Tag: BayAreaLife | zests.ai

#BayAreaLife

Steven Arnold

A Korean Restaurant with bad reviews⁉️

🍜BanSang 📍 1560 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115 · ▫️Mixed reviews, but decided to give it a try this time! We wanted to eat here last minute and surprisingly got a reservation. So we decided to come and try it out. · ▫️First things first, it's not bad as long as you don't order those trendy dishes. At least it's a decent restaurant. · ▫️Kimchi Oyster: Nothing particularly special, just oysters that taste good 😂 · ▫️Yellowtail & Prosciutto: This sashimi is really delicious! It disappeared in seconds! Although the quantity is small, the texture of the sashimi and the combination of the sauce and olive oil are just right, absolutely delicious 😍 · ▫️Yuza Pear Salad: It opened up a new world of making salads at home. This dish is fresh and slightly sweet with a hint of sourness. The cheese blends in perfectly. Skills for making salads at home - activated! · ▫️Black Cod: Tasty 😋 It's recommended, but it's just too little! Seriously, such a small portion, even one person can't have enough. · ▫️Galbi: The highlight of the evening, it has its own uniqueness. The spicy pickled cabbage inside is amazing! The Galbi is super tender and well-seasoned! · ▫️Rice cake & Grilled Shrimp: Although it's completely different from what I imagined, the rice cake was slightly fried and it tasted just like the rice cakes I had as a child! · ▫️Cold Bibim Noodles & Pork Jowl: A bit disappointing, you can skip this one. The noodles are too raw, and even though it's a cold dish, it feels even more raw when you eat it. Plus, the taste doesn't match well, and they skimped on the meat, you can't taste any meat at all 🫠 · 📣Warning: As long as you don't order their UNI toast, which is a disappointment, the overall experience is pretty good. But they seriously lack in portion sizes, you have to order a lot to be satisfied. #BayAreaLife #WhereToGoInBayAreaOnWeekends #GlobalFoodieSquad #Food #FoodSharing #FoodDaily #MyFoodDiary #HiddenGems #HiddenGemRestaurants #BayAreaFood

Mrs. Andrea Ayala

Tell me if there’s a better looking avocado Toast🥗

🥑avotoasty 📍 1796 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123 ▫️The former internet-famous toast shop has now been renovated and upgraded, bringing more beautiful toast combinations. I visited the new store twice since it opened, and the taste is really good, especially when eaten as a quick breakfast, paired with a hot matcha latte🍵, it warms up the whole morning. ▫️Salmon Toasty Who doesn't love slices of salmon? Spread a thick layer of avocado sauce on it, drizzle fresh lemon juice, and toast it until crispy. The blend of the slightly sour taste is perfectly fused with the meaty aroma of salmon. ▫️Eggy Toasty I give this custard egg 💯! Two soft and juicy custard eggs on one toast, what kind of magical combination is this?! The avocado sauce fills my mouth, and the egg yolk adds another layer of flavor. ▫️Veggie Toasty Although it's vegan, as long as it tastes good, I'm all for it, given its appearance and texture! 🥰 All their toasts have avocado sauce as the base, and the taste changes according to the toppings. Not a single one disappoints. ▫️Matcha Latte It's a large cup! The matcha flavor is strong and rich. I chose a hot drink, which is more suitable for the special climate in San Francisco. 😂 ▫️Beetroot Latte I'm quite curious! But honestly, it doesn't taste bad. I'm someone who never eats beetroot, but I found it acceptable! ▫️Acai Bowl Who can resist a bowl of Hawaiian-style fruit acai bowl? Just be careful with the acai at the bottom—it's really cold! The fruits are super fresh, and the serving size is generous. One bowl is more than enough for two people.👍 #BayAreaFood #BayAreaLife #WhereToGoInBayAreaOnWeekends #PopularFoodOnRedBook #FoodDaily #MyFoodDiary #WhatToEatForBreakfast #MyBreakfastCheckIn #ThisIsWhatMyBreakfastLooksLike #OpenToast #HighAppearanceFood

Steven Arnold

This Tropical Flavored Restaurant is a MUST

🌴Palm House 📍2032 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123 · ▫️This tropical-themed restaurant in San Francisco has always been on the must-visit list for many people, after all, you can instantly feel like you're in Hawaii! I came here a few years ago for brunch, and my favorite part was the indoor dome-like decor that let in natural light! The open view and the sunlight pouring in from the ceiling were so comfortable. The outdoor seating is also beautiful, but unfortunately, it was raining the day I came.🫠 · ▫️This time, I attended a food event and got to try all their signature dishes, thanks to the chef's hospitality. Gotta say, enjoying delicious food is best when you follow the chef's lead. 😂 · Appetizers 🍗Sesame Chicken Wings Very flavorful, the sauce is sticky and heavy in taste. 🥑Fried Avocado Super yummy! I don't usually eat fried food, but I thought it was delicious! 🥥Coconut Shrimp A bit dry, though. 🍙Hawaiian Rice Balls Really tasty, more like a main dish, and the seasoning inside is well balanced. · Main courses 🍄Mushroom Poke Bowl Mushroom lover here, and the rice in it tasted unexpectedly good! 🐟Tuna Poke Bowl The tuna was overly salty, caught me off guard, almost sent it back. 🐟Salmon Poke Bowl Big chunks of fish! The side dishes were generous too! One bowl is enough. 🍔Pineapple Chicken Burger Delicious, even though it's chicken, the flavors are great. 🍔Avocado Chicken Burger The avocado adds a creamy touch. · Desserts 🍌Banana Cream Pie The portion was a bit too big, but it was really tasty, just worried about the calorie intake. 🍍Pineapple Jam French Toast Best eaten hot, super delicious! Took a small bite, ended up finishing it all. 😭 #BayAreaLife #BayAreaFood #BayAreaFoodHunting #BayAreaFoodie #SanFranciscoFood #SanFranciscoEats #SanFranciscoFun #Foodie #MyFoodDiary #FoodDaily

Christopher Gilbert

Accidentally find this Amazing Brunch and will come back‼️

🍳Boho Cafe 📍 · ▫️Having brunch on the weekend, we accidentally stumbled upon SF Restaurant Week and this place only has this menu set on weekends! It's like finding a treasure! During the restaurant week, they offer two brunch sets, one for 💰25 and one for 💰30. We chose the $30 set, which includes a salmon benedict, a duck confit crepe, and a mimosa for each person. · 🦆Duck Confit Crepe Simply outstanding! I didn't expect it to be so delicious at all! The presentation looks ordinary, but the taste is heavenly. The creamy flavor, tender mushrooms, eggy and tender crepe, and the aroma of the duck meat all blend together perfectly. It's a taste of heaven! Even though it's a cream-based sauce, it doesn't feel heavy till the last bite. It has the essence of French cuisine but without the heaviness. · 🍳Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict Compared to the duck confit crepe, this one is relatively less perfect. The soft and runny egg yolk and the smoky flavor of the salmon are just right, but the base underneath is not as good. It's a bit hard to bite into, not sure if it's an ingredient choice or intentional texture. The runny egg yolk also doesn't soften the bread texture, so it feels a bit lacking. · ▫️Worth mentioning is that both dishes have fantastic side dishes! Especially the roasted potato chunks, slightly hot but so delicious! It's the best brunch side dish I've had so far. · ☕️Finally, they served us each a cup of espresso, along with an exclusive truffle candy! As someone who doesn't drink coffee, I didn't enjoy the espresso, but the truffle candy is absolutely amazing!! It's so soft and tender, melting in your mouth instantly! I really want to ask the restaurant for the recipe! · ▫️Highly recommend their outdoor seating area, with a very elegant and beautiful ambiance. The wooden blinds and the summer-themed decor give you an instant feeling of the Bay Area's summer. #BayAreaCuisine #WhereToGoOnWeekendsInBayArea #BayAreaLife #Brunch #Restaurant #HiddenGemRestaurants #RestaurantWeek #WeekendPlans

Christopher Gilbert

Only 6 Guests Every Night 🍣 Is it good for $200?

🍣 KEN 📍 252 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117 · ▫️ It's not open for dine-in for long, so make sure to come and try it. Many years ago, this location was another sushi restaurant called ijji, which I also really liked, but unfortunately it closed. Now the place has the exact same interior, giving me a sense of nostalgia. · ▫️ The head chef came from kusakabe and has previously worked in various well-known sushi restaurants. Right before the pandemic, he took over this place and opened his own sushi restaurant. When dine-in was not allowed, they offered takeout (which they still do). Now dine-in is available, but it's usually just one round of guests each night, with only 6 seats, so reservations are not easy to make. · ▫️ The menu for the evening is $175 per person, and it's quite filling. It includes four types of sashimi, 8 pieces of nigiri, ankimo rice bowl, a hand roll, and a bowl of steamed rice. The side dishes and steamed dishes in between are all quite good, with fresh flavors. The chef has great skill in marinating different types of fish and knows how to handle the different textures. The taste tends to maintain the original flavors without excessive seasoning. · ▫️ Due to the small number of guests, the chef takes great care of each customer. It's like having a large chat session. The customers at our neighboring table that night were also food enthusiasts, and we recommended many restaurants to each other. Besides food, there was also information exchange, which was a delightful experience. #BayAreaWeekend #BayAreaLife #LifeDuringPandemic #BayAreaFood #JapaneseCuisine #ExploringJapaneseFood #HiddenGem #FoodExploration

Mrs. Andrea Ayala

Revisit Guilin Rice Noodles House for their new dish‼️

🍜 Guilin Rice Noodles House 📍 901 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116 · ▫️ On this side of T Street, there is truly an endless variety of delicious food. Small pot rice noodles, my favorite milk tea Teazo, Xinjiang big plate chicken, various handmade dumplings, and a wide range of Asian cuisines. It's a foodie paradise. During the pandemic, I always ordered takeout from this noodle shop, but finally, this time I dined in, but... · ▫️ Is it just me, or have they reduced the amount of ingredients in this dry mixed rice noodle I usually get?! I was initially shocked 🤯 I remember there used to be a lot of ingredients, but now it's just a few scattered slices of meat with nothing else. · ▫️ On the other hand, my friend ordered the 'Nanning Lao You Fen' and it looks really good. The small clay pot is full of ingredients and looks delicious! The soup is also warm and tasty, with a good flavor! It seems like I'll be going for the Lao You Fen next time. · ▫️ Their menu is indeed not extensive, and they don't have many fancy side dishes. I just ordered a cold wood ear mushroom salad, which was quite salty, and it didn't go well with the plain rice noodles, but it was quite suitable. #WhereToGoInBayArea #BayAreaLife #BayArea #GuilinRiceNoodles #GuilinCuisine #RiceNoodles #Foodie #FoodieLife #BayAreaCuisine

Steven Arnold

You need to try this Cheese 🧀 Spinach Ramen 🍜in SF

🍜 Hinodeya Ramen Bar 📍 1737 Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA 94115 ▫️ When it first opened, it was very popular, and even now there is still a queue on weekends at this good ramen restaurant. This time, revisiting Japantown in San Francisco, I didn't forget to have a bowl of noodles while shopping. ▫️ You can add yourself to the waitlist on Yelp in advance to save time. There are still quite a few people on weekends, so you may need to wait for about 30 minutes to 45 minutes. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, but I suggest sitting indoors as it's a bit cold outside. ▫️ I saw that they had a limited edition matcha beer! If you're interested and like beer, you might want to give it a try, but I didn't get to try it this time. ▫️ You can order using your phone by scanning the QR code, but the menu options aren't extensive. ▫️ Cheese Ramen I chose a seasonal limited edition and saw the thick layer of cheese. Perfect combination! I must try it. I chose spinach noodles, but they also have regular ones. You can also add or reduce toppings according to your preference. The cheese is melted on top of the noodles, and someone will come to wipe it off for you. How much cheese you want depends on your own preference. With the rich flavor of cheese, the ramen is delicious. ▫️ We also ordered a chicken broth-based ramen, which was just average, nothing outstanding or disappointing. The broth had a rich flavor, and the portion was generous. ▫️ I recommend the octopus takoyaki as a side dish. It saves you from queuing up inside the mall. The vegetable dumplings are also good, but the sauce on the side is a bit awkward. Personally, I don't like the sauce, but the dumplings are fine on their own. ▫️ Personally, I think this place cooks their noodles a bit too lightly, and the texture is slightly firm. It's actually better to take it home and cook it again. #BayAreaLife #WhereToGoInBayAreaOnWeekends #BayArea #BayAreaFood #Food #Cheese #CheeseLover #TrendingFoodOnLittleRedBook #CheeseIsPower #CheeseRamen

Christopher Gilbert

🍱The most viral Unagi Shop in San Francisco! Is it worthy?

🍱Unagi Shop 📍704 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94109 ▫️This shop, which opened in January, has only been open for a little over a month due to intermittent renovations. It seems that not many people know about it yet, so hurry up and come try it before it gets crowded and you can't get a seat😂 ▫️According to the owners, they previously only had set menus, but now they have added à la carte options, which can be ordered directly on TOCK or Yelp. We chose the $125 set, which included a total of 10 dishes, all related to unagi (freshwater eel), including desserts. ▫️Overall, it is worth a try! The unagi liver toast is really good! The chawanmushi (egg custard) made with unagi broth is also very flavorful, love it! The various cuts of unagi, all grilled to order, are served with a reminder to be careful of the heat, and they are indeed very hot. I got burned two or three times because I was too eager to eat😂 ▫️Finally, the super hearty and large portion of unagi rice bowl was just amazing, but I had to end up taking the leftovers home because it was too much... It paired well with the refreshing unagi broth, not oily or greasy. ▫️As for dessert, they also gave us a portion of Shizuoka melon. Satisfying~ 💚The service was very good. The waitress even brought us a glass of yuzu sake and the final dessert included Hong Kong-style milk tea pudding, along with the Shizuoka melon. During the meal, she also kept telling us that if something didn't taste good, they could adjust it to our liking, including the unagi liver in the middle, which she mentioned because some people don't like it, and if we also didn't like it, she could replace it with something else. She also offered to add more sauce for the unagi rice bowl if we wanted. 🧡In short, the service was excellent from beginning to end, very friendly and attentive. However, the service charge was automatically included in the final bill without giving us a choice. Our total was around $270, with a service charge of $60, in addition to taxes and the SF Mandate, all of which were added directly. Although the set menu was $125, with all these miscellaneous charges, it came out to be approximately $180 per person. #GlobalFoodieSquad #FoodieLife #BayAreaCuisine #BayAreaLife #MyFoodDiary #HotMealsEveryday #DinnerTonight #DailySnapshotsPLOG #HiddenGemsRestaurant #UnderratedEateries #EverySecondWorthRecording #WhereToGoInBayAreaOnWeekends #BayAreaFoodExplore #GreatPlacesToVisitOnWeekends #RomanticLifeChronicles

Steven Arnold

Mr.Jiu in SF downtown

🏮 Nestled in the vibrant lanes of Chinatown, Mr. Jiu is the only Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area. 🏆 🍽️ They offer a 5-course set menu that seamlessly blends Chinese and Western influences. The appetizers have a slight twist, while the hot dishes bring back the essence of Cantonese cuisine. 🥟 ❌ Not a fan of the scallop xiao long bao, but the creamy spinach, spicy oil-poached fish, and the aromatic egg-fried rice were delightful. The piping hot ginger cake brought the happiness quotient to its peak. 🍰 🎴 The menu cover is intriguing, featuring traditional Chinese Bagua symbols representing the four seasons, while the bill cover showcases the face of a Mahjong tile. 🀄️ 🚶‍♂️ Inside the restaurant, patrons buzz with excitement, while outside, the lights of Chinatown flicker in a captivating dance. A charming and romantic atmosphere awaits you. ❤️ #BayAreaFoodies #BayAreaLife #MichelinStar #MichelinRestaurant

Steven Arnold

A Cozy secret Japanese-Style Yakitori Restaurant in San Francisco

Noren Izakaya is a hidden gem where you can gather with friends and enjoy an authentic Japanese atmosphere. The hand-drawn menu is charming, featuring illustrated chicken skewers and various dishes that pique my interest. Compared to other izakayas, the menu here is not extensive, but the quality is good. I highly recommend the Spicy Kimchi Stir-Fried Pork, as the tangy kimchi complements the skewers well. The Grilled Chicken Skin is incredibly crispy and the crispiest I've ever had. The Sashimi is optional and nothing to write home about. As for the Yakitori skewers: - Almost all of them are delicious, especially the ones with organ meats. - The grilled mushrooms are flavorful and tasty. - The grilled scallops are a must-try, they are huge! - I had high expectations for the Bacon-wrapped Mochi, but it turned out to be way too salty. - The Beef Tongue is fantastic! It has a tender and crispy texture. - Even the simplest Chicken Wings are incredibly delicious! Overall, this place is perfect for a casual gathering with friends, with its authentic Japanese style and attention to detail that captures the essence of Japanese culture. The bar area itself exudes the same charm. #BayAreaLife #WeekendInBayArea #GlobalFoodies #Yakitori #BayAreaCuisine #SiliconValleyFood #FoodieLife #ProductRecommendation #JapaneseGrilledBird #JapaneseIzakaya #MustVisitYakitoriRestaurant #HiddenGem