Vinoma Tapas Argentinas - Rohnert Park

5085 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park CA 94928
(707) 536-9215
Parking: gas station parking lot
Hours: Closed Mon-Wed; Open Thurs-Sun 11:30am-7:30pm
vinoma.net

Last Visited: September 24, 2022

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 4 stars
Price: $

I first learned about Vinoma through some news articles about where to find the best Bay Area restaurant, although you can't actually eat inside.  The headline about it being located next to a gas station sounded curious enough and since I've spent a good amount of time in Rohnert Park, I knew this cuisine definitely wasn't available there in the past.  Although I've had empanadas at various restaurants around the Bay Area, it was in 2019 when I had the opportunity to visit Buenos Aires that I had a chance to try one that was so good that I went back for more the next day.  While I was passing by a convenience store, slightly smaller than most 7-Eleven's in the states, I saw that they had a heat lamp pointing at multiple shelves of fresh empanadas.  Since I love a good Chinese curry beef turnover, I figured I had to try these local treats and I was not disappointed.  It seemed that a lot of people were stopping there for a takeaway lunch and when I passed by it an hour later, all of the empanadas were gone.  

To save time and avoid missing out on what might run out at Vinoma, I ordered online the night before and although I arrived earlier than my delivery time, they were able to accommodate my order.  It seemed that most people that came without ordering ahead received their empanadas in 15-20 minutes.  

A menu on the outside of the door, with photos, is available to help you decide what to get.  There's a discount if you buy a dozen.  And in case you forgot what you ordered, a picture menu is also sent with you when you pick up your order.  Vinoma adds a nice touch with each order - a fresh dahlia.  Since many may not be familiar with an Argentinian empanada, they help educate you by noting that each empanada is 3-4 bites and they recommend you get 4-6 per person.  There are meat, vegetarian, dessert, vegan, and breakfast empanadas available.  Brian, the owner, will answer any questions, and I watched him explain the same thing over and over to many new customers.  

- Canastita (open face empanada) - I tried one plum and bacon and one spinach and artichoke.  Both have a very flaky crust that is a bit reminiscent of eating puff pastry.  The plum is a rehydrated plum with a very intense flavor that pairs well with crispy bacon, fontina, and mozzarella cheese.  If you love a mix of sweet and savory, I would definitely recommend this one.  These empanadas also come out super hot out of the oven - to the point that you should use caution when eating them.  The spinach and artichoke canastita is mixed with onions, garlic, and monterey jack - for me, this was like eating a delicious bite of quiche, but of course, without the eggy quality.  

- Empanada - For the traditional style of empanada, I ordered traditional beef which is ground beef with scallions, red onions, spanish olives, chopped eggs, and spices.  This was yummy also, but less novel than the plum and bacon.  The texture of the dough seems different here because of the fold, but still tasty.  If you prefer a spicy version, they have that available too.  The other empanada I tried was ham and cheese made with diced hickory smoked ham, bechamel, and fontina.  This was also quite good, but there was something about walking down the street in Buenas Aires, where those may have been fried and even flakier that I can't quite compare these to.  Both are still good and worth trying.

Empanadas are $3.89 each or $3.44 each if you purchase a dozen or more.  

If you're in the area, this is definitely worth checking out.  Avoid the lines and order ahead. 

Super Duper Burgers, Daly City

3 Serramonte Center, Space 662, Daly City CA 94015
(650) 773-4041
Parking: mall parking

Last Visited: October 14, 2022

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$ 

So if you've read any of my reviews, you know I don't typically write about chain restaurants unless it's super impressive or super bad.  Here goes - I was excited to see a Super Duper Burgers pop up at Serramonte and after about a month of their being open and having gotten the kinks out, I was hoping that this was going to be a good experience. 

I arrived a little before 5pm, so the place was just starting to get busy.  There was a line to the registers and you have the option to use the two self-serve kiosks or order from a real person.  I opted for the latter. 

- Super Duper Burger - Two quarter-pound patties are served with super sauce.  I added the freebies of grilled onions, tomato, pickles, and lettuce, along with paying for added cheese and bacon.  I was not that hungry, but since we were in the neighborhood, I figured I could at least eat half, so I asked them to cut it. The first couple of bites were really good - nice grilled flavor and saltiness from the cheese and bacon.  The toppings were present, but not particularly noticeable.  The pickles don't actually come in the burger - those are actually over in the condiments area and you need to get them out of the jar yourself - see the upper left of the photo for a glimpse of the pickles. I wasn't actually that impressed by the pickles - they are crisp, but not that crunchy and they're quite tart.  If I was basing it on the time at the restaurant, I would definitely recommend the burger, but you have to keep reading to know the true verdict. $10 burger, +$1 cheese, +$1.50 bacon  

- Garlic Fries - The fries were drenched with garlic oil and topped with 6 month aged cheddar.  I thought it looked good when I saw others eating it while I was waiting for my food, but when it arrived, the fries were no longer crispy - at all. And they weren't particularly hot.  The cheese was in that mid-ground of not solid and cold, and also not melted, but greasy.  I couldn't find a single bite of fries that still had crunch and the bottom of the paper tray had a couple of teaspoons of oil there - it's as though they mixed a bunch of fries with garlic, left these in the bowl, they got soggy, and they served it anyway.  Then the cheese sprinkled on top didn't melt because the fries weren't hot enough.  Not recommended. $4.50

Okay, so this is where things go awry.  Throughout the evening, my dining partner and I were forever thirsty.  I ate garlic fries - I get it.  I will have garlic breath all night, but it just gets weirder.  I go to sleep, and I wake up constantly. Then I have a bad dream.  I don't usually have bad dreams.  And when I checked with my dining partner the next morning, I find out I wasn't the only one who had bad dreams.  

So my Super Duper experience was super duper thirsty, super duper oily, and super duper weird/bad dreams.  If the weather is hot, I might go try their Strauss soft serve shake or cone, but I don't have any plans to go back for a burger or fries.  Super Duper memorable, but not in the good kind of way.

Amausaan - Dessert, San Francisco - CLOSED

CLOSED

354 Clement St, San Francisco CA 94118

(415) 691-0536

Parking: street parking

https://amausaan.us/

Last Visited: August 31, 2019

Food: 3 stars

Atmosphere: N/A

Service: 4 stars

Price: $$

This place closed before I got a chance to write about it, but since it's a chain, if this experience was any indication of what their other locations are like, then it's representative.

Uji matcha in a cone - The cone is crispy and is a nice color contrast with the refreshing matcha flavored ice cream.  Reasonably priced, its a good way to get your matcha fix.  If you prefer hojicha ice cream instead, that option is also available. 

Matcha crepe cake - While significantly less expensive than a Lady M crepe cake, the quality is also not quite as good.  If you haven't had any other crepe cake, this one is pretty good - strong matcha flavor, creamy filling, and lots of layers neatly stacked with clean cuts on the edge as you can see in the photo.  However, if you've had higher quality crepe cakes, it's lacking in its delicateness.  It's almost too much filling, but at least the crepes aren't too thick.  Okay. 

After this experience, if I'm craving matcha, I might consider going to Burlefer ingame where there is another franchise location, but it's not a destination for me. The after effects were odd in that you see green again later (sort of like when you see red after eating beets).  Personally, I preferred the Matcha Cafe Maiko store at Stonestown which offers similar menu items and won't leave you seeing green later. 

Rong's - Chinese/Jiangnan, San Francisco

3420 Balboa St, San Francisco CA 94121

San Francisco CA 94121

(415) 702-9918

Parking: street parking

Hours:  Tues-Sat 11am-2:30pm, 5pm -8:30pm; Sun 11:30am-2:30pm,  4:30pm-8:30pm

https://www.rongssf.com/

Last Visited: June 15, 2022

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $$

Rong's opened during the pandemic, and it would be easy to walk by this place without taking notice of it. The decor is modern, sort of like it used to be a Japanese restaurant maybe because of the wood and the curtains. From the name, you can tell it's likely not owned by a Chinese-American...the food seems to confirm its authenticity.

It's a bit confusing to see their super simple menu offers Cantonese cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, and housemade tea, as in fruit tea and milk tea.  Their menu also mentions 'Tea O'clock.'   The menu also offers a small variety of snacks, like curry fish balls, seasonal fruit in sugar coating, and deep-fried buns with condensed milk.  So is it a snack/tea shop or is it a restaurant?  If you aren't confused yet, you'll see the menu is sorted by protein, carbs, soup, vegetarian dishes, and vegetables with meat - not your typical arrangement.

When we came in at 5pm, there wasn't anyone there.  We ordered a few dishes, but one of the most popular dishes, a house special chicken, wasn't available.  Nevertheless, we proceeded and the server was happy to answer questions we had.

- Dry-Fried French Beans with Minced Pork - Good wok air, slightly spicy, very fresh.  This is a solid dish and if you like a hint of spice, it's perfect. If you want it
more spicy, you can probably ask for it.  A touch of sweetness balances out the flavor. Some of the meat is a bit fatty, but still acceptable.  $15.99

- Homemade Pan-Fried Flat Noodle (20 min) - This was a pleasant surprise.  If you like rice noodles that have been pan fried, the kind where it's cut like a pie and placed on top of meat and vegetables to display the beautiful browning, this might fit your tastes well.  Also, if you like eating sweet rice cakes (Korean or Chinese style), these flat noodles have the same level of chew, without the stickiness/glutinous part.  Rice fun (also known as ho fun) are browned as a cake until the two sides are crispy.  Then, it's cut into strips and the fresh chicken thigh chunks and cauliflower stir fry in a bit of gravy covers the top.  I would recommend trying this dish - it's unique and comes with a lot of cauliflower.  For this price, I'm glad they included a lot of meat.  $18.99

- Vegetable Fried Rice with Salted Meat - This dish was less of a value compared to the others since the quantity was smaller, but the rice is stir fried well and the salted meat is of a decent quality.  Sometimes, you get preserved meat that has off texture, but this was just fine.  Snow cabbage is diced fine and offers a good texture contrast with its slight crunch.  Good.   $15.99

The good: Each dish contains a large amount (or relatively large amount) of fresh vegetables.  The taste of most dishes aren't too heavy - it's reminiscent of home cooking and not overly greasy. There is good wok air in each dish. Also, the server is really nice.  She checks to see if you have allergies (unusual for a Chinese restaurant) and frequently comes to refill your water. 

The bad: You can't use the bathroom here.  Apparently, customers aren't allowed to go to through the kitchen to reach the bathroom, so you need to go to the coffee shop next door.  I don't know how to explain this one.  Order times are long.  There weren't to go orders, and there weren't other tables filled with diners.  We were the only ones there the entire time.  We just had to wait at least 15 minutes for the first dish and even longer for the others, not counting the one where the menu indicated a 20 minute wait.

I'll note that I would go back to Rong's, but only if I were in the neighborhood and not in a hurry to use a restroom.  It's not a destination, but solid, almost like home cooking.

Mom Dumpling - Chinese, San Francisco

31 Cambon Dr, San Francisco CA 94132
(415) 333-1199
Parking: strip mall parking lot

Hours: Daily 11am-8:30pm

order.mealkeyway.com

Last Visited: June 5, 2022

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$$

It's hard to imagine that a little dumpling shop in the Parkmerced strip mall could stand out this much. In the short three months that it has been under this new owner though, they have already started to gain attention despite being fairly discreet.  

The inside looks like it has been remodeled with modern decor mixed with old style art figures painted on the walls. The open kitchen gives you a view into the dumpling making and dough making that will keep you entertained.  

- Braised Beef Brisket Noodle - It looks like a small bowl, and it is, but it's packed with flavor.  This is easily split into two small bowls and each piece of beef brisket is super tender.  A few pieces of shanghai bok choy and green onions cut the mild spice of the broth.  The amount of meat is a good quantity (about 8 pieces) and you will probably be about 60-70% full if you just ate this dish.  It has a good amount of oil that keeps it very hot, but you don't walk away feeling it's too greasy.  Solid. $14.98

- Pork XLB (Xiaolong bao) (6) -  The photo is a bit blurry because of the amount of steam coming from this basket.  What I was most surprised by was how white the dumplings look coming out of the kitchen.  What was even more surprising is how they are on par with Ding Tai Fung.  The skin is thin and the top isn't too thick. Not a single one was broken and each was filled with a good amount of soup.  I would definitely get these again.  $10.98

- Pan Fried Pork Bao (6) - These were unique in shape, but also in texture.  Most times, pan fried bao are more bread-like in texture - bottoms are crispy and the bun is fluffy.  These on the other hand are crispy on the bottom and side, and more like a dumpling in its skin.  The filling is like a soup dumpling - an abundance of soup and meat like an XLB.  It's impressive how crispy the bottoms are which gives it a really good contrast.  It seems a bit pricey, but worth getting at least once. $12.98

- Steamed Cabbage and Pork Dumpling (8) - While most restaurants offer dumplings boiled, and maybe fried, Mom Dumplings actually steam them. The skin was very thin - much thinner than many other dumpling shops.  A couple were broken though, so the juices within had leaked out, but still very tasty; for the ones where the juices stayed in the wrapper, the flavor was great and additional dipping sauces aren't really needed.  $8.98

- House Special Chow Mein - Really good wok hay on these chow mein is what makes this a great dish.  Small shrimp, large slices of chicken breast that have been tenderized, and diced barbecue pork are stir-fried with a variety of vegetables including green onions, carrots, cabbage, chopped snow peas. After finishing the noodles, it is noticeable that there is some oil leftover, but that kept the noodles hot during our entire meal.  $14.98

- Chicken Fried Rice - Since I got this as a takeout item, it's a little flat in the photo, but it had good wok hay and taste.  Of the dishes, this was my least favorite, but certainly passable as everything is diced small and flavor is fine.  $12.98

To sum up, I would say Mom Dumpling offers XLB and dumplings and noodles that are on par with Ding Tai Fung quality and prices, but not equal in service or decor.  In some cases, the value is not as good as DTF, but at the same time, you won't have to wait as long either.  Mom Dumpling is worth giving a try for high quality dumplings.  Another tip is that if you order online, you'll get 10% off your first order. 

Noodle Stop - Chinese, San Francisco

1325 Noriega St, San Francisco CA 94122
(415) 753-6688

Parking: street parking

Soft Opening Hours: Sat-Thurs 10:30am-4:30pm, Closed Fridays

Last Visited: March 6, 2022

Food: 3 stars

Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars

Service: 3 to 4 stars

Price: $$

Noodle Stop opened at the beginning of March.  Since my mother grew up in Hong Kong, wonton noodles is one of those comfort food dishes that draws us - any restaurant with even the slightest bit of potential of giving her that nostalgic feeling of eating her childhood is worth a try.  

It's very easy to walk right past Noodle Stop without even noticing that it's there, but once inside, you'll see that it's bright and newly renovated - modern in style and simple in layout.  You can tell it's not your traditional Chinese restaurant decor.  

On each table is a basket, like you find at pho restaurants, but this one contains a small container of pickled turnip and carrots.  It's sort of strange to have this here, but not have a small plate to place these nibbles; nonetheless, it's a welcome sight to see as these usually pique your appetite with the balance of sweet, savory, sour, and spice.  A few bites though made me feel a bit disappointed that it lacked the balance of sweetness that would have kept you wanting more.  Instead, it's sour and there is a hint of spice, but it stops there.

They have appetizer offerings like crispy wontons, crispy shrimp, calamari, fries, beef cold plate, cucumber salad, and stewed beef brisket.  Noodles come in several varieties: thin egg noodles, flat rice noodle/ho fun, and vermicelli noodles.  You can also get hot or iced milk tea, hot or iced lemon tea, and hot or iced honey lemonade, among typical drinks like soda. 

We went with some classic noodle dishes:

- Hong Kong Style Wonton Noodle Soup - Handmade wontons and house fish broth, topped with yellow chives.  I chose the thin egg noodles, and six rather large wontons arrived in this dish with noodles underneath.  Since I couldn't actually see the noodles (usually, the noodles are placed on top or at least somewhat visibly, but not here), I even asked if this was my order - it could have been wontons in soup, and indeed, it was.  I found the broth to be flavorful and the noodles to be al dente, but these wontons aren't classic in flavor, size, or texture.  The flavor is not foreign, but it's not classic - hard to describe, and when I asked about the ingredients, it sounded typical, but it doesn't taste like what you find in Hong Kong.  As for size, these are large wontons which sounds good, but the amount of pork is so much greater than the amount of shrimp that the texture has also changed.  Overall, just ok for me. $11.50

- Stewed Beef Brisket with Wonton Noodle Soup - The beef brisket is tender and flavorful, but you don't get many pieces.  Fewer wontons here, which makes sense, but at this price, I anticipated getting more.  Had it been a classic bowl of wonton noodles, I would feel the value is better, but the overall, another just ok for me. $15.50

Service is friendly and the staff makes an effort to check on your experience at the end of the meal. If you're seeking a classic Hong Kong style wonton, this doesn't fit the bill, but a few tweaks could get it there.  Prices are higher compared to its competition, but it's hard to tell if that's solely food cost related or if they're positioning themselves in the same space as ramen restaurants.  We'll have to wait and see if things change after their soft opening and settling in a bit more.

Gram Cafe & Pancakes - Japanese

3251 20th Ave, Suite 172
San Francisco CA 94132
(628) 256-6013 
Parking: mall parking lot

Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-8pm, Fri-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-7pm
gramcafeusa.com

Last Visited: December 8, 2021

Food: 2 stars (note I only tried the cool pancake)
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$ 

While Gram is known for its start in Japan and for premium pancakes, especially the hot ones (their signature), note that this review is for cool premium pancakes only.  Gram offers a variety of the Asian version of cafe style food - regular sweet pancakes, savory pancakes, fried snacks, curry bento, rice and spaghetti dishes, and their signature souffle pancakes.   Instead of seeing giant stuffed animals, imagine seeing fluffy stuffed giant pancakes - almost like a pillow you could hug. 

Frankly, I experienced sticker shock when I arrived at Gram.  Those fluffy hot pancakes with 2 or 3 stacked on top of each other and some lovely cream have been showing up on my various social media feeds for a while.  I had every intention of getting a hot premium original souffle pancake (stack of 3), but it's a commitment.  First, it's the 30 minute wait; this dish is offered for dine-in only. Second, the price for this stack of 3 original style pancakes is $17.  I was thinking about whether I really wanted to do this considering I also had 2 mochi donuts awaiting me and how I wanted to spend my time since I had taken this day off from work, so instead, I went for a cool premium pancake.  

- Cool Premium Pancakes - Offered in original, matcha, oreo, salted egg, strawberry, and seasonal flavors, I figured that if it's good cold, it will be even better hot. Pictured here are the original and matcha.  While the pancake is not too sweet and it was delicate and soft, the mixture of the custard and the pancake both being refrigerated (versus one at room temperature or custard that might be like ice cream in coldness) meant that the contrast of temperature was missing.  As you can see here, the matcha, while flavored well, could have been presented better where the seam of the piping bag could have been on the inside of the pancake 'sandwich.'  You can upgrade the flavors by adding salted egg for $2 or sesame for $1. The texture of the filling is on the denser side which means that it holds up, but well, I just wasn't wowed by this experience.  I'm not sure I would go back for the hot ones based on this experience, and I'm unlikely to get the cold ones again.  $5 each or $20 for four

On the plus side, the guy working the front counter was completely patient with me and asked if he could answer any questions since I mentioned that I had never been there before.  He was certainly kind and that was greatly appreciated.  

Lung Fung Bakery, Chinese

1823 Clement St, San Francisco CA 94121
(415) 386-3775

Parking: Street parking

Hours: Tues-Sun 7am-6pm, Closed Mondays

Last Visited: December 21, 2021

Food: 4 star egg tarts

Atmosphere: 2 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $

The Bay Area Eats Facebook group had a debate on where the best egg tarts in the Bay Area could be found. Repeatedly, Lung Fung bakery kept coming up in conversation.  So of course, I had to bring my mom to try it because if anyone can spot a good egg tart, it's my mom.  My mom and I once had a conversation about how many egg tarts she has probably eaten in her lifetime and we're talking hundreds. 

- Egg tart - With one bite, my mom was hooked.  She said it's the closest pastry shell to what you can find in Hong Kong and that's no small feat.  We've gone to many bakeries, and even Golden Gate Bakery doesn't meet her standards. With a flaky pastry shell (certainly containing lard), and a delicate egg custard that isn't too sweet, this is definitely a 4 or dare I even mention, a potential 5 star egg tart.  You definitely need to try this.  Prices keep changing.  

We think it was about $2.20

Other items they're well known for are BBQ pork buns, curry pie, and chicken pie, so of course we had to try these out.

- BBQ Pork Buns - These pork buns are quite ample in size and meaty with a gorgeous brown top and fluffy texture.  However, there is a slight tinge of sourness to it (maybe they have a SF starter that leans sour).  If you don't mind this slight aftertaste, you'll enjoy this bun.  $1.80

- Curry Pie - This is often called a curry beef turnover at other shops.  Similar to the flaky crust of the egg tart, this is equally light and flaky.  One bite and shards of flaky goodness fly all over.  This is filled well (sometimes you bite into a half empty turnover at other shops), and there is a good ratio of crust to filling.  Not too salty and nice yellow curry flavor - spiced, but not spicy. Beautifully golden brown.  One tip - the salesperson told us that curry pie is often not available until after noon, so don't be surprised if you don't find it in the morning.  I had to go twice in order to try it.  $2.80

- Chicken Pie - Similar to the curry pie, this is another pastry with a flaky crust.  This is also filled well with a good ratio of crust to filling.  It's also seasoned well - no complaints. Beautifully golden brown also and filled with chicken.  $2.80

If it's a major Chinese holiday or getting close to the end of the day, you'll want to call ahead to reserve your egg tarts because they often sell out.  Note that they will give you individual plastic bags if you buy less than six items.  More than or equal to six items will get you a box, otherwise, you need to purchase the box.  Also note that it's cash only.  

Parking is relatively easy.