightful, they definitely made me feel at home as I waited for my food to be prepped and packaged.

The pork chops and gravy is absolutely delicious. Huge serving size. The fried snapper and prawns are great and plenty in size as well. A little pricey but for the nice portion size and great home cooked like meal it’s worth it.
The down side is they only take cash, ambiance is not the greatest but thats really not to much of a biggie for the great food.

I’m not sure how this place has four stars because not only was the experience awful but so was the food. We called in an order. On the way there, we received a call saying their waffle machine was down so we couldn’t order chicken and waffles. So we asked for the ribs and links. Not available. Peach cobbler? Not available. So we get the chicken. When we get there they tell us they are out of the mac n cheese we ordered. So we got something else although that should’ve been our cue to go somewhere else. At home we find that the chicken meat is a just a really weird consistency, as was the «cornbread», which was more like pound cake. And the catfish and rice & gravy tasted like they fell into a bucket of salt.
Sadly we won’t be back and I would not recommend this place to feed your southern soul.

if you want to be sit and be served fast, this is not the place. but if you are a little patient, the home cooked food is worth the wait. We arrived Sunday around 1pm and only a couple tables in use. we got in right before the crowd because in no time the place was full and there was a wait for tables. food took about 25 – 30 minutes. but was absolutely delicious.
I wanted fish/​chicken combo which isn’t on the menu, the waitress said, yes it’s number two (which is all chicken). However came with six pieces of chicken and six pieces of fish. way too much for one person (and was $ 25). I felt like the waitress should have recommended a smaller dish or advised me how much food was coming. Mac n cheese was mouthwatering.
I would definitely come back. but would likely call in an order for pickup. The fried chicken was amazing. oh and the owner/​chef, brings the food to your table. I really liked that touch.

Complete joke.
Brought out a bloody, half-​cooked pork chop after an hour of waiting and then the owner came out and gave major attitude because we asked for a different dish.
What’s better: giving your customer food poisoning or having to toss food that shouldn’t have been served in the first place?
Seriously, I know how bad you want soul food right now, but TRUST ME, you don’t want to ruin your night this way.

Omg why havent I found this place sooner?! I grew up eating southern food and this place is by far the BEST I’ve ever had! My Boyfriend chose the 6 piece fried chicken with mac-​n-​cheese and yams. I had a hard time choosing but decided to get the smothered porkchops with potatoe salad and mac-​n-​cheese.
Great customer service and the ladies here are soo sweet! I will definitely be back

Yes! Those are fried grease stains on my steering wheel! I couldn’t wait to get to my man’s spot to dig in, I needed to sample this Southern Flavors to see if I found something that I could bite into feel like I transcended and got transported back to 209 E 7^th Street, McGregor, Texas 76 657! This doggone catfish made me remember my childhood phone number was 817−840−3909, okay?
I’m home at this spot and I will be back at least once a month and one Wednesday a month to get those chitlins! Thank you Jesus and thank you Southern Flavor-​no extra seasoning needed; straight up on point! I’m so glad my BaBa ain’t home because «he be charming HARD!» And anybody who knows me know I don’t play when it comes to my fried cat. I’ll share my money before I share my catfish. Get ya own plate; damn Gina! But got this juice on ice and my plate on point and Black Ink on DVR to take my Friday afternoon to another level-​with some leaving alone, eating good and this nap to follow!