Photo Gallery: Foods in San Francisco You Can't Miss

This photo gallery is about my experience of foods in San Francisco over spring break 2011.

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Belly Good Cafe & Crepes

One thing I learned in San Francisco was that if you are a Japanese food lover but don't have the money to travel all the way to Japan, San Francisco is definitely your best option. Originally invented by French, crepes reached its popularity in Asia after transformed by Japanese. Belly Good Cafe & Crepes is located in Japan town, just 10 minutes away from the Union Square of downtown SF. A Japanese couple owns and runs this little, warm, and famous crepes shop. They have every combination of crepes that one can think of, but if you feel like being creative and adventurous, you can always create your own crepes.

"Happy Face Crepes" is why Belly Good is so popular, aside from the fact that it tastes very good. People always say Japanese people are good at making cute stuff, but I was still very surprised when the chef gave me my No.48 Happy Face Crepe with pudding, whip cream, corn chips, red bean paste, and banana. Look at this crepe, how can you not want to come back for more?

Realizing their customers have different preferences, Belly Good serves their crepes in two ways: You can have it wrapped and ready to go, or you can go with the traditional French style, on the plate.

Belly Good address: 1737 Post St. #393, San Francisco, CA 94115

Note: Cash only. They don't accept credit cards.

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Verde Tea House

Verde Tea House is a chain tea house in SF, and apparently very popular among not only Asians but also every race in general. The layout of every store is slightly different, but the bubble tea is consistently in high standard.

The name says it all: You must get a bubble tea when you come here. Unlike many bubble tea places in the mid-west, Verde is actually owned by Taiwanese people, and their bubble tea comes with all sorts of things that can only be found in Taiwan (Not even in China or Hong Kong, trust me!). I always get the regular milk-tea with tapioca just to test the water, but later I found out the one my friend had, milk-tea with noodle, was amazingly good. Never thought that noodle and milk-tea could go together? Try it in Verde and you'll fall in love with it.

In addition to bubble tea, they also serve Taiwanese snacks. I ordered some Taiwanese style think toasts to see if Verde was good enough to have a place on my blog, and~ here it is! They come in all kinds of flavor, sweet or salty, and with a little extra money, you can have two flavors in one thick toast just to see which one you like better.

Verde address: 852 Villa St. Mountain View, CA 94041

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Mama Chen

Famous for its traditional Taiwanese food, Mama Chen is always in its full capacity, even on weekdays. Having their store name and menu written in Chinese, I was not surprised to find out this was the place full of Asians, or some Americans taken by their Asian friends. You can find almost every traditional Taiwanese dish in here, from stinky tofu to intestine noodle. However, just when you assumed that they also served bubble tea here, they would tell you they have everything except for bubble tea. If you feel like having a sweet ending after meal, go to Verde.

Taiwanese oyster pancake is one of my favorite dishes of all time. Many tourists who come to Taiwan have it in Taipei, but the best oyster pancake is actually in my hometown, Hsinchu. To my surprise, the oyster pancake in Mama Chen was actually comparable to those in Hsinchu. What does that mean? The oyster pancake in Mama Chen is 4.5 star if Hsinchu oyster pancakes are rated as 5-star.

Mama Chen address: 5075 Stevens Creek Blvd, Ste 10, Santa Clara, CA 95051

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Kappo Nami Nami

Another thing I learned in SF was that there's not really a Chinatown or Vietnamese town where you find legit Asian foods that can't be found anywhere else. Because of the large Asian population in SF, not only did I hear people talking in Mandarin on the streets but also found Asian restaurants outside of the so-called Chinatown amazingly good.

Due to the convenient location of being in the coast area, the seafood in Kappo Nami Nami is very fresh. The special dishes that Japanese restaurants have in the mid-west are their regular dishes in not only Kappo Nami Nami but also all Japanese restaurants in SF.

In addition to raw fish and seafood, Kappo Nami Nami has traditional Japanese hot plates and bowls as well. Their portion comes a little smaller than the usual portion in mid-west, but the quality of food is incomparable.

Kappo Nami Nami address: 240 Castro St., Mountain View, CA 94041

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Pier Market Seafood Restaurant

Located in Pier 39 of Fisherman's Wharf, Pier Market Seafood Restaurant serves the best seafood dishes I had in San Francisco.

Their clam chowder in bread bowl is one of my favorite dishes. Different from other clam chowders, the clam chowder they serve comes with real and fresh clams. A lot of Yelp reviewers said their bread bowls were very good too, but I was too full to finish the bread bowl as well.

Being in the coast, eating raw and fresh seafood is a must-do to me. I"m not a big fan of eating raw seafood because I was food-poisoned before, but these middle-sized raw oysters did not disappoint me.

Pier Market address: Pier 39, San Francisco, CA 94113

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Shabuway

Shabuway is a Japanese Shabu-Shabu place. For those of you who are not familiar with Japanese dining, Shabu-Shabu is similar to Chinese style hotpot, but in a healthier style because you don't drink the soup. Different from the regular hotpot, you don't leave the meat in the soup. You only dip the meat into the soup a few times so the Kobe beef would not get "old" and lose the purpose of ordering such high quality meat.

There's only two soup bases available in Shabuway: Seaweed soup and spicy soup. Interestingly enough, there's only one meat available: Kobe beef! However, you do have a choice between a regular portion or super large quantity of Kobe beef.

Once you choose your soup bases and how much meat you want to eat, it's time to enjoy. Veggies come with the Kobe beef combo, and it's highly recommended that you put the veggies in first because the longer you cook the Napa veggie, the better it'll become.

In such a great place for Shabu-Shabu and Kobe beef, I only have one suggestion for those of you who are thinking about going: Just close your eyes and eat as much as you want because you don't get this kind of meal everyday. God will forgive you for forgetting about the diet you're going though.

Shabuway address: 180 Castro St. Mountain View, CA 94041

Ethnography Preview: Humans vs. Zombies

Podcast 3: Community-First Responders

Reflections of News Arc Photo Gallery

News Arc: Purdue Students Raise Questions on School Budget was my seventh photo gallery. I wouldn't say this is my personal favorite because I love other photo galleries as much as loving this one, but the topic seems to fit my interest the most because it's "News Arc."

Taking camera and my recording device with me to the budget forum reminded me of last semester, when I went to a lot of events to cover their stories. However, I had to admit that I did not do as well this time. Considering how many news reporting I've done since last semester, I failed to check my camera batteries before I went. I was so confident that I had enough batteries because I just put the new batteries in a few days ago. However, I found myself completely wrong because I forgot to turn off the camera last time, and there was no batteries left at all.

I found myself stuck in the dilemma: Do I run back to get batteries or stay to document the whole forum from the beginning? I chose the later one, which explained why some of my photos did not have high quality.

I took a different approach to produce the photo gallery this time as well. Usually, I selected the photos I wanted to include in my photo gallery, and then I wrote the photo captions. However, I reversed the order this time. Since my purpose was to report what was happening on campus, I perceived myself as a newspaper writer. I wrote my article first, and when I was done with the writing, I chose the pictures that could enhance the content.

It's been a long time since last time I wrote a newspaper article, but the feelings all came back while I was brainstorming of how to tell my story. If you did not attend the forum last Wednesday but were able to grasp what was going on that night, then I think I fulfilled the duty of being a news reporter, at least in the most basic level.

My next photo gallery will be about the spring break that's coming up next week. It'll be very fun. I'm excited.

Photo Gallery7: News Arc: Purdue Students Raise Questions on University Budget

France Cordova, president of Purdue University, answered students' questions about school budgets on Wednesday evening, March 3, in Krannert Auditorium.

Hosted by Purdue Student Government, the student budget forum aimed to give students opportunities to ask school officials about where their money goes to and how their tuition is used.

Together with President Cordova, Al Diaz, the executive vise president for business and finance, gave a presentation on where Purdue gets its funding from and their goals for future funding.

According to Diaz, Purdue endowment is about 200 million dollars per year, but the number is expected to go up to 400 million dollars by the next decade.

"We don't need that many buildings, but we want to make more scholarships available to students, " Cordova said.

In the question session, Qi Luo, a graduate student and president of Chinese Student and Scholar's Association, raised concerns that international students don't have equal opportunities as domestic students in terms of receiving scholarships.

In response to Luo's concern, Cordova explained the restrictions came from local government, but she's seeking opportunities for international students from oversea sources.

"I go to China twice a year for fundraising purposes," said Cordova. "In addition to China, I go to other Asian countries as well."

On behalf of students who couldn't attend the forum, Brad Krites, PSG president, asked about the outcomes of not raising tuition even when state funding is decreasing. Cordova explained the first impact will be the shrinking number of faculty.

"We usually had 130 professors, but the number dropped to 49 due to insufficient funds," said Cordova. "If we can't get good professors to teach in Purdue, our ranking will do down eventually."

The forum was originally expected to be an hour long, but students asked questions for almost 50 minutes. All the school officials, including President Cordova, stayed till the end.

Top 10 Authentic Restaurants in Greater Lafayette

No.10: Great Wall Chinese Restaurant

Located in 700 Sagamore Pkwy North in Lafayette, Great Wall is one of the very few Chinese restaurants that satisfy Chinese and Taiwanese students at Purdue. Unlike other Asian restaurants near Purdue campus, Great Wall has plenty of rooms for various group sizes. Great Wall is most famous for its Saturday brunch buffet that serves authentic Taiwanese local food and drinks. Usually there’s no waiting line, but if you want to check out the Saturday Taiwanese buffet, be sure to go before noon or be prepare to wait at least 30 minutes. In other days, Great Wall provides all-day buffet as well as regular orders. Take my advise, if you are curious of what the real Chinese food is, go with the regular orders, because you will find out Chinese food is so much more than just Mo Shu Pork and Orange Chicken.

Price wise, Saturday buffet costs about $12 per person plus tax and tips, but if you go with a large group of friends and have the regular orders, you will be surprised how satisfied you are by $10 per person including tax and tips.

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No.9: Maru Sushi

Located at 111 N Chauncey Ave of West Lafayette, Maru Sushi has been popular ever since its opening in 2008. As its name can’t make it more obvious, Maru is most famous for the sushi and rolls, and it’s a must-go place if you are a sushi lover. You can find almost any kind of sushi and rolls made by any ingredients here, except for some special seafood that can only be found in Japan. In addition to sushi and rolls, Maru also serves lunch box sets in Japanese style, just for people who would like to try something more than just raw fish and sushi.

The prices are comparatively high to students especially if you can’t be satisfied by just one California roll. In average, Nigiri (raw fish on top of rice) costs about $3 per piece, and each roll ranges from $8 and up. Depends on you appetite and your budget, you may find Maru Sushi very expensive or worth every penny. Maru is a very small restaurant with very limited seats, so if you plan to go with a large group of people or if you plan to go on a Saturday evening at dinnertime, be prepare to wait a little longer.

Yelp review: 4 1/2 stars by 21 reviewers.

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No.8: Heisei Japanese Restaurant

Located in 1048 Sagamore Parkway of West Lafayette, Heisei is one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in the area. With the price ranged from $10 up to $40 per person, Heisei serves a variety of sushi, rolls, Sake (Japanese beer), and regular Japanese dishes. Heisei is most famous for its sushi and rolls. With a sushi bar right next to the seating area, you can see how your rolls are being made by their licensed chef, and you can be sure the raw fish you order won’t cause you any stomach discomfort.

However, they have very strict opening hours, and it can be inconvenient for students. They only open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. In addition to that, they close on Sunday, so make sure you call and confirm before you and a group of friends drive all the way just to find out they’re closed.

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No.7: Blue Nile Mediterranean Restaurant

Located in 117 Northwestern Ave, West Lafayette, Blue Nile is one of the closest restaurants that students can go to just by walk. a. For people who don’t have much time to sit down or students who are in a hurry for school, Blue Nile serves small to medium sizes of Shawarma sandwiches with the price of no more than $10. If you have time to sit down and enjoy your meal, Blue Nile has various Middle Eastern entrees that come with homemade Mediterranean soup or salad. Understanding the difference of people’s appetites, there are two portions available for most of their dishes. Usually a half portion is good for lunch or for girls, while you can always go for full portion if you’re really very hungry. One thing worth mention is their rice. Different from the usual Chinese or Thai rice you eat in most restaurants, all the rice served in Blue Nile is steamed or fried with different Mediterranean spices, which adds extra stimulation of tastes on top of whatever comes with your dish.

As seen in picture, they are half chicken Biryani with Middle Eastern spice and half lamb Sharwama. Due to their recent resize, there’s no longer much space for large groups. Also, with only one server, you sometimes have to be patient with food and everything.

Yelp Review: 4 stars with a total of 8 reviews.

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No. 6: Gaza Korean Restaurant and Grill

Located in 3457 Bethel Drive in West Lafayette, Gaza is most famous for its Korean Barbeque and traditional Korean dishes. Operated and owned by Koreans, it serves the most authentic taste of Korean food in greater Lafayette area. Since the change of ownership in 2008, Gaza provides more options for Purdue community. For meat lovers, you can get limited grill starting the price of $15 per person or unlimited grill starting at $25.

In average, each customer spends a total of about $20 per visit with orders of traditional Korean dishes. However, if you order Korean barbeque or hotpots, the price per person can go up to $40 including tax and tips. If one person wants to have unlimited grill, the whole table has to order unlimited grill as well.It can cause some inconvenience for a group of people who want different dishes. Also, with unlimited grill, 18% gratuity will be added to your bill automatically, so be careful when you tip!

Yelp Review: 4 1/2 stars with a total of 4 reviewers.

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No. 5: El Rodeo

This restaurant is a student favorite for any occasion. While the food more resebles "Tex-Mex" cuisine, flavor is equally up to par with such food made in the Southwest. If you are looking for a great meal to share, a fajita platter carries many options. With this you are able to eat the beef or chicken alone or turn them into pieces of an amazing taco that you can assemble yourself with the garnishings provided.

For those looking for something a bit lighter, the taco salad is a great option. This meal resembles any salad except for that it is placed in a tortilla shell bowl and accompanied by taco meat and the typical taco garnishings. It is just as filling as any of the other meals offered but definitely remains light for those worried about eating too many actual tacos.

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No.4: Nine Irish Brothers

At Nine Irish Brothers, located on Howard Ave. just before the Levee Plaza, there is much to choose from. Although it is not a meal, a glass of Guinness seems to be just as filling as any appetizer and can be found in the hands of many of the patrons of this restaurant.
But if you are looking for a real meal here, the shepard's pie is the way to go. This dish resembles a small caserole filled with beef, veggies and mashed potatoes. Truly, this could easily resemble one of the best homecooked meals away from home.

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No.3: Toscana Italian Bar and Grill

Toscana Italian Bar & Grill, located just across the brige into Lafayette on South Street, is the go-to spot for wonderful Italian food. The first dish that we recommend is the lasagna. Lasagna, a classic, is filled with flavor that is sure to please all. Meats, cheeches, noodles, mushrooms and veggies all blend for a filling meal.

In addition, Toscana also carries a goo shrimp scampi dish. For those looking to shy away from the typical marina dipped dishes, the shrimp scampi is just right. Shrimp, noodles and alfredo sauce are put together in a well sized portion leaving one to hope for more.

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No.2: El Meson

The next location on our top pick is El Meson. It is located close in Lafayette on Sagamore Parkway. Of all the local "Mexican" themed restaurants, this one in particular holds true to its Mexican roots in the way that the food is prepared and presented. A best-seller is any enchilada combo plate. Most combo plates come with rice and beans are the enchiladas are perfectly balanced with tons of melted cheese.

Another authentic Mexican dish that this restaurant does well is the shrimp cocktail. In it you will find dozens of shrimp, cocktail sauce, lime juice, cilantro, avocado and a bit of onion. If there were one meal I could describe as mouth-watering it would be this one. Customers have even been noted to say that the shrimp cocktail "tastes like a perfect summer day on a beach". I agree that yes, it is that good.

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No.1: Egyptian Hookah

The Egyptian Hookah bar on Northwestern Ave. is a local hang-out mostly known for its large varieties of tobacco. But did you know that this local favorite actually carries some pretty unique and delicious food? First I would like to note the lamb kabobs. So delicious! Not many places in West Lafayette serve such a dish so it is truly a unique meal. Tender and blended with spices, this dish is perfect for one or for sharing. If you haven't tried lamb before, I would recommend that you give these kabobs a try.

Next at The Egyptian that I would recommend is the pita bread that is available. Though it is simple, when served fresh and warm it easily becomes a favorite. Not only that, pita bread seems to fit with any other meal that is offered.