Diverse, Authentic, and Underrated
Union City is the Bay Area food scene's best-kept secret. The Filipino food is some of the best in the East Bay, the Indian lunch buffets are excellent, and nobody has told the tourist economy about any of it yet.
Union City's demographics are a near-perfect representation of global diversity — Filipino, Indian, Vietnamese, Mexican, and Central American communities all maintain strong presences. The commercial corridors along Dyer Street and Decoto Road reflect this diversity directly, with restaurants serving each community's food traditions with genuine authenticity.
The city's location between Fremont and Hayward makes it easily accessible and yet consistently overlooked by food media. The restaurants here cook for their communities, not for reviews — which is exactly why the food is often outstanding.
Filipino Food Scene
Union City's substantial Filipino community has produced excellent Filipino restaurants — lechon specials, adobo, kare-kare, and halo-halo all at genuinely community-friendly prices.
Indian Cuisine
Strong South Asian community has produced quality Indian restaurants particularly known for South Indian dosa and North Indian lunch specials that draw regulars from across the East Bay.
Exceptional Value
Union City offers some of the Bay Area's best value dining — complete Filipino or Indian meals at prices that feel from a different era and yet the quality is genuinely high.
Southeast Asian Food
Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian restaurants along Dyer Street produce authentic, aromatic dishes that serve the community daily.
Must-Try Dishes
Deep-fried pork hock — golden, crackling skin over tender braised meat with dipping vinegar.
South Indian fried chicken with dried chilli, curry leaves, and yogurt marinade — fiery and addictive.
Vietnamese vermicelli salad bowl with grilled lemongrass pork, fresh herbs, and fish sauce dressing.
Filipino pork blood stew — earthy, tangy, and deeply savory, served with puto rice cakes.
Layered Indian flatbread filled with spiced potato or paneer from Union City's Indian bakeries.
Sweet cold drink with tapioca pearls, gelatin cubes, and brown sugar — the Filipino summer refreshment.
Neighborhoods & Food Districts
Every part of Union City has its own food character. Here's where to focus your eating:
The main commercial street with Filipino, Vietnamese, and Indian restaurants serving the community.
Secondary corridor with more diverse casual dining options at excellent prices.