Foodtruck Fun

The foodtruck phenomenon has long taken hold on San Francisco and keeps on growing. Below are some of my favorite meals on wheels:

Roli Roti – I’ve already written about Roli Roti, but I can’t do a food truck/stand themed without mentioning their unbelievably amazing porchetta sandwich. Thick slabs of oh-so-juicy roasted pork, seasoned to perfection with rock salt and rosemary, topped with bits of crunchy pork cracklings, caramelized onions, and fresh arugula…all in a big, crispy roll. No other place comes close its quality and price. (Tip: The short line is for their rotisserie chicken only. There’s a reason why it’s short, stick with the pork.)

Chairman Bao – Next to Roli Roti, Chairman Bao is my favorite food truck in San Francisco. Just the thought of their pillowy steamed buns filled with fatty, savory pork belly and crunchy slices of pickled daikon makes me salivate. Their duck confit and mango salad bun should also not be missed. After waiting in line (this truck usually has the longest line), you should get your fill on both.

Cupkates – I have a weakness for red velvet cupcakes, and these are one of the best around! Super moist and rich with the perfect hint of chocolate, while the cream cheese frosting is light and tangy. DELISH! However, I would not recommend the s’mores cupcake. It tasted bitter and oily, while the marshmallow frosting was overly sweet.

JapaCurry – Mmmmm, their pork katsu curry will warm your soul. Tender breaded pork cutlets smothered with a savory Japanese curry, all over a heaping serving of rice. Great to eat on a cold day.

Hapa SF – the adobo chicken banh mi is a tasty Filipino take on the Vietnamese sandwich. The chicken was flavorful and moist, while the pickled veggies kept it light.

Curry Up Now – I’ve only had the chicken tikka masala burrito. The chicken was slightly dry, but well dressed by the creamy and spicy tikka masala. Overall pretty good, but I prefer the fresh-out-of-the-tandoori-oven chicken tikka masala naan rolls served at Jack London Square Farmers’ Market on Sundays.

Food trucks that didn’t make the cut:

• Kung Fu Tacos – chicken was dry and the tacos were not particularly memorable.

• The Crème Brûlée Cart – the vanilla bean crème brûlée was bland, and served warmer than room temperature, like it’d been sitting out all day. Bleh.

• Senor Sisig – their tacos were waaaaaaaaaaaay too salty

BITE METER:

Roli Roti – 4.5 bites (out of 5.0)

Chairman Bao – 4.5 bites

JapaCurry – 3.5 bites

Cupkates – 3.5 bites

Hapa SF - 3.5 bites

Curry Up Now – 3.0 bites

Ramen Dojo – Sans Slurp

Why do I always find myself driving down to San Mateo for good ramen? With gas prices so high, I wish there were better options in the city.

Ramen Dojo is a tiny place with about 7 tables and a few seats along the counter. Thus, there is inevitably always a line. And the service is inefficient, so the line tends to move slowly. The same person takes the orders, handles the bills, and calls the names on the lists…and often not in the most practical sequence. I try not to get too annoyed as I watch empty tables waiting to be filled while she does other stuff, then slams the kitchen when she seats everyone all at once.

Fortunately, I forget about the wait as soon as my big beautiful bowl of spicy miso ramen arrives. The noodles have the perfect amount of chewiness, and the tender slices of pork just fall apart in my mouth. The quail egg, garlic cloves, and green chives enhance the rich ramen…and I always add a helping of their crunchy, sweet bamboo to round out the flavors. My only wish is that they put more broth in the bowl. The broth is so thick and served in such a small quantity, that it’s more like a stew than a soup you can slurp your noodles with. And slurping your ramen is proper Japanese etiquette! BITE METER: Ramen Dojo – 4.0 bites (out of 5.0)

Shin Sen Gumi – Customize Your Ramen

After a weekend of gluttony, we decided to “cleanse” ourselves with a warm bowl of ramen at Shin Sen Gumi. What’s unique about this restaurant is you can choose the level of richness/oiliness you want for your broth, the firmness of your noodles, and the array of toppings for your ramen.

The tonkotsu (pork bone) broth was great. I ordered the ‘light oil’ version, but the broth still maintained a rich (albeit lighter), almost creamy pork flavor. The slices of cha-su Berkshire pork were tender, and I loved the crunchy, sweet bamboo and the bite from the pickled ginger…a wonderful medley of flavors and textures. My only gripe about the ramen was the noodles. The restaurant serves Hakata-style ramen, which I’ve had before in Tokyo so I knew to expect thinner noodles. But what bothered me was these noodles tasted more like starchy rice noodles than denser flour noodles. Even the ‘medium’ consistency noodles were too soft, so I’d recommend getting ‘hard’ noodles.

Chicken rice balls came with my meal since I ordered one of the lunch combos. It was really unappetizing – bland and mushy with dry chicken chunks. Instead of using sticky rice, they used regular rice and made it soggy so the rice ball would stick together. Not good.
To sum it up, the ramen was delicious, but make sure you order the ‘hard’ noodles. And stay away from the chicken rice balls!

BITE METER: Shin Sen Gumi – 3.7 bites (out of 5)

Hot Doug’s – Heaven in a Bun

My heart quivered when I first heard about Hot Doug’s foie gras and sauternes duck sausage dog. It sounded too good to be true. From then on, I knew I had to make my way to Chicago and eat here before I die.

I made sure to arrive early at 11am, so the line wasn’t too long... only about a 20 minute wait. There were so many different types of hot dogs, it was difficult to choose. A friend and I were finally able to narrow it down to 3 of the specials to share (I would have ordered more but knew I had a 20+ course dinner at Alinea that night. I had to exercise *some* self control!)
The Order:
• Foie Gras & Sauternes Duck Sausage with truffle aioli, foie gras mousse, and fleur de sel
• Cognac-Infused Lamb & Pork Sausage with spinach raita and manchego cheese
• Saucisson Alsacienne Bacon Sausage with crème fraiche, carmelized onions and tomme de savoie The Foie Gras dog was my favorite by far. It was rich, juicy and deliciously sinful with the creamy foie gras mousse. The Lamb & Pork sausage was quite good – great meaty flavor, and I especially liked the cool contrast of the yogurt from the spinach raita topping. The only dog I didn’t particularly care for was the Saucisson Alsacienne – it was too dry and salty.

Foie Gras & Sauternes Duck Sausage = Heaven in a bun!
Note: They are CASH ONLY, and make sure to check their hours online before you come.

BITE METER: Hot Doug’s – 4.0 bites (out of 5)

Roli Roti – Their Porchetta Sandwich *is* Worth the Wait!

Alright, I’ve converted. I was wrong for resisting so long. Roli Roti has won me over with their ridiculously amazing porchetta sandwich. I had their rotisserie chicken years ago and thought it was bland and dry, so I was baffled when I saw long lines forming in front of their truck at the Ferry Plaza over the past year. When I found out it was for the porchetta sandwich and not the chicken, I was still skeptical…but no longer. I have finally experienced the bliss of that delicious pork!! And I want more!

I arrived at the Farmers’ Market relatively early one morning and saw the line in front of Roli Roti wasn’t very long yet, so I thought might as well see what so many people have been standing in line for. Now I know…THE BEST DAMN PORCHETTA SANDWICH KNOWN TO MAN! Thick slabs of oh-so-juicy roasted pork, seasoned to perfection with rock salt and rosemary, topped with bits of crunchy pork cracklings, caramelized onions, and fresh arugula…all in a big, crispy roll. I tried to keep my cool, but I was swooning inside as I ate this.
I have little patience and find very few things worth waiting for with so many great food options in San Francisco. However, Roli Roti’s porchetta sandwich *is* worth the wait. I’m just sorry I’ve missed out on this for so long because of my skepticism. My advice to all of you would be to GO, AND GO EARLY!

BITE METER: Roli Roti (porchetta sandwich only) – 4.5 bites (out of 5.0)

The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen – Long Wait for Soup & Sandwich

I was initially skeptical about The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen. While I love grilled cheese sandwiches, I didn’t know if a restaurant could serve one worth paying $8 for since homemade ones are so good and easy to make. And second, the whole concept of taking fast food items and calling it "creative" by adding gourmet ingredients has been way overdone. The food scene in San Francisco has been too much about taco stands, food trucks, burger joints, and pizza places for far too long. I’m ready for something new and innovative to excite me again and show what a great culinary city this is!! Come on, people!

Anyways, I digress…back to The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen. There was a long and very slow moving line in front of the restaurant (they only have one register and are working on getting another one). At least the staff was friendly and apologetic about the wait.

I ordered their special which included a small Mousetrap Sandwich (Tillamook sharp cheddar, havarti, and monterey jack cheeses) and a cup of Smoky Tomato Soup with crème fraîche. Simple yet tasty. I thought the tomato soup was actually better than their grilled cheese sandwich. The soup was layered with nice flavors, comforting, and relatively light. And in my opinion, a necessary complement to the thick, crusty bread.

B and I also split the Jalapeño Popper Sandwich. It was interesting with the bacon, goat cheese, and apricot-jalapeño chutney, but I preferred the simple grilled cheese with the tomato soup.

Since it had taken so long to get through the line, I figured I also might as well try one of their desserts while I’m here. And as a gal from the South, I always get excited when I see bread pudding on a menu. Their Sweet Buttermilk Bread Pudding with bourbon-butter sauce was delicious. What I enjoyed most was how moist the bread pudding was and how the buttermilk formed these delicate flan-like pieces on top. Makes my mouthwater just thinking about it!

So was the grilled cheese sandwich worth the 8 bucks? Only of it’s served with the tomato soup.
Was it worth the 45 minute wait? No, very few things are with so many options in SF.
Will I come back? Maybe, but only after they get another register.

BITE METER: The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen – 3.0 bites (out of 5)

Himawari – Stick with the Classics

I haven’t found any great ramen places in San Francisco, so I usually head south of the city when I’m jonesing for a large, warm bowl of ramen. Not in the mood to wait in a long line at Santa Ramen, I decided to check out Himawari which I had recently noticed on my way to Sushi Sam’s. Similar to most ramen joints, Himawari is a small restaurant with poor ventilation. The décor is a bit strange, but I was just happy I only had to wait 10 minutes for a table.

I love clam miso soup, so I thought the Asari (Clam) Shio Butter Ramen would be interesting. Sadly, the broth didn’t have any of that rich clam flavor. It was drowned in butter, and I quickly became bored of its one-note taste. The noodles were good, but didn’t have that chewy hand-made texture of those at Santa Ramen.
Lucky for me, B got a bowl of the Chasu Ramen which was MUCH better. And being the generous hubby that he is, he switched bowls with me so I could enjoy the other half of his ramen. The chasu pork was tender and meaty without being too fatty, and the broth was full of flavor and depth but didn’t feel too greasy. I also appreciated the contrast of flavors and textures provided by the strips of crunchy seaweed and pickled ginger. A well-balanced bowl of ramen!
Lesson learned - Stick with the classic pork ramen at Himawari and you’re golden.

BITE METER: Himawari – 3.5 bites (out of 5)

Taqueria Agave – Tasty Tacos

B and I took a day trip to Santa Cruz / Capitola. I had only visited the crowded Boardwalk during my previous trips to Santa Cruz, so it was nice to see a more chill part of the area. We strolled along a gorgeous ocean-side path and then hung out in the town of Capitola.
Being near the beach always makes me crave fish tacos, so we had lunch at Taqueria Agave. It’s a tiny no-frills restaurant in Capitola that makes some of the tastiest tacos around. Their tacos are much larger and piled with more meat/toppings than those served at taco stands in San Francisco, yet they are also every bit as lip-smackin’ good!

Fish Taco – much more hearty and savory than other fish tacos I’ve had. It tasted like the fish had been cooked in a rich seafood bouillabaisse. Delicioso!!
Carnita Taco – the shredded pork was really tender and a tad too fatty, but the flavors were excellent.
Nachos – the salsa was fresh and vibrant, but the cheese was overcooked and formed this hard, congealed layer. I recommend sticking with their free chips and salsa bar.
The best part was that this whole meal cost only about $10! Great food for such a great price! I’m definitely coming back for the tacos when I’m down in Capitola again.

BITE METER: Taqueria Agave – 4.0 bites (out of 5)

Tacolicious – True to Their Name

I finally had a chance to have lunch at the Ferry Plaza’s Thursday Market (it’s hard to get away from that thing we call work). I had been hearing about Tacolicious’ stand for the longest time and am sooooooo glad I finally tried it. True to their name, their tacos were deee-licious!!

For $9, I had 3 soft tacos which consisted of 2 layers of corn tortillas and a generous pile of meat:
- Shot-and-a-beer braised Petaluma chicken
- Traditional carnitas
- Guajillo braised beef short rib


Both the chicken and carnitas were excellent – moist and layered with flavor. Not too salty or greasy either. The beef short rib was a bit too dry, so I wouldn’t recommend it. I also really liked avocado sauce they serve with the tacos – adds a smooth, creamy element.

I’d also recommend enjoying the tacos with their citrus punch – light, refreshing, and just a touch of sweetness.

FYI - Tacolicious recently opened a permanent restaurant in the Marina…not as fun as a taco stand, but it offers a larger menu. If only I could find more time for lunch on Thursdays…

BITE METER: Tacolicious – 4.0 bites (out of 5)

Little Skillet - TBD

Little Skillet has a cult following. Tons of people line up in front of their little shop-window for their beloved chicken and waffles, and then squat along the sidewalks in their alley to chow down. B had been raving about Little Skillet’s chicken and waffles, so I was anxious to finally get my hands on some. And frankly, I was underwhelmed – the fried chicken was good, but the waffle was soggy. Even B said he prefered their square waffles from before and the quality wasn’t as good this time. Since I am also a huge fan of farmerbrown (their main restaurant), I’m hoping this was just an off-day for them.
Fortunately, their grits were on-the-money. Stoneground grits with BBQ pulled pork and chedder…Mmm, mmm, good!!

I'll have to give this place another go around. Especially because of the way B described his previous experience, with that starry look in his eye as he talked about the perfectly toasted waffle and juicy fried chicken. However based on this experience, I won't wait in a long line for it.

BITE METER: Little Skillet – 3.5 bites (out of 5)

Oodles of Noodles

I love, LOVE noodles!! I enjoy them in all sizes and in all different cuisines. Always craving noodles, I could literally eat them every day. So of course, I could not leave Japan without writing about their deeeeeeeelicious noodles. [Note: Noodles are also a very budget-friendly way to eat your way through Japan. The dishes below only cost $8-15 USD, practically a steal for filling your belly with such good food.]

RAMEN: Although ramen originated in China, the Japanese serve it in a hot broth and with ingredients that make it uniquely Japanese. There are tons of ramen restaurants all over Tokyo; however, Kyushu Jangara Ramen is one of the few that always has a line of people (despite their multiple locations throughout the city). The Harajuku location is tiny with just a single bar around the busy kitchen.

Kyushu Jangara specializes in Hakata style ramen – really thin noodles in a pork broth. I ordered the miso kyushu ramen with shoyu-boiled egg, stewed pork, chasu pork, and spicy cod roe. The miso-pork broth was rich and fatty without feeling overly greasy, and the spicy kick of the cod roe cut right through the thick broth. The slow-cooked stewed pork had a bold savory taste with a hint of sweetness. I thought the noodles themselves were just ok – they were so thin that they were overshadowed by the other components…the traditional size ramen noodles would have held up better. Overall I had better ramen before, but Kyushu Jangara still served up a hearty, comforting bowl that hit the spot.
SOBA: Walking into a random soba restaurant on Kamachi Street in Kamakura, I stumbled up the absolute BEST tempura soba I’ve ever had! My mouth still waters when I think about it. Regrettably, I did not get the name of the restaurant – mea culpa! (Hopefully, the uniform on these ladies will provide a clue for anyone who wants to find it.) The tempura is made from scratch as soon as the order is placed, so it comes out super hot and crispy. The ingredients were so fresh that all their flavors really stood out; and although they were fried, the tempura was surprisingly not oily at all. I repeat, fried but not oily at all.
Soba is a long, slender buckwheat noodle. Depending on the time of year, it can be served in a warm broth or cold with a dipping sauce. Since it was summer, I had the chilled soba with tsuyu sauce…and yes, slurping the noodles from the sauce does enhance the taste of the noodles! I’m not sure if was because slurping allowed more air to mix with the sauce in my mouth or it made me appreciate the long noodles in smaller portions, but it did taste a lot better than just sticking a bunch of noodles in my mouth and chomping on them. These chilled noodles were fresh and springy – a perfect combination with their incredibly light, crispy tempura.
UDON: Probably one of the thickest Japanese noodles, udon is almost always served in a warm broth. Since I still had not found an udon restaurant that I was crazy about, I decided to go to try one more place for my last meal before heading to the airport -- Udon Kurosawa. A cold front had just come into Tokyo, so it was the perfect morning to head to Roppongi for a hot bowl of noodle soup. I couldn’t decide between two of the menu items, so B and I ordered them both to share.
Shrimp Curry Udon – Deliciously flavorful and spicy. It’s a heavy, sticks-to-your-bones soup, but without being overwhelming – would be perfect for winter. Japanese curry can sometimes be too sweet or cloying, but this curry broth was savory and smooth. The shrimp was good, but I don’t think they really added anything to the dish…perhaps if they had been sweeter. But most importantly, the noodles were thick and plump with just the right amount of chewiness. Wild Duck & Green Onion Udon – I liked this bowl a little more than the shrimp curry udon. The flavors were really clean, yet had a lot of depth. The wild duck was nicely cooked and provided a meaty contrast. And as with the other bowl, the udon noodles had the perfect texture and consistency. [Note: my best udon noodle experience is still at Omae XEX]

BITE METER:
Kyushu Jangara Ramen – 3.5 bites (out of 5.0)
“Unknown” Kamakura Soba Restaurant – 4.5 bites (out of 5.0)
Udon Kurosawa – 4.0 bites (out of 5.0)