Aki - Vancouver downtown, BC, Canada

Aki is one of the good sushi restaurants on my list in Vancouver.

Aki Restaurant
745 Thurlow Street, between Robson and Alberni
Vancouver, BC, Canada
604 682-4032

Hapa Izakaya - Vancouver, B.C. Canada

Hapa Izakaya is a fun and trendy place to eat and hang out with your friends all coming back from different parts of the world to Vancouver. There is always a young and beautiful crowd gathered outside starting around 6pm creating a false sense that it's the hottest club in town. Their robata items are small but delicious and can get expensive when you try more than a few of them.

Here is some background of Hapa that I found on the web.

Hapa Izakaya
1479 Robson Street
Vancouver BC, Canada
604-689-4272

Hours
Sun-Thurs 5:30pm-midnight;
Fri-Sat 5:30pm-1am

Luk Yu Tea House - Central, Hong Kong

You can spend a lot or a little eating out in Hong Kong. If you don't mind eating with the richest old money in Hong Kong and have bad service, I suggest going to Luk Yu Tea House for Dim Sum. Don't be fooled by the name. It not your pearl milk tea place you see in US. This one has a long history behind with tables seated by the same family for generations and no one else. You don't know how much is their dim sum because the price is not shown assuming you are the regulars and no prices need to be listed.

I have only been there once in my whole life with my dad. We saw a few famous old money there but did not care just like the waiter did not care about us much. The tea, I was told, was worth the weight of gold andthe dim sum were exquisitely made. But I still think it's overpriced. I guess you are paying to eat within the rich and famous which for me does not worth much.

Luk Yu Tea House
24-26 Stanley St
Central, Central District
2523 5464
Hours: 7am - 10pm

Yucca De Lac Restaurant - Sha Tin, Hong Kong

This restaurant was the fanciest and most romantic restaurant in Hong Kong back in the late '60s. So many Chinese black and white movies were shot there. Only the rich and famous people in that colonial Hong Kong era could eat there. Not because of its expensive price alone but also because of its location. It's in Sha Tin and up the hill. If you don't own a car, you have to go there by taxi which the average people would not bother unless they plan to propose to someone there. :-) My older sister and I used to quickly finish our plates and start running around the open terrace, garden setting restaurant and peek at couples from the dim candlelight while they are trying to be romantic. I still vividly remember those days!!

Roast Pigeon and spring rolls were their specialty. I have not been there for soooooooo long that I wonder if they still hold that prestigious image. I would be interested to go there for dinner again.

*BTW, I wasn't born until the '70s. :-)

YUCCA DE LAC RESTAURANT
雍雅山房
Ma Liu Shui, Sha Tin
沙田馬料水
2691-1630

Burma Superstar - San Francisco, CA

I started going there when I was just a college student. They were very low-key (with minimal decor) restaurant that served quality home-cooked meal for a good price. But over the past 10 years, they have re-faced their interiors and successfully target the trendier crowds. The food is still good but the wait is long, the portion is very small and the price, IMHO, is over-priced.

I have not been back for some time now but I do miss their food. I will go there still despite the new prices.

Burma Superstar
309 Clement St. (Cross street: 4th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 387-2147

Maykadeh - San Francisco, CA

This is a Persian restaurant that I like in San Francisco. I went there for a friend's birthday dinner and really enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere there. The food portion was also good and I finished everything!

I can never remember their name but I do remember their location, so whenever someone mentioned "good Persian food in San Francisco downtown", I will have to ask, "is it that one on Green Street?" Yah, I know, my bad. But it turns out it is always that one that people are referring to. (There is only one on Green Street. That area is dominated by Italian restaurants.)

So can you trust me to be the judge on Persian food? Well, probably not because I have only been to a few Persian restaurants but this one is delicious and have enough of the good sauce to go along. Other ones I have been to were kind of dry and that's all I remembered about them. So you will definitely not see me posting those restaurants here.

By the way, make sure you have a reservation. The place is not that big.

Maykadeh
470 Green Street at Grant Ave
San Francisco
(415) 362-8286

MON-THURS 11:45-10:30pm
FRI-SAT 11:45-11:00pm
SUNDAY 11:45-10:00pm

Peninsular Hotel - Kowloon, Hong Kong

Have a lot of money to burn? Go to Pennisular Hotel Lobby for High Tea. I have the good fortune to go there a lot with my parents on weekends with their friends when I was young. I ususally order Hot Chocolate and an Orange Juice. But later when I went there with my college friends , I just order a hot Lemon Tea. They are really expensive! I don't know how much High Tea cost but I heard around US$25.00 per person.

Peninsula Hotel (Lobby)
Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon, Hong Kong

While back in Hong Kong for vacation when I was studying abroad, I went to Felix on the 28th floor with our friends from Canada. It was and probably still is the swankiest bar and restaurant in Hong Kong for the young and rich. It has the best closeup view of the Victoria Harbor at night. The interior was designed by ubiquitous Philippe Starck. The food itself is not too special but the atmosphere is unique and the crowd is trendy.

Felix
28th floor, Peninsular Hotel, Hong Kong
Tel: 2315 3188
Hours:Mon - Sun 6pm - 2am

Golden Elephant Thai Restaurant - Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Located on the 11th Floor of the Time Square Food Forum, Golden Elephant Thai Restaurant features a large variety of food and dessert buffet. It was said to be the best Thai buffet in Hong Kong. You better go there really hungry or there might be some regrets for not being able to taste everything you want. I think I have this regret even today. Ala Carte is available but buffet is the best bet.

Prices:
Their price is relatively expensive, about US$30.00 per person.

Golden Elephant Thai Restaurant
11/F, Food Forum, Times Square,
1 Matheson St., Causeway Bay,
Hong Kong
Tel: 2506 1333

Hours:
Daily 11:30 a.m.-2:30p.m
6:00 pm - 9:30 p.m.

Koryo Korean BBQ - Oakland, CA

Koryo wood charcoal BBQ on Telegraph are many people's standard for what quality Korean BBQ is. People flock in to this restaurant even on a hot, hot day. The service is not good (and sometimes pretty bad) but that does not stop people from returning there for the food. Yes, it's that delicious. You can choose to do your own cooking or have it cooked. I have always thought the restaurant is in Berkeley but it turns out it's in the city of Oakland.

*Don't be confused with the Koryo Sushi next door.

Koryo
4390 Telegraph Ave, #J (at 43rd)
Oakland, CA 94609
Tel: 510.652.6007

Business Hours:
5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Tue. to Thu.;
5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Fri. and Sat.; <---- till 3am!?
5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sun.;
closed Mondays.

Koi Palace - Daly City, CA

It's called the best Dim Sum place in the Bay Area. I think it might be true because everyone I know have been there and only have good things to say about them. My out-of-town parents have been there a few times while I have only waited in line for the few times I tried. It's frustrating to see so many people waiting to be seated and it never seems to worth my time. Maybe I will try some other time at a later Dim Sum hour.

They are good for Dinner Banquet, too, for a minimum party of 10 people. Their prices are on the high side.

Koi Palace
鲤鱼門海鲜茶寮
Serramonte Plaza
365 Gellert Blvd,
Daly City CA 94015
Tel: (650) 992-9000

山東小館 - San Francisco, CA

I had a hard time looking up this place since I don't know their restaurant name in English. But typing it in Chinese immediately gave me a dozen links.

This restaurant is so good and famous in San Francisco that you usually have to wait for 45 minutes before seated. We usually either skip lunch and go there around 5:30 or 6pm to avoid the line or just pick another restaurant. Once you got your table, you will notice how a mass of people are standing inside and outside of the restaurant. This place is famous for their spicy Chinese food with a lot of variety in dumplings and buns. Their prices are cheap, too, compare to the quality and amount of food you are getting. It would be best if you are going with a group of people so you can order and try more dishes. Also, I think you get a table easier if you have a big group.

山東小館
San Tung Chinese Restaurant
1031 Irving Street (between 11th and 12th Street)
San Francisco, CA 94122
TEL: (415)242-0828 .

Bechelli's - San Francisco, CA

Marina District is a relaxing place to walk around in the City on weekends. If you get up early and jog around the Marina, you can work up a good appetite for a big breakfast. Where should you go then? Why Chestnut street, of course. There used to be a Victor's Market where my friend worked part-time there on weekends. He will make me this HUGE, delicious Roast Beef sandwich on Dutch Crunch (probably the best you could ever get your hands on) with a bottled fresh squeezed orange juice. But poor Victors' Market lost it's lease and had to move to somewhere else. :-( My friend also moved on to better things.

So the second and only choice there now is Bechelli's Brunch. I am not a big fan of big breakfast but this place has a long line every weekend and people just really love the brunch there. It's part of the tradition in Marina to bring your family there to eat and meet your neighbors. I have never lived in that area so of course I did not know anyone. But my friend who worked there for some 5 years is the "star" at Marina. Even the older generations from San Francisco high society from that district is just charmed by his natural charisma and good personality. But anyways, check out Bechelli's if the line is not too long that day.

Bechelli's
2346 Chestnut Street
(Cross Street: Scott Street)
San Francisco, CA 94123
415.346.1801
Mon-Sun, 7am-3pm

Frjtz - San Francisco, CA

If you happened to be in the artsy area of San Francisco and want to sit down and have a snack, stop by Frjtz for some Belgium (garlic) fries, sweet crepes or split a sandwich with someone. This is a popular, tiny but nice San Franciscans hangout place. My friend held his photography "exhibition" there 2 years ago and that's how we found out this place. I will not mind going there whenever I am in San Francisco but parking could be a challenge. I have not been to the one in Ghiradelli Square, I think that's their new store.

Frjtz
Hayes Valley
579 Hayes Street / Laguna
San Francisco, Ca 94102
415.864.7654
hours:
M-T 9:00 - 22:00
Fri 9:00 - 00:00
Sat 10:00 - 00:00
Sun 10:00 - 21:00

Ghiradelli Square
900 Northpoint / Larkin
San Francisco, Ca 94109
415.928.3886
hours:
Open everyday
with seasonal hours, please call <---- Interesting ...

Yeah! - Redwood City, CA

Ok, talking about my cousin earlier, I guess I should include their restaurant here as well. It's actually a very good Szechuan restaurant. Don't be confused by the name Yeah!, it's not one of those Asian fusion restaurants My parents enjoy eating there very much. (They have been there more than me and they are picky.)
Something you should try is their seafood dishes and Szechuan Cold Noodles. Their chefs are Szechuan trained and living at the company/restaurant provided housing.

Yeah!
246 Redwood Shores Pkwy
Redwood City, CA 94065
Mon - Thu 11:30am - 9:30pm
Fri - 11:30am - 10:00pm
Sat - Sun 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Phone: (650) 508-0999

The Carnelian Room - San Francisco, CA

This exclusive restaurant on the 52nd floor of Bank of America Building in San Francisco is a private dinning room for members of the Banker's Club by day and open to public for drinks and dining only in the evening. It has a good view of San Francisco and the food and services are good. My sister got married there and I ate there for lunch before with my cousin's family. Otherwise, I have not been there and I have no idea how much it costs to eat there. Give it a try if you want a taste of high society in San Francisco. For me, I don't miss going there at all.

Carnelian Room
Bank of America Building
555 California Street (corner of Kearny Street)
(415) 433-7500

Breads of India - Berkeley, CA

Berkeley have a lot of excellent restaurants to go to.

Breads of India is one that will not disappoint you.
2448 Sacramento
(cross street Dwight)
Berkeley, CA 94702
Tel: (510) 848-7684

Open seven days:
Lunch: 11:30 am- 2:30 pm
Dinner: 5:30 pm- 9:30 pm

Gordon Biersch - CA, USA

This restaurant has been sort of a chaiin restaurant now. When I first went there in 1994, it was upscale and of good quality. Now it has become more of a casual dining with a smaller menu. I like the one in San Jose Downtown and not the one in Stanford/Palo Alto. I heard the one in Pasadena (Los Angeles) is pretty good,. too.

Gordon Biersch
33 East San Fernando Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: 408-294-6785

*You can order a beer and sample the others for free.

LuLu - San Francisco, CA

Almost forgot about this restaurant... This restaurant is classified as a Californian/Mediterranean restaurant, but I don't feel anything Meditterranean about the menu except maybe some of the colorful decor inside. It's a great family restaurant with wonderful atmosphere. Their portion is big so sharing at the table is most welcome!

Lulu Restaurant
816 Folsom St
San Francisco, CA 94107
Tel: (415) 495-5775

Hours: Open Mon-Thu,Sun 11:30am-10:30pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-11:30pm

Hong Kong Yung Kee Restaurant - Central, Hong Kong

If you visit Hong Kong, you better eat at this restaurant to show you know where the good eats in Hong Kong are. You will be asked by your Hong Kong friends (if you have any) if you ate there or not after your trip to the tiny island. All those other restaurants around the world calling themselves Yung Kee is just an imitation, wannabe of this one which has been in business for decades. They are literally the authority on how Roast Goose is done.

香港鏞記酒家
Hong Kong Yung Kee Restaurant
32-40 Wellington Street
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: 2522 1624

Spring Deer Restaurant - Kowloon, Hong Kong

Take those who can appreciate good authentic Peking food while they are visiting Hong Kong. It's not cheap but definitely worth it. Some dishes must be ordered in advance and reservation is necessary.

鹿鳴春
Spring Deer Restaurant
42 Mody Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon (Nathan Rd.)
Hong Kong
Tel: 2723-3637

北京樓 - Central, Hong Kong

Want to go to an upscale, expensive Peking restaurant while you are in Hong Kong? Go to this famous restaurant in the busy Central District at night. Everything is good there.

北京樓
Peking Garden Restaurant
1st & 2nd Basements,
Alexandra House,
6 Ice House St.,
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: 2526-6456

Hours: 11:30-15:00,17:30-midnight

Check out their manylocations.

新洪長興飯店 - Kowloon, Hong Kong

I miss their "Wonton Chicken Soup". :-( This is a long-time reputable Peking/Beijing restaurant in Hong Kong still with the '60s look. Reservation is necessary.

新洪長興飯店
Sun Hung Cheung Hing Restaurant
1/F, Kimberly Plaza, 45-47, Kimbarey Rd.,
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Tel: 2369-3435
Hours: 11:00-23:00

上海鼎盛 Shanghai Ding Sheng Restaurant - Milpitas, CA

I am so lucky this place is close to my work. They have the best Shanghai food in the Bay Area and the price is really inexpensive. Ususally no reservation is required. Make sure you order their Onion Cake, Shanghai Small Wonton, and Spicy 8 Delicacy Noodles. Everything else on the menu is good, too. Bring more people there whenever possible (so you can order more dishes)!

Shanghai Dingsheng Restaurant
686 Barber Ln.
Milpitas, CA 95035
Tel: 408-943-8786

Buffet at Bellagio - Las Vegas, NV

I usually don't go to buffet because I dislike having so much food on display with crowds walking around. But whether you are staying at Bellagio or not, make sure you go for the buffet there. It is upscale yet with prices very affordable. Both the variety and quality of food are good. A rare find, don't you think?

BELLAGIO
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV

Wolfgang Puck Express - Waikiki, HI

Need some food after a whole day of fun at the Wakiki Beach? Stop by Wolfgang Puck Express at the ground level of Aston Hotel and order a Caesar Salad and another dish (pizza or meat) would be the most ideal. So refreshing and inexpensive, too! There are other Wolfgang Puck restaurants in SF and Vegas...but believe it or not, the Express at Waikiki turns out to be the best!!

Wolfgang Puck Express
Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel
2570 Kalakaua Ave., Space 115
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 931-6226

Golden Moutain - Hayward, CA

This is a very good Chinese restaurant in a Hayward that is very affordable. Make sure you call ahead of time for their Winter Melon Chung (winter melon soup with delicacies cooked inside the cavity of the melon).

Golden Mountain Restaurant
(510) 537-6586
21933 Foothill Blvd
Hayward, CA 94541

ANZU - San Francisco, CA

Looking for a more refined place for Sunday brunch? ANZU at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco would be an idea. I love their Lobster Bisque with bread. Of course the smoke salmon and everything else is pretty good, too. :-) I actually don't know how much it is to have brunch there. I went with my out-of-town relatives there while they were staying at the hotel. You can check out their monthly Sunday brunch menu from the web.

ANZU
Second Level, Hotel Nikko
222 Mason Street
San Francisco, CA

*Oh my, $50.00/person - not cheap!

牛角焼肉 Gyu-Kaku Yakiniku - Honolulu, HI

This is a trendy Yakiniku place with great atmosphere and acceptable prices. Must go if you are in Hawaii.
* They sometimes hand out coupons (within 2 blocks of the restaurant) for $1.00 beer or special discounts to keep that place really packed.

Gyu-Kaku Yakiniku Dining
1221 Kapiolani Blvd Ste 105
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 589-2989

Cross Street:
Between Piikoi St and Pensacola St

The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA

This is a very famous restaurant in SF. The restaurant has interesting decor and good atmosphere. They serve roasted garlic with meat and veggies on the side. :-) It's a good idea to take your out-of-town friends there to experience fun dining in the City.

The Stinking Rose
325 Columbus Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94133
1(415) PU-1-ROSE
Open Daily
11:00 am - 11:00 pm

*They are in Los Angeles, CA, too!?

Ginseng Korean BBQ - Las Vegas, NV

Authentic Korean BBQ in Vegas. You will love its food, atmosphere and location (with free parking).

Ginseng Korean BBQ
3765 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
( 702) 891-8403

Fuki Sushi - Palo Alto, CA

This Japanese restaurant is not bad. I will go there again and again. You will see many Japanese businessmen and young couples having dates at this restaurant. I am surprised to find out they actually have a pretty fancy website.

Fouquet's - Paris, France

This restaurant has been considered the icon of Paris life, tradition and history. We went there during the summer of 2000. I was not impressed by their food or service. You almost have to take out a loan to pay for the meal... But I guess being the younger generation, we just don't appreciate the high life as much as the older generations. Reasonably priced, trendy atmosphere and friendly service with good food mean more to us than eating at a restaurant full of celeb pictures and autographs hanging everywhere on the wall.

Fouquet's
99 Avenue des Champs Elysées; 75008, PARIS
Tel: 1 47.23.70.60
Metro: George V

Ten-ichi - Tokyo, Japan

Tempura, tempura, tempura! Where to go for tempura while you are in Japan? This will be a good place if you can expense it... There are 10 Ten-ichi resturants in Tokyo and there are plenty of websites that talk about this restaurant.


Ten-ichi 天一
Hours Daily 11:30am-9:30pm
Address 6-6-5 Ginza
Location On Namiki Dori, Ginza & Hibiya
Transportation Station: Ginza (3 min.)
Reservations Reservations recommended for lunch, required for dinner
Phone 03/3571-1949
Prices Set dinners ¥10,000-¥18,000 ($83-$150); set lunches ¥7,000-¥10,000 ($58-$83)

聘珍樓 (Heichinrou) - Yokohama, Japan

The Chinese food in Yokohama Chinatown is of above average quality. This one is very good and expensive with long waiting time.

聘珍樓
神奈川県横浜市中区山下町149

Heichinrou
Yamashitacho 149, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 231-0023
Tel: 045-681-3001

Hours:
11:00～23:00

How to get there?
7min walk from JR Keihin Tohoku line Ishikawacho satation
5 min walk from Minato mirai line Chuka-gai station

頂泰豐(Ding Tai Fung) - Taipei, Taiwan

Best xiaolongbao (steamed miniature dumplings in a basket)? You have to think Ding Tai Fung, where else?

The wait is long but worth it. Must try when you are in Taipei!

Ding Tai Fung

信義店：(02)2321-8928
忠孝店：(02)2721-7890

Water Street Deli & Pizza - New York, NY

Thanks to my sister living on Water Street while she was in New York, we went to this place and it's just simply GREAT.

Water Street Deli & Pizza
12 Water St, New York 10004
Btwn Broad & Moore St
Phone: 212-785-5220

Taiko Japanese Restaurant - Irvine, CA

This Japanese restaurant is one I missed a lot. I went there with my cousin and his friends when I just started college in San Francisco. I am so glad I still remember it and they are still around.

Taiko Japanese Restaurant
14775 Jeffrey Rd
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 559-7190

Mustacio's - Toronto, Canada

This place is inside the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto Downtown. They specialized in Veal and Eggplant Foccacia Sandwich. I am so glad my research before my trip to Toronto included this place. The trip was for a high school classmate's wedding but the fun part is really the activities I have planned afterwards. Weddings are boring...

Mustacio's
Lower Level B34
South St. Lawrence Market
on Front and Jarvis Street
Toronto, Canada
416-368-5241

Hours:
Tues-Thurs 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Fridays 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturdays 5 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dundee's - Montreal, Canada

This restaurant has the best looking staff you will find in the business. I thought it was only me but look here and I quote: "As a bonus, Dundee's has a cool little bar with the finest looking staff on Crescent."

The food, the menu, the atmosphere, the price and the staff are all so wonderful. We ate there 3 times during our short trip there. Yes, it was that good and attractive. I don't know their menu well but their delicious escargot, onion soup, duck confit with french bread is unforgettable. We went there in May 2002... it has been almost 3 years?!. (sob...sob...) That's almost the only place I remember about my Montreal trip.

Dundee's
2010 rue Crescent
Montreal, PQ
514-985-2625

Lion Beer Hall - Tokyo, Japan

I went there with my co-worker who was there for work in May 2000. Surprisingly we had a great time there despite of all the cigarette smoke around us. The food was great, the beer was great and it was not expensive at all (as I recalled). What else could you ask for?

Lion Beer Hall
Sapporo Ginza Building, 7-9-20 Ginza Chuo-ku,
Tokyo, Japan
3571 2590

Musashi - Vancouver, BC

I wish Musashi is in the Bay Area. Too bad I can only go there when I visit my parents in Vancouver. It's just half a block away from our house near Robson and Denman. It's a full house every night and the head chief knows my parents well. We always get more than we ordered and the bill is often time a major round-down. We go there for the fresh food and friendly service of course.

Musashi Japanese Restaurant,
780 Denman, Vancouver, BC
604-687-0634
(5pm-1am, Su 5pm-12am)

Shan Indian Restaurant

I go to this small Indian restaurant when I crave for naan and chicken masala. Potato or garlic naan with chicken masala is especially good on a cold, gloomy winter night. This is another restaurant that I will receive a coupon on a free entree with order of a full price entree from time to time. What a good deal!

Shan
5251 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95051
(408) 260-9200

Pluto's - Palo Alto, CA

This place is almost always full of lively conversations and noise. The ordering process is initially confusing but the price is right in a town where decent fresh food on a daily budget is difficult to find. It is one of the few places where you can get a great salad with meat on top.

Go there for the Salad and Spuds or even Sandwiches. It's great!

Pluto's (the website does not speak well for the food...)
482 University Ave, Palo Alot, CA
(650) 853-1556

Naan 'N' Curry - San Francisco, CA

The name of this Indian slipped my mind all afternoon until now. Love this place! Their free Chai is also very good!

It seems chaotic, but regulars know to order at the counter, get their own drinks and tableware, then pay afterward. Tandoor lamb chops might light a fire you can temper with fresh naan or a mango lassi, but don't miss out on the curries. Chana masala with garbanzos and aloo ghobi made with potato and cauliflower are perfect for vegetarians.

They have several locations:

642 Irving St. (near Eighth Avenue);
(415) 664-7225.
Lunch, dinner daily.

Also at 478 O'Farrell St. and 533 Jackson St., and 2366 Telegraph Ave. and 2984 College Ave., Berkeley.

Cafe Yulong - Mountain View, CA

Craving for good Shandong dumplings and noodles? Go to Cafe Yulong for their pork or shrimp dumplings. You will love their dumpling wrap and their Tan Tan Noodles. Everything else on the menu is very good, too.

743 W. Dana St. (near Castro),
Mountain View, CA
(650) 960-1677.
Lunch, dinner daily.

Truly Mediterranean - San Francisco, CA

The best falafel in the whole Bay Area. I have the luxary to go there a lot when I was living in San Francisco. Make sure you try their Falafel Deluxe. Once you have been there, you will find no other falafel place will match up to its taste. It's a great place for both vegetarians and meat lovers. I ususally just stick with the Falafel Deluxe and a can of Coke!

Go to the original one in Mission District and not the one near the touristy area on Columbus. Get it to go for picnic in Golden Gate Park would be ideal but eat it while it's still hot from the grill.

Truly Mediterranean
3109 16th St., San Francisco, CA (Mission District)
(415) 252-7482.
Open until midnight Friday and Saturday and 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday.

Kirala - Berkeley, CA

This is a good Japanese Robata place in Berkeley which I have not gone for a while. Go there at night, you will love it!

Kirala
2100 Ward St
Berkeley, CA 94705
Cross Street: Shattuck Avenue
Phone: (510) 549-3486

Dinner
Mon-Sat 5:30pm- 9:30pm
Sun 5:00pm- 9:00pm

Krung Thai - San Jose, CA

This place used to be in an inconspicous spot within a very rundown mall and can be considered a best-kept secret for best Thai food in San Jose. But ever since the couple got divorced, the second restaurant was opened with a huge sign on Wincester Blvd (after the 280 Highway exit and the road leading to Santana Row). The secret was out and now it's so hard to get a table. :-(

Krung Thai
Address: 580 N. Winchester Blvd., San Jose
Phone: 408.248.3435
Hours:
Lunch Mon.-Fri. 11am-3pm;
Dinner Mon.-Fri. 5-10pm and Sat.-Sun. noon-10pm.

Dynasty Seafood Restaurant - San Jose, CA

This is a good Chinese Seafood Restaurant in San Jose. I have attended Wedding Banquet there and the food was great! They have since opened another restaurant in Cupertino and I have been there for Dim Sum. I like the one in San Jose more because you know the chef can not be at both places! The second restaurant is just another business owned by the new investors using the same name.

Dynasty Chinese Seafood Restaurant
Gourmet Chinese. $$. Huge tanks of lobsters, crabs, various fish and shellfish line one wall. The setting is fit for royalty, and there's a menu to match: lobster with special sauce, Peking duck, emerald-colored mustard greens, even suckling pig. Or try the more delicate fare: dim sum every midday.
1001 Story Road, San Jose, CA.
408.286.6668.

Joy Luck Place - Cupertino, CA

Good Cantonese Dim Sum and Banquet place. And lucky me, it's close to my house, too!

Joy Luck Place
10911N. Wolfe Road
Cupertino, CA.

Hours are:
Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for dinner;
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner.

Tel: 408 255-2788.

Ebisu - San Francisco, CA

Gosh, this is my favorite Japanese restaurant in San Francisco.

Their sushi is fresh and the menu is long. The price is affordable but can get expensive when you order all the specials and get all the variety like we always do. But go to the one in San Francisco only and not the one at the SFO (Airport).

Always try to go around 6pm or earlier. The line gets very long after that and the wait can easily be over an hour unfortunately.
Eat at Hotei Restaurant across the street and you can order sushi from Ebisu. Not sure what the arrangement or relationship between the two, but that's how it works.

Ebisu Restaurant
1283 9th Ave
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 566-1770

Hours Open:
Mon-Wed 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-10pm;
Thu-Fri 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-12am;
Sat 11:30am-10pm

Crepevine - San Francisco, CA

This is the place I go often when I was in school and living in San Francisco some 10 years ago. It has since become well-known to the locals and they changed that menu when more stores are opened. :-/ The menu is not as good but still worth going. Make sure you try their Safari Cooler (with 1 free refill).

Crepevine
624 Irving Street, (Inner Sunset)
San Francisco, CA 94122
415-681-5858

Cafe Mums - San Francisco, CA

Almost forgot about this place for Shabu Shabu in Japantown, San Francisco. I did not know they also have "all you can drink sake".

Cafe Mums
1800 Sutter St.
415.931-6986
$20 all-you-can eat shabu shabu (Very fresh!! Order plate by plate only when you are done.)
Walk-in is impossible, always call ahead and arrive earlier.

Ringer Hut - San Jose, CA

This is a chain in Japan and we are lucky to have one store here near my place. They specialize in a noodle dish called Nagasaki Champon but you can also order Saraudon, Ramen, Yakimeshi, Bento boxes, etc.

1072 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose, CA
408-554-0877

Hours of Operation:

* Weekday Lunch Menu: Monday - Friday 11:30AM - 4:00PM
* Dinner Menu: Monday - Friday 4:00PM - 10:00PM
* Dinner Menu: Saturday, Sunday & Holidays 11:30AM - 10:00PM

Frankie, Johnnie & Luigi Too! - Mountain View, CA

A good authentic Italian restaurant with good pizza and pasta. Their prices are reasonable and their atmosphere is good. If you or your host live near around one of the restaurants, you will get a 15% coupon once a month in the mail.

This is the one I go to only because it's near my house.

939 W El Camino Real
Mountain View, CA
650 967 5384
11am-11pm Mon-Thu; 11am-11:30pm Fri-Sat; noon-11:30pm Sun

Looks like they have another one now in San Jose:

Frankie, Johnnie, & Luigi Too!
5245 Prospect Road, San Jose
408.446.9640
11:30am-10pm Sun-Thu, 4-11 Fri-Sat

CheeseBoard Pizza - Berkeley, CA

Some good things are not available everyday. This is especially true when you want to have a delicious slice of pizza from CheeseBoard in Berkeley. They are only open from Tuesday to Saturday and for those of us who live 50 miles away from it can only go there on Saturday between the hours of 4:30 to 7:00 pm. What can you do if you missed that time? Well, call up a friend who lives in Berkeley and have them buy the uncooked or half-cooked pizza for you and store it in a freezer until you go pick it up. Is it worth that trouble? You betcha!

CheeseBoard Pizza
1512 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA. 94709
Telephone: (510) 549-3055

Cafe de la Presse - San Francisco, CA

This is one of my favorite casual little French restaurants in the City. Expect to pay around $100 for two with soup, salad, main course and coffee/wine though.

This is what one of the the reviews said:
Right by the gates of Chinatown you'll find this Gallic cafe that's a dead ringer for the kind that populate those quaint little side streets just off the Rue Rivoli. It is chic in a determined, downscale way with half of the already cramped floor space given over to French newspapers and periodicals. The centrally located counter jockeys for position with the closely packed tables and chairs. Huge windows alleviate the claustrophobia and the wait staff, conducting serious conversations in rapid-fire French, take you to a different hemisphere. The food can, too. It is upscale cafe fare, well prepared and heavy on sandwiches (on baguettes, if you insist), soups (Gratinee, but of course) and salads (Nicoise among others, could you doubt it?). The desserts change daily and are never less than scrumptious. The crowd is mostly young, sometimes European, and always the height of hip.

Cafe de la Presse
352 Grant Ave
San Francisco, CA 94108-3607

Phone: 415-398-2680

十番燒肉 Juban - Menlo Park, CA

Where to take your parents or good friends when they come to visit San Jose?

Juban in Menlo Park, Burlingame or Japantown in the City will be a good place to go.

Wagyu (known as Kobe beef in this country) is the highlight of the menu. This richly marbled beef is imported from Kobe, Japan, where the cattle are pampered with sake massages and fed a special diet that includes beer. The beef remains a rarity in the United States, as its price reflects.

At Juban, Wagyu shows up as an exquisite sashimi ($11.75 and $22.50) -- paper-thin slices of the raw beef atop a pile of shredded sweet onions. Loin slices ($19.50 and $38) are also available for the grill, where they need to cook for only a minute or so to bring out their terrific full flavor and melting texture.

Other cuts of regular beef are also available for grilling, including rib eye ($7.50) and short ribs marinated in soy sauce, with bone ($6.50) or without ($7). Thin slices of meaty tongue ($7.25) come with lemon to squeeze over them as they cook. Wonderful liver ($5.50) gets a boost of flavor from a soy sauce marinade.

But beef isn't all Juban offers for the grill. Cubes of boneless chicken ($7), butterflied tiger prawns ($7.75) and bay scallops with a touch of sesame oil ($7.75) are other great options.

Strips of calamari in a spicy marinade ($7) were disappointing because they ended up chewy no matter how little or how much we cooked them. The vegetable plate ($5) of carrot and zucchini slices and bell pepper strips added little more than color to the meal; however, the wedges of onion held together by toothpicks browned nicely on the grill and were wonderful, especially with the beef.

Lobster tail ($12.50 and $24) comes in bite- size pieces and is marvelous when dipped in a small container of garlic cooking in butter ($3).

Jeff Misaki, formerly of Palomino and Delancey Street, heads the kitchen. His execution of appetizers and treatment of the foods to be grilled shines through. He makes an assortment of spicy pickles that are good on their own and also cut the richness of the grilled food. Plates of kimchee (cabbage), oikimchee (cucumber and daikon radish) and kakuteki (daikon with cayenne pepper) make up the Juban assortment ($4) but can also be ordered individually.

To start, try the yakinori ($2.50) -- thin strips of lightly salted roasted seaweed brushed with sesame oil -- or the beautiful tomato salad placed on minced onions with a soy and lemon vinaigrette ($4.25).

Tiny cubes of cucumber and green onion give beef tartare ($7) an Asian twist, while the requisite egg yolk atop the raw, finely chopped beef keeps the dish traditional.

Big bowls of clean-flavored soups meant to be shared are another great starter. Tender oxtails ($5.25) come in a clear broth with slices of green onion. Clear noodles and strips of chicken ($7) float in chicken broth with chunks of tomatoes and cucumbers.

A number of rice dishes are also available, including nigiri ($3.25), oversize rice balls filled with shreds of bonito, wrapped in nori and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

For dessert, don't miss the mochi ice cream ($4.25). Thin, chewy rice pastry is wrapped around strawberry, vanilla or green-tea ice cream for sweet little bites.

Triple chocolate mousse cake ($5), however, was surprisingly light on flavor despite a dense, moist texture.

The bustling staff can take away the calming effect of the serene decor. Service, however, is quick and efficient. The staff watches the temperature on the grill to make sure it doesn't get too hot or too cold.

Juban has a limited selection of beer and wine but a better offering of sake, including some wonderful cold ones such as Karatamba and Nihonjyo, served in tall, slender glasses.

At least half the pleasure of a yakiniku house comes from the communal experience. The opportunity to cook simple foods and enjoy them with friends in pleasant surroundings is the appeal of Juban.

Gombei - San Jose, CA

Where to go for lunch when your job or your boss is stressing you out before noon?

My first choice will be Gombei in San Jose Japan town. They have the regular menu and the "secret" specials on the white board that changes daily. Of course I usually don't go with any of my co-worker to this restaurant since it's my stress-free comfort place to eat.

Here is more about them:

Gombei attracts more Japanese nationals than any other Japanese restaurant in Nihonmachi. Gombei unofficially caters to the homesick business traveler, offering comforting foods arranged in a way that looks like home: pickled vegetables in a side cart, chawan of rice, cup of tea and fish broth. Non-Japanese are attracted by the hearty curry dishes and bento boxes that don't skimp. The lines start to overflow onto the sidewalk at about 11:30am, so get there early or bring extra quarters for parking, as one recent couple paying a visit unwittingly found out.
193 E. Jackson St., San Jose (408/279-4311)

Sonoma Chicken Coop - San Jose, CA

Who said good food has to be expensive?

I am thinking of having them do catering for any party I am going to host at home. Their food is just fresh, delicious and of the right portion. Try them out if you happened to visit San Jose downtown!