Taqueria Guadalajara

Hola fellow food addicts!

Are you like me? A So-Cal transplant living in the bay area? And are you like me in the sense that you have an unusual high standards for burritos and tacos?

This standard has been the case since living in SF over the past four years. I've searched and tired numerous places! I've tried chains, food trucks, broken down restaurants and haven't found the right blend of flavors that compare to my So-Cal counterparts. That was until I moved into the Ingleside area recently and started "exploring" the surrounding neighborhood.

I stumbled upon this beauty of a taqueria on a drunken Saturday afternoon. I had just come back from Dolores Park with a day filled of Mimosa's and beer. I mistakenly got on the wrong bus (mimosas fault) and ended up a couple blocks away from home on mission and ocean. My drunken mind though, went from worrying on how to get home, to whats going to GET IN MY BELLY! I saw this quiet taqueria on the corner and I couldn't help but be drawn in by the smell! There is something about an authentic Mexican place that you can tell from the smell!

But being a pessimistic about Mexican food in the bay area, I was hesitant. But upon entry I saw numerous Hispanic families and then the portions of the meals! I knew I was in the right place! I drunkenly ordered my classic, carne asada burrito with all the trimmings. Looked over and saw the numerous amounts of salsa and peppers to quench my thirst of spice. Things were looking up for my alcohol filled stomach!

I didn't have to wait long for my burrito, which is crucial in the drunk attention span. And honestly it was one of the biggest burritos i've ever seen. Every meal also comes with chips! And for the price (6.50) for a recent college graduate, who spent the majority of his money on alcohol that day, it was perfect. I scarfed down that burrito like a drunk college girl meeting a guy at a frat house. It was amazing and had the perfect blend of spices and portions, something important in burritos. After I finished I stumbled to the correct bus and made my way back home. And the whole time I thought, I should go back and really see if this was the SF burrito spot i've been looking for.

Two days later I returned and the same burrito tasted even better sober! Hard to believe, but it was true! This So-Cal transplant had finally found a spot he can rely on! I've continued to go back and try different things on the menu. The tacos are great, quesadilla are fantastic, the plates are crazy good and the best is their breakfast burritos (get there early before they run out of chrizo!).

So the next time you find yourself on the outskirts of the city. Or your like me and want a solid SF burrito spot! Make your way down to the outter mission and get at this!

HELLO MUNCHIES ADDICTS!!

So it's been a few months since I have given any thoughts about my blog! Its been an incredible spring, summer and going to be even a better filled fall! I finally have some time to do some post and let you know about the new flavors I have been experiencing since I last wrote.

The good thing about food in SF is that there will always be something to write about!

Ike's Place coming to SFSU

Sandwiches are an American staple-- they are so simple and amazing it's hard to say no. But if your like me, you want to find a simple yet outstanding place to call your sandwich shop-- IKE'S IS THAT PLACE! Ike's Place is a shop located in the Castro district and is extremely popular among local San Franciscans.This small establishment has grown in size and has even been featured on the popular Travel channel show Man vs. Food.

I saw this restaurant on that show and had to give it a try. One warning, be ready to stand in line. The shop is small and barely has room for the workers. I went early in the morning and stood in line for about three hours! But I will say this in their defense, it has to be one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten. If you can withstand the wait and  torture of smelling that amazing food, its totally worth it. The prices vary from about eight to fifteen dollars, but pretty cheap for the size of sandwich you get. It has an average of four to five stars on yelp. And all the friends I have talked too cannot rave enough about it!

All their sandwiches are themed names and unique in taste. I've been there about 20 times and have tried a majority of the subs--- Ive never been disappointed! The ingredients are always fresh and the bread is out of this world! The bread is some kind of dutch crutch with a specialty garlic butter sauce slathered on. They also work really hard at experimenting on new styles of subs and flavors. My favorite subs would have to be-- Menage A Trious, Super Mario, The Cain, Jim Rome, Your favorite Sesame Character, and The Al Bundy.

I know your reading this blog and wondering why does the title say SFSU then? THAT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE COMING TO OUR CAMPUS! If you go below the Caesar Chavez center you noticed that a stall on the bottom floor is under renovation. Ike's plans to open in the spring of 2012 and should bring drowse of people onto our campus, but who cares! I'm so excited and thrilled they choose our campus instead of building a location in Oakland--- They built Ike's in Polo Alto and Santa Rosa. It should be pretty interesting how crowded and busy this establishment will be, but I for sure will be one of those people. Im bringing a cow prouder just to deal with the crowds! But if you are looking for a new sandwich shop look no further than here at SFSU. And if you cannot wait for that delicious munchy, get yourself over to 16th and Lime in the Castro district and try it out. You'll thank me later.

The Next Iron Chef

I love food! And I think I have done a good job of expressing my love for food in this blog. But just as good as eating at restaurants or making food would have be watching people make food on TV. I'm an religious watcher of the Food Network for years now and I cannot get enough--- I watch the channel, subscribe to chefs blogs, and use the website for recipes regularly.

But to my surprise the food network decided to add a new show this fall season-- The Next Iron Chef! For over a decade the Food Network has been airing a show called Iron Chef and its one of the most popular shows on the network. Hosted by Aldon Brown (a network chef), it has two chefs battle against each other with a main secret ingredient. The dishes are then judged by esteemed cooks in the food industry to determine a winner. And this fall, The Next Iron Chef has taken that concept and added superstar chefs from all over the country and world.


So why write about this show? Ill tell u why--- because its mind blowing food that is prepared by the most talented chefs that you can find. Many of the participates are my favorite chefs to watch and I have eaten at some of their restaurants. Chefs like Greoffrey Zakarian and Micheal Chiarello are world famous with extremely gifted talents that cannot be matched. Many of the chefs on the show are former Iron Chef winners or have their own show on food network. And since this is such a highly esteemed panel of participants, the quality of food looks astounding.

They also have changed the format for this show. Instead of two competitors competing against one another. The show has started with ten world famous chefs and one is eliminated each week. The Next Iron Chef is traveling the country and competing with the local "flavor" in mind. They create dishes that usually have a certain theme, then choose the two least favorite dishes to compete like the traditional Iron Chef style-- battling in a forum with a secret ingredient. The battles in the elimination forums have been really intense and exciting to watch. And since these chefs are so greatly esteemed and liked, it's been hard to judge because of their amazing talents. So if you have nothing else to on a Sunday evening. Tune into the Food Network and watch The Next Iron Chef at 9 p.m.

Suppenkuche

There is nothing better in the world than a cold beer, especially in a three foot tall glass mug shaped like a giant boot.  My interest in the BOOT was piqued by a wonderfully creative and funny movie called Beerfest, about an annual drinking competition held during Oktoberfest in Germany. At the pivotal point in the movie the main characters have a chug-off -- a beer drinking contest organized like a relay race. Both teams are drinking out of an enormous boot. There is just something about watching people drink beer out of a glass boot that made me want to try it.

I began to prowl the streets of San Francisco looking for a bar that served beer in a boot.  I looked through Yelp; I searched Google. Finally, a friend told me about  a wonderful German restaurant/beer-hall called Suppenkuche in Hayes Valley. So I decided to give it a try with some friends on a cold Friday afternoon. The first thing I noticed when we entered this wonderful beer hall is that this place is all about keeping to tradition! The beer hall itself is small and crammed together-- the bar is tiny, the tables are arranged picnic table style, many of the dishes and drinks are German favorites. But I wasn't concerned about tradition; I was concerned about the boot! 

After a quick wait, we got our seats. We sat with another party who came in from the Marina district in San Francisco to try the boot as well. After settling in, we had to decide on a type of beer -- a decision that isn't a problem with the crowd I hang out with.  But the task was more challenging than expected. The beer list was long and every beer sounded delicious--- Suppenkuche has a variety of Lagers, Hefeweizen, Pilzners, Hellas,  Ales, Festbier and more. I finally decided to try Weltenberger Wintertram, a Festbier that looked amazing and felt like the right choice for the boot. 

So after ordering our drinks and putting down a deposit on our boots (40 dollars), we turned our attention to the munchies. Suppenkuche has a variety of traditional German comfort food that are not for the faint of heart ---hearty meat dishes, a variety of potatoes dishes, grilled vegetables, traditional soups. Being that this was a table full of 20 something males, we didn't have trouble navigating through the salivating selections on the menu. I ordered the Kassler von Grill, a cured pork chop with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. But you can't go wrong with anything on the menu.

Our boots soon arrived after ordering our food and the drinking began. The beers we chose were cold, crisp, and more importantly strong. We tried each others beers and I couldn't find a flaw in any of them. Something about drinking out of a three foot tall boot makes any beer exceptional. 

The food soon showed up during one of our Prost (German for Cheers). The plates were immaculate and surprisingly huge. The potatoes and the meat were spectacular, one of the best German foods I've ever eaten! My food soon vanished and my friends were not far behind. I struggled to breath and sit up stright after going on such an epic food voyage. I was in a coma that I wish I could mimic daily. We ordered another boot and sat around talking to the people sitting with us, trying to digest enough to gain the courage to walk. 

All in all I would say that my boot expedition was a success! My friends and I enjoyed a wonderful night full of beer and amazing food. We met a lot of people and enjoyed some traditional German music. So the next time you're looking for a fun date, expedition, or just a huge beer after a midterm, head over to Hayes Valley and get a boot and some comfort muchies! 

Siagon Sandwhich

The greatest thing about food are the multidimensional flavors that you experience within every culture. The same cut of meat might be prepared a thousand different ways according to a culture history. To me sandwich has always been--bread, meat, some garnishes, and maybe grilled. Pretty Americanized in my eyes. 

But that perception of what classifies a good sandwich in my eyes soon changed when I took a bite of that delicious and crunchy Saigon Sandwich. I have never experience a Vietnamese sandwich until I moved too San Francisco. Living in LA, there isn't a large scale Asian community centered in one area. Not to the extent like in a town like San Francisco. 

Saigon Sandwich is located in one of those Asians cluster in the middle of Tenderloin/Civic center district. I stumbled upon this little place when I was riding my bike through Little Saigon and saw a large line of people outside an armpit of a building. I stopped and asked a man in line, why this place was so popular? He had one of the best responses ever, "just get in line and thank me later." Thats all I needed to hear.

So I got in line quickly as possible. The line was growing extremely long due to the lunch crowd from the surrounding civic center buildings. Surprisingly the line moved pretty quick and I was soon inside the den of flavor. The colors and items inside were so overwheliming once you got in. There were numerous types of munchies that looked like they came from another planet, I didnt attempt to look thru them because I couldnt undestand half the labels languages. Besides I was here to try the sandwich.

When it was finally my turn to order, I noticed a four foot nothing women behind the counter with a temper that cannot be matched. The best way to describe her is to reference the Soup Nazi in the television show Seinfeld. Here is a tip people, BE READY WITH YOUR ORDER! 

The menu is short and simple and extremely cheap, every sandwich is priced at three dollars! They have a variety of sandwich's that includes-- grilled pork, roasted pork, meatball pork, grilled chicken and vegitarian. I decided on the roasted pork.

All the sandwichs are made the same way. They use traditional Vietnamese sandwich toppings like-- onions, carrots, cilantro, jalapenos, spicy garlic mayonnaise and the choice of meat. By far the best thing about the sandwich is the bread. I have no idea where they found this amazing dutch crutch bread, but its so crunchy and fresh. They heat the bread up so that the garlic mayonnaise melts into that warm pocket of happiness. All the ingredients are brought in fresh and they do a great job of balancing the flavors with the spiciness of the meat.

I would recommend getting the roasted pork or meatball pork, so tasty. A great thing to do is get your sandwich and head over to the city hall plaza to enjoy those munchies-- its only four blocks away. So the next time your in the the mood for some cultural munchies. Head on over to the Civic Center/Tenderloin area and walk over too Eddy and Larkin. Look for a long line of salvating costumers with their money already in hand and follow suit.

The Great Pumpkin

Halloween is always a great time of year-- All the Ghouls and Goblins come out too play, you stuff yourself with candy and sugar filled munchies, and you get to dress up in some particular bad tasting costume ideas. But one of the coolest things about this time of year is the return of the biggest pumpkin contest! This is not suppose to be confused by with the Charlie Brown's classic, "The Great Pumpkin" but its pretty close.


Every year people from around the country gather with their unusually sized pumpkins and try to determine the greatest pumpkin in all the land. Each state has their own contest and those winners go onto nationally held competitions.

The trend for the past few years has been astounding, the majority of each state and national records have surpassed the previous year record. This year was the first time the record will stand more than one year. The world record is held by--Chris Steven (pictured right with pumpkin) of New Richmond, Wisconsin. His pumpkin weighted in at an astounding 1810 pounds in 2010, as much as a small Volkswagen Bug.

An even more spooky fact is that the records have usually surpassed the previous years by hundreds of pounds. These pumpkins are getting so big that forklifts are not even strong enough to move them.There is even a new "one ton" mark that these pumpkin growers are trying to achieve-- that's a whole lot of pumpkin pie.

These genetically mutated monsters are a sight too see, and have become national news this time of year. I have personally been to a few of these contests and its a crazy thing to see. When a pumpkin is taller than you, your perception of what is considered a large fruit changes.

If you want to catch a glimpse next year, there is a contest in Half Moon Bay every year and some other local ones that happen at the start of October. I truly suggest making a day out of it, a sight to see once in your life.

Young, Broke & Beautiful

San Francisco is an amazing town--- It's full of crazy people, obscure restaurants, great festivals, and a nightlife that rivals any other major metropolitan city. But when I moved here in the summer of 2009, I had no idea on how too navigate threw this crazy town. More importantly I didn't know how to enjoy this town on a limited budget. That all changed when my new roommate Katlin gave me a book when I moved here. The book was called Broke-Ass Stuart's: Guide to Cheaply Living in San Francisco.

Stuart is a common man with a particuarlly good idea for a book. He moved to the SF like most of us, looking for adventure. He began to search the city for the best--- eats, drinks and attractions. After a couple months of "research," he comprised his book. Stuart does a great job of organizing the book, putting each district into a chapter, then describing what places he liked and more importantly what was cheap.


The book soon took off and sold thousands of copies. He branched out into a blog and then some new books. His writing style is fun and informational, but also has some mouth watering details and hints on ways to enjoy each place you visit.


This book quickly became my San Francisco bible, I read it religiously for weeks. It transformed the perceptions I had of the bay area. It changed my experience with munchies, bars, festivals in the bay area--- all the while being able to stay within a strict budget. I found a number of restaurants and bars that quickly became my favorite spots in the city, places that I still go today. So if you want to find a new bar, festival to check out, or that new munchies spot--- check out Stuarts blogs/books/articles, you will thank me later.

Tailgating Munchies

Fall is always the best time of year. Your summer has dwindled away into a distant memory, the weather changes into a mixture of warm days and cold nights, but the most important thing is the return of football! I love football for two reason--- entertainment, but more importantly the food! Being a life long San Diego Chargers fan, I've been to way too many games to count. My family has had season tickets since the mid 1970s, and growing up as a bolt fanatic I've also seen a number of tailgating parties.

Almost every Sunday since my conception have been spent in the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium. I love the feeling of tailgating, what can beat eating and drinking with family-- I do consider all Charger fans to be part of my family. The feeling of pigging out on dishes that are heart stopping  and spending those few hours before the game is something that everyone should experience once in their life---even if your not a football fan. 

But before you take the risk of jumping into the world of tailgating, you need to know some essential items to ensure and fun-filled time. The first thing of course is a car capable of taking your supplies to the stadium. I've gone to a few games without a car and its hard too join other tailgating parties without anything to contribute. Along with a car, is some sort of canopy or cover to designate your spot. Its never an easy situation when other fans encroach on your tailgating area. 

The most important item is a grill!!! I cannot stress the value of a good bbq when tailgating.There are a variety of options, but my favorite is the car attached bbq. My family has a costume built one that attaches to the hitch of our car (pictured right).

Along with the grill, it is essential to have-- a cooler, tables, chairs, banners, games (my favorite is corn-hole), beer-pong table, a football, and any team-gear deemed appropriate.

But lets get down to the brass tax, and that's the munchies. A key to any successful tailgating party is to have lots of drinks--- I mean a lot of drinks. You cant get those drunkies without tipping back a few. Its good to have a variety of drinks for all ages, but more importantly the drinks of an alcoholic nature.

Another successful item is to make one item that is already prepared the night before. It's always easier to have some thing homemade and ready to go. My family always make ribs before any game, we cook them the day before and then BBQ them the day of the game. It gives them that charcoal taste and doesn't take hours too cook. It saves you time and effort, as well as having some good munchies to eat before the game.

Chips and dip are crucial! These are corner stones of any tailgating party. It's always a good idea to have hot dogs and burgers, but that's too simple. Try and branch out and be creative with your munchies. My family always cooks ribs, but we try and bring something different to every game--- mostly side dishes and type of drinks. So don't be afraid to experiment! There are a number of ideas, resources, and tips on what is considered good tailgating munchies online!

So the next time your looking for something fun to do on a Sunday, look no further than a parking lot full of crazy fans and some good food before a football game. It's a touchdown of success.

Kingdom of Dumplings

Hello Friend!
This is the usual greeting from restaurant energetic and super happy restaurant owner, Mr. Lee. Kingdom of Dumplings is a exactly what its name portrays, a kingdom filled with pork stuffed dumplings and a side of happiness. Mr. Lee is the owner, cook, server, and overall amazing individual who works really hard at his profession for the past 15 years. Kingdom has an amazing reputation for its quality food and cheap prices.

I stumbled upon this place when I first moved to San Francisco in the summer of 2009. Living in the sunset, you don't have many restaurant options. But I remember the day that the distinct smell of Kingdom of Dumpling transported me into an alternate reality. My tummy rumbled, my knees started to quiver like a teenage girl running into Justin Bieber, and I salivated more than any person should. The best part about it was that Kingdom of Dumpling was less than three blocks from where I use to live! (1713 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116)

So I gave it a shot with a couple friends. A party of six inside a restaurant that maybe sits ten comfortably. The menu was short and to the point, but had all the traditional Chiense dumplings and side orders you expect at a restaurant like this. We order three orders of dumplings, two orders of soup dumplings, some amazing green beans, and friend rice. When the order arrived in less than 15 minutes and we dug in. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT FIRST DUMPLING BITE! It was sweet, savory, filling and all the while being so simple. Each dumpling is handmade by Mr.Lee and each side order is distinct in taste, but all the while so complimentary to the other dishes. I would recommend-- green beans, chcken friend rice, cucmber salad, pork with napa dumplings, lamb dumplings, pretty much anything on the menu.

When we finished eating we were in a coma. I could barely move and my friends were all in the same position. But what woke us up a little was when the check arrived. We figured that it might have been a steep price since there was a large group. But for a party of six and being put into a comatose it was only 45 dollars plus a tip. So roughly we all paid about eight or nine dollars for a meal that feed six. I went back with a party of 12 later that year and he accomodate all of us and the bill was only 92 dollars!! So next time your in the Sunset district and your looking for some cheap munchies, go to Kingdom and Dumplings and say "hello friend," to Mr. Lee. Your sure to get a good meal and more importantly a new friend.