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CUISINE

FEATURED CUISINE -


RedWhite Boneless Ramen - 294 Newbury St, Boston, MA,
"The format of the compact menu is create-your-own rice bowls, with a choice of toppings with intention—such as “Power and Muscle,” with vitamin-rich ingredients like broccoli, tofu, and brown beans—as well as sauces. Kobayashi says that each bowl is a low-calorie, 50-50 mix of greens and grains; guests can choose between red or white rice for the latter. Gluten-free guests can have a super-greens base... The flavor combinations are completely different from what’s currently available on the quick-service scene, Kobayashi says. He adds that consumers, like himself, don’t need to follow a vegan diet to appreciate the menu, because the flavors are so bold. Ueki uses an especially umami vinegar in the signature rice blends, for example, and he bolsters the citrusy yuzu sauce with a vegetable blend that amps it up to curry-like levels" ~ Excerpt from bostonmagazine.com and Link: Website - RedWhite Ramen has two locations in California and one in New York City.

Sugarfish by Sushi Nozawa -    Located at 12833 Ventura Blvd., Suite 129 Studio City CA, "Sugarfish Sushi is a well-known sushi restaurant chain that emphasizes simplicity and quality over extravagant presentation. From my experience, they focus on serving a carefully curated selection of fresh, expertly sourced fish with minimal fuss. It makes me wonder—why complicate good sushi when great ingredients can speak for themselves? What stands out to me about Sugarfish is their commitment to consistency. Each piece of sushi felt thoughtfully prepared, reflecting the philosophy of “trust me” menus where the chef chooses the best offerings of the day. It created a relaxed atmosphere, leaving me curious about how often they rotate their fish choices. In essence, Sugarfish Sushi isn’t about innovation or flashy rolls; it’s about honoring sushi as an art form rooted in tradition. Their approach reminded me of my first appreciation for sushi—simple, fresh, and satisfying. Have you ever experienced that kind of straightforward pleasure at a sushi spot? That’s exactly what Sugarfish delivers." ~ Excerpt from octosushi.com and Link: Website

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Sotto Mare Location: 552 Green St, San Francisco, CA 94133 - "Sotto Mare is a small, narrow, old-school Italian restaurant in San Francisco's North Beach, with small tables, a long counter, and framed photographs and fish (yup, fish) tacked on the walls from floor to ceiling. This is an unpretentious crowd. There are tourists and locals, families and couples. The vibe is casual, the place can get loud, and you'd be just as comfortable bringing your mom and dad as a friend or a date. This is not a joint for beverage snobs. It's beer and wine only, and the most you can drop on a bottle is a $35 cabernet. The menu only lists varietals. Sotto Mare serves old-school Italian seafood in an old-school Italian neighborhood. The menu is all seafood—so if you're traveling with someone who doesn't eat it, don't plan on them being able to order something else."
"The restaurant is famous for its cioppino, a huge steaming bowl of crab, shrimp, calamari, clams, and mussels in a red broth (with minimal noodles) that's enough for two (at least). It's my favorite in the city."  Link: Review: Condé Nast Traveler, Soto Mare Website

Mochica A Peruvian Kitchen & Bar. Location: 298 Connecticut St San Francisco, CA - "Located in San Francisco’s trendy Potrero Hill neighborhood, Mochica serves up vibrant, modern Peruvian cuisine in a relaxed, stylish space. Just a short ride from the city's top entertainment venues, this casual yet elevated dining spot "
"blends tradition with a modern twist—think ceviche, empanadas, and lomo saltado presented with flair. The vibe is warm and welcoming, with exposed brick, wood accents, and upbeat energy that makes it a great pre-show hangout." 

Link: Mochica - A Peruvian Kitchen & Bar Website

Hidden Fish Location: 4764 Convoy St ste a, San Diego, CA 92111 - "Hidden Fish is San Diego’s first Omakase sushi destination, delivering traditionally prepared, top-level seafood in an intimate setting. Trust that every remarkable bite has been carefully and creatively executed before delivery and is presented to your palate with impeccable service and timing."
"Delicacies from the sea are sourced from around the globe - including a rotating selection direct from Japan’s renowned TOYOSU Fish Market - and each ingredient has been selected by experts for quality and freshness. "  Link: Website

Original Joe's located at 601 Union Street San Francisco, CA 94133  "History and tradition are truly a very good thing—especially when it comes to food! In a town like San Francisco, where new restaurant openings are a dime a dozen (even in these pandemic days), it’s nice to know that in the culinary world there is consistency. And no one does it better—or at a higher level—than Original Joe’s. Since 1937, this mainstay of Italian-American cuisine has been offering up with aplomb such delicious mouth-watering main dishes as homemade pastas with red sauce, Joe’s Special (hamburger, scrambled egg, onion, and spinach) and a luscious Chicken Milanese." ~ David Landis - SFBayTimest.com, Website

Causwells Location: 2346 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA 94123 - "Established in 2014, Causwells is a neighborhood American bistro, rooted in the northern California style of cooking. Chef Adam Rosenblum draws from his diverse background to create a menu that spotlights local, seasonal ingredients influenced by French, Spanish, and Italian flavors."
Review excerpt - theinfatuation.com  "The Marina had been lacking in top-notch brunch spots—until Causwells and its epic brunch burger swooped into the neighborhood in 2014 with on-point morning eats. Years later, this American bistro is still serving one of our favorite brunches in town."  Link: Website

KABUTO located at 5121 Geary Blvd. (15th Ave.) San Francisco, CA 94118  "The airy, casual dining room at Kabuto is brightened with cheery, butter-yellow walls, with just a handful of tables and seating for just over ten at the coveted sushi bar. The sushi is fresh and plentiful. Generous slices of sparklingly fresh fish top the nigiri sushi and the usual list of fish includes a multitude of tunas, salmon, yellowtail and scallops.
Maki rolls benefit from the fresh fish but don't offer a wide range of imaginative combinations. Sure, teriyaki and tempura are also offered, but if diners wish to stray from sushi they should try something from the delicious list of home-style Japanese dishes." Gayot, KABUTO Website

Jaranita - located at 3340 Steiner St, San Francisco. Ceviche has become tightly associated with Peruvian food, but the team at Jaranita — which opened Friday [January 2021] — is hoping to expose the city of San Francisco to another side of Peruvian cuisine — particularly the region's wonderful dishes kissed with fire by a charcoal grill. Chef Javier Cussato told SFGATE, "Jaranita is a great opportunity for us to keep showing Peruvian food to not only San Francisco, but to the world. Most of the Peruvian places, they offer a lot of seafood options, as we are very well known for the ceviches. But here we're gonna present a little twist and focus on the grill part of Peruvian cuisine."   SF Gate 01/30/2021, Website: Jaranita.

Texas de Brazil located at 101 North Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102  "Texas de Brazil began with a dream in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Enjoying the rancher’s life and feasting in the rodizio style native to the region, one of our partners had visions of bringing churrasco culture north to the United States. He wanted to share this unique way of dining where guests indulge in a parade of meats and extravagant seasonal salad area." About, Website

The Gus's Barbecue located at 808 Fair Oaks Ave. South Pasadena, CA 91030  "Open late night daily, this classic American Barbecue restaurant treats its diners to favorite barbecue staples like Cast Iron Cornbread, Spicy Smothered Hot Wings, Shredded Onion Strings, and Deviled Eggs, paired with favorites like Pulled Pork Tostada, Gus’s Famous Burger, Brisket Burnt End Burger, and even, The Vegetarian. With so many choices, the classic pit-style barbecue is a must-visit addition to the list of things to do in Las Angeles." Referral: 20 BEST Things, Website

Blue Water Seafood San Diego -(Mission Hills 3667 India Street San Diego, CA) " Delicious simple fish cookery in no-frills eatery, plus a fish counter offering restaurant-quality fresh raw seafood including big, buttery oysters. The grilled shrimp taco is the secret mainstay of the menu, with its pale, unobtrusive tortilla, papery like a dumpling wrapper. Inexpensive to low-moderate."   San Diego Reader, Blue Water Seafood San Diego.

The Vox Kitchen, Located at 16161 Brookhurst St Fountain Valley, CA.    article: Sep. 7, 2017 - "In fairly short order, The Vox Kitchen has become one of the hottest restaurants in Little Saigon. And it is not a Vietnamese restaurant. It’s a fusion kitchen that serves just about anything but Vietnamese food, which is apparently the kind of food the neighborhood’s millennial generation is clambering for. Even when I arrive on a Tuesday night, expecting a slow, quiet dinner, there’s a 30 minute wait for a table." ~ The OCR and Website: The Vox Kitchen

La Mar SF - (Pier 1 ½, the Embarcadero San Francisco, CA 94111) "Featuring the acclaimed cuisine of chef Gastón Acurio, La Mar by Gastón Acurio offers diners the chance to explore the authentic and diverse flavours of Peruvian gastronomy. Excerpt: Condé Nast Traveler "What not to miss. Cebiche, cebiche, cebiche. It's what La Mar is known for. If you can only handle one, go for the clasico, the catch of the day with leche de tigre, red onion, habanero, corn, and sweet potatoes. Empanadas are also a must. You can put together an entire meal out of the top half of the menu and be quite happy, but if entrees are your thing, arroz la mar—shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari, catch of the day, vegetables, and arborio rice will appease fans of risotto-style dishes, and the grilled wild salmon—shrimp, seasonal vegetables, mushrooms, aji panca, and coconut milk is another favorite." website: La Mar SF

El Pollo Inka -(550 Deep Valley Dr. #201 Rolling Hills Estates, CA) " Rolling Hills Estates is the newest location to open from this family owned chain of restaurants sprinkled throughout the South Bay, Southern California. Since 1987, authentic, Peruvian cuisine made with a home style feel you can experience with every bite. At EPI Rolling Hills Estates, serving your favorites from Pollo a la Brasa (Rotisserie Chicken), to the Saltados, to new creations of salads, soups and more."   Excerpting "about" from Website: El Pollo Inka.


Fishing With Dynamite, located at 1148 Manhattan Avenue, Manhattan Beach CA. "Fishing With Dynamite, a small seafood spot owned by the people behind Manhattan Beach Post, is one of the best raw bars in the city. We like to visit during the day, when the space is bright and feels like you might actually be in Montauk. Their
top-notch oyster selection changes daily, so chat with your server about which ones are particularly good, and then order a platter of chilled Peruvian scallops topped with a punchy citrus marinade to round things out. We also love their blue crab roll that comes on a soft milk bun, and the sweet, briny Koshihikari rice porridge, which is packed with shrimp, crap, and uni, then finished with a runny egg yolk." ~ theinfatuation.com, website: Fishing With Dynamite

Mario's Peruvian & Seafood -(5786 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA) " Mario's was one of the first restaurants to bring Peruvian cuisine into the LA mainstream. The place has the ambience of an old lunch counter and there's often a queue, but the food keeps people coming back: seafood fried rice, beef sautéed with potato and onion, citrusy fish ceviches and so on. The green sauce on your table is spicier than it looks, but it's so flavorful that you'll use too much of it anyway."
article: Timeout.com, and website: Mario's Peruvian & Seafood.

Saru Sushi Bar - is located at 3856 24th St. San Francisco, CA 94114. "A handful of seats along the L-shaped counter and a smattering of high and low tables are all the comforts one needs at this petite Noe Valley sushi bar. The talented team works behind a display case of fresh and appetizing fish, topped with little jars of powders and seasoned salts. The menu focuses on excellent quality and judiciously embellished maki, nigiri, and sashimi. The signature tasting spoons reveal a duo of sushi bar preparations, such as ankimo (monkfish liver) lightly torched and set atop cool but spicy daikon, coupled with raw sea scallop dressed with finely diced wasabi root and a touch of yuzu zest. Nigiri from the day's offerings has brought pristine white salmon, Japanese yellowtail, and incredibly rich, fatty slices of tuna. " Review: ~ ViaMichelin and Website: Saru Sushi Bar

Pacific Catch - (2027 Chestnut Street San Francisco, CA 94123) "Pacific Catch first made a name for itself in San Francisco as a funky, casual fresh-fish grill serving seafood tacos, Asian-style rice bowls and other small plates to diners in the Marina district and near Golden Gate Park. A decade later, the chain has expanded to six locations, with the most recent trio opening in Campbell, San Mateo and Mountain View." Review ~ San Jose Mercury News. "Pacific Catch is a modern, comfortable, Westcoast Fish House that combines fine-dining culinary experience with a casual California lifestyle. Dedicated to delivering high quality seafood with a unique perspective, the menu explores preparation styles and ingredients found throughout the Pacific." website: Pacific Catch

Emmy's Spaghetti Shack - (3230 Mission St., San Francisco, CA) "If you live in San Francisco and love spaghetti and meatballs, there’s a good chance you’re a fan of Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack, the popular and quirky Mission/Bernal Heights restaurant that serves up tasty plates of carbs and meat to families, late night crowds, and pretty much everyone with a hankering for huge portions of pasta made with love." Yelpblog.com. Website: Emmy's Spaghetti Shack

Moshi Moshi, (2092 3rd St, San Francisco, CA) it "consistently makes some of the best Japanese neighborhood food in San Francisco. The restaurant is always crowded at lunchtime and full in the evening, with an ambiance that is a little corny but nice. The lunch menu features salads like Ahi Tuna marinated with rosemary and soy, and Tokyo Kara-Age, ginger-soy marinated fried chicken, both served with mixed greens, avocado, daikon, carrot and cucumber. There are Yakimono grills like chicken and beef teriyaki, deep-fried Agemono dishes, and a full bar. Moshi Moshi is an excellent restaurant, low-key, comfortable and reasonably priced." ~ theculturetrip.com, website: Moshi Moshi

Los Dos Molinos Located at 260 S. Alma School Rd., Suite #137 (W. Broadway Rd.) Mesa, AZ 85210 and is one of four locations in the Phoenix area. "If you can't take the heat, stay out of this kitchen! Los Dos Molinos offers genuine New Mexican cuisine, which ranges in flavor from hot to hotter to wildfire. The food is electric but the atmosphere is relaxed." Links: Website and review on Gayot.com.

JTYH Restaurant located at 9425 Valley Boulevard,  Rosemead, CA 91770. "The San Gabriel Valley is Southern California’s mecca for authentic cuisine from almost every province in China, so if you’ve got a hankering for chewy, thick handmade Shanxi noodles, this cozy strip mall spot in Rosemead is required eating. Run by the same family that owned the acclaimed and now-defunct Heavy Noodling, JTYH offers huge portions and low prices (nothing on the menu is over $10)." Link:  Gayot.com

SUSHI RAN located at 107 Caledonia (at Pine Street) in Sausalito. "Few sushi restaurants compare to this Sausalito mainstay, which has been serving up the freshest fish for 24 years. Owner Yoshi Tome gives free rein to chef Scott Whitman and Mitsunori Kusakabe, a licensed blowfish cutter, who produce the spectacular sashimi. Whitman blends traditional and creative elements to produce such things as smoked hamachi tataki with avocado, grapefruit and yuzu-black pepper sauce; or slow-cooked duck breast accented with watermelon rind-citrus chutney." Review: San Francisco Chronicle and Website: SUSHI RAN

> Prince Lebanese Grill located at 502 W Randol Mill Rd Arlington, TX 76011. "Looking for excellent Middle Eastern food in Tarrant county and not sure where to go? Or at least a place you can go without 1960s era belly dancers? Prince is the place. You've never had Lebanese food, but always wanted to try? Prince is the place. You will feel most comfortable in this casual establishment - the menu will explain it all for you." Review: Regular Joe Guide Website: Prince Lebanese Grill

Karma Sushi Bar Grill located at 6 East Route 66 in Flagstaff AZ. While in Flagstaff I ran a search on Google to find a good sushi bar near the Barnes and Noble bookstore I visit. The Karma Sushi Bar Tapas was a great choice. The miso soup was good and the sushi exceptionally fresh. Website: Karma Sushi Bar Grill;