Akihiro O.'s Profile

UPDATE:  New Peking is now open until midnight.  They also added Dim Sum plates to their menu which can be ordered any time of the day.  I tried some of them the other day and they were as delicious as anything I had at Hong Kong Saigon restaurant in Sunnyvale near my previous residence.

This is a hidden jewel.  Although there are many Chinese restaurants in South Bay, it's not easy to find good ones.  This place tops my list.  It looks mediocre from outside; the interior isn't exactly sophisticated; and it is rarely crowded.  However, I liked the taste of everything I have ever ordered here.  I rank this Chinese restaurant higher than much fancier places I used to frequent including Chef Chu's in Los Altos, Ming's in Palo Alto and Mayflower in Milpitas.  The only other places I like as much are Hunan Home's in Los Altos and The Kitchen in Millbrae.  Very highly recommended!

Tiya is absolutely the best massage therapist I have ever encountered in the United States. I have tried many other places locally and around the country, including expensive spas, but no one else came even close.

Tiya has had her own massage business in her native island of Fiji, worked in several well-known resort hotels and spas. She is one of a very few massage therapists I know who can really release tightened muscles and eliminate pain and fatigue around the body.

Her rate is reasonable, so I usually receive 3-hour massage once or twice a month. Very highly recommended for office workers, computer professionals as well as athletes like myself.

Though the name might sound Italian, Muracci's is actually a Japanese Curry restaurant.  After successfully operating in the San Francisco's financial district for the last couple of years, the Japanese owner family decided to open their 2nd location in downtown Los Altos where they used to live and still loves.  March 26th, 2010 was their Grand Opening day.  Now, Silicon Valley has an alternative to The Curry House (in Cupertino, and also around Southern California), which is owned and operated by House Foods America Corporation.

Milder and creamier than its Indian counterpart, Japanese-style curry is hugely popular in Japan (No. 2 ranked fast-food, closely behind ramen noodles).  However, the Bay Area has had only 3 specialized Japanese curry restaurants:  The Curry House in Cupertino, On-The-Bridge in San Francisco's Japantown (pathetic in my humble opinion), and Muracci's on Kearny Street in SF.  This one is the 4th.

Muracci's curry, using S&B brand of spices, is spicier, and less creamier, than that of The Curry House.  People who like a little more punch in their curry might prefer Muracci's to The Curry House.  "House" and "S&B" are two major spice brands in Japan, and S&B is usually a bit more spicy.  Having rather sweet teeth, I still prefer the mildness and the creaminess of The Curry House's curry; however, I certainly wouldn't mind coming back to Muracci's from time to time.  I'm sure that this restaurant will attract large followings.

Besides the curry, I would highly recommend their excellent Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet).  It is very tender, juicy and tasty.  By far the best Tonkatsu in the entire San Francisco Bay Area.  Try their Katsu Curry (curry with Tonkatsu topping), or Tonkatsu Lunch Plate.  You will not be disappointed.  Their Japanese-style Hamburg Steak Plate is good as well.

Their operating hours (as of March 2010) are from 11:00am to 6:00pm on Mondays thru Fridays, 11:30am to 6:00pm on Saturdays (closed on Sundays).  It's located on the State Street, just behind Sumika.  There is plenty of public parking in the back.

Dr. Ma has been my dentist in the last 15 years or so.  He had his practice inside the Sunnyvale Towncenter, therefore the business name.  I like his new office at the corner of Mathilda and Maude.  It has very nice ambiance, and it is much quieter than in the mall.  Parking spaces are abundantly available as well.

He is very kind, compassionate, friendly, professional, and above all else, caring.  I recommended him to many of my friends as well as family members, and received excellent feedback and words of appreciation.

I also received treatments from his co-practitioner, Dr. Wong.  I would very highly recommend him as well.

I do believe that Masa's is the best sushi restaurant in Peninsula, if not in the entire Bay Area.  I say this not only because I've been coming here since it opened 20 years ago, but because of the quality, price, assortment and taste of their sushi, as well as service, ambiance, energy, and decency of the people working here.  Masa's sushi has always been down-to-the-earth; good balance of fish and rice satisfies even my big appetite, while some other sushi places serve too much fish and too little rice -- those are good for people who drink a lot of sake or beer while snacking sushi every once a while.  Masa-san really understands the needs of someone like me who enjoys eating sushi (and I don't drink).  Highly recommended for lunch or dinner outings with family or friends.  Take-out menu is available.  For home sushi parties, Masa's party trays are absolutely the best value.

This hideaway Japanese restaurant is actually a very good one.  The owner/chef carries the highest-level cooking license in Japan, and he obtained it at the record-breaking young age, at that time, of in his early 30s.  Nothing fancy but everything is good and reasonably priced.  Their menu looks like a popular Japanese family-style restaurant in Japan.  My favorites are Japanese rib-eye steak and hamburg steak dinners.  Their sushi is good also.  The best part is that they are open until 10:30pm.

This is my regular hangout.  A place for family-style Japanese meals.  Their tempura is the best in Bay Area.  The waitress, Taiko-san, is a mom to their regular clientele.  Expect friendliness, not sophisticated services.  The owner/chef, Mr. Kimura, was a long-time head chef for Seto restaurant in Sunnyvale.

Kaygetsu is my absolute favorite when it comes to upscale Japanese dining.  Good for impressing a date or business associate.  Their prices are totally worth it.  It's like going to a fine traditional restaurant in Kyoto, which would cost you at least twice the money.

This is by far the best upscale contemporary Japanese restaurant in Mountain View.  Actually, I don't know of any other in town since Pebble Roppongi turned into a drinking lounge from a place for fine dining (and Tanto, Saizo & Rokko are in Sunnyvale).  Kaygetsu in Menlo Park is still my best favorite in this category, but Nami Nami will do just fine when I don't have that much time and budget.

This place opened up today (January 12th, 2008).  I had the honor of being their first (paid) customer.  Their curry is just as I expected -- the same taste and consistency as their counterparts in LA.  I feel that their prices are extremely reasonable.  I waited for this moment in the last 20 years, ever since I moved up here from Southern California.  I contacted House Foods America, Inc. just over a year ago and told them that I would open my own curry restaurant unless they open one here soon.  The strategy might have worked.  I travel to Japan often in search of good Japanese curry restaurants, but the Curry House chain owned and operated by House Foods America (http://www.house-foods...) provides the best Japanese curry in the world in my opinion.  I will be there everyday when it opens its door.  Incidentally, I was the grand champion of the last year's Curry Cooking Contest held in San Francisco's Japantown, using one of the curry source mixes ("roux") sold by them.