Tasty Dining

Dining adventures

[tastydining]

Liholiho

Lower Nob Hill, SF | 2.5 / 5.0 |

Glimmers of something special in each dish, but no dish felt fully materialized.  A few standout ingredients and preparations, namely the very tender beef tongue and soft and fluffy buns with the beef tongue baos and macerated kumquats topping their duck hearts dish.  Dessert was a complete miss, though – their photogenic Baked alaskan is overly sweet, lacking any of the acidity you might expect from a pineapple dessert, and failed texturally, with overset ice cream and a dry cake base.  Was expecting more from this award-winning spot.  Portions are generous, but you do pay a decent amount for them.  Hyper-popular restaurant but possible to get a seat at the bar if you’re persistent, even on a Saturday night at prime dining time.

Beef tongue baos in a steamed poppy seed bun with kimchi and topped with pickled cucumber, scallions, and sesame seed - the sauce felt like a mild Sriracha.  Not as bold of an overall flavor as I expected given the ingredients.

Duck hearts with preserved kumquats, pistachios, jalapeño, and frisse - the salad was excellently dressed and nicely bitter.  Kumquats were intensely sweet and sharp.  Duck hearts lacked flavor.  

Roasted octopus with raisins, olives, potatoes, and coriander - potatoes were tasty and had a nice crispy texture.  Octopus was tender but didn’t have a distinct flavor.  Raisins were a nice sweet touch.  Sauce was rich and creamy.  The most boldly flavored dish but a bit heavy.

Baked Hawaiian with pineapple ice cream and vanilla chiffon - the merging topping was too sweet, and the ice cream was hard as a brick.  Vanilla chiffon was dry and dense.  Flakes of coconut were tasty – wish that flavor carried out to the rest of the dish.

2.5 / 5.0

[tastydining]

Pho 84

Oakland, CA | 2.0 / 5.0 |

Pho 84 always appears on best of lists for pho in the bay area, which is how I originally found out about it.  I returned to Pho 84 after finding it closed on my first visit and ordered a “small” of their signature pho (#1 Pho Bo), which has sliced steak, flank, meatballs, and beef tendon.  The meat was dry, and the soup had a surprising lack of flavor - none of the spiced ginger and anise flavor or pungent splash of fish sauce that I expect in a decent bowl of pho was to be found here.  Their Thai iced tea was also a bit too sweet, and the balance of milk to tea was off.  I would definitely take the vegan pho at Golden Lotus over this any day.

2.0 / 5.0

[tastydining]

Out the Door

Embarcadero, SF | 3.0 / 5.0 |

Purchased the Vietnamese ham sandwich from the Slanted Door sister restaurant Out the Door in the Ferry Building.  The sandwich comes on a housemade baguette, which is top notch - great crusty exterior and soft interior.  The ham resembles thinly sliced tofu more than the western ham I expected.  Pate is rich and flavorful, and the pickled veggies are pretty good as well.  Very filling but also way more expensive than any bahn mi should be, at $12.  

3.0 / 5.0

[tastydining]

Suppenkuche

Hayes Valley, SF | 3.0 / 5.0 |

Suppenkuche specialized in German comfort food and beer. Dining room has communal tables and poor acoustics, leading to a very noisy dining experience.  Their pretzel is excellent, with a slightly sour flavor, glossy coating, and spot on level of seasoning.  Their meatloaf features a scotch egg and is surrounded by a slice of bacon.  The slice comes with a heap-full of mashed potatoes surrounded by gravy.  A homely, rich dish.  Decently moist.  Generous portions make sharing easy.  

3.0 / 5.0

[tastydining]

Soulva

NoPa, SF | 3.0 / 5.0 |

Fast-casual Greek restaurant specializing in gyros.  I ordered the hearty lamb sandwich, which is filling but comfortably so.  Their pita bread is excellent - soft but robust enough to hold the sandwiches many components, including sliced cucumber and radish, onion, feta cheese, and slices of spit-fired lamb, all bound together with a harissa yogurt spread.  The first bite of this sandwich was delicious, but as I continued to eat, it became saltier and less desirable.  Still, I would likely return given its overall quality and proximity to music venues in SF.

3.0 / 5.0

[tastydining]

Yuzuki

Mission, San Francisco | 3.0 / 5.0 |

While San Francisco has no shortage of quality dining options, it often comes with a hefty markup, and Yuzuki is no exception.  Five courses shared among two people was almost $40 a head.  It is the best Izakaya I’ve had in the city, though, and some dishes were remarkable.  

Their homemade tofu is silky and mild, with a distinct natural sweetness, and the grilled chicken with scallion skewer was savory and sharp.  The Hokkaido uni on their chawanmushi was exceptionally fresh, and the egg custard is a wonderful mix of savory goodies, including mushroom and dehydrated shrimp, adding unexpected textures.  I liked the kara-age, though the skin wasn’t as crispy as it could be, and their pork belly skewer was tough.  The dessert with green tea ice cream (which did not taste homemade), sweet and slightly mushy adzuki beans, and strangely gooey mochi, is worth skipping.  

Zara Tofu

Kara-age

Pork belly (Buta Bara) and Chicken with Scallion (Negima) Yakitori skewers

Chawanmushi

Green tea ice cream with mochi and adzuki beans

3.0 / 5.0

Recommended dishes: Chawanmushi, zaru tofu

[tastydining]

Marnee Thai

Inner Sunset, SF | 2.5 / 5.0 |

Two positive experiences at Marnee Thai spread out over six years brought me back to this San Francisco institution to sample additional dishes.  Unfortunately, the last visit was disappointing enough to never return.

While I enjoyed their signature angel wings, chicken wings topped with a sticky sweet glaze and basil leaves, the chicken was a bit dry, and the sweetness quickly become overwhelming.  The best dish was their coconut hot cakes, served in a sizzling cast iron griddle and topped with corn, taro, squash, and a dollop of coconut cream.  Its soft and creamy consistency surrounded by a crispy exterior is memorable and delicious.

The rest of the meal was subpar, including their overly sweet Thai iced tea, dry and over-charred chicken satay, and too-sweet pad thai.  Missing was the spiced, acidic flavors I crave and expect from a great Thai restaurant; instead, most dishes were overly simplistic and reminiscent of average Thai takeout.  There may have been something off about the pork belly dish, served with peppers, mushrooms, and crispy bamboo, as it induced a stomach ache that lasted all day.

Limeade

Thai iced tea

Angel Wings

Coconut hot cakes

Chicken Satay

Pork Belly

Pad Thai

2.5 / 5.0

Recommended: coconut hot cakes (if you must)

[tastydining]

Comal

Berkeley, CA | 4.0 / 5.0 |

Deserving of its Bib Gourmand accolade, popular Mexican restaurant Comal was a pleasant surprise with all-around solid offerings of bold dishes that are both comforting yet elevated.  

The chicharrons, curled into sizable tubular pieces, are crispy and full of flavor, dusted with chili powder and just the right amount of seasoning.  Tender pieces of tripe are served in a homely and fully satisfying stew of white beans topped with queso fresco and a generous helping of fresh herbs.  A trio of beef meatballs was moist, surrounded by a well-balanced mole both sweet and savory.  My favorite dish was their grilled chicken livers, which were tender and faintly gamey, served with a tangy chipotle aioli and well-dressed bitter greens.  The beef lingua tacos had a sharpness from a liberal helping of crunchy pickled vegetables but did not quite reach the same heights as the aforementioned dishes.  Worth skipping were the desserts, which were not necessarily bad per se, but too sweet for either of our tastes.  The roasted brussels with squash also had a slightly mushy consistency which even the roasted pepitas could not overcome.  

Overall, Comal stands out as one of the best restaurants in Berkeley and one I would not hesitate to recommend.

Chicharron

Guacamole - well seasoned and spiced

Tripe

Meatballs

Chicken Livers

Beef lengua tacos

Brussels sprouts and squash with pepitas

Roasted broccoli

Flan with candied kumquats

Rice pudding with pistachio and orange

3.5 / 5.0

Recommended dishes: chicharron, grilled chicken livers, tripe, meatballs

[tastydining]

Golden Lotus

Chinatown, Oakland | 4.0 / 5.0 |

I found myself at this Vegan Vietnamese restaurant only after attempting to dine at Pho 84 and finding that it was closed.  Having never ordered a vegetarian pho in my life, I was curious to see what it might be like, and I was surprised by how savory and delicious it could be.  Using a combination of seitan textured and styled to look suspiciously close to meat, this filling bowl of soup had a deep spiced richness that I can only presume comes from a lot of mushrooms and star anise.  The rice noodles were quite good, and the dish overall was a steal, at $7 a bowl – an incredible value.  Did it persuade me to order vegan pho in the future?  Probably not if there is a meat option, but I would gladly order it if there wasn’t.

4.0 / 5.0

[tastydining]

Telegraph

Downtown Oakland, CA | 4.0 / 5.0 | 

This dive bar has a surprisingly good classic burger – juicy, rich, and not at all greasy, topped with lettuce and tomato on a perfectly toasted sesame seed bun.  Their homemade chips are decent but not a great substitute for fries, in my opinion.  They have a thorough menu of more creative burger offerings, but I typically opt for a classic burger when trying out a new place.  Given the quality of their burger, though, I would be happy to come back to order a more interesting option, despite the grungy atmosphere.

4.0 / 5.0

[tastydining]

Saigon Sandwich

Considered by many to be the best banh mi in San Francisco, Saigon Sandwich is a family-run hole-in-the-wall that has the cheapest banh mi sandwiches you might find anywhere, at less than $4 each.  Given the price, it’s a bargain, but price aside, I found the bread to be so-so (not a crunchy or soft as the best baguette), and the pork was a tad dry.  It had little flavor outside of the thick sauce that resembled hoisin in its thick consistency.  Their pickled carrots and turnip have a fairly standard flavor, as do the cilantro and jalapeño.  Personally, I would pay a few dollars more for a much better sandwich.

3.0 / 5.0

[tastydining]

Nojo Ramen

Hayes, Valley, San Francisco | 2.5 / 5.0 |

Ultra-popular Nojo Ramen ticks all the boxes as far as the (passé) ramen trend goes.  Long lines are standard, and bowls hover towards the $20 price range (the “San Francisco surcharge” – it’s rare to find ramen at this price range even in New York, where $15 ramen is fairly standard at Ippudo, Totto, Momofuku Noodle Bar, etc.).

Specializing in chicken-based broth, their ramen is surprisingly rich and fatty. The chicken tan-tan spicy miso I ordered was overly spicy for my taste, with ground chicken, a mountain of cilantro, and a strong sesame flavor.  Missing was vegetables to make you feel like you’re having anything close to a balanced meal.  The noodles were decent – slippery and slightly chewy, but not $17-worth (pre-tax and tip).

2.5 / 5.0

[tastydining]

Mamaleh’s

Cambridge, MA | 3.0 / 5.0 |

At last, there is a Jewish deli in Cambridge, MA.  Unfortunately, it opened after I graduated, but I was able to try it on my last visit back to MIT.  While I would have chosen the hot pastrami, it was sold out by the time I arrived, so I opted for the 50/50 sandwich, a mixture of corned beef and pastrami on marble rye with mustard.  The meaty sandwich has a satisfying peppery flavor, and the meat is generally robust and tender.  The rye was so-so – I appreciated its slightly sour flavor, but it wasn’t soft enough.  Their pickle is crispy and not overly seasoned or vinegary.  

Mike’s Deli in Brookline is still the best I’ve had in the Boston area, but Mamaleh’s is much more conveniently located, and Cambridge is lucky to have it.  Oh, and the beet soda is great – not too sweet, nicely carbonated, and full of earthy goodness.

3.0 / 5.0

[tastydining]

Four Sea

San Gabriel, LA | 2.5 / 5.0 |

Small Taiwanese “cafeteria” offering staples like fan tuan, soy bean milk with crueller, scallion pancake, and steamed buns.  Very reasonable prices, though the food is so-so, especially given better and similarly-priced options in San Gabriel.  The scallion pancake was burnt and dry, the soy bean milk overly sweet and slightly watery, and the scallion bun similar in flavor and texture to what you might purchase at an average bakery.  The fan tuan was generously sized but nowhere near as good as Huge Tree Pastry.

2.5 / 5.0

[tastydining]

Sugarfish

Santa Monica, LA | 3.5 / 5.0 |

Perhaps the most affordable omakase for quality sushi, Sugarfish’s menu contains an assortment of fresh sushi and hand rolls.  Two Nozawa menus were ordered to share among four people, which was a perfect amount since there was generally two pieces for each (extra handrolls were ordered for those that only had one).  The warm rice is cooked just-right, with a bit of bite and a pleasant amount of sweetness.  Some pieces of sushi are pre-seasoned with soy sauce or ponzu, so there is no need to add additional soy sauce (I found the pre-seaonsed fish to be slightly over seasoned, though).  Standouts were the blue crab roll (exceptionally sweet and tender) and the albacore, which melted away instantly on your tongue.  No complaints about the fish generally, though the toro in the handroll was too “mashed” up – I only wish there was less soy sauce on the pre-seasoned sushi.

3.5 / 5.0

Organic edamame 

Tuna Sashimi  - ponzu sauce was both piquant and umami-rich, though a little bit over seasoned.

Albacore - the best I’ve had.

Salmon 

Halibut, Yellow Tale, Snapper, and daily special

Toro hand roll

Blue crab handroll

[tastydining]

Lao Tao

Chinatown, LA | 3.0 / 5.0 |

Specializing in Taiwanese street foods, Lao Tao serves reasonably priced dishes in Chipotle-like compostable bowls.  My Taiwanese parents, who are experts in this arena, came along for this meal.  Their verdict was that it was fine – food as sustenance, but not anything particularly desirable.  My take is that given the price, at under $10 for a large bowl, the food is better than fine, but not enough to warrant a return.  Especially good was their pickled mustard greens, crushed cucumbers, and sweet corn.  I even liked their Oh Ah Jian, a Taiwanese oyster omelet dish that’s typically too sweet or salty, but this one was just right.  On the other hand, the ginger limeade was too sweet, the popcorn chicken was more breading than meat, and no single dish stood out to me as one I would wholeheartedly recommend.

3.0 / 5.0

Ginger limeade with organic chia seeds - a bit too sweet, though the chia seeds were plump

Century Egg Tofu Salad - a well seasoned dish with pork floss and silken tofu.

Beef ban mian - knife-cut noodles (likely not housemade) with beef (a bit touch) and mustard greens, tomatoes, generous helping of spring onions.

Popcorn Chicken Rice - chicken bits with a good amount of residual heat, sweet corn, fried egg with runny yolk.

Rub a Belly bowl  - fatty braised pork with an assortment of vegetables, including crushed cucumbers, corn, and pickled radish.

Sausage Party Rice  - less like the traditional fatty Chinese sausage than I expected and more like a hot dog, but with a similar flavor profile.

Oh Ah Jian - Well balanced Oyster and egg omelette.

[tastydining]

Pauline’s

Mission, SF | 4.0 / 5.0 |

Fresh salads and pizzas incorporating ingredients from the restaurant’s farm in Berkeley.  Offerings change frequently to reflect seasonal produce.  Excellent, deceiving simple salad with thinly sliced but fully flavored persimmons along with greens and walnuts lightly tossed in a pleasantly acidic vinaigrette.  The Italian pizza is meaty and satisfying, with a good level of heat, while their veggie special with peppers and olives is well balanced, with a sweet tomato sauce.

4.0 / 5.0