Berkeley Thai House, a Thai restaurant popular with UC Berkeley students, has closed after 37 years. The iconic second-story spot just two blocks from campus closed its doors on Dec. 15, the restaurant shared on Instagram. The news was first reported by the San Francisco Business Times. Fans of Berkeley Thai House can still enjoy their … Read more
An order of chilaquiles, a tamale plate, and an open-face pork taco arabe al pastor sit ready for pickup by customers at the Primavera stall at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturday, April 15, 2023. Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE We inhale authentic shrimp po’boys in Bayview and find the most New York-style pizza slices in … Read more
Cioppino at Sotto Mare in North Beach in San Francisco on Jan. 19, 2023. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE It’s been a year of ups and downs for Eat Like a Tourist, the column where I bravely dine at San Francisco’s most touristy restaurants to see if they’re actually good. Union Square’s Cheesecake Factory may have been a disappointing … Read more
The Dumpling Report began in 2022 spotlighting a residential neighborhood’s mom-and-pop dim sum takeout spot. It was an intentional choice to begin the column with a non-flashy, everyday eatery that locals frequent at an affordable price, and show how the owners of places like these both maintain and create the culture of the Bay Area. … Read more
Editor’s note: In this recurring column, SFGATE food writers celebrate the Bay Area’s rich deli culture by spotlighting longtime family-run delis — the neighborhood institutions — and the newer community sandwich hubs. Many cultures from around the world have developed unique sandwiches that reflect their bounty. There are sandwiches from Italian delis that specialize in cured meats, banh … Read more
The wonton soup at Hon’s Wun-Tun House is the perfect cold weather food. Farley Elliott/SFGATE Hon’s Wun-Tun House is a Chinatown legend. The small space has been in operation on Kearny Street since 1972 — an ancient restaurant age that very few others (save for the century-plus Sam Wo around the corner) can claim. It doesn’t … Read more
Shah’s Halal Food will open in the former Boston Market, 61 Newtown Road, Danbury, Conn. Wednesday, October 11, 2023. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media Cousins Mohammad and Rafi Mashriqi, who helped grow the Shah’s Halal Food brand in Connecticut, said they secured the property at 61 Newtown Road in Plumtrees Plaza two months ago. Mohammad Mashriqi … Read more
Fried rice at Jade Palace in Newark, Calif. Jadalliya L./Yelp A longstanding Newark restaurant and community hub for locals is closing on Dec. 21 after 53 years. Reportedly, the owners are simply ready to retire. Jade Palace, located at 36601 Newark Blvd., serves up mostly Cantonese cuisine with the likes of potstickers, fried rice and wonton soup. … Read more
Beneath the retro neon sign and red awning of Falafel’s Drive-In lies a closely guarded family secret. The crispy, vibrant green falafel at the 57-year-old San Jose institution is so delicious, some people have even tried to steal the recipe. William Nijmeh, who runs the restaurant with his siblings, recalled one instance where someone broke into … Read more
Not all salsas are created equal. If you live in San Francisco, you probably love La Corneta’s zesty salsa verde or the smoky, reddish version at Papalote. But there’s a more versatile salsa out there, and it has a fascinating story: salsa macha — an oil-based, tomatoless condiment with seeds for texture and chili peppers … Read more
