Exploring the Bay Area

State Flour Pizza Walking down College Avenue in the Elmwood area, what at first appears to be a small hole-in-the wall place to grab pizza-by-the-slice turns out to have a a cozy upstairs eating area, perfect for diners wanting a restaurant environment for lunch or dinner.  My first experience with State Flour pizza was when I was looking for a mid-afternoon snack and stumbled upon a reasonably priced piece of pepperoni pizza, which I gratefully devoured. After that, I had it in my head that this was simply a place where you order at a counter in a small business and are given a small portion to eat at one of their few tables or take with you. I liked it, but I was surprised when my friends invited me there for dinner. I discovered that night that although they do offer takeout to people stopping by and those who order online, their second-story dining room upstairs offers an ideal restaurant experience.  My much-loved afternoon pizza stop turned out to become one of my favor...

Kamado Sushi Kamado Sushi is a moderately upscale Japanese restaurant in Berkeley.  I came because it was highly recommended by a friend who adores Japanese food and has tried many of the Japanese restaurants in the area, only to note that, although it is a bit expensive, this one stands out. Ultimately, I did not end up disagreeing; the food was top-quality; the environment was extremely pleasant, and the service was fantastic.    The restaurant embodies relaxation and elegance. It is a small and peaceful restaurant that features comforting instrumental music, big windows overlooking the Berkeley cityscape, and a Japanese aesthetic. You can choose to sit at one of the tables or at the bar, and either way, your dining experience will be amazing. The menu they bring to your table is extensive, covering many famous Japanese dishes like sushi, sashimi, sukiyaki, teriyaki, katsu, udon, soba, and more over several pages. They also have a drin...

Matsuyama Shabu House Walking around San Francisco's historic Japantown, I made a surprisingly delicious find: Matsuyama Shabu House. This small restaurant specializes in Shabu Shabu, the Japanese traditional hot pot dish. They honor and balance both Japanese culinary tradition and modern tastes. Walking in, you will see an elegant dining area decorated in comforting warm tones and wood paneling, a red marble counter that goes in a semicircle, and three wood table tan booths next to windows that overlook Japantown. Each seat has its own heating system for preparing the hot pot in front of you at your table. The windows overlook San Francisco, but it starts to feel as if you are in Japan. Matsuyama Shabu House offers some luxurious and expensive menu options but also an $18 weekday option that lets you sample this amazing restaurant for less.  I have now twice sampled the exciting $18 weekday option, which allows you to pick a base, some meat, and other hot pot components. I prefer ...

Manna Manna is a Korean restaurant in San Francisco that proudly gives San Franciscans a taste of the flavors and textures of Korean cuisine. This small and charming restaurant efficiently made use of every bit of its small restaurant, packing in the tables and lining the walls with soda boxes. It has one small dining area, some outdoor seating, and a long waitlist, if necessary. It is so good that it is popular among those familiar with Korean cuisine and those who are not yet. We discovered Manna by accident when we were walking through the area, casually perusing  eating options. We were intrigued by the long menu full of reasonably priced and interesting Korean dishes, and ultimately, each of us quickly found something we would like to try. Soon after joining the waitlist, we were politely pointed to one of the tables. We placed our orders with a conscientious and kind server, who took our orders back to the kitchen and returned with a fascinating spread of kimchi and other Kor...

Burgerim Burgerim is a small upscale fast food place in downtown Berkeley on University. Although I would classify it as fast food, I feel a duty to acknowledge that it puts a gourmet twist on your everyday fast food experience.   Like your typical fast food restaurant, you place your order up front from an attendant or on their kiosk. The kitchen will whip up your order in about ten minutes if they’re not too busy. You can eat your food in their small but clean dining area, or you can carry them out to go.  It is a fantastic place to get a burger, or a chicken, turkey, or falafel sandwich with regular or sweet potato fries, or onion rings. Also available are chicken wings and side salads. In terms of beverages, they serve soft drinks and milkshakes.  As for dietary restrictions, there are gluten-free buns and several vegetarian and vegan options as well. Many of the sandwiches are even halal. In my experience, I ordered the angus beef b...

Cafenated Coffee Located on Vine near the corner with Shattuck, Cafenated Coffee has stripped-down modern appearance and in and outdoor seating. It has its own laid back personality that goes well with the simple modern interior and the peaceful music played on the speakers. The space is a great place to work or meet because it’s peaceful, organized, and there is no rush to finish. Walking by Cafenated Coffee, it appears to be a small shop with a little bit of seating I front, but if you enter, you will find it extends a fair distance back. It even has a large patio behind with a more peaceful seating. I consider it to be a hidden oasis in the middle of Berkeley for studying, meeting, working, or just relaxing. When you enter, you can order and pay a cashier at the counter, or you can use the self-service kiosk. The service is good, and your order will be ready shortly. There is also a takeout option, which for some reason costs 25 cents or so more. This coffee shop features most of th...

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...