Visiting SF from Japan

I've ordered St.Louis ribs, Memphis pork and Beef brisket with greens and slaws. I felt that the meats are little bit dry, and sides are very sour. (I don't prefer sour foods, but I didn't know that greens and slaws are that sour.)

araipiyo in San Francisco Bay Area

What is your favorite Fukuoka restaurant?

Nishihara is my favorite one. They serve wonderful maguro sashimi and whale tongue (called Saezuri). Excellent food with very reasonable price (around 5000yen-7000yen). http://gourmet.suntory.co.jp/shop/0927245377/

Also you should try Fukuoka specialties other than Ramen such as Mizutaki (chicken nabe) or Motsunabe (beef intestine nabe).

My other favorites:
* El Borracho (authentic mexican food, very good taco al pastor)
* Tenjin Hinabejo (Shichuan food)
* Happu (Mizutaki, great chicken sashimi and Izakaya dishes)
* Fujimaru (cheap kaiten-zushi joint but offers great saba and aji)

araipiyo in Japan

Visiting SF from Japan

Here is my report of my new culinary experiences.

I really thank you guys for recs. I had really great meals and experiences.

Especially Robert's list of regional American foods did a fabulous job. I didn't imagine that regional American foods can be such wonderful dishes if I choose proper place. American foods have quite bad reputation in Japan, probably they tried at wrong places:(

* Saturday, I had a dinner at Mexico DF. I ordered Sopa Azteca and Chile en Nogada, and both are very good. I was overwhelmed by the size of Flan.
* For Sunday lunch, I went to Taqueria San Jose. I tried Taco al Pastor and Taco Lingua. Very good too.
* On Monday night, I visited Farmer Brown. I really liked their Gambo. Bartender did a great job too. His Vanilla Mint Julep and his choice of Bourbon are the best drinks I've ever had outside of Japan. (Japan has many great bartenders.) This place was the highlight of the trip.
* On Tuesday night, I went to Little Star Pizza. Their deep dish pizza was great! It's a pleasant surprise that the American version of pizza can be such great. I'd thought that I could finish a small pizza easily, but I couldn't....
* Also I had a lunch at Memphis Minnie's. I really liked their atmosphere. Food was not for my Japanese tongue, but I really enjoyed this place. Probably I'll go there again, and order other dishes.

araipiyo in San Francisco Bay Area

Visiting SF from Japan

Thank you so much for many detailed answers. Your answers will make my travel much more vivid.

I don't avoid not-so-clean places. I traveled to country side of India, and I enjoyed small restaurants in there. So, I'll definitely visit those taquerias.

Yucatan cuisines sounds so attractive to me. I had some chances to have good Mexican foods, but not Yucatan foods yet. Peruvian restaurant sounds very attractive for me too.

Regional food list is really useful for me. On last visit I had no chance to visit these places. So this time, I won't miss. I must decide to go which places.

Also thank you for night life recommendations. I don't need quiet as the grave places, just I don't want to be overwhelmed by loud drunken people.

I'll probably visit Yoshi's too. I love jazz as many Japanese do.

araipiyo in San Francisco Bay Area