Le Truc

I know it's been a while since I last posted; being an adult requires a lot of time management skills which I am slowly learning. Some times, although we would like to dedicate an hour or two for home-cooking and preparing a well-balanced meal, some times, we just need a break. In this modern and fast-paced society, the integration of food carts have been a great way to serve quick meals. I've had the pleasure of tasting some unique food carts (creme brulee cart, lumpia cart, roli roti). Le Truc, a new vendor, is taking food cart to a whole new level. This old, black-painted school bus is full of tasty wonders (and indoor seating). Even though I have only tried it once with my boyfriend, I was able to try two items which is already about an 1/6 of their menu. Both items that I tried were well-prepared and delicious.

The three-hand burger features a bacon-infused patty which genuinely does taste like bacon. The panko-fried chicken sandwich was juicy and the panko provided a nice crisp and crunch to the sandwich. Items are sold until all items are sold out for the day or when the peak lunch hours are over. Overall, based on the lunch crowd and my impression of the food, I'd definitely consider coming back again and trying the other items on the menu. Hopefully, I will be lucky enough to find it close to my work again.

Yelp Review

SOMA, San Francisco, CA

Marlowe

Perhaps it was the company of an old friend, or the charm the servers had, but I really enjoyed my visit to Marlowe. Located not so far from my workplace (about 4-5 blocks away), I expected a long wait and slow service. However, our waitress was attentive and quick. I enjoyed her positive attitude and bedside manners. Marlowe lunch pricing is a bit on the higher end, but the food is rich and and filling with only a few bites. The warm shrimp salad was a nice catch and the horseradish sauce that accommodated the fries was absolutely delicious. My friend got the Fulton Valley Fried Chicken with Bacon, which reminded him of a fried chicken Caesar salad sandwich. He enjoyed it, nonetheless. I don't know how it is compared to Naked Lunch on Broadway (which I love), but I'm sure it's just as good and around the same price. Next time, I'd like to try the baked oysters with New England chowder since I'm curious of the taste. The ambiance is great, the servers are nice, and the food is great for slightly more formal and not too casual outing.

Yelp Review

330 Townsend St. Ste 101

San Francisco, CA 94107

Brenda French Soul Restaurant

The wait can seem ridiculously long, looking at the chalkboard list of 20+ groups before yours, but the food is something I wouldn't mind experiencing every now and then. Although this place is located in the Tenderloin, it's not entirely bad especially since it's close to City Hall and you can easily go one block onto Van ness and get coffee at Philz. I was surprised to see the prices to be reasonable and affordable. Brenda French Soul Restaurant serve an extremely rich breakfast and brunch food.

Their unique dish, the beignet, are pretty standard. There are four flavors: plain, apple, chocolate, and crayfish. The crayfish by far was my favorite due to the flavor of the spices. I blissfully enjoyed the sweet watermelon tea with its nice light flavor. The chicken, sausage, okra gumbo had a nice kick of spices. My friends had the catfish po'boy and egg and bacon tartine with grits, which they both said were good and wholesome. The place is a bit cramp but cozy and there always seem to be a crowd (especially during the day).

Yelp Review

652 Polk St.

San Francisco, CA 94102

Tandoori

I was excited to have an Indian restaurant so close to my home in Daly City because in college I enjoyed the plethora of Indian cuisine Berkeley had to offer. With much anticipation to find a place that wouldn't require me to trek over 25 miles away, I must say I was slightly disappointed with the food. It wasn't awfully bad; the food just didn't reach my expectations. Perhaps, I am being a bit harsh because it seems as though many people enjoy the food. I definitely believe that the Indian food in Berkeley is far superior. I tried the garlic-pesto naan, which was interesting and tasty. The chicken saag and masala were a bit disappointing but if I had to choose one of the two I think the flavor of the saag was much more appealing. I can see this place as a good alternative for to-go Indian food as they have naanwiches (wraps). Overall, not the best Indian food I've had but tolerable.

Yelp Review

314 W Lake Center

Daly City, CA 94015

Kokyo Sushi Buffet

Most buffets tend to serve greasy, rich, and overall unhealthy food that makes you full or sick after one or two plates. On New Year's day, I came here with a few friends and acquaintances not looking forward to eating at another buffet. However, Kokyo Sushi buffet was surprisingly light and fairly tasty. I was surprised at the quality of the food. Not only was the quality of food was better than most buffets, but they have an array of food. Their sushi didn't consist of just the simple and easy rolls to make, but also intricate ones such as the Lion King roll and Rainbow roll. The quality of sushi could use some work, but is far superior than most buffets. The salmon and tuna sashimi wasn't entirely fresh, but for a buffet it's quite impressive. The hot food consisted of mostly Chinese and Americanized dishes. I enjoyed the fried shrimp in mayonnaise sauce with not too much mayonnaise. They also have a salad bar, dessert and ice cream section, and a few choices in common Asian soups. Some notable dishes they had include baked mushroom in this creamy sweet sauce, the fried chicken rolls, and seafood (overall). The place is extremely clean and well-kept although Kokyo only opened a few months ago. Also the price of lunch is $9 and dinner is $15 all nights of the week including weekends. The wait can range from being short during the weekday to fairly long on the weekend and dinner hours. I was extremely impressed by the price and the amount of good quality food to choose from.

Yelp Review

1071 B St.

Hayward, CA 94541

Gregoire's

First of all, I'd like to wish everyone a great new year with the hopes of achieving whatever one sets his/her mind to. Now, back on track to some more fooding. One of the most unique (and slightly on the expensive side) to-go places I've tried during College is Gregoire's. This place can be easily missed since it's such a tiny shop. I'm a huge fan of the quality and taste of their food. Typical orders such as the infamous potato puffs are made perfectly, with a soft mash potato center and crisp shell that induces random cravings from time to time. Fortunately, side orders and desserts tend to stay on the menu consistently, but changes are made monthly for the main entrees. Lunch generally consist of three different kinds of sandwiches, which tend to be succulent. Dinner normally features a chunk of meat (chicken, duck, pork, beef, lamb) usually served by itself or in some intricate presentation with a small portion of veggies. Some times, the food can be a bit salty, but from my experience with French cuisine, itquite common. The price can be a bit steep for the wallet. If one chooses to dine here, one is guaranteed to spend at least $15 for lunch and $20 for dinner. Seating is a bit difficult as there are only two small tables in front of the tiny shop. I generally eat around the Imperial Tea Court, where there is ample outdoor seating. Overall, Gregoire's may be pricy but the food is worthwhile.


2109 Cedar St
Berkeley, CA 94704

4001 B Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611

Yelp Review