I know I complain about no longer wanting to eat out (costs have gone up a lot and I don’t think it’s often good value in the Bay Area) but I would totally go for:
1. La Parilla Loca in Fruitvale
2. Royal Feast in Millbrae
3. Bengaluru Thindi in SJ
4. Cocina Mamá Cholita & Loltún in the Mission
5. Ming’s Tasty in Oakland Chinatown
6. Simurgh in Emeryville
7. Estrellita’s snacks & Sai Jai Thai in the Tenderloin
9. Attraros Thai, Battambang, Popoca in Oakland
10. Danbi in SJ
Forgot Moo Bong Ri, my current favorite Korean restaurant in the Bay Area. I like Danbi a lot but MBR is more fun and realistically I also get there more often
My Oakland geography is off. La Parilla Loca is near Elmhurst Park, not Fruitvale. But I don’t know if that’s how Oakland folks would call it
@skinnylatte anything beyond 35th would not be Fruitvale. Elmhurst is East Oakland for sure.
@skinnylatte have you been to Jang Mo Jip, near there in Santa Clara? Curious how you may compare them. The food is very good IMO. The service there is “bad” (read: perfectly fine) in the way that people at some Asian restaurants don’t jump through hoops to be friendly, unlike at many American ones
@brendonjustin JMJ is a bbq focused place, I like it. MBR is like pub food but very good with more soups and such. I also like Danbi in Santa Clara
@skinnylatte I just got a simurgh pita sandwich a few days ago. So good as you said it would be, thanks.
@zackstern yay. Hope you get their baklava too. In the city I also love Baklava Story
@skinnylatte I don’t think I like baklava (?) but will gladly try it again there. The breads have always been great. Turkish delight, I think you mentioned it first too hah.
Now I’ve been keeping an eye out to source rose pedals so I can make it like theirs.
@zackstern baklava at these two places is nothing like the cloyingly sweet, soggy, one note baklava of less great baklava spots. Simurgh and Baklava Story are amazing and we are so lucky to have them! Yeah simurgh’s Turkish delight is so good
@skinnylatte A Costco takeout pizza feeds 3 to 4 people. Reasonably tasty and only $10!