My first article for the The Bold Italic, published October 8, 2019: Umami Mart’s sake and shochu bar The next “it” spirit, Japanese shochu — ARTICLE HERE: https://thebolditalic.com/will-sh%C5%8Dch%C5%AB-be-the-bays-next-it-spirit-8fa4fbe72f4 Umami Mart shochu tasting Read more →
Karaweik Burmese Cuisine Published by Where Traveler (my other Where articles here) in August 2019, my article on 10 standout San Francisco newcomers, from Nigerian food to a Marin seafood haven: — Mago, Oakland — William Tell House, Tomales (Marin) — Eko Kitchen — Palette — Flour+Water Pizzeria — Fiorella Polk Street — Sushi Nagai — Noe’s Cantina — Tartine Inner Sunset — Karaweik Burmese… Read more →
Chalos — AL’s Deli— Gioia Pizzeria— Daily Driver— Chalos— Cafe Owakari— Palermo II Delicatessen— Grem’s Good Dog— Wilkommen Article here: www.wheretraveler.com/san-francisco/eat/8-affordable-new-openings These 8 newcomers are all order-at-the-counter, casual meals — with excellent food. After all, excellence can be (and in SF is often) low-key. AL’s Deli, Mission AL’s Deli just opened July 17th from chef Aaron London of Michelin-starred AL’s Place… Read more →
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 →