slipson's Profile
Best baked BBQ Pork Bun in SF
I don't know if they are the best in the city, but I give a big shout out to the baked pork buns from Sunset Bakery at 9th ave and Judah. I have been going there for years and still crave them whenever I am in that area.
Good, well-priced meat market in East Bay/Tri-Valley
For a good general butcher shop with good prices I like Lunardis. Prices are quite reasonable. I do alot of home smoking and tend to get most meat from Costco including whole chickens, salmon, ribs and sometimes boneless pork butt. Bone in pork butt can also be obtained cheaply from Safeway usually. I have bought whole briskets in a bag with intact fat cap from Lunardis, but I have also seen them cheaper at Costco at times. Trimmed briskets are good at Costco, but not ideal for a long smoke. I also get turkey legs from Lunardis which I love to smoke. Still looking for great beef ribs. I am often disappointed with the available (often pre frozen) ribs available.
Salt & Pepper Crab, like R&G, in East Bay?
China Village in Albany. I have had it there many times and it is very good.
2011 - Let's talk turkey
This year I bought a prebrined and seasoned Fra Mani Diestel turkey from Costco $3.39 a pound. It was great. Flavorful and moist and not at all salty. In prior years I would buy a Diestel turkey from Lunardis and salt it or brine it myself. This turkey was better and so much easier. I will be looking for it again next year for sure!
Hand pulled noodles in the East Bay?
Looking for fresh hand pulled noodles in the East Bay, preferably Oakland/Berkeley. I was in Vancouver recently and was at a noodle shop where you could watch the chef pull the noodles and boil them fresh for each order. He was also hand making green onion cakes. It was a great show and delicious. I would love to find a similar place here if it exists.
Crispy Orange Beef? East Bay??
The orange chicken at China Village in Albany is delicious, probably the only version of that dish I have ever had that is really good. I have never had orange beef there but it may be worth a shot.
Heading to Berkeley, looking for good Ramen place
I suggest Ryowa Ramen house on University near Shattuck. Havent been for a while but was very good when I was there before.
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Ryowa
2068 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Smokey J's Q House - BBQ in Berkeley
Stopped by last night. I ordered a 3 way combo with ribs, brisket and hot links with hot sauce on the side. With a side of roasted garlic potatoes the meal was $18 and enough food for 2 unless you want to "pig out". The meat was all great. The brisket was tender with good smoke flavor and lots of intense bark came in the order. The ribs were good, although not my favorite part of the meal. The hot links were as good as Ive had, and the hot sauce had a very nice flavor and heat level. Also dont miss the potatoes. They cook them in the rotisserie under the roast chicken and they taste great. All in all I like this place better than others in the area like Tomms, Uncle Willies and Phat Matts.
Best deep dish pizza?
I like the crust of Little Star much better than Zacharys. Havent had Paxti's yet.
Best deep dish pizza?
I have eaten at Zacharys for years but after Little Star opened in Albany I decided that I prefer Little Star to Zacharys. Now Paxti's is coming to the East Bay (Lafayette) and I have friends who think that Paxti's is the best of the 3. Curious what other opinions are. Also what is the best crust option at Paxtis? On their website they list 2 kinds of deep dish: stuffed and pan pizza.
China Village dinner help
For vegetarians the charred cabbage is a must. I also strongly suggest the sauteed pea shoots and the baked tofu or clay pot with tofu.
The orange chicken there is actually delicious. A thousand times better than the usual american chinese version. They also do a good walnut prawns if you are looking for something not spicy.
My favorite dish there is the twice cooked fish fillet. Spicy but not too spicy and great flavor. I also love the fish soup.
China Village [Albany]
This sounds great. How does it compare with the twice cooked fish fillets which is one of my favorite go to dishes there?
Crab Feed. Looking for a good one in the East Bay?
There is a benefit for the Norcal Hemophila Foundation on 2/12 in Oakland. This is a nice event.
http://www.kintera.org/AutoGen/home/Home.asp?ievent=451264&en=ceKLJKOkG8IGIKNkH9KGKJOjGeILJUPyFdKHJMMsEeJPL3NIF
Green Chile Kitchen...good New Mexican cuisine.
I love New Mexican food. Do they have great sopapillas? These are sorely lacking in the Bay Area.
Vegetarian Friendly for Boston trip
San Francisco chowhound heading to Boston with mixed group. My wife is a vegetarian. Looking for a few nice lunch/dinner choices to appeal to vegetatians and meat/fish eaters. Not looking for anything too pricey or fancy. Asian restaurants not a priority as we come from SF.
Dinner with grandparents in Berkeley- need recs
I love Gather and Corso, but as stated already they may be outside your budget. I would also consider Great China for a classic Berkeley Asian experience. Review other posts for advice on what to order but absolutely dont miss the Peking Duck.
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Great China Restaurant
2115 Kittredge St, Berkeley, CA 94704
best (east)Bay Area joint for a first date
I would suggest Gather in Berkeley. I food is very good, the space modern and comfortable and there are great choices for both meat eaters and vegetarians. Share the vege charcouterie plate to start. If you dont have a reservation there are lots of spots at the bar.
Moraga Options
I would generally agree for everything except the Brisket. I had it recently a few weeks ago and it was still great.
Moraga Options
Moraga really has no destination worthy restaurants. There are a few passable Chinese places, Chef Chau in the Rheem center, and Asia Palace in Moraga. Terzettos and Amoroma are okay, but uninspired.
In Orinda I suggest Serika for Japanese and Petra's cafe for a Greek lunch. Avoid Casa Orinda and Amoroma Pizzaria.
Your best bet is to get to Lafayette. Lily's House already mentioned. Also second Pizza Antica, Chow and Metro. Also worthy of a special trip is Bo's BBQ. Get the brisket there, its great.
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Casa Orinda
20 Bryant Way, Orinda, CA 94563
Lily's House
3555 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA 94549
Serika Restaurant
2 Theatre Sq Ste 118, Orinda, CA 94563
Any bakery in the east bay have a great coconut cake?
Katrina Rozelle on College in Oakland makes a very good coconut cake, although I like their chocolate ganache cakes even more.
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Katrina Rozelle
5931 College Ave, Oakland, CA
Flint's BBQ status?
Doubt Flints is coming back. I was never a fan of their meat (except for the links), but I still dream about the sauce. I wish I new how to create it myself. Does anyone know of a recipe or at least another joint with similar sauce?
Fresh meat ; new to chowhound and want your experienced guidance.
For some nearby budget friendly choices (great for lunch or cheap dinner) try
Bo's barbeque in Lafayette for brisket
El Jarro Lafayette for tortas, enchiladas and great nachos
Da Lat in Walnut Creek try the vermicelli bowels
Lane Splitter pizza in Temescal
Burma Superstar in Temescal
Cactus taqueria in Rockridge for crispy tacos
For a nicer date night:
Wood Tavern in Berkeley
Piazzolo in Temescal
Dopo in Oakland
A cote in Rockridge
Camino Oakland
Need a Non-Spicy Dish or Two at China Village
When I go with my daughter she always gets the orange chicken. It is much better here than at the typical chinese restaurant and I even eat a little, even though I am there for the spicy stuff. I love the fish soup and the twice-cooked fish fillets.
Diestel Turkey Prices
Lunardi's markets sell Diestel turkeys. Not sure about the price
Rockridge BART: what not to miss?
No argument about Wood Tavern, but if you want something quick and casual, its hard to beat the crispy tacos at Cactus taqueria right next to the Bart station.
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Wood Tavern
6317 College Ave., Oakland, CA 94618
Best Korean Pancakes (pajeon)?
Do you have a link to that article, I might try to make them. I have had panjeon at Koryo on Telegraph (not great) and at Ohgane (very good).
Pizzeria Amoroma Orinda: Very Disappointing
I really wanted to enjoy Pizzeria Amoroma in Orinda, its nearby where I live, looks nice and has a wood burning oven. Pizza was a huge disappointment. I had a sausage pizza which was overloaded with toppings. The crust was underdone and soggy and overall bland. A mushroom pizza fared no better, same soggy and underdone crust. My wife had a crostini of polenta topped with mushrooms which was not too bad. Was this a bad night or have others had a similar experience here? If I do go back I would not order the pizza. I hear the panini are okay.
Help, need Vegetarian in East Bay
Those are nice options and she has been to all 3. I was hoping for something with a true vegetarian focus.
Help, need Vegetarian in East Bay
Looking for a nice restaurant in the East Bay to take a vegetarian for her birthday. Ideally would also have some non vegetarian choices for other diners. Asian would be fine, but she is not a big fan of Indian cuisine.
Best burger and fries in the East Bay?
It may not be the absolute best but I still really like the burger and pimenton or garlic fries at Bear Naked burgers in Temescal.
