Mel's Diner @ SF

Pure nostalgia!!! Mel's Diner may not embody culinary excellence, heck it makes burgers and there are other places that make better burgers in San Francisco, but it's something about biting into a mushroom burger that sends me back to when I was 10 years old.  A time when life was simple, when I literally did live day by day, and did not have to worry about, home, family, bills, work, etc - all the stuff that comes with adulthood; responsibility.  This is the reason why I return to Mel's time and time again, and why I always order the mushroom burger.

Onion Rings

Mushroom Burger!

Q Restaurant Wine & Bar @ SF

**note**

I know I'm wayyyyy behind on updating. I have lots to update, unfortunately a lot of the pictures are on my camera and I haven't uploaded them to my computer yet. I left my external in NY and am currently waiting for it to be brought back to me. So for the time being, enjoy this post. I left my camera at home and used the camera on my cellphone.

So Q Restaurant Wine & Bar is quite delicious and charming. The decor is really cute and random. For example the tables are like a diarama and have things inside of it, like arm. The table I sat at had a race track for race cars, I really wished I could have raced those cars, it would have been uber fun. Food wise, lots of options and everything looks delicious. Reasonable prices too!

 Beto's Bomb

[chorizo scramble w. eggs, sharp white cheddar, salsa fresca, sour cream, served w. black beans and corn tortilla]

this really was the bomb. it was amazing and look at the portions! it was a generous amount. the chorizo wasn't too spicy, but well flavored. i liked that it wasn't a lot of sour cream, because that could really diminish the flavor. the black beans were a nice touch, because of the chorizo were too spicy, the beans neutralized them. i didn't think the corn tortilla was necessary, but i did roll some up and eat it like a mini taco/burrito, but honestly the scramble was great all by itself.

Macaroni and Cheese w. Tater Tots

honestly the name explains itself. Wow. The cheese wasn't too cheesy or creamy where it could be super decadent. Pasta was cooked al dente, and the tater tots added a nice crunch. It would be prefect if there was some protein to this dish, maybe sprinkled crumbled bacon :P 

Sakura Sushi @ San Francisco

Fresh sushi at Sakura Sushi in the richmond district. The only problem is that it's a little overpriced, and I'm way use to getting better for less, especially at Tekka. Also service takes forever. I think we were there for 3 hours, because the chef would give us one plate, and we would eat it. Then we would have to wait another 15 minutes for something else to come.

 Ankimo

[monk fish liver]

super creamy!

Uni

even creamier!!!

 Fresh Oysters

Scallops

Hamachi Kama

Amaebi

[fresh shrimp]

Mel's Diner @ San Francisco

I think you all know that my favorite burger is the mushroom burger, and I'm always looking for a burger that can match the best that I've had, the one at Mel's Diner. Well I can't believe that I've never blogged about Mel's Diner, since it is hands down the BEST mushroom burger ever, yes ever better than Burgers and Brew in Sacramento. I've been going to Mel's for mushroom burger since I was about 5 years old, and it is definite the all time comfort food. I don't know what they do with the burger to make it so amazing, but it is great. While I have told others about this place and the wonderfulness of the mushroom burger, others have not jumped on the bandwagon. So it is quite possible that it is just nostalgia for me...but regardless whenever I go to Mel's it's a mushroom burger, nothing else. Medium rare, with lettuce, tomato and a light spread of mayo...split right down the middle.....

Mushroom Burger
[burger patty, grilled mushrooms, jack cheese...]

...all assembled...

Twisty Fries

Onion Rings
really good onion rings too. it's all about the batter, and these onion rings have a crumbled batter to them...so it's not just "fried" there's a delish texture to it. the onions are cooked perfect inside, where they are still juicy

Brothers (korean bbq) @ Richmond

Family and I went out for dinner tonight because he turned 19, yes my brother turned 19...man this penguin is getting OLD. We went out to Korean BBQ, and naturally we went to Brother's on Geary. My family and I have been going out to Korean BBQ since I've been 10. We are avid meat eaters, and my gramps...well he LOVED meat, he once ordered a steak raw, when he meant rare, and the waiter stared at him. We use to go to the place by the Jack-in-the-Box on Geary, but for some reason, I don't remember why, that place sucked and we found Brothers further up Geary. Brothers had two restaurants, Brothers and Brothers II. We normally go to Brothers II, but I think the economy hasn't been too great and they needed to shut it down. Funny story though, I called making a reservation at Brothers II yesterday, and they accepted my reservations, and when we went there today it was closed. We walked one block down and ate at Brothers instead.

The dishes at this place use to be $10, but now it's roughly $23 an order. We ordered 5 orders of beef with spareribs and one order of chicken thighs. They gave us plenty mini dishes and actually gave us a pot of soup on the house. The soup was a spicy tofu soup, my dad's favorite, and the one picture I have is blurry. Sorry! I love Korean BBQ in Los Angeles because they have all you can eat for less than $20, but in SF that idea just doesn't exist (more on LA Korean BBQ in a few weeks when I go). Also in LA, they provide the rice noodles, because I like to wrap my meat in the rice noodles :) Either way, this place is really good, the meat is well marinated and there are tons of mini dishes!

Complimentary mini dishes
[seaweed, marinated seaweed, jello with sauce, spicy daikon, cucumbers, red leaf lettuce, soy bean paste...etc..etc]

Marinated Fish Cake or Bean Curd
i can't figure out if this is a fish cake or a bean curd...either way it's my FAVORITE mini dish.

Kalbi w/ ribs attached

Meat on the grill
going korean bbq with my mom is the best BECAUSE she does all the cooking, and she always cooks it well :)

Complimentary Spicy Tofu Soup
sorry it's blurry

My creation: red leaf lettuce, rice, kalbi and soy bean paste

chicken, rice and kalbi

Soy Bean Paste
brings the flavor of the meat out and then adds something more

Complimentary Rice Dessert
after all that meat and all that bbq, this little bowl of rice water with sugar (something) is very refreshing and cleans the palate

Happy BIRTHDAY!
Black Forest Cake from Sheng Kee on Irving

Tong Palace @ Richmond District

Tong Palace...what to say...definitely cheap food, 4 items for $14...thanks for treating me kimps! This place has been here for years, and today was my first time eating there. It would not be up to my parents standards, they are very picky dim sum eaters, and the fam likes to go to somewhere either in Milbrae or San Bruno (another post in the future).

Har Gow

Lo Bak Go (turnip cake)

Lo Mie Gai (sticky rice in lotus leaf)

Ham Suy Gok (fried dumpling w/ ground pork)