Craving Puerto Rican comfort food in the East Bay? La Perla brings Boricua cooking to Castro Valley, California, with mofongo, empanadillas, arroz con gandules, and other island favorites. You’ll find the family restaurant on the mezzanine inside Castro Valley Marketplace, a stop worth knowing about if you’re looking for Puerto Rican food in Northern California.
Longtime customers may remember La Perla from Oakland, but its current home is in Castro Valley. Behind the food is Chef José “Cheo” Ortiz, whose journey connects Levittown, Puerto Rico, an Oakland convenience-store kitchen, and a family business that has even cooked for Warriors playoff crowds.
Quick Info
Address / Phone Number
Inside Castro Valley Marketplace, on the mezzanine
Map
Online
- Website: laperlacastrovalley.com
- Marketplace directory: La Perla at Castro Valley Marketplace
- Menu / Online ordering: La Perla Castro Valley on Toast
- Yelp: La Perla Castro Valley
- Facebook: La Perla – Puerto Rican Cuisine
- Instagram: @laperlapuertoricancuisine
Hours
Hours may change. Please check with the business for current hours and holiday schedules before visiting.
Confirm your visit before heading out. La Perla’s online schedules do not all agree: the Marketplace directory and online ordering page show different availability, and ordering cutoffs are not necessarily dining hours. Check the restaurant’s website or Google business listing, then call (510) 274-5160 to confirm your planned day and time. We are not publishing a fixed weekly schedule while those listings conflict.
From Levittown to the East Bay
Chef José “Cheo” Ortiz comes from Levittown, Puerto Rico, according to Eater’s 2019 profile of La Perla. The restaurant’s name honors La Perla, the neighborhood outside Old San Juan’s walls. Its early home was much closer to an everyday corner-store stop: a small kitchen inside Oakland’s Two Star Market on MacArthur Boulevard, where Cheo and his family served Puerto Rican dishes to customers looking for a taste of home.
The business later grew into its own Oakland restaurant. In a 2021 interview with Eater, Cheo’s son Gabriel explained that the new Fruitvale Avenue space was the same former Subway where the family had met with the market owners to discuss taking over the original kitchen. Today, La Perla continues that family-food tradition from its Castro Valley Marketplace location.
Puerto Rican Food for Warriors Playoff Crowds
La Perla’s food has reached beyond its restaurant counter. Eater reported in 2019 that Warriors executive chef Marcos Mendoza, already a regular customer, helped the family get an audition at Oracle Arena. La Perla went on to prepare more than 1,000 empanadillas for VIP guests during the first round of the playoffs. The same report named Ayesha Curry among the family’s new fans.
A Longtime Connection to the Community
Cheo’s community ties also extend beyond cooking. In a 2024 KTVU interview about the move to Castro Valley, the station reported that he had worked with Oakland youth for three decades and advocated for Latino residents and business owners. La Perla also partnered with World Central Kitchen during the pandemic; Gabriel told Eater in 2021 that the restaurant had prepared 800 to 1,000 meals a week for people in need during the previous summer and fall.
Puerto Rican Favorites in Castro Valley
The current Toast menu lists mofongo with options such as chicharrón de pollo, pollo encebollado, shrimp in Creole sauce, and vegetables. You’ll also find beef, chicken, and veggie empanadillas, along with tostones, maduros, yuca frita, and arroz con gandules.
Looking for pernil? The online menu labels its slow-roasted pork shoulder dishes as Saturday only, so check availability before making a special trip. Drinks listed include Coco Rico, Kola Champagne, and Malta India. Menu items and availability can change.
Community Spotlight
Here’s what members of the CaliRicans community shared about La Perla on our Facebook page.
So delicious. The owner Cheo is such a great and humble man!
The Sopa de Cameron’s and Pasteles most excellent.
CaliRicans community comment on Facebook
Photo credit: Linda C. on Yelp, uploaded May 30, 2025. Original caption: “Inside, at the register to order.”
Have You Visited La Perla?
We’d love to hear about your experience! Share your favorite menu item, recommendations for first-time visitors, or any helpful tips in the comments below. Together, we can help others discover and support Puerto Rican food businesses across California.
📸 Have photos from your visit? Tag @CaliRicans on Facebook, Instagram, X, or Threads for a chance to be featured on our social media pages and restaurant highlights. Your photos help us celebrate Puerto Rican food and the amazing businesses that keep our culture thriving in California. 🇵🇷🍽️
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