#sanjoseeats

Ramen Bliss 💯 . The SF Chronicle recently shared the Best Bay Area ramen shops and Ramen Champ was the sole SF and South Bay establishment I hasn’t tried . I made my way there post-haste and happily found a ramen gem . Serving ‘Jiro-style’ ramen, the signature dish is Buta Ramen . The broth is shoyu-based and enhanced with pork fat globules that showcase distinctive chunks of tender pork kakuni and bean sprouts . Tonkotsu broth is also available but the shoyu broth is both a refreshing change and super flavorful . The noodles (same vendor as @noodleinahaystack) are firm and fresh . I left Ramen Champ super happy and truly think the South Bay and Peninsula ramen scene surpasses SF . Our trifecta includes three very different styles with Taishoken (Tsukemen), Ramen Hajime (tonkotsu) and now Ramen Champ (buta ramen) all at the top of their game . We’ve come a long way from my first bowl of restaurant ramen at Santa Ramen in San Mateo! . 📷 Buta Ramen $14.80 ~ Pork based shoyu broth topped with kakuni pork chashu, umami fat, cabbage, bean sprouts, egg, garlic, black pepper / Tonkotsu Ramen $15.80 ~ Chicken and pork based broth topped with kakuni chashu pork, bean sprouts, cabbage, kikurage mushroom, pork back-fat, green onion, nori seaweed, and deep fried burdock chips / Cucumber Tataki Salad $5.00 ~ Cucumber with sweet soy sauce,shichimi pepper . 📍Ramen Champ (San Jose, CA) . #eatersf #sanjoseeats #noodles #ramen #soup #japanesefood #topcitybites #sffoodie #foodie #nomnom #feed feed #eeeeeats #foodpics #foodgasm #dailyfoodfeed #foodphotography #eatnorthamerica #foodsharinggroup (at Ramen Champ) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClKyRGiNPZn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

My Pho Quest 💯 . When I returned to the Bay Area over 10 years ago, I began a journey to find the very BEST Pho in the Bay Area! Being close to San Jose and Little Saigon made pho and Vietnamese cuisine an easy jumping point for exploration. My quest really picked up when my favorite place closed (but then reopened 3.5 years later) . Here is my most up to date list and (100% subjective) rankings . 📷 Pho Tai - Northern-style signature minced flank steak with fresh wide noodles, ginger tinged broth, and plentiful scallions . 📍Pho Ha Noi (San Jose, CA) . I've tried over 70 pho restaurants in San Jose, the U.S. city with the largest population of Vietnamese-Americans, on a quest to find the very best one . Here are my current favorites: . 1. Pho Ha Noi - BEST Pho (Overall & Northern Style) 2. Pho Y 1 - BEST Pho (Southern Style) 3. Pho Kim Long - BEST Chicken Pho 4. Turtle Tower (SF) - Pho Dac Biet 5. Pho Ga Hung - BEST Cau Bun Rau Muong/Bun Rieu 6. Pho 79 (Garden Grove) - Pho Dac Biet 7. Pho Papa - Pho Dac Biet with Special Beef Short Rib 8. Pho Tick Tock - Pho Tick Tock Single 9. Pho Cong Ly - BEST Oxtail Pho 10. Pho Nguyen (Milpitas) - Pho Nguyen Dac Biet w/ fresh wide noodles . #foodspotting #yelpsouthbay #yelpsiliconvalley #sanjoseeats #littlesaigon #eatersf #feedfeed #topfoodnews #topcitybites #noodles #noodlesoup #pho #dailypho #myphoquest #myfab5 #vietnamesefood #foodie #feedfeed #eeeeeats #foodporn #foodpics #globaleats #eatnorthamerica #foodsharinggroup (at Phở Hà Nội San Jose) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgIj7qSJP-U/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Mingle’s Mango . The Bay Area’s dumpling scene has a way to go but as locals find relief from the lines (and elevated prices) at Din Tai Fung, a few competitors have sprung up . Many of the strongest contenders are in the East Bay, specifically Fremont, and Mingle’s Mango is no different . Like the interestingly name, Mingle’s Mango is notable for a second San Jose spot and for a barren decor in contrast to their themed Fremont spot . In all honestly, the strip mall spot appeared abandoned and the sign even looks like graffiti . But inside, there is table seating though all items are served with paper plates and utensils like a popup or food court . The food is a highlight though with creative combinations of soupy dumplings with slightly thicker skin that combine quality ingredients with great flavor . I’d skip the Wagyu beef noodles next time, but I look forward to trying all their dumpling varieties at either this hole in the wall spot or the Fremont location . It’s not NYC Joe’s Shanghai style (skin not thin enough), but for the Bay Area, I’ll take it . 📷 Kurobuta Pork XLB (2pc) $3.99 ~ Steamed Handmade Berkshire Kurobuta Pork Soup Dumplings served with Sake white vinegar / NewBee XLB(2pc) $5.99 ~ Steamed handmade kurobuta pork soup dumplings with creamy garlic crawfish served with lemon / California Wagyu Beef Noodle Soup $20.99 ~ Homemade noodle in Non-MSG broth with half pound Cailfornia Wagyu Beef and bok choy, half crispy egg, cilantros, and green onion . 📍Mingle’s Mango (San Jose, CA) . #sanjoseeats #dumpling #xlb #chinesefood #eatersf #topcitybites #sffoodie #foodie #nomnom #feedfeed #eeeeeats #foodpics #foodgasm #dailyfoodfeed #globaleats #foodphotography #eatnorthamerica #foodsharinggroup (at San Jose, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf92Mx9PuAR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Upper Peninsula Pho . For those a farther trek from San Jose’s Little Saigon, I’ve long considered San Mateo’s Pho Elements the best option . They specialize in Northern style pho and have a variety of crowd pleasing appetizers including Vietnamese style carpaccio and cheesy butter clams . They’re best known for the chicken pho as well as their Hainan style chicken rice, but we found the Northern style beef pho to be better than other nearby options . Solid broth, fresh wide noodles, and quality beef (filet mignon) stand out and the service is very quick . 📷 Bo Tai Chanh $17.95 ~ Vietnamese style beef carpaccio (filet mignon) / Pho Tai Bo Vien $14.95 ~ large, rare beef (filet) and beef ball noodle soup . 📍Pho Element (San Mateo, CA) . I've tried over 70 pho restaurants in San Jose, the U.S. city with the largest population of Vietnamese-Americans, on a quest to find the very best one . Here are my current favorites: 1. Pho Ha Noi - BEST Pho (Overall/Northern Style) 2. Pho Y#1 - BEST Pho (Southern Style) 3. Pho Kim Long - BEST Chicken Pho 4. Turtle Tower (SF) - Pho Dac Biet  5. Pho Ga Hung - BEST Cau Bun Rau Muong 6. Pho Cong Ly - BEST Oxtail Pho 7. Pho 79 (Garden Grove) - Pho Dac Biet 8. Pho Papa - Pho Dac Biet with Special Beef Short Rib 9. Pho Tick Tock - Pho Tick Tock 10. Pho Nguyen (Milpitas) - Pho Nguyen Dac Biet w/ fresh wide noodles … 18. Pho Element (San Mateo) - Pho Ga with chicken giblets . #foodspotting #yelpsouthbay #yelpsiliconvalley #sanjoseeats #littlesaigon #eatersf #feedfeed #topfoodnews #topcitybites #noodles #noodlesoup #pho #dailypho #myphoquest #myfab5 #vietnamesefood #foodie #feedfeed #eeeeeats #foodporn #foodpics #globaleats #eatnorthamerica #foodsharinggroup (at Pho Element) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfsTnnVJ-F0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Broken Rice 💯 . Everyone seems to have their favorite ’broken rice spot in San Jose’s Little Saigon and Com Tam Thien Huong is among the most frequently cited favorite of many for their excellent grilled pork and for their nem nuong (Vietnamese grilled pork sausage rolls) that give SoCal’s Brodard a run for their money . However, when I’m in the mood for broken rice, I don’t really care about rolls and I’m there for the broken rice . Com Tam Dat Thanh remains my number one choice for broken rice with their grilled shrimp meat on sugar cane and their fried shrimp cake being best-in-class in the with whatever other items you pick all ranking favorably as well . I‘m particular to the broiled meatballs and egg cake, but you can’t go wrong whichever combination you pick at this place . Even the msg-tinged soup broth and plentiful fish sauce and chili sauce provided just hits the right notes for me and I’m happy to report that after revisiting after my very first introduction to broken rice almost 8 years ago, Com Tam Dat Thanh gets a trophy from me 🏆 (and accepts credit cards post-COVID) . 📷 Com Tam Nem Nuong, Tau Hy Ky, Bi, Cha, Tom Nuong, Chao Tom $20.95 ~ Rice with Broiled Meatballs, Fried Shrimp Cake, Shredded Pork Skin, Egg Cake, BBQ Shrimp & Grilled Shrimp Meat on Sugarcane . 📍Com Tam Dat Thanh (San Jose, CA) . #sanjoseeats #littlesaigon #vietnamesefood #eatersf #topcitybites #sffoodie #foodie #nomnom #feedfeed #eeeeeats #foodpics #foodgasm #dailyfoodfeed #globaleats #foodphotography #eatnorthamerica #foodsharinggroup (at Com Tam Dat Thanh) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfPVd66va5B/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Rice Rolls . I always love seeing and trying less common regional cuisine and Little Saigon is a treasure trove of these discoveries . After an ok banh cuan cua elsewhere, I finally found this restaurant on the main drive through of Vietnam Town . There was a long wait so I just ordered to go which since freshly made took 20 minutes . I loved the banh cuon dac biet or deluxe rice roll platter as it includes their signature rice rolls served with mixed sauce and Thai chilis (spicy) but also a fried egg roll and various Vietnamese hams . The Nem Nuong roll was very good as well and a nice alternative to Brodard for the Bay Area (but missing the crunchy fried egg roll skin) with the best aspect being how they wrap in plastic to preserve the freshness after it’s made . Will have to return to try the Bun Moc or Vietnamese Pork Noodle Soup . 📷 Banh Cuon Dac Biet $10.75 ~ Special Rice Roll / Nem Nuong Cuon $7.50 ~ Grill Pork Patty Rolls . 📍Banh Cuon Bun Moc Ong Ta (San Jose, CA) . #ricerolls #vietnamesefood #sanjoseeats #yelpsiliconvalley #yelpbayarea #eatersf #topcitybites #sffoodie #foodie #nomnom #feedfeed #eeeeeats #foodpics #eeeeeats #foodgasm #dailyfoodfeed #globaleats #foodphotography #eatnorthamerica #foodsharinggroup (at Banh Cuon Ong Ta) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdkDd89rDs1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Grand Dynasty💯 . An evolution is occurring as the Cantonese restaurants that were once the dominant dining destinations in the Bay Area face new competition and reinvent themselves for a new generation . The Koi Palace Group was the first to raise the bar with their widely successful Palette Tea House (SF) and Palette Tea Garden (San Mateo) that feature more colorful (IG friendly) menu items combined with traditional flavors and high quality ingredients . Now the Dynasty group behind the longtime Dynasty Restaurant in the now demolished Vallco Shopping Mall and Dynasty in San Jose are back with their newest restaurant in Grand Dynasty . The modest strip mall location may be unassuming but the bordering Cupertino and San Jose location brings an elevated interior, multiple private rooms, and a grand banquet hall to the area for the first time . The menu items have been reimagined and several offerings are more reminiscent of newer offerings in other cities such as Los Angeles, Vancouver, and New York City . Look forward to sampling a banquet menu and dim sum here soon . 📷 Pork Hock Jelly $14.98 / Sautéed Squab Meat and Scallop with XO Sauce $36.98 / BBQ Platter $26.98 / Braised E-Fu Noodle with Fresh Crab Meat $28.98 . 📍Grand Dynasty (San Jose, CA) . #instafood #sanjoseeats #cantoneseeats #chinesefood #banquetmenu #dimsum #yelpbayarea #yelpsiliconvalley #sfeats #eatersf #topcitybites #sffoodie #foodie #nomnom #feedfeed #eeeeeats #foodpics #eeeeeats #foodgasm #dailyfoodfeed #foodphotography #globaleats #eatnorthamerica (at San Jose, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbaFx58r0Ql/?utm_medium=tumblr

Weekend Pastries 💯 . Stopped by Little Saigon and walked by CA Bakehouse Shop. The sign said closed but there was a small entourage inside so I entered . Before I knew it, they changed the sign to open and a line started forming outside. Luckily, I had a chance to view all the baked items before being told the line and ordering is outside the bakery (the entourage was for a big preorder) . Have to love the flavors, the colors, and the prices! . 📷 Portuguese Egg Tart $2 / Durian Egg Tart $3 / Mochi Cake $2.25 / Kaya (Pandan Custard) Croissant $3.5 / Pandan Milk Bread with Coconut $6 / Char Siu Pork Bun $2 . 📍CA Bakehouse (San Jose, CA) . Photo Credit: 1st photo by SF (elementary schooler) . #instafood #sanjoseeats #littlesaigon #pastries #dessert #bakery #yelpbayarea #yelpsiliconvalley #sfeats #eatersf #topcitybites #sffoodie #foodie #nomnom #feedfeed #eeeeeats #foodpics #eeeeeats #foodgasm #dailyfoodfeed #foodphotography #globaleats #eatnorthamerica (at CA Bakehouse) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbTaAXpvcQ2/?utm_medium=tumblr