val's burgers

we have been coming here for decades and they have the best burgers you will ever taste! i have tried many of the other menu items and all are yummy but there is something about the burgers that makes it hard to choose anything else : ) the milkshakes, thefriesand the onion rings are also amazing and a must to try. it is a small restaurant with a 50's feel, ice cream counter and all, so sometimes there is a wait. we were there for my mother in laws 86 birthday last night and even though there were 9 adults and a baby in our party they were able to seat us in a timely manner. the staff is friendly and the service is quick considering the number of customers they serve. parking lot is small and can be a bit of an issue sometimes so allow for that, although we have never had to park on the street. val's also serves a fantastic breakfast, their steak and eggs are delicious! a restaurant worth visiting!

top notch old school burger joint. time warp, in a good way. go for the beef, the mama,and don't overlook it. fat flecked juice on the plate 4 napkin who said grass fed tastes better burger.frieshave substance and integrity. there's a dedicated shake maestro. lettuce and tomato very much the afterthought here. large bins of thick sliced onions on the table

perfect burger, juicy and flavorful. place is adorable, too, and once we sat next to teenagers wearing rodeo costumes un-ironically, which rocked.friesand rings are just ok and cash only are minuses, but the burger and shakes more than make up for it.

wow! the best burger in the bay area no doubt!!! and the best memory of growing up a bay area kid. i have dreams at night of val's burgers and the owners thick black mustache. both look very cool but one tastes better than the other!! this is my all time favorite place to get a burger! now i know a good burger and i've had my share of burgers but this is my place! been going here for over 30 years and i'm only 34! the burgers come in 3 sizes; baby-1/3, mama-1/2 and papa-1lb. .all bout the mama burger for me as i prefer one beef patty if i'm super hungry i'll get 2 but that is so rare! fresh condiments- onions, relish, pickles are at every table for fixing your burger (cheese and tomatoes are extra). the best part is they way they cook it...the real way...charbroiled, that lovely charred taste!! thefriesand onion rings are so scrumptious and tender inside. they come in large baskets that can be shared between you and all of your friends for around $3. i gotta get thefriesas they have the best classic thick cut fries. i never life softfriesbut i make the exception for val's fries, oh my!! a shake to top things off is the way to go! they have so many flavors to choose from but i usually go with banana or pineapple. cool to see the staff for the most part is the same as when i started going there and after all this time they still remember my face! love how they keep it in the family! u can go for breakfast lunch and dinner but anytime i go i always gotta get my burger on! most of the time u go there is somewhat of a wait on a busy weekend night be ready to wait but so worth it i swear to god! val's isn't the easiest place to find in hayward as it's not on the main drag but if you find a burger lover around the area they better know of val's or that person needs to move out of hayward now! parking is a drag too as they have as many spaces as they do tables but patience always works out. i just wish they were open on sunday's and monday's cause i get my cravings 7 days a week. i guess i need those 2 days off so i can keep up my cute girlish figure! :)

i started going to val's in 1959, (i was 10) a year after they opened. my parents owned a bakery on b street.
the current owner, geroge, is the son of the original owner.
i had a heart attack two years ago and am allowed 4 oz of beef a week. i still drive 52 miles, one way, once a month to get my burger. i save up my 4 oz times four weeks and get my papa burger. to me, it's worth the risk. a 1lb papa burger with cheese,friesand a vanilla milk shake. the milk shake is in a metal can and you get 2 1/2 glasses. my wife shares the fries. if you like onion rings, these are great too. i prefer the fries. we have been married 40 years and val's was our second date. she gets the low cal plate. burger patty, cottage cheese, tomatoes.
the papa burger comes as two 1/2 lb patties. i eat one on the plate and the other in the bun. it's hard to get your mouth around the two patties. i get funny looks when i scoop myfriesin the milk shake. don't laugh until you try it.
the waitresses have all been there for many years. that tells you it is a family work atmosphere. they all take vacation the same time and they close down.
i like the counter in front of the grill, love the smell. when i bring relatives or friends, we get a table.
old time looks and quality food. you know the places that give you a warm fuzzy feeling, val's does it for me.
go there, eat, leave full with a big smile. you'll go back too. maybe not my 49 years worth, but you will go back.