Bay Area Dinner Now!
I will be the first to admit that there are just some days when you can't cook. One too many errands. Carpool gone awry. Late meetings. Cupboards and fridge are barren wastelands. Or my favorite, "I've had enough, and I just don't feel like it!"
My very patient and hardworking husband is very familiar with phone call or text to say, "You're in charge of dinner--(please) bring something home."
Here is an in-progress list of our favorite places to eat out. They are skewed toward the Bay Area and O'ahu, because that's what we know. The idea is that we need to travel more to round out the list.
I'm happy to add your favorite go-to takeout in your area. Click here to tell me what it is and why you love it.
My very patient and hardworking husband is very familiar with phone call or text to say, "You're in charge of dinner--(please) bring something home."
Here is an in-progress list of our favorite places to eat out. They are skewed toward the Bay Area and O'ahu, because that's what we know. The idea is that we need to travel more to round out the list.
I'm happy to add your favorite go-to takeout in your area. Click here to tell me what it is and why you love it.
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Food Type
Japanese
Sushi Japanese ramen Korean Tofu Chinese Pizza Persian Greek Plate Lunch Food Cow/BBQ Mexican Thai Sandwiches Turkish Date Night |
Takeout
Nijiya Deli
Nijiya Deli N/A Kong Tofu BBQ, Tofu House Wok's On, China Stix Amici's, Round Table, Marios Piccolo Yiassoo L&L Armadillo Willy's Chipotle, La Costena Olarn Ike's Lair, Specialty's 5-Star Falafel N/A |
Sit Down
Minato, Curry House, En
Kikusushi Orenchi, Mitsuwa N/A N/A N/A N/A Athena Grill Hukilau Alexander's (No slippers!) Tia Juana N/A N/A N/A Roy's SoMa, Murray Circle |
Plate Lunch, Sort Of & Takeout
Hukilau
When I'm craving real Hawaii food, Hukilau is the best in my area. It's a casual sit-down place, and they place Hawaiian music on Fridays. I'm also told that it's a good pick-up scene but I'm aged out of that demographic.
Go for the food. This place could be in Hawaii and still do well. All the poke is great--fresh, salty and tastes like the ocean (in a good way!). Avocado and Ahi poke are my favorites. All the Hawaii-food entrees just rock, from the Hukilau fried rice (splurge for the kim chee version), kalua cabbage to Hukilau chicken. Katsu, Chicken Adobo and Loco Moco (gravy is ono!) are also good. If anything, we don't eat the 'tourist food' there (i.e., pineapple teriyaki burger, and chicken sandwich). As close to home as you can get. L&L Drive Inn
When you need (yes, need) a plate lunch fix and you are on the "Mainland" L&L can a good standby. Definitely Hawaii food, consistently tasty, and they even have Hawaiian food specials. Oddly, we don't go to the L&Ls in Hawaii, mainly because there are more choices there.
Chipotle
clean, fast, fairly healthy mexican food. What more could you ask for? Falafel Drive Inn Why do I love going to the dentist? Because I can get falafel and a banana shake. Fresh hot and generous portions In-n-Out Cheeseburger, animal style with fries. Need I say more? When you need to indulge your inner fast food, this is the healthiest option, I think. La Costena Burritos that easily feed a family of 4. A Bay Area institution. Where else can you (but definitely not me!) get a lengua burrito? Carnitas, carne asada and chicken are fab. Nijijya Deli Mountain View is my favorite. A wide variety of Japanese/American sushi (chicken katsu, shrimp tempura and age-tofu rolls) plus California rolls, futomaki and unagi. Good gyoza and their potato salad is really, really good. Round Table--Skinny Crust Gourmet vegetarian, Hawaiian, and old-fashioned pepperoni, mushrooms and black olives are our favorites. Spice Hut Fast Indian food. Probably not totally authentic, but good as a carry out. Togo's Another Bay area institution. My doctor, who has not eaten meat in years, when he splurges, eats a Togo's #9. Pastrami that even vegetarians can't resist. Yiassoo Awesome greek food. Gyros are large, french fries are very good. Whole Foods Salad, nachos and salmon puff pastry, quiche are my desperation picks. |
Amici's Pizza
NY-style thin crust pizza at its finest. Eggplant Boston pizza is well worth the splurge, and usually one of my kid's birthday indulgence. New York and Philadelphia are also quite good.
Amici's also does a lot of community/fundraising efforts for the San Jose Sharks Foundation. Thai Pepper
Don't be put off by the Sunnyvale location--behind a gas station and next to a nail salon.
Great, reasonably-priced sit-in and takeout Thai food. Our favorites are the duck curry, mango salad, basil chicken. And they also have an amazing sticky-rice with mangoes dessert, but this tends to sell out fast, so best to go early ChipotleRound Table Pizza--skinny crust
Nijiya Deli (various Bay Area) Amici's Pizza Jason's Chinese Food (Wok's On) Thai Pepper (Sunnyvale) Curry House Togo's Thai Pepper Ranch 99 Dim Sum (but you have to go early) Mitsuwa Noah's Bagels Good Japanese food. They have some natto-nacho combo that I haven't tried but is supposed to be good. Furikake salmon and karaage chicken are good.
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