Fantastic Northern Vietnamese Pho at Turtle Tower in the Tenderloin

One random Sunday in San Francisco, I woke up with an awful hangover from a crazy night of drinking the night before. How on earth was I gonna remedy this situation? Then it struck me! Soup! And you know what, I had just the thing from my todo list that would fit the bill, pho at Turtle Tower.

(more…)

Continue ReadingFantastic Northern Vietnamese Pho at Turtle Tower in the Tenderloin

Solid Dim Sum without the Push Carts at Tai Pan in Palo Alto

Transport yourself to Hong Kong. And you don’t even need to leave the cushy confines of Palo Alto, California. Just a block off the main drag on University Avenue, there’s a massive dim sum parlor that would be all too easy to miss while walking by. Despite its enormous front signage, there’s nothing about its appearance that would actually draw a pedestrian inside to experience an authentic Hongkongese dim sum meal.

(more…)

Continue ReadingSolid Dim Sum without the Push Carts at Tai Pan in Palo Alto

Vibrant, Destination-Worthy, Vegetarian-Friendly Burmese at Rangoon Ruby in Palo Alto

DSC_4731_edit

A mere three days after my first Burmese food experience in San Francisco, I found myself in Palo Alto face-to-face somehow with another Burmese restaurant. Odd, I thought, considering I had never come across Burmese food anywhere else in the US before. But a quick bit of research informed me that the original chef from the famed Burma Superstar I had recently visited had defected a few years back to open his own Burmese restaurant in the heart of Palo Alto called Rangoon Ruby. I wasn’t gonna ask any more questions because I had already become quite obsessed with the healthy-ish, but still super-flavorful Burmese specialties and was excited for more opportunities to explore the cuisine while I was staying in town.

(more…)

Continue ReadingVibrant, Destination-Worthy, Vegetarian-Friendly Burmese at Rangoon Ruby in Palo Alto

The Cavalier Served Me Two of the Best Meals of my Life

Listen up. I have found my new favorite restaurant IN THE WORLD. This place served me, without a doubt, the best food I’ve ever eaten. Twice. Both visits were, in my humble opinion — flawless. Where and what is this incredible restaurant, you ask? It’s The Cavalier at Hotel Zetta near Union Square in San Francisco and you absolutely must go.

(more…)

Continue ReadingThe Cavalier Served Me Two of the Best Meals of my Life

Exciting, Eclectic, Global Cuisine at Public Restaurant in Nolita

20140730_190223_edit

After knocking out two date nights from our NYC Bucket List and before relocating to San Francisco, we had time for one final meal with my family the evening before our departure. Public Restaurant was chosen by my mom firstly for it’s super-convenient location in Nolita but mostly because, and I quote, “it sounds like it’s got your kind of food”. That could be taken any number of ways, but I’ll just assume it’s because the menu is loaded up with unusual sounding game meat and other interesting sounding ingredients together in strange combinations and preparations. Yes Mom, that does sound like my kind of place indeed.

(more…)

Continue ReadingExciting, Eclectic, Global Cuisine at Public Restaurant in Nolita

I Love the Low Key Vibe and High Quality Sushi at Domo in Hayes Valley

DSC_3981_edit

Now that Amy and I have moved from NYC to San Francisco, it’s time for me to dig into the SF food scene. There are a number of cuisines that SF is reputed to do better than New York, Mexican being the most obvious, and I want to put these reputations to the test. Perhaps a little less obvious than SF’s Mexican superiority would be it’s Japanese, specifically regarding sushi. It makes sense if you think about it though considering this part of the country is so much closer to Japan than New York is. Don’t get me wrong though, I know we had really great sushi in New York, but it’s certainly possible that the proximity to Japan could help.

(more…)

Continue ReadingI Love the Low Key Vibe and High Quality Sushi at Domo in Hayes Valley

Surprisingly Solid French Formality at Bon Vivant in Palo Alto

DSC_4763_edit

I can’t remember the last time I knowingly dined at a restaurant with such a low Foursquare rating. At the time when I sat down at Bon Vivant in Palo Alto, they scored a measly 5.3 illustrated with a bold red background. I didn’t let that deter me. I was looking for a relaxing solo diner at an outdoor table and that’s exactly what I found at this restaurant.

(more…)

Continue ReadingSurprisingly Solid French Formality at Bon Vivant in Palo Alto

A True Cajun & Creole New Orleans Experience at NOLA in Palo Alto

DSC_4717_edit

For Stanford students, there’s only a few bars that everyone goes to. One of the biggest nightlife hotspots is NOLA, an aggressively Mardi Gras themed bar and restaurant that’s gaudily decorated with scattered dangling beaded necklaces. It’s the kind of place that I’d normally write off at first glance, assuming they’d only be able to make stupidly sweet and strong alcoholic punches and serve shitty bar food, but that assumption would be wrong.

(more…)

Continue ReadingA True Cajun & Creole New Orleans Experience at NOLA in Palo Alto

Impeccable Modern American Cuisine at Scratch in Mountain View

It’s not always easy to find quality restaurants in Silicon Valley, but Mountain View has proven time and time and time again that there’s some really excellent places to eat and drink on their main downtown drag. There are not many restaurants that I have loved enough to eat at multiple times out here, but Scratch has sort of become my go-to, not-sure-what-I’m-in-the-mood-for dinner and drinks spot.

(more…)

Continue ReadingImpeccable Modern American Cuisine at Scratch in Mountain View

Intriguing, Non-Traditional Sushi Rolls at Sushi Confidential in Campbell

DSC_4097_edit

Once again, I was back in downtown Historic Campbell, California, this time to check out an unusual sushi joint called Sushi Confidential. I should start by telling you that this is not your average sushi joint. In fact, there’s very little that’s traditional about this place at all.

(more…)

Continue ReadingIntriguing, Non-Traditional Sushi Rolls at Sushi Confidential in Campbell