Wish List - Jason and Terrys Bay Area Review

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Welcome to the wish list (169 restaurants). Listing updated daily.

Restaurant	City	Cuisine	Description
Andys BBQ 2367 El Camino Real, nr. Scott blvd. 408 249 8158	Alameda	Barbeque	They have very generous Philli Cheesesteak, pulled pork, and Tri Tip sandwiches all approx $8 each. All are delicious and very filling.
Hinn Tha Bistro 1345 Park Street 510.865.8338	Alameda	Afghan	This cuisine is actually Burmese but there was no option. You should definitely order the Mo Hinn Ga (fish soup).
Mariannes Ice Cream 1020 Ocean St (831) 458-1447	Alameda	Ice Cream	Almost every flavor I have tried is good. My faves, Fresh banana, cantalope, oregon berry something, peanut butter cup, Fudge brownie, rootbeer float (flavor, not the float). Coffee flavors are not for the weak. I wouldnt be surprised if you could get a buzz off of it. You will see it to your right as soon as you exit the 17 fwy on the left. Big red building with colorful letters.
The New Zealander 1400 Webster St. 510-769-8555	Alameda	Afghan	Anything lamb, especially the minted lamb pie or the lamb burger. In fact all their burgers are excellent. Service can be iffy.
Little Belmont Cafe 232 Harbor Blvd 650.592.6721	Belmont	American
Kabanas 1106 University Ave (510) 845-3355	Berkeley	Indian	Hands down the best Indian restaurant in the bay area. Their goat biriyani is not to be missed (only available on weekends) and the naans are great too, not to mention the inexpensive prices
La Mediterranee 2936 College Avenue 540-7773	Berkeley	Mediterranean	This is the Mediterranean restaurant that I compare all other Mediterranean restaurants to. I always order the Middle Eastern Plate...it has a nice combo of all my favorites: Chicken Cilicia Fillo Dough, Spinach Feta Fillo Dough, Levant Sandwich, Chicken Pomegranate. It also comes with delicious hummus pita bread. If youre ever in Berkeley, you should eat here
La Note 2377 Shattuck Ave.	Berkeley	French	Anything on their breakfast menu, especially the lovely Lemon Gingerbread Pancakes w/Poached Pears, Brioche French Toast w/Lavender Honey. For dinner their Bouillabaise is great. No reservations so the wait can get long.
Slurp Noodle House 2426 Telegraph Ave 510.644.9292	Berkeley	Chinese	Family owned, favorite with students http:/www.slurpnoodlehouse.com/food.html
The Great China 2115 Kittredge St. 510-843-7996	Berkeley	Chinese
Matsusono 1150 Paloma Ave. (650) 685-9888	Burlingame	Chinese	If youre REALLY hungry get both the hot pot (cook your raw food in soup) and the BBQ grill (cook your raw food over a grill). Same price for one or both.
Cafe Artemis 1875 S Bascom Ave Suite 300A (408) 626-8100	Campbell	Mediterranean
Chez Sovan 2425 S Bascom Ave (408) 371-7711	Campbell	Filipino	The cuisine is cambodian - not in the drop down list. fish Amok, ginger chicken, salads with lemongrass, almost anything.
Eds Gourmet 2056 Curtner Ave (408) 369-9324	Campbell	Chinese	A REAL HOLE IN THE WALL I loved it A friend ordered, I picked-up. Can only speak about their MOUNDS of delicious grilled white meat teriyaki chicken with sweet-sticky teriyaki sauce and white rice. $6 bucks for a pile of chicken, white rice and a chinese style slaw. (skip it). SO darn good and cheap The kind of place you get hooked on..... YUMM
RawDaddys Fun Cone Food Campbell Ave on Sundays Farmers Market	Campbell	Vegetarian	The Stuffed Flaxseed cones, both with the savory options and the Ice Cream. The Spicy Thai Cone is their signature cone, but all them are delicious. Really a very unique concept. Something worth checking out.
RawDaddys Fun Cone Food Campbell Ave on Sundays Farmers Market	Campbell	Vegetarian	The Stuffed Flaxseed cones, both with the savory options and the Ice Cream. The Spicy Thai Cone is their signature cone, but all them are delicious. Really a very unique concept. Something worth checking out. Think simple InOut Burger, but Vegetarian. A nice new option. I found these guys, because they won the 2nd best Veggie restaurant in the Bay Area on best of the bay list.
Royal Taj 1350 Camden Ave	Campbell	Indian	The Vegetable Pakora is divine I also highly recommend the Chicken Tikka Masala - the sauce is incredible... My very favorite Indian Restaurant in the south bay...
Sushi Zone 75 S. San Tomas Aquino Rd 408-866-1323	Campbell	Japanese	Garlic Albacore Nigiri is awesome Their rolls are yummy too Try the Lion King roll, Crazy roll and the Fire Cracker Roll.
TGI Sushi 100 W Hamilton Ave # C 408-871-0123	Campbell	Japanese	http://www.tgisushi.com/menu4.html (Specialy Rolls) tgisushi@hotmail.com
Egg Roll King 6813 Mission St 650.992.0771	Daly City	Chinese
Happy Hoagie 33 Visitacion Ave (415) 467-4663	Daly City	Deli	This is in Brisbane. Original Italian Hoagie.
Joes of Westlake 11 Glenwood Ave (650) 755-7400	Daly City	American	Club House, Top Sirloin Sandwich
Lucky Chances Casino / Cafe Colma 1700 Hillside Blvd.	Daly City	American	Its really located in Colma, in between the car dealerships and the cemeteries. The only place in the Bay Area where you can get Asian food and American food under one roof at any time. Like bacon and eggs and pho at 3:00am. Not gourmet, but more like a cross between an old fashion coffee shop crossbred with Asian restaraunt that glimpses Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino cuisines. Avoid weekend nights and dont go there alone.
Shaghai Restaurant 83 Skyline Plz 650) 756-3600	Daly City	Chinese	This is the typical "holes in the wall" restaurant. So be prepare for the food, not the look. Parking might be a problem during weekend or dinner rush. These are some of the food that I found they did a pretty good job on. _ Must order "Dumpling", the meat-juice/sauce still enclosed inside the bun (the best way to eat is to bite the top of the bun off, suck the juice then eat it). The by-product napa cabbage also tasty. _ Claypot rice is awesome, my favorite is Vegetablesalty ham. I think they call it vegetable rice. _ Braised pork drum/shoulder, the meat is sooo tender. (one order serve 4) _ Tea smoke duck (about $10 for 1/2 of a duck) _ fish-slices in vinegar sauce. _ Dont forget Black mushroom with choice of vegetable for Terry. My friends like their home-made hand-pulled noodle, but I didnt enjoy it much. However, you should try if you can. Dinner for 4 should set you back about $40-50 max with 5-6 items, and guarantee a lot of left over.
Waterfront Pizza 969 Edgewater Blvd (650) 573-6634	Foster City	Mediterranean	Mainly Arabic food, Which is often confused with Greek. This place has it all Falafel, Shawermas (In greek its Gyro, but those are Knock offs), Chicken, Beef, Kufta, Hummus and probably my favorite is the Middle-Eastern Pizza. This HAS to be ordered, Why come to this place to get Pepperoni when every pizza place has that. The Middle-Eastern pizza has Feta, Zatar, diced tomatos. You can choose to sit outside or inside, it has a Big screen tv often times minor sport teams come here. They serve Beer, but we drink Tea with our food and then smoke the Hookahs. If your outside and it gets chilly, they bring out many heaters. Its more expensive than usual, but its good Eats. Many Reviews are on YELP and they have a website www.waterfrontpizza.com. Ive been here many times and know the Owner personal, we do birthday dinners here etc... We have a usual order of chicken, beef, Kufta, Hummus, Mid-East Pizza, depending on our party even more. Excellent Restaurant that should be a GREAT even favorite of JATBAR.com
Falafel etc. 39200 Fremont Blvd 510-795-7170	Fremont	Middle Eastern	Falafel sandwich or chicken shawarma sandwich.
Felafel Etc 39200 Fremont Blvd (510) 795-7170	Fremont	Mediterranean	I know this is already on the wish list but the descrition is lacking. The Chicken shawarma platter with hummus side of falafel balls is awesome. Their baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, and Greek salad are excellent. The baklava and Turkish coffee are some of the best I have ever had. The owners are very personable and the restaurant is very clean. A great place
Mirchi Cafe 40900 Fremont Blvd # H	Fremont	Italian	You need more categories, none of them fit This restaurant is a mix of Italian and Pakistani influences (wife is Italian and her family owned Lucias, and the husband is Pakistani, and both are chefs). Even Italian staples like pizza get a creative infusion of spicyness. I would recommend the Veggie Fire or Seekh Kabab pizzas. NY style crust with a very spicy sauce. The traditional Italian pasta dishes are also very good.
Semo Sushi 5026 Mowry Avenue (510) 505-0360	Fremont	Japanese	Udon Soup, Spicy Killer Roll, all their sushi is excellent.
Caspers Hot Dogs 951 C St (510) 537-7300	Hayward	Hot Dogs	Hot Dogs. This is a different business than Kaspers in Fremont.
Curry Corner Takeaway 26657 Mission Blvd (510) 581-4003	Hayward	Indian	Anything that Saras puts in your take out box. Everything and anything is good. She cooks everything home made like a Fijian mother would. When I went there, she treated everyone like her own hungry kids and making sure they dont leave until theyve eaten well (if they dine in at one of the 2 small tables). She REALLY fills up the box with a bit of everything she has for the day. You can also custom order stuff as well. Ive only been here once, but its fantastic. One box fed both my sister and I for $7. Its an East Bay Yelpers hidden gem for a few years.
Favorite India 1235 A St 510583-7550	Hayward	Indian	Chicken tikka masala. Tandoori mixed grill. Anything else is up to you guys. They deliver around the east bay (within reasonable distance).
Rickshaw Express 151 W Jackson St (510) 887-7836	Hayward	Chinese	I usually get the Garlic Chicken, but thats the main Dish, i just want to see how this compares to other Chinese fast food places. This is Across the street from the Taco Bell in front of Lees Laundromat (Which is written in the same font as Lees Sandwhichs.)
Siam Palace 22545 Foothill Blvd (510) 581-6706	Hayward	Thai	Their green curry is the best Ive ever had, living 20 years in the bay area. Tom yum is solid. Garlic prawns are pretty good too. These are kinda my Thai staples.
Top Thai Cuisine 3837 Castro Valley Blvd. 510-538-4400	Hayward	Thai	Really this is in Castro Valley --- a town not listed but should be. Top Thai is in the middle of town. This little place has the best Pad Thai anywhere. Outstanding
Los Altos Grill 233 3rd St 650.948.3524	Los Altos	Barbeque	cornbread and bbq, highly recommended
P Liquors-Deli Taqueria 996 Loraine Ave 6509417650	Los Altos	Mexican	Burritos are huge, taco salads are complete, quesadiles cooked just right. Nice selection of meat fillings~ bbq pork is tasty, im sure the others are good too. Going with the vegetarian option is good enough too. buy a lotto ticket with your lunch:)
Sumo Sushi-Boat 355 State St	Los Altos	Japanese	Sit at the boats. Selection is good and food is high quality, especially the salmon and tuna. Price is a little higher and portion sizes on the average larger side, but seriously this place is a contender for the best quality of sushi in the area.
Andale Taqueria 21 N Santa Cruz Ave (408) 395-8997	Los Gatos	Mexican	If youre looking for a cheap burrito joint, this isnt it, although their burritos are very good. Ive enjoyed everything Ive ever tried there, but my three favs are the Camarones al Ajillo, Mesquite Chicken salad, and the steak torta. If you are going to try only one item, you must go for the Camarones al Ajillo. The chile-garlic sauce is fantastic, they give you a ridiculous number of shrimp, and serve them on a giant bed of guacamole. It also comes with whole pintos, Mexican rice, tortillas and a small salad. For $10 I think its a steal The chicken salad is also great, with a very addictive garlicky dressing. I prefer the larger location to the small one (#6 across the street). Whatever you order, I think youll be happy (but go for the camarones)
Andale Taqueria 6 N Santa Cruz Ave (408) 395-4244	Los Gatos	Mexican	Make sure you go to the small Taqueria and not the sit down version of this place just across the street. The small Taqueria has very limited seating, but the cooks there are much better My favorites (in order) are: 1. Chicken Enchiladas- you cant find authentic enchilada sauce like this at very many places. This is my all time favorite place for chicken enchiladas. 2. Beef Torta- I usually get mine with lettuce and guacamole. I think they get their bread around the corner from Le Boulanger and the steak in the torta is great. 3. Mesquite Chicken Super Burrito- Something about the mesquite chicken flavor, the cheese, and the sour cream just comes together perfectly. 4. Chicken Tamale- Not very authentic in my opinion, but a good treat nonetheless. Some people may classify this as a chain (3-4 locations), but the small Taqueria in Los Gatos is where its best and its definitely worth trying.
Cafe Brasil 1410 Mission St	Los Gatos	Brazilian	Acai Bowl and Banana Pancakes Please note that this restaurant isnt in Los Gatos but rather in Santa Cruz. My roommate and I have been all over the Bay Area and we cannot recommend any other restaurant over this glorious cafe. If you dont want to make the drive, shoot me an email and Ill pick you up, drive you there, and take you back. I go ALL the time from Santa Clara. Also, I think Santa Cruz should be added to your cities list. Overall, its food is mediocre at best. But it has 3 places that I can think of that are amazing and worth the trip (which is actually shorter than the trip to Berkeley for those in the South Bay).
Casa Del 17 22990 Santa Cruz Hwy (408) 353-1717	Los Gatos	Hot Dogs	Hot Dogs
High Tech Burrito 15960 Los Gatos Blvd (408) 356-5677	Los Gatos	Mexican	Burritos
Pastaria 49 E. Main St. (408) 399-3477	Los Gatos	Italian	to die for fresh pasta made on premises... unique dishes with quality ingredients and reasonable prices. addictive. a gem kills every other italian place in the south bay. order the linquine with clams, fettucini with pink vodka sauce, sausage lasagne, caesar salad, angel hair pasta (wonderful) and profiterolles
BBQ Man Cafe and Catering 555 Willow Road 650-327-8227	Menlo Park	Barbeque	I went here for the first time today and had a pulled pork sandwich (spicy) with a side of chili beans. I am a native to the bay area, so I wont pretend to be a bbq expert, but this was very good. I usually order pulled pork from bbq restaurants, and this was the first time Ive thought it was amazing. The spicy sauce isnt too hot, and well balanced. The chili beans were very good. I think JT will enjoy it Oh, and theres a veggie burger for Terry. Lunch side choices include the beans, slaw or potato salad. I dont have a copy of the menu, but there seemed to be a decent variety. Small place, with equal seating inside and out. My personal rating is 8.5.
Broadway Bistro 349 Broadway Street 650-692-3378	Millbrae	Chinese
Classic Sichuan Restaurant 148 El Camino Real 650-692-3388	Millbrae	Chinese	Chicken tofu soup (advance order required) - chicken meat thats been pounded into tofu texture, with real chicken broth and the freshest spinach dan dan noodles - minced pork in hot (spicy) peanutty broth gun beans (pickled green beans) with roasted pork ribs - really good its #29 on the menu tofu steamed fish with black bean sauce tea smoked duck - yummy and moist, made right on premise cold plate - spiced (as in flavorful, not hot) beef (thinly sliced beef cooked in spiced soy sauce) cold mixed noodles - cold noodles mixed with peanut sauce, vinegar, veggie julianne. When in doubt, ask the manager/owner, theyre very helpful. This is sort off a spin-off of the Little Sichuan in San Mateo the owners of the S.M. one had a disagreement and one of them opened this one in Millbrae.
Sushi Kei 407 Broadway 650-692-0100	Millbrae	Japanese	A real sushi place owned by real Japanese -) Often very busy during peak lunch dinner hours, swarmed with Japanese who work at the airport. A great neighborhood sushi bar, small place, but the sushi is very well executed and their other dishes are very good too. They have a "daily special" board so you can order the freshest fish of the day. Not too expensive.
Halp Penny Fish and Grill (1st location) 1350 S Park Victoria Dr #43 (408) 262-1114	Milpitas	Fish n Chips	I have had several of the fish combos...all very good. Best fish and chips around
Pho Nguyen 275 W. Calaveras Blvd.	Milpitas	Vietnamese	Pho and rice plates here. The place is very clean, well above other simillar restaurants. Cal alumni will appreciate the color scheme inside. The food is really easy on the msg scale. Rice plates are a winner. Get a green waffle as you are paying your bill.
Shanghai Delight 218 Barber Court 408-434-6888	Milpitas	Chinese	Authentic Shanghainese that wont dent your wallet. Great lunch specials from 5.50 to 6.95. You wont get any americanized stuff here. Great service from a restaurant that stands behind their dishes. Located 3 doors down from Cafe Wong Kee. Read my review on the BBS.
South Legend Sichuan 1720 N Milpitas Blvd 408-934-3970	Milpitas	Chinese	Must try the chen ma po tofu, qingqong spicy fried chicken, sichuan cold noodles Oh, and if you are a spicy food wimp, better tell them mild spicy on everything or youll be crying into your hot n sour soup. This is not a place for ambience, the waiters barely speak English, but the dining room full of Chinese people gives testimony to the authenticity of the food here.
Swagats 68 S Abel St 408) 262-1128	Milpitas	Indian	The lunch buffet is very good and reasonably priced. My coworkers and I go there once a week. mj
Canton Chinese Fast Food 580 N Rengstorff Ave (650) 961-1288	Mountain View	Chinese	Sooo cheap $3.88 for two items Good tasting too.
Chaat Paradise 165 E. Camino Real 650.965.1111	Mountain View	Indian	Chaat Basket Paneer Paratha Mooli Paratha Gobi Paratha Chaat DO NOT ORDER THEIR SAMOSAS
Dan cy Sushi 2595 California st. Suite C	Mountain View	Japanese	The chefs here will let you know what is fresh and even bring out samples. The special rolls are awesome and the friendly service will keep customers returning.
Gelayo Gusto 856 W El Camino Real	Mountain View	Ice Cream	The shave ice bowl is awesome. My favorite is the berry shave ice bowl with strawberry gelato. Be warned that they serve the Korean-style tart frozen yogurt this isnt that fro-yo stuff that pretends to be ice cream. If you want ice cream, have some gelato - the dulce de leche flavor here rocks.
Godavari 216 Castro St 650-969-1112	Mountain View	Indian	Lamb curry.
Kirin Chinese Restaurant 485 Castro St. (650) 965-1059	Mountain View	Chinese	Soup (seafood or beef), fresh steamed rock cod.
shana thai 311 Moffett Blvd	Mountain View	Thai	occupies cursed location that was formerly baba neo and yellow ginger. The best of the 3. Pumpkin curry was really good and not something youll see at other thai places.
trend 400 Moffett Blvd	Mountain View	Chinese	This is a spicy szechuan style place. They dont hold back on the heat here Great chongqing chicken and cumin lamb.
Z Pizza Mountain View 146 Castro St. 650-814-0088	Mountain View	Pizza	Two slices and a drink combo for less than $7. Napoli and Santa Fe. Try one with the wheat crust and one on regular :-)
Cousin Cafe 39193 Cedar Blvd (510) 713-9806	Newark	Chinese	salt fish chicken fried rice, baked pork shop over rice
New China Station 39055 Cedar Blvd, #186 (510) 745-9182	Newark	Chinese	Roast Pork over rice, Roast Duck Lo-mein, Wonton noodle soup soy sauce chicken over rice.
Mijori Japanese Restaurant 3260 Grand Avenue	Oakland	Japanese	Any sushi on the menu is fantastic
Taqueria San Jose 3433 E 14th St (International Blvd) (510) 533-5748	Oakland	Mexican	Though there are other locations in the Bay Area, the Oakland one stands out. Super burritos are ginormous and only $3.95. Tacos are $1.70 each - I thought the carnitas and al pastor were excellent. Carnitas - crispy yet moist. Al pastor - flavorful and not too dry. Their salsa verde actually has a kick and is the type with some avocados blended in. Chips were the fresh, thin and crispy, lightly-salted type. YUM
Chos 213 California Avenue (650) 326-4632	Palo Alto	Chinese	Potstickers, I like a number 1 and a coke.
Hunan Garden 3345 El Camino Real (650) 565-8868	Palo Alto	Chinese	Pork Chop Soup Noodle, Spicy Salt Crust Shrimp/Pork Chop, Beef Stew Noodle Soup, Seafood Noodle Soup, Singapore Chow Mein, Potstickers, Chicken Salad, Dan Dan Chicken salad, Mongolian Beef, sizzling platter . . . just pick one )
Saint Michaels Alley 806 EMERSON STREET (650) 326 2530	Palo Alto	American	Pretty much anything. Heirloom Tomato salad is good, as are the sandwiches. Try to leave room for desert. See wbsite http://www.stmikes.com/
Straits Cafe 3295 El Camino Real 650-494-7168	Palo Alto	Malaysian	Singaporan/Malaysian cuisine. Sim to Spice Islands Cafe but better and a bit pricier. Get the Roti Prata for starter. OhMyGod. For entrees try Nasi Goreng or Olive Nasi Goreng, Ayam Rendang. I could go on. Its all good. One of my top 5 restaurants in the area. There is sister restaurant now in San Jose but have not tried.
Su Hong Eatery 4101 El Camino Way 650-493-3836	Palo Alto	Chinese	Chicken salad, xiaolong bao, Shanghai style specialties throughout the menu. Check website for complete menus in Chinese and English, take-out hours (excellent service), even a map.
Sundance The Steakhouse 1921 El Camino Real 6503216798	Palo Alto	Steakhouse	Slow-roasted prime ribs
Tai Pan 560 Waverley Street	Palo Alto	Chinese	This restaurant is located where the old Palo Alto Hong Kong Flower Lounge was. Tai Pan has even better Dim Sum, which is ordered off a somewhat limited menu not from trolleys. All items I have tried have been excellent (much better than China Stix). They blend their own soy sauce adding ginger, chilli and scallions that is excellent. Their dinner menu looks great, but reservations are necessary, so I havent eaten dinner there yet. They have a web site http://www.taipanpaloalto.com/about.html if you need further details.
Thai City 3691 El Camino Real 650-493-0643	Palo Alto	Thai	Panang anything Satay Tom Yum Poa-Tak Thai Style Basil w/meat Kao Pad Kar Pow Thai City Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango Thai Beer
The Shack 185 Culver Blvd 310 423-4878	Play Del Ray	Burgers	Tired of Tommys or Fatburgers...try the Shack. They have two locations in Southern Cal. Santa Monica and Playa Del Rey. Playa Del Rey gets the nod due to the ambience. Local and surfing hangout. I suggest the Original Shack Burger with or without cheese. Ther is also the double for those really hugry. Side of fries and Coke (or a nice cold beer will suffice). The good sized burger is grilled to perfection with a nice taste of the charbroil served in a plastic basket. What makes this burger different is the secret weapon: A big Louisiana Hot Link sliced in two on top of the burger. Comes with a hunk of lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion. By far one of the best burger you will ever eat. Mix that along with the crowd, sawdust on the floor, watching the games and noise, its no wonder that its always packed. The crowd varies from hard core bikers with rap sheets longer than their hairy tattoed-filled forearms to cloistered nuns who have never seen the face of a one eyed spitting snake. But mainly locals. There is another one in Santa Monica, but does not have the same ambience that the Playa Del Rey has. More like an Islands, but better burgers. Price for a nice meal, Shack Burger, with fries, and drink around $8.50. The Shack is originally from Hawaii and has done a great job in being the obscure but well followed hamburger joint. All due to the Shack Burger.
bobs courthouse cafe 2198 Broadway St (650) 368-6833	Redwood City	American	everything everything is good you can find the menu on restaurant.com, while youre there, you can buy a dining certificate to make your meal even more worth it. the place looks like a regular old diner, but the food is excellent. their sandwiches, burgers, salads breakfast are good. their dinner selections are good too (had chicken marsala prime rib). its restaurant quality food at diner prices. ive eaten there many times, never had a bad meal.
Erawan Thai Restaurant 2639 Broadway (650)556-9966	Redwood City	Thai	Ive never had a bad meal here. My usual is the Thai Spicy Basil Chicken, though you have your choice of meats. Its right around the corner from Bangkok Bay, which used to be my favorite until Erawan opened 2-3 years ago. I dont know how to explain it, but it just seems a little tastier than Bangkok Bay. Great quick service, fresh ingredients, big portions and good prices. If you like Thai food, you have to try Erawan.
Hawaiian Drive Inn 711 El Camino Real 650-369-0396	Redwood City	Hawaiian	Any of the Plate lunches BBQ Chicken is my favorite. Prices are super cheap kinda divey setting (My attempt to add some more places to Redwood City besides Ben Franks)
Mandaloun 2021 Broadway St (650) 367-7974	Redwood City	Mediterranean	The hottest new place in Redwood City. Nice setting, good service, great food. Cuisine is kind of Mediterranean fusion. Specializes in small plates (think Tapas) but also has full entrees like pizza, pasta, salmon, lamb, etc. Need ressies for wknd dinner, but those w/o can eat at bar. Ate here only once and had 3 small plate selection for $18. The best were these moroccan meatballs...cant remember name.
Red Lantern 808 Winslow Street (650) 369-5483	Redwood City	Google	You dont have a Cuisine category for Southeast Asian, so I am using Google. I dont know what to eat thats why Im adding this as a wishlist request.
Joanns Cafe 1131 El Camino Real 650.872.2810	S. San Francisco	Breakfast	Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., weekends from 8 a.m. to 2:30 and for dinner Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m.
Michas BBQ 1754 Laurel Street	San Carlos	Barbeque	MMMM...its all about the Ribs I keep going back for those fall off the bone amazingly addictive ribs.
The Refuge 963 Laurel Street 650.598.9813	San Carlos	American	Pastrami. www.refugesc.com
Belly Burgers 5740 Geary Blvd by 21st 22nd ave	San Francisco	Burgers	New burger place that opened where the old Arbys used to be, burgers are pretty good and cooked over a revolving grill that Jason seems to like.
Burma Superstar 309 Clement Street 415.387.2147	San Francisco	Indian	Change cuisine to burmese, check out web site - http://www.burmasuperstar.com/
Burma Superstar 309 Clement Street (between 4th 5th Avenue) (415) 387-2147	San Francisco	Chinese	I noticed you guys havent had a Burmese restaurant yet so I hope this could be the first. This restaurant was featured on Food Network and lines are always out the door, whether it be a Tuesday or a Saturday (they even have a "call-back" wait list so they can call your cell when your table is ready). But trust me, the food is worth the wait. I love their garlic eggplant, beef red curry, spicy/crispy chicken, rainbow salad, samusa soup, coconut rice and coconut fritters for dessert. The only disappointment is the wait and parking, other than that, there are other little shops to pass the time in the Richmond district (i.e. toy boat, genki, etc.)
Cafe Madeleine 300 California St (415)362-3332	San Francisco	French	The best hot chocolate ever They use ganache (an emulsion of heavy cream and chocolate) for their base, add it to steamed milk and top it off with more ganache. Divine baked goods A sublime mango cake, chocolate desserts Tasty sandwiches, especially the $3.50 daily specials, and salads (a bit on the expensive side, but in range of Financial District prices and worth it). Try the shrimp with garbanzo bean salad - yum Also has locations at 43 OFarrell and 149 New Montgomery.
Cello 75 First St, 50 Freemont Center, (415) 357-1122	San Francisco	Mediterranean	Chicken Breast Kebob over Rice Pesto Vegetarian Pizza
Hard knox 2526 3rd St 415 648 3870	San Francisco	Soul	ANYTHING ITS ALL GOOD, ESPECIALLY THE FRIED CHICKEN..GREAT PRICES TOO
Il Borgo 500 Fell st. corner of Laguna st. 415-2559108	San Francisco	Italian	This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city.The bread is great, and the wine is cheap. They have only home-made fresh pasta with exquisite sauces and fillings. The carbonara is awesome, and the lasagna is also one of my favorites. Cute, cozy little restaurant. You feel like youre eating in a secluded piazza in a Tuscan hill town.
Izumiya 1581 Webster @ Post (415) 441-6867	San Francisco	Japanese	You have to get their specialty the "Okonomiyaki" which is a sort of Japanese omelet thats served with meat/seafood and a fabulous sweet soy based sauce on top. Its hard to find and this place does it wonderfully Their sushi is great too (the Dragon Roll rocks and is a meal in itself) and so are their classic Japanese Potato Croquettes and Tonkatsu. The place is located inside the Kinokuniya Building next to the AMC Kabuki Theatres.
Lotus Garden 532 Grant Avenue 415.397.0130	San Francisco	Vegetarian	Chinatown, impressive vegetarian menu
Maxs Opera Cafe 601 Van Ness Ave (415) 771-7300	San Francisco	American	Rueben Sandwich
Memphis Minnies 576 Haight 415.864.7675	San Francisco	Barbeque	go for the bristek and ribs. Burgers are also good. memphisminnies.com
Metro Kathmandu 311 Divisadero Street ( Page) 415-552-0903	San Francisco	Indian	Not really Indian, more like Nepalese cuisine with Indian influences. Very good selections in each category (starter, entree, small plates, dessert) and the wine list. Also have daily prix fixe menu - 3 course dinner for $22. I think they have 1/2 price drinks before 7pm, including wines. I love their momos - all 3 kinds (small dumplings, like gyoza only better) with several different chutneys (mint, tamarind, spicy tomato), lentil soup, shrimp pakodas, warm lamb chhoila (the best but spicy) entrees - chicken tikka masala (tender), lamb curry (tender), saag paneer (great spinach), vegetable korma nuts (daily fresh veggies in coconut sauce) depends on what dessert they have when you go, try - kulfi (pistachio, and/or mango ice milk), saffron rice pudding, warm carrot "cake" (minced carrot, milk, flour, sugar).
Mudslingers Freestyle 903 Cortland Ave. 415.641.5291	San Francisco	Ice Cream	Dairy Free, Vegan Ice Cream. HOLY COW this stuff is good. Jatbar Gold certified. Fresh flavors. I tried coconut pecan and I couldnt even tell this was vegan ice cream. Tastes better than most regular store bought. YOu can buy this at Whole Foods also.
Nara Sushi 1515 Polk St 415567-1515	San Francisco	Japanese	On Wednesdays and Sundays, they have all you can eat made to order sushi and appetizers. Chicken kaarage, gyoza, potato crouquettes are good for appetizers. As for the rolls, get the mountain roll. Then anything else that tickles for fancy because I cant remember the menu at the moment since Ive only been there once 6-7 months ago. I believe its about $20 a head or a bit more.
Regent Thai 1700 Church St (415) 643-5893	San Francisco	Thai	As soon as you sit down they give you a basket of shrimp chips with a yummy dipping sauce. The golden bags are a must have. They are little fried goodies with a curry potato filling. The flat noodles are yummy as well (cant remember the name). They have a wide range of thai dishes. They have many things other Thai restaurants dont offer. I will definetely return to try more goodies. The best part is the price, most dishes range from $6 to $12.
Rosamunde Sausage Grill 545 Haight St (415) 437-6851	San Francisco	Hot Dogs	I like the knockwurst and German potato salad.
San Tung 1031 Irving St 415) 242-0828	San Francisco	Chinese	Northern Chinese cuisine. Must order: dumplings/pot stickers, dry fried chicken wings/drumettes (dry fried anything really), beefy soup noodles with hand-pulled noodles, dry sauteed string beans. Ive been eating this dry fried chicken since I was about 7 years old and daydream about it often. Back in the day at the original San Tung, Id see a grandma making hand-pulled noodles and dumplings but unsure if they still do so. Be prepared for the super long lines, especially at peak dinner time. Worse comes to worse, do what others do when they get tired of waiting and head over next door for good Vietnamese food at Yummy Yummy.
Squat Gobble Cafe 1 W Portal Ave (415) 665-9900	San Francisco	American	Breakfast, crepes
Yank Sing 101 Spear St 415.957.9300	San Francisco	Chinese	Elegant chinese restaurant, high end dim sum
Bay Leaf Cuisine 2550 Berryessa Road (408)251-8461	San Jose	Indian	The lunch buffet (Tuesday - Saturday, 11:30-3), Sag Paneer, Dal Makhani, Paneer Makhani, Tandoori Roti, Kesari Pulau...everythings really good As a waitress there, Ive noticed some of the most popular dishes are the Chicken Makhani, Dal Makhani and the Mixed Grill.
Bogeys Pizza 5039 Almaden Expy 408-264-3971	San Jose	Pizza	Hands down the best pizza in San Jose. I can never decide if its the crust, or the pizza sauce, or the abundant toppings. I have been going there since about 1986 and have never had a bad experience. If there is one place to try as your next pizza adventure this is it. Located in the strip mall behind the Classic car wash. They also have sandwiches, a salad bar beer and wine. But the reason to go is the pizza and golf themed atmosphere. Simply the BEST
Chef China 1310 Saratoga Ave (408) 984-3440	San Jose	Chinese	Tiny restaurant a couple doors down from Zeni (reviewed by jatbar), on Saratoga Road at Payne in San Jose/Saratoga area. This is as "jatbar" a restaurant as you can get, fantastic quality service at great prices (3 choices for $18, plus soup). A true mom pop shop. The great price got me to try it, but the fantastic quality brings me back, despite the distance from my home. I pass Tsing Tao to come here instead My favorite items are sliced fish with black bean sauce green chile, spicy eggplant, shrimp fried noodles, lamb w/cumin, beef w/leeks, and lamb w/green onion. I keep trying new things, and continue to grow my list of favs. Im not a sweet sour pork or fried rice eater, so cannot attest to those items. However, Im guessing theyre fantastic too
Chez Sovan 923 Oakland Rd 408.287.7619	San Jose	Thai	The cuisine is Cambodian. Excellent food from this hole-in-the wall joint. Chez Sovan is not in the most nicest area of SJ. Looks can be deceiving. The food is excellent. I recommend the beef salad and the amok(steamed catfish in a banana leaf...Mmmmmmm) with some steamed rice. Very friendly staff. Too bad they only open for lunch...gets packed really fast. Try any of the red curries, the eggplant with tofu or the catfish. Yum
Consuelo 377 Santana Row #1125 (408) 260-7082	San Jose	Mexican	Get the guacamole Its $9 bucks but its made fresh tableside and its amazingly good for something that seems so simple. I like the filet mignon...the cheese in the chipotle pepper is so good I also enjoyed the cauliflower I think its called "coliflor capeada" You MUST get the fresca they have for the day. Ive been to the resturant several times and they always have different flavors. They are so good, its like drinking a ripe fruit through a straw and saving yourself the chewing effort. The price isnt so bad if you get an appetizer and an entree w/ the fresca, but if you order more appetizers, sides and alcohol, the price just about doubles and you end up with this random food. They say they serve things tapas style which makes you think small portions, but their main entrees are decently sized.
el buen gusto 1710 Berryessa Road 408-926-1172	San Jose	Mexican	Authentic taqueria. Try the super burrito w/ carne asada... I think its one of the best burritos Ive had. Grilled steak, avocado, rice, whole beans, cheese. Very simple but flavorful. The rojo/rojas sauce is also one of the sauces Ive had (a must try). The green sauce is OK. Only one minor complaint, about every 1 out of 5 times, the rice is not fully cooked... appears to be an occasional unfortunate luck of the draw. Last month they expanded (next door) and jointly operate a mariscas ???? - seafood joint. Have not tried the seafood side. Not into mexican seafood. The place is always packed at lunch with local hispanic folks. Sunday manudo, the line is out the door. Ive been going there for 8 years and enjoy the "hard core" taqueria food.
Garcias Cantina 1390 Oakland Rd. 408-441-1401	San Jose	Mexican	Any place that starts you off with three salsas for your chips is OK by me Also note the lengua and cabeza on the menu. These are signs that you aint at Chevys any more. Thank goodness Be warned that this place can get busy at lunchtime, as its just down the street from the County Dept of Revenue. I amuse myself while waiting by watching the interplay between the multiple generations of what I assume are Garcias who work there. The daughter, it seems, has a punctuality problem, but I digress. As a vegetarian, I usually go for Huevos Rancheros or a cheese enchilada and bean tostada combo plate, but Ive also heard great things about the chicken and the seafood. Be sure to get some of the handmade corn tortillas and a Mexican Coke in the old school bottle. Real sugar, baby. I have to admit that Ive never even had their burritos or tortas, because Im obsessed with the combo plates, but Im sure theyre equally impressive.
geckos grill 855 n 13th 408-971-1826	San Jose	Mexican	soup the albondigas kills me. the regular bowl is as big as your head and comes with rice and tortillas. ( i got piggie and ordered a large once, never again, i had soup for days for the whole family.) and any of the seafood mojo de ajo, lots of garlic and make sure they dont forget the orange sauce. and ask about local favorite wines. i usually go off hours and watch sports. im bummed they took out the high bar tables. and that i live so far away. http://www.gecko-grill.com/index.htm
Gulzaar Halaal 1880 W. San Carlos Street 408-292-2786	San Jose	Middle Eastern	Kebab Plate, Chicken Samosa and Kebab Sandwich
Hally K Ono Cafe 312 S. 3rd Street 408-977-0709	San Jose	Deli	More than a Deli: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Eastern/Western semi-gourmet dishes. Caribbean Chicken Sandwich with fresh Mangos on Ciabatta bread Sweet Potato Fries with Garlic Aoli Sauce(the bomb) Garlic Steak Fries Chicken with Asian Pear and Brie Sandwich Veggie Wrap Service can be slow at times, but totally worth the wait.
Huong Lan Sandwiches 1655 Tully Rd (408) 258-8868	San Jose	Vietnamese	Sandwiches My favorite here is the combination pork and the fish cake. Hot, crusty French rolls stuffed with fillings. Also, they have a roast item deli and prepackaged rice plates, spring rolls, and other goodies. I really like their lotus root salad as well.
Isfahan Kabob and Beryani 3014 Union Avenue 408-559-1555	San Jose	Middle Eastern	I am a fan of Chelokababi in Sunnyvale, but dont really get over there much, so Ive been looking for a replacement closer to Los Gatos/Campbell. I found it tonight This is a very small restaurant on Union at Foxworthy. I ordered the Chicken Kubideh combo, and the Filet Mignon Kabob. Both came with rice, roasted tomato onion. Everything was excellent. The chicken was extremely tender and juicy, and the Kubideh was the best Ive ever had. The Filet kabob was great too. Their prices are much better than Chelokababi, and Id say the quality is just as good. They use halal meats. The owners were extremely friendly. It looked like most customers take their food to go. Price range was 5.99 - 16.99 (for a combo of filet kubideh). The only vegetarian item on the menu (aside from the sides/appetizers) was a falafel wrap. Id give this place a solid 8.5-9.
Jalisco Taqueria 401 S King Road 408-923-3610	San Jose	Mexican	They have amazing super burritos. Get a super burrito, they put slices of avocado instead of guac. And ask for a bottle of the orange and green sauce and douse it up.
Kumako Ramen 211 E. Jackson Street 408.286.2111	San Jose	Ramen	Tonkatsu Ramen. Oh, what a delicious broth. This is the best ramen Ive had in the States. Thats a lot to say. Reminds me of the really great ramen shops in Tokyo. They have noodles made especially for them. From their web site: "Restaurant manager Arthur Kunimoto, a San Jose native returns to San Jose to start his own ramen shop after decades in New York in the restaurant business." You have to eat there. Gyoza were also delicious. They have unusual flavors, mixing cuisine. Tan-Tan ramen. Mapo ramen. Curry ramen. Prices are reasonable, and the food is a 10. You have to try it Im hooked
Lucys Tamale Factory 974 Story Rd 408 275-Tamale	San Jose	Mexican	Anything Tamale Id suspect. Ive yet to try it myself but I just saw it on NBC 11 oclock news. Then I read on their site theyve been in business for 10years. They seem to be really busy during the Christmas season. o yeah btw Im the same guy that suggested Tacos Mexico but that was like a year ago. Anyways Im hoping to try these tamales out when Im in the area of San Jose. o yeah they have a site too. http://www.lucystamalefactory.com/
Malibu Grill BBQ 5735 CAMDEN AVE 408.448.7300	San Jose	American	Ok, so I personally think that the best thing to order here is the BBQ ribs, but outside of that the pizza and the burgers are great too. Just an FYI this place is a little hole in the wall restaurant tucked in a strip mall next to a 7/11 and is kind of hard to find but well worth it. If you decide to go on a Friday night I recommend going early or calling in your order ahead of time as it gets busy. Hope you like it.
Melting Pot 72 S. First Street (408) 293-6020	San Jose	French	All of the fondues are good, but I feel the cheese (just about any) appetizer fondue and the chocolate (keep it dark) dessert fondue are excellent. The entree fondues are also good but it will add a lot of time to your dinner experience. Pricey but fun. Great special occasion place.
Pho Kim Long 2082 N. Capitol Avenue 408 946 2181	San Jose	Vietnamese	At heart this is place is a greasy spoon, but a bustling one full of happy customers. They renovated recently so the interior is much nicer now. Still, its all about the food and I dont think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. However, all my wife and I will (fanatically) order is the delicious crab meat noodle soup (bun rieu) and the pan fried noodles with chicken.
Pho Y1 Noodle House 1660 E Capitol Expy (408) 274-1769	San Jose	Vietnamese	A bowl of Pho To date, this is the most flavorful and rich broth I have had... In a strip mall, plenty of parking out front.
Pizza Maria 302 Toyon Ave #A 408 929-9939	San Jose	Pizza	Pizza-any type and the chicken and rib lunch combos
President Restaurant 1190 Hillsdale Ave, Suite 100A	San Jose	Chinese	This is all you can eat mongolian BBQ. You make the noodles how you like. Difference between lunch and dinner is price and lunch time there are no seafood items. They also have a steam table full of Chinese goodies. Service is great to, like youre at home.
Queen of Sheba 1860 The Alameda (408) 294-4313	San Jose	Ethiopian	One of the platters to get try out all the dishes. There is a vegetarian platter if you dont eat meat. Ethio tour platter selection may vary but tries to give a good sampling of their dishes. I love the doro wot (chicken cubes in berbere sauce). Ethiopian beer or wine. They have a lunch buffet but I went for dinner. www.queenofshebarestaurant.com
Red Charcoal 1701 Lundy Ave.	San Jose	Korean	Westernized(but not too westernized) Korean eats. Good tofu soup and grilled items. All grilled items come with tasty stirfried sprouts and bok choy. Really good on top of steamed rice. Open air kitchen, tacky styrofoam sculpture, and hip K-pop playing in the background.
Saffron Restaurant 1392 South Bascom Ave. (408) 998-0122	San Jose	Middle Eastern	I suggest the Koobideh Kabab. This place is a family owned operated. Very friendly staff that is happy to answer any questions and suggest yummy items. My first time here the waitress described in detail what everything on the menu was to my mother and I. They bring you water, flat bread, herbs, cheese and onion right off the bat. I always try to save some of the bread to make little Koobideh Kabab wraps. This place is soooo good that I order the Koobideh Kabab for dinner at least once a week. It comes with the traditional ground beef kabab, saffron rice, and grilled tomato. As an added bonus there is a Persian market next door. It is in Dicks Center just north of the Hmailton intersection.
San Pedro Bistro and Wine Bar 20 N Almaden Ave (408) 298-9463	San Jose	American	Small little bistro / wine bar that is still relatively new in Downtown San Jose. Meals are around ~$10. I went for lunch and got a cubed filet steak dish which came with salad and a choice of rice or garlic fries for $9. Other people I went with got a cornish game hen dish for $7 and a shrimp spaghetti dish for $7. We splurged and got dessert, which ranges from $5 - $6. They had cheescake, tiramasu, creme brulee, and an assortment of gelato and sorbet. Overall, its a cute little place for lunch. Clean and nice enough inside that it could pass off as a date place. The waitresses were friendly and service was quick. Had lunch in just under an hour and was ready to head back to work. Would go back to see if maybe I can try out all the wines they have against the wall. Heres some discussion on Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/-6N8Q18MR6hWM6i26nk35w
Straits Restaurant 333 Santana Row, STE 100	San Jose	American	Pan Asian style. Everything is shared but everything is good. Very trendy and loud.
Sweet Passions Bakery 1512 Alum Rock Avenue	San Jose	Bakery	We had marble cake w/ Kahlua - oooohhhhh, and chocolate cake w/ banana creme. They finally have a website going, before - you could only contact them by phone. Not just for weddings, but order a SMALL trust me these cakes are huge
Taste of China 1659 Branham Ln # I	San Jose	Chinese	Great value on their lunch special, but they specialize in noodles as most of the Chinese people who go there eat noodles. For desert try their "Fried coconet"
Texas Smokehouse BBQ 1091 S. Capital Avenue	San Jose	Barbeque	Tri-tip and ribs combo
Thanh Huong 2050 N Capitol Ave (408) 719-1659	San Jose	Vietnamese	Their sandwiches of course Most, if not all their sandwiches are very good, and they have a large selection of non-sandwich items like other banh mi places (I like their chicken and roasted pork). However, the sandwiches are the thing to get plus their baguettes taste good as well. My family and I have been frequenting this establishment for several years because: A. Theyre better than Lees B. Theyre closer than Lees C. This isnt So-Cal where Lees is worshipped by the Vietnamese community
The Happy Bamboo 1711 Branham Lane, Suite A9 408-694-0740	San Jose	Vegetarian	This little vegie restaurant is located at the corner of Camden and Branham, right by 85, and operates by a very nice lady, who shops for her kitchen every morning and does not use MGS. I discovered this place a few months ago and have made many returns since. If you go, you must order the Happy Vegie Burger w/ French Fries. It is exceptionally good. The burger is a vegie patty (with texture very much like chicken), with sautee mushrooms and onions in a delicious teriyaki sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts, mayo, mustard on a Kaiser roll. The fries were very good, crispy outside, moist and soft inside. They were the large cut type. Another must order is the vegie pho. Here they have two types of vegie pho, one comes with noodle and all the texturized protien fake meat stuff the other is the vegetable pho which comes with a good topping of green beans, broccoli, cauliflower and some deep fried tofu squares. The tofu is very fresh tasting and very custardy, not as good as that of San Jose Tofu, but almost. The vegetables were always very fresh. The pho broth is very good, in fact its the best vegie pho broth Ive had in San JOse. Its mild and gentle, but it still makes its presence be known. Its not in your face kind of flavor that hits you on your first slurp then abandones you for the rest of the meal, but the kind of flavor that lingers and wafts back every now and then. Thank god its not salty. Usually I order a regular bowl, squeeze in about 1/2 tsp of hoisin sauce, put in some bean sprouts and the couple slices of serano, mix and eat. I dont even have to use the lemon. Its delicious pho. Oh, the Vegie Drum Sticks are very tasty, although a little on the salty side for me. It would make a nice meal with a side order of green salad and rice, though. Would not recommend the Pad Thai. However, the Stir-Fried Noodles is very good, a little on the spicy hot. My mom tried the Lemon Grass Chicken (Ga Xa Ot) and said it was very delicious, and shes a finicky eater. She also likes the Happy Vegie Burger very much My beef and potatoe boyfirend likes the Curry Tofu and the Vegan German Chocolate Cake. All in all The Happy Bamboo serves up very fresh vegerian food, without MSG, in a nice cozy atmosphere. Service can be alittle slow even when they are not busy.
The Mynt 5210 Prospect Road 408-973-9673	San Jose	Indian	OMG Everthing Havent had a bad dish yet We have only been for dinner so we have not tried the lunch buffet, but judging by dinner it should be great. The tandori rack of lamb is amazing as is the sea bass. Vege samaosa and the tomato soup is to die for Please give this place a try, they are so nice. The food is as good or better than Amber India, and much less expensive
Village Cafe Restaurant 378 Santana Row	San Jose	American	Good sandwiches for lunch. Great patio dining. Good place to people watch while kicking back and eating.
Yankee Pier 378 Santana Row 408-244-1244	San Jose	American	I know you guys dont usually do Santana Row, but this places small bar is perfect for catching a game with a bowl of chowda and an Anchor Steam. Good chocolate cupcake too, for extra innings. Check it out.
Horatios 60 San Leandro Marina (510) 351-5556	San Leandro	Steakhouse	well, i dont know if this is considered a steakhouse, but prime rib is all i eat here you HAVE to get the "rock salt roasted Prime Rib of beef" with the mushroom sauce topping. they just changed their menu so im not sure if the portion will be as generous as i went. but when i went, the large cut (they had large or petite cut at the time) was huge. it was a big piece of meat it was maybe 3 inches thick. it s oh so tasty. i dont even like prime rib i have to admit this was the best piece of meat id ever had.
Pho An Hoa 14391 Washington Ave. 510352-2728	San Leandro	Vietnamese	Pho. Rice plates are good if youre into that. My friend had a porkchop rice plate and he loved it. They serve fruit shakes, which are quite popular. Surprisingly, for a random place like San Leandro, it is one heckuva bowl of pho without driving to San Jose or Oakland Chinatown to get a decent bowl. I always eat mine with a dipping sauce consisting of a mixture of hoisin and chili sauce.
Apollo Restaurant 2450 S El Camino Real	San Mateo	Malaysian	Dont let the name of this restaurant mislead you, it is not Greek, but serves really tasty Singaporean and Malaysian food in a nicely decorated dining room for a reasonable price. This restaurant was formerly named Penang Garden, after changing owner, I was very glad the quality of the food did not change. Here are some of my recommendations: Roti with curry appetizer, Penang Chicken, Hainan Chicken, Singapore Beef, Mango Chicken. Their lunch special runs about $6-7 and comes with a soup of the day.
Everyday Beijing 637 South B St. (650) 373-7878	San Mateo	Chinese	Beijing/Northern Chinese cuisine. Fish and chive dumplings, any dumplings really, Jing Dong pork pie, stir fried strips of pancake. They make noodles fresh everyday and its really homestyle cooking. The cold dishes are really good too.
Fortune Star 173 W 25th Avenue 650-341-3432	San Mateo	Chinese	I have actually only had their luncheon specials...great prices and you get a ton of food, including some great hot sour soup Check it out, its cheap and tasty esp if you like that old fashioned American Chinese food that we used to consume back when we were kids...
Heidis Pies 1941 S. El Camino Real	San Mateo	American	ALL of the pies are fantastic, but my favorites are the banana cream and the coconut cream
Joy Sushi 30 South B Street (650) 340-8974	San Mateo	Japanese	This place is excellent with their raw and baked rolls. Would recommend the "Joy Scallop" roll above all else. But I must say Ive not had a roll I didnt like. Their nigiris are the most generous Ive seen in the Bay Area and at a good price, too. I am not affiliated with the restaurant, but I go on average once a month because its our favorite in DT San Mateo (except when were feeling like soba, then we go to hotaru). I would order on average 1.25 rolls/person if you figuring out quantity. Avg cost per person is about $10. (assuming no alcohol). If youre in San Mateo, definitely worth a try
Nawab India 5 S. Ellsworth Ave 650 401 8424	San Mateo	Indian	Lots of good choices, but I always remember the samosas. The veggie kind, not the lamb. Even though I normally go for all things meat. The samosas are beautifully spiced. They are the best Ive ever had by far. I commonly order for main dishes (and thoroughly enjoy): chicken tikka masala, chicken korma, chicken vindaloo, lamb korma. I have only been for dinner when they are rarely packed and the meals are individually attended to. Im told their lunch buffet may be pretty bad. So for a complete review, try both. http://www.nawabsanmateo.com/
Peninsula Grill 1855 S Delaware St. (650) 577-9999	San Mateo	American	This place is great as a night stop or a lunch stop. I worked a block away at the Crossroads building and once I found out about Peninsula Grill I was hooked. The first thing I loved was the HUGE number of menu items. I love variety The second thing I loved about the place is that breakfast is served ALL day Nice This place features some good old fashioned comfort food along with some modern favorites and everything in between. Here are some of my favorites there in order: 1. Steak and Eggs with Hash Browns and English Muffin. 2. Grilled Chicken Salad (about 5 pounds worth). Get the Blue Cheese dressing 3. Onion Rings 4. Hot Wings
Shalizaar 120 West 25th Avenue 650-341-9300	San Mateo	Middle Eastern	This is an Iranian restaurant. Any of the kebab dishes any of the dill rice (polo) dishes the combos are great value with lots of food. All entrees come with a large plate of rice, but you can substitute that with green salad or 1/2 rice 1/2 salad. My Iranian friends say this is the best in the Bay Area.
Shanghai East 105 W 25th Ave (650) 522-9098	San Mateo	Chinese	Any of the Shanghai specialties like lions head meatballs, xiao long bao (soup dumplings), sheng jian bao (fried bao/dumplings) etc.
Shiki Japanese 1332 W. Hillsdale Blvd 650-341-8988	San Mateo	Japanese	Golden Crispy Roll. Dynamite Roll. Godzilla Roll. Gyoza. Tempura Banana dessert. Even the CA Roll.. simple, yet perfect.
456 Chinese Restauraunt 2362 Pruneridge Avenue 408�985�8456	Santa Clara	Chinese	I like HOT, so my two favorite dishes here are the Mongolian beef and the Pinenut chicken in garlic sauce. Depending on Lunch or Dinner plates the price varies, but I like this place even better than China Stix.
Alyis N Rose 1686 Lafayette Street (408) 249-4478	Santa Clara	Bakery	Order what they are most known for-"The San Jose Bean Pie". Its a pie made out of navy beans. Very sweet and delicious. The shop, located on Lafayette Street is a basic coffee shop with seating and the like. They serve coffee and pastries, but the main attraction is the bean pie. They also make a carrot pie, which is subtle in flavor and creamy. If you cant make it to the shop in Santa Clara, you can visit the Downtown San Jose Farmers Market (Fridays, 10am to 2pm on the block of San Pedro Square). They have a stand there with free samples (of the bean and carrot pies). They have little "taster" pies for $2 and $4 (smaller pies) if you and your friends are hesitant about committing to a regular-sized pie. But I guarantee, youll want to splurge and get the large one.
Athena Grill 1505 Space Park Drive 408-561-9144	Santa Clara	Mediterranean	You must try the Dip/Spread sampler (It is excellent if you like hummus type things) The Chicken Souvlaki Plate is good too. Is is just a delicious marinated chicken skewer with rice. Someone in line in front of me was raving about the Spanakopita. They also post specials that are not on the menu. I would get there around 11AM because that is when they start serving lunch and it is before the crowd. It is very busy during lunch. Some have said this is the best Greek restaurant in the South Bay.
Di Ciccos Ristorante Italiano 2665 El Camino 408-247-6161	Santa Clara	Italian	Havent been there in a while. I remember the raviolis being good as a kid. Want to know if its worth going back.
Fiorillos 638 El Camino Real (408)984-0414	Santa Clara	Italian	Chicken Rollatini. Its a stuffed chicken breast covered in wine sauce. They give you veggies and pasta on the side. More than enough food. They also have a really good pizza too.
House of Egg Roll 985 Memorex Dr (408) 748-8834	Santa Clara	Vietnamese	Their egg rolls ($0.60) are really good and you can also ask for the dipping sauce. You can get it fresh if you want to buy a lot (6). Their prices are really cheap comparing to other places. This place is mainly to go food but you can sit in there and eat. The atmosphere is not great but thats why the food is cheap. The owner is really friendly and the service is fast. They also sell uncooked eggrolls if you request it early. Noodle Soups, and vermecelli with shrimp and pork are also good choices. I just ordered their fried chicken wings. Kind of oily but really good flavor. Overall, you can get a quick meal at good prices. My family used to order from them when were too lazy to cook on friday nights. I think they only accept cash but Im not sure.
Las Flamas 2325 El Camino Real (408) 241-7407	Santa Clara	Mexican	Goat tacos Got to have the goat on Saturdays and Sundays. Go for the tacos.
Mezbaan 3939 Rivermark Village 408-845-0064	Santa Clara	Indian	The lunch buffet is impressive At least 12-14 dishes to choose from including vegetable pakora, butter chicken, daal, aloo gobi, chicken tandoori, channa massala, etc. Also salad and fresh fruit are served. Hot fresh naan is delivered to your table. I believe the buffet runs about 10-11 (a friend paid for me).. Delicious, quick and a lovely setting. Located on the last row of restaurants/shops, closest to the parking garage. Wish I had the time to go today
ocean blue sushi club 1010 E El Camino Real	Santa Clara	Japanese	cool name, cool place. Pretty good tuna collars, rolls, sashimi. Prices a bit steep but portions are impressive.
Pho Kang 2207 Tasman Drive	Santa Clara	Vietnamese	Anything, really.
Tong Soon Garden 3240 El Camino Real	Santa Clara	Chinese	Lunch szechuan prawns, ma-po tofu, anything else from the list. Though fairly standard as a local Chinese, they have the knack of perfect batter deep fat frying missing from most cheap restaurants. There prices are extremely low (lunch $7 for soup, starter and choice of entree) Special tip, soup is Hot and Sour mon,wed,fri or eggflower tue,thur. The hot and sour is best :)
Tuttis Grill Coffee 3075 El Camino Real 408.246.9292	Santa Clara	Korean	Bul go gi, of course The banchan is fresh and plentiful. The building is an old Taco Bell building and looks not so nice on the outside. The inside is updated and the service is quick. Food is always good, I go there at least once a week. I think Ill have the Du Guk next week . . .yummy rice cake soup . . .
Afghan Persian Kabob 604 S, Mary Avenue (Corner of El Camino Real Mary Ave.) 408-733-5262	Sunnyvale	Afghan	This restaurant is listed also under Persian Afghan Kabob. I love the food here. My favorite was the juicy chicken kabob. Ask for a side of tomatoes. Order the Kashk Bademjon (creamy eggplant dip) and enjoy it with the warm bread and homemade mint chutney. I like patronizing family restaurants and this place is intimate and cozy. They have a great take-out menu as well and we recently used them to cater one of our parties. As long as you give them a days notice, you are good to have and serve delicious kabobs for your next office or house party.
Coolicious Creamery 10/10 520 Lawrence Expwy 408-245-0215	Sunnyvale	Ice Cream	The back Faces Lawrence, so look for the sign. It is in the same shopping center as St.Johns Bar/Grill on the opposite end. The one thing about their Gelato is it tastes exactly like what the flavor is supposed to taste like. Once in a while you will get one that is a little icy but the flavor is still there. I grew up with Pistachio Ice Cream but never found one that tasted like the real thing until Coolicious. Dark Chocolate, Mango, Creme Brulee, Dulce de Leche, Strawberry Cheescake a ton more flavors. They have FroYo also but havent tried it yet. They make different Crepes also which I have not tried yet. You wont be disappointed
Cups and Coins Sunnyvale Town Center	Sunnyvale	Chinese
Dragonwell Pan Asian Bistro 1101 Elko Drive	Sunnyvale	Chinese
Gobi Mongolian BBQ 1135 Tasman Drive (408) 752-0866	Sunnyvale	Chinese	Fill one bowl with meat, another with veggies. Sauce them both. Watch as they are cooked, and prepare to enjoy the results immensely. This place opened recently. Although it isnt spacious, it is definitely tasty and a good value. Lunch was $7.50 per person.
Seto Japanese Cuisine 511 Borregas Ave 408-735-8280	Sunnyvale	Japanese	Great sushi place in an unusual spot in Sunnyvale. Just a block off Mathilda in a mixed industrial/residential neighborhood. Excellent, high quality sushi plus the usual Japanese fare. Good menu. A little on the pricey side but worth it.
Valle Sol 168 S Murphy Ave (408) 738-8348	Sunnyvale	Mexican	Used to be El Faro Restaurant in Downtown Sunnyvale. Now they have remodled, changed the name, made it much more modern and changed up the menu. Their food has always been good, now it is even BETTER I enjoy their soups, the veggie tostada (I add grilled shrimp to it. SOOOOOO GOOD) Their Milanesa is always to die for and the Mole Poblano de Pollo is something you have to try I hope you enjoy it as much as I do
Banyan Tree (aka Banyan Garden) 1771 Decoto Rd 510-324-8506	Union City	Malaysian	Went with a large party for the first time and we had the Aromatic Chicken and Kung Pao Lamb, both of which were well received. Didnt try the noodles, though I wish I had. Food was reasonably priced (approx $10/dish). The satay and roti appetizers were also good. They seemed to have a lot of seafood dishes which no one in my party ordered. Would definitely like to sample the menu more.
Nayong Filipino 1796 Whipple Road 510-489-9888	Union City	Filipino	The pork sisig (diced BBQ pork with chilis), pancit and anything adobo. A catering joint that also offers dine in service, though not fancy. In the same plaza as Taqueria Del Sol. Cheap, but very tasty stuff.