Monday, November 28, 2005

My Favorite Spots-Updated 12/14/05

After a fabulously delicious meal at Anzu in SF, I updated the Sushi section of this list. I also added a Sake section as well, judged on selection and variety, cost performance, and knowledge of the staff.

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Since a number of people have emailed me asking for my recommendations or favorite dining spots, I've compiled a list of places I like for the types of food I feel qualified to recommend. This is my very, very subjective preference, reflecting how I feel about these places at this very moment. I promise to update this regularly and make it available as a side-bar link. Please use the Google Search box on the side-bar to find individual posts about these restaurants.

Sushi:
KING:Sushi Yoshi (Newark)

Runner-up:
Anzu (SF, ONLY at the counter)

Honorable Mention:
Yuzu (San Mateo)
Ino Sushi (SF)

Ramen:
KING:Himawari (San Mateo)

Runner-up:
Dohenkotsu (San Jose)

Honorable Mention:
Ramen Halu (San Jose)
Gen Ramen (because we have a history...; Fremont)

Izakaya:
KING:Gochi (Cupertino)

Co-Runner-ups:
Saizo (Sunnyvale)
Yumeya (Sunnyvale)

Honorable Mention:
Tanto-Saratoga (San Jose)

Pho+?:
co-KINGS: Beef Noodle #1 (San Jose) & Pho+? Ao Sen (Oakland)

Runner-up:
Pho+? Y (San Jose)

Honorable Mention:
Turtle Tower (SF)

Sake:
KING:Kiss Seafood (SF)

Runner-up:
Saizo (Sunnyvale)

Honorable Mention:
Yuzu (San Mateo)
Gochi (Cupertino)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are you up to providing any clues about where some of these are located?
The Bay Area is a big place.

Alice said...

Hi, JD,

How about if I put the city names next to the restaurants? Most of these places have been written up before on my blog, so if you use the Google search box on the side bar, they should come up with the original posts too!

Anonymous said...

Glad for the updated list. We went to Gochi last night and Aya (one of the waitresses) introduced us to a Calpico/Yuzu hai that some of the guys really liked.

Anyway, have you tried Kitsho in San Jose for sushi? A lot of my Japanese friends say the bar there is #1 in the bay area. But I love Sushi Yoshi for the atmosphere, and thanks for introducing me to the menkabu sushi!

Anonymous said...

Wish I could edit my post instead, but Kitsho is in Cupertino not San Jose :)

Anonymous said...

If you're looking for good Pho -- try Super Bowl on Wolfe Road.

cheers,

Wendy

Anonymous said...

SAke or saKE?

Anonymous said...

Wow interesting.
Have you tried Sushi-ya in University Ave in Palo Alto?
They have sushi rolls which are rolled with fried batter and its not bad.