4/5 stars
UPDATE :)
Been back multiple times since my first visit ... I'm a huge fan of their quesadilla. Their quesadilla isn't flat, it's more like a gordita. The flour tortillas are pillowy, more like flatbread (my favorite part) and filled up nice and thick with cheese and your choice of meat (+ avocado, if you pay extra).
La Costa's quesadilla + sangria + tanning by the pool with a friend = awesome summer days.
***
Mexican. Check!
Fast. Check!
Authentic. Check!
Cheap. Check! Check! Check!
Taco Bell, it looks like you've got some competition. Actually, this is probably where Mexican people go when they want fast-food.
ATMOSPHERE: We parked, walked around the corner, and blinked. Where was the inside part? To my surprise, there is no inside. The colorful restaurant is outdoor dining only. They've got a good number of tables though - probably better in the summer. It was kinda cold, but oh well. When in Rome... The menu was hand-painted on the wall, nobody spoke English, and there was Mexican music blasting out of the speakers. I had a big silly grin on my face. This is gonna be fun!
FOOD: SO CHEAP! Dirt cheap. Almost everything is $5 or less. Score! I ordered the chili verde plate and the bf ordered the "talked about" shrimp ceviche and a carnitas burrito. Food came out nice and hot. My chili verde consisted of huge chunks of pork, rice, beans, tortillas, tomatoes, radishes, and lime wedges. I also got extra sliced fresh avocado for a dollar. Yum. The pork wasn't too fatty and very tender. The sauce wasn't as savory or as flavorful as I would have liked it, but hey, I got this whole package for 5 bucks so I can't really complain. Beans were really runny, but decent. Didn't like the rice at all - way too dry. The bf loved the shrimp ceviche, and for $3.50, they weren't skimpy on the shrimp! His burrito, for $3.75, was solid - more squat and wide than long. I took a bite and it was tasty - though way too spicy for me. If you don't like spicy, don't get the salsa added to it.
IN A MOUTHFUL: Cheap, super friendly, and good - I don't really see any problem with that!
(2008)
Monday, December 28, 2015
Pho Ga An Nam
4/5 stars
ATMOSPHERE: clean
FOOD: simply put, this is how pho ga (Vietnamese chicken noodle soup) is supposed to taste like
(2008)
ATMOSPHERE: clean
FOOD: simply put, this is how pho ga (Vietnamese chicken noodle soup) is supposed to taste like
(2008)
El Mansour - San Francisco
5/5 stars
One of the reasons why I love San Francisco is because it's so ethnically diverse. My cousin was visiting from Florida and she wanted some Moroccan food a la "Along Came Polly" (which was a really bad movie, btw). Thanks to Yelp, it was easy to find a restaurant that met her expectations. El Mansour came complete with a belly dancer and did not disappoint.
ATMOSPHERE: You feel like ... you're eating in the desert (with camels roaming outside) in a very large tent with draperies and pillows of deep reds and gold. It's exotic and fun! The kind of setting that's perfect for a group that's not just looking for a fantastic dinner, but entertainment as well. The belly dancer was talented and charming and ... ohmygosh ... the rose water was definitely my favorite part of the evening. I want to bathe in it every night, it smells sooo good!
FOOD: Everything was delicious. I loved every bit of my 4-course meal. The lentil soup was heartwarming. The appetizers included the Salade Mohammed V and the Bastela du Chef. The eggplant was my favorite - so good soaked up with the bread. The Bastela tasted like a churro to me - a churro with meat. For my entree, I ordered the chicken with honey and prunes and really wish that I could get that dish somewhere in the South Bay.
Reasonably priced, we were stuffed! I can't wait to come back!
(2008)
One of the reasons why I love San Francisco is because it's so ethnically diverse. My cousin was visiting from Florida and she wanted some Moroccan food a la "Along Came Polly" (which was a really bad movie, btw). Thanks to Yelp, it was easy to find a restaurant that met her expectations. El Mansour came complete with a belly dancer and did not disappoint.
ATMOSPHERE: You feel like ... you're eating in the desert (with camels roaming outside) in a very large tent with draperies and pillows of deep reds and gold. It's exotic and fun! The kind of setting that's perfect for a group that's not just looking for a fantastic dinner, but entertainment as well. The belly dancer was talented and charming and ... ohmygosh ... the rose water was definitely my favorite part of the evening. I want to bathe in it every night, it smells sooo good!
FOOD: Everything was delicious. I loved every bit of my 4-course meal. The lentil soup was heartwarming. The appetizers included the Salade Mohammed V and the Bastela du Chef. The eggplant was my favorite - so good soaked up with the bread. The Bastela tasted like a churro to me - a churro with meat. For my entree, I ordered the chicken with honey and prunes and really wish that I could get that dish somewhere in the South Bay.
Reasonably priced, we were stuffed! I can't wait to come back!
(2008)
San Francisco Brewing Company - San Francisco (closed)
3.5/5 stars
+ "Liquid Pumpkin Pie" delivers, the aftertaste was a mouthful of spices
+ 100+ year old bar
+ $3.50 a pint during Happy Hour
+ Awesome, low-key, live saxophone
+ When they say "burger with garlic" they mean "burger with garlic"
+ Fruity hefeweizen
+ Friendly waitresses
What's not to like?
(Only negative was we had to wait a very long time when it came time to pay ... like, 15 minutes ... we were falling asleep!)
(2008)
+ "Liquid Pumpkin Pie" delivers, the aftertaste was a mouthful of spices
+ 100+ year old bar
+ $3.50 a pint during Happy Hour
+ Awesome, low-key, live saxophone
+ When they say "burger with garlic" they mean "burger with garlic"
+ Fruity hefeweizen
+ Friendly waitresses
What's not to like?
(Only negative was we had to wait a very long time when it came time to pay ... like, 15 minutes ... we were falling asleep!)
(2008)
Sprinkles Cupcakes - Palo Alto
3.5/5 stars
I heart cupcakes. And yes, I hearted them a'way, way before the fad, thank you very much.
I was "little girl on Xmas eve" excited when I saw that LA's best cupcakery was coming to the Stanford mall. It took me THREE, read 'em, THREE tries before I finally made it to the front of the two-stores wide line. Don't even try going on a weekday evening because no, the line is not shorter.
The boy-who-is-wonderful-because-he-stood-in-line-with-me and I waited patiently for about 30 minutes and then, once inside, we decided to celebrate by purchasing FIVE cupcakes!
Red velvet was moist, creamy, red goodness. The chocolate marshmallow cupcake was not what I expected... I think mine was missing the marshmallow. More marshmallow please! The strawberry was unique and sweet like a Spring day. Now... I can't remember if we bought the vanilla or the vanilla milk chocolate... the coconut was the fifth.
Overall, great, moist cake... LOTS of frosting (the cake:frosting ratio is really good at Sprinkles), but maybe a couple of 'em were a tad too sweet. I am leaning more towards Kara's... especially if the line isn't as long!
2 stars for the wait (I don't understand why it doesn't move faster). 3.5 stars for the cupcakes. 4 stars for the flavor choices.
(2008)
I heart cupcakes. And yes, I hearted them a'way, way before the fad, thank you very much.
I was "little girl on Xmas eve" excited when I saw that LA's best cupcakery was coming to the Stanford mall. It took me THREE, read 'em, THREE tries before I finally made it to the front of the two-stores wide line. Don't even try going on a weekday evening because no, the line is not shorter.
The boy-who-is-wonderful-because-he-stood-in-line-with-me and I waited patiently for about 30 minutes and then, once inside, we decided to celebrate by purchasing FIVE cupcakes!
Red velvet was moist, creamy, red goodness. The chocolate marshmallow cupcake was not what I expected... I think mine was missing the marshmallow. More marshmallow please! The strawberry was unique and sweet like a Spring day. Now... I can't remember if we bought the vanilla or the vanilla milk chocolate... the coconut was the fifth.
Overall, great, moist cake... LOTS of frosting (the cake:frosting ratio is really good at Sprinkles), but maybe a couple of 'em were a tad too sweet. I am leaning more towards Kara's... especially if the line isn't as long!
2 stars for the wait (I don't understand why it doesn't move faster). 3.5 stars for the cupcakes. 4 stars for the flavor choices.
(2008)
Polkers Gourmet Burgers - San Francisco
4/5 stars
Brie, mushroom, bacon, avocado burger - what a treat!
FOOD: I don't think I've ever had a cheeseburger where the cheese was creamy, melted brie. Genius! Annnd they were generous with the brie! Also, I've NEVER been asked how I like my bacon cooked. I was pleasantly surprised. I do not like overcooked, crispy bacon - always afraid I'm gonna chip a tooth! I got my bacon limp and delicious. Ohh, and my medium-well was JUICY! Happy camper, yes. Curly fries with ranch and BBQ sauce, ftw.
ATMOSPHERE: nice, colorful paintings, serves beer and wine, Grey Poupon on the table... and did I mention my waitress asked me how I wanted my bacon cooked? That's 4-star service, ma'm.
(2008)
Brie, mushroom, bacon, avocado burger - what a treat!
FOOD: I don't think I've ever had a cheeseburger where the cheese was creamy, melted brie. Genius! Annnd they were generous with the brie! Also, I've NEVER been asked how I like my bacon cooked. I was pleasantly surprised. I do not like overcooked, crispy bacon - always afraid I'm gonna chip a tooth! I got my bacon limp and delicious. Ohh, and my medium-well was JUICY! Happy camper, yes. Curly fries with ranch and BBQ sauce, ftw.
ATMOSPHERE: nice, colorful paintings, serves beer and wine, Grey Poupon on the table... and did I mention my waitress asked me how I wanted my bacon cooked? That's 4-star service, ma'm.
(2008)
Monday, December 14, 2015
OCK (Orchard City Kitchen) - Campbell - UPDATED AGAIN
4/5 stars
Now a fan of very special bits.
The bartenders have found their groove and they're true artists. The Ultimate Warrior (rum agricole, hibiscus, cinnamon, and tiki delightfulness) is the BEST rum cocktail I have ever had. It's a complicated, yet magical little drink. Summertime in the LBC is another freakin' genius drink. Who knew that ipa + pisco, grapefruit shrub, and dimmi could be sooo good!
The most delicious things on the menu include:
THE CHEATER: aged white cheddar, peppered bacon, parm hollandaise, lettuce, grilled onion, swag, and melt-in-your-mouth scallion-black pepper fries. It's a messy, tasty burger. If only drool was sexy...
THE FRIED RICE: potato chips in fried rice, wah? This fried rice is smart.
THE KFC: Korean fried chicken. Sweet n' spicy!
Mmm... I can't wait to go back! Service is ah-mazing.
Now a fan of very special bits.
The bartenders have found their groove and they're true artists. The Ultimate Warrior (rum agricole, hibiscus, cinnamon, and tiki delightfulness) is the BEST rum cocktail I have ever had. It's a complicated, yet magical little drink. Summertime in the LBC is another freakin' genius drink. Who knew that ipa + pisco, grapefruit shrub, and dimmi could be sooo good!
THE CHEATER: aged white cheddar, peppered bacon, parm hollandaise, lettuce, grilled onion, swag, and melt-in-your-mouth scallion-black pepper fries. It's a messy, tasty burger. If only drool was sexy...
THE FRIED RICE: potato chips in fried rice, wah? This fried rice is smart.
THE KFC: Korean fried chicken. Sweet n' spicy!
Mmm... I can't wait to go back! Service is ah-mazing.
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