Top 10 Bay Area Eats
To celebrate recently reaching 10K followers on Instagram, I've decided to make a list of my current top 10 eateries around the Bay! Hopefully this list comes in handy the next time you can't decide on a place to eat. Thank you to everyone for all the love and support thus far. It really means the world to me and I would have never gotten this far without it. Here's my favorite pup to express just how happy I am #blessed
These eateries range from fast casual spots to a Michelin star restaurant to everything in between. This list is categorized by eateries (places that don't serve full on meals) and restaurants. But just in case you're really wondering, it's also in alphabetical order because it's too hard to play favorites.
Got a favorite place of your own? Leave a comment at the end so I can check it out too!
EATERIES:
Boba Guys (SF) - Yes, I know there's a lot of hype around this place, but there's a reason for that. Boba Guys uses all natural and organic ingredients and their toppings are homemade. They brew real tea leaves so you can actually taste the tea. So if you like that artificially flavored, powdery kind of stuff, this place is def not for you. But if you want some high quality boba and tea, then you must try this place! My favorite drink (as well as many other people's based on IG) is the Strawberry Matcha Latte with homemade Almond Jelly.
b. patisserie (SF) - Kouign amann and croissant heaven. They offer seasonal flavors for both kouign amanns and almond croissants which I definitely recommend trying but if you're a plain Jane, the plain or "nature" flavors are just as good. They also have other pastries and tartines (open-faced sandwiches) but don't leave without trying the kouign amann. Side note: "kouign" is pronounced like "queen" just FYI because I definitely had to look that up at one point....Lol
Cookiebar Creamery (Oakland & Alameda) - I used to be so loyal to Bi-Rite Creamery but Cookiebar has recently taken its place as my favorite ice cream shop. Maybe because the line isn't a mile long whenever I go... Also, they have Asian flavors like Thai Tea and Calamansi that you can't find at many other ice cream shops. Aaaand they just released a new flavor, Matcha White Chocolate, that I'm dying to try. Read more about Cookiebar on my previous post, I Scream for These Ice Creams.
RESTAURANTS:
La Fusion (SF) - Always my go-to recommendation whenever someone is looking for a restaurant in the city because 1. their prices are reasonable and 2. they have something for everyone. Although the menu is Latin inspired, they have a greeeat Truffle Mac and Cheese that you have to try. Other than that, my favorite dishes are probably the Empanadas, Seafood Pot Pie, and the Tres Leches Cake for dessert. Honestly, this is probably the best restaurant near Union Square because let's be real, that area is tourist central so of course there's nothing very good around there. The restaurant is pretty small and tight so don't go with a big group.
La Mar (SF) - This was one of my favorite restaurants while I was living in Miami and I'm glad it has carried over as one of my favorites in the Bay. The SF location has a different menu from the one in Miami but everything I've tried at both locations has been amazing. When you think of Peruvian food, you probably think of ceviche. However, La Mar offers more than just that. The SF location offers nigiri sushi with a Latin flair to it and those are bomb.
LV Mar & La Viga (Redwood City) - Both restaurants are owned by Chef Manuel Martinez and are conveniently located on the same street. The menus are Latin inspired and similar but the dishes at each location are still unique. As you can tell by this list, I'm a big fan of Latin food but there aren't many places in the Bay that serve it (this is where Miami beats the Bay) so LV Mar and La Viga definitely hit the spot.
Park Tavern (SF) - I've tried 10 items here and loved every single one of them. Although 10 may not seem like a lot, it's basically every item on the menu that doesn't contain meat (jk there's 15 non-meat items just in case you were really wondering). But anyways, back to the point I was making. If I've tried 10 out of the 15 dishes that I could eat there and enjoyed each one, I'm pretty sure it's representative of the rest of the menu...as in everything there is amazing. P.S. It's on my list of places to visit for brunch so if you go, let me know!
Plow (SF) - Like I said in my Best Brunch in SF post, Plow will forever be at the top of my list. If it wasn't for the hour long wait all the time, I'd probably be there everyday. I still have yet to find a place with better Lemon Ricotta Pancakes but I'm convinced that it's not possible.
Pluto's (multiple cities) - This will always be my favorite salad spot. I know salads aren't a big deal to most people but trust me, the salads at Pluto's are better than any other I've tried. If there was a location closer to where I live, I would be there everyday. Not only do you get to build your own salad, but they're generous with their toppings so the ratio of toppings to lettuce is probably 1:1 (unlike most places that skimp on the toppings and just give you lettuce). If salads aren't your thing, you can always opt for a sandwich or combine a bunch of their hot side dishes.
Wako (SF) - My first omakase experience and one I'll never forget. Wako is on the cheaper end (as in just under $100 for 9 courses) but probably the same quality if not better than most other omakase places in the city. The 9 course option consists of 7 courses, which includes cooked dishes and sashimi, as well as 8 nigiri. It's a tiny restaurant so make sure to make a reservation in advance and request to sit at the sushi bar!
P.S. This is the Michelin star restaurant I mentioned in the beginning. P.P.S. Please excuse the photo quality, I took these when I was first starting out and had no idea what I was doing 😁
