The Syrian style shawarma (not stated on the menu) at Palmyra in the Haight is indeed the closest thing I’ve had to a Damascus style shawarma. There are fries in it :) it’s better than their standard shawarma on the menu
I also love their hummus, kibbeh and tabbouleh. Much better than much more expensive middle eastern spots around
There are two places in California that I think come close to a ‘Malaysia / Singapore / Indonesia style char kway teow’
Curry Leaves Bistro in Pleasanton
Borneo Eatery in Alhambra
The Thai pad see ew and Cantonese chow fun are closely related and easier to find, but to do that other style you need a wok that’s about 3x hotter, lard, and rice noodles that are flatter and less sticky.
La Parilla Loca near Elmhurst Park in east Oakland reminds me of some of the best LA taco trucks. They use a charcoal grill, they have a large menu, they have vampiro and mulita, they make their own tortilla, they have a large range of good and not too sweet agua fresca, it’s in a parking lot, there’s a train rumbling overhead..
Vampiro is exceptional. Burritos are the size of a very muscly person’s forearm. Great birria
Gum Kuo for everyday congee, rice rolls, noodles. Peony Jade or Ming’s Tasty for dimsum. Tastee Steam for what I call ‘reverse hotpot’: steam proteins on a plate, the juices flow into the bottom of the pot to make a soup or congee
Two excellent Chinese bakeries side by side: Tao Yuen and Napoleon Super
If you like chai, one of the better cups of milky chai in San Francisco is at Haraz Coffee House on Bush & Franklin. The Adeni / karak shai is similar in spirit (almost exactly identical) to Indian chai.
What is an Indigenous kitchen? Love this series from PBS, and this video features Crystal Wahpepah, a Kickapoo chef who now runs a fantastic restaurant in Fruitvale, Oakland
Palmyra, the tiny family -run restaurant in the Haight, is not only one of the better places to eat in that neighborhood but it’s also one of the cheapest. Everything about it from the warm service to good food reminds me of my time in Syria. Definitely one of the best hummus, kibbi, tabbouleh and wraps in the city.
If you ever want a good burrito in the Tenderloin, check out Marcela’s Taqueria on Geary & Jones. It’s one of the better ones without going into the Mission, and certainly the last good one before Nob Hill. Chuy’s Fiesta II on Post is also good
For vegan friends, Marcela has a vegan one called Bob’s burrito and Chuy’s has many veg options too
I can’t finish a single slice of ‘American cheesecake’ but I can eat a whole ‘Japanese cheesecake’ from yummy bakery in Chinatown. I like fluffy textures, light flavors, and very very little sugar. The egg white egg tarts are also great. And the butter cream buns
I’m relieved the new SF chronicle food editor has the correct ranking for ‘best croissant’. Because if she got it wrong I would probably not trust her on other things
(The other bakeries that people like are too American for me, in that the croissants are too large, and there isn’t enough butter. These two spots have the French amount of butter)
Arsicault tip: go to the one downtown. They have Parisian sandwiches and bacon scones, too. And no line
Korean food isn’t the best in San Francisco (it’s better in Oakland and San Jose, and of course LA is the best), but I’m really glad to have the small good family run spots here like Sikdang Woori and Muguboka
The head of the #German subsidiary, Thomas #Gottschlich, noted that #Taurus missiles will no longer be produced, as the defense industry is not allowed to manufacture stocks without orders. The joint venture #Airbus, #BAE Systems, and #Leonardo, among others, is the manufacturer of the Taurus cruise missile and Patriot air defense missiles.
I laugh at foodies who say ‘the best dimsum is at the cheapest takeout places’ when (1) they get their stuff frozen from the same places and (2) nice dimsum with your family is the only way I know how to dimsum
Koi Palace (Daly City) is one of them.
HL Peninsula (South SF), Peony Jade or Ming’s Tasty (Oakland), East Ocean (Alameda)
In the city, Harborview and Yank Sing. I prefer the former tho Yank Sing has a few classics that are better.
One of the best Mexican spots in the Mission right now: Loltun. A Mayan-owned place with excellent cochinita pibil (pretty sure it’s the best one in the city) and everything is so good
San Francisco has many Cantonese / Toishanese restaurants, but you’ve got to get to Millbrae, South Bay, deep east bay (Milpitas) for regional Chinese food outside those.
Royal Feast, an unassuming spot right by Millbrae BART, offers ‘a modern interpretation on Sichuan and Tanjia cuisine’
Tanjia being ‘Tan Family cuisine’ (unrelated to me, but who knows), the courtly Chinese cuisine of Beijing. Truly an exceptional Chinese meal
Taiwanese vegetarian breakfast spot in San Jose with great homemade soy milk as well (Chinese style homemade soy milk is different from store bought Western soy milk, it's way better!)
Mandalay’s James Beard award is well-deserved. I think they are the best Burmese restaurant in San Francisco. Also the least gentrified and most like the food I had in, well, Mandalay.
Côte Ouest bistro in Cow Hollow: we don’t normally eat in this neighborhood but there’s a cute little French bistro on Lombard & Baker that has hearty French classics at an affordable deal (go on Tues, Wed or Thurs for their school night menu)
Not fancy and good French classics are the French dining style I prefer, and this place is it
Curry Hyuga finally has a San Francisco location! No need to go to the peninsula / South Bay for Japanese curry now (it’s much better then existing city options)