Welcome to Volcano Island
At Volcano Island, culinary tradition meets passion in a cozy Hayward establishment, specializing in Korean fried chicken and authentic Korean dishes. Opened in 2019, this hidden gem has quickly gained a loyal following for its delectably crispy chicken wings, available in flavors like Korean spicy and soy garlic. Each dish is made fresh to order, ensuring unbeatable taste and quality. Guests rave about the generous portions of the Sweet Potato Fries and Korean classics like tteokbokki and kimbap, offering something for everyone. With a take-out only model, Volcano Island prioritizes convenience while delivering the heartwarming comfort of Korean cuisine right to your home.
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2619 Oliver Dr, Hayward, CA 94545 Hotline: (510) 786-9161
Welcome to Volcano Island, a charming gem nestled in Hayward, California, that has quickly become a must-visit destination for lovers of Korean cuisine, particularly its mouthwatering fried chicken. Located at 2619 Oliver Dr, this take-out only restaurant specializes in Korean chicken wings, offering a delightful range of flavors that promise to satisfy your cravings.
At Volcano Island, the star of the show is undoubtedly the Korean Fried Wings. Customers rave about the quality and size of these wings, available in Korean Spicy and Soy Garlic options. Each order is freshly prepared and fried to perfection, resulting in a crispy exterior that holds in the juicy flavors. Its signature spicy sauce balances sweetness with just the right kick, while the soy garlic version offers a savory, umami-rich experience that keeps you coming back for more.
But the culinary delights don’t stop at the wings. The menu also features impressive Korean dishes such as:
- Bibimbap – A nutritious bowl packed with beef, vegetables, and a fried egg atop steamed rice, all vibrantly mixed with gochujang.
- Kalbi – Tender LA cut short ribs marinated in a savory sauce.
- Bulgogi – High-quality rib-eye beef marinated in Volcano Island's special sauce, offering a burst of flavors.
- Japchae – Stir-fried clear noodles with beef and an assortment of vegetables.
- Ddukbokki – A beloved Korean street food featuring sweet and spicy rice cakes.
Many patrons have shared their experiences about the friendly service and the dedication to quality at Volcano Island. Reviewers highlight the casual atmosphere and the convenience of ordering online, making it easy to grab your favorite dishes and enjoy them at home or at one of the few outdoor tables available. The charm of Volcano Island lies not just in its food but in the warm, welcoming vibe that makes each visit feel special.
Volcano Island is more than just a place to eat; it’s a heartfelt homage to authentic Korean flavors. With its affordable prices, generous portions, and a menu that captures the essence of Korean comfort food, it’s no surprise that locals and food enthusiasts alike are singing its praises. Whether you’re stopping by for takeout or placing an order in advance, Volcano Island promises an unforgettable culinary experience that will ignite your taste buds.
So, whether you’re a long-time fan of Korean cuisine or someone looking to try something new, make sure to visit Volcano Island. Indulge in their iconic fried chicken and soak in the flavors of Korea right in your neighborhood! Don’t forget to try their delectable side dishes—but remember, this delightful eatery only offers takeout, so plan accordingly for your taste adventure!
First time ordering to go at this place after trying their chicken at a work potluck over a year ago that really blew my mind. The service was really friendly, the guy at the register even brought my order out to my car when I was waiting. Ate the chicken about 25mins later and it was still crispy and warm. There's only 3 flavors to choose from, I got original and soy garlic. I would go back to try the spicy. The pieces weren't small either, very decently sized. Also got the tteobokki which I thought was good but the chicken is definitely the highlight. Great grab and go, no dine in. Definitely would recommend this place for Korean fried chicken craving!
Love their wings here! I always order in advance. You can order online just to make the experience, faster and easier. We have been coming here for years. The food just feels like comfort food here. The place is fairly small and only has outdoor seating so hence why we always order and pick up and just enjoy at home
As a Korean, I am super impressed by the quality of the food here. The food is always so fresh and the prices are not overpriced like many other Korean restaurants. We always get the bibimpap, kimpab, & got the fried chicken which was super crispy and fresh, Considered a "hole in the wall" gem for authentic Korean eats. A family fave and definitely a must try!
Extremely solid spot for Korean fried Chicken! This place looked to be a take out only place but I can guarantee that all the chicken was as fresh and made to order as can be. I ordered online but there is an online ordering option. Even with several orders ahead of me, I only had to wait around 12 minutes which isn't too bad! The chicken came out piping hot. I got the Korean spicy, which was a sweet and saucy wing with a very mild kick to it. This flavor was my favorite of the 3 that I tried. I also had the soy garlic, you can never go wrong with soy garlic. A sweet glaze that would keep you wanting more. Lastly, the original. A no-saucy wing with the fry on the batter being near perfection. I'm definitely coming back here next time!
Such a hidden gem for Korean bunsik items: tteokbbokki, kimbap, and Korean fried chicken. I love that they do a boneless of the Korean chili large fried chicken. It comes with a side of radishes and makes it more authentic. Definitely call ahead to place your order ahead of time. There is no seating except some tables outside, so I highly recommend taking it back somewhere else to eat. My go to orders are: kimbap, japchae, tteokkbbokki, & large fried chicken with 1/2 soy garlic / 1/2 korean chili.
Ordered online and yes no inside seating, but a couple of tables & chairs outside. My order was ready when I got there. Young man was nice enough. First time at this place, but I was really craving fried chicken. My usual place doesn't open until 4:30pm, but this place was ok. I ordered the original & soy garlic chicken along with regular fries and sweet potato fries. The original chicken was, but there's an after taste. I'm thinking the soy garlic order is the same, but just tossed in the soy garlic sauce. If it is then I prefer the soy garlic fried chicken cause you can't taste the after taste. Kinda pricey, but i think it's about norm for this kind of place. Id go there again.
A tiny Korean restaurant nestled in a corner of a small shopping center in the middle of a neighborhood. I wouldn't have found this without the recommendation from Yelp. I'm so happy I did and they serve vegetarian meals. It's not on their menu, you just have to ask and request. I ordered online and my order was ready when I arrived. It's a small take out place. There are a couple of tables just outside w/ umbrellas if you want to dine in. I ordered the veggie kimbap and the korean donut. The kimbap was delish and I didn't know what to expect w/ the Korean donut but it was really good. Very happy w/ my meal and very happy I found a Korean restaurant next to my office.
I was craving for kimbap and a friend of mine recommended this place so decided to check it out. They have 3 different flavors of kimbap: spam, veggie, and bulgogi. All were good and great size. These are not your small little bite size, these are actually quite filling. I think I ordered few times because it was so good. Their chicken wings are good size too and had your basic flavors: Korean spicy & soy garlic. Both were great but soy garlic is my favorite. I kept seeing everyone got the cabbage salad so decided to try that and man I can see why. The cabbage was very fresh and refreshing. The dressing they used was perfect and not too overpowering. I can see why it was so poplar. Service was great. The estimated timing was on point and there's waiting area in the front too. I like to walk around and checking out other stores/ restaurants since I haven't been in that plaza or neighborhood before. Definitely hidden gem. There are couple small tables outside for people who wants to eat right away, did that once with my friends and it was nice. Otherwise, this is mainly take out spot.
Volcano Island seems like a hole-in-the-wall, but it offers some incredibly tasty Korean fried chicken. It's located in a small plaza and is completely unassuming from the outside, but the food was fantastic. We placed our order on a Friday evening and was able to have it ready within 20 minutes. We ordered the Korean Spicy and Soy Garlic Wings, Japchae, and Sweet Potato Fries. The portions were pretty generous; for 5 people, we had 20 wings total, were able to comfortably split the japchae and fries, and had a few wings leftover. The flavors for everything were fantastic. The wings were cooked perfectly--the chicken was moist, and the outside was nice and crunchy. I also liked both sauces a lot, and they didn't skimp on the flavor; the Soy Garlic has more of that umami vibe, while the Korean Spicy was similar to gochujang. The japchae was a little more oily and had less meat than I would've liked, but it was still a tasty addition. The fries were super yummy; they cost $7 but came in such a huge portion that we were content. The employee was very kind, and you can tell that it's a family-owned spot which I love to support. One thing to note is that it is to-go only. There also isn't a lot of space inside the store, so I would order online ahead so that there's a quick pick-up. Overall, I recommend checking this place out! I'll probably be back the next time I'm in Hayward.
My daughter discovered this place, almost in the middle of nowhere. A business we can call a "parachute" store, dropped in the middle of a neighborhood. Quality/Quantity - Korean Fried Wings 16pcs - My favorite and my daughter even let me get it in my preferred flavor, Korean Spicy Sauce. Oh by the way, the wings were of good sizes! As they should be for the price, LOL. Boneless Fried Chicken 1lb, Soy Garlic - Her favorite. I really think that she just wants to eat with a fork and not get her hands dirty, lol. Chicken is double fried and made fresh. Small menu, done well. Well you have to figure out a way to keep your fried chicken crispy while traveling, especially since you are a take-out only business. The chicken was mildly crispy when we got back to the house and lukewarm. And we only live 2 cities away, less than 20 minutes. Atmosphere - Small local take-out business in a residential neighborhood. In a small strip mall. Plenty of parking, as most businesses were closed. Really dark, the mall lights were turned off...? I thought they were closed when I pulled into the parking lot. Can I suggest fixing, turning on, or installing outside lights...? See picture. Service - Okay. The owners did not talk much. They did let me use their bathroom in the back, thank you. Price - $47, expensive for what we got. I think that it would have been worth it if I was able to eat it fresh. I can tell that it would have been really good! Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2019. Can I suggest some outside lighting and figuring out how to keep your chicken crispy for take-out?