neeecole ..'s Profile

If you live in the South Bay this place is legendary. My review is completely slanted towards the Falafel, and none of the other menu items. Frankly, if you are going to FALAFEL Drive In for something other than a falafel, well, then I really have nothing to say to you anyway.

Reason #1: I love this place: TASTIEST falafel balls ("DIRTY") & BEST Sauces (gotta do both red and tahini!)--so that's technically two reasons, but they go together so I'm gonna call it one.

Reason #2: CHEAP! Just today I went into my wallet and saw that I had only $4 for lunch. What was my first thought? That will get me an awesomely tasty small falafel sandwich and still leave me 50 cents for laundry!

Reason #3: Banana shake! Best cool-down method for the pile of hot red sauce you will consume with your falafel.

Reason #4: The atmosphere. Until I saw Diners Drive-Ins and Dives I didn't even know this place had indoor dining! Granted--there are only a few tables, but everyone knows this place is all about the outdoor camaraderie (if you are eating there).

Reason #5: The abrupt ("speedy") service. Others complain about it, but frankly I find it to be one of the places endearing qualities.

Reason #6: The messy factor! Nothing beats sinking my teeth into a sauce-filled messy falafel sandwich. Mmmm mmm mmm! I still say you can take and eat these suckers anywhere! It's one of my favorite movie-foods!

The end.

As a former DJ & music director, KSCU to me is like the bad boyfriend you keep going back to. We always had this co-dependent relationship. KSCU has provided me with so many great memories and access to an amazing selection of music. And it also provided me with plenty of headaches. But no matter what, you will always have a special place in your heart for it [him].

But as a listener to KSCU, and all headaches aside, like any true fan of your favorite sports team, you stick by it [KSCU] through the good and the bad. I guess I kinda liken KSCU to... , the Warriors. Not the last year and half version of the Warriors with all of their bandwagon fans, but the Warriors that have sucked balls for the previous handfuls of years. Admittedly I dropped the Warriors when NBA went on strike years ago--hard to put up with whiny sports players who make ridiculous amounts of money.

Anyway, KSCU has had some pretty great years previously, and sure the station is kinda at a low-point, but its way more accessible than abstract KFJC garbage (minus a handful of shows) & KSJS's over-programmed format.

KSCU still offers some great programming (when live DJs are on, yes) as mentioned by other Yelpers. And its the easiest underground station to get involved with.

So support it, yo!

I give this place four stars because of the following five things:

1) Navrattan Korma
2) Chicken Makhani
3) Samosas
4) Cheap!
5) It's in the EAST SIDE! I have to give MAJOR props for this because NOTHING is in the east side of San Jose. I should know--I lived there for 18 years and I work there--there are VERY few good places to eat, and almost all of them are Mexican food.

So finding a good Indian restaurant on Alum Rock is seriously amazing. I saw this place driving up to my parents house one day up Alum Rock and made a mental note to try it. Seriously--I don't know if I've ever "mmmmmmmmm"-ed as much as I did when I last had the navrattan korma. That is the most buttery delicious korma I have EVER had. The chicken makhani is a staple Indian choice of mine--and theirs is pretty good. Dunno if I like it as much as Royal Taj's but it's definitely something I'll continue to order. And I second, (triple?) what others have said about the samosas, they are very tasty.

They do a cheap lunch buffet but I wouldn't bother with it because they only have a couple of things. Plus the dishes are so cheap you can just order a la carte (you also get a choice of naan/rice per entre).

They also have a bakery with tons of homemade treats but I've never gotten anything--though everything looks good! Next time I guess. If you live in the East side, or happen to be over there for some odd reason (no one ever is unless you live there), but definitely check out Jewel of India!

Sam's Barbecue is MY BBQ dig! Hands down--best BBQ sauce of any of the BBQ spots around. The sauce is tangy and so delicious I could drink a tumbler full of it. They even started making a spicy version of their sauce that I would gladly take a shot of.

Now, usually when you think of BBQ food, you think RIBS and chicken... well I have to give a shout-out to Sam's because they have the best fucking hot dogs I have ever tasted!! Seriously--there's nothing I crave more at this place than their hot dog (their potato salad is a close second).

For a long time I was going here once a week at MINIMUM. I went here so often I would walk in and they would already have my order written out for me--I was known as the "hot dog girl". Seriously. I'm not joking. There's just something about that deliciously smokey-BBQ flavor with that tangy BBQ sauce that makes me not want to order anything else.

Although I have cheated on my hot dog a couple of times with the Chicken platter--which is great if you want to try a couple different sides. Their pork ribs are pretty amazing too (I'm all about pork ribs over beef ribs). They also make some really good chili.

And if you stop by on a Tuesday night or sometimes on a random weekend evening--you can catch some local live bluegrass music.

Hands down--this is my favorite Korean place to eat at in the South Bay (that I've been to). There are still a lot of places I'd like to try along El Camino in Santa Clara, but at this point in my life, Omogari is it.

First, I didn't give it five stars because since the old owner left (and a new family member took over), the kimchee side dishes just aren't what they used to be. The daikon is too salty now--and that ones my favorite.

For quite awhile all I ordered was the Dae-jee bul-go-gi (bbq spicy pork), cuz that shit is bomber than other place I've had it. But with winter coming though--the stews and soups are usually what I lean towards. The mushroom soft-tofu soup is delicious! And for noodles & kimchee I really love the chap-chae.

My co-worker always orders the hae-mul pa-jan appetizer (its a seafood pancake thing), which I usually eat quite a bit of (sans green onions).

For a little while they began serving sushi (because they are in SJ Japantown and apparently lots of people were requesting it), but they recently stopped due to lack of chefs/staff.

So while I wish I could give Omogari a solid five stars, I give it four because the kimchee side dishes can be hit or miss depending on the day--though I still think they have some of the best ones of many I've been too.

Lastly what sets Omogari apart from my other Korean joints is the staff and service. The folks at Omogari are super friendly and warm (Boing!) and even wear snazzy belts. They are very attentive and get to know their customers--thus why they have so many returning ones!

I've been coming here for a few years now and I will definitely continue to do so!

I adore Joao's! I adore the man and I adore his food! I am empowered to write this review (my first for Yelp despite having joined in February), after dining there for lunch today. I also dedicate my first Yelp review to my guy, Nathan, for introducing me to this place!

I have been going to Joao's for a good 3-4 years and it's always a treat! I've tried almost everything under the lunch/dinner menu that is more traditional Brazilian food (I haven't tried anything on the breakfast menu--though I've been told good things). I do recommend going there for lunch over dinner if you can--because of the price difference--but either way, it's worth it. His soup is always amazing (don't even think about trying to order a salad over soup--you might get an inquisitive look), and definitely go for the coxina or quibe appetizers--which are fried/crusted potato filled with chicken (I like the coxina over the quibe but both are good).

Main course menu recommendations: definitely the Feijoada! It's a traditional authentic Brazilian dish that's on the lighter side but super flavorful! The Brazilian Chicken is also amazing! Simple chicken, rice and veggie dish but very flavorful comfort food! There's nothing better than Joao's Brazilian chicken on an overcast rainy day. The fish (de peixe) is also good--but make sure you get the orange/yellow sauce over the other one. The carne cozida is also super good!

LASTLY--make sure to try the Guarana! The best legal coke fix in soda version! (Straight from wikipedia: While guarana features large leaves and clusters of flowers, it is best known for its fruit, which is about the size of a coffee berry. Each fruit contains about one seed, which contains approximately three times more caffeine than coffee beans.)

Let's not forget the real reason behind why so many of us all love this place: the man, the myth, Joao himself. He's a comic book character out of a Daniel Clowes graphic novel or something--who dances around his diner, listens to lots of classic rock (he LOVES Lynyrd Skynyrd and U2), and is just that contagiously happy person you enjoy returning to. OK so maybe he's not exactly a Clowes character since most of them are depressing--he's more the anti-Daniel Clowes character.

Obrigado Joao for being so awesome and having even more awesome food!