Exploring the Bay Area

Araki Sushi Araki Sushi brings affordable, authentic Japanese flavor to downtown Palo Alto. Despite its small size, it is a powerhouse that cranks out delicious meals for a surprisingly large crowd of loyal patrons. But despite its apparent popularity, it maintains a humble, customer-focused attitude. The service here is good, and the prices are a good deal for the product provided. Every last detail is considered here. From the nice pieces of Japanese artwork on the walls that give the restaurant character, to the attractive plating of the food, to the reasonably priced combos on the menu, to the balance of savory flavors in the food, everything here is done deliberately and with care to create the ultimate cozy Japanese comfort food feel. As soon as I tasted the warm miso soup, I was hooked. The crispy, meaty fried gyoza here are to die for, but the fresh, soft, and buttery sashimi was as impressive. Meanwhile, the teriyaki chicken was cooked perfectly and smothered in a delightful t...

Bua Thai Kitchen  On San Pablo, near the border between Berkeley and Albany, Bua Thai Kitchen appears a little run-down from the outside, but the inside is gorgeous.  Decorated with artificial plants and sophisticated, stylish light fixtures, the restaurant has a very formal, relaxed, and comfortable feel, and it serves incredible food, despite being relatively inexpensive.  It’s a sit-down restaurant where a friendly server will take your order. The speakers play soothing music to cancel out the sound of the other diners, giving it a luxurious but understated appeal. The service is fast, and the chairs and tables are comfortable, making it a nice place to sit and wait for your food. Even before your food arrives, the entire restaurant smells great! The menu is relatively extensive, featuring almost everyone's Thai food favorites. They have a variety of rice, noodle, and curry dishes, as well as many different soup and stir fry options.  I order...

Manpuku Manpuku is a delightful, small restaurant located on the corner of Ashby and College Avenue in the Elmwood region of Berkeley, dedicated to serving affordable and delicious Japanese cuisine. The extensive menu is filled with classic Japanese favorites, each served at a very reasonable price. When you arrive, you have a chance to examine this menu, which has a large variety of different types of sushi, sashimi, curry rice, ramen, and udon, among other popular Japanese appetizers and entrees (they have bento boxes, or the meals can be ordered a la carte). Then, you can place your order and pay at the register. Once you have done this, you may take a seat in their small restaurant, and they will bring your food to you. Either that, or you can select a ready-made meal out of their cooler or their food warmer and take it to a table inside the restaurant to eat. There is also the option of takeout. Despite the low prices, this restaurant consistently provides a top-quality eating exp...