Local+Food+Stuff

Dear Foodies-Living-on-a-Resident's-Budget:

Below, we're compiling a list of eateries we've enjoyed in the Bay Area, order by location. Contact us to add/subtract places/comments to this list. This is not for advertisement, simply for informing (or check these places out on Yelp).

The Grub Club (started by Andrea Sandler & Kim Haglund; renamed MSG by Rita Hamad & David Longstroth) has a few rules: 1. Good food. 2. Relatively nearby. 3. Inexpensive (<$10/dish).

With that in mind, remember, "Never eat more than you can lift." -- Miss Piggy, Muppet extraordinaire

- Resident/Faculty Well-Being & Support Group and the MSG/Grub Club (Many Savory Goods)

Hamro Aangan - 856 San Pablo Ave. (510) 524-2220. Traditional Indian food as well as Nepalese specialties like dumplings or flattened rice with spicy chicken. $ Little Star Pizza - 1175 Solano Ave. (510) 526-7827. Terrific thin-crust pizza. Also famous for their deep dish pizza. We drool thinking about it... $$ Zaki's Kabob House - 1101 San Pablo Ave. (510) 527-5452. Authentic big servings of Palestinian food, including both the well-known street food (falafel, shawarma), and lesser-known home-cooked stews. $
 * Albany**

Sahara - 907 1st St. (707) 746-0505. Excellent baba ganoush. The rest got widely varied reviews from the 7 of us. $$
 * Benicia**

The Cheese Board - 1504 Shattuck Ave. (510) 549-3183. Excellent pizza...some odd combinations, but they make it work! Rival to Little Star - you may have to try both and decide for yourself. $$ Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery - 1346 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. (510) 526-2260. Their baked goods...once you start, you can't stop. Haven't been to their restaurant. $$ Ici - 2948 College Ave. (510) 665-6054. Great flavors, excellent ice cream...try it with a cone for a surprise. $$ Kirala Japanese Restaurant - 2100 Ward St. (510) 549-3486. Excellent affordable Japanese food including an extensive sushi selection and robata grill items. $$ La Note - 2377 Shattuck Ave. (510) 843-1535. Holy croissants, morning buns, and gingerbread pancakes. 'Nuf said. $$-$$$ Off The Grid - Shattuck & Rose. Only Wednesday evenings. Food trucks like Brass Knuckles, 510 Burger, and 3 Sum Eats. Lines are long. Food is creative. You'll wish you'd walked there so you can burn it off going home. Divide and conquer. $-$$. Tara's Organic Ice Cream - 3173 College Ave. (510) 655-5014. Never had curry-flavored ice cream? Must try their eclectic, but deliciously flavorful ice cream - yum! $$ Vik's - 2390 4th St. (510) 644-4432. A giant warehouse that has Indian street food ("chaat"), loaded with ghee and flavor, as well as an adjoining Indian grocery store. (Not best for those with low spicy-hot tolerance.) $ Wat Mongkolratanaram (aka Thai Temple) - 1911 Russell St. (510) 849-3419. Only open Sundays 10AM-1PM, this is an outdoor food bazaar hosted at the city's Buddhist temple, with street food that you will not find anywhere outside of Thailand. Get there early or there are no seats; cash only (to be exchanged for tokens at the temple). $
 * Berkeley**

Bronze Buddha Thai Fusion - 5434 Ygnacio Valley Rd., #90. (925) 524-0768. Excellent entrees. $$ Happy Roll - 2118 Willow Pass Rd. (925) 685-1605. Rolls the length of your arm and not bad, either! $$ Korea House - 1835 Willow Pass Rd. (925) 691-8888. Try the BBQ, but everything was pretty good. $ Luna Ristorante - 2118 Willow Pass Rd. (925) 691-4080. Yum, pasta. Yum, wine. Yum, dessert. (this place has tablecloths...) $$ Saigon Bistro - 1701 Willow Pass Rd. (925) 827-1231. Very flavorful broth; Longstroth loves the bahn xeo. $ The Mediterranean - 1847 Willow Pass Rd. (925) 825-0608. Best hummus around, spicy baba ganoush, hit-or-miss falafal (last time was a hit). $
 * Concord**

Banh Mi Ba Le - 10174 San Pablo Ave. (510) 528-8882. Deli with big fresh Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches (baguettes with a variety of different toppings including tofu and "head cheese"). $ Katana-Ya - 10544 San Pablo Ave. (510) 528-1678. Home-style, sushi, etc. $ Saigon - 3150 Pierce St. (510) 559-9388. Amazing dim sum every morning of the week. Get there early or you'll be elbowing others out of the way to get a seat. $$
 * El Cerrito**

Creek Monkey - 611 Escobar St. (925) 228-8787. Bar/bistro "gastropub"...yup, in Martinez. Bring your mints for those garlic fries! (per owner, they are having a slow opening during 7/11) $ Ians Yogurt - 530 Center Ave. (925) 229-3580. Like Yogurtland, but a little more expensive. $$ Kinder's - 536 Center Ave. (925) 957-1400. Watch out, big double patties on the burgers. Known for their BBQ. $ La Primavera - 1311 Pine St. (925) 229-2199. Big servings... $ Le Gateau Elegant - 712 Main St. (925) 313-9076. Gorgeous-looking cakes. Also cookies, pastries, other confections. $$$ Lemongrass Bistro - 501 Main St. (925) 387-0388. Haven't heard recommendations against the coconut soup...or much of anything else. $$ Taqueria Los Toros - 802 Main St. (925) 228-8500. Fish tacos are pretty good. $
 * Martinez**

Darda Seafood Restaurant - 296 Barber Ct. (408) 433-5199. Muslim Chinese food. Excellent hand-cut noodles (try the house special one), Shanghai dumplings not nearly as good as Shanghai Dumpling King, don't expect pork on the menu. Fastest. Service. Ever. Time it yourself. $
 * Milpitas - ** We know, not exactly "close", but if you're passing by...

Bakesale Betty's - 5098 Telegraph Ave. (510) 985-1213. Sample away! Cookies are excellent, as are their strawberry shortbread and scones. Rita confirms the fried chicken sandwiches with cabbage jalapeno slaw are "out of this world" and she claims (N=1) that it cured her flu. $ Champa Garden - 2102 8th Ave. (510) 238-8819. Call to make sure they're open, bring a group, and enjoy some terrific (and inexpensive) Laotian/Thai food. We'd suggest reservations - it was packed! Soup, fried sweet potatoes, quail, duck curry, beef & mango curry, sizzling veggies, dessert. $ Gregory's Gourmet Desserts - 285 23rd St. (510) 272-9722. Only open Wednesday 11am until they sell out. Cookies are fine, not sure about cheesecakes or cupcakes. $$ La Farine - multiple locations. Excellent French style bakery. $$ Montclair Baking Co. - 2220 Mountain Blvd. (510) 530-8052. Mini-morning buns and tarts/pies (Brent, you've got competition) - sign us up!! $$ Peony - 388 9th St. (510) 286-8866. Known for dim sum, but secretly for their 1/2 price Peking duck special on Thursdays for lunch (thanks, Michel). $$ Shan Dong Restaurant - 328 10th St. (510) 839-2299. Hand-pulled noodles - yummilicious after a hard day's climb. $ Sura - 4869 Telegraph Ave. (510) 654-9292. Korean BBQ and anything else, quite good. $ Zachary's Chicago Pizza - 5801 College Ave. (510) 655-6385. Famous for their deep-dish pizza...may not have to eat for the rest of the day after this. Our Chicago natives feel this isn't the best Chicago representative... $$
 * Oakland**

Las Panchitas - 1270 E Leland Road. (925) 432-8226. Burritos are quite large and good, homemade tortilla chips. Right next to PHC. $ Wahsing Chinese - 2222 Railroad Ave. (925) 439-1992. Worth calling in and picking up your stuff.
 * Pittsburg**

Jo's Sushi Bar - 2217 Morello Ave. (925) 671-9925. Rolls are a great deal, fresh and yummy. Try having Jo make sushi at the bar. $$ Kobe Japan - 1918 Oak Park Blvd. (925) 705-7065. Fresh, flavorful fish, creative rolls. If you sign up for their birthday club, you get a $30 certificate for your bday month. Very polite staff. $$ Thai Osha - 1958 Contra Cost Blvd. (925) 825-2148. Generous with rice, dishes are a little smaller, but definitely at least 2 meals-worth. (Thanks, Felice) $-$$
 * Pleasant Hill**

168 Restaurant - 3288 Pierce St. (510) 558-9168. Tawainese fare endorsed by Paul - we think perhaps this is preferred by those very familiar with Tawainese fare? $ Coriya Hot Pot City - 3288 Pierce St. (510) 524-8081. Tons of variety, cook it yourself. Warning, your clothes will smell like what you cooked afterwards. $ (haven't been there since it changed...) Huong Tra - 12221 San Pablo Ave. (510) 234-7428. Good, solid pho and other Vietnamese dishes including their sandwiches. Bubble tea like a slushie. $ Great Szechuan - 3288 Pierce St. (510) 526-8897. Spicy, good dishes. (We went with Grace Ma & she ordered all the best dishes) $$ Sawad Dee Thai - 12200 San Pablo Ave. (510) 232-5542. Yum! When the pumpkin curry is in season, we highly recommend it. $
 * Richmond**

Bombay Bar & Grill - 1351 21st St. (916) 441-7100. Pretty good Indian food, will make padina paratha if you request really nicely... $-$$ Ginger Elizabeth - 1801 L St. (916) 706-1738. If you like chocolate and almond macaroons, and have money to spare, go here. Wow. $$-$$$. Loving Hut (former Au Luc) - 3500 Stockton Blvd. (916) 451-6842. Excellent vegetarian food (the fake meats are pretty close to real meat). $
 * Sacramento** - also not close, but you might find yourself there...

Bi-Rite Creamery - 3692 18th St. (415) 626-5600. Amazingly creamy...line is always out the door. (branched off from the grocery store down the street) Get to go and hang out in Dolores Park a bit. Get a card, if you like, and you'll earn your way to a free ice cream. $ Frjtz - 581 Hayes St. (415) 864-7654. Their special is French fries with truffle oil and a variety of dipping sauces (like wasabi mayo). Also nice, big specialty salads. $$ Helmand Palace - 2424 Van Ness Ave. (415) 345-0072. Delicious Afghani dishes if you don't want to drive all the way to Fremont for Kabul cuisine. $$ The House -1230 Grant Ave. (415) 986-8612. Asian fusion, elegantly plated. Small restaurant, cozy atmosphere, yummy food, so get there early. $$ Maykadeh - 470 Green St. (415) 362-8286. Best Iranian restaurant in the city, slightly more upscale than others. $$ Mitchell's Ice Cream - 688 San Jose Ave. (415) 648-2300. Very flavorful ice cream. $ Noe Valley Bakery & Bread Company - 4073 24th St. (415) 550-1405. If you like rugelach and oatmeal raisin cookies, you have found your new home here. $ Shanghai Dumpling King - 3319 Balboa St. (415) 387-2088. Excellent soup dumplings. Need we say more? Just don't burn your tongue...you can't say we didn't warn you. (Note: you'll be so enthralled with the dumplings that you won't notice the absent decor.) $ La Taqueria - multiple locations, including taco trucks. Well-known favorite to city people. $ Tartine - 600 Guerrero St. (415) 487-2600. Huge fancy buttery grilled sandwiches (Rita's favorite is pecorino with walnuts), as well as unrivaled French pastries. Good to take-out and eat in Dolores Park. $$ Tres (Agaves) - 130 Townsend St. (415) 227-0500. Small portions, but good food. Try the plantains, even if they're not on the menu. $$ You's Dim Sum - 937 Stockton St. (415) 781-6923. Biggest and most flavorful dim sum in the area. Total hole-in-the-wall. $
 * San Francisco**

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