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James L.'s Profile
My Top Food Picks
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1. San Benito House
I was here last Saturday to pick up a sarnie to fuel myself before I went on my 2.5-hours-long hike.
In front of me, some lady with a stank look on her face (you know, the type of expression where it just seems like the person is offended by the whole…More »
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/20/2008
I just stopped by for a sandwich in the afternoon and I'm updating to say that the sandwich shop is… Read more »
2. Thai Curry Simple
How to have great Thai curry at home after enjoying great Thai curry at Thai Curry Simple:
1. Buy a vacuum-sealed pouch of Thai Curry Simple's homemade, DIY curry paste to take home with you at the same time that you're ordering your lunch.
2. When you…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/13/2010
Okay, so like a lot of people I found out about this place thanks to the recent article about it in… Read more »
3. Sushi Sam's Edomata
Brought a South Bay friend here to pop his Sushi Sam cherry while we were in San Mateo on business. We split the huge $37 dollar combo and an order of uni.
What can I say? Absolutely awesome meal, as usual. The sushi rice was seasoned perfectly as…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/19/2011
Took the mom unit here for a fantastic sushi meal this weekend.
Starters: Goma-ae (spinach with… Read more »
4. Davis Food Co-op
Before leaving Davis this weekend I stopped by the Co-op to pick up my favorite items and I have to say it: this place is still the best. Here you'll find a better-than-Whole-Foods selection of natural, organic, local, and gourmet goods at prices…More »
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/2/2008
I hadn't been here in a while so I stopped in on Labor Day evening.
As expected at the tail end of a… Read more »
5. Jimbo's Naturally
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 334-7755
Categories:
Grocery,
Delis,
Health Markets
Neighbourhood: Carlsbad
Okay, I am officially in love with Jimbo. Or at least his store!
This past weekend I came back to Jimbo's twice for more soup and sarnie goodness, and initially I was worried that my great experience might have been a first-time fluke or "beginner's…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/24/2010
Yelp comes to the rescue again!
During my weekend with my mother down in La Jolla, we decided on a… Read more »
6. Shuei-Do Manju Shop
Shueido is an absolute "must try" if you're ever in SJ! Besides the fantastic shaved ice available during spring/summer, the mochi and manju are outstanding, on par with and in some cases better than Benkyodo's in SF (both Shueido and Benkyodo blow…More »
7. Lanna Thai Cuisine
Recently I took my mother to La Jolla for the weekend, and when it came to food our goal was to find a great Thai place and a great sushi place in the San Diego area.
I have to thank Yelp because we went to Lanna's due to the good reviews it received…More »
8. Healeo
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 453-5066
Categories:
Juice Bars & Smoothies,
Health Markets,
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Central District, Capitol Hill
During my stay in Seattle, I would take my morning run down by the water, near Pike's Place and the Aquarium.
However, one night as I was exploring the Capitol Hill area, I saw a closed shop that had a sign reading "vegan hemp ice cream." After I…More »
9. Aki Sushi Restaurant
IMPORTANT NOTE: This restaurant is now called "Aki Sushi" and is located on Travis Boulevard; and yes, it is the same restaurant that used to be called "Izumi" and was located on North Texas Street. Aside from the location and name change, things…More »
10. Capay Valley Farm Shop Market Tents
My haul from this awesome market stand yesterday included:
a huge bag of heirloom tomatoes, $2/lb;
a huge bag of assorted organic baby summer squashes, $1/lb;
two heads of org. garlic;
two medium-sized org. red onions;
six large, perfectly ripe peaches;
a…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/6/2008 First to Review
The Capay Valley Farm Shop that graced the Nut Tree in Vacaville with its presence for barely half a… Read more »
11. Noshi Sushi
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 469-3458
Categories:
Sushi Bars,
Japanese
Neighbourhood: Wilshire Center
The raw fish here was so good that even sitting at the sushi bar sandwiched between some loud gay man asking his overworked/very busy sushi chef to stop what he was doing and read the kanji on his shirt and some loud Russian guys having a pissing…More »
12. SweetCakes
On Monday I was heading in to work and noticed that SweetCakes was finally open! I went in and when I asked them if it was their first day of business they said that it was indeed.
The cupcakes on display all looked delicious, so I decide to go for…More »
13. China Hot - CLOSED
Since El Grullense is moving in and opening their forty-seventh branch in this location I suppose I'll have to face up to reality and say good-bye to one of the best mapo doufu I've ever had:
Bye bye, salty black beans, fresh ginger, and minced…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/27/2011
I was super-sad when Sichuan Delight closed, but thankfully it has been replaced by a great… Read more »
14. Oyaji Zushi
Vancouver, BC V6J
Canada
(604) 733-7396
Category:
Sushi Bars
Neighbourhoods: Granville Island/False Creek, Fairview Slopes
I passed by this place on my way to check out the Granville market, and while the name "Oyaji Zushi" gave me strange mental images of an old man paired with vinegared rice, the sign stating "We Serve Wild Salmon Only" grabbed my attention. I…More »
15. Cake Town Garden
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 480-1010
Category:
Bakeries
Neighbourhood: Koreatown
A great selection of fantastic Western desserts, cakes, and breads, all done in the Korean style so that nothing feels too heavy, caloric, or cloyingly sweet.
DEFINITELY give the cakes from this place a try. Their fruit basket cake is incredibly…More »
16. Mendocino Cafe
As only the second Yelper so far to give this place five-star review, I guess I should give an outlier's explanation as to why they deserve it:
1. Some of THE freshest, creamiest, sweetest raw oysters I've ever had - and believe me, I've had plenty -…More »
17. Donair King Restaurant
Vancouver, BC V6E 1M3
Canada
(604) 685-8723
Categories:
Mediterranean,
Middle Eastern,
Donairs
Neighbourhood: West End
The relative dearth of good, cheap falafel joints in most of the Bay Area always strikes me as strange. Aren't we supposed to be a big, diverse group of foodies? Why is it I always get the most/best choices above the 49th parallel?
Anyway I can't…More »
18. Cafe Gratitude
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 830-3014
Categories:
Vegan,
Live/Raw Food,
Gluten-Free
Neighbourhood: Mission
After months of intending to try this place out I finally went with my brother this past weekend. Honestly, I don't understand why others are complaining about the portion sizes here. My brother and I love big portions but even though the stuff we…More »
19. Porto's Bakery
Burbank, CA 91504
(818) 846-9100
Wow, nearly 1,000 Yelp reviews for Porto's? That's crazy. It's not surprising though, because the food is worth the raves, and the prices are more than fair.
First, let's start off with the baked goods: Two of the big sellers are the cheese rolls…More »
20. New Kapadokia
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 368-5500
Categories:
Turkish,
Mediterranean,
Vegetarian
We started our lunch with warm bread, muhammara, and lentil kofte. They gave us a nice garlic butter for the bread, but being anti-butter we polished off the muhammara with it instead. If you like butter though, you won't be disappointed by the one…More »
21. Benkyodo Co.
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 922-1244
Category:
Bakeries
Neighbourhoods: Japantown, Lower Pac Heights, Pacific Heights
Great fresh mochi, manju, and other wagashi (Japanese sweets) produced not by one of Japantown's touristy joints but by a great local, family-run business that has a century of history behind it. The texture of the treats are fantastic, mainly…More »
Recently updated lists from James L.
FOOOOOD! (on the Peninsula!) (18)My favorite places for food on the Peninsula: restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, and so on! |
Food Trucks That Actually Don't Suck (9)I'm late to the food truck craze because I've been really skeptical of the hype, the prices, and the gourmetification of a working-class way of eating.Here is a list of trucks whose food managed to withstand my skepticism. |
Great Walks/Short Hikes/Day Hikes/Runs (NorCal) (7)The best places for getting in a bit of exercise, anything from a brisk twenty-minute walk to a few hours of running or a full-on day of hiking. |
Mmmm, Fish Tacos! (7)... That's what she said? |
My Favorite Coastal Hangouts, South of San Francisco (5)The list's name says it all! |
My Favorite Coastal Hangouts, North of San Francisco (13)The list's name says it all! |
"Ah just loves me some San Mateo County!"
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Review votes:
1153 Useful, 706 Funny, and 726 Cool
Redwood City, CA
Yelping SinceApril 2007
Things I Love Find Me InSan Francisco, Pescadero, Half Moon Bay, Ano Nuevo, Point Reyes, Berkeley.
My HometownRedwood City, California.
When I'm Not Yelping...I mature like a little Gouda.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsI love seafood, organic/local/seasonal food, and I love food from every culture.
My Second Favourite Website The Last Great Book I ReadBy Philip Pullman: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass.
My First ConcertChanticleer (1993, San Francisco).
My Favourite MovieToo many to list.
My Last Meal On EarthPa amb tomaquet; Mom's Korean food; fish tacos w/ Tapatio; Belgian peach lambic.
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I sometimes cheat on my pescetarian/macrobiotic diet.
Most Recent DiscoveryLa Sirena Grill in Laguna Beach.
Current CrushJeremy Scahill, Hirai Ken, Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Tommy Robredo, Roger Federer.