If in Fremont... (or Things to Do in Fremont, CA)

Central Park with Mission Peak in the distance

Having grown up in Fremont, I have an impassioned love/hate relationship with my hometown, my budding ground. It’s an absolutely quintessential California suburb—a car-centric conglomeration of strip malls, slew of corporate chain businesses and a city laid out in an unimaginative straight grid bereft of a downtown area for communal gathering. Sure, it’s the fourth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, but when Fremont’s main bragging point is being ranked the third safest American city with a population over 200,000 in 2015, it’s not a surprise to know that there’s little reason—if any—to ever visit our ho-hum town.

That said, in a town as geographically expansive as Fremont, there is some beauty to be seen. (Fremont ranks #132 in terms of American cities by land area.) To boot, Fremont is one of the most diverse cities in Alameda County, which is one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the United States. Its yummy variety of restaurants and cuisines is a testament to that.

So let’s start there—with independent restaurants and food joints to check out if you ever find yourself in Fremont.


To Eat:

my I'm-About-to-Eat-a-Super-Burrito Dance,
2009, with my pop

For savory tacos and a crack at their foot-plus-long Super Burrito, Ofelia’s Taqueria Truck in the Irvington District should not be missed. (I've been eating from this trocka since I was in my early twenties. By now, I probably have their burritos in my DNA.) It’s ideal to take home or to eat in your vehicle in the parking lot.

For pizza, my favorite place in Fremont is Bronco Billy’s Pizza Palace in Niles. In terms of taste and ambiance, this location with its eclectic décor is superior to the one off of Blacow and Grimmer. In my most humble opinion, dinner slices at Bronco Billy’s is a righteous complement to catching a silent film at the Niles Silent Film Museum a few blocks away. (More on the silent film theater later.)

My favorite restaurant in Fremont is Sala Thai 1 on State Street. Although I’m not a Thai food connoisseur, I have been to many excellent Thai restaurants throughout the Bay Area and this location holds its own with the best I’ve tried.

Between Five Guys, In-N-Out Burger and Nation’s Giant Burgers, Fremont has no shortage of outstanding corporate burger chains, but if you want something unique and local, check out Mission Burger, a shack near Mission San Jose. Try their teriyaki burger!—it’s what my tummy craves when the words “mission” and “burger” are put together. If you’re a meat-eater, Mission Burger is an excellent companion to a beer-guzzling visit to California Craft Beer or a gnarly hike at nearby Mission Peak. Bob’s Giant Burgers on Fremont Boulevard is exactly as advertised and a stone’s throw from the Cloverleaf Family Bowl, our outstanding bowling alley since 1963.

Besides whites, Fremont’s largest ethnic group are Indians. Thusly, Fremont has a plethora of Indian restaurants. My two favorites are Taj-e Chaat on Fremont Boulevard, which serves an assortment of items including wraps. Their chicken tikka wrap is basically a curry burrito. Sweet baby Jesus.

Lamb Boti Wrap, Taj-e Chaat

My other favorite Indian-food establishment is Pizza & Curry on the southernmost end of Blacow Road. Their Indian-inspired pizzas are truly Fremontian—and they’re reasonably priced and fucking delicious.

For traditional American breakfast fare, Dino’s Family Restaurant off of Thornton Avenue is dinomite! The Country Way off of 880 provides generous portions but I feel like the food at Dino’s is a bit more flavorful—and the ambiance is a little less oppressive. They may have a wait on weekends but it’s worthwhile. (Baldie’s Café in Union City is hands down the best breakfast joint in the Tri-Cities area, but I’m trying to focus on Fremont locales for this post.)

For dim sum, B K’s Bistro off of Stevenson is yummy with a vibrant atmosphere. If you’re craving Afghan food in the neighborhood affectionately known as “Little Kabul”—home to the largest population of Afghan Americans in the United States—Salang Pass Restaurant is a place that should not be missed. (If you want to get hella meta, pick up a copy of Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling novel, The Kite Runner and read it while eating from any of the many Afghan joints in Fremont, where part of the novel takes place.)


If the doldrums of suburbia are getting to you, fear not, there are some watering holes around for respite.

For Drinks:

flights of beer! - California Craft Beer

If your stomach turns at the notion of willingly drinking shit beer like Budweiser (a.k.a. Buttwiper) or Steel Reserve, California Craft Beer near Mission San Jose is your oasis within Fremont. They have a rotating assortment of California-based craft beers on tap. If you’re looking for some good brews you won’t find at your local supermarket or liquor store in or near Fremont, there’s a good chance they stock it here. California Craft Beer isn’t a standard bar but it’s a casual place to drink quality beer. To boot, they allow outside food and they do have televisions in case you want to catch a sporting event with fellow beer guzzlers.

Sadly, present-day Fremont is a city teeming with restaurant bars like Claim Jumper, Elephant Bar and Chili’s that aren’t quite bars. This is sad to me because back in the day, Fremont used to be home to some god-awful dive bars. I have written at length about these establishments before, but thankfully, the Mojo Lounge off of Peralta has not gone extinct like its peers. If I had out-of-town visitors and they insisted on going to a real bar in Fremont, Mojo Lounge would be my destination.

Jack’s Brewing Company at the Fremont Hub is a solid restaurant brewery. Their food is solid but nothing to write home about but their seasonal brews can hit the spot. (Congratulate me on using two idioms within one sentence!)

And finally, for a true taste of Fremont, The Huddle off of Mowry Avenue should not be missed. Dear god, this joint, teeming with classic 49er and Raiders memorabilia is a genuine shithole—and I say that with affection. If you’re under 35 you will likely feel like a young colt among the hapless regulars who make this bar a second home. I love this place because it is a certifiable dive bar. (And fuck Coach’s and Kirby’s and youngsters who classify such Fremont bars as a "dive." To me, a true dive bar is a place where you physically fear for your well-being once you set foot inside, not some trashy locale with pisspoor music blasted at a ridiculously loud and unnecessary level.) From time to time, a garage band of suburban dads or a passing troupe of fledgling musicians will play live music. Good or bad—and it can be either—that’s a plus in my book since its Fremont we’re talking about here.

Check Out!:

view atop Mission Peak

If you love stepping away from television sets and endless streams of suburban pavement, Mission Peak is a must. Making it to the top of Mission Peak is a feat; I’m no bearded Mountain Man, but it’s the heartiest and strenuous hike I’ve completed here in the Bay Area. (I see you, Mount Tam!) Oddly enough, during the day, the panoramic view from the top isn’t all that, in my humble opinion. (The vicinity is suburban sprawl—not exactly breathtaking visual material.) During early spring, though, when the hills are a verdant green, the hike up to the peak is gorgeous.

Similarly, Quarry Lakes is a delight for the senses. Whether walking or cycling, the park is a beautiful reprieve no matter the season. During summer, it can be a neat place to take a dip, have a picnic, or go fishing.

Quarry Lakes Regional Park

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum and Edison Theater is a Fremont institution, a homage to Charlie Chaplin and the silent flicks filmed in Niles in the early 20th century. Their popcorn is lackluster but their programming has no equal in the entire San Francisco Bay Area. If you want to see silent films screened on the big screen, this is the place. But beware: film nerdery is strong within its walls; be prepared for an overly long, drawn-the-fuck-out introductory monologue before the film screens.

If you’re in the mood for physical play, head on over to the Cloverleaf Family Bowl on Grimmer Boulevard! It’s a classic bowling alley with 44 lanes. Saturday nights they have karaoke at their lounge.

And finally, Central Park off of Paseo Padre Parkway is the closest Fremont has to a communal area. Named after the city’s sister city, Elizabeth, Australia, Lake Elizabeth has paved trails around its tranquil waters. In the distance, Mission Peak and the hills make a postcard-worthy backdrop. The lake is great for all manner of recreation—walking, jogging, rollerblading, Frisbee-throwing, soccer-ball-kicking; crab-grass-lounging, daytime-drinking—but not so much for cycling. A water park and skate park are located at the southern end. A modest yet delightful dog park for big dogs and teeny pups is located near the Fremont Main Library.


What did I miss? Please let me know in the comments!

If you want more info on traveling in Fremont, check out http://wikitravel.org/en/Fremont