Reviews
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I finally got to try this place after hearing the hype for months and months!
Being a fanatic for all things Japanese-noodles, I was originally attracted to this place after hearing they had amazing tsukemen (dipping noodles) and ramen.
We were able to jump on the wait list remotely and by the time we got to the restaurant, we were seated immediately. Tables are nicely spaced out inside, so I felt safe even though it's during a pandemic.
Although I planned to get tsukemen, I saw a few folks chowing down on delicious-looking ramen so my plan was quickly derailed. All ended well, though, because the ramen was friggen heavenly! The noodles had a nice chew to them, the meat included was portioned nicely and quite juicy, and all of the veggies complemented the flavor of the broth quite nicely. Nothing was too salty or fatty as with many other places.
Prices were fair, food was amazing, and the staff were swift and friendly. There's really not much more I could ask for in a noodle spot and will definitely be back! -
MAJOR props as always to Paolo and Yelp Peninsula for hosting another great Yelp Elite Week event!! I'm so glad y'all threw this event with DoorDash Kitchen in RWC because I had no idea this existed! (I also have DashPass thanks to my credit card, so now know where to use my DoorDash perks from now on...)
Event: The event was nicely organized and made for a great break in my day! The DoorDash Kitchen staff were all super chill and friendly. They asked which menu items I wanted to choose in person as their QR code system was down. They also welcomed me to check out some nice event-freebies and swag while I waited for my to-go order! The food came out super quickly in just about 10 minutes!
Swag: Thanks, Yelp for the face mask, note pad, and door opener! All super useful during these COVID/WFH times! I also loved the hot sauce and umami powder from RTR. The Doordash guy also ran after me as I was leaving and gave me 2 Milk cookies! Score!
Food: The RTR salad with chicken was humongous. The veggies and meat were very fresh and it was super filling! We split it among 2 people along with the umami fries and now I'm excited to come back to this place for more of the same! I had heard about RTR in SF but it's been too far to get to. I'm glad I can get a taste of this popular restaurant in my neck of the woods!
I can't wait to come back to this place to try all their sub-kitchens! Thanks again, Yelp Peninsula for taking good care of your Peninsula Elites and showing us all these awesome places to eat! -
I first came here for a Yelp Elite event back when this place was just starting out. After trying their menu for the first time I got hooked! I always come back here and have recently been bringing friends here for post-Cinemark eats as it's right by the theater at Tanforan.
From coming here so often and from following them on social media, I'm so impressed with the overall vibe this place sets up for its customers. The servers and staff are all incredibly chill and friendly. They get into different holidays (check out the photos of their spooky sauces for Halloween now that it's September) and have great art on display as well.
The food itself is delicious, and I've been making my way down their entire menu, trying something different each time. This weekend I split the chicken shawarma plate with veggies and fries along with some falafel. Eating at the restaurant, the food was quick to come out and was piping hot. The spices and sauces were all perfection.
I'm so happy that this place in my hometown is getting the attention it deserves. It's really a great local business run by kind people and the food is the best! -
I'm so glad that there have been plenty of Peninsula Yelp Elite Events in the southern part of the Peninsula as I recently moved down to Mountain View. I had been looking for places to meet SF friends halfway, so am glad I got to try the delicious food of Masala Desi Cafe for this event!
When the restaurant opened, I ordered via phone because I knew I had to be in and out between a couple meetings. I'm therefore grateful for the restaurant's awesome service and prompt preparation of my food!
I ordered 1 butter chicken lunch special as well as a chili paneer. We split it among 2 people and it was a good amount that could easily fill us both up! The butter chicken was flavorful and creamy, and I really liked the taste of the chili paneer. The paneer was very nicely spiced but not too hot for me. (Spiciness is my friggen kryptonite so am glad this wasn't too nuclear.)
The staff and owner were all very nice and seemed to keep all guests attended to, which was really appreciated. Super big shout out to the restaurant and Paolo for organizing this Yelp Elite Event! I also appreciate the Yelp freezer bag as my Yelp stemless wine glass broke while I moved (RIP.) This was the perfect and most practical replacement!
I'm definitely going back to Masala Desi Cafe for more lunch specials and to try all their tasty stuff! -
Now that I'm pretty close to SJC, I've flown out and into here a number of times, all with a good experience. I'm used to SFO as my hub, which is often packed with international and business travelers. That in mind, I've been happy about how quick it is to get in and out of this airport for trips.
PROS:
1. As of mid-2021, it only takes between 5-15 minutes to get through security most of the time. This is due in part because the TSA is organized here, and also because the airport isn't terribly crowded at any given time relative to its bigger Californian cousins (SFO, OAK, LAX.)
2. Terminal A and B are connected after security. I've had most flights out of Terminal B but have Priority Pass for the lounges in Terminal A, so it's handy that no train, check-in or check out is required.
3. The gate areas and restrooms are clean, and I noticed staff spraying down the empty gate areas with cleaning mist as I walked around the terminals
4. There are plenty of touchless water-bottle filling stations to load your bottles with water before your flight
5. If you fly Southwest (55% of all flights) or Alaska (20% of all flights) then there are plenty of routes available to you via these airlines
6. The passenger pick-up and ride-share designated zones are clearly marked and make leaving the airport easy, as well as picking up or dropping off passengers. Traffic cops here are also not aggressive as SFO/OAK and actually allow people time to jump into your cars without blowing whistles at you.
CONS:
1. Food options are pretty sparse aside from fast food (Chick fil a, Smashburger, Jamba Juice, pastries at Starbucks)
2. Aside from Southwest and Alaska, there aren't too many other airlines that flight out of here. They're mostly routed via SFO or OAK instead, especially for international flights.
3. Lounge hours are plastered on the walls as closing at 10pm, but they were closed when I got there at 7pm. FYI!
All in all, I'm glad to be closer to this airport as getting in and out is a breeze. Happy flying! -
I had to save my 500th Yelp review for one of the absolute -best- restaurants in the Bay!
Kabul Afghan serves up mind-blowing food and their staff has made every visit worthwhile with their professional and super friendly service
I've been here for dine in and for takeout. For the prior, I came in a couple years ago with my parents and brother to celebrate a special occasion. We loved sharing a bunch of dishes family-style, and we enjoyed the upscale atmosphere that was great for a special occasion! The combination kababs with lamb and beef and mantu were our favorites.
Much more recently, I stopped by to grab takeout while I was walking around the neighborhood. It struck me that I was near this place, needed to grab food while I was here, and had to drop my plans to cook, -stat!- I picked up mantu and bolani with meat. The mantu was ridiculously tasty as always, and I was pleasantly surprised by the bolani. I've tried the regular kind a bunch of times, but the meat one wasn't too heavy and has some great flavor to it.
The guy who took my order was super friendly as usual and told me he threw in some extra bread for my takeout order! We used the leftover bread to go with some other dips we had at home the next day, so were really glad he gave that to us.
All in all, I'm glad I've moved closer to this spot and am happy to have "rediscovered" Kabul Afghan while walking around. When the world fully opens up again, I'm excited to come back here with friends to eat more amazing food in an equally inviting atmosphere. -
I had a great experience at Costco Optical with Dr. Hanh Tran, and wish I had gone here sooner to give the ol' eyeballs a proper checkup.
Sign Up Process:
Calling in to make an appointment was straightforward: I called the number for Costco two days prior and connected via the extension for optometry dept. I asked the receptionist if there was availability for the day I wanted, and got booked without issue.
Check In:
The day of, I got to office a bit early (it's located right behind where the eyeglasses displays are) and checked in. The receptionist checked me in via a physical form, and I provided her my latest prescription of eyeglasses to create a record given it was my first time here.
Initial Tests to Expect:
The receptionist also guided me through the basic vision tests (follow the light and puff of air into the eyes,) then asked me if I wanted a retina scan. I opted in and she guided me through all the necessary steps to take an image.
Eye Exam with Dr Tran:
Meeting with Dr. Tran also went smoothly. I appreciated her calm, kind, and professional tone throughout. She checked my vision and patiently answered all of the many questions that I prepared after completing checks.
Check Out & Cost:
The total for everything (eye exam + retina scan) came out to $100. I paid with card and had my glasses prescription emailed to me along with the receipt and the photos of my retina. I wasn't hassled to shop for any glasses with Costco, which was also nice as I plan to buy from some online vendors I like.
All in all, I thank Dr. Tran and her admin for a smooth eye exam process. I appreciate the great customer service from the receptionist and thoroughness of my exam from the doctor. I will definitely come back the next time I need an eye exam!
Tips:
1. Schedule on a weekday if possible- it wasn't busy at all for me
2. Write down questions prior to your eye exam
3. Bring a copy of your current/latest prescription so the doctor can measure any changes to your vision
4. Bring your current glasses/contacts so the doctor can test your vision with and without them
5. Ask for an email receipt of your prescription for easy future reference -
Wow- this place blew my mind and is currently my favorite Korean BBQ spot in the Bay Area! Saying this means a lot coming from someone who is obsessed with Korean culture, BBQ, music, etc, as I've tried what feels like millions of KBBQ places at this point.
What's different about this place than the Gen BBQs of the Bay is the focus on the quality and cuts of meat served rather than rush of getting a large quantity of meat. Somehow, the brisket, bulgogi and pork belly we tried were all much juicier and more flavorful than most I've ever tried. As I ate up I thought "is this how people living the good life eat?!"
The service was also remarkable here, as the staff continually swooped in to refill sides, water, and ask how everything was going. Our table of 5 shot out flurry after flurry of requests, and the staff was professional, swift, and nice about getting everything we needed in the blink of an eye.
I would say that the caveat to this place is that it is pricey, but that's where the old "you get what you pay for" comes into play. That said, I'd save this for special occasions to make this all the more of a memorable experience.
I can't wait to find another excuse to come back here and enjoy a slice of heaven (or two) in KBBQ form. -
We came here today to try out a couple noodle dishes as it's so darn close to home- we weren't disappointed!!
We ordered the Dan Dan Noodles which seemed to be pretty popular/one of their specialties as well as the Shrimp/Spinach Noodles. Both were super delicious in their own way! Across the board I really liked the consistency of the noodles, which had a great chew to it. They weren't soggy nor too firm.
The sauces weren't too spicy or salty, and the dishes were overall coated with a good balance of veggies and meat.
We ate inside and the atmosphere was relaxed, clean, and safe. The staff all wore masks and I saw them disinfecting the tables thoroughly as guests left. From scanning the QR code at the beginning to grabbing a pen from the clean pen cup to sign for the check, everything was done thoughtfully to keep guests safe.
Finally, the staff were all very friendly and quick to take orders, refill water, and bring food/check as they were ready. We never had to wait too long nor did we feel rushed. It was pretty great.
Altogether, this spot is solid and I'm excited to come back and try all their other noodle dishes! -
Chocobar Cortés does not disappoint! We came in 5 minutes before close and they were nice enough to seat us for dine-in.
We tried the chocolate martini, choco mocha, choco grilled cheese, and pastries called quesito Cortes. Man, it was chocolate overload, but in the best of ways!
Service was extremely fast- I was surprised that things came out within just minutes. The servers were also very friendly and quick. Also, everything tasted great.
Don't come here if you're on a diet! Do come here if you're looking to indulge a bit on chocolate everything!