Fremont Kabob - Afghan, Fremont

5379 Mowry Ave, Fremont CA 94538
(510) 393-3860
Parking: in strip mall parking lot

Last Visited: October 4, 2025

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

Located in a strip mall, Fremont Kabob is easily passed by, but it walk inside and find you may be pleasantly surprised by the decor - tables had white tablecloths and behind the curtain and beads is a room where you can sit closer to the floor on cushioned benches with colorful covers for a more authentic experience.  We dropped by early in the evening and there was only one other party dining.  We were promptly greeted and had our choice of seating. 

My friend, C, recommended this spot as one of her favorites and gave me a few suggestions of what to try.  Once we ordered, we were given a basket of naan - Afghan bread.  It's still pillowy and soft, but you can see the texture has more ridges and is more brown than Indian naan.  The setting is interesting with the Afghan decor and traditional music playing in the background, juxtaposed against the tv in the front of the restaurant, featuring menu items rotating on the display. 

- Mantoo (appetizer) - The mantoo is described as an Afghan-style potsticker filled with ground beef, onions, and spices.  It's topped with a homemade yogurt and ground beef tomato sauce.  It's tasty and the flavors are nicely blended, but because of the yogurt sauce, the temperature becomes more like room temperature and that's what I perhaps cared for a bit less.  Good, but unlike potstickers, it cools down even faster.  Since the dumpling wrapper is thinner than potstickers, I would describe it more like an Afghan-style spiced wonton.  This dish is also available as an entree. $8.99 

- Borani Kadoo - Butternut squash is cooked with garlic, peppers, and onions and topped with their homemade yogurt.  Similarly to the mantoo, the yogurt, while bringing a nice balance to the bit of spice, quickly brings this dish to a room temperature.  I liked the contrast of the sweet squash and onions with the mix of garlic and peppers, and it acts as a good balance to savory dishes. This appetizer size was just right for two people since the squash can be quite filling.  $8.99 

- Qabili Paulo with Lamb Shank - It was hard to decide whether to order this dish or one of the other lamb dishes, but the server recommended this one if it was our first time at Fremont Kabob.  Basmati brown rice is served with a choice of lamb shank or chicken, and it's topped with raisins and carrots.  The portion was hearty and the balance of lamb with the sweetness from the carrots and raisins was interesting.  The rice is easily separated into individual grains.  I liked how the lamb wasn't at all gamey, and the flavors were well balanced. This is a great value for the price given the portion. $18.99

Overall, if I were in the neighborhood again, I would be interested in going back to try more of their menu, like the lamb curry or lamb kabobs.  Prices are very reasonable and the staff is attentive.  The only thing I might suggest they do differently is to be a bit quieter when they're working in the background.  Throughout our meal, they were filling sauce containers for to-go orders and then once the container was filled, they tossed it into a holding container of some sort.  This repetitive sound can be a bit distracting against what would have been the ambiance created by the traditional music.  

From past experiences at similar restaurants in the Peninsula as comparison points, I'd say the food here is just as good and slightly less expensive - definitely worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood.

P-Town Pie Guy - Pizza, Pacifica

7 Banff Way, Pacifica CA 94044
(650) 677-6071

Parking: driveway or street parking
Hours: Specific Saturdays (check their calendar) 11:30am-2pm, 4pm-7pm
https://www.ptownpieguy.com/

Last Visited: October 18, 2025

Food: 4 stars

Atmosphere: N/A

Service: 4 stars

Price: $$

I'm not actually sure how I found out about P-Town Pie Guy, but I came upon them on social media and thought I would keep it in mind if I ever found myself in Pactifica on a Saturday.  It's a family owned business - husband and wife have opened up a kitchen in their home and take orders online.  It's take out only and they offer two styles of pizza - Neo-Neapolitan - 12" pies and Detroit Style pizzas (6x6 and 8x10).  They also offer meatballs.

Ordering goes live on Wednesdays ahead of their Saturday workdays. While you can't order on the spot, I easily ordered the afternoon that I wanted to pick up a pizza for dinner without any issue.  I was pleasantly surprised to find so many choices on their website.  From standards like pepperoni (made with local Molinary & Sons pepperoni) and called Pier-peroni or cheese, referred to as Sancheeze Adobe, you can get options like Pork Pacifica (a mix of sausage, soppresata, and mushrooms), and even get something different like Teri-nova Tiger, a play on the local high school team name and mascot - Terra Nova Tigers, which has a teriyaki sauce base with chicken and mushrooms, cheese, Kewpie mayo, scallions, and shredded nori and shichimi (a Japanese spice blend).  You'll find more on the website for the Neo-Neapolitan style pizza and also three options for the Detroit style square pie. 

P-Town Pie Guy touts its fresh digestible pizza crust, local ingredients, and high quality ingredients like local tomatoes and fresh mozzarella versus pre-grated cheese.  And I can confirm that it really does taste different.  

I arrived a little earlier than my reservation time, and Matt, The Pie Guy, was happy to accommodate, which I really appreciated.  You go up their stairs and the door is open.  There is a sign on a child's easel that tells you to ring the bell and they'll be with you momentarily. There is also a bench for you to sit on as you wait.  You can pay either ahead or on the spot.  Cash prices are slightly lower than credit prices.  Matt kindly assists with running pizzas down the steps as his customers make their way down. 

- The Banff - I opted for a classic combination - Molinari & Sons' pepperoni, Italian sausage, green bell pepper, red onion, and olives.  It was immediately noticeable that the cheese is different than your typical grated cheese - it's color and texture is different.  Also, if you're expecting a crispy crust like from the big chains, this is different too in that it's a soft crust with the outer edges still having a more toothsome texture.  The pizza sauce leans on the sweeter side and you can definitely taste the freshness of the ingredients.  A side of red and gold sauce, their pizza pepper relish, comes with the pizza, unless otherwise noted.  I personally didn't need this extra flavor, but gave it a try nevertheless.  It's more sweet than savory and I thought the pizza was already great on its own.  $24

If I lived in the neighborhood, I would be a regular.  Come support a local business with a unique take on pizza - it's familiar and yet, special in its own way.  Good stuff!

King Katsu Land - Korean, Daly City

2085 Gellert Blvd, Suite 6, Daly City CA 94015
(650) 333-7729

Parking: shopping center parking lot
Hours: Daily 11am-9pm
https://www.kingkatsuland.com/

Last Visited: October 27, 2025

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

It's been a while since I have written a post, so what better way to make a comeback than to share about a katsu bigger than the size of most people's faces!  King Katsu Land probably has the most extensive katsu menu that I've encountered - from katsu made with pork to chicken to fish to filled with cheese and even served with sweet potato mousse, you have plenty of katsu options to choose from here!

My friend, Yong, informed me that King Katsu Land's chef was brought from New York to bring this Korean Style, wide, and thin cutlet, available in regular or spicy, and served with a rich demi-glace sauce, to the Bay Area.

While the restaurant is simple in decor with bright orange chairs, gray tables and floors, and little on the walls, the katsu is definitely worth checking out.  We arrived at lunch time and after ordering, we were given a plate of pickles, pickled daikon, and kimchi diced turnip.  

- King Katsu (regular or spicy) - The katsu is fried until golden brown and the the seasoned panko is incredibly light and crispy.  The thin pork cutlet is tender and juicy.  Served with a scoop of rice, a scoop of thinly sliced cabbage with a sesame dressing, and a scoop of what seems to be a hybrid of potato salad and macaroni salad (a very comforting and delicious mix), you are sure to be filled up.  This katsu can easily be shared by two people if you're a small eater or if you've got a big appetite, you might just barely finish this.  The gravy dish is filled with a rich demi-glace that complements the katsu well and isn't overly salty.  I chose a regular katsu and had no regrets.  Delicious.  $19.95

If you want to try their challenge, they offer the Legendary Challenger - finish their Super Size King Katsu and double portion of rice in 30 min, and you get the dish, valued at $38.95, for free. And if you're not feeling like katsu, you can still have noodles or regular fried chicken.  

Check out King Katsu Land - while I've only been once, other friends who have visited repeatedly assure me that the quality is consistent and worth returning.  If you're a Japanese katsu lover, you're sure to enjoy this Korean version too. 

Jingege Soy Sauce Chicken and Yaoyao Suan Cai Yu - Chinese, BBQ, San Bruno

1212 El Camino Real #C  and D, San Bruno CA 94066
(650) 636-4380
Parking: shopping center parking lot

Hours: Daily 11am-9pm

Last Visited: May 24, 2025

Food: 2 to 3 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 2 stars

Price: $$ to $$$

I really wanted to like this place. In fact, I thought it could be my new go to place for beef chow fun.  The Jingege side of the house has a San Leandro branch and when I ordered beef chow fun for takeout there, it was easily one of the most wok-hay filled chow fun (that steaming heat that you only get from stir frying in a wok), but I was so incredibly thirsty after, that I have yet to go back there.  Sometimes it's a tradeoff - incredible taste, but maybe enough MSG that you get a headache or drink gallons of fluids to quench the MSG thirst, which I know may not be a tradeoff that anyone is willing to take, but at least it's a choice.

I was excited to try this new location which is also coupled with sour pickled vegetable fish dishes (that's the suan cai (sour pickled vegetable) yu (fish) part of the name).  To me, it's usually a good sign when the name of a place does not care about the English name, but in this case, it didn't meet my expectations.  One side of the menu is for barbecue items, and the other side is for the Szechuan dishes.  Unlike typical Chinese barbecue places, you can't order by the pound.  All barbecue is ordered as a single dish with a set serving size. 

The restaurant has a lot of bright pastels and one wall has life-sized people pictures taking a selfie with their food. It can feel crowded when full and the kitchen noise can be loud.

- Beef Chow Fun - I ordered this dish for takeout and it had decent flavor and was cooked well (nothing burnt which is often the challenge with beef chow fun). Typical ingredients include onions, green onions, and bean sprouts to add some crunch to the chow fun and beef.  While the taste was standard, the amount of oil left on the takeout container and my individual serving plate was quite alarming - it was as though I had poured oil on my plate and gently coated it like you would a frying pan.  And that I had also coated all of the individual serving plates.  While the price is reasonable for the portion, there is no way I can continue to eat something with this much oil. $15.95

So I was thinking that maybe this was a fluke.  Maybe the chef used too much oil during my takeout visit. Maybe, just maybe, other dishes would be lighter in the oil content.  

- Crispy Tofu  - From this photo, you can see that there is again a pool of oil underneath that tofu.  The way that tofu is typically fried, the crispiness is from the texture of the firm tofu itself.  However, this has been coated with some light batter and while it's seasoned, it's not seasoned all that much.  Salt and pepper fried tofu at other restaurants is better with a better taste and texture.  And that oil, well, too much oil is never appetizing.  This one was below standard for me and I couldn't finish. $9.95

- Yaoyao Suan Cai Yu - Considering this is a signature dish for the other side of the menu, and I've had some wonderful soups of this style at other restaurants, I ordered the sour pickled vegetable fish soup.  Unlike other places, there aren't choices of what to include in the soup - everything is already there - fish, sour pickled vegetables, glass noodles/bean thread, lotus root slices, and black fungus.  Sesame, fried shallots, green onions, and red peppers top the soup.  And the reason the photo is glistening so much - it's the oil.  Too much oil once again.  While other soups have a little oil drizzled on the top at other restaurants, this has a whole lot of oil that you can even taste the heaviness of it with each spoonful.  On top of that, there is a really sour, not so tasty, pepper that is similar in color to a banana pepper.  I think this spoiled the soup for me.  It's rare that I don't finish a dish or take the dish home with me as leftovers. Between this and the tofu, I abandoned my usual rituals and left significant amounts in the bowl/plate.  $38 (large), $21.95 (small)

Barbecue Combination Platter - I had ordered soy sauce chicken (since it's another signature dish) and roast pork.  Despite it being just past 5pm on a weekend, they had already run out of roast pork, so I went with barbecue pork.  While not traditional in style, if you like your barbecue pork dark, this had a molasses-like quality to the sticky sauce and there was enough fat in the pork that it was quite tender.  The soy sauce chicken was flavorful and not dry.  Sweet soy beans accompany the meat. Of all the dishes we had this visit, this was by far the best, and I would actually get this one again. There weren't any oil problems.  $21

With this visit, I decided that no matter how good a deal it may be to go on your birthday and get a free soup, it's not worth it for me to go back.  The barbecue items were easily the best thing, but the oiliness of all of the other dishes deter me from going back. 

As for service, you're ordering off an iPad and have to flag people down to get a bowl, water, receipt, etc.  When I ordered takeout, the woman at the register took the credit card out of my hand rather than wait for me to hand it to her.  This leaves a lot to be desired.   I left the food rating between 2 and 3 stars because the beef chow fun, though oily, tastes fine.  The barbecue items rescued the rating.  If you're going to go, order the barbecue items and it might be worth trying the desserts that they offer, but this is more because of the novelty of these items rather than because I've tried them. 

Terry Black's Barbecue - Fort Worth, Texas

2926 W 7th St, Fort Worth TX 76107
(817) 615-9408

Parking: parking lot

Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 10:30am-10pm, Sun 10:30am-9:30am

https://terryblacksbbq.com/fortworth/

Last Visited: March 5, 2025

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars

Service: 2 to 4 stars

Price: $$ to $$$

Terry Black's Barbecue - incredibly popular by name, even if you live outside of Texas.  Friends had told me to go to locations outside of Austin (the original) to have a shorter wait time, and since I was in Fort Worth at lunch time, I stopped into this newer spot.  

There is ample parking in the lot behind the restaurant and when we arrived at 11am on a weekday, we were second in the line.  Even later into the lunch hour, the line moved at a quick pace.

We were promptly and warmly welcomed by the friendly lady at the sides station who served as the main greeter.  She asked us if we had been in before and when we said it was our first time, she kindly explained how everything worked - start at the sides/dessert station and move down the line to select your meats.  It feels like a cafeteria line as you move your own tray and make selections, but it keeps things moving fast.  You get your drinks after you have paid at the last station after the registers.

Choices of sides include mac & cheese, pinto beans, cream corn, Mexican rice, green beans, potato salad, and cole slaw.  Dessert options include banana pudding, peach cobbler, and pecan pie.  Both sides and dessert are available in single, pint, quart, or gallon servings.  There were also a few options like chips, avocado, cheese by the pound, cornbread, and jalapenos.  A couple of slices of white bread comes with your order, although I opted for only one slice, as well as pickles and red onions.  

- Green beans - We opted to get some vegetables and these green beans were nicely done. Seasoned with shallots or onions, but not too salty.  Tender, but not overcooked.   The picture shows a single serving. $4.25

- Peach cobbler - A friend had told me to try the peach cobbler, but I thought this was just ok.  It wasn't overly sweet, but not to my taste. Maybe if it wasn't packaged in a container with a lid, but I knew I wasn't going to be able to finish it all there.  Still, even though I ate some right away, I wasn't a fan. $4.75

Aside from meat that is sold by 1/3, 1/2, 3/4, or 1 pound, you can also order sandwiches, including combo meals.  The menu choices for meat include brisket, pork ribs, beef ribs (sold by the bone), chopped beef, turkey, and house made sausage (jalapeno or original).  

Here's where the service rating comes in.  While the greeter deserves 4 to 5 stars for her warm welcome, the ladies cutting and weight the meat lacked warmth and didn't quite listen.  Maybe they hadn't warmed up yet as the place had just opened.  Maybe it was an off day for both of them, but when the customer says no, you shouldn't push the food on them.  There are two people at the cutting station - one to cut the meat and the other to weigh and enter the items into your tab.

- Pork ribs - The ribs have been seasoned well and have just the lightest layer of fat on top.  The inside is a delicate pink and while it's not fall off the bone, they're good ribs that have a nice mix of fat and meat. The smoky flavor of the meat is not overwhelming.  It was a bit salty, but with the bread and green beans, it was fine.  Are they the best ribs I've ever had? No, but they're good - solid for barbecue.    $30/pound

- Beef Brisket - My coworker, Daniel, had told me to ask to mix in fatty parts - fatty 40 lean 60, so I did just that and the ladies at the cutting station looked at me with puzzled faces.  Maybe it would have been better to educate me that I can just ask for lean or moist (I learned about this later), but they seemed a bit annoyed with my ask.  The lady cutting the brisket asked how many slices we wanted so I asked her to show me how big a slice was. The first piece she cut was on the edge of a just cut piece of brisket.  When she showed me that piece, I asked for four, but as the slices got progressively larger and thicker, I knew that was going to be too much.  I asked for less, but she insisted that even with the ribs, that was just right for two people.  I didn't feel heard and I ended up with more than a pound of meat.  It wasn't about cost, but as I knew I would be traveling and didn't have any type of cooler, and that dinner would be early tonight, this was way too much food.  The brisket was tender and smoky, but on the salty side. The barbecue technique looks good with the pink ring on the surface of the smoked meat.  Sauces were tangy - I needed some sauce to balance out the salt. Even though I the brisket had fat in it, it dried out during the course of the meal so that it wasn't so moist anymore.  Okay, but not the best brisket of the trip.  $35/pound

During our meal, a woman came and asked us if we were enjoying our meal and whether we had been there before.  She also let us know that the barbecue is available by mail. She did a great job checking in without intruding and checked on all of the tables in addition to clearing anything at the tables that people had left behind. 

Terry's barbecue is an efficient operation and good for an introduction to a solid barbecue experience.  While some staff are very good, there could be some retraining for others to improve the service, especially for newcomers.  Even though the slices of brisket were cut, I think they could have taken some back instead of saying that was right for two people. For this reason, I can't recommend this location even though the food is fine.  

Blue Sky Cafe - Chinese, Belmont

1625 El Camino Real #9, Belmont CA 94002

(650) 595-0228
Parking: parking lot
Hours: Tues-Sun11am-2:30pm, 4pm-8:30pm; Closed Mondays

https://www.blueskycafeca.com/

Last Visited: March 22, 2025

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

I had heard about Blue Sky Cafe for a while now and had never made the trip to check it out.  Friends had told me the food ws good, and the clay pot rice was the thing to get. 

I arrived on a Saturday just after 5pm and there was already a line outside the door.  It would be super easy to drive past this small office complex without a second look, but there were folks standing around the entrance which made it easy to spot.  I peeked inside and there was an iPad to enter our name and party size.  On this sunny afternoon, the name was quite fitting - it was a blue sky day and warm for March.  An hour later, we were seated. 

Inside, the decor does not seem like that of a typical Chinese restaurant.  In addition to the television, which does seem typical for a Chinese place, there are pictures of lighthouses, dolphins, and beach scenes.  The space is a bit overcrowded with tables once folks are seated and it gets noisy.  The menu includes typical Cantonese stir fry dishes, wonton noodles, and porridge.  Lunch combination sets are also available if you like Hong Kong style Chinese food or the regular lunch plate with rice. 

Of course, I had to go with one of their clay pot rice. They have seven to choose from; most are typical of what you see on other menus, but they have one unique offering that I haven't seen - Yellow Eel Clay Pot Rice.  Pricing for this one is higher than the others, but that makes sense given that it's not as easy to source.

- Spareribs with Black Bean Sauce Rice in Clay Pot - The menu says that clay pot rice takes 30 minutes, and ours took closer to 45 minutes as the restaurant was completely full, in addition to many takeout orders being received.  They brought it without the soy sauce (which is typically poured over the rice), and when we asked for the soy sauce, the waiter said he would bring us some right away.  A few minutes later, we saw that he was busy so we flagged down the waitress, but she didn't seem to believe us that we didn't receive it.  She looked all around the table for the serving container (stainless syrup container like you would use for pancakes) and finally provided us with some.  The edges of the rice were slightly crispy, but not as much as it should be.  The flavors were on point and the dish is served with a few stalks of yau choy.  Good, but not the best we've had.  The best clay pot rice has cooked the rice so that it's golden on the bottom and you get a layer of slightly crispy rice.  You can eat it as is or traditionally, you pour tea over that crispy rice and scrape it away from the bottom.  In the spirit of the Great British Bakeoff, not a soggy bottom, but no crispy bottom here.  One would have to go again to check whether this experience is consistent with their regular quality. Small $17.95, Large $33.95 

- Beef with Chinese Broccoli - This was another solid dish, but it came out 30 minutes after ordering.  Wait times were just so long this evening.  The beef is tender, the carrots add color, and the Chinese broccoli was fresh.  A few mushroom (canned) are sprinkled amongst the dish. Solid flavors and fresh food - can't really go wrong ordering this one. Good portion considering the price. $13.95

In short, the food is good and the prices are very affordable; I would definitely eat their food again. However, the wait time is much too long to make the trek worthwhile for me as there are a lot of good Chinese restaurants that serve similar fare.  A better clay pot rice is offered not too far away with a crispy golden bottom.  Takeout would be the best option if you want to check it out. Online ordering is available through their website.  Restrooms are located in the adjacent building and require a key.

Andiamo in Banca - Italian, South San Francisco

301 Linden Ave, South San Francisco CA 94080

(650) 745-8811

Parking: Street Parking, paid parking garage nearby

Hours: Tues-Fri 11am-2pm, 4pm-9pm; Sat-Sun 4pm-9pm; Closed Mondays

https://www.andiamoinbanca.com/

Last Visited: April 25, 2023

Food: 3 stars

Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $$ to $$$

It's been a little while since I've been to Andiamo in Banca.  The restaurant has become a trusted place to go to for a work dinner or drinks, conveniently located in downtown South San Francisco.  Formerly a bank (hence the name, we go to the bank), the building offers a private room in the vault in case you have a small group that you want to seat in a unique space.  

During my latest visit, I didn't get to take photos, so pictures and pricing below are from 2019.

Upon arrival, you'll notice the tall ceilings and spacious layout.  Bread and a dipping sauce are offered at the start of the meal. During my most recent visit, the tomato-based sauce was swapped out with oil and balsamic mixed together.  Even though it was about a year after opening, the service seemed to be a bit hit and miss.  They were friendly, but with only two servers, it was slow despite a dining room that wasn't very full as it was early in the evening not long after opening. 

- Arancini - While not the best arancini I've ever had, it was solid in that the breading was crispy and the marinara sauce was a good pairing.  The rice ball was tender with meat inside.  Unfortunately, this no longer seems to be offered on the menu now. $9.95

- Calamari Fritti - Crispy and tender, the fried squid is served with a chipotle aioli.  The batter was light and the flavors were good; considering the price at the time, it was reasonable in terms of the size. Per the menu on the website, the calamari is now tossed in a garlic lemon sauce in addition to the aioli on the side.  $11.95  

- Pizza Bianca con Prosciutto di Parma  - Another solid offering, the thin crust pizza was topped with mozzarella, mushrooms, prosciutto and arugula.  At the time, I found this to be a tad on the dry side although the ingredients were fresh; however, it may be different now.  According to the menu, this now comes with shaved parmigiano reggiano. $14.95

Andiamo in Banca has good food and service can vary.  It's good for groups in that they can offer a set menu like a salad, choice of entree, and dessert, in a comfortable space. Several visits have shown that service is not always the most prompt, but they're polite and the kitchen can keep up.   While it's not a go-to on my list of regular hangouts, I wouldn't have any qualms going there - it's fine.  Newer menu items include grilled octopus and rack of lamb, so it appears menus are updated every so often.

Luigi's Restaurant & Pizzeria - Italian, Pacifica

950 Linda Mar Blvd, Pacifica CA 94044
(650) 355-0944
Parking: strip mall parking lot
Hours: Mondays, Thursdays, Sundays 2pm-8pm; Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays 12pm-8pm, Closed Tuesdays

Last Visited: September 25, 2024

Food: 4 stars

Atmosphere: 2 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $$

If you are ever in Pacifica, you'll want to stop by Luigi's Restaurant & Pizzeria, and if you're lucky, you'll get to meet Luigi himself.  He'll share stories of when his restaurant started, how his family made these rice balls, how he built his life here in the Bay Area, and more.

Located in a small strip mall in a residential neighborhood, it's easy to drive by and not even notice the place.  The inside decor is very simple and more reminiscent of a home party setting than restaurant dining, it's easy to look past all this when you taste the amazing comfort food.

- Rice ball - You will definitely want to take advantage of having the best rice balls around.  While these in the picture are a little lighter in color than normal, they're still filled with delicious ground beef and peas, surrounded by rice.  I had asked for the meat sauce to be packaged on the side since I was taking these home, but they're the best arancini around.  Golf ball-sized goodness that is lightly breaded and served with scrumptious sauce. They're so much better than these dainty things you get at the fancy Italian places - this is more like what you would expect your Italian grandma to make.  Yum! Occasionally, it's not available at lunch, but I've only run into that a couple of times.  $3.50 each

- Luigi's Supreme Combo (Medium shown in the photo) - Unlike many other places, Luigi's has held prices since Covid! That means that you can get a medium combo pizza for only $19.95!  You can't even get this kind of discount at the big chains with this quantity of toppings.This combo has onions, pepperoni, green bell peppers, sausage, ham, and mushrooms.  The toppings are fresh and the crust is just the right thickness.  I have yet to visit Luigi's without getting a pizza.  Small 6" $14.95, Medium 8" $19.95, Large 10" $23.95, Extra Large 12" $25.95

I've also tried their lasagna and garlic bread. Good stuff.  

While the decor is super simple, it gets the job done.  If you're looking for fine dining, this is not the right restaurant for you.  Dine in can be a bit slow, and the level of service really varies depending on who is working there.  While the food will take the same amount of time, if they are busy, it may take some time to flag down someone to come to the dining area.  If Luigi isn't busy, he'll come sit with you and visit for a while, so give yourself plenty of time for dine in.  Take out has been pretty consistent.  The only challenge I have run into is that if I arrive too early upon opening and some staff are running late, not all of the staff knows how to use the credit card machine; you'll still get great food though.  This hasn't deterred me from going back though.  I still love being able to support this small business. 

When in Pacifica, this is a great stop! I highly recommend the food.

Old Pier Hong Kong BBQ - Chinese BBQ, San Francisco

1033 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 702-6378
Parking: street parking
Hours: Daily 10:30am-9pm, Closed Tuesdays

Last Visited: July 7, 2024

Food: 3 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 1 star

Price: $$ to $$$

I first went to Old Pier when they initially opened a couple of years ago.  I tried some of their takeout Chinese BBQ and found their bbq to be ok.  Nothing standout, but not half bad either.  

Fast forward a couple of years later, and we were dining in this time.  The decor is modern with booths and built in induction stovetops in the tables for hot pot (Chinese fondue).  We were promptly greeted and told to pick any seat.  The waitress brought us tea quickly, but after the initial dish was brought out from the kitchen, the waitress couldn't do much more, and well, it goes downhill from there.

They have set a menu, starting with meals for 2-3 people, which offer choices of entrees, sides, and come with rice, and a plate of vegetables.  With only two of us, we decided to order a Chinese bbq roast pork and duck over rice and a tofu dish.

- Braised Tofu with Vegetable - This dish comes from the kitchen, freshly cooked upon order.  While it took about ten minutes, that was a reasonable amount of time to get the hot braised tofu served with carrots, bok choy, and button mushrooms.  It was fresh and had a bit of gravy.  Good. $13.95

The tofu would have been a great pairing with our order of bbq items that came with rice, but forty minutes after ordering, we still didn't have our bbq items.  We overheard the waitress check on our order and tell the bbq chef that we had already received the rest of our order, but to no avail.  We asked her to check again at the 30 minute mark, and she did, but nothing.  At forty minutes, I went up front and asked for the bill.  The bbq chef told me he could cut it in just a few minutes, but I had no hope at that point.  I saw that all of the people in the takeout line had come and gone, and even orders submitted after ours were fulfilled.  I paid and left.  

From this experience, I would recommend that if you must eat here, order items from the kitchen to make things go a bit faster.  If you insist on eating bbq, get in the takeout line.  This wasn't a matter of a missing order, but the chef's choice to fulfill take out orders before dine-in.  No apology came from the chef about the wait.  Completely disappointing. 

Flame BBQ - Asian, Millbrae

1621 El Camino Real, Millbrae CA 94030

(650) 677-5888

Parking: street parking

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 4:30pm-11:30pm, Closed Mondays

Last Visited: July 6, 2024

Food: 2 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 2 to 3 stars

Price: $ to $$$

Formerly the location for Ai Grill, this new location has probably been open just under six months.  The reviews on various were overwhelmingly positive, so I thought it would be worth a try.  However, I was completely disappointed by how incredibly salty and one note every dish was.  In fact, my discard pile was large, and I ended up going to another restaurant for a second dinner, not wanting to chance it any further.

We arrived at Flame BBQ and were the second table on this early Saturday evening.  All of the grills at the table have been disconnected, but the menu offerings include many grilled items.  The tables line the side of the restaurants so there is bench seating on one side and these cushioned colorful drums for the side facing the wall. The decor is modern, but still very focused on Ai Grill - nothing seems to have changed.  The seating against the wall say Ai Grill at every table.  The seats also have Ai Grill painted on them.  

While there are plastic placemat like menus at each table, I noticed that these are for reference only as you need to order using the QR code on the table.  Pricing has gone up in the short time these menu mats were printed and you'll notice a number of items have increased in price from $1 to $2 each which is significant when the original price was only $2.95 to start, like in the case of the garlic oysters.  

After we were seated, we were offered a small bowl of roasted salted peanuts with skin still on them and cold water.  

- Prime Grilled Rib Eye (3 pieces) - The rib eye came in six small dice along a metal skewer (shown on the far left of the photo)  Since it was listed as rib eye, I expected it to melt in my mouth, but instead, there was a lot of fat, and it was difficult to chew.  I had a lot of discards since I couldn't break it down.  Additionally, the meat was super salty.  Chili spice, while not particularly hot, was sprinkled on it in such abundance that you couldn't taste the beef on its own.  Super disappointing.  $6.95

- Grilled Shrimp - Shown in the middle of this photo, the size of the shrimp was ok, but again, it had been sprinkled with the chili spice so that you couldn't taste the freshness of the shrimp. It wasn't overly dry, but it wasn't that great either.  $1.95

- Grilled King Oyster Mushroom - Pictured on the far right of the first photo, you can see that the mushroom has been cut into this rectangular shape and again, sprinkled with the chili spice.  It was chewy rather than juicy and there was no mushroom flavor. I wouldn't get it again. $1.95

- Prime House Crispy Pork Belly (2 pieces) - So I was hoping that the pork belly might be a treat, but you guessed it, more chili spice.  Everything was completely on note and the skin of the pork belly didn't crunch. Disappointing once again, but at least less discards compared to the rib eye. $4.95 

 

- Vermicelli Scallop with Garlic - Finally, a dish without chili spice, but this too was on the salty side and the garlic, though abundant, had so much salt that I brushed it aside.  The small scallop was tender, but you can't taste the sea, and the vermicelli was fine.  $2.95

The server checked on us only before ordering to make sure we knew how to order, but when bringing food dishes, she doesn't ask you how you're doing.  She just tells you the food item as she brings it and takes the skewers off of her plate and onto yours.  It's a strange model considering there were only two tables, so it's not like all of the plates were in use.  

I wanted to love this place, but I was glad that I didn't order more because I had to drink lots of water to balance out the salt.  I don't know if I could have handled more of the same.  While I've been to a place when it's having an off night before, usually, it's not every dish that is disappointing.  The chefs need to work on tasting their food and the server could improve checking on customers.  Sadly, I can't recommend this place. 

Pate a Choux - Dessert, San Bruno

1150 El Camino Real, #205, San Bruno CA 94066
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am-8pm, Sun 11:30am-7pm
Parking: shopping center parking lot

Last Visited: June 6, 2024

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 4 stars

Service: 3 to 4 stars

Price: $

So I've walked by Pate a Choux a number of times - whenever going to the Century Theaters at Tanforan mall, I go past this place.  It's often empty or has a short line, so I didn't think much of it, but after seeing a post on the Bay Area Eats facebook page, I thought I would give it a try and I'm glad I did.  

Keep in mind that this rating is for a one time visit, but I was pleased with it and hope that it's consistently solid.  While it won't be a life changing moment, the choux puff holds even after 15 to 20 minutes of being filled.  It still had a bit of a crunch, and as you can see from the photo, there is a lot of filling.

You choose from either a vanilla or chocolate choux and a choice of filling of matcha, vanilla, black sesame, hojicha, or chocolate.  These regular items are filled upon request and cost $4.75 each.  

I chose a chocolate choux with hojicha and found it to have a fairly light, but recognizable hojicha taste.  The chocolate could be stronger, but not bad.  The creme was slightly cool and had a nice texture - no grit, a little thick - just right.

You can also select from one of the six specialty puffs which include creme strawberry, mango mango, nutella roasted almond, double chocolate, sea salt oreo, and melted caramel.  These are filled with seemingly more cream and available in the adjacent refrigerated case.   It looks like these specialty items may be seasonal. 

Service was friendly and the shop is bright and clean.  Check it out next time you're in the area.

El Faro Mexican Food - South San Francisco

 435 El Camino Real, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 589-6288
Parking: parking lot
Hours: 8am-9pm Daily

Last Updated: March 24, 2024

While it's hard to do a review on one single item during one single visit, I was so pleased with my Happy Burrito from El Faro that I decided to post this review.  

I've been driving/walking by this place for over a decade and never stopped in until this day and while I didn't even set foot inside, their drive thru is so accessible and convenient, that I'm disappointed that I hadn't tried it before.  They've been around since 1961 after all.

- Happy Burrito - While this name isn't exactly common (unlike Super Burrito), I figured I would give it a true.  Who doesn't like lettuce and tomatoes with their super burrito (rice, beans, guacamole, sour cream, and your choice of meat)? I chose to go with carnitas, my standard for a first try.  The burrito was filled with meat and the contents distributed well.  Blurry photo, but all was tasty and moist as it should be. Great. It even comes with a small bag of chips and two small containers of red salsa.  No complaints. While prices are climbing like everything else out there, they do offer their menu at cash prices and you can pay the extra 3+% for paying with credit.  I can't remember the exact price, but it was about $10+ before tax

So take it with a grain of salt considering the small sample size, but I would recommend El Faro and hope to be back soon to try out more of their menu.

Kuma Nori - Japanese, Burlingame

1861 El Camino Real, Burlingame CA 94010
(650) 689-5436
Parking: in strip mall parking lot

Hours: Tues-Sat 5pm-9:30pm, Closed Sun-Mon

Last Visited: February 17, 2024

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

From the owners of Morning Wood, now Diamond Head General Store, comes Kuma Nori.  I was walking through the shopping center and noticed the Japanese letters and stopped to look at the menu.  I wasn't planning on trying it until the Chow family mentioned how great the wagyudon is. Thanks to someone's thorough yelp review, I arrived at 4:20pm on a rainy Saturday and waited ten minutes for the iPad waitlist (on yelp) to be put outside, along with the A-frame sign containing the menu and the other sign saying BYOB since they don't have a liquor license yet.  From there, I returned to my vehicle, sheltered from the rain and wind.

 

About ten minutes before 5pm, I received my first text asking me to look at the menu since they're expecting large groups (aka 4 people) and then a little after, I received a second text - this one to get ready to be seated.  Your whole party must be present in order for you to be seated.  Note that if you have a need for a high chair, you should plan to count your baby/toddler as a member of your party since it's a small place (they managed to fit someone's baby, 5th wheel, onto the bench seating after a minor scolding about how that isn't a party of 4, but a party of 5).  Also note that even if you arrive early enough to be part of the first round of seating, they fill the restaurant about 1/3 of the way full to manage the kitchen.    

Once in the restaurant, the pop music blaring and modern decorations make it a fun and casual atmosphere, but tables are quite close together - it's actually hard to get into and out of the two person tables since one side is bench seating along the wall.  You're right next to your neighbor which is great for seeing what everyone else has ordered, but bad news if you're seeking a private experience.

I wanted to balance out my selection with one fried item, one meat with rice, and one other dish.  

- "Almost famous" fried chicken - The menu says that this boneless fried chicken has a spicy salt and vinegar rub, comes with nanban sauce, shredded cabbage, and 'ryowa' sauce.  Since I had gotten the Morning Wood spicy fried chicken and nearly collapsed from the aftermath of too much habanero and my system not tolerating the spicy sauce, I knew I wanted to try their fried chicken again, this time, without the spice.  Of the three dishes, this was by far the best one - juicy dark meat, crunchy batter, and finely shredded cabbage topped with a creamy sauce containing small pieces of egg white and sprinkled with green onions.  This was a perfect balance - fried goodness and a refreshing salad with creamy dressing.  I had to look up what nanban referred to and found that unlike karaage where you marinate and then fry, nanban chicken is just the opposite - it's usually fried and then dipped in sauce.  That's likely why there is a separate sauce here with red chili in it - so as to keep the batter crispy.  Even without the nanban sauce, it's quite tasty and the crunch lasted throughout the meal as we savored the last bite after trying other dishes and nearly finishing our dinner.  Solid four stars - if I were to go back, I would definitely get this again. It's easily shareable and very good.  $23

- Crab roll - Dungeness crab meat is put inside a butter obanyaki and served with frisee and a yuzu kosho hollandaise sauce.  So reading the Kuma Nori menu is an experience in itself as it's a guessing game if you don't know all of your Japanese foods well.  Once again, I wasn't sure what to expect and had to look up what obanyaki is.  If it sounds like takoyaki, it's in the same family.  It's like having a crab cake and not at the same time.  The tender crab meat is very moist and stuffed inside of this pancake batter which has been crisped in whatever device they are using in the kitchen.  What's weird is that they don't serve this with a knife and fork (unlike the chicken which came with a large steak knife and a fork).  This makes for a great appetizer.  The crab gives this dish a lot of richness and the creamy yuzu kosho sauce is a nice pairing, although it's not particularly strong. Yuzu koshu is a Japanese condiment made of fresh chilis, salt, and the juice and zest of yuzu (a citrus fruit).  However, I pretty much just tasted a very mild citrus and not much else.  The frisee is topped with tiny round rice crackers (bubu arare) which gave it a little crunch. This was ok to try, but personally, I like this type of pancake as a dessert with red bean instead of crab.  I would choose a crab cake over this dish, although the pancake was browned nicely and a touch crispy.  $32

- Wagyudon - The wagyudon is listed as market price based on the specific farm and cut.  Today's was from Hokkaido prefecture.  The menu lists this as house tare, shoyu cured egg yolk, steamed rice, and garlic. Some other things that come with this is pickled vegetables, microgreens, green onions, tiny round rice crackers (bubu arare), and fresh horseradish.  On the wall is a certificate of authenticity for the wagyu.  So this is going to sound like I'm a total snob, but after having Kobe beef in Japan where I had to cook it myself, I still remember the wonderful fattiness and how that complemented the slight smokiness from the grill.  Here, you can enjoy thin rare slices in the house tare, which is typically made with soy sauce, mirin, sake, brown sugar, vinegar, and aromatics.  The rice in the layer below contains furikake and the sauce is soaked into the rice making for a flavorful bite.  Let me break this down.  The meat is tender and fatty.  Nothing is overcooked even if you leave the lid on it for a bit (I was still eating the crab roll and let this sit a little).  Each bite feels luscious, creamy, and rich and occasionally, you'll get a crispy garlic chip which is a burst of flavor on its own.  However, some of the pieces of beef contained sinew. It was manageable, but still present.  I also longed for the wagyu to have that touch of smokiness from being cooked and that was missing.  It's more like eating a tartare which can also be good, but is not the same.  I'm sure cooking it would also be a tricky endeavor because then it could become tough and overcooked if you're not careful. This dish was just ok for me.  It's easily shareable if you want to try other things. $68

When it comes to service, the two servers were friendly, but considering that your bill has an automatic 18% gratuity, I expect a bit more service.  Menus are already on the table when you arrive.  Since I had already looked at the menu as instructed by the text and was ready to order, the wait seemed extra long.  They don't bring water unless you ask for it, so you're pretty much just waiting for everything. 

I heard the server telling the table behind us that the crab roll was a new menu item and asking about what they thought about it, but he didn't ask us.  While that server did come to remove a plate and checked on us once, nobody checked on us again until the end of the meal when they brought the bill and simultaneously asked if we wanted anything else.   

While it was a good place to try since we were celebrating a special occasion, the price tag for most dishes is pretty high.  The food is a variation of what you can get elsewhere; for example, the kuma katsudon is made with a rather large kurobuta pork rib loin, but even in the short period that the restaurant has been open (just a few months), the price tag for that has already gone up and is now $38.  

Other menu items include hambagu steak (hamburger steak), metaiko crab pasta, and the stupid tuna roll which is quite a popular offering.  

Overall, visiting Kuma Nori was an experience that you can't find locally, and I would definitely get the fried chicken again.  The other items were three stars for me.  If you plan to go, show up early to get on the waitlist. 

The Cake Queen & Coffee Bar - Bakery, South San Francisco

132 Brentwood Dr, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 593-CAKE
Hours: Wed-Thurs 7am-3:30pm, Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 9am-2pm, Closed Mon-Tues
Parking: street parking, nearby public parking lot
https://www.bayareacakequeen.com/

Last Visited: December 8, 2023

Food: 3 star ube tres leches

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Price: $$

Service: 4 stars

I had been hearing about The Cake Queen for some time and was hoping to try their ube cupcakes to celebrate a special occasion.  Unfortunately, they didn't have any and when I asked when they usually have them, the nice lady at the counter said that there isn't a specific day of the week when they show up, but you can always order them - dozen minimum.

She recommended that I try the ube tres leches since this is one of their most popular offerings, noting that people create tiktoks about it. While this latter fact wasn't what sold me, since I enjoy ube, I would settle for this which wouldn't be that bad.  

- Ube Tres Leches - The cake is pre-packaged in a plastic box and topped with whipped cream and ube dust.  The cake is heavily soaked with the pretty purple milk (if it's like typical tres leches, it's condensed milk, evaporated milk, and regular milk).  I thought this was a rather large amount of milk - you can see from the photo that it's not just soaked, but pretty mc swimming in the milk.  At first bite, it's quite sweet and the ube flavor is not prominent.  As you continue with additional bites, the sweetness is not as prominent.  One unusual thing I noticed after the two separate sittings of eating this cake is that I felt extremely thirsty after this.  I wasn't sure if it's because of the sugar or something else, but I rarely have that response to sweets.  

It's a pretty purple and the cake is thoroughly soaked, but I probably wouldn't order this again.  Service is friendly, but maybe their other baked goods and desserts would be better to try.   

D Cafe - Chinese, Daly City

137 D St, Daly City CA 94014
(415) 347-7168
Parking: in the lot across the street after 3pm or other nearby parking lot
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-7pm

Last Visited: September 7, 2023

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

D Cafe, located on D Street in Daly City near the Colma BART station, just opened up about a month ago.  We had called in a takeout order for what seemed to be their signature items, and while I was chatting with Winnie, who was working the front counter, she told me these are what they recommend as their best dishes.  

The cafe is newly remodeled and has three tables inside and one table on the outside.  The space is pretty small, but if you want to watch their big screen tv, they were showing some Chinese variety show on it.  They offer a variety of smoothies and boba milk teas, but you should know it's not specializing in these items.  Winnie offered me an original boba milk tea to try and I can confirm their tea is strong, but the boba, while ok, has a tendency to stick together making it a bit difficult to break up using the straw alone.  If I were to order the milk tea, I would get it plain without the boba.  One unique thing on their menu is the breakfast combos - you can get dishes like instant noodle soup with spam and egg or a congee with Hong Kong coffee or Hong Kong style milk tea included.  Add a dollar for iced versions of the drinks.  

- House Signature Hainanese Chicken over Rice - While the menu lists this as Hainanese chicken, compared to the authentic version, this doesn't quite hit the mark fully, but it's still a good poached chicken and the ginger sauce that accompanies the chicken is still pretty addictive - something has been added that makes you go back for more and it's a great accompaniment.  The chicken is a mixture of dark and white meat and poached until tender - you can see from the photo that there isn't any red in the bone and when you taste the meat, it's not overcooked in the slightest.  The skin is 'crisp' as it would be described by the Chinese word - what that means is that it has a bit of bounce/toothsomeness versus being too soft.  The rice is lightly seasoned and it comes with several stalks of cooked yau choy.  All of this is good, but typical Hainan chicken comes with chili sauce and cucumber garnishes, so it's close, but not quite.  Good nevertheless and worth trying. $14.95

- Braised Beef Stew & Lettuce Clay Pot - Between the two dishes, this was my favorite.  If you were expecting just chunks of beef stew, this might not be to your preference, but I appreciated the mix of tendons and stew pieces, all cooked until tender without being soggy or feeling like it was overcooked. Lettuce lined the bottom of the dish and the stew included celery and carrot slices.  It wasn't too salty and the vegetables added that little bit of freshness to contrast the richness of the sauce and meat.  Leftovers eaten the next day were equally good as day one.  I would definitely get this again and recommend it to others.   $17.95

I'm not sure which dish it came with, but I was also given a container of fuzzy melon soup that contained soy beans, a pork bone, and small pieces of carrot.  If you're accustomed to Cantonese style food, you'll appreciate the soup broth.

Considering that all of these dishes were well packed for the ride home and they give you sturdy forks and spoons, I feel comfortable getting takeout again and not worrying about the condition of the food not being up to snuff due to the travel time.  I expect to be back to try other dishes on their menu including comfort food favorites like wonton noodles, available with or without beef stew and dry-fried string beans.