La Imperial (restaurant)
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La Imperial is a Mexican restaurant in Northern California. Its address is 948 "C" Street Hayward, California. It was rated by New West Magazine as the Best Mexican Cuisine in northern California. Opinions very from those who like adventure and those who need everything sterile. For 30 years this one time Mexican grocery store has become a Hayward historical landmark. The clientele consist of street people that can barely afford a meal; to east bay executives bringing their board of directors out for authentic Mexican food. It's not uncommon to see Bay Area celebrities dining at "La" on a routine basis.
The Restaurant was once a neighborhood Mexican grocery store. "Mama" gained a reputation for her tamales by the dozen. After a while, they brought in some chairs in the back of the store for patrons to sit and eat part of their order before they left. In the early 70s the store converted the back of the restaurant into a cafe. The original menu was written on butcher paper and taped to the back wall. The authenticity of this quaint establishment spread throughout the east bay and by the mid 70's, Friday and Saturday nights would see a line out the front door and down the block. Because of its success, the remaining store in the front was gutted and replaced with more tables.
Stories of Health Department violations are true, but corrections were made that satisfied the state.
The ambiance has changed 3 times. In the beginning it was just a grocery store with just the menu on the wall. After becoming a serious restaurant, the decor consisted of black velvet paintings (for sale) on the walls that ranged from "The Jungle Tiger" to "Jimi Hendrix" and "Bruce Lee". It was all part of the mystique. In the 90's the Black Velvet paintings were all sold and replaced by a solid mural from front to back on both walls and is still there today for your viewing. The only remnants of the grocery store are the piñatas hanging in the front of the restaurant.
La Imperial has been known for having the cheapest priced menu in Hayward as well as being one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in northern California.
Today the same menu is being offered that was offered 30 years ago. The quality of the food is also still the same. The waiters offer free entertainment while you wait for your meal. The Jukebox has the same records in it from the late 60's. (in both English and Spanish) And a television on top of the beer cooler offers classic Bruce Lee movies and DVDs.
