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victor "shanghai k." g.'s Profile

Photo of victor g.

Photo of victor g.

"i came, i ate/drank, i yelped"

Elite 2009 Elite 2008

profile votes icon Review votes:
2605 Useful, 888 Funny, and 1658 Cool

Location

Oakland, CA

Yelping Since

December 2007

Things I Love

sashimi, burritos, pho, burgers, fish & chips, soul food, asian cuisines, etc.

Find Me In

visible

My Hometown

oaktown,  & the 'dro, ca.

When I'm Not Yelping...

i'm deyelping

Why You Should Read My Reviews

sharing my hits and misses.

My Second Favorite Website

http://mysoju.com , huffington http://post.com

The Last Great Book I Read

naomi klein's "the shock doctrine" , the raise of disaster capitalism

My First Concert

the who

My Favorite Movie

shanghai grand, peace hotel, unforgiven, infernal affairs I, II, III.,

My Last Meal On Earth

whatever i ate yesterday

Don't Tell Anyone Else But...

reisling and pinot noir are my favs

Most Recent Discovery

politicians lie to protect the special interests they actually represent

Current Crush

asian tv dramas, leslie cheung

Recent Reviews

1611 Reviews

Filter by: Location   Category
48 Webster St
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 839-6761

Heinold's First And Last Chance Saloon  

Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Jack London Square

3 star rating
 11/20/2009  
ya, i know this pub has historical relevance.
ya, jack london drank here.
na, the beers aren't too cold
na, the price is stiff (pints, 5)guinness,6

came here, got a drink., didn't fall on my ass from the slanted floors nor the steep steps...

na, the bartender just seem to be on the clock, a union job. didn't seem part of the jack london gig. did jack london have to put up with indifferent bartends?  bummer.if he did.

i felt jacked in heinold's.
this is my first and last time here.

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2125 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 563-8284

Tuttimelon  

Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhood: Russian Hill

4 star rating
 11/20/2009  
this tuttimelon is directly across from walgreens and they stay open until midnight. the white wavy wall on the left extends the length of the shop. shades of green inhabit the rest of the shop. cool plastic seats are gathered thruout the shop

music: hip hop
signtings: shaved ice, gelato, velvet  cupcakes, parfaits, froyo

froyo avaiable:
-tart
-chocolate (no sugar added) nice chocolate taste
-pomegrate
-blueberry tart: a little tartness accompanies some blueberryneess. creamy texture.

pricing:  
       tart    (s)2.45 (m)3.45 (l) 4.45
  flavored (2)2.95 (m)3.95 (l)4.95 toppings: (1) .95 (2) 1.25 (3) 1.55 additional toppings  .35cents  21 dry (cereal, 2 mochis, candies, chocolates,) 8 wet/fruit toppings(yogurt poppers, etc)

frodrips:
-street parking
-single person on duty, was busy in back. no problem, just hollar
-prefer self serve tutti's where almond is in the house!

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1348 Polk St
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 771-6477

Piccadilly Fish & Chips  

Category: Fish & Chips
Neighborhood: Nob Hill

2 star rating
 11/19/2009  
piccadilly fish & chip is next to a boarded up breakfast joint at the corner of pine & polk.  the shop looks aged with white/cream overtones and the only anemities are generic  wooden table and  chairs. the tv is tuned to korean soaps.

typical fish & chip menu,: oysters, onion righs,, clams, chickens, fries, prawns.......

sampling:
2 piece fish & chip (6.40) no tax, cash only
-2 piece of fish had crispy batter but the fish was bland. flaky and watery. the fish was falling apart when i bit it. the fish wasn't crisp.
-fries not so crisp, and insides mushy. oil not hot enought?

leftovers:
-cash only
-fish wrapped in korean newspaper, not an english one,
-very fast, friendly service
-fish ready in 10 minutes, beating my meter's 15 minutes.
-meter maid's standing by.
-remembered chelsa's was better but they use pollock, cod? used here.

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2356 Polk St
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 440-6900

Loving Cup  

Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Russian Hill

3 star rating
 11/19/2009  
loving cup's off white ambience is so soothing. they  offered a blending of either organic vanilla or chocolate  base  yogurt with a choice from frozen frutis or dry ingredients.  their version taste better than penquino's or yogen fruz. (is this because their yogurt is sweeter?)

blending ingredients"
-fruits(bananae, blueberry, mango, strawberry, pineapple, raspberry, coconut, peach,  all frozen)
-dry(15 kinds):nutella, peanut butter, oreos, gummi bears, pistachio etc.

pricing: (s) 2.75 (m) 3.75 (l) 4.75 no tax

menu: expresso, rice pudding, organic yogurt,

frodrips
-few chairs inside, a bench outside
-blend had an hole in th middle, not all yogurt mixed. some vanilla remained
-blueberry wasn't distinquishable, sweet taste was.
-parking avaialable on incline on sidestreet.
-loving cup claims yogurt is organic.  blending ingredients' status uncertain
-climbing up the hill (to my car) good aerobics.

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1042 Marina Blvd
San Leandro, CA 94577
(510) 352-5536

Sushi Avenue  

Category: Sushi Bars

2 star rating
 11/19/2009  
sushi ave. is amidst the dro's auto mall just past the gas station. wood is all around: wood beams, wooden tables, wooden tables, chairs, wooden platforms, and wooden flowers (almost). lots of big white lantern lamps provided the  illimination.

(sidenote: wood and lanterns reminded me of the latest john woo epic, "red cliff")

music: rock & roll

sampling:
-chirashi (16.95)
*nice clump of wakame(seaweed salad): tasty, 2 tamayo, 2 hamachi, 2 tako, 4 suzuki, 4 sake, 4 maguro. nice slices but almost all sashmi  were cold including the sushi rice which wasn't flavored enough.
-lotsa lettuce with lotsa dressing: small meal for  an average sized rabbit and/or vegeterian.
-miso soup: salty
-(comped)edamame : fresh
-(comped) fries, nicely crunchy  but cold

temaki
-pretty good service, friendly greetings, nice ambience,
-2 stars for cold, not room temperature, sashimi
-friendly service.
-large quantity of food, good value but qualilty lacking.
-sashimi, nigiri not recommended.

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310 7th St
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 832-6256

New Tin's Market  

Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Oakland Chinatown

3 star rating
 11/17/2009  
tin's market is visibie immediately visible to your left as you exit the alameda tube. tin's is the only chinese market in chitown with it's own parking lot, the bad: often,  no spaces are available.

the front of the shop features a canopied fruit and produce section. inside is a few aisle of dry goods, a chinese deli section (mostly roast duck and char siu), a fresh seafood and meat section, and a section where frozen items like dim sum are available.

there's appears to be an italian looking person in the  shop who might be the security guard. if you want his attention, pick up an item and instantly his eyes are focused on you.

the shop is very clean and organized, and there are few shoppers here. didn't comparative shop. but it was an interesting experience.
pick up some instant ramen (china, japan) to sample.(.49)

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1950 Market St
Concord, CA 94520
(925) 288-9239

Sushi Raku  

Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars

3 star rating
 11/17/2009  
from the decor, sushi raku is a contemporary eatery. it's modern looking and brown rules the walls, the furniture, and even the hanging art works. the waitresses are dressed in stylish black. the food dishes are so unique and some would say "cute".

sightings: udon lunch specials with lots of goodies (9.99) nigiri(4.75ish)
music: mix of rock & soul
flatscreen: soap operas

sampling:
-chirashi (raw fish over rice 12.50)
-miso soup:  tasty but had msg
-lettuce with miso dressing , ok
-(gratis) appetizer dish with daikon (2), shredded radish  , and potato salad, nice
*chirashi: 1 ebi, 2 tamayo, 1 mirugai, 1 albacore (long) 3 suzuki, 2 sake, 3 maguro, and 2 hamachi. some pieces small and thin, mostly average about bite size
-sushi rice pretty flavorful and tasty.

temaki:
-suberb, cheerful service, tea refilled often, empty  dishes quickly cleared.
-cheerful hello and thank yous, have a nice day upon departure.
-bulgoki lunch specials available (9.99)
-many sashimi thin sliced. food average. chirashi above average value.

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1216 Stockton St
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 781-8186

Fruit City  

Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Nob Hill

4 star rating
 11/16/2009  
this is a generic review for the dozens of veggie/fruit  retailers on stockton street.  fruit city isn't too far from the ping yuen apartments where i visited my relatives many times nor too far from my home on grant ave when i was a toddler.

random sightings:
-veggies/fruits pricing in s.f. chitown are the cheapest in town
-cardboard pricing which can change in an instant.
(remember to check pricing at checkout. maybe the cashier didn't know prices has changed).
-neighborly stores may have similar pricing, walk half a block and the difference widens greatly.
-after 5, drastic discounts happens to clear inventory ahead of next day's arrival.
-beware of elbow flinging grannies who cut in line
-don't leave packages alone, they may not be there when you return.
-parking very bad. park a few blocks away and walk.

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2742 Aborn Rd
San Jose, CA 95121

Yogurtland  

Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

4 star rating
 11/15/2009  
this yogurtland has the typical yogurtland design but on a smaller scale: glass panels, minitiles, chairs, etc. the usual friendly service, free samples and water are omnipresent.

music: hip hop

froyo availability:
-arctic vanila
-dutch chocolate
-blueberry tart
-pinapple tart
-pistachio
-double cookies &  cream
-peanut butter
-plain tart
-pomegrate raspberry tart  :faint?
-strawberry bananae
-mango
-taro:nice, sweet
-green tea: dense
-fresh strawberry
-ny cheesecake
-toasted coconut : kind of bland

pricing: .30 cents froyo &  toppings.  21 dry (cereal, cookies, candies, choclates) toppings. 15ish wet/fruit toppings including pomegrate seeds, white mochi was hard for some reason. blueberry okay.

frodrips:
-no new flavors present  this visit.
-tokidoki cups & spoons are in the house!
-taylor froyo machines with yogurtland logo on it.
-froyo mostly creamy, melted fast
-tempted to give 3 stars, value pricing and nice ambience, friendly staff ups it to 4.

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1708 N. Milpitas Boulevard
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 263-1868

Shanghai Restaurant  

Category: Chinese

4 star rating
 Update - 11/15/2009  
haven't  been here in awhile and shanghai has added a 3 fer 16.50  menu with about 40 choices. everything else seem the same.

sampling:
-xiao lung bao(8/6.95) relatively thin skined xlb's with juicy soup and some tasty meat within. one of the finer northern cal xlb's around.
-hot & sour soup(4.95) very big bowl with tofu strips, black fungus, etc.  ... not as tasty as before cuz i found a new favorite in the 'dro, still pretty decent though.
-"nian gao" rice cake with shredded pork (5.85)tender sauteed rice cakes
3 fer 16.50
-braised bamboo shoot with pork: fresh crunchy bamboo sprouts from china, interesting and tasty dish.
-kung bao chicken:fresh small pieces of chicken with cornlets, bell peppers and onions. fresh but not very spicy.
-"tang chu xiao bai gu=sugar vinegar small pork riblets": large boned spareribs deep fried and covered with sweet sauce: not so great
desert(gratis) mini glutinuous rice balls in sugared soup base. typical chinese deseert. nice.

leftovers:
-saw menus only in chinese, conversed only in mandarin, they probably speak english also.
-cash only
-single waitress on duty, aided by speedy hispanic "busperson".
-3 fer menu worth checking out. some items list for 7.95 on regular menu.

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1 Previous Review: Hide »

  • 4 star rating
    1/19/2008

    anchored by lions market, shanghai restaurant can be found by spotting the 76 gas station, making a left and another left at the lirst driveway to the left. find parking immediately if you can.

    shanghai is next to the porridge restaurant that was on the right as you entered the driveway.

    the menus are in chinese. by hit and miss, our family arrived at some favorites:

    -hot & sour soup @3.95  basic recipe with no extras. good taste
    -xiao loong bao(steam dumplings)
    -shanghai nian gao
    -steamed buns $6.95?
    -braised tender bamboo sprouts- $10ish
    -ja jan mein 4.95  steamed thin noodles with brown(miso) sauce.
     sweet and nicely done. no extras sans sauce.
    -a pork dish made from pork bellies. name forgotten.

    misses
    -mapo tofu. very basic dish with peas and vinegar based sauce.
    -blue crab dish.  crab may have been relatively frozen. little meat which was mushy

    except for the baos, the food comes out very fast.
    with only about 10 tables, shanghai fills up around 6. go early or go late.

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59 Lists

Photo of Heinold's First And Last Chance Saloon

being square in jack…

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Photo of Sushi Avenue

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