2 Days in BA. Where would you eat like a local?

Souperman · August 5, 2018, 3:22pm

AFAIK the menu (and quality of the food) at Champa Garden in SF pretty much mirrors the Oakland original, and I agree the Lao sampler is the best thing to start with.

As you intimated, a lot of Lao food hides on Thai menus. Tycoon Thai is a favorite of mine, with a strong Lao side to the menu and bargain pints of craft beer. They are also very helpful in guiding you to the Lao specialties.

Since Maneelap Srimongkoun closed (almost as soon as I could spell the name without looking it up) the only place in SF to fly the Lao flag proudly (get your act together, Vinya!) is the upscale Lao Table. It’s pricey, though. with most of the entrees (and noodle soups) in the $20s. I’m waiting until my birthday to get someone to treat me to the $28.95 King Crab Khao Poon.

plragde · August 5, 2018, 4:08pm

You’ve listed Gallo Giro under burritos; I’ve never had one there, but their tacos are exceptional, probably the best I’ve had in the Bay Area. (Walking distance to Humphrey Slocombe, La Palma, and La Torta Gorda – can you tell I rely on public transit?)

I would mention Smitten under ice cream. I don’t think their flavours are as intense or varied as other places, but the texture is exceptional (made to order using liquid nitrogen). It’s cheaper at the Rockridge location.

Nyum Bai is exceptional, in a way I wish Kin Khao was.

grayelf · August 16, 2018, 5:59am

Hey all, thanks so much for this thread. I’ve missed reading your thoughts, as we haven’t been to SFBA for four years (!) but are planning to rectify that in November. I’m already doing early reconnaissance because I’m so excited. Glad to see some old faves popping up and collecting newer names that look promising.

hyperbowler · August 16, 2018, 6:30am

Yay, I’ve always enjoyed your research and write up posts, and look forward to more! Ha, I’d been wondering whether you’d just been visiting on the downlow

Souperman · August 17, 2018, 1:21am

The difference between a ground up versus top a down approach to revealing the soul of an immigrant cuisine.

sck · August 17, 2018, 4:02am

I am looking forward to your reports! You seem to know more about Bay Area than we do!

rwcfoodie · August 17, 2018, 5:40am

@grayelf: I’ve also wondered if you’d given up on the SF Bay Area, good to know you’ll be visiting in Nov! Looking forward to reading your trip report!

Lethe2020 · August 20, 2018, 8:18pm

Updating souperman’s March 2017 post of the Guardian reviewer:

• Alta and Alfred’s are now closed. Verbena turned into Reverb in 2015 and then closed in 2016

• Chef Yoni Levy of Outerlands has just left as of June 2018

• Isn’t RicePaperScissors/SF strictly pop-up? This is according to their current website (2018Aug).

Updating mariacarmen March 2017 post:

• Hawker Fare is now closed in Oakland.

Updating hyperbowler Aug 4, 2018 post:

• French bakery: Fournée is in Berkeley, top of Ashby Ave.

• The new Rotha Patisserie on San Pablo Ave. in Albany is better, but very tiny kitchen so he sells out – often within 1/2 hr of opening!

++++

I’m surprised no one mentioned any of the Burmese restaurants, which can be found in SF, Oakland and Alameda.

For hyperbowler and all fans of Ethiopian/Eritrean, I will first say I am not a fan of Colucci. Stir-frying and EVOO just don’t ‘float my boat’, although their shiro is outstanding and I wish other restaurants would copy their excellent non-alcoholic drink menu. We have found two outstanding restaurants. Both have the gutsy, spicy, long-braised flavors we love about these cuisines:

• Injera/Alameda. Easy parking. Not as pretty a DR as Lemat, but equally good food. Portions are generous. Several fish dishes, not often found on these menus.

• Lemat/Berkeley. Lovely DR with coffee service area, but parking is a major b***h. It is right near the Ashby BART station and there are red zones all over the neighboring streets. Just take public transit and make it easy on yourself. Like Injera, great full-bodied, rich flavors.

. Lastly, I’d suggest Temple Club/Oakland for Vietnamese. We hate the rising levels of sugar in Asian/SE Asian cuisine; half the menus now taste like dessert gone wild. Chef-owner Deetz makes food with the kind of flavor profile we remember from 40 yrs ago, when our Vietnamese friend first took us to restaurants and had to do all the translating because almost none of the owners or staff spoke English!

grayelf · September 3, 2018, 5:31am

Oh I don’t think so! But I do love to research and try out places when I travel.

grayelf · September 3, 2018, 5:36am

I’m so sorry to read your last graf, Lethe. We have long suffered with the Invasion of the Asian Sugar Bombs here in Vancouver for Thai food, and recently it has started in South Indian food restos (I just had the most disgusting shrimp curry that was so sweet and yet fishy I couldn’t eat more than a mouthful). I’ve pretty much given up trying Thai on our trips to Portland for the same reason, though Lao seems to avoid that pitfall there. Was hoping the Bay Area was immune.

bigwheel042 · September 3, 2018, 7:30am

I could see how the average neighborhood Thai restaurant in Portland might not be very good. But if you haven’t tried it yet, Hat Yai in NE Portland is definitely not too sweet - and often blazing hot.

grayelf · September 3, 2018, 9:42pm

You aren’t the first person to suggest Hat Yai to me. I’m contemplating giving it a try. We had such a lame meal at Lang Baan at the beginning of all the hype that I haven’t been inclined to try another Ninsom endeavour. Hmmm…

bigwheel042 · September 4, 2018, 12:49am

That’s disappointing. I haven’t been to Langbaan, and based on this report I probably won’t be taking the risk until I’ve tried the cheaper PaaDee first. At Hat Yai I think we had the Southern Thai ground pork and the oxtail soup, the latter of which I think was even spicier despite not being listed as such on the menu.

(Also, for what it’s worth, I didn’t think the meal I had at Pok Pok was all that impressive.)

atomica · September 5, 2018, 5:50pm

For me the worst example of this for Thai in SF is the wildly popular (why??) Farmhouse Thai. Everything is way too sweet.

grayelf · September 12, 2018, 3:14pm

It was quite a while ago so maybe an off night, or it’s gotten better??

We had an even worse meal, albeit at lunch, the one time we tried Pok Pok. Weird hipster “service” from a server who smelled like he hadn’t showered in far too long, an offal dish that was sweet (urgh), and dirty stiff plastic tablecloths that stuck to everything they touched. My husband was equally unimpressed and he’s much more tolerant and far less picky than I am

Both places must find it difficult to live up to the hype.

Lethe2020 · September 12, 2018, 4:32pm

I’ve talked to several restaurateurs about this issue of increasing sweetness in all Asian, but especially SE Asian, Bay Area restaurants. Without exception they say it’s because that’s what is selling to Americans on an everyday basis.

For every one of us that wants something closer to the original, more piquant and nuanced Asian flavors, there are dozens saying “This is too hot/not sweet enough!”

It helps to give feedback directly to the mgmt or chef. They won’t change unless those of us who don’t want oversugared food, not only speak out but keep speaking up.

grayelf · November 6, 2018, 10:12am

It’s probably been mentioned elsewhere but Prubechu closed this summer.

grayelf · November 6, 2018, 11:07am

I read somewhere that Commis has two Michelin stars now. We went way back in 2009 when they had a three-course prix fixe for $59. Now it is $159 for 8 courses, which seems like a decent deal.

mariacarmen · November 6, 2018, 3:11pm

yes I know. very sad.

bbulkow · November 7, 2018, 7:37am

I eat a lot of Indian. My favorite by far and away is Aaapakadi - Sunnyvale. Yes, virginia, there is a sunnyvale. One of the locations ( the larger ) is easy to reach from 85, so if you are taking a freeway through the area, it’s an amazing stop - like if you’re going to Los Gatos or Santa Cruz by car. You will be eating like a local there, and there is no dumbing down of the food.

I can honestly say there is literally nowhere I am excited about between Burlingame and San Jose. There are some places I actively look forward to, like Zareen’s and The Refuge, but maybe I’m an old fogey - rents have jammed up prices for space, and jammed up prices for workers, so reasonable business people cut costs on ingredients and some of the barely-profitable “specials” that a knowledgeable person would seek out.

The kids in SF pack into these large brewery / beer halls. They like the newer “citra” style IPAs. Of all those places ( I’ve tried most ), I would say Cellarmaster if I was in SF proper.

Where else have I become fond of recently. I like Moshi Moshi on third. It’s a sentimental favorite, I used to eat there in the mid-90’s, but they have very solid Karaage and a good bar, and the parking is easy. Basically I pop in to sit at the bar, talk to some friends, have a drink and some karaage and fish. I only see locals there. The burger at the Tempest ( SOMA ) is relatively undiscovered. I also end up eating at Cockscomb a fair amount, partially because they serve notably later than all the other places that stop serving at 9pm, 10pm, and because it’s danged tasty and very pleasant at the downstairs or upstairs bar ( don’t like the tables that much ). I think I hit True Laurel a few times. Oh, and the Rite Spot. The number of dive bars is decreasing but if there’s one I can keep in business, it’ll be the Rite Spot.

I know I’m way behind on my SF eating, there’s a lot of new 1-stars that I just haven’t eaten my way around to. The last few times I’ve been generally in that area and made a list, by the time we got to eating it was 9pm and we ended up at Cockscomb again.

GF and I often go over to theater at Shotgun ( ashby ) and get out of there on a friday or saturday at 9:30pm ( 8pm doors 1.5 hour show ) . We end up at Longbranch more often than not, but I can’t really recommend it. Cafe Colluci was mentioned, we were there once, and it was great. Downtown oakland is more iffy because of parking. We went to Blind Tiger and I liked the atmosphere but the food was only OK. I have taken a few friends to the Starline; that’s also a locals-only place with a solid but normal-trendy food list ( avo toast et al ) but I like the vibe and I had my best negroni there ( 2018 has been all about negronis and Starline won ).