Exploring the Bay Area

  Sobakatsu You might wonder what it takes to get normal people to form such a long line outside a small soba shop in Japantown. You see, people wait in a long line to take one of the eleven seats at the two four person tables and the three person bar inside San Francisco’s very own traditional Japanese soba specialty shop, Sobakatsu, which is part of the historic Japantown and one of its attractions. Sobakatsu is just a small shop, and the kitchen, with its many stations for preparing hot and cold soba and frying side dishes, takes up half the space. Inside the kitchen, two experienced chefs work meticulously, nonstop, to keep up with the high demand. They don’t offer takeout or to-go orders; everyone must eat at one of the provided seats. While it may be small, this cafe is renowned as one of the very best places to experience quality Japanese soba in the area. Their soba can be served hot or cold with a number of side dishes, including some popular fried tempura. The soba is glu...

Tipsy Yeti Tipsy Yeti, located along San Pablo in Berkeley, is the kind of place I could recommend to anyone. Still, I especially recommend it to those who are seeking something interestingly tasty and relaxingly comfortable. It’s a semi-formal restaurant appropriate for almost all types of groups, with a menu that’s really fun to explore.  The prices aren’t bad, and they even have a happy hour from 4 to 6 pm. With exposed brick and warm-colored wooden trim, Tipsy Yeti has that old-fashioned tavern kind of feel. You can instantly recognize it as the kind of place you can kick back and socialize—whether you’re bringing families with children or are there to grab a drink with your 21+ friend group. There’s a good amount of space between the tables, and it’s orderly and not too loud, meaning that it can simultaneously be a kid-friendly restaurant and a classy bar. The service is respectful, and the slow pace is actually welcome because it prolongs the time for pleasant conversation an...

Tanzie's As someone who loves to eat out and blog about it, I've been to a lot of restaurants in the area, but I'm not sure I have ever experienced a restaurant as enchanting and fascinating as Tanzie's; this one was truly unique and memorable. From the second I walked in until the second I walked out, I was captivated and enthralled by the ambiance of the dining room, which is painted a magical light green and decorated with real plants and flowers, and the exoticism yet wide appeal of the menu options, which stay true only to Northern Thai cuisine, all the while remaining beautiful and elaborate, proving themselves worthy of being served at such an exquisitely decorated restaurant.   Tanzie's is a beautiful but small restaurant with limited seating. It employs a staff so enthusiastic and polite that the entire small business gives off homey, welcoming vibes. The staff not only rotate efficiently between the tables in the dining room, but they also seem to know the...

DH Noodles and Grill I’ve found myself extremely enamored with DH Noodles and Grill, a recently opened Berkeley restaurant bringing bold, soulful northern Chinese flavors to the East Bay. Located not too far from the UC Berkeley campus, this Chinese kitchen specializes in rich broth, hand-pulled noodles, and a bit of heat if you want it. The food is carefully prepared to embrace Chinese cooking traditions all the while exciting your taste buds. When you take a seat in the dining room, which is comfortable and tastefully decorated with Chinese culture in mind, you’ll discover that you can order from a QR code on the table using your phone. This modern touch is perfect for the number of customizable options they offer. Scrolling through the menu, there are a lot of great choices at this place and a lot of ways to customize the options to your liking; without having to work through a server, you will have the ability to choose from a number of interesting options. The specialty is the han...

  Habit Burger and Grill There is something very soothing and satisfying about eating at Habit Burger and Grill. It’s not just your standard fast food; it’s more of a specialized, tasty old-fashioned American comfort food. Known for great burgers, fries, and shakes, plus delicious sauces like ranch and barbecue, this fast-food chain commands respect among fast-food restaurants for serving food people love. I’ll start by saying I am a real fan of good French fries, and the fries at Habit Burger and Grill are among my favorite fast-food fries. I was blown away by how much I liked them when I first tried them, and I will admit, I have stopped in just for a small serving of these incredible fries before. Both the sweet potato and regular fries are salted and deep-fried to perfection; you can choose which one you want, or you can order both with the “half and half” option. Ordering these fries could result in you devouring soft, salty, and enticing fries faster than you realize. They’re...

  Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shop Mr. Pickle's is known for affordable, quality sandwiches packed with lots of great ingredients, ready in a jiffy. They have a variety of meats, sauces, and toppings, and it’s hard to go wrong. They make your order in front of you behind the counter, carefully but quickly producing premium sandwiches that you can eat in the casual dining room or take to go. The sandwiches are all yummy and affordable—a perfect quick bite. You can choose from a wide assortment of chips and drinks as well. Choosing can be a lot of fun. Personally, I don’t like to miss a chance to enjoy a Mr. Pickle's sandwich; I come by whenever I am in the area to study the menu. I usually favor the chicken sandwiches, but again, it’s hard to go wrong. From the bread to the toppings, everything is high quality and certainly not something you worry about putting in your mouth. The menu is long, and it’s hard to pick favorites. That said, they have a new menu item that you’ve got t...

              Dave's Hot Chicken Dave’s Hot Chicken is famous for fried fast food chicken. It's a cute and modern fast food restaurant with festive red chairs, modern art, and windows that let in sunlight that focuses its efforts on its famous fried chicken. There’s seating indoors and outdoors, and throughout the restaurant, you can hear the speakers belting popular music. It’s the kind of place with a broad appeal that draws eager customers of all ages. I wouldn't be scared off by the word "hot"; they also serve milder options for those who need them. You order from a limited menu and pay at the counter, keeping in mind that this place specializes in one thing: fried chicken. The service is friendly and fast, in my case taking about ten minutes altogether and not costing more than other fast food. The chicken can come as large or small tenders and big or small sandwiches. Not only that, you can choose from seven spice levels, which go from no spice t...