Will M.'s Profile
Date
1 Previous Review:
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11/20/2009
I came here cause I wanted some cheap sashimi that would be edible and not make me pull worms outta my ass a week later. The reviews of this place state that it's cheap, but can quite possibly be the top sushi joint in alameda...which is quite a feat since there's like 5 or 6 places within 3 blocks of YoJimbo.
The place has a very casual atmosphere that houses some local artwork to keep your eyes occupied while waiting for your food. The place is small and houses only 4 tables, but service is quick and efficient so you don't have to wait too long for your food.
I ended up ordering a wakame salad and a chirashi. The portions they gave out were large and the wakame came with a coleslaw mix underneath which tasted really good. The chirashi came with miso soup that wasn't overly salty which I happen to like. Now the Chirashi itself...wow. We got 5 different types of fish with 3 slices each...15 pieces in total for 10 bucks! In addition you also get tamago and like 2 cups worth of sushi rice! This is an absolutely awesome deal. The quality and presentation of the fish tasted and looked like something that costed much more.
Absolutely shocked at the quality of food here for the price. Give this place a try next time one of your friends comes to you begging to try alamedas overrated sushi house.
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 654-7753
Uzen Japanese Cuisine
Category:
Japanese
Neighborhood: North Oakland
This place spares all its attention to detail and Kazu is a perfectionst in his craft. Everything is hand made including the katsuobushi! If you've never seen the amount of work that it takes to create one of these things go look up a video about it on good eats! I had a chance to sample a variety of their sushi years past including the yummy sea urchin.
However, my favorite is their chiraishi bowl. If you want to see how this should be done, order one. The rice is perfectly seasoned with salty, sweet and vingary taste and it is topped with a beautiful asortment of sesame and masago. The quality of fish is superb and perfectly cut as well. He gives you a generous assortment of sashimi as well.
So come check this place out!
Berkeley, CA 94701
(510) 981-8081
Flacos
Categories:
Vegetarian,
Mexican,
Food Stands
Neighborhood: South Berkeley
I had their soy tacos, tosquitos and tamales with rice. The Soy tacos tasted like pork and I forgot I was in a vegetarian place temporarily. The Tosquito was very well done and crunchy all around....although I am use to frozne tosquitos so I dunno how legit my statements are.
The tamale was also fantastic and came with a green sauce that was just the right amount of spice to create a smooth after burn synominous with the relaxing feeling of whiskey going down your esophagus on a cold winters day.
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 522-3745
Central Vegetarian Cuisine
Categories:
Vegetarian,
Vietnamese,
Asian Fusion
I had the garlic beef cubes, seafood clay pot soup, chicken pad thai, rice noodle soup, Basil eggplant, and crispy combination noodles.
The Garlic beef cubes were good, but didn't have the same "wow!" feeling as the ones at the golden lotus.
The seafood claypot soup was very refreshing and all the seafood tasted fantastic. Great dish!
The combination crispy noodles dish was fantastic, nice and crunchy with thick flavors. The pad thai was very good too, but it didn't really taste like "pad thai," (had a way too savory taste to it) so dont' order it expecting it to be like pad thai.
Rice noodle soup was good, but nothing to write home about. The Basil eggplant was also a little low in the basil taste so it ended up just tasting alright.
Service was prompt and quick. The waitress was very patient and easy on the eyes as well. She brought out carrot cake, coffee cake and chocolate cake for us on the house which I thought was nice.
I'm willing to bet this place is a lot better than the 3 I am giving it and I will definately be back again. I'll just ask the waitress for her suggestions next time instead of ordering blindly and hopefully I will be able to update this review with a 4 or 5.
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 893-0383
Golden Lotus Restaurant
Categories:
Vegetarian,
Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Oakland Chinatown
The garlic beef...omg this tastes better than real garlic fried beef! The crsipy chicken...omg tastes better than real fried chicken! The fried prawns...tastes better than real fried shrimp! However, the spicy noodle soup I got was very puny and definitely could have been better....get the plates instead!
I was seriously imagining myself cutting off meat entirely as I was eating...although that would probably be very unhealthy - everything here is fried with oil galore! I would definitely feel comfortable bringing some anti veggie people out here to dine with.
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 356-4090
Maoz Vegetarian
Categories:
Fast Food,
Vegetarian,
Caterers
Neighborhoods: Telegraph Ave, UC Campus Area
Case in point: I ordered a junior maoz which is 4.50. the pita bread it comes in is small and houses three falafels. You might be able to cram 1/2 a cup of veggies at the most into it. So not worth it at that point. however, the fact that you can go back to keep refilling up on veggies from the bar makes it a lot more appealing - don't come here to go!
With that said, their falafel quality is pretty good, but their pita bread leaves much to be desired. Most of the veggie items taste very plain and were slathered in excess oil (although their pan fried broccoli is pretty good).
I don't live around campus anymore so I probably won't come here again. Although if you're from the area it can probably be appealing every now and then.
I didn't mind gorging myself on Bombay's high quality eats tho! Many of their buffet menu items taste absolutely delicious and could have been their own stand alone eats for close to the same price as the entire buffet cost!
The Paneer was not overly cheesy, the Polek was fried and crispy to perfection, and the tandori chicken was perfectly seared all around the drumsticks. My coworker seemed to really love their tikka masala as well. All the curries were absolute delights. The rice pudding was a little bit too sweet for my liking tho. But the mango ice cream was absolutely delish with little bits of mango shaving sprinked in for added texture and taste.
I would come back here again.
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 521-9121
Kamakura Japanese Restaurant
Categories:
Sushi Bars,
Japanese
With that said, I ordered a chiraishi here ($15) to compare against the chiraishi from yojimbos ($10). Portion sizes were roughly the same...but what about quality? NOMNOMNOM...Alright, this place definitely serves better quality sashimi than my favorite yojimbos, but not enough of a difference that would make me want to pay an extra 5 dollars for.
The plum wine after dinner was delicious as well. Service was always attentive. Although everything tasted delicious and the quality was good, I can't imagine myself coming here too often when Yojimbos is just 5 minutes away.
San Anselmo, CA 94960
(415) 456-0834
American Legion Log Cabin - Dugout Bar
Categories:
Venues & Event Spaces,
Dive Bars
Drinks were well priced and their thursday free yelper specials list was a hit amongst my coworkers. The bartender stacy was also laid back and easy to shoot the shit with. Ask the bartender for a history of the joint (its the first Marin bar to get a liquor license).
It's always great when places don't charge for the pool or shuffleboard as well.
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Review votes:
155 Useful, 85 Funny, and 95 Cool
Alameda, CA
Yelping SinceJuly 2008
Things I Loveeating, cooking, hiking, biking, reading
Find Me InCafes and bookstores
My HometownAlameda, CA
When I'm Not Yelping...I'm thinking about my next meal
The Last Great Book I ReadBrave New World
My Last Meal On EarthBowl of Pho
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I use my laptop in the bathroom
They no longer give the complimentary salad...which isn't that bad but my gawd the chiraishi is terrible now. The slices they give you are so ridiculously small and thin - some slices were the size and width of a nickel LITERALLY! They also fill half the bowl with that bland american salad instead of rice as well. Service was also incredibly slow and I had to ask for plates and utensils instead of them being provided with the food...wtf?
It honestly deserves a 1 star but due to nostalgia I'll give it 2. I know the small slices are the result of sticky prices since the capital cost of fish and rice etc is on the rise, but I think they should have just raised their prices to adjust and kept it the same proportions rather than keeping the same price with embarassing skimpy pieces.