Published by Where Traveler (my other Where articles here) in May 2019, my article on 10 affordable, standout new neighborhood restaurants around the Bay Area, from SF to Oakland to Marin: Beit Rima, The Brixton on 2nd, Sasa at Japantown Mall, Alley House, Benchmark Oakland, Ungrafted, B&B: Bahn Mi & Boba, Le Trio, Tony’s Seafood in Marshall, Sam’s Anchor Cafe in Tiburon. Article… Read more →
Published by Where Traveler Magazine in their annual Where Guestbook for 2018, my article on Japanese influence — from winemakers to ramen, a ryokan-like inn to a Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant — across Sonoma and Napa counties. www.wheretraveler.com/san-francisco/eat/california-wine-country-obsessed-japan Read more →
In my latest Time Out column: Ramen has trended just about everywhere by this point but with our longstanding Japanese population and roots, it has been a local staple for years. While many of our top ramen shops are all over the Bay Area, here are 10 of the best in SF proper. Orenchi Beyond, MissionIzakaya Sozai, Inner SunsetIza Ramen —… Read more →
In my latest Time Out column, izakayas are casual Japanese pubs, gathering places for bites and drinks — and we’ve seen a ton of them open in the Bay Area for well over a decade. But the latest rush of izakayas goes a bit more upscale: still good drinking spots but with elevated food and decor (article here). — Shinmai, Oakland… Read more →
In my latest Time Out column, here are my top three new openings of the month — article here: Read more →
The notable restaurant openings of April were Hitachino Beer & Wagyu (soft opening in March, officially open in April), Mestiza Taqueria (at the end of March), Black Jet Baking Company and Kagawa-Ya Udon Noodle Co. in SF. Kagawa-Ya is fun, fast-casual Sanuki-style udon (from Japan’s Kagawa Prefecture, an area known for having hundreds of udon houses with a distinctive square shape… Read more →
Open since December 2014, one of the many hardcore Edomae-style sushi restaurants to pour out across San Francisco and the Bay Area in the last couple years is quietly tucked away in a San Bruno strip mall, just a short, 15-ish minute drive south of the city. 1. A Steal for TSUKIJI FISH Unlike many of the hardcore sushi restaurants… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. It’s been a busy month of San Francisco openings. The key restaurant and bar openings of November are The Saratoga, Onsen, Sofia Cafe, August 1 Five, Milan import Panino Giusto in Cupertino, The Roosevelt Sip ‘N’ Eat, from NYC to SF: Babu Ji, Kenzo, Flores, Phlox Commons.… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. The most notable restaurant and bar openings of September were Old Devil Moon, Nomica, Maybeck’s (essentially a renamed Spaghetti Bros.), Mezcalito, Eva’s Waterfront in Oakland and the delightful joys of Taiwanese snow at Powder. Here are my top three newcomers of the month… and why they stand… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. Being passionate about my food and as Japan is one of my top two favorite countries to visit in the world (the other? Italy), I’m ever on the hunt for authentic, transporting, purist Japan experiences, even as I crave innovation and fusion, too. There is a wealth… Read more →