Bushi-Tei @ San Francisco

I've always wanted to eat at Bushi-Tei, the menu looks scrumptious, but ouchies with the wallet! I was super excited when I saw a groupon deal where I spent $20 for $40 worth of food. But, when I looked at the dinner menu, it would end up being about $50 a person, since the cheapest dish was around $30. That hurts a lot. So much for the deal. But then there was a lunch menu, and I was sold! Panda and I headed over there for lunch one day. We both had a dish with washugyu, which is American kobe beef...loves it. Melts! Melts! Melts! But in case you wondered how else could anything outshine it, let me tell you about foie gras. Yes. That is it. It was a deal to eat there, we ended up paying $1.23 more than the groupon and of course tip. Love the deal!

Soup of the Day - forgot what it was, but it was clean tasting.

Croque washugyu, caramelized red onion, mozzarella

amazing! it was like perfect! the beef was buttery and full of flavor. i loved how it was open face on a nice and crusty bread. great meal!

Loco Moco

[washugyu burger steak, basil rice, fried egg and salad]

this has got to be the best loco moco i've ever had, and i don't even like loco moco. the chef took a simple everyday meal for islanders and turned it into gourmet food. and i love how there's a fried egg, fried egg on almost anything is yummy. hehehe

 

Foie Gras w. Shaved Truffles

omg. this was the best thing at the meal. i love foie gras, and yes i am spoiled. it was so simple. nice and seared, nice carmelized sauce and searing. the truffle shaving was so full of flavor. something so tiny was so delicious. i definitely want more of this. i choose foie gras over escargots anytime!

Nick's Taco Shop at Underdog's @ San Francisco

Must Eat: Nick's Baja Style Fish Taco

Results: YUMSIES

There is definitely a reason why this is on the 100 things to eat list. It's a fried fish taco, with cabbage, spicy sauce, fresh guac, a soft corn tortilla then a crunch corn tortilla. That's Nick's style...crunchy and soft. This was definitely the best fried fish taco I've had. Still when it comes to grilled, Wahoo's is the way to go. But these are distinct tastes and styles. One taco is HUGE...and it's enough. Oh yea another plus, they server REAL coca-cola with REAL sugar.

Had the carne asada taco, nothing to report about. Pretty average. 

fish was not oily at all! perfecto!

Takoyaki @ Japantown

This was a disappointment. I love takoyaki (also what I call octopus ball), as you recall I had the BEST takoyaki in Hong Kong. I probably paid three times as much at the japantown street festival than I did in Hong Kong, and it was not even half as good. Not enough batter, not enough sauce, no octopus, not hot...just not good. I need to go to Japan...stat!

Kimochi Deluxe TeriBurger @ San Francisco

Ahhh the nostalgic teriyaki burger of my once simpler days! I haven't had this baby since high school, and that's because they're only available at street festivals in japantown. Each time there has been a festival in japantown the past few years I've been busy and out of the city in one form or another. Not this time! $5, just like the price I remembered! They're so juicy, just the right amount of teriyaki sauce, a good amount of mayo, lettuce, tomato, red onion and well it all just melts. I think they add crack to it, there's no way something this simple tastes so wonderful!

see the sauce dripping off the burger? it's so simple, but it's a pack full of flavor!

Ike's Sandwich @ SF

The esteemed Ike's Sandwich in the Castro District of San Francisco. The line to this tiny shop takes about 40 minutes to an hour, and every bite into your sandwich is worth the wait. But hurry!!! This establishment is facing an eviction and currently the only place to get the sandwich is all the way in Redwood Shores. So far! You can smell the sandwiches being made as you wait in line, and while you wait in line you have to sieve through a huge list of sandwiches, which one to choose??? Just choose and munch away! Oh yea, you need to find a place to eat, because there are no tables anywhere. I suggest taking it to Dolores Park or hopping on the muni to Yerba Buena Gardens. Noms away!

1/2 spiffy tiffy

[Halal Chicken Breast, Pesto, Mushrooms, Avocado, Pepper Jack. Provolone all on dutch crunch]

the halal chicken breast is to die for. i don't know what's on it, but it's juicy and lots of meat packed in. then there's the pesto, mushrooms, avocado, pepper jack and provolone. are you drooling yet? if not imagine it's special dirty sauce all on dutch crunch! the crunch is good too, it doesn't even hurt the roof of my mouth. loves it!

Personalized: Pastrami, Pesto, Avocado, Pepper Jack, Dirty Sauce and all the veggie fixins

Nacho Boy

[hot roast beef, mushroom, avocado, swiss]

Manage a Trois

[halal chicken breast, real honey, honey mustard, bbq, pepper jack, swiss and smoked gouda on french roll]

now this sandwich is on the 7x7 100 things to eat in SF before you die. i'm sure most people LOVE the sandwich, me i'm ok. it's the bbq sauce, it ruins it for me. i just don't like bbq sauce. but i tried it, so i can now cross it off my list!

7x7 100 Things to Eat in SF Before You Die

This has become my new mission post bar. Eating the 100 things on this list! So far prior to this list I've eaten: Prime Rib at House of Prime Rib (since I was 8), Dry-fried chicken wings at San Tung, Egg Custard at Golden Gate Bakery, Foccacia at Linguria, Sesame balls at Yank Sing, and Buckwheat crepe and french cider at Ti Couz. I'll be posting each step of the way!

Cafeteria 15L @ Sacramento

Another trendy restaurant to Sacramento, Cafeteria 15L. Food is descent, prices are high and portions are tiny. Just another fancy/trendy restaurant, I don't think it'll last a year or so. There isn't much about it that separates it from the rest. Missing the "wow"-factor.

Tater Tots

[spiced ground beef, potato, peppers, onion, romesco ]

nice creative spin on an old school classic. it was tasty but missing something...something to put it over the top

Patty Melt Sliders

[swiss, caramelized onion, special sauce, rye bread]

it isn't enough to feed you, it won't fill you up. but there is so much flavor packed into these bite size sliders. how. i have no idea. 

Mahoroba Japanese Bakery @ Sacramento

Cute bakery off of Freeport Blvd. Lots to choose from! The bread is good, but the filled buns have too much cream inside. Apparently the meatball bun is to die for, but my siu mai one wasn't too good. I want to go back one day and try the ham and cheese croissant. Hmmmm....

Love Letter @ Rancho Cordova

Who would have ever thought, Koreans make pizza. Think bulgolgi pizza! Love letter is quite random. We were the only guests there the whole time. There was not one person who walked in for take out or dine in. I really wanted Korean fried chicken, I think of Kyochon from NYC, and I really miss it. It was not like Kyochon. It was a whole chicken cut into pieces and fried - I was expecting wings and drumsticks only. I wasn't expecting the chicken to be so saucy either. So meh...no repeats with the chicken. As for the bulgogi pizza...well that was quite tasty. Not greasy at all, not overdone and well the cheese and the beef complimented each other well. The dough/crust was super fresh too. Who would have known.

Smash Burger @ Roseville

Smash Burger. Looks like any other burger joint, nothing fancy on the outside and it's a chain nonetheless. I went straight for the mushroom burger, and it sounded tasty. When it came it looked good too. However, my disappointment was that it did not come with lettuce and tomato. How many times do I have to say that lettuce and tomato is a MUST in every sandwich and burger, without it there's something missing. Sigh. I convinced the guy to bring me lettuce and tomato, and he brought me one easily piece of each. Bah. The burger would have been PERFECT and better than Mel's Diner if it had lettuce and tomato. The beef was really tender and flavorful. The mushrooms were seasoned and perfectly cooked. Sweet potato fries, delish! Not oily at all.

That Takes the Cake @ SF

You know me, I loves cupcakes. That Takes The Cake is one of the best I've had in SF and is comparable to Sprinkles, which is still my fav. I tried this place because I had a groupon for $15 for a dozen cupcakes, which is a steal, especially for these gourmet cupcakes. I wasn't expecting much, and went Panda and I walked in it wasn't busy. We chatted with the owner for a little and he was really nice. He allowed us to get a few cupcakes that were filled and the alcoholic ones, although they weren't part of the groupon deal. As we were leaving he gave us two mini red velvet cupcakes to try, and let me tell you. They were absolutely to die for! I would definitely go back to this place to satisfy my cupcake craving. Nomsies!

Mini Red Velvet

[lemon drop, cosmopolitan, chocolamento, snowball, chocolate, carrot cake]

[strawberry bombshell, red velvet, sleepless in SF]

Cosmo

tastes just like the drink! i really taste the alchie too, but it's not that strong. i like it. it's different. unique. good.

Pancake Circus @ Sacramento

I have driven by this place so many times in the past two years. It's always looked so dilapidated from the outside, but you know curiosity. Finally went to Pancake Circus, it was just like any other diner. And still kind of dilapidated on the inside as well. Food was so-so, I've had better. No return for me.

Hot Chocolate

hmmm it makes me feel like a child again

Eggs and Sausage

Pancakes

these are not too shabby. fluffy.

Rick's Dessert Diner @ Sacramento

A diner that is completely devoted to desserts! Yumsies! Rick's Dessert Diner. Their cakes are HUGE and quite tasty. There needs to be more places that are open late at night and are just for sweets. Oh yea and are super casual, so I can still be in my PJ's. That's the best.

Framboise Tort

[Buttermilk layers filled with pure raspberry preserves and French butter cream iced with French butter cream]

i ordered this baby. it was quite good. sweet, but not too sweet where i need water or milk to wash it down. the cake was nice and thick and rich. fresh raspberry preserves. loves it.