This is the best Vietnamese food I’ve had in the Bay Area so far. They serve up modern Vietnamese dishes that you can’t find anywhere else.
📍: San Mateo
What to order:
🍜: What the Wok Pho (wok-tossed filet mignon with onion and garlic, 24-hour beef marrow broth, egg yolk, marrow, scallion)
🦐: Gao’s Signature Giant River Prawns (butter garlic chili sauce, river prawns, woven vermicelli)
🥩: Bo Ne (sizzling filet mignon, double runny eggs, sweet sausage, marrow, Vietnamese ham, onion, tomato, bread)
2. La Note
My favorite brunch/French spot and an absolute Berkeley staple. I have so many undergrad and post-grad memories here — all fun and food-filled.
📍: Berkeley
What to order:
🥞: Lemon gingerbread pancake with poached pears
🍳: Côté Sud (sunny side up eggs, spicy lamb sausage, homefries, sourdough toast)
🥖: Grilled chicken sandwich (roasted red pepper, aioli, sun-dried tomato pesto, sweet roll)
🍅: Side of roasted tomatoes
The best place for some Middle Eastern flair in the Bay.
📍: San Francisco
What to order:
🍕: Lahm Bi Ajeen (flatbread, ground beef, tomato, red pepper, lemon, yogurt sauce)
🥪: La Gringa (lamb, Oaxaca cheese, pickles, dipping broth)
🍟: Batata Harra (garlic fries, spices, harissa yogurt)
🍯: Knafeh (sweet cheese, phyllo, rose syrup, pistachio)
With so many great Thai options in the Bay, it’s difficult to choose a favorite. While I haven’t decided on a favorite, I definitely find myself going to Imm every chance I get.
📍: Berkeley
What to order:
🦑: Kua Gai (flat rice noodle, egg, chicken, calamari, shrimp, scallion, lettuce, sriracha)
🥗: Grilled beef salad (green apple, mint, tomato, red onion, cilantro, roasted rice, chili lime juice)
🍛: Pumpkin curry (pumpkin, green bean, bell pepper)
5. Tony’s Seafood Restaurant / Hog Island Oyster Bar
Both restaurants are part of the Hog Island Oyster Co. family, and they’re serving up some of the best seafood I’ve ever had. Of course their oysters are excellent, but the rest of their other dishes are just as delicious. If the waterfront view at the SF Oyster Bar isn’t doing it, then I’d recommend making the drive to the Tony’s Seafood Restaurant in Marshall where you’ll be sitting right on the shore and overlooking the bay.
📍: Marshall / San Francisco
What to order:
🍽: Tony’s — Clam chowder, fish & chips, rock crab, and grilled oysters (chipotle bourbon and Tony’s bbq)
🍽: Oyster Bar — Bloody Mary, Sweetwater oysters (Tomales Bay, CA), Capital oysters (Spencer Cove, WA), Blue Pool oysters (Hood Canal, WA), middle neck clams (Virginia), mussels, and grilled cheese sandwich
This is the place I go to whenever I’m craving Korean food. They might be known for their tofu soups, but their seafood pancake and KFC (Korean fried chicken) are also amazing.
📍: Oakland
What to order:
🥞: Seafood pancake with squid, mussels, and clams
🍜: Zaru soba
🥘: Spicy original tofu soup with beef
🍗: Soy sauce and garlic fried chicken
7. Pho Ha Noi
This is seriously the best pho ever! I love the quality of the beef, the depth of the broth, and the amount of cilantro and scallion they use for garnish.
📍: San Jose
What to order:
🍜: Pho with rare flank steak, brisket and fat brisket
This place needs no introduction. Flour + Water serves up the most amazing fresh house-made pasta and wood-fired pizza.
📍: San Francisco
What to order:
🍚: Roasted corn arancini (roasted garlic confit aioli, pickled garlic scape, ricotta salata, truffle pecorino)
🍕: Margherita (San Marzano tomato, fior di latte mozzarella, basil, EVOO)
🍝: Taleggio scarpinocc (balsamic vinegar, parmigiano reggiano); tagliatelle with veal bolognese
🍮: Corn pana cotta (blackberry, pluot curd, olive oil)
9. Judoku Sushi
Judoku doesn’t get the attention that it deserves, IMO. All of the fish here are incredibly fresh, and they even have bluefin tuna! I highly recommend splurging on it.
📍: Oakland
What to order:
🍣: Mackerel, octopus and salmon roe nigiri
🐠: Spicy scallop and hamachi hand rolls
🐟: Bluefin Lover’s Roll (seared bluefin tuna, wasabi, black truffle, cucumber, avocado, sesame oil, unagi sauce)
10. Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine
This is one of my go-to restaurants for special occasions. The food is unique and straight up delicious, the staff is energetic, and the atmosphere is colorful, fun, and chic. If you’re looking for an amazing dining experience, Farmhouse is the place.
📍: Oakland
What to order:
🍗: Hat Yai Fried Chicken (turmeric, herbs, fried shallots, pickles, yellow dipping curry, roti, blue rice)
🍍: Island Thai Tea cocktail (Absolut Elyx vodka, pineapple, lemon, Thai iced tea, coconut milk)
11. Shinmai
Like Thai food, there are also many great ramen places in the Bay, but Shinmai is my go-to when I’m craving ramen. Their tonkotsu is heavenly!
📍: Oakland
What to order:
🍜: Tonkotsu ramen (chashu, shoyu egg, wood ear mushroom, corn, scallion, bamboo shoot)
alaMar serves up the highest quality seafood boils I know at an affordable price and in a casual environment. What’s better? Their ingredients are all locally and sustainably-sourced.
📍: Oakland
What to order:
🦀: Alaskan snow crab with romesco butter sauce
🦐: White gulf shrimp with scampi sauce
🐟: Ahi tuna ceviche with tortilla chips
🍔: Island fried chicken sandwich with rum BBQ sauce
🍹: Spiced mango margarita
Want more food recommendations? Let me know in the comments below.
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