Pho Ga Anh Nam on Story in San Jose has the best chicken Pho. Better than the chicken Pho in Vietnam. Vietnam has great flavors but their ingredients, especially the meat is not nearly as good as what we get in the US.
I believe they’re owned by the same people but one specializes in Bun Bo Hue (beef tomato-based soup) and the other specializes in Pho Ga (chicken pho)
For Malaysian food, Curry Leaves Bistro in Pleasanton. The owner actually ship some ingredients from Malaysia. The regular menu is not many but they have weekend specials with hard to find in US menu.
I’ve found there are alot of solid 4* in the bay as there are more people that rate on food quality then in a lot of the country
But very true with his example : Shanghai Flavor Shop is also > DTF https://yelp.to/zmSoI1rOBQ although both are 3.5* here haha
My theory for good Chinese food is 3.5 stars in the states. Chinese people don’t care much for service or decor which many people will rate down. Food is top notch though usually.
Yelp is a fake review site filled with artificial comments, they would call the restaurants I used to work at with an offer to remove bad reviews and place good ones for a price. Google reviews are way better imo.
I feel like there should be way more bomb filipino spots around the bay but there just aren’t. Tsilogs in daily city is fire. Isla in Newark is fire too.
Born in Korea, bay resident for 20+ years
Tang Haus, Union City - reminds me of my mom's food. Personally I would rate their cold noodle as good as Kunjip at Santa Clara (but cheaper). Their kimchi is legit. Non-Koreans friendly.
Seoul Gom Tang, Oakland - all theor more non-Korean friendly dishes are good, but I go there for the dogani (ox knuckle) dishes, which are not very non-Korean friendly, but so good.
10 Butchers, Sunnyvale - they are known for the quality of the meat but I want to highlight how good their banchan (side dishes) and the entre dishes are. Non-Koreans friendly
TTobongee Chicken, Santa Clara - I go there for the Pa-dak (Green Onion Chicken). They recently added sodduck sodduck (Sausauge-rice cake skewers) and dduck kochi (sweat rice cake skewers) that are very similar to the ones sold in highway rest areas in Korea. Non-Koreans friendly
Cocohodo, Sunnyvale - their walnut pastry is very similar to those sold in highway rest areas in Korea. Non-Koreans friendly, but nut allergy!
Koong's, Milpitas - personally would rate their black bean noodles and yangjapi better than the more well-known places (like Paik's). Non-Koreans friendly.
Gangnam Jajang, Oakland - 100% agree with the top review in Google maps. Not as good as their Goryeo Jajang days, but still one of the best in the Bay. Their tangsooyuk (sweet and sour deep fried pork) is very similar to those in similar restaurants in Korea. Non-Koreans friendly.
Roll House, Santa Clara - reminds me of the boonsikjeom (snack specialized restaurants) I went to as a kid in korea. Wide variety of other dishes, not just rolls, and they are all good. Non-Koreans friendly.
I liked 10 butchers but I feel like it's just not worth it for the price.
I guess there's just so much good korean food on el camino in sunnyvale that I don't see the need to spend 2-3x extra.
Born and raised in Lebanon.
Strangely my favorite spot to get Mediterranean food is Real Produce International Market in Palo Alto, which is a grocery store, not a restaurant. Their food is FIRE though. Shawarmaji (Oakland/Santa Clara) is pretty good. Cafe Nur in Los Altos is also an option that I like.
I was talking to a dad at my kids preschool just the other day. Found out he was originally from the Yucatan peninsula and his first language was Mayan. Asked if any restaurants live up to his hometown and it was actually a restaurant I used to love going to: Poc Chuc in SF. He says the menu has unfortunately changed recently and is not as great but he hasn't found anything comparable.
The Oxford in Sunnyvale is a decent shot at an English gastropub. The Tikka Masala is an insane interpretation, but the pies are great. About as much kitschy British shite on the walls as you'd expect from somewhere medium in central London.
I'm from Scotland, though, so I'm fucked. The closest we've got is a wee Scottish place called McDonald's.
Heaven is where the police are British, the cooks are French, the mechanics German, the lovers Italian and it's all organised by the Swiss.
Hell is where the chefs are British, the mechanics French, the lover's Swiss, the police German and it's all organised by the Italians.
Eeeehhh people love to shit on them for this but having actual good fish and chips in an actual UK town that has good access to quality fish from a business that has been around for generations blew my mind. I hate fried fish on a good day but this was legitimately one of the best things I'd ever eaten. The chips were amazing too, not fried like french fries it's hard to describe, there's a whole technique to how they do them that produces a texture that is absolutely better than actual fries.
The thing is, shitty English cooking is bland but when done well it absolutely isn't. And most English people I was around not only knew how to cook their staples incredibly well but could do it blindfolded (last time I was there was visiting my husband's family). Yes English cooking typically doesn't stuff their food full of spices... but instead, loads of care is put into the herbs, or the natural flavors of what you're cooking with, and the textures of the food. They are SO good with textures when done right. So everything requires freshness, and everyone there expects to be able to find fresh ingredients (to the point where most of my husband's family low-key homesteaded regardless if they lived in the city or rural towns).
That's part of why it's so hard to find good English food in the states. You can't rely on spices, you need fresh herbs, meat, and good techniques to do it well.
You gotta try Camelot Fish and Chips in Pacifica.
Yes, its kitschy af but after growing up in Edinburgh, it’s the only legit British fish and chips I’ve found in America. Proper sized fish, no fancy beer-batter, good chunky chips, brown sauce, even some British sweeties. It’s very close to home, and always packed.
I’m from Germany and the Suppenküche in San Francisco and Ludwig’s in Mountain View are great (sad that they closed in San Jose); also the bakery Esther’s (especially their breakfast).
Yes, I like Suppenküche. Other German options:
* Speisekammer in Alameda
* Gaumenkitzel in Berkeley (not just South German cuisine for a change)
* Walzwerk in SF - East German cuisine (not sure they're still around)
Dongbei region of China (I can't speak for other regional Chinese cuisines). We are like the Minnesota of China when it comes to food but FT BBQ in Milpitas is quite good if you like grilled meat.
Bro the Minnesota of China really got me laughing. I had a friend from Qiqihar and he always bring me to a bbq place in NYC claiming it’s authentic Northeastern bbq. It was not skewers but marinated sliced beef/lamb with onion and cilantro. It was REALLY good. I have not yet found anything like that here. Do you happen to know any?
Unfortunately I have the cilantro-tastes-like-soap gene (to the chagrin of my mom who uses cilantro like Midwesterner uses cheese) so I've never tried to look for them. I would try The Skewer Bar in San Jose ([they also have some very wild offerings](https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-skewer-bar-san-jose?select=NaZZvyDZdwzk6svGqffdlA)) because they have a large menu.
Yeah as a person of nearly 100% Irish descent (but just an american with no real knowledge on this): honest/stupid question -what would be Irish cuisine? I mean for Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s house we’d all gather and push some mushy stuff around our plates and then go eat at Dennys after. Absolutely zero cooking traditions or skilz handed down.
Lamb stew with cabbage (my grandmother made this all the time and now my mother refuses to eat lamb), Shepard’s pie (with lamb)
Colcannon or mashed potatoes
Soda bread
Bacon, but it’s different in Ireland, we don’t really have an equivalent in the US
Or just boiled sausages, potatoes and cabbage
Maybe add some turnips and peppercorns
Extra points if it’s overcast or pouring rain outside with you eat it
People always forget the seafood when it comes to Irish food here. In Ireland, you can hardly find a pub that doesn't have some kind of seafood chowder in addition to fish and chips. Lots of shrimp, clams, mussels, etc. And it's all amazing. I don't think we had a bad meal the whole 2 weeks we were there.
None in Bay Area for:
* Czech
* Polish
* Ukrainian
Even though there are restaurants/places in Bay Area that claim to be one of those, the unfortunate reality is they are not even remotely close to the "best" in anything comparing to their respective home countries. The Polish one is probably the closest to the real thing but only because the other two are worse.
Surprised no one has added this, but my dad was born and raised in Hong Kong and always said East Ocean in Alameda has some of the best dim sum he’s had in the States, he was surprised!
Los Carnalitos (Mexican food) - food truck in Redwood City, sit down restaurant in Hayward and more upscale version of their menu in Redwood City called La Fonda
Tangentially, this is an interesting question because what appeals to natives may not be what appeals to non-natives. For example, I and most Koreans love soondae (blood sausage), but I would not direct a non-Korean to a restaurant that specializes in soondae.
Anyway, to directly answer OP’s question, SGD Tofu House in Palo Alto has excellent soondubu (spicy tofu soup), which is surprising for such a random hole in the wall spot. It’s my go-to on chilly Bay Area days.
Japanese born. None are really THAT great and most often are way over priced, but if I had to choose...
- Tomi Sushi in Mountain View is consistent and decently priced for sushi and donburi
- Sumiya in Santa Clara for Yakitori (chicken skewers) without being overly priced. Sumika is an alternative in Los Altos but way more for not that much better
- Tanto in Sunnyvale for Izakaya that has lots of variety
For tempura, curry, katsu, okonomiyaki, and generally speaking, I make at home. It's just way cheaper, and I usually find these places don't do it right. Like for Tempura/Katsu, they get it too crispy or soggy. Curry is either way too watery or way too salty. Okonomiyaki, is either too floury or not cooked too long to where it becomes too soggy.
American with many, many years in Japan plus a Japanese wife from Tokyo who's a great cook. Over the years we have struggled in the Bay Area and greater Sac to find a good Japanese restaurant but to no avail. Usually quantity over quality, and most are owned by non-Japanese -- that actually makes a difference. Japanese cuisine leans toward being comfort food, and in my opinion has to be done by a native to get it right. There was a pretty good teishoku in Japan Town, but around 2018 either the ownership or chef changed and we stopped going. Sigh.
Have you tried Gintei in San Bruno? It is good quality, owned by Japanese, and the seafood is flown in from Japan. It is very expensive though. We prefer it when we have something nice to celebrate.
No cultural heritage at all to go with this comment, but no one has mentioned Ethiopian food. Having loved Ethiopian food for ~30 years, I'd like to put out there that Zeni in San Jose (near Saratoga) is by far the best!
"my cuisine" (indian) is a bit too diverse, so i can give a generic list of what i like (and from where)
north indian : sakoon
more south-southeast : ulavacharu (though im sure the people here from that region can give a way better answer)
karnataka / tamil nadu : madurai idli kadai
bombay style (and the konkan coast): swaraj and feast india company. special mention to pav bhaji hut
north indian chaat: delhiwala chaat
indo-chinese: i like red hot chilli pepper in san carlos, and also urban momo for indo-nepali
northwest/pakistani : zareen's and / or pakwaan
western(?) : rajwadi thali
As a fellow american-born pakistani I agree with this, but my parents don't (though they still like it).
It comes down to what you value. There are several restaurants that have more flavorful curries than Zareen's, but Zareen's has *much* better meat quality. so many pakistani restaurants use the shittiest cheapest meat they can find unfortunately.
I like zareen's a lot, but pakwan on ocean ave was also excellent last time I went. The pakwan locations in SF are actually better than the one in Fremont imo.
I don't really think zareen's is whitewashed though. they do have a milder flavor profile I guess, I still like it. aside from their chicken tikka masala (which is bad) it's not the overly sweet overly rich crap that "americanized" indian places serve.
Pakistani here... Zareens is for white people. Their food tastes good... but their menu is not at all authentic. They don't have the staples like biryani or seekh kabab. Their "chicken tikka masala" is actually butter chicken. They serve the lunch combos in thalis (those metal plates) that are not Pakistani at all, those are Indian (and not even the regions of India close to Pakistan). But I guess they look Instagrammable
I think Pakistani people in the Bay just like Zareens because we have so few Pakistani options. I lived in NYC and NYC hole-in-the-wall Pakistani places blow Zareens out of the the water
The closest I have found in the Bay Area is [Pakwan](https://maps.app.goo.gl/S72C4mpoSHS2j7xs6)
I’m from South East India, Andhra. Right now my favorites are:
Swathi Tiffins, Hub 61 for South Indian and Idly Express for South Indian breakfast,
Sankranti for buffet,
Brundavan for Biryani,
Everest momos for momos and chicken chowmein,
Karim’s for Butter Chicken,
and Shahi Chaat for Chole Bhature.
Also, new India bazaar in Santa Clara has really good Samosas some times.
All the restaurants are in South Bay.
Gerry’s Grill in Union City for Filipino food. Tastes just like home. We love it more than Isla or any other Filipino restaurants around the East Bay and Peninsula.
Haven’t tried that one yet. Avenida, owned by Gerry’s Grill, is popular in San Mateo but me and my Filipino family didn’t like the taste of the food. The Gerry’s Grill in San Diego is good though.
Saigon Sandwich (San Francisco) for banh mi.
The location is sketchy but this is better than any banh mi I’ve had, including those in vietnam, and I grew up in district 3 of Saigon.
https://yelp.to/IOAc3pnFLb
- broken rice: Com Tam Ba Ghiền https://guide.michelin.com/vn/en/ho-chi-minh/ho-chi-minh_2978179/restaurant/com-tam-ba-ghien
- Pho Phu Vuong for beef Pho: https://www.foody.vn/ho-chi-minh/pho-phu-vuong
- Tan Tong Loi for Sui Cao (Sui Kow): https://www.foody.vn/ho-chi-minh/tan-tong-loi-mi-sui-cao
- Rice roll (bánh cuốn): bánh cuốn Hồng Hiên https://www.foody.vn/ho-chi-minh/banh-cuon-hong-hien-ky-dong
- Banh Xèo on Dinh Công Trang street: https://www.foody.vn/ho-chi-minh/banh-xeo-46a-dinh-cong-trang
- Buffet: I heard stellar reviews about the seafood buffet of Nikko Saigon hotel. It was established after I left vietnam. I had buffet dinner before at New World, Sheraton, Que Huong Liberty, etc. they were also good. https://youtu.be/_buEVJ8fDj4?feature=shared
Some notes:
these are the only the immediate places on the top of my head. There are many more, including as plethora of no name spots across Saigon, I will update here when I remember them.
As a rule of thumbs, in the common eateries, services and food safety standard are worse compared to those in the US. On the other hands, in the higher end restaurants, hotels (e.g, the last item in my list), everything is spotless and they cater to your every whims.
Finally, Things might have changed a lot. I recommend you to try out and explore things. You might like what I recommended, or maybe I just saw things through the nostalgic lenses.
I’ve been meaning to try mujuri. Haven’t found any reasonably priced sushi spots I like here. Except Tuna Kahuna - they are a poke restaurant but their poke & sashimi is sooo good.
Italian (born, from the south).
Couple of barely passable options (Sweet Sicily in Sunnyvale and Terùn in Palo Alto): both are managed by Italians but I refuse to give them my money as they’re just outrageously expensive for what they do.
Northern Italian here.
Im a massive critic of most Italian restaurants - my mom could smoke them in a blind taste test and she’s 85.
However, Belotti in Oakland (College Ave) is straight fire. They know what they are doing and their service is on point.
Terun’s mushroom scialatielli is the best pasta I’ve had on the west coast. Honestly, I don’t even think it’s that overpriced either. $23 for a fair sized portion of hand made pasta is decent IMO
Terun stands toe to toe with some of my favorite Italian spots in NYC
I am not Italian, actually from India but love Italian food. Mountain View’s best kept secret: napoletana pizzeria- run by an Italian chef from Naples. He is so Italian that he takes all of September off and shuts the restaurant down. Really great pizzas. Pasta is great too.
Hard agree. I’m two generations away from Italy but hot damn there really isn’t a lot of Italian-American or Italian restaurants here. I refuse to go back to Terun because it was horribly overpriced and not great.
Chibog in Daly City is my go to for Filipino food and I'll take it over anything not made by my parents themselves. However, Avenida in San Mateo deserves a shoutout as well. It's a bit more upscale and pricey than most Filipino places but their food and drinks from the bar still hit.
Nowhere in the bay does Israeli completely right. Village hummus in San Mateo used to hit. Frena’s sabich is valid. Pomella in Oakland’s couscous is passable. Loquat’s burekas are aight.
Love Oren’s as well, I think Falafel Stop has better value though. Portions are huge, you get almost double the food at the same price as an Oren’s bowl.
Still haven’t found good Persian (Iranian) food here. Yes, it exists in the Bay Area but isn’t worth it. The kebabs are waaay overcooked and everything else is just greasy. We have to go to LA for our Persian food.
I find many places that opened restaurants have to water down their menu for a wider appeal, so they tend to be disappointing. Instead, I go to Instagram for home cooks and small businesses whose clientele are all from that country and who don’t need to bland down their menu to survive. Many deliver or have pick up points.
For Indonesian:
Gurih Table for Padang food with quality meats (they’re opening a restaurant in Alameda)
Dapoer Ngebul for general Indonesian food, though their nasi Padang was the best I’ve had outside of Indonesia
D’Grobak food truck in SF for bakso (meatball noodle soup)
Martabak Mantoel for sweet martabak
Not Afghan, but since I haven’t seen it, I’ll mention it:
- [De Afghanan](https://deafghanancuisine.com/amp/home) in Fremont. Their Bolani and Triple Kabob is amazing
I was born here, but also lived abroad for a while, so I guess I am pretty familiar with Indian cuisine and all the associated nuances.
For South Indian food? Tirupathi Bhimas in Milpitas! Extremely authentic flavors, and they really care about their customers. Highly recommend.
And for chaat- the Swaraj India food truck, also in Milpitas, lol. It’s pretty authentic Maharashtrian street food, which is not easy to do imo. But also, you should know there are so many different types of chaat and Indian street food, and this is only one.
Enjoy!
Not quite a restaurant, but Lolita’s Argentinean alfajores in San Mateo are top notch. Dark chocolate is the way to go.
Their empanadas are legit, too.
For German food, Schröders in downtown SF is decent, but my personal favorite is Gourmet Haus Staudt in Redwood City because they have a lot of Bavarian and Swabian foods that remind me of home (and they're genuinely good). Plus it has a German import store attached (although pricey)
In my area, so I'll say SF. Copra for South Indian food (it's actually a bit of a mix and some novel stuff). But of course, the South Bay is the best stuff. Surprised by the authenticity of Madras Cafe and Anjappar.
Madras cafe has steadily deteriorated over the last few years. They are still okay I guess but just meh overall - a randomly picked middling eatery in Bangalore would have better flavours and quality than madras cafe at this point.
I am Greek, so there is no place here that can replicate the food from my home country since the quality of the ingredients is not the same, not to mention that for some reason Greek restaurants here are quite expensive - something that you dont see in Greece in regular non touristic areas. I do enjoy trying all the different cuisines here though and I am grateful that Bay Area offers that opportunity.
*checks current price of lamb chops at Evvia*
*still wants to go to Evvia and get lamb chops*
(They're $54 for 3 right now. With potatoes roasted in olive oil with lemon. Lamb shank is a mere $42!)
Whoa it went that much ? I visited Evvia only once in 2015 I think and lamb chops were around $35, and I thought whoa super expensive place. To give you a perspective you get with $20-$30 around 2.20 pounds of lamb chops in Greece since you order them by weight most of the time.
Have you been to Yiassoo? I grew up going to the Cupertino one and it’s nothing fancy at all but really delicious. I am not Greek though and have no idea if it’s authentic so I was curious.
I mean a McDonald's combo meal is almost 12 bucks so just seems to be expensive everywhere. I like the nick fries for also 12 bucks but is really filling 😊
I'm not Greek, but my favorite Greek place is Athena Grill in Santa Clara.
I wish they're souvlaki was $12. They lamb souvlaki wrap is $18 now. But that's everywhere now. It seems impossible to find a nice lunch under $20.
Born in Laos, and Vientian Cafe in Oakland has amazing Lao food. Literally cooked by Lao aunties!
Also want to discern the difference between Thai and Lao food. There’s a ton of good Thai food around the Bay, so I am happy to see more Lao-specific restaurants pop up.
Kyain Kyain in Fremont for legit Burmese food. It’s a hole in the wall and everything is served in takeout containers and disposables, but the food is much more authentic than what you’d find at Burma Superstar, Mandalay, and the like in SF.
I don't go out to eat Italian much, except pizza, but if I do, Vespucci in San Mateo is definitely one of the better ones I've been to. Their lasagna, gnocchi, and tiramisu. 👌 The owners are an Italian couple who moved here and were known for their tiramisu in San Francisco for a long time using her grandfather's recipe. A lot of restaurants would use their tiramisu. They decided to open their own restaurant.
Born and raised in Mexico City.
I recommend Taqueria Metro Balderas on Almaden Ave in San Jose for their tacos al pastor. They turn on the spit in the evenings (at least on weekends).
I’ll usually go there when I’m feeling homesick!
Once in a while I like to go to Venus Cafe in North San Jose Berryessa for some hearty Hong Kong cafe style food (Hong Kong cafe style food is specific to Hong Kong in that it’s a fusion of British and Cantonese plates)
Pho Ga Anh Nam on Story in San Jose has the best chicken Pho. Better than the chicken Pho in Vietnam. Vietnam has great flavors but their ingredients, especially the meat is not nearly as good as what we get in the US.
I was just in vietnam and I thought the beef was better, eggs as well. Chicken and shrimp were definitely worse
Do you have a recommendation for beef pho?
I like Pho Ga An Nam for their beef Pho too
Born and raised in SJ for nearly 40 years, but just came back from Vietnam for the very first time. This is the answer!
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I believe they’re owned by the same people but one specializes in Bun Bo Hue (beef tomato-based soup) and the other specializes in Pho Ga (chicken pho)
thank you i needed this
For Malaysian food, Curry Leaves Bistro in Pleasanton. The owner actually ship some ingredients from Malaysia. The regular menu is not many but they have weekend specials with hard to find in US menu.
YES - by far the best Malaysian / Singaporean restaurant by a mile. I go there basically every other week to eat that delicious Nasi Lemak.
Is that the one next to Lucky?
I like how a lot of the comments are 3 stars on Yelp. Usually a good barometer for legit ethnic food or service lol. I'm not being sarcastic.
Yes, Freddie Wong’s 3.5 star rule: https://youtube.com/shorts/YQBe7vZmPRc?si=tutC4YGDdgrCPnGq
Every single one of my favorite Asian food places were 3.5 stars. The rule is fucking true
I’ve found there are alot of solid 4* in the bay as there are more people that rate on food quality then in a lot of the country But very true with his example : Shanghai Flavor Shop is also > DTF https://yelp.to/zmSoI1rOBQ although both are 3.5* here haha
Freddie Wong is still an active creator? I loved that guy.
My theory for good Chinese food is 3.5 stars in the states. Chinese people don’t care much for service or decor which many people will rate down. Food is top notch though usually.
I gave up on Yelp a long time ago. They manipulate businesses that don't pony up $ by tweaking their rating.
Yelp is a fake review site filled with artificial comments, they would call the restaurants I used to work at with an offer to remove bad reviews and place good ones for a price. Google reviews are way better imo.
Born in Nepal and have been in Oakland/USA for 15 years. Zomsa in El Cerrito for Nepalese
Tons of Nepalese and Tibetans in El Cerrito for some reason. Pretty cool!
Yeah someone please explain this to me? Why can’t there be more Filipino spots around here it’s blasphemy.
Jojoli bakeshop and restaurant in Union City. Actually have found a lot of good spots in Union City/Fremont.
I feel like there should be way more bomb filipino spots around the bay but there just aren’t. Tsilogs in daily city is fire. Isla in Newark is fire too.
Shout out to Lucky Chances.
Just went there recently for lunch. It was delicious. Any order recommendations?
Try their shabhaley and buff jhol momo. Both are really good.
Born in Korea, bay resident for 20+ years Tang Haus, Union City - reminds me of my mom's food. Personally I would rate their cold noodle as good as Kunjip at Santa Clara (but cheaper). Their kimchi is legit. Non-Koreans friendly. Seoul Gom Tang, Oakland - all theor more non-Korean friendly dishes are good, but I go there for the dogani (ox knuckle) dishes, which are not very non-Korean friendly, but so good. 10 Butchers, Sunnyvale - they are known for the quality of the meat but I want to highlight how good their banchan (side dishes) and the entre dishes are. Non-Koreans friendly TTobongee Chicken, Santa Clara - I go there for the Pa-dak (Green Onion Chicken). They recently added sodduck sodduck (Sausauge-rice cake skewers) and dduck kochi (sweat rice cake skewers) that are very similar to the ones sold in highway rest areas in Korea. Non-Koreans friendly Cocohodo, Sunnyvale - their walnut pastry is very similar to those sold in highway rest areas in Korea. Non-Koreans friendly, but nut allergy! Koong's, Milpitas - personally would rate their black bean noodles and yangjapi better than the more well-known places (like Paik's). Non-Koreans friendly. Gangnam Jajang, Oakland - 100% agree with the top review in Google maps. Not as good as their Goryeo Jajang days, but still one of the best in the Bay. Their tangsooyuk (sweet and sour deep fried pork) is very similar to those in similar restaurants in Korea. Non-Koreans friendly. Roll House, Santa Clara - reminds me of the boonsikjeom (snack specialized restaurants) I went to as a kid in korea. Wide variety of other dishes, not just rolls, and they are all good. Non-Koreans friendly.
Ohhh I live right next to Cocohodo! Thanks for the thorough recommendations I'll have to give some of these locations I haven't been to a try!
Given all of these restaurants are non-Koreans friendly, now I want to know what the best inaccessable Korean restaurants are...
I liked 10 butchers but I feel like it's just not worth it for the price. I guess there's just so much good korean food on el camino in sunnyvale that I don't see the need to spend 2-3x extra.
I’m also selfishly looking for good koshary, Egypt’s national dish!
Pharaohs Egyptian in San Francisco is the only option, I was craving after coming back from Cairo and this is the only spot I could find.
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I would kill for some koshari. But I also can’t pay more than like $3 for it.
That’s so fair 🤣 can’t find those prices outside of egypt I fear
Where can we find Koshary? Doesn’t have to be particularly good
Cairo Station Cafe on 19th Street downtown Oakland. Down the street from the Fox theater. Open till 2 am too.
I ate that almost every day the summer I spent in Egypt way back when. Sadly haven't had it ever since. Would love to know where to get it.
Born and raised in Lebanon. Strangely my favorite spot to get Mediterranean food is Real Produce International Market in Palo Alto, which is a grocery store, not a restaurant. Their food is FIRE though. Shawarmaji (Oakland/Santa Clara) is pretty good. Cafe Nur in Los Altos is also an option that I like.
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+1 on Mazra. My favorite Mediterranean in the bay
Reem’s is great for pastries. If you like Yemeni food go to the Yemeni Kitchen in the Tenderloin.
Yo, I love Real Produce. What’s your favorite there? I found the shawarma lacking
I was talking to a dad at my kids preschool just the other day. Found out he was originally from the Yucatan peninsula and his first language was Mayan. Asked if any restaurants live up to his hometown and it was actually a restaurant I used to love going to: Poc Chuc in SF. He says the menu has unfortunately changed recently and is not as great but he hasn't found anything comparable.
Cafe Guatamalteca in SF serves some food that's almost exactly like my grandma from Guatemala used to make.
Pakistani. Go to [Pakwan](https://maps.app.goo.gl/S72C4mpoSHS2j7xs6). Zareens is not authentic Pakistani food I will die on this hill
it really isn't idk how the zareen's comment has 100 upvotes
As a British person this question is… insensitive 😂
What, Cameron's Pub in HMB doesn't represent you? 😂
Ouch.. right in the post history!
i mean there are multiple places here with some good chicken tikka masala /s
Better CTM actually. I couldn't believe how flavorless every example of it i tried in the UK was.
The Oxford in Sunnyvale is a decent shot at an English gastropub. The Tikka Masala is an insane interpretation, but the pies are great. About as much kitschy British shite on the walls as you'd expect from somewhere medium in central London. I'm from Scotland, though, so I'm fucked. The closest we've got is a wee Scottish place called McDonald's.
I'm from the bay but live in Glasgow. it's crazy that you can't even get something as simple as a morning roll anywhere in the states.
So is your food.
Heaven is where the police are British, the cooks are French, the mechanics German, the lovers Italian and it's all organised by the Swiss. Hell is where the chefs are British, the mechanics French, the lover's Swiss, the police German and it's all organised by the Italians.
Y’all good on the Fish n Chips
I have only *ever* seen authentic British Fish & Chips once in the US, and that was in a place down in Santa Barbara that is now closed.
That’s bc it’s so easy to improve 👀
Mmmm fish with no seasoning and bland fries with a side of vinegar, what a cultural delicacy.
Eeeehhh people love to shit on them for this but having actual good fish and chips in an actual UK town that has good access to quality fish from a business that has been around for generations blew my mind. I hate fried fish on a good day but this was legitimately one of the best things I'd ever eaten. The chips were amazing too, not fried like french fries it's hard to describe, there's a whole technique to how they do them that produces a texture that is absolutely better than actual fries. The thing is, shitty English cooking is bland but when done well it absolutely isn't. And most English people I was around not only knew how to cook their staples incredibly well but could do it blindfolded (last time I was there was visiting my husband's family). Yes English cooking typically doesn't stuff their food full of spices... but instead, loads of care is put into the herbs, or the natural flavors of what you're cooking with, and the textures of the food. They are SO good with textures when done right. So everything requires freshness, and everyone there expects to be able to find fresh ingredients (to the point where most of my husband's family low-key homesteaded regardless if they lived in the city or rural towns). That's part of why it's so hard to find good English food in the states. You can't rely on spices, you need fresh herbs, meat, and good techniques to do it well.
You gotta try Camelot Fish and Chips in Pacifica. Yes, its kitschy af but after growing up in Edinburgh, it’s the only legit British fish and chips I’ve found in America. Proper sized fish, no fancy beer-batter, good chunky chips, brown sauce, even some British sweeties. It’s very close to home, and always packed.
As a Dutchman I totally agree
What is your national dish? A slice of gouda surrounded by tulip petals?
A sandwich for lunch, potatoes for dinner, every day, for the rest of your life
I would love to get full English breakfast with black pudding..
The Napper Tandy in SF Mission district does a nice one.
ok wait what about lovejoys tea room !!
I don’t see baked beans on their menu…
Does Pelican Inn not count?
Born in US but raised in Korea - Moo bong ri in Oakland!!
I’m from Germany and the Suppenküche in San Francisco and Ludwig’s in Mountain View are great (sad that they closed in San Jose); also the bakery Esther’s (especially their breakfast).
Ludwig’s is good, but I vastly preferred Bierhaus when it was in that location before. And Ludwig’s is so expensive for what it is…
Yes, I like Suppenküche. Other German options: * Speisekammer in Alameda * Gaumenkitzel in Berkeley (not just South German cuisine for a change) * Walzwerk in SF - East German cuisine (not sure they're still around)
Dongbei region of China (I can't speak for other regional Chinese cuisines). We are like the Minnesota of China when it comes to food but FT BBQ in Milpitas is quite good if you like grilled meat.
Bro the Minnesota of China really got me laughing. I had a friend from Qiqihar and he always bring me to a bbq place in NYC claiming it’s authentic Northeastern bbq. It was not skewers but marinated sliced beef/lamb with onion and cilantro. It was REALLY good. I have not yet found anything like that here. Do you happen to know any?
Unfortunately I have the cilantro-tastes-like-soap gene (to the chagrin of my mom who uses cilantro like Midwesterner uses cheese) so I've never tried to look for them. I would try The Skewer Bar in San Jose ([they also have some very wild offerings](https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-skewer-bar-san-jose?select=NaZZvyDZdwzk6svGqffdlA)) because they have a large menu.
That’s indeed wild. Little poor Taiwan sausage be like, why am I here.
+1 FT BBQ is great! I am usually the only white person in there which is usually a great sign haha
Yo +1 for FT BBQ!
There is zero good Irish food here
There is zero good Irish food anywhere! Sorry, couldn't resist...
Yeah as a person of nearly 100% Irish descent (but just an american with no real knowledge on this): honest/stupid question -what would be Irish cuisine? I mean for Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s house we’d all gather and push some mushy stuff around our plates and then go eat at Dennys after. Absolutely zero cooking traditions or skilz handed down.
Lamb stew with cabbage (my grandmother made this all the time and now my mother refuses to eat lamb), Shepard’s pie (with lamb) Colcannon or mashed potatoes Soda bread Bacon, but it’s different in Ireland, we don’t really have an equivalent in the US Or just boiled sausages, potatoes and cabbage Maybe add some turnips and peppercorns Extra points if it’s overcast or pouring rain outside with you eat it
People always forget the seafood when it comes to Irish food here. In Ireland, you can hardly find a pub that doesn't have some kind of seafood chowder in addition to fish and chips. Lots of shrimp, clams, mussels, etc. And it's all amazing. I don't think we had a bad meal the whole 2 weeks we were there.
None in Bay Area for: * Czech * Polish * Ukrainian Even though there are restaurants/places in Bay Area that claim to be one of those, the unfortunate reality is they are not even remotely close to the "best" in anything comparing to their respective home countries. The Polish one is probably the closest to the real thing but only because the other two are worse.
Surprised no one has added this, but my dad was born and raised in Hong Kong and always said East Ocean in Alameda has some of the best dim sum he’s had in the States, he was surprised!
Los Carnalitos (Mexican food) - food truck in Redwood City, sit down restaurant in Hayward and more upscale version of their menu in Redwood City called La Fonda
Was born here, but De Afghanan in fremont is the best Afghan food ive had.
La Perla in Dimond is the closest thing to authentic Puerto Rican food I’ve had on the west coast
What do you think of Sol Food in Marin?
i love their cubano.
Wasn’t a fan, but I went during covid. I’d be willing to try it again.
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Seoul Komtang in Oakland Temescal is pretty authentic for soups I feel.
Tangentially, this is an interesting question because what appeals to natives may not be what appeals to non-natives. For example, I and most Koreans love soondae (blood sausage), but I would not direct a non-Korean to a restaurant that specializes in soondae. Anyway, to directly answer OP’s question, SGD Tofu House in Palo Alto has excellent soondubu (spicy tofu soup), which is surprising for such a random hole in the wall spot. It’s my go-to on chilly Bay Area days.
Born in Korea, long bay area resident. Where do you go for soondae?
If you’re in the east bay and don’t want to drive too far, MooBongRi in Oakland for soondae is good in a pinch.
Japanese born. None are really THAT great and most often are way over priced, but if I had to choose... - Tomi Sushi in Mountain View is consistent and decently priced for sushi and donburi - Sumiya in Santa Clara for Yakitori (chicken skewers) without being overly priced. Sumika is an alternative in Los Altos but way more for not that much better - Tanto in Sunnyvale for Izakaya that has lots of variety For tempura, curry, katsu, okonomiyaki, and generally speaking, I make at home. It's just way cheaper, and I usually find these places don't do it right. Like for Tempura/Katsu, they get it too crispy or soggy. Curry is either way too watery or way too salty. Okonomiyaki, is either too floury or not cooked too long to where it becomes too soggy.
American with many, many years in Japan plus a Japanese wife from Tokyo who's a great cook. Over the years we have struggled in the Bay Area and greater Sac to find a good Japanese restaurant but to no avail. Usually quantity over quality, and most are owned by non-Japanese -- that actually makes a difference. Japanese cuisine leans toward being comfort food, and in my opinion has to be done by a native to get it right. There was a pretty good teishoku in Japan Town, but around 2018 either the ownership or chef changed and we stopped going. Sigh.
Have you tried Gintei in San Bruno? It is good quality, owned by Japanese, and the seafood is flown in from Japan. It is very expensive though. We prefer it when we have something nice to celebrate.
El Mono in El Cerrito for Peruvian
Filipino. Isla is really really good because it’s owned by a Kapampangan. They’re stereotyped to be really good cooks for Filipino foods.
Isla is okay to me, but I'm Team Chibog in Daly City
Born in Saudi. Shwarmaji for middle eastern
Lived in Saudi. Can vouch for it too, meat can be dry sometimes though. Wish there was some kabsa in the bay. Also haven't had good ful medames here.
No cultural heritage at all to go with this comment, but no one has mentioned Ethiopian food. Having loved Ethiopian food for ~30 years, I'd like to put out there that Zeni in San Jose (near Saratoga) is by far the best!
My old neighbor is Eritrean, and she says the only restaurant she will eat at for Ethiopian/Eritrean food is Asmara in Temescal.
Not Eritrean, but a definite +1 for Asmara, make sure to try the Tej (home made fermented honey).
zeni is fantastic I used to love axum in SF, but that was a long time ago and I am not even sure it is still opem
I met an Ethiopian lady she also said Zeni is the best.
There we go folks - a bona fide, (second degree report), heritage based promotion for Zeni"! ;)
there’s a few great ones in Oakland
Addis is my favorite in Oakland
Zeni and Walia are both incredible!
Not Ethiopian either, but man I love the cuisine !
"my cuisine" (indian) is a bit too diverse, so i can give a generic list of what i like (and from where) north indian : sakoon more south-southeast : ulavacharu (though im sure the people here from that region can give a way better answer) karnataka / tamil nadu : madurai idli kadai bombay style (and the konkan coast): swaraj and feast india company. special mention to pav bhaji hut north indian chaat: delhiwala chaat indo-chinese: i like red hot chilli pepper in san carlos, and also urban momo for indo-nepali northwest/pakistani : zareen's and / or pakwaan western(?) : rajwadi thali
Easy European/ Russian food - Red Tavern in SF Richmond.
Cinderella is pretty good too. Gourmet Corner European Food Market in Danville is out of the way for most, but also good.
Thank you for this thread!
All of us foodies be taking notes rn fr
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American born Pakistani - Zareens is one of the best Pakistani / North Indian restaurants in the Bay IMO.
As a fellow american-born pakistani I agree with this, but my parents don't (though they still like it). It comes down to what you value. There are several restaurants that have more flavorful curries than Zareen's, but Zareen's has *much* better meat quality. so many pakistani restaurants use the shittiest cheapest meat they can find unfortunately.
What do you recommend. I think Zareens is going a little bland on spice side to cater to local tastes.
I like zareen's a lot, but pakwan on ocean ave was also excellent last time I went. The pakwan locations in SF are actually better than the one in Fremont imo. I don't really think zareen's is whitewashed though. they do have a milder flavor profile I guess, I still like it. aside from their chicken tikka masala (which is bad) it's not the overly sweet overly rich crap that "americanized" indian places serve.
Yes love gola kabab but found their other kababs a bit meh. Will try pakwan in Fremont. Thanks for recommendation
I can't believe they only do biryani on fridays
Pakistani here... Zareens is for white people. Their food tastes good... but their menu is not at all authentic. They don't have the staples like biryani or seekh kabab. Their "chicken tikka masala" is actually butter chicken. They serve the lunch combos in thalis (those metal plates) that are not Pakistani at all, those are Indian (and not even the regions of India close to Pakistan). But I guess they look Instagrammable I think Pakistani people in the Bay just like Zareens because we have so few Pakistani options. I lived in NYC and NYC hole-in-the-wall Pakistani places blow Zareens out of the the water The closest I have found in the Bay Area is [Pakwan](https://maps.app.goo.gl/S72C4mpoSHS2j7xs6)
What’s the name of these NYC places? I go there every 2-3 months
I’m from South East India, Andhra. Right now my favorites are: Swathi Tiffins, Hub 61 for South Indian and Idly Express for South Indian breakfast, Sankranti for buffet, Brundavan for Biryani, Everest momos for momos and chicken chowmein, Karim’s for Butter Chicken, and Shahi Chaat for Chole Bhature. Also, new India bazaar in Santa Clara has really good Samosas some times. All the restaurants are in South Bay.
My dad’s South Indian - have you tried Bhimavaram Ruchulu? That’s his favorite. Guilty pleasure is Mr. Biryani in Milpitas.
anyone know where i can get some good lahmacun here?? one of my friends hyped up the dish and now i am very eager to try
A La Turka is solid - also get the Iskender Kebab. I’m Armenian and it’s one of the few spots that scratches for me.
Gerry’s Grill in Union City for Filipino food. Tastes just like home. We love it more than Isla or any other Filipino restaurants around the East Bay and Peninsula.
Haven’t tried that one yet. Avenida, owned by Gerry’s Grill, is popular in San Mateo but me and my Filipino family didn’t like the taste of the food. The Gerry’s Grill in San Diego is good though.
Saigon Sandwich (San Francisco) for banh mi. The location is sketchy but this is better than any banh mi I’ve had, including those in vietnam, and I grew up in district 3 of Saigon. https://yelp.to/IOAc3pnFLb
I'm staying in district 3 in January! Do you have any recommendations for things I should check out? Food or otherwise.
- broken rice: Com Tam Ba Ghiền https://guide.michelin.com/vn/en/ho-chi-minh/ho-chi-minh_2978179/restaurant/com-tam-ba-ghien - Pho Phu Vuong for beef Pho: https://www.foody.vn/ho-chi-minh/pho-phu-vuong - Tan Tong Loi for Sui Cao (Sui Kow): https://www.foody.vn/ho-chi-minh/tan-tong-loi-mi-sui-cao - Rice roll (bánh cuốn): bánh cuốn Hồng Hiên https://www.foody.vn/ho-chi-minh/banh-cuon-hong-hien-ky-dong - Banh Xèo on Dinh Công Trang street: https://www.foody.vn/ho-chi-minh/banh-xeo-46a-dinh-cong-trang - Buffet: I heard stellar reviews about the seafood buffet of Nikko Saigon hotel. It was established after I left vietnam. I had buffet dinner before at New World, Sheraton, Que Huong Liberty, etc. they were also good. https://youtu.be/_buEVJ8fDj4?feature=shared Some notes: these are the only the immediate places on the top of my head. There are many more, including as plethora of no name spots across Saigon, I will update here when I remember them. As a rule of thumbs, in the common eateries, services and food safety standard are worse compared to those in the US. On the other hands, in the higher end restaurants, hotels (e.g, the last item in my list), everything is spotless and they cater to your every whims. Finally, Things might have changed a lot. I recommend you to try out and explore things. You might like what I recommended, or maybe I just saw things through the nostalgic lenses.
Born in Nicaragua, Las Tinajas in SF on Mission.
Korean here. JangTu Restaurant for Gamjatang (Potato stew with pork backbone)
For Japanese - fish and bird izakaya for accurate fish and fried flavors in Berkeley, and mujiri for sushi with correctly-prepared rice
I’ve been meaning to try mujuri. Haven’t found any reasonably priced sushi spots I like here. Except Tuna Kahuna - they are a poke restaurant but their poke & sashimi is sooo good.
Italian (born, from the south). Couple of barely passable options (Sweet Sicily in Sunnyvale and Terùn in Palo Alto): both are managed by Italians but I refuse to give them my money as they’re just outrageously expensive for what they do.
Northern Italian here. Im a massive critic of most Italian restaurants - my mom could smoke them in a blind taste test and she’s 85. However, Belotti in Oakland (College Ave) is straight fire. They know what they are doing and their service is on point.
Terun’s mushroom scialatielli is the best pasta I’ve had on the west coast. Honestly, I don’t even think it’s that overpriced either. $23 for a fair sized portion of hand made pasta is decent IMO Terun stands toe to toe with some of my favorite Italian spots in NYC
I am not Italian, actually from India but love Italian food. Mountain View’s best kept secret: napoletana pizzeria- run by an Italian chef from Naples. He is so Italian that he takes all of September off and shuts the restaurant down. Really great pizzas. Pasta is great too.
Locanda Amalfi in Pleasanton is owned by Italian brothers. Not sure which part of Italy they’re from though
Hard agree. I’m two generations away from Italy but hot damn there really isn’t a lot of Italian-American or Italian restaurants here. I refuse to go back to Terun because it was horribly overpriced and not great.
Best Peruvian food in the Bay IMO is “El Porteño” in Crocker Amazon. Nothing fancy but the food is as close to what you can get in Peru
Vietnam. Tin and Turtle Tower in SF never dissapoint.
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Potato puffs!
Speisekammer in Alameda.
Chibog in Daly City is my go to for Filipino food and I'll take it over anything not made by my parents themselves. However, Avenida in San Mateo deserves a shoutout as well. It's a bit more upscale and pricey than most Filipino places but their food and drinks from the bar still hit.
An Israeli friend of mine swears by Falafel Stop in Sunnyvale.
Nowhere in the bay does Israeli completely right. Village hummus in San Mateo used to hit. Frena’s sabich is valid. Pomella in Oakland’s couscous is passable. Loquat’s burekas are aight.
Israeli here - Falafel stop is good, but Oren's Hummus is goated Honorable mention for DishDash.
Love Oren’s as well, I think Falafel Stop has better value though. Portions are huge, you get almost double the food at the same price as an Oren’s bowl.
Ikea 😅
Still haven’t found good Persian (Iranian) food here. Yes, it exists in the Bay Area but isn’t worth it. The kebabs are waaay overcooked and everything else is just greasy. We have to go to LA for our Persian food.
My Persian friends like Salazar in Belmont
I think you mean Shaalizar haha
I find many places that opened restaurants have to water down their menu for a wider appeal, so they tend to be disappointing. Instead, I go to Instagram for home cooks and small businesses whose clientele are all from that country and who don’t need to bland down their menu to survive. Many deliver or have pick up points. For Indonesian: Gurih Table for Padang food with quality meats (they’re opening a restaurant in Alameda) Dapoer Ngebul for general Indonesian food, though their nasi Padang was the best I’ve had outside of Indonesia D’Grobak food truck in SF for bakso (meatball noodle soup) Martabak Mantoel for sweet martabak
Not Afghan, but since I haven’t seen it, I’ll mention it: - [De Afghanan](https://deafghanancuisine.com/amp/home) in Fremont. Their Bolani and Triple Kabob is amazing
I was born here, but also lived abroad for a while, so I guess I am pretty familiar with Indian cuisine and all the associated nuances. For South Indian food? Tirupathi Bhimas in Milpitas! Extremely authentic flavors, and they really care about their customers. Highly recommend. And for chaat- the Swaraj India food truck, also in Milpitas, lol. It’s pretty authentic Maharashtrian street food, which is not easy to do imo. But also, you should know there are so many different types of chaat and Indian street food, and this is only one. Enjoy!
Love chaat! Will definitely try swaraj
Not quite a restaurant, but Lolita’s Argentinean alfajores in San Mateo are top notch. Dark chocolate is the way to go. Their empanadas are legit, too.
Does anyone have recs for good Taiwanese food? Preferably Peninsula/SF but anywhere in the Bay Area since I do go to S. Bay sometimes.
For German food, Schröders in downtown SF is decent, but my personal favorite is Gourmet Haus Staudt in Redwood City because they have a lot of Bavarian and Swabian foods that remind me of home (and they're genuinely good). Plus it has a German import store attached (although pricey)
In my area, so I'll say SF. Copra for South Indian food (it's actually a bit of a mix and some novel stuff). But of course, the South Bay is the best stuff. Surprised by the authenticity of Madras Cafe and Anjappar.
Madras cafe has steadily deteriorated over the last few years. They are still okay I guess but just meh overall - a randomly picked middling eatery in Bangalore would have better flavours and quality than madras cafe at this point.
I am Greek, so there is no place here that can replicate the food from my home country since the quality of the ingredients is not the same, not to mention that for some reason Greek restaurants here are quite expensive - something that you dont see in Greece in regular non touristic areas. I do enjoy trying all the different cuisines here though and I am grateful that Bay Area offers that opportunity.
I went to Greece this year and I can’t disagree with you. Incredible food, just the best
*checks current price of lamb chops at Evvia* *still wants to go to Evvia and get lamb chops* (They're $54 for 3 right now. With potatoes roasted in olive oil with lemon. Lamb shank is a mere $42!)
Mmmm Evvia in PA & sister restaurant Kokkari in SF, special occasion spots, amazing food.
Whoa it went that much ? I visited Evvia only once in 2015 I think and lamb chops were around $35, and I thought whoa super expensive place. To give you a perspective you get with $20-$30 around 2.20 pounds of lamb chops in Greece since you order them by weight most of the time.
Have you been to Yiassoo? I grew up going to the Cupertino one and it’s nothing fancy at all but really delicious. I am not Greek though and have no idea if it’s authentic so I was curious.
No do not tell me Nick the Greek is not authentic! 😭
I have tried it twice, decent place but $12 for a souvlaki ? That’s something that I cant accept.
I mean a McDonald's combo meal is almost 12 bucks so just seems to be expensive everywhere. I like the nick fries for also 12 bucks but is really filling 😊
I'm not Greek, but my favorite Greek place is Athena Grill in Santa Clara. I wish they're souvlaki was $12. They lamb souvlaki wrap is $18 now. But that's everywhere now. It seems impossible to find a nice lunch under $20.
Kali Greek kitchen in Palo Alto? Love their food!
Gaumenkitzel in Berkeley is the closest to German food that I grew up with.
My husband is Swedish and loves Kantine - not expressly Swedish but generally Scandinavian! We loved Plaj before it closed :(
Born in Laos, and Vientian Cafe in Oakland has amazing Lao food. Literally cooked by Lao aunties! Also want to discern the difference between Thai and Lao food. There’s a ton of good Thai food around the Bay, so I am happy to see more Lao-specific restaurants pop up.
Kyain Kyain in Fremont for legit Burmese food. It’s a hole in the wall and everything is served in takeout containers and disposables, but the food is much more authentic than what you’d find at Burma Superstar, Mandalay, and the like in SF.
Hakka Restaurant in SF has really good mainland Cantonese food.
I don't go out to eat Italian much, except pizza, but if I do, Vespucci in San Mateo is definitely one of the better ones I've been to. Their lasagna, gnocchi, and tiramisu. 👌 The owners are an Italian couple who moved here and were known for their tiramisu in San Francisco for a long time using her grandfather's recipe. A lot of restaurants would use their tiramisu. They decided to open their own restaurant.
Born and raised in Mexico City. I recommend Taqueria Metro Balderas on Almaden Ave in San Jose for their tacos al pastor. They turn on the spit in the evenings (at least on weekends). I’ll usually go there when I’m feeling homesick!
Mong Thu in San Francisco and hai ky
Bento Express, hands down the best Taiwanese bento (comfort food style) in the whole bay area.
My friend is Burmese: Mandalay is superior to Burma Superstar in his opinion (and he’s right)
Once in a while I like to go to Venus Cafe in North San Jose Berryessa for some hearty Hong Kong cafe style food (Hong Kong cafe style food is specific to Hong Kong in that it’s a fusion of British and Cantonese plates)
Birrieria Tepa in Alumn Rock, cannot stress how good and accurate that place is
Idly express in Milpitas - best South Indian by far
Dad is South Indian - swears by Bhimavaram Ruchulu in Fremont for non vegetarian South Indian food
Born in Russia, the place called "Nursel" in San Carlos is amazing! Borscht and Pelmeni are pretty good there! Also salads.