That was Bud's Pork Chop Sandwich on Main Street....An old fashioned coffee shop that is long long long (30+ years) gone and no replacement of their yummy sandwich anywhere in the Bay Area. The owners used to brag on how they had to strong arm someone in Montana for the recipe.

We particularly like Ironwood BBQ at the Golden Gate Golf Course. http://www.goldengateparkgolf.com/bbq...

If you were attending the Chinese New Year Parade this Saturday in San Francisco, would you recommend 1) eating before and where? or 2) eating after and where? We're taking BART in from Daly City.

Shhhhhhh! Don't tell anyone.... the Lucky's on Grant Road in Los Altos is KOSHER and has a Koser Deli.

Lucky
2175 Grant Rd, Los Altos, California 94024 (650) 969-1326 ‎

I was very impressed by the quality and quantity of the seafood.... no tiny oysters here! Big, fat, plump oysters, scallops and that gigantic lobster.... the bacon wrapped shrimp forcement was simply yummy but then anything wrapped in bacon and deep fried gets a big thumb up! Good company, good food, awesome chow down!

P.S. No fortune cookies!

I'm looking for recommendations for best crab in the South Bay....all kinds: fresh/live, steamed, fried...basically any and every kind but it has to be the best!

Awesome! Exactly what I'm looking for! Thanks!

I'm really looking for someplace to have a real Thanksgiving meal...turkey and all the trimmings....Southern style would be even better.

I'll be visiting the Orlando area for Thanksgiving this year. Does anyone have recommendations on somewhere nice to celebrate Thanksgiving?

Downtown Pleasant Hill: Century Theater/The Left Bank

I stopped for lunch at Popeye's in Santa Nella (east side of I-5). Chicken biscuits were fresh, ice tea cold and the bathroom was clean. Also stopped at Harris Ranch for pecan drop cookies. Yum!

I'm making my annual mecca down I-5 from SF to LA on Friday. I too am looking for any place new or note worthy to stop at along the way.

So, how about Chevy's Fresh Mex? "Nothing from a jar or can..."

Personally, I'd rather microwave my dinner at home and go out for breakfast instead. Breakfast is one meal that's still cooked to order without question.

East Bay=Contra Costa (minus East County), Alameda Counties as far South as Newark.
Something with alot of buttercream frosting!
Up to $50.

I am looking for suggestions for the best bakery in the East Bay which has the yummiest birthday cakes. Specifically I'm looking for a NON-CHOCOLATE cake that does not need to be refrigerated (kept cool, yes, refrigerated, no), 8 or 9 inch round, decorated and personalized to the birthday girl. I am not interested in Safeway, Nob Hil/Raley'sl, Luckys, Costco or Walmart cakes. Thanks!

Another fun chowhound lunch. Thank you Melanie for coordinating this event.

By far, the best of the lot were the steamed dumplings: XO Spicy Sauce, Chiu Chou, Har Gao and Spinach Shrimp. The Old Timer sponge cake was delightful warm. Once it cooled, it was not so delighful! I never did figure out which was the roasted pig or the roasted duck! Both were very greasy....as was the Bee's Nest Taro Puff. Something new for me was the Bean Curd in Syrup. It was fine but I bet there are better versions elsewhere. And I was disappointed with the Egg Custard Tart. It was basically tasteless.

FWIW The restaurant was incredibly cold. They had their air conditioning cranked up high.

Time for my annual roadtrip and thought I'd check to see if there are any new chow worthy stops along I-5 from SF to LA. Yes, I know, it's a culinary wasteland but it never hurts to check first before I head out onto the highway!

Much obliged!

How about The Left Bank in Pleasant Hill? You can walk over to the movies after dinner.

How about Jack London Square?
Il Pescatore, Kincaid’s Bayhouse or even Scott’s Seafood Restaurant?

I disagree. Breakfast taco and a breakfast burrito are two entirely different things. I still haven't found a San Antonio-style breakfast taco yet but I've been making them at home. Thanks for your reply.

Was visiting San Antonio a couple months back and fell in love with breakfast tacos: fresh flour tortillas, chorizo and eggs scrambled together and a bit of fresh salsa on top....just about 4 bites in total. OMG these were so awesome and nearly every restaurant from fast food to family style had them. Anyone run into them here in the Greater Bay Area????

Sorry to say no more ice cream at Manilla Garden Restaurant.....

Okay I'll defend my hometown. IMO there are some really great places in Martinez!

Habachi Sushi in the Albertson's plaza is the best sushi in town. The place is ALWAYS packed, the food great and the prices reasonable.

Young's Sushi on Main Street is very good but VERY expensive.

Bulldog BBQ on Main Street is really good too. Service can suck, but the food, yum!

Sunflower Garden on Escobar between Las Juantus and Ferry Street is the best Chinese in town. They are terrific with seafood dishes. Eat in or take out. I love both.

La Primavera Taco Truck off Pacheco Blvd in the old Ace Hardware parking lot has the BEST tacos in town.

Although it's Pacheco and not Martinez, Los Pancho's on Contra Costa at Center Avenue has awesome Mexican takeout.

And who can pass up chocolate dipped cones at Foster Freeze on Pacheco?

Please keep in mind that this Sunday, April 8, is Easter Sunday. This may impact your choice(s).

I know exactly what you're talking about....the kind of place where they bring your plate to you wearing hot mits and warn you that the plate is hot? With beans and rice and salad and such? Cheesy gooey enchiladas and tamales and a nice crisp taco on the side....yum. Just the kind of Mexican I grew up with but so few left here in the Bay Area.

How about New Mecca in downtown Pittsburg? They definitely have Mexican beer, not sure about Margaritas.

I'd also suggest Los Pancho's in Pacheco or San Ramon, but they're strictly take out only. But the food is similar, if not identical to New Mecca (the owner used to work at New Mecca).

And how about El Charro in Lafayette?

Or Juanita's in Alameda?

And I've been to Celia's in SF several times and IMHO it really sucks. Drinks were good, the food, ick. I make better at home...and believe me, I know how to cook Mexican! It's my favorite of favorite ethnic foods.

Oh and there is a really excellent place in Blythe but then that's a long long ways away from here!

I use many of Paula's recipes...I find that often the amount of salt used is way too much...but here are are few that are terrific "hits" when I make them:

Orange Brownies
Lady & Son's Cole Slaw
Magic Peanut Butter Cookies

and I've mixed up my own batch of "House Seasoning" which I use on just about everything now!

I get mine at my local Nob Hill Grocery.

Long long time ago when I was young and poor and very pregnant with my son, I lived in New Mexico. All I craved was New Mexican food. Not Tex Mex, not some gringo Mexican but real goodness New Mexican. Unfortunately, going out to eat was a huge treat, and being so poor it didn't happen at all. So, I learned to cook nearly everything from scratch...beans, rice, chile, enchilada sauch, tortillas, even sopapillas!

Sopapillas are REALLY easy to make from scratch. Just whip up a batch of your favorite biscuit dough....let sit a good 30 minutes (or longer) before rolling it out about 1/8" thick. Cut into long triangles and pop into hot oil. When the down sides turn golden brown, flip over and they'll puff up. Drain on paper towels and serve with honey! Or stuff with your favorite taco fixings! Yum!

I'm looking for someplace that really showcases the best of our local bounty, flavors and style. Someplace fun but not fussy, casual but not too casual! No pizza, burgers or take out. Definately sit down with a good local wine list.

I have a cajun chow friend into visiting and where do we go for dinner Saturday night?

I'm looking for someplace that will show off the best of California, in the East Bay, preferably in Contra Costa County....someplace that will knock his socks off!