Wow! Where were you moving from?
We moved to the area in 90.
Salt Lake City!
Well, a year in SLC after 10 in Los Angeles, and I grew up in the NYC suburbs.
I was just about to add we moved to “the area” (707) in 90 from The Bronx and Queens, after two years in LA! My daughter grew up in “the 707”, and lived a few years in SLC.
I don’t remember when we first discovered the mall, but it sure beat the heck out of the one I grew up near in Valley Stream!
Stonestown Mall is thriving- even weekdays the parking lot is full. They seem to have moved to a focus on restaurants more than retail.
Yes I’ve noticed. I was there earlier this year and the parking lot was jammed, I mean really jammed. Besides the restaurants I heard (but didn’t go in) to the Japanese (?) arcade and bowling alley? Also, looks like they figured out the local demographic.
BTW, I remember going when it was open air…man it was dismal, and cold.
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My family came to California as 49ers, as in 1849 Gold Rush. I’m not a born and bred SF’er but lots of family in SF and the Bay Area. My grandfather had a dry good store at Jackson and Grant (DuPont) way back in the day. I use to spend summers and holiday in SF to see my Grandmother and relatives. Grew up in SoCal because my dad took a defense job…bomb maker that he eventually regretted. Came to the Bay Area for college and just stayed. I don’t take umbrage about Hick Town but I know many born and bred who will. Oh yeah, and don’t call it Frisco or San Fran….hahahaha….
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KQED
Check, Please! Bay Area, first aired November 13, 2025
Sarap Shop, Filipino food in SF SoMa District
171 Stillman St
SF
MAMA Oakland
388 Grand Av
Oakland
Panchita’s Pupuseria in SF Mission District
3091 16th St
SF
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KQED -
Luke and Thien eat late-night hand-pulled Lanzhou-style noodles at Dao Artisan Noodle, 15032 Farnsworth, San Leandro
Most items on the menu are less than $15. This place sounds like a real winner.
Illustration by Thien Pham
Excerpt:
On the sidewalk outside, the restaurant had even put out a signboard advertising the soft launch of its newest creation: pistachio-topped Dubai chocolate xiao long bao. And sure, the whole concept of dessert XLB might be an abomination to the dumpling gods (I am nothing if not a traditionalist in this regard). But everything we’ve eaten at Dao so far has been a hit.
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KQED. 88.5 FM radio
On KQED Forum today Fri Nov 14 at 9 am repeated at 8 pm and available online soon
Nite Yun, chef and author of My Cambodia: A Khmer Cookbook, ower of Lunette.
She gives a shoutout to Mithapheap Market 1400 14th Av, East Oakland for supplies and prahok mudfish sauce. And the food vendors at Angel Cruz Park in Stockton
Dance party at Seafood City in Daly City, 1420 Southgate. The next one is Sat., Nov 15, 8pm-12am. Free.
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Szechuan Fusion in Ranch 99 Market, 3288 Pierce, Richmond
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Astrid in SF Standard -
New Uzbek restaurant in SF Richmond District, Uzbegim at 5120 Geary near 15th Avenue, has mantu dumplings and hand-pulled fried qovurma langam fried noodles.
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Mike Lim tries Bay Are tortas -
Mexico Bakery in San Jose
La Torta Gorda in SF and
Talavera on Dolano in Berkeley
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I’d never tried the Tuesday lunch special at Original Joe Westlake … turkey breast dinner for $19.95.
Today my friend and I tried it … incredible big plate of food, terrific waiter Jeremy.
He said it’s the most popular lunch special and they often run out by 1 or 1:30 so we were lucky to get it today.
A friend recently got a big turkey sandwich from Tommy’s Joint for $20 !!! So, this is a much better deal.
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My god, the turkey sandwich is $20 at Tommy’s Joynt? Just checked, the TG turkey dinner is $32. By Cracky, I remember when it was $8 bucks, and the turkey leg was even less.
BTW….Hey you kids…GET OFF MY LAWN!!!
Good tip on OJ’s Westlake. Joe’s is a much nicer environment and you can get a seat.
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I got a slice of the Zante cheesecake to go.
$14
.
Yikes!
I know I’ll savor every bite.
(I took a lot of my turkey dinner home, will eat some for dinner, rest for lunch tomorrow. My homemade Bourbon Cranberry sauce is much better but I haven’t made any yet.
The side of ravioli was generous for $10 but a bit too salty.)
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Jerry’s Roast Pork Sandwiches
2 Embarcadero SF
Tues, Wed, and Thurs
11am-3pm
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Free Thanksgiving meals and info for volunteers.
So, after having lunch at Original Joe’s Westlake Tuesday, I ended up there for dinner with friends Wednesday evening (and, I hadn’t eaten there in over a year! Now twice in 2 days!)
Five of us shared everything: delicious Caesar salad, fettuccine Alfredo, eggplant parm, chicken parm, chicken piccata, sole doré, side of ravioli, which was salty again. I’d specified easy on the salt but I’m thinking they just make their tomato sauce very salty. One tiramisu with 5 spoons was just right.
Hella busy, as usual. They said it’d be 45 minutes wait at least but I think it was no more than 30 minutes.
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Berkeleyside Nosh -
Uqbar Mediterranean Cafe opens Fri Nov 21 at 2265 Fifth St Berkeley in old Tomate Cafe spot.
