Around the Belmont-San Mateo border, El Camino Real is an interesting mix of mattress vendors, timeworn motels, mom-and-pop stores, and used car dealerships. Not exactly an area where you would stumble upon hamburgers with Meyer Ranch ground beef and shakes with Clover organic milk. Lo and behold, newly opened Jack’s Prime serves up all that sustainable and humanely raised goodies that Bay Area denizens have come to demand and expect.

Jack’s Prime just opened at the beginning of October and seems to be garnering a good amount of attention already. Mmmm, cold beer. Have to hand it to Jack’s and their attention to the small things that make a huge difference. Frozen pitchers?! Great idea, folks. We kicked off the meal with some ice cold Boont. Jack’s even has wine available for those weirdos who would rather enjoy a Zinfandel over a cold one.

The interior features a very modern industrial minimalism with its strong emphasis on gray and metal. Thankfully, it didn’t feel like I was going in for a prostate exam or anything. Unfortunately for the wait staff, we snuck in 15 minutes before closing, but our waitress was fantastic and pretty understanding (and it was her first day!).

Nate and I both ordered the Maytag Blue Ribbon burger, complete with Maytag blue, caramelized onions, and beefsteak tomatoes. Pretty freaking good. Juicy and messy, just the way I like it. The bun was perfectly toasted and the spread tied the whole creation together. However, when we first received it, there was one glaring omission. No blue cheese. Nate and I were a bit perplexed, but the waitress quickly took care of it. Being the first week of operation, a few snafus were totally excusable, but it’s hard to call a burger Maytag blue if you forget to place the namesake between the buns. Also, in writing this, I just realized that there were sauteed mushrooms, which was not a part of the menu description. Sweet, free shrooms.

We ordered a pair of fries: the Mushroom Swiss and Breakfast. The Breakfast fries was topped with a fried egg and served with a side of Tabasco mayo. The fries were quite tasty, but we were definitely disappointed by the fried egg. Some of the ooey-gooey yolk running all over the fries would have been nice. Hopefully they’ll address this for all you future patrons.

Had to try the handmade shakes. I had the mint chocolate and Nate went with the black and white. Mmmm, pretty good. The shakes could easily be slurped up a straw (unlike those pesky In ‘n’ Out suckas) and were almost smoothie like, but they held very well. The mint chocolate had a delicious treasure trove of chocolate chips at the bottom. Great way to end the meal.

Based on the past reviews, it seems like we’ve been eating at a lot of burger and sandwich joints recently, but what can I say… I love sinking my teeth into a juicy patty sandwiched between two crunchy and soft buns. Does Jack’s deliver on flavor? Yes, very much so. Should you go? Yes, check them out and support a Peninsula restaurateur who is committed to serving good ingredients. Would I go back? Not for a while. I don’t mean to be a jerk, but I was a bit disappointed by some of the mistakes. We didn’t even get a dish comped. I understand the first week slip-ups, so I’ll wait a bit and let Jack’s iron out some of the wrinkles before I make a return visit.

Jack’s Prime
3723 South El Camino Real
San Mateo, CA 94403
650-638-1479
www.jacksprime.com
Support our local businesses!

I will quickly admit that I am not an expert in Filipino cuisine. Lumpia and adobo anything pretty much covers the extent of my interaction with it. I’ve enjoyed it thus far, and I was looking forward to expanding my horizons. Thanks to the recommendations of some of my homies, I ventured out to this trendy spot in San Bruno in search of some tasty treats.

You’ll have to excuse the terrible photo; the lighting was poor and I couldn’t get across the street for a better view. Place was packed out, though and waiters were working hard to turn the tables as fast as possible. Tagalog could be heard everywhere inside, which is always a good sign for a Filipino restaurant. I was surprised to see a lot of Filipino twenty somethings eating also, but with the huge populations of Filipinos in neighboring cities (particularly Daly City), it’s good to see locals supporting their own. The lighting was moody and the place had a lively and very vibrant feel. I was excited to eat!

I never understood the fixation on lumpia for some people. Just another take on the classic egg roll. Having said that, I ended up going for the fish lumpia; something a little different than the normal pork lumpias. Gotta try the popular stuff right?The lumpia was fried well, with a great crunch upon first bite.  Mmmm, I think I prefer the pork still. The fish wasn’t quite doing it for me.

Of course we all have to eat our veggies. I ended up trying the adobong kangkong, which featured kangkong leaves simmered in soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic – the typical components of adobo. I had no idea what the heck kangkong was, so thanks to the magic of wikipedia, I discovered that kangkong is a water spinach, which can be found in tropical and subtropical areas. Apparently it grows easily in water and is common to many Southeast Asian dishes. The sauce was a bit strong, masking the flavor of the kangkong itself, but I thought it was a good dish. Liked the pork crisps on top too. Think pork rinds, with just a bit of meat.  Delicious.

Okay, honestly, this probably wasn’t the best choice if I was looking for an authentic Filipino entree, but it sounded too good. I waited too long in line before I was seated and my duodenum started to control my desires instead of my brain.  Beef marinated with soy sauce and lemon sauteed with onions, on top of french fries? Damn, freaking awesome looking. I know I can epitomize food snobbery, but I am also a man who loves meat and potatoes. That being said, this was easily the best dish, even though I probably could have made it myself. With rice, it was great. All in all, a pretty good meal. Next time, I’m going to try a bit harder and have something a bit more authentic, instead of giving in to my inner hungry beast. Ohhh, that paella sounds great!

Patio Filipino
1770 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA 94066
650-872-9888
Be prepared to wait.  A lot.  Especially if a bunch of entire Filipino extended families decide to eat dinner out.

I’m sure you love finding hidden gems; movies, books, shoes, music, etc. Who doesn’t? Since this blog is about food, yeah, you guessed it, we unearthed a very fine gem hidden in one of the most unlikely of places. No really, I don’t know how anyone would find this place without the internet. Anyway, Hogan’s Cafe is that little secret place that serves all the favorite homestyle meals, both breakfast and lunch, in a very comfortable setting. Hearty and filling portions make this place a winner.

My roommate and I were going to catch up with a friend for breakfast before work (freaking early), and we left it up to him. Thanks to the magic of yelp, he found this place nestled in sleepy South San Francisco. Okay, so South City doesn’t have much outside of Genentech and its biotech brethren, but it does have a lot of produce trucks. And in between those produce trucks lies this tiny trucker’s heaven. Yeah, it’s really here. Man, if yelp didn’t exist, I would have never eaten here. I was almost scared of leaving my car there. While it can never compare to the craziness of Tsukiji at 4am, I couldn’t help feeling commotion from all the produce being carted around.

Food-wise, Hogan’s delivers what you would expect. Nothing crazy or over the top, and definitely nothing gourmet, but satisfying. The food’s gotta be good if this place is still open, given its secluded location. I had a Denver omelet (omelette? whatever), which is your standard bell pepper, mushroom, and ham egg concoction. It was filling, too much protein in fact, because I was getting woozy in lab, which is never ever a good thing. Damn good hash browns though. Crispy and just sprinkled with enough salt. Hogan’s seems to have a plethora of menu items, so there’s something for everyone. Lunch items look pretty appetizing too, especially the fatty sandwiches.

What a homey place. Littered with pictures of sports and pop culture luminaries alike, there’s a lot of history on those walls. Our server was quick and very polite; exactly what you’d want from someone if you’ve been driving hours through the night. The food was on the table with minimal wait and the coffee was steaming. Great find, check it out if you ever stumble upon it.

Hogan’s Cafe
155 Terminal Court, South San Francisco, CA 94080
650-583-2293
Haha, good luck getting there!

First things first. Watching Fresh Prince is about the closest I’ve ever been to Philly. So, when dealing with something as fiercely defended as the venerable Philly Cheesesteak, I guess I’m forced to admit that I’ve never had a real Philly cheesesteak. That being said, I’d like to think that Jersey Joe’s comes pretty close. Jersey Joe’s has quickly become one of my local favorites…not only because it’s close, but simply because I love cheesesteaks. I mean, what’s not to love? This is unpretentious Americana fare at its best: fatty meat, gooey cheese, and minimal vegetables, all conveniently stuffed into a deliciously artery-clogging sandwich. Throw in some fries and a pint of beer….and….damn, I am having a good day.

Well, the place is certainly not much to look at. Located in a corner of a unassuming shopping center, it’d be easy to miss Jersey Joe’s at first drive-by. No brushed wood inlays or track lighting, no, nothing fancy. And in this case, it’s perfect. This is your friendly neighborhood sports pub/sandwich shop. Sports flags and team posters share wall space with beer signs, all flanking the big-screen projector in the middle of the room. Yes, this place has a projector, along with four plasma TV’s at each corner of the room. Now, normally I’m pretty against having TV’s in restaurants, (see Burger Bar) but here, it just works, it fits. Walk in here Sunday or Monday night, and it’s easy to spend a few hours with the boys nursing beers and watching the Steelers on the big screen, while following the Red Sox on the corner TVs. Simply put, it’s great.

Jersey Joe’s has a pretty extensive menu, including hoagies, burgers, and other sandwiches…but let’s be honest, you’re here for the cheesesteaks. It all starts with your basic cheesesteak: a half-pound of sliced ribeye served with gooey American cheese and grilled onions. From there, a variety of add-ons await, like: sweet/hot peppers, mushrooms, pizza sauce, pepperoni, and (thank goodness) bacon. Get your doggy bags ready too, not only are they huge, but these suckers are dense.

I’m still working my way through the menu, but my current favorite has to be the sweet pepper cheesesteak. The flavor isn’t everything I would like it to be, I usually find myself wishing for some garlic, or laying on the hot sauce. That’s not to say there’s no flavor; the melted American cheese does a lot to mesh the fatty beefiness of ribeye (my favorite cut) with the slight sweetness of the peppers. But none of the components really sing. It’s a solid, good flavor, just lacking some punch. The texture, on the other hand, is great. No gristly chewy bits, just gooey, moist goodness that matches perfectly with a fresh set of crispy fries.

At roughly eight bucks a sandwich, Jersey Joe’s is definitely a little on the pricier side. But otherwise, it’s solid in every sense. Unpretentious fare coupled with a chill neighborhood sports bar feel. In fact, that’s what draws me to this place, it’s a good place to just come with friends and watch the game, while enjoying good sandwiches with a pitcher of beer. East Coast favorites on the West Bay. Nice.

Jersey Joe’s
21 El Camino Real
San Carlos, CA
(650) 592-7317
This place gets packed around lunch hour, so do your best to come before noon, or after 1.

Ah yes, the near-mythical Santa Ramen. This review is going to be quick and dirty. Simply put, Santa Ramen is the best ramen you can get in the Bay Area. No exceptions. Some places may be close, but nothing can top the king of ramen in the Bay. Seriously. See for yourself. You’re going to have to wait in line, but trust me, when the noodles hit your lips, it’ll all be worth it (our house goes once a week, no joke).

The shot’s a bit dark, but yes, that’s the menu. The hastily scribbled English and Japanese show you how barebones this place is. There’s only one side, one dessert, and everything else is noodles. Three broths to choose from – soy sauce, miso, and pork – and a myriad of toppings for you to choose from. You must get the kakuni (stewed pork). There is no exception to this rule unless it’s already sold out, which happens every freaking day. If you don’t plan on going when it opens, don’t plan on getting the stewed pork. Roasted pork doesn’t even hold a candle to the rich, melt-in-your mouth deliciousness of its stewed cousin. I got the pork broth with the kakuni, of course. Simply wonderful. I actually wanted to drink the broth. Every little drop. I didn’t, though, because I probably would be having MSG seizures. The bowl is around $10, so definitely a bit pricey for ramen, but you can’t top it. Enough talk from me, start lining up now; with all the hype surrounding this place, Santa Ramen definitely lives up to it.

Santa Ramen
805 South B Street, San Mateo, CA 94401
650-344-5918
Be prepared to wait. A long time. Geez, that pork is delicious.

*edit* Santa moved to a new location on El Camino Real and 20th Ave, just south of the 92. The place is a lot bigger, almost three times the size of the original place. The line’s still long, but the noodles are just as good. We’ll have an update complete with pictures soon!