B "YMFY" C.'s Profile

This week the power went out on Valencia. I'd just paid for a meal and they were unable to finish preparing it nor were they able to provide me a refund. Some things are beyond our control, that's totally fine. This is review is how it was handled after.

The cashier who was working there that night assured me that she would write my name down and tack it to the wall so that when power was restored, I could come by and either get a refund or my meal. I took her on good faith.

When I returned two nights later, I told the cashier (a different one) what had happened and she said there was no such note. There was no such note with my name written. The cashier and the other waitress knew of the situation but were unwilling to help. I went into my phone and showed her the credit card bill for the meal that I never received and it didn't help. Why would I make a story like this up? After 10 minutes the waitress finally recalled that she had heard my name mentioned and then I was finally refunded my money.

The way a restaurant treats it's customers is just as important as how well the food tastes. I would encourage you to take in the pages of 1 star reviews at Urbun Burger first before coming here and then take your business down the block to Burger Joint.

This review isn't about a  bratty entitled customer who was slighted on water or whatever; the power went out and that's out of the restaurant's control. No problem, no big deal. But the way Urbun Burger chooses to handle a refund after giving assurances...with an air of suspicion and contempt...it's not what I think a good restaurant should be. I won't be coming back. Just my two cents.

Your tamales are a wonderland,
Cheese, beef, or chicken I'll use my hands.

I had the beef rendang which was ok, though it was more like a curry than real beef rendang, which is suppose to have soaked up all the coconut milk and spices. What I really wanted though, and what I'm going back for is the chili crab.

I always order the duck here. And it's always 4.70 for a lunch meal. About as cheap as it gets. Seating is pretty limited so I always get it to go and eat it in the park a block away. The whole duck is great as well. A terrific design of nature. Enough fat on one bird to confit two legs, plus the carcass left over to make a sauce. It's a self contained dinner that even comes with its own cooking element.

p.s. the guy chopping up the birds has probably been working there for years but everytime I say "duck" he acts like it's the first time he's ever heard the word. If someone wants to fill me in on how to say "duck" in canto that'd be great.

Some of the best gnocchi I've ever had. The chef said the trick was to rice the potatoes hot then work in flour immediately. It's more readily absorbed that way. Pillowy and silken, served with a venison ragu.

I love this place. Everywhere I've lived, there's been a video store like this in my life. Right down to the organization of titles by directors. The fact that Taiwanese arthouse gets its rightful own place on the shelf...really won me over from the start.

It's a video store that makes me believe rental places of this kind will survive Netflix and digital distribution because of it's obscure collections and extremely knowledgeable film-loving employees.

pro-tip: only two bucks to rent on Wednesdays!

This place is terrible. Three people behind the counter ignored me as I waited patiently to order. I waited 5 minutes...don't waste your time on these idiots, head across the street to Philz where everyone greets you and doesn't discriminate.

Tiny ice cream shop next to Upper Playground. They're open late but bring cash.

They usually have like a dozen flavors to choose from at any given time and it's random what flavors they'll serve up that day, but Lemon Cookie is what you want. Everything else is pretty standard fare that you can get elsewhere...but seeing lemon cookie...This is how people marooned in shark-infested waters feel when they see the helicopters coming to save them.

I was set to write a real hater review of this place because I'd locked my bike up and ordered a burrito only to wait in an alley for 30 minutes with my number because the line was so long...I even had my iphone out, ruminating on how I'd throw my daggers...

but when I got home and finally tore the tinfoil off, it was bliss. Pure Mouthhole™ bliss.

I knocked off a star because their burritos are more expensive than the surroundings (I live in the mission, the going rate is like 6 bucks for a super burrito) but nonetheless I'll be back...and next time I won't wait till 8:30 at night to try and get dinner.