Greatly known for the tech scene, the underbelly of the Bay Area remains to be hidden to outsiders: the food scene! You name it & the Bay has it — particularly in the category of Asian food. From Korean BBQ to lychee boba, Locals have come from all over the world to build their culinary dreams.
A true hole-in-the-wall, Dumpling Capital proves to have some of the best dumplings for miles. Considering there are 100's of Dumpling Shops in the Bay Area, that’s quite a hefty statement. Not only is it delicious, it’s incredibly affordable for the area. Only $10.99 for 12 BIG dumplings! With authentic flavors from soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) to pan-fried pork dumplings, they serve up fresh and frozen dumplings. Give them a visit!
THE place for all things meat. Owned by a Bay Area family for over 40 years, Sue’s gives some delicious meats for you to cook up and devour. Definitely be prepared to eat when you come, because you will dive into a food coma after the meal! They have amazing build your own bowls you should definitely check out.
Sunday morning brunch + bottomless mimosas. Period. Chubby Noodle has an amazing Sunday brunch to try with friends and family. With the amazing food available all week, I am currently addicted to the garlic noodles and crispy chicken. (Trust me, it’s worth the extra dollars to add the chicken). Not to mention the Chow Mein! On Sundays, they offer a bottomless brunch with mimosas. There is a time limit, so make sure to get there on time and reserve in advance!
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Keep in mind, some of these places are super authentic so you will get astounding food, but not necessarily the fanciest restaurant or service. Be ready to eat with disposable cutlery and/or only have a few seats at the place! It makes it all the more of an experience.
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If you’re looking for other cool things to eat, I have all of my recommendations on my profile in our app, Locals Insight! With over 200 recs from us co-founders alone, download it (on iOS) to save for your next visit to travel the Bay like a local.