Naked Lunch

Naked Lunch, located in North Beach of San Francisco, features a very limited yet satisfying lunch. For lunch, the prices can be steep, but the food is quite extraordinary and rich. Naked Lunch serve French quality sandwiches and soups. I am a big fan of the Fried Chicken sandwich, consisting of garlic aioli and creamy cole slaw. If you like added flavoThe chicken is moist and full of flavor. I've always heard of positive reviews of the duck prosciutto sandwich with black truffle salt. Although the price of the sandwich isn't as appealing ($16) if you love duck then you won't be disappointed with the quality. They also feature one vegeterian sandwich, which although I haven't tried normally sounds as fantastic. Last time, I was blessed with the opportunity of trying the butternut squash soup with creme fraiche. I enjoyed it immensely with its bold flavor. Naked Lunch is an ideal place to take people to try at least once in their life a casual yet classy lunch.

Yelp Review
504 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133

Never Too Latte

Like the cafe's name, this place is full of cute charms. First of all, the atmosphere is very relaxing and quaint. It's not ideal for noisy and rambunctious groups as many people come here to study with their laptops and books. However, it is quite welcoming for small groups having softer conversations. I can imagine laughing quite loudly and catching other customers' attention. This place is ideal even for families whose children can be entertained with a few board games and toys. The quality of the food is fair and simple, nothing too extravagant. I am a huge fan of their sippy lids that slide for closure, making it convenient for someone like me who tends to spill a portion of my drink by walking around. Although, nowadays, you can find these lids in a few other cafes, I still appreciate the convenience. Some comments on the food, if you like warm milk tea with cinnamon spices, then the NTL pulled milk tea can easily satisfy such cravings. The green tea latte is fairly light, which I wish was a bit more richer. Overall, their coffee beverages are great. I've tried a few of the dessert items including their crepe which was enjoyable. I can't speak much of the rest of the menu, but this place is definitely above average. Prices for the food items are standard, with drinks ranging from $2-$4 and food items $2-$8. I do like the intimate and friendy interaction between the workers and customers, mirroring a home-like feel.

Yelp Review
486 San Mateo Ave
San Bruno, CA 94066

Joanie's Cafe

I have an unconditional love towards brunch, so I have a tendency to praise places that serve good quality breakfast and brunch meals. Joanie's Cafe definitely makes the top list for my affair with brunch places. Like Sunny Side Cafe, La Note, Fat Apples, and Venus in Berkeley/Solano Avenue, Joanie's is a quiant little shop in Palo Alto (near Stanford University) with lots of charm. I love the vintage-style art hung on the walls and small novelty items displayed on the counter. Breakfast and lunch items are served till 2 pm and the restaurant re-opens for dinner at 5 pm. I unfortunately have not tried the dinner, but I heard the food is as amazing as breakfast. The store is small and cozy, utilizing all amounts of space for a well-packed venue. Luckily when I came, there wasn't a long wait, but I can imagine on the weekends during the busiest hours people waiting for seats. The prices are moderate, around $1o an entree.


Dishes are filling; I especially enjoyed my omelet of feta, spinach, tomatoes and bacon. Another dish I tried was the home fries favorite mixed with bell peppers, onions, eggs, ham, and cheese which was delicious. I must say my favorite side, if given the choice to order, is their hash browns. Perfectly crisped with a softness that mirrors mash potatoes, I can can easily state that Joanie's serves the best hash browns I've ever had. If I come back again, I'll definitely try the hash browns and perhaps get the salmon crepe, which I am hoping is thin and crisp as well. A friend who went with me to brunch ordered the hot chocolate and said the one at La Note in Berkeley is richer. I've had the mocha in La Note and loved the taste as well as the big soup cup that contained the beverage. Overall, from what I can tell from looking at people's tables was that the food at Joanie's is solid and satisfying.

447 S California Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Yelp Review

Tai Wu (Mr. Fong's)

Tai Wu, located in the foggy hills of Callan Blvd in Daly City, is among a string of Asian shops. I remember coming here at a very young age during the restaurant's grand opening. As a child, I received a complimentary paper dragon to play with, but more importantly, I enjoyed fresh quality seafood. As one of the few Chinese restaurants in Daly City, Tai Wu is the best second choice for good quality dim sum after Koi Palace. Prices for the dishes are more affordable and the quanity of food is reasonable. For a small, you can get 4 pieces of shrimp dumpling (har gau) and 4 pieces of shu mai. Some places I believe would only give three pieces, causing my family of four to fight over who gets a piece. The wait is much more tolerable. The dining area is well-kept and clean, and the service is decent with attentive waiters and waitresses. The selection of dishes are typical for dim sum and seafood-oriented entrees. For the quality of seafood, I have to give Tai Wu a high rating because I find it particularly hard to appreciate good seafood.

950 King Dr
Daly City, CA 94015
Yelp Review

Chick O'Peas

Chick O' Peas is a cute little shop close to downtown Berkeley/Gourmet Ghetto. Tucked away in a little alley, this place can be easily overlooked. Venturing unexplored territory in Berkeley can bring many pleasant surprises. I unfortunately have not tried their falafels, which is their main dish. I did, however, tried their fries and I was blown away. Their fries are thin, shoestrings and made perfectly right. They also feature several flavors topped and mixed with their fries. I tried both the pesto and wasabi fries, and were both delectable. I was especially pleased with the wasabi fries, which were moderate and not too spicy. If I'm ever around Berkeley, I would go back and try their falafels. The place isn't too crowded, and able to accomodate 4-5 groups of people and prices were fair.

1926 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94704
Yelp Review

SO

SO is a Chinese fusion restaurant, serving some interesting selection of modern Chinese style food. I can see why it's a fusion restaurant as it reminds me of Americanized-Chinese food with some retaining Asian influence. What is so special about this place is the types of dishes they serve. I normally prefer steamed dumplings, but the fried dumplings are quite filling and appetizing. If you like spicy chicken wings, then SO is a great place to get sweet, tangy wings for a reasonable price (the wings are quite large as well). One other dish I love is the seafood peanut noodle. For those who enjoy Asian peanut drinks/soups would be satisfied with this entree, rich in peanut flavor and seafood. Other notable and unique dishes include cherry chicken, fried mushrooms, and the sauteed string beans. Prices for the dishes are quite cheap for the amount of food you get ($5-$12). Located among many businesses in downtown San Francisco, this place seems ideal for quick to-go and for delivery orders. I mean, who can bargain with good prices and tasty food at a location in a busy city.


Yelp Review
1010 Bryant St
San Francisco, CA 94103

South Sea Seafood Village

South Sea Seafood Village (I feel the name is a bit redundant, but I guess that's the Chinese way of naming) is a high-class Asian restaurant. By its name, it's no wonder they specialize in seafood, with nice hearty portions. I went with my family recently and for a group of four, we got 3 dishes (the eggplant with garlic sauce and pork, fujian fried rice, and the south sea seafood village special pan fried noodle). The dishes were filling, enough for us to take home leftovers. The quality of the food is pretty good and authentic. I prefer getting their seafood because they prepare them well. Lunch hours feature traditional dim sum, not a great variety but what you would typically find at a dim sum shop. The prices are $2.30 (S), $2.80 (M), $3.80 (L), and $5.00 (CS). I've had their dim sum once before and believe it's pretty decent for the price you pay. I wouldn't compare it to the quality of dim sum at Koi Palace, but it's definitely a good alternative.


Some things to take notice before placing your orders. If you're the stingy type who prefers not to pay extra for tea and/or rice, then make note of the fees. As of now, the fees for tea depends on the type of tea you request, which range from $1-$3 per person. Rice is also charged $0.50 per person, which in essence I find to be necessary to have unless I am eating noodles or fried rice (since there's rice anyways).

The atmosphere of the restaurant is quite roomy and grand, with its rich red decor and lucky Chinese artifacts. It's a nice setting for formal family outtings, dates, and holding big events such as a birthday party, anniversary, or wedding. I haven't tried the Millbrae branch (formerly was Fook Yuen), which opened recently, but I shall in a few weeks for my cousin's wedding reception.

1420 Irving St
San Francisco, CA 94122
Yelp Review

Onyx Milk Tea

I have a personal story with how I came across Onyx. A couple years ago, I met a guy at my friend's birthday party. He was a student, like me, at the University of California, Berkeley in HAAS School of Business. At the time, he wasn't entirely sure what he had planned, but opening up a shop was one of his ideas. A year later, I receive a facebook invitation from him to the grand opening of his own tapioca place. To my surprise, it has been opened for at least a year and the business has been quite successful. I honestly didn't go during the shop's grand opening, for I was still around Berkeley and the tapioca place was in my hometown across the Bay Bridge, but I finally got to try it a few months ago while running errands at oriental market which is located in the same plaza as Onyx. As of now, I've been here a few times, getting standard milk tea and recently trying the lavender milk tea. From my experience, the quality of the drinks are good, filled with flavor. The only complaint I have is the sweetness of the milk tea can be overpowering. I have not tried anything else other than their milk teas, but they have a variety of Asian snacks such as popcorn chicken. Interestngly, they serve an item called fried oreos. The prices are around $2.50-$3.50 for drinks, and snacks can go well up to $5. It is also important to note that this place only accepts cash.

The decor has a nice, lively vibe, with great choice in colors. I adore the beanbag cushions and the soft red couch, which are obviously popular and usually the first taken seats. Independently, this place has charm, but with the market next door along with some other reputable restaurants, I wouldn't be surprised that this place has some good business. So to that guy I met a couple years ago, fantastic job and hope for continual success.

Yelp Review
950 King Dr
Ste 106
Daly City, CA 94015

Claim Jumper

For all of you who enjoy hardcore American cuisines, Claim Jumper will satisfy your rich needs. Claim Jumper is a American chain, like Chili's, TGIF, BJ's Brewery, except for the fact that the portions are extremely generous. One of the promising traits that we Americans have is plentiful food.


Claim Jumper has an eclectic menu, ranging from burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, steaks, and other fusion entrees featuring chicken or fish. I was relatively content with my filet mignon, and the pricing is standard (about $30). In comparison to steakhouses, I think the quality isn't as great, but it's satisfying. Considering the fact that this place serves more than just steak (ribs, tri-tip, lobster tails, and more), I wouldn't give them a lower rate based on their steak. When I went with my family, we tried each others' entrees and thought overall the quality of the food was a little bit heavy, but enjoyable. The steak entrees come with two side choices that were also quite remarkable; I especially love the cheese potatocakes, which reminds me of cheesy mash potato nicely formed and shaped. If you come here with a big group, I recommend getting some appetizers, which alone can fill you up that you'll find trouble finishing your main entree. Some appetizer highlights include crispy shrimp taquitos, garlic cheese toast, chicken tenderloin, and parmesan zucchini spears. Since there are many choices, the appetizer combination features a majority of the popular dishes for $20. Although the price seems extremely expensive, you get a great amount of food to share and split with others. Because of this filling meal, I wasn't able to get dessert, but looking at the menu I could have gone for one. Besides steak, pricing for most entrees range between $9-$16.


The ambiance here is nice and the service is extremely friendly and enthusiastic. The wait was comparable to typical American family restaurants like Elephant Bar and BJ's Brewery (around half an hour). It helps that this place is huge, being able to accomodate a great number of parties at a time.

Yelp Review
43330 Pacific Commons Blvd
Fremont, CA 94536

Sprinkles

I love cupcakes. People who know me can easily vouch that statement. When I was little, I was never a huge fan of cupcakes until I tried what I'd like to distinguish as "gourmet cupcakes." My past experiences with cupcakes are the Safeway store-bought bakery ones, which tend to run dry, slabbed with thick icing/cream, and just wasn't appetizing all together. I was stuck eating such cupcakes as an elementary school kid since it was cheap, affordable and honestly, I didn't know any better. It wasn't until I became older and more mature, having adventures around San Francisco with family and friends that I discovered the true potential of cupcakes.

Sprinkles serves pretty little cupcakes at gourmet cupcake prices ($2.50-$3). I love the variety of cupcakes listed on their menu, interesting flavors both unique and traditional. Sprinkles, in my opinion, sells standard gourmet cupcakes compared to Love at First Bite and Cupkates

Perhaps it's the Northern California chain in Palo Alto, or the fact that I tried a simple chocolate cupcake, which wasn't anything spectacular. Perhaps, if I had tried one of their unique flavors, I would think more highly of Sprinkles. Based on what other people told me, Sprinkles has a high reputation, and many people love their cupcakes. Overall, decent cupcakes at reasonable prices for a good sweet treat.

Sprinkles Cupcakes

Gypsy's

Although Gypsy's isn't exactly a fine, elegant restaurant serving delectable Italian cuisine, it easily touches many hearts and satisfies customers' tongues. Gypsy's serves traditional, simple pastas as well as specialty pasta with names such as the Godfather's Favorite or the Bronx Tale. All pastas are served with garlic bread, which I adore since it's not simply a garlic spread but rather roasted garlic pieces on toasted bread. Besides their pastas, they serve satisfying sandwiches and pizza. Gypsy's is also popular for their huge, football-shaped calzones, well-stuffed and delicious. Prices are suited for college students with a minimum of $7 and no more than $15 a meal (unless one is extremely hungry). Situated in what was formerly known as Asian Ghetto, this area tends to get busy throughout the day, with many people crowding the cramped shop. Though seating is limited, to-go is always a viable option. All-in-all, it's one of the few hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Berkeley that I tend to take visiting friends and relatives mainly because it's good, cheap food and reflects the Berkeley community well.

2519 Durant Ave
Suite A
Berkeley, CA 94704
Yelp Review

Palace BBQ

Who can ever say no to All-You-Can-Eat Korean BBQ (besides vegetarians)? If you're a meat lover, this is the way to go. Along with grilling your own meat at a hot grill, there are a few trays of noodles, rice, vegetables, and meat dishes. They also feature a salad and fruit bar and serve three-four different kinds of soups. The choices are variable, but they normally have the general appetizers such as kimchi and pickled garlic. The meat, especially the kalbi and spicy pork, were superb and one of the finer qualities you can find in the Bay Area. The meats were well-tenderized and juicy (especially the pork belly bacon).

The rates for weekdays are $14.99 and$ 18.99 (lunch and dinner), and the weekend rates are $17.99 and $19.99). Depending on the amount of meat one intends on consuming, one can get a great deal when stocking up on plates and plates of meat. Like most grill-your-own BBQ places, this place will leave you with a strong odor of smoke and barbeque. So, I highly recommend you wear clothes you can easily wash or don't mind giving a faint odor.

1092 E El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Yelp Review

Tong Palace

Tong Palace sells acceptable dim sum, overfilled with meat and seafood. Most of their dim sum dishes are bigger than most other places. The quality is not comparable with Koi Palace, located in Daly City, but for the price it's definitely worth it. The dim sum is prepared well and tastes more or less authentic. The taste of the food, however, is quite bland. Normally, I'd like to reduce my intake of sodium because I'm sensitive to the taste of salt. The fact that I wasn't able to taste much flavor means there wasn't a fair amount of salt. They have a great M-F deal, where all dim sum plates of any size is $1.95, which is quite a bargain. Some dishes I specifically thought were notable include the shrimp-meat wrap with bean curd skin, rice roll wrap with beef (overstuffed), and the egg tarts, which I was surprised was pretty good. My family and I also ordered a regular dish, their seafood pan fried noodle (Hong Kong Style), which was bland but otherwise well-prepared. For a Chinese restaurant, the place is clean and adorn with many cultural designs. The service was fair and there are plenty of tables. I would expect the weekend to be a bit more busy and packed, but for a weekday it was fairly busy during the lunch hour. Parking around the neighborhood can be tough, as many other places in San Francisco. You could spend a good 15-30 minutes just trying to find parking. Overall, Tong Palace serves decent dim sum at fair prices.

933 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94118
Yelp Review

San Tung

I can't believe I never reviewed San Tung since I started the food blog, considering how long and how many times I've been here. San Tung is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants to go to in San Francisco. I've been rather fond of the food here and like everyone else who has tried this place, the dry fried chicken is absolutely delicious. I just went here a few days ago and my friend who sat next to me kept saying delicious and devouring the sweet, tangy sauce that was leftover when all the wings were gone. There are many entrees I enjoy that are spicy and others that are simply sweet.


Some recommendations include the dumplings, black bean noodles, three spicy noodles, and shredded pork with garlic. San Tung can get fairly busy on weekends, so expect to wait some days. Other times, it is easy to get a seat, which tends to be true when you're in smaller groups. San Tung has attracted a good number of loyal customers, which I am not at all surprised about. The staff is tolerable and friendly. Prices for the food are moderate and reasonable, not the cheapest around but definitely not expensive. I highly recommend this place if you want authentic, tasty Chinese food.


Yelp Review
1031 Irving St
San Francisco, CA 94122

Limon Rotisserie

Limon Rotisserie, a classy Peruvian restaurant in San Francisco, specializes in its roasted chicken along with small, traditional entrees. The deals are reasonable, with any chicken combination two side choices are included. The quality of the food, according to many acquainted with Peruvian cuisine, is authentic. Most of my friends, including myself, thought the meat dishes were salty. However, I have recently discovered that the saltiness is a characteristic of the recognized Peruvian chicken.


In San Francisco, Peruvian food is rare to find, and even more rare to find a good quality one. Limon Rotisserie lives up to its expectation of serving well-made food at a price range of $10-$20 for entrees. The small hot and cold plates are also worthy of trying. The beverages were fresh and flavorful. My friend had a mango lemonade, which was overpowering with mango, but it was nice and refreshing. The rest of us had sangria, which tasted great with the tiny pieces of apples. The service wasn't the best or friendliest, but for the most part was tolerable. The place is spacious and the vast windows provide a great view of the streets on sunny days, but it's advisable to make reservations ahead of time, especially in big groups.


Yelp Review
1001 S Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA 94110

Crepe Temptations

Crepe Temptations is a new cafe located on Judah and 30th. The sunset district of San Francisco has always been blessed with great Asian food, including desserts and cafe. I found Crepe Temptations to be comparable to Sophie's Crepes, located in San Francisco Japantown. Crepe Temptations feature a green tea crepe batter, which unfortunately, I cannot speak for since I have not yet tried it yet. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the plain crepe I got with red bean, green tea ice cream, strawberries, and mochi. It was delicious and filling. Since I'm more inclined to get a dessert crepe, I cannot speak for the savory crepes. Whenever I got a savory crepe from Crepes-A-Go-Go in Berkeley, I was never quie satisified with the quality. Nevertheless, Crepe Temptations is a cute shop with ample seating, a place I will likely pay more visits. The service is good and the prices range between $5-$7.

Yelp Review
2575 Judah St
San Francisco, CA 94122

Lou's Cafe

Lou's Cafe is a new deli that opened up in the Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco. After heartbreaking news of Ike's San Francisco location eviction (which at the same time is understandable), I wasn't sure if there was any other sandwich shop that can rival with Ike's. Surprisingly, during the time Ike's eviction was coming to a final decision, Lou's Cafe appeared on the top listings on yelp. Based on the reviews, I was excited to try the special sauce and jalapeno sauce, which reminded me of Little Lucca (located in South San Francisco). I am pleased to say that Lou's Cafe serves extremely tasty and delicious sandwiches. The style of the sandwich reminds me more of Little Lucca than Ike's. Like Little Lucca, Lou's Cafe features a dutch crunch roll that's a little tougher, and the sandwich size is no match for the enormous Lucca sub. The assortment isn't as huge as Little Lucca as well, but they have roughly the same number of specials. So far, I've tried the Roma sandwich (which I'm still uncertain why it's called Roma, considering it's a pesto aioli turkey sandwich) and the LLB special (roast beef, turkey, ham with both sauces on dutch crunch), and they were both succulent and satisfying. The prices are also reasonable, roughly $6-$7 a sandwich, and they have cafe beverages, salads, and soups. Seating is limited, but is nice, clean and cozy. The place isn't crowded, like those long waits for Ike's and Little Lucca, but I'm pretty sure it'll gain more popularity soon. I'm excited to try more of their selections and potentially do a comparison between Lou's Cafe and Little Lucca.


Yelp Review
5017 Geary Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94118

Penguino's

Penguino's, located inside the San Francisco Metreon, is a small food stand with lots of sweet selections. This small stand has a great variety of smoothies, ice cream, and frozen yogurt (both soft and hard). I wouldn't consider it the best in desserts, but I think it serves well for sweet tooth craving. I have yet to try their frozen yogurt, which I am hoping is not too sweet. Featured in the photo is a chocolate smoothie infused with nutella and peanut. It was very rich and tasty, but I can tell it wasn't entirely great for my health. The flavor was just right, but the pricing seems a bit expensive $4-$5 for most items on the menu. Although I'm a bit apathetic towards the place, the desserts aren't that bad.

Yelp Review
101 4th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Joy Sushi

When it comes to unique ingredients and concoctions, I am genuinely impressed. Like past blogs, I tend to enjoy places that have something different, such as a special sauce. With Joy Sushi, it's definitely their special sauce that they pour over and glaze on their sushi rolls. The variety of rolls they have and complementing combination have always satisfied me. I've ordered at least eight different rolls and have never been disappointed with any of them. Recently, I tried the Geisha roll, with fried calamari topped with white tuna and a speck of hot sauce, and I enjoyed it immensely. It's rare for me to find a roll with white tuna, as most rolls are made with either salmon and/or red tuna. Besides their rolls, I also enjoy their entrees. Although whenever I come, I have a tendency of just ordering rolls. The salmon entrees tend to be good; I tend to be apathetic towards the chicken and beef, only because there is nothing truly spectacular about the way it's prepared. I'm not entirely sure of how their katsu is prepared, but based on their other entrees I would assume that it's either standard or really good. The service is wonderful and the staff are extremely friendly. A few years ago, I'd say you should either make a reservation or go a bit early (around 11 am for lunch and 5 pm for dinner). However, the restaurants in this part of San Mateo has grown primarily with Japanese cuisine. Nearly every block on a 5-block radius has at least one Japanese restaurant. That being said, with the competition of other restaurants, the wait at Joy Sushi is no longer an issue. I'm glad to see that Joy Sushi is still around even with all the new Japanese restaurants surrounding it.


Yelp Review
30 S B Street
San Mateo, CA 94401

Koi Palace

My feelings towards Koi Palace is somewhat mixed. Although I find the food superb and worth trying, at the time same time I have this personal angst towards the restaurant. Living less than half a mile away, normally I'd be thrill to have such a restaurant near my house. However, it's rarely possible to get seating right away for dim sum, unless you come a little before opening. Otherwise, the wait can exceed to nearly two hours (especially when groups arrive at 12 and are seated by 1:30). The food is good and the atmosphere and decor of the place is charming. I do love the indoor koi pond with its semi bridge platform (mainly for use of weddings and bigger events). The service is mutual. The staff are not overly friendly, not are they mean. The portions are fair for the price and quality of the food. However, the price of dim sum is higher than most places (small-$3, medium-$5, etc.). I don't mind paying the price only because of the way the food is prepared. It's good quality dim sum, and for a nice gathering or outting it's worth it. If you plan on a more casual outting, then other dim sum places are suitable enough. I highly recommend trying their xiao long bao, which are really juicy. Other notable dishes include shrimp dumpling, shrimp rice roll, crispy tofu skin wrapping, and egg yolk tarts. If you love chicken feet, my friend who tried it told me that it was tasty and delicious. Overall, fantastic and food, fair prices, but wait time can be pretty horrible.


Yelp Review
365 Gellert Blvd
Daly City, CA 94015

Pizza Orgasmica

When I was a teenager, I loved coming to pizza orgasmica. The pizza is always made fresh and the toppings blend extremely well. I've never been disappointed with the quality of their food. My personal favorite is the Serpent's Kiss, which to me is like a Cheeseboard pizza (those of you from Berkeley) except with meat. A lot of my high school friends come here for late night pizza. It's an ideal place for group settings and is also a brewery for those of you who like a drink or two. The portions are fair, not too much nor too little for the price. There are three locations, including one at the Embarcadero Center, which is nice on slightly sunnier days. Living close to the smaller peninsula cities, I often go to the one located on Clement. The service is great and theatmosphere is nice for a casual outting. The third location, in Marina/Cow Hollow, I haven't been to, but I heard that it is comparable to the other shops. As one may tell by the store name, their pizza selection also possess intriguing names. If you love good pizza and don't mind paying a fair sum, I think Pizza Orgasmica is a great choice.

Yelp Review
823 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94118

Fish and Chips -- Half Moon Bay Style

Growing up as a kid, my grandmother loved to go to the fish market in Half Moon Bay. My recollection of these outings have vanished over the years, only trusting my dad's mere words. My dad, like his mom, loved coming here, not only for the food but the scenery. His beloved fish and chips place, once served wrapped in newspaper has moved to a new location, only a few blocks away from the former market. Johnson Pier is a small and quaint marina area in Half Moon Bay. Like my previous entry, this place can be found as you go further on Hwy 1. Princeton Seafood Company sells great quality fish and chips along with other seafood entrees to go and dine-in. The price is standard for fish and chips, but for calamari it's a really cheap deal. Calamari comes with a side of chips for only $5 + tax, which is one of the lowest prices I've seen for good-quality calamari. Although it hasn't completely won my heart, like the calamari I had in Boston, it's definitely a good resort to satisfy my calamari craving. Since Johnson Pier isn't a top tourish site, most of the people here are local and thus it's not too busy throughout the day. It's nice to come here and enjoy some seafood and take a cool breezy walk along the marina.


9 Johnson Pier
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Yelp Review

Gorilla BBQ

Featured on the food network, this trailer is full of good heavy BBQ. I've been to this place a couple of times, and has always been satisfied. The meat is cooked extremely well, where the ribs fall off the bone and the sauce is an interesting and unique BBQ blend. Off of Highway 1, this place is situated among other small trailer-like eateries, giving it an interesting road charm. Lines can be long, even before opening, and orders are made fresh. So, depending on how many customers come by, closing time ends when they are out of food. And it seems, that happens quite often. The prices are reasonable, considering how much food you get. The more combination you get, the better the deal. A 3-meat deal is twice the size of a single meat, and cost $19.95 + tax (whereas $12.95 for a single). All combination come with cornbread and coleslaw on top of your choice of two of their sides. It's definitely worth the price and can easily be shared by two-three people. A few of my friends attempted the three meat combination, and it is definitely a challenge to finish. If you're in the Pacifica area (on a nice day, hopefully not too windy like most days), you should picnic out with some heavy BBQ.

2145 Coast Hwy
Pacifica, CA 94044
Yelp

Sahn Maru

Sahn Maru is a Korean restaurant in the city of Oakland, where it is surrounded by several other Korean restaurants and eateries. Sahn Maru can be a bit pricy, but the quality of the food is worth the price. The first time I went to Sahn Maru, my friends and I ordered too many dishes that we ended up having to pay a lot individually. However, if you plan things out, you can minimize the cost with a satisfying meal. My friends were quite adventurous; since none of us were Korean or familiar with traditional dishes, we asked the waiter for recommendations. Oddly enough, we took his advice on ordering Korean specialty goat soup, which after the first few sips we didn't have the stomach for. Perhaps it was our palate, but we weren't entirely fond of the goat soup. Otherwise, all the other dishes we ordered were great.


Sahn Maru also offers a combination soft tofu soup with your choice of BBQ meat for around $20. I prefer this combo because you get the two most common entrees served in Korean restaurants. Besides the soft tofu soup and BBQ, I especially love the seafood pancake. The seafood pancake is huge, nearly a size of a medium sized pizza. I've had good seafood pancake before, but Sahn Maru's pancake tasted great and was huge. If you don't mind paying a bit more for Korean food, then Sahn Maru will fit your profile.

4315 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94701
Yelp Review

La Mediterranee

La Mediterranee is a Greek restaurant I hold dear to my heart. Two months ago, I moved out of my college apartment, situated on College Avenue where I grew fond of many quaint eateries. One of which is La Mediterranee, which serves extremely tasty and flavored food. I think many people who had tried La Mediterranee before agree with me that one of their best dishes is the pomengranate chicken. Juicy and moist, chicken can't get any better than the way La Med prepares it. My second favorite entree is the filios, which are wraps with delicious stuffing such as spinach and feta. The filios are cooked to perfection, with a light crunch but soft center. Most entrees are served with a choice of salad, armenian potato salad, or soup. The armenian potato salad is very different from American potato salad. Armenian potato salad is very thin and light, but is unique and tasty in its own way. Of the soups, I've only tried the chicken soup, but I have heard good things about the other soups. The restaurant is charming, with friendly staff. However, it is difficult to have a good conversation as this place tends to get quite loud. However, it has a nice ambiance overall and high quality food for prices ranging from $10-$18. Lucky enough, I was able to find another La Mediterranee in San Francisco.


288 Noe Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
Yelp Review

2936 College Ave
Berkeley, CA 94705
Yelp Review

L'amyx Tea Bar

Piedmont is one of those well-off neighborhoods where they have basically everything you need, creating a more intimate and small community. I have found many good restaurants in the neighborhood. One of these places is LaMaxx who specializes in teas. However, it's not like an Asian tea place, but rather a diverse tea shop. They feature many different teas all over the world, such as European and Asian teas. What I like about the place is the atmosphere. It's very spacious and clean, a good choice if one desires to study. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to try most of the teas, but I did enjoy what I had, which was a chai tea mix. However, although the tea was good, the boba wasn't very fresh. This place also sells tea leaves, which are sold in reasonable prices and sizes. Also, the aroma of some of the tea blends were quite enticing. If you like to study with a nice cup of tea, then you should check out this place.

Yelp Review
4179 Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611

Basil Thai

Basil Thai serves decent Thai food for a fair price (most dishes being between $7-$15 dollars). I came here before watching Wicked because it was located a few minutes away from the Orpheum Theater. The quality of the food as I said is decent depending on what you order. I wasn't a huge fan of the garlic noodles, but I really liked the stuffed eggplant with chicken in green curry sauce. The thai ice tea was a bit too sweet compared to what I think is authentic thai ice tea. The place is extremely lovely with a calming atmosphere and they serve a few pieces of fried shrimp chips at no extra cost. I think I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here with no truly bothersome thoughts. In comparison to other Thai restaurants in the city, this place is probably one of the better ones (although Marnee Thai is still one of the best in my opinion). If you're planning a casual social event, this place is ideal for semi-social events and a bit more lavishing events. For gourmet style cooking and feel, Basil Thai will serve up to many people's expectations.


1175 Folsom St
San Francisco, CA 94103
Yelp Review

Fung Wong

Tucked away in a small center next to a 7-elevan, surprisingly, Fung Wong has gained much attention from the Chinese people in the Daly City community. Many Chinese and Chinese American locals come to this place, which suggests that the quality of food is pretty authentic. From my past experience, the dim sum is acceptable, and good enough for American standards. As for the regular dishes, I do enjoy many of the dishes they have, especially the eggplant and pork in garlic sauce.


This place is a good for families, especially big family gatherings. There's nothing like having a huge meal with plenty of dishes and variety with 8+ people. The price range per dish is around $8-$12, which is fair for the quality of the food. This place isn't amazing, but if for some reason, you're ever in the foggy city of Daly City and want some Chinese food, this is one of the few places I'd recommend.


427 Gellert Boulevard
Daly City, CA 94015
Yelp Review

Intermezzo

Cafe Intermezzo or Matina is a well-loved sandwich shop known for its filling sandwiches and huge salad (notably the chef salad). The chef salad is the biggest salad I think I've ever seen under $10. It comes with meat and avocado, making it quite a good selection. All sandwiches come with a slice of fruit and the salad comes with their hearty wheat bread. The quality of the food is relatively good, nothing to wow about but people enjoy the lightness yet filling portions the restaurant provides. Price range for the amount of food you get is pretty cheap $7-$10. During lunch, a huge line of students form waiting to order a sandwich. Easy to carry and not too messy, I can see why people enjoy coming here. My experience at Intermezzo was never too spectacular nor was it too disappointing. I never had a bad experience here; the food has always been consistent. The place is adorned with olden wood and can accomodate a fair number of groups and customers. I suggest this place as a good lunch eatery.

2442 Telegraph Ave
Berkeley, CA 94704
Yelp Review

Millbrae Pancake House

Who says you can't have breakfast all day long? I love breakfast and brunch, and I think eating pancakes, omelets, and hash browns should be available all day long. I especially love a hearty and well-made breakfast. Whenever I come here, I can't help but order breakfast foods, regardless of the time of day. Their meals are very filling, especially when you order the omelet which comes with hashbrown and choice of toast or pancakes. I, in particular, love the hashbrown, which is real shredded potatoes as opposed to the fast food type rectangular blocks. This place is a red-brick house, which grabs an olden feel. Obviously during the mornings, this place can get busy, with less customers throughout the day. It's quite spacious with a good number of accommodating parties. The front of the shop is a gift shop with little stuffed animals and beanie babies, fluffy and cute. The food is good and definitely well-portioned with entrees ranging from $6-$18 a person. Breakfast foods mostly $6-$12 and dinner entrees (such as steak) about $18 when tax and tip is considered. If you love to have breakfast for lunch (brunch) or dinner (brinner), this place serves definitely better food than any Denny's and IHOP.


Yelp Review
1301 El Camino Real
Millbrae, CA 94030