sandilog的部落格

We had a quick lunch @ Spicy Town 麻辣誘惑. Originally we wanted something light, but unable to find 1 in this Plaza. So ended up eating at Spicy Town. This place is pretty crowded during lunch time.

Just ordered couple simple dishes from the lunch menu. Lets start by saying the dishes were extremely saltly to our likely. We've eaten spicy dishes before, but this place is just too salty for us.

Lunch comes with a bowl of rice and soup. We didn't eat the soup, corn egg drop soup ... too sweet.

[caption id="attachment_1327" align="aligncenter" width="750"] 2 Lunch Dishes[/caption]

I forgot the pork dish name - some kind of non-spicy pork dish. The dish itself its good if they can tone down on the sodium. Ok portion for lunch.

[caption id="attachment_1328" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Forgot the name - some kind of non-spicy pork dish[/caption]

Diced chicken stir fried with dry red chili pepper 歌樂山辣子雞 - chicken was crispy fried, and little spicy, but missing peppercorn for the numbness :/

[caption id="attachment_1329" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Diced chicken stir fried with dry red chili pepper 歌樂山辣子雞[/caption]

 

Spicy Town
43683 Boscell Rd
Fremont, CA 94538

This is our first time here for dinner. We were here couple months ago for a quick lunch, but didn't write about it. It was a Saturday night, so this place was pretty packed. Nonetheless, we got a table right away, just 2 of us. This is probably one of the popular HK Cantonese style dinner place in Fremont. Indeed, the food is not bad.

COFFEE SPARE RIBS 咖啡排骨 - outer was crispy and inside is tender. A little sweetness with a hint of bitterness coffee flavor. They put a bit of whip cream on top ... hubby says it taste like Mocha. Not a bad dish.

[caption id="attachment_1321" align="aligncenter" width="700"] COFFEE SPARE RIBS 咖啡排骨[/caption]

BRAISED BEEF BRISKET WITH DAIKON 柱侯蘿蔔炆牛腩 - I am a little disappointed in this dish. It was wayyyyy over sweet. It tasted like they cooked with too much rock sugar, just too sweet. Beef was tender.

[caption id="attachment_1323" align="aligncenter" width="700"] BRAISED BEEF BRISKET WITH DAIKON 柱侯蘿蔔炆牛腩[/caption]

STIR FRY GARLIC SNOW PEA TIPS 蒜蓉豆苗 - just had to get a veggie dish. Fresh and hot garlic-y snow pea tips, hard to go wrong with this one.

[caption id="attachment_1320" align="aligncenter" width="700"] STIR FRY GARLIC SNOW PEA TIPS 蒜蓉豆苗[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1322" align="aligncenter" width="700"] ABERDEEN CAFE 香港仔[/caption]

This is just going to be a short one, introducing a rather new ice cream place Matcha Love located inside Mitsuwa Supermarket San Jose.

It's about 7 weeks new, this is our first time visiting. The line was pretty long ... and only 2 person working, 1 at cash register, another 1 preparing the order. So be prepare to wait a little. Very simple menu, ice cream and drinks. We wanted ice cream! 3 flavors - Matcha, Black Sesame, and Hoji-Cha (you can get all 3 flavors too).

We weren't very hungry, so just ordered 1 small Matcha Cone. Pretty good size for its price, about 5 swirls :P $3.00 (same price for cone or cup).

Matcha Ice Cream Cone - very creamy, milky with a hint of matcha flavor, maybe a little weak on the matcha flavor, but not bad.

I've heard the Hoji-Cha ice cream is pretty good too, that's for next time.

[caption id="attachment_1317" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Matcha Ice Cream on Cone $3.00 small[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1316" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Be prepare to wait a little :)[/caption]

I've been wanting to try this place for a while. Definitely a popular and crowded place, we got here around 8:15pm and waited 15 minutes for our table, not bad. Service was prompt and good.

BANCHANS - 8 free side dishes, non of them really stand out. Typical kimchi, radish kimchi, japchae, bean spouts, string beans, appple salad, and couple others I don't know what they are. I guess we enjoyed the japchae, we asked for refill.

SEAFOOD SOFT TOFU SOUP - soup was good, but not great compare to Tofu House. I had the Spicy, but it wasn't that spicy. Tofu House soup was spicier and filled with more ingredients.

BROILED ATKA MACKEREL (EMYUNSOO GUI) - our favorite dish of the night. The fish is an oily fish (not greasy oil). Perfectly broiled, it has a rich and intense flavor, which we like. A little pricier than other places though.

FREE YOGURT DRINK - nice little touch, but Yakult still my favorite!

[caption id="attachment_1310" align="aligncenter" width="700"] BANCHANS[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1304" align="aligncenter" width="700"] SEAFOOD SOFT TOFU SOUP[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1305" align="aligncenter" width="700"] GOOD, BUT NOT GREAT AS TOFU HOUSE[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1306" align="aligncenter" width="700"] BROILED ATKA MACKEREL (EMYUNSOO GUI)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1307" align="aligncenter" width="700"] AN OILY FISH, RICH AND INTENSE[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1308" align="aligncenter" width="700"] FREE YOGURT DRINK, YAKULT STILL MY FAV![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1309" align="aligncenter" width="700"] POPULAR & CROWDED[/caption]

Another new bubble tea place in Fremont (same plaza as Marina Foods), I forgot how many new ones opened recently and of course I have to try it out.

A cute little place with beautiful and fresh color decor. Service was pretty good, I can see the employees are well trained, very systematic.

I ordered the very basic Jasmine Milk Tea, 30% ice, 50% sweetness. Tea were brewed already, and everything else added later. Bubbles were good, right chewy-ness, tea flavor weren't very strong, more towards the milky-side.

Basil Popcorn Chicken - freshly fried and crispy, love the basil smell. Just a little towards the sweet side.

Fried Tofu - I think it needs to be fried just a little longer, just little lack of the crispy-ness.

[caption id="attachment_1298" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Jasmine Milk Tea, 30% ice, 50% sweetness[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1299" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Basil Popcorn Chicken[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1300" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Fried Tofu[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1297" align="aligncenter" width="700"] T4 TEA FOR YOU 清茶達人[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1296" align="aligncenter" width="700"] T4 TEA FOR YOU 清茶達人[/caption]

We were in SF for July 4th fireworks, we got an excellcent spot! It was magnificent!

Anyway, we went to S&E Cafe in SF for a late dinner. It was around 11:30pm when we got there and this place did have few tables. We were promptly served with water and menu.

Macau Style Pork Chop Portuguese Sauce with Spaghetti - pork chop was amazing! It was crispy, tender, and juicy. I was rather impressed, most of the Asian places use baking soda or powder mandarin the pork chop to the point there are no more texture! This place was perfect! Spaghetti was al-dente! I wish they could throw in couple broccolis :P

Clam Vermicelli Noodle Soup (I forgot the name) - clam was pretty good, soup base was good, light an refreshing.

I couldn't mind go back for their pork chop :)

[caption id="attachment_1292" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Macau Style Pork Chop Portuguese Sauce with Spaghatti[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1293" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Macau Style Pork Chop Portuguese Sauce with Spaghatti[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1290" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Clam Vermicelli Noodle Soup[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1291" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Clam Vermicelli Noodle Soup[/caption]



 

Our Sunday Brunch! We were having family brunch and sister in law introduced us to Pastis. It is a nice little cute resturant, brunch was served from 9am-3pm. We were there around 2:35pm, hence the place was pretty much free up.

Bavette Maitre D'Hotel - grilled flank steak with french fries and salad. The steak was very juicy and tender, it was sliced when served.

Groque Monsieur - french bread with ham & swiss cheese topped with sunny side up egg. I didn't try this one, but it looks pretty good.

Le Benedict - classic benedict with sliced ham, poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce. Poached eggs were cooked to perfection, runny yolks! Hollandaise sauce was wonderful. They seasoning on the potatoes were perfectly cooked and seasoned!

French Onion Soup - ok, according to my sister in law and brother in law, it was awfully salty. Even when we asked them to fix it, it still turn out over salty.

Brioche - its looks very dry! I didn't try it.

Overall, minus the French Onion Soup and Brioche ... it is a nice place for some classic Brunch.

[caption id="attachment_1284" align="aligncenter" width="700"] LE BÉNÉDICT[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1285" align="aligncenter" width="700"] LE BÉNÉDICT[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1282" align="aligncenter" width="700"] BAVETTE MAÎTRE D’HÔTEL - grilled flank steak[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1281" align="aligncenter" width="700"] CROQUE MONSIEUR[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1283" align="aligncenter" width="700"] FRENCH ONION SOUP[/caption]

This is one of our default place for Hong Kong Style Afternoon Tea. They usually have Happy Hour 3-6pm and 9pm-12am, special discount menu and buy 1 get 1 free drinks. Portions are good for its price. They do get crowded during happy hours.

So, we had ordered ...

Garlic Chicken Wings 蒜香雞翼 - MUST GET! Always served piping hot, fresh from fryer! Very crispy skin and yet moist inside, right amount of flavors!

Beef Brisket Flat Noodle Soup 牛腩河 - on the menu was regular egg noodle, but I like flat noodles more, they changed it without problem. Flat noodles were good, not soggy. The beef brisket was tender, I wish there was more tendon. Overall, not bad.

Lettuce with Preserved Bean Curd Sauce 腐乳生菜 - we just wanted some veggies. Just boiled lettuce with preserved bean curd sauce.

[caption id="attachment_1269" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Garlic Chicken Wings 蒜香雞翼 - Must Get![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1271" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Beef Brisket Flat Noodle Soup 牛腩河[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1270" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Lettuce with Preserved Bean Curd Sauce 腐乳生菜[/caption]

 

 

We are here again last night - Sunday. We were here around 7:45pm and still couple empty tables, so no wait.  My previous review is here: Yokohama Iekei 1st Visit

We ordered Fried Squid - my hubby's favorite, anything seafood for him. I wish it was cut into smaller pieces. You will have 3 large pieces in an order.

I ordered Black Garlic Ramen - my favorite! Soup was hot and super garlic flavorful. It use to be 1 thick pieces of pork, but not it changed to 2 thin cut pieces of pork, still very tender and flavorful!

Hubby ordered Shio Ramen - soup was flavorful, but I still like my black garlic better :)

Soft Boil Egg - overcooked! Same thing happened to us last time. Really if they can serve a good soft boil egg, it would be perfect!

[caption id="attachment_1265" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Fried Squid[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1262" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Black Garlic Ramen[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1263" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Shio (Salt) Ramen[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1264" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Overcooked Soft Broil Egg :([/caption]

I really wanted to keep loving you Mai Lee. I've a patron since I was a kid, from your old location to moving to this bigger new location. Nonetheless, you really have disappointed me the last couple times in terms of service, quality and portion.

The food still taste ok, but definitely sense the decrease. My favorite Beef Pho noodle soup doesn't taste as bold, punch as before. Oh and the service is a hit or miss, so I guess it will depend on my luck.

Worst of all, the portion is so tiny. I can't even begin to describe how much is has changed. I am not a big eater, and I wasn't really full after the meal. I remembered I used to be holding my stomach home after dining at your old location!

Alright, lets see ... we always ordered #12 off the menu:

Beef & Beef Ball Noodle Soup - we have ONE piece of beef ball, but cut into 4 tiny pieces. REALLY!? Seriously!? 1 into 4! The noodle soup is $7.95 per bowl, I would think you can do better ... and least if you throw in couple more piece it would look better presentation wise? Oh well ... I am not sure if I wanted to give you another chance. Yes, you are the closest to me, but not the best anymore.

[caption id="attachment_1259" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Beef with Beef Ball Noodle Soup - very small portion :( only 1 piece of meat ball cut into 4 tiny pieces!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1260" align="aligncenter" width="750"] :( only 1 piece of meat ball cut into 4 tiny pieces!![/caption]