Eat in Oakland: Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar

Hue Dumplings (Bánh Bột Lọc): tapioca dumplings made with caramelized shrimp, pork belly, and fried shallots, served with spicy sweet chili fish sauce

Bourdain Vermicelli Bowl (Bún Đặc Biệt) made with grilled prawns, grilled lemongrass pork, grilled lemongrass chicken, and fried crispy rolls, served with house nuoc mam

In mid-September, I visited Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar, an upscale Vietnamese restaurant on the corner of 12th Street and Webster in Oakland Chinatown, for the first time with friends. I had never heard of this restaurant until said friends raved about it, so I was eager to stop by.

To start, we shared the Hue Dumplings (Bánh Bột Lọc) — tapioca dumplings made with caramelized shrimp, pork belly, and fried shallots, served with spicy sweet chili fish sauce. They were unlike anything I've had before and quite a treat. These dumplings were thicker than I'm used to and since they're made with tapioca, you can see the filling within. Beyond being photogenic, they were incredibly tasty. (This bird's eye view of the dish might be helpful.) For my main course, I ordered a variation of my go-to vermicelli bowl: the Bourdain Vermicelli Bowl (Bún Đặc Biệt) made with grilled prawns, grilled lemongrass pork, grilled lemongrass chicken, and fried crispy rolls, and served with house nuoc mam. As is the theme at Tay Ho, they turn classic Vietnamese dishes into something that is truly their own. I'm used to choosing one or maybe two meat options with my vermicelli bowls; here they gave me shrimp, pork, chicken, and rolls to boot! Not only that, everything was delicious and good-looking. (Here's another overhead shot for your convenience.)

Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar is the perfect spot for elevated Vietnamese classics and new favorites prepared with their signature twist. They will leave you in awe of how delicious and, dare I say, beautiful dishes can be. They also have exceptional service that makes you feel at home. Next time I stop by, I will definitely order the dumplings again, another entree like the Shrimp and Crab Tapioca Noodle Soup (Bánh Canh Riêu Cua) or the "Shaken" Beef, and one of their very intriguing cocktails. Damn, now I want more tapioca dumplings...

Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar

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344 12th St., Oakland, CA 94607

Open: Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 9pm

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Eat in New York City: Vanessa's Dumpling House

Peking Duck Sesame Pancake Sandwich




Chive & Pork Dumplings


Steamed Bun


Sesame & Peanut Noodles

We stopped by Vanessa's Dumpling House, located on Bedford and S 1st Street in Williamsburg, on a rainy late September day. This casual Chinese restaurant is known for their dumplings and sesame pancake sandwiches and it's very clear why it was recommended by friends.

We tried a few of their dishes: the Peking Duck Sesame Pancake Sandwich, the Chive & Pork Dumplings, a Steamed Bun, and the Sesame & Peanut Noodles. Although it's been a while, I remember everything being quite good and affordable to boot. Vanessa's has turned a traditional sesame pancake into a sandwich and then stuffed it with delicious Peking duck. It was as tasty as it was innovative. We also enjoyed the dumplings, which were perfectly pan-fried and crispy on the bottom, and the Steamed Bun, although I cannot recall the filling. The Sesame & Peanut Noodles provided a nice leftover for dinner later that day and then some.

I would definitely return to Vanessa's Dumpling House in the future, perhaps visiting one of their other locations in Manhattan. Next time I might try some of their dumplings boiled in soup or a Red Bean Steamed Bun for dessert.

Vanessa's Dumpling House

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310 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211

Open: Monday - Thursday 12pm - 9pm, Friday 12pm - 10pm, Saturday - Sunday 1pm - 10pm

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Eat in San Francisco: Yank Sing

BBQ Pork Buns


Green beans


Taro Root Dumplings


Left: Sticky rice
Right: Har Gau Dumplings


Pork Sui Mye


Spinach Dumplings


Honey Walnut Prawns


Egg Tarts

I visited Yank Sing, a fancy dim sum spot on Stevenson and 2nd in SoMa, a few weeks ago with my favorite foodie friend Brenda of Bites & Bourbon. Given Brenda's excellent taste in food (& the fact that she hasn't led me astray yet), I was very excited to see what Yank Sing had to offer.

I was pleasantly surprised. It was everything I wanted in dim sum and more. Everything was prepared perfectly and Brenda picked some interesting options I wouldn't have tried on my own, like the taro root dumpling with the crunchy outside or the sticky rice served in a banana leaf. I would definitely visit again with my wallet in hand (because it is not cheap, but it is a nice treat).

If you've visited Yank Sing recently, what do you recommend trying?

Yank Sing
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49 Stevenson St., San Francisco, CA 94105
Open: Monday - Friday 11 - 3, Saturday - Sunday 10 - 4

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Eat in Oakland: Tanoor at Tamarack

Chickpeas with crunchy chickpea noodle, tamarind, and chaat masala


Ezme: savory tangy tomato dip


Eggplant Garlic Yogurt


Manti: lamb dumplings in yogurt with spicy butter


Pita crisps


Carob soda

After waiting months for our schedules to align, I was finally able to try Tanoor, a disaporic Yemeni pop-up that makes its way around Oakland, in early September with my dining companion and a good friend. This time it was held at Tamarack — a collectively-owned restaurant and bar that hosts various food pop-ups and events — on Harrison and 15th in the Lakeside neighborhood. It's run by Ali, who on the associated Substack describes both Yemen the country as a historical nation-state and its "foodstory." A sample: "The most prominent imprints on the Yemeni foodstory undoubtedly came from its place in the Indian Ocean trade connecting the Arabian coasts with those of East Africa, Southeast Asia, and of course, the Indian subcontinent." (I would encourage you to read the whole thing — it's very informative.)

On our visit, we ordered basically everything on the menu to share. Like many, this was our first time trying Yemeni food, but it certainly won't be our last. The first dish was Chickpeas with crunchy chickpea noodle, tamarind, and chaat masala. It was filled with flavor and texture, and was reminiscent of chaat I've had at Vik's in West Berkeley. We then shared the Ezme, a savory and tangy tomato dip, which we enjoyed with the pita crisps and is quite photogenic. The next dish was the Eggplant Garlic Yogurt, which was rich and decadent in the way you want your eggplant (or at least, now you do!). The Manti lamb dumplings were served in yogurt with spicy butter and were quite a treat. I've never had a lamb dumpling, but these were the perfect size and were complemented by the yogurt well. My dining companion also tried the Carob soda, which had a nice, dynamic flavor.

When we arrived, it wasn't really busy and we received excellent service. This was truly one of the most exciting dining experiences I've had recently, where I got to spend time with good friends and catch up over food that was entirely new to us. I will definitely return to the next pop-up and seek out more Yemeni food in the area. Got any recs?

Tanoor

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Open: see Instagram for details

Tamarack 

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1501 Harrison St., Oakland CA 94612

Open: Thursday - Saturday 6 - 10pm

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Eat in Oakland: Ming's Tasty Restaurant

Pan Fried Turnip Cake


Stuffed Eggplant on Iron Plate


Left: Rice Noodle Roll with Beef Cilantro

Right: Steamed BBQ Pork Buns


Left: Shanghai Dumplings

Right: Spareribs in Black Bean Sauce

I satisfied my forever craving for dim sum last weekend when I stopped by Ming's Tasty Restaurant for the first time, after seeing it on my friend Anisa's Instagram. This hole-in-the-wall is located in Oakland Chinatown on Webster and 10th, across the street from another favorite, Shandong.

My dining companion and I tried a few dishes: the perfectly cooked Pan Fried Turnip Cake, creamy Stuffed Eggplant sizzling on an iron plate, a Rice Noodle Roll stuffed with Beef Cilantro, the favorite Steamed BBQ Pork Buns, savory Shanghai Dumplings, and deliciously fatty Spareribs in Black Bean Sauce. Everything had a great flavor and was clearly made by experts.

Next time I might try a few more of the rice noodle rolls or an Egg Custard. If you've visited Ming's Tasty Restaurant, what do you recommend trying?

Ming's Tasty Restaurant

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940 Webster St., Oakland, CA 94607

Open: Thursday - Tuesday 9am - 6pm

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Dessert in San Francisco: Bob's Donuts, Sweet Glory, Genki Crepes, and more

Left: Cinnamon Blueberry Donut from Bob's Donuts

Right: Creme Brulee Donut filled with vanilla custard and a caramelized sugar top from Bob's Donuts

I've stopped by Bob's Donuts, a famous donut shop with locations on Polk and Baker, a handful of times over the years. 

On a recent trip in February, I tried two from the NoPa store on Baker and Fulton: the Cinnamon Blueberry Donut and the Creme Brulee Donut. As a fan of interesting donut flavors, these two both were quite intriguing. The first satisfied my sweet tooth with the cinnamon sugar dusted on the outside, while the blueberry provided a tart depth of flavor. The latter was not only photogenic, I believe I also enjoyed the vanilla custard filling and the caramelized sugar top. 

Next time I stop by, I may try a classic cake donut, such as one with sprinkles or crumbs, or another speciality one on offer.

Bob's Donuts

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601 Baker St., San Francisco, CA 94117

Open: Monday - Friday 6am - 9pm, Saturday - Sunday 7am - 9pm

Left: Pandan Custard Toast from Sweet Glory

Right: Mixed Fruits crepe with whipped cream and Nutella from Genki Crepes & Mini Mart

Last December, I stopped by Sweet Glory, a dessert cafe on 9th between Irving and Judah in the Inner Sunset, for the first time. 

I ordered something I knew I'd love: the Pandan Custard Toast. Although I don't remember the specifics, I do believe I enjoyed the sweet, coconut-y flavor of the pandan custard on the thick piece of toast. 

Next time, I may try one of their beautiful crepe cakes or a speciality drinks like the Lychee Rose Cooler or Kumquat tea.

Sweet Glory 

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1336 9th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122

Open: Wednesday - Monday 11am - 6pm

I've visited Genki Crepes & Mini Mart many times in the past year, most often to buy groceries like fun-flavored Lay's chips or frozen dumplings. 

Last June, I tried one of their Mixed Fruits crepe made with strawberry, mango, whipped cream, and Nutella. The crepe was perfectly light, while the fruit was fresh and well-balanced by the chocolate hazelnut spread. 

Next time I've craving a crepe in the Inner Richmond, I may order the Honey, Banana, and Almond one or just the Sugar and Butter.

Genki Crepes & Mini Mart

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330 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94118

Open: Monday - Thursday 11:30am - 11pm, Friday 11:30am - 12am, Saturday 11am - 12am, Sunday 11am - 11pm

Left: Ube Cookie with coconut flakes from Rize Up Bakery

Right: Vanilla-Chocolate Twirl soft serve ice cream dipped in dark chocolate

Last August, I tried an Ube Cookie with coconut flakes from Rize Up Bakery, a popular bakery with a booth at the Clement St. Farmers' Market. Known mostly for their sourdough loaves in flavors like Ube, Gochujang, and Masala, Rize Up also serves other items like this cookie at various farmers' markets, cafes, and other locations across the Bay Area. 

Although I don't remember the specifics, I'm sure I loved the ube flavor as well as the crunchy texture the coconut flakes provided. Next time I'm in the market for a bread loaf, I may try the Masala one.

Rize Up Bakery 

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Clement St. Farmers' Market: 244 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94118

Open: Sunday 9am - 2pm

I've wanted to try a chocolate dipped cone from Twirl and Dip, a soft serve truck parked in Golden Gate Park, for a while. My dream came true (i.e. the line was short) last Bastille Day in mid-July. 

I ordered the Vanilla-Chocolate soft serve dipped in TCHO dark chocolate. It was everything I imagined. As someone who's eaten many-a McDonald's dipped cone in my life, I knew this would be messy, so I opted for a cup. This was the perfect treat with the smooth ice cream and delicious chocolate shell. 

Next time, I'll ask for salt flakes on top. Mmm!

Twirl and Dip 

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Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94117

Open: Friday - Sunday 1 - 5:30pm

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Eat in San Francisco: Cinderella Bakery & Cafe

Blueberry Brioche


Piroshki with Beef

Although I've heard about Cinderella Bakery & Cafe for years, I hadn't visited this popular San Francisco spot until this week. Located on Balboa between 5th and 6th Avenues in the Inner Richmond, Cinderella is known for their Russian baked goods, soups, and dumplings. 

With a friendly local guiding me through their expansive menu, I ordered the Piroshki with Beef and the Blueberry Brioche. Although I haven't had a piroshki before, I learned that it's essentially a fried or baked pillow—or "slipper," as my friend has coined it—half filled with beef, cheese, or mushrooms. I ordered the beef and confirmed that it was quite dreamy. The real hit was the Blueberry Brioche, which had a creamy filling and was topped with sliced almonds. This pastry balanced sweet, creamy, and salty flavors in a delightful, dynamic way.

I will definitely stop by again, potentially trying their borsch, a pirogi, or some of their other pastries. If you've visited Cinderella Bakery & Cafe, what do you recommend trying?

Cinderella Bakery & Cafe

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436 Balboa St., San Francisco, CA 94118

Open: Daily 8am - 7pm

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Eat in Oakland: Dumpling Hours

Juicy Pan-fried Pork Buns


Pork Xiao Long Bao


Dan Dan Sesame Paste & Pork Dry Noodles

It's been a while since I wrote a restaurant review. (January 2024 to be exact.) Continuing where I left off, in mid-January of that year, I visited Dumpling Hours, an all-day dim sum restaurant located on Lakeshore and Trestle Glen in Oakland, with my dining companion.

We tried three dishes: the Juicy Pan-fried Pork Buns, Pork Xiao Long Bao, and Dan Dan Sesame Paste & Pork Dry Noodles. I remember enjoying the food, learning how to eat soup dumplings (this was my first time!), and being amazed at how busy, yet efficient the restaurant was. Next time, I'd try the Green Onion Pancakes, Ginger & Scallion Noodles, or Shrimp & Pork Siu Mai. 

If you're looking for dim sum and it's not exactly dim sum o'clock (a weekend morning), Dumpling Hours might be worth checking out. 

Dumpling Hours

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3331 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland, CA 94610

Open: Monday - Saturday 11am - 9pm, Sunday 11am - 8:30pm

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Eat in San Francisco: Hang Ah Tea Room

Left: Cutie Animal Buns

Right: Scallion Pancakes 

Left: Pork Meat Ball

Right: Fried Stuffed Eggplant

Left: XO Sauce Pan Fried Turnip Cake

Right: Hang Ah BBQ Pork Buns

In February 2024, I visited Hang Ah Tea Room with a good friend for the first time. Located on Pagoda and Sacramento in Chinatown, Hang Ah is known as America's first dim sum restaurant and is over a hundred years old.

We tried a few dishes while there: the Scallion Pancakes, Hang Ah BBQ Pork Buns, Pork Meat Ball, Fried Stuffed Eggplant, XO Sauce Pan Fried Turnip Cake, and Cutie Animal Buns. Although I don't remember the specifics, I know we enjoyed our meal thoroughly.

Next time, I'll definitely try a few of these dishes again as well as order something new, like the Shrimp Dumplings or Sesame Chicken.

Hang Ah Tea Room

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1 Pagoda Pl., San Francisco, CA 94108

Open: Daily 11am - 8pm

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Eat in San Francisco: City View Restaurant

Shrimp shumai


Rice noodle roll


Pan-fried chive and shrimp dumpling


Duck and green onion


Fried calamari


Broccoli


Glazed walnut prawns


Egg custard tarts

Last weekend, I tried dim sum at City View Restaurant in San Francisco's Financial District with some of my favorite people. Like most dim sum places, City View was buzzing with food carts carrying bite-sized treats.

The photos represent just a sample of what we ordered. We tried various dumplings filled with shrimp, pork, and vegetables, delicious pork buns, steamed bun halves we stuffed with duck, green onions, and a tangy sauce, and much more. We also had fried calamari that we tried to balance with some healthier broccoli. On the sweeter side, we had glazed prawns with walnuts and egg custard tarts.

All in all, this was a pretty delicious dim sum experience that I will definitely repeat in the future. The service was quick, as would be expected from a place where the food is carted around at an almost dizzying pace. The wait was pretty short as well.

City View Restaurant

Yelp

662 Commercial St., San Francisco, CA 94111
Open: Monday - Friday 11am - 2:30pm, Saturday - Sunday 10am - 2:30pm

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Psst! Have you heard the February Playlist?

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