Stopped by Maillard's and had a great experience. The burger was really good, and I especially…read moreliked that the fries are cooked in beef tallow, which gives them great flavor and crispiness. The chicken bites were tasty too--almost like crispy tater tots in texture. The wait time was only about 10 minutes, which was very reasonable, and the staff was friendly and welcoming throughout the visit. Overall, a solid spot for burgers and fries, and I'd definitely come back.

Burgers were not made to order. Beef was dry and cheese had melted on but had dried by the time the…read moreburgers got to us. Come on Maillard's! This place was supposed to be great. Waited in line for this. I know it's just burgers but this was seriously overrated. A smash burger needs to come out fresh, or why even bother.

Super delicious vegan place only steps from the opera house!…read more We went here for dinner after seeing the Barber of Seville matinee and were super impressed with the options and the ambiance this place provided. We sat at the bar and it was relatively quiet though by the time we left there was a line forming at the door to get in. We got a few drinks, "crab" arancini, "Chk'n" Paella, and the "Choriqueso" Empanadas. Our favorite was the paella - the skewers were really delicious - although everything on the menu looked and tasted good. Could not tell anything was vegan. Would definitely come back and try a few of the other dishes!

A great spot offering plenty of gluten-free and vegan options near Civic Center!…read more My friend and I stopped by this spot on a Friday during Happy Hour to grab some quick bites. Since this is near the Civic Center, spots are limited, so public transit is the best way to get here! Inside was very aesthetically pleasing and inviting, with the windows stretching up the wall to the ceiling, and a modern bar. At that moment, we weren't really looking for drinks, just bites, so I do not have any opinions yet on their drink selection. We ordered the "crab" arancini, which came with jackfruit, lemon garlic, salsa macha aioli, and guajillo, and the barbacoa nachos. The arancini was okay, and did not stand out as much as I would have liked. The panko crust on it was on the thicker side, so it had a bit of a harder exterior, but I will say I did like how well the jackfruit was incorporated and added depth to the dish. I wish that I could taste a bit more of that lemon in the lemon garlic. The barbacoa nachos were delicious, and I liked how they paired the nachos with jalapenos and pickled onions for a nice flavor composition. The jackfruit blended well and added some savory, "meaty" flavoring to the dish that worked. Overall, for a restaurant that specializes in vegan food, this was a great choice! I thought the service was great as well, and they were very accommodating to our party when it came to dietary needs, which is always appreciated.

Just had a great pop-up experience with these chefs via feastly (they have a monthly pop-up). The…read morecuisine is interesting and is a fusion of Asian and Mexican influences with a focus on sourcing materials locally (within 100 miles).

I've been to several of their events. Such amazing food and a unique experience! The chef takes the…read moretime to share the inspiration and preparation for each of the dishes. My favorite dishes include the tuna poke on plantain pancakes, braised pork belly, salad, and spring rolls. I highly recommend that you check out one of their events. I leave each dinner looking forward the next.

I've never had noodles like this before! They were so good - nutty, garlicky with the perfect…read moreamount of crunch from the toppings. The instructions were extremely clear. I would recommend dusting off some of the flour before tossing into the boiling water. The pickup was straightforward- it was easy to find the location. William threw in a snack along with the order which was highly appreciated! :)

I was shocked to read about the long waitlist years ago and I never bother to put my name on it…read more Not only I have to wait for years but I also have to cook the noodles myself - thanks but no thanks - especially I spent way too much money on kickstarter for a series of failed projects/scams in the past. But my sister had enough faith in him that she put her name down in the waitlist a couple years ago. A few days before Valentine's day in 2026, my sister got the email asking her to confirm her order quantities and to pick up on Valentine's day. Apparently, my sister completely forgot her order. lol! This guy have more integrity than kickstarter projects and to keep his promise and to fulfill the orders!!! It's my first time having sweet water noodles. I have never visited Cheng Du in China (it's on my bucket list) so I cannot tell how authentic this really is. As a noodle dish, I really love it. I would buy the sauce itself and toss with any other noodles. (Business opportunity there!) The instruction to cook the noodles is super clear and it's a very simple and easy dish to make. If you can boil water in a pot, you can make the noodles based on the instruction with this noodles kit. The rice crispy gave an excellent crunch. (Now I can see why Paik Jong Won added the uncooked instant noodles crumbs from the package to a bowl of instant noodles). The noodles texture is lovely, it has a chewy (or the Taiwanese/Chinese known as "QQ") bite to it. The portion is quite generous too - it's one of those satisfying portions :) I don't think I want to wait for 2 years for this again. But when he opens the store or start selling the sauce, I will be there for sure!!

"Smish Smash I was taking a bath, long about a Wednesday night, yeah!!!" Okay I'm no Bobby Darin,…read morebut I am quite the aspiring burger aficionado and the smash burgers being handcrafted at Smish Smash are some of the best and most affordable in the entire city of San Francisco! And when Food & Wine Magazine calls this burger one of the most exciting in the U.S., I for one was implored to take notice and visit! Located on the first floor of Saluhall on Market Street in downtown San Francisco next to the IKEA store, Smish Smash started as a pop-up six years ago by owners Am y Han and Victor Donado. Just last year they opened their first stand-alone location on the first floor of Saluhall, which to be quite honest has struggled to keep their other vendors open. Thankfully, Smish Smash has had the benefit of being on the first floor with a view of Market Street, not to mention a great word of mouth thanks to their exceptional smashed burgers that has not only many burger lovers coming in, but quite the number of delivery drivers coming in to pick up burger orders galore. What brought me here to Smish Smash was the fact that a friend and I had theatre tickets at the nearby Golden Gate Theatre and we decided that we needed something quick and delicious before we walked back to the theatre to sit for almost three hours of a show. They suggested that we try this amazing and fun burger concept that was garnering significant buzz and so meeting up at Saluhall was the way to go as they had complimentary WiFi access and plenty of clean and open seating. The menu at Smish Smash is of course filled with burger options with no fewer than seven on their regular menu and a rotating special menu items including items with chili on them including fries, hot dog, and chili in a bowl, not to mention a couple of extra burgers to boot. Each of their burgers on their regular menu has the option of ordering it as a single or double smash burger. Since it was my first time, I ordered a single version of their Cheeseboiga, which had yellow American cheese, pickles, caramelized onions, and mac sauce. My dining mate ordered a single version of their Wow Burger which was topped with white American cheese, grilled onions, pickles, and s2 sauce, which is a combination of mayonnaise and relish, with an order of a side of Curly Fries which were cooked in beef tallow, our total bill was 33 dollars before taxes and gratuity were added in. It wouldn't take too long for our order to be custom made by their team and we enjoyed every last bite while sitting at their communal dining inside the Saluhall. The most noticeable thing that I noticed about the smash burgers at Smish Smash was the fact how thin their smashed burgers were, almost paper like thinness, which made for a unique dining experience. But what was lacking in overall heft of the burger was more than made up in terms of overall juiciness and flavor of my overall burger, of which came out clear on the grease and flavor on my fingertips as I ate every last bite. So good was my experience at Smish Smash that a return visit mere a couple of months later was in order when I attended a show at the nearby Orpheum Theatre. With complimentary WiFi and water available to customers, this time I ordered their Smish Smash Special which was their Dac Biet smash burger which was their signature grass-fed smashed beef topped with white American cheese, sliced onions, jalapeños, cilantro, Thai basil, alfalfa sprouts, lime and pho aioli. This particular smash burger, which cost 16 dollars, was a little on the healthier side as the sprouts, onions, and cilantro overpowered everything, but the flavor profile did make it feel as if I was enjoying a bowl filled with pho noodles with all the fixings. I appreciate what Smish Smash is trying to do, as an up and coming entrepreneurial business from pop-up to permanent business in an area that could seriously use the support, I am all in with what Smish Smash is offering up on a daily basis, good affordable trendy smash burgers that makes burger lovers coming back for more and then some! "I was a-moving and a-grooving, yeah I was a-smishing and a-smashing..."

Came right when they opened (which was the perfect time imo). Parking was difficult to find…read moreinitially - but after circling around a few times, I realized there is a garage in the same building. Now to the best park...the food! Easily one of the best smash burgers I've had in the bay. I got the cheeseboiga single. Shoe string fries had the best crisp. And take it from me - please don't skip the banana pudding! Service was prompt, and met with a smile. She was patient while we took a while to decide our order. Also, keep a look out for specials. I noticed the special signs right after i placed my order. Food also came out just as quickly. I hope they add more food spots in this food hall! Ambiance is modern, clean. (And there's a Photo Booth!) we will be back!!!

Overall, I really enjoyed my meal here and recommend others try it out, especially if you're…read morelooking for a lazy bear-esque experience without the lazy bear price. Pros: -good service and pacing of courses -incredible and interesting flavors -great company at the communal table -helpful descriptions in between each course and you can see them preparing each dish Cons: -location is out of the way in Bayview -the pop up is in a sake distillery and it was cold inside. Might be nice to add some mood lighting or something to improve the ambience as well.

Wonderful omakase experience for a crab lover. This is a 6…read morecourse meal. My fave is the chawanmushi with fish roe, clean yet super smooth Steam crab is sweet, fresh taste with wonderful butter sweet dip ( sambal is a nice side kick to clean the palate) Cold Soba crab with zest tangerine with mustard dressing. Enough portion, not to fill u up, but to awaken your hunger to taste more of the upcoming dishes Attentive services, not rush with informative of each dishes. Truly appreciate this! I wish I can have a warm green tea to pair with the meals Am I goong to come back or bring friend? Yes!

Have you ever experienced something that while it was happening, you already wish it could be for…read morethe first time again? Filipino-Japanese fusion has been a tried and true combination, including my boyfriend and I's relationship (ba dum tss). However, Ox and Tiger have MASTERED the fusion aspect. Ox and Tiger is an intimate dining experience, with 8 seats, and gorgeous plating, menu, and cute chopstick rests! Comes with 3 courses with an additional 4th add-on. They also have a drinking menu, and they noted that the menu changes every 2 months (every even month!) EJ is such a wonderful story teller, and Hitomi (who created the menu for the month of May) had a great twist on everyday classics in Japanese cuisine. As the dishes were prepared and presented, EJ would tell the backstory on the dish(es), a personal note about each, and Hitomi's take on it to sweeten the deal. As soon as the experience starts, EJ tells us that the doors will be locked to prevent any distractions from outside (aka if you're late, you're outta luck), but we were encouraged to go outside for air if necessary. (I tried taking these notes on the food while EJ was talking about each dish so bear with me). ESL lunch The backstory was that Hitomi loved caesar salad while going to school in America, so she created a "perfect bite" with a Japanese twist to it. The word "gomoku" literally translates to "5 ingredients," to which I was only able to remember 2 of 5 of the vegetables, which were snappeas and roasted beets, with quinoa and tinapa (smoked fish). The fish that was used wae a cured Spanish makerel. T.A.M.M.Y I wish I remembered the words for this, but this is actually Hitomi's English name when she moved to the states. The acronym aspect was for the class at the time to think of ways to learn to like their name (each letter was a positive attribute and I can't remember what EJ said). The backstory to this was that Hitomi, being born and raised in Japan, was actually the biggest fan of California roll - did not like traditional sushi (or raw fish for that matter). - T.A.M.M.Y. is Hitomi's take on that. This was monk fish, with the fish scraps dipped into dashi sauce and kyuri (Japanese cucumber). In other words, no part of the fish was wasted in the making of this dish (in true Japanese AND Filipino fashion). This also had pinipig (granola-like topping glazed in shoyu) [Shoyu = soy sauce] Omiotsuke Now this is where I was blown away. First of all, I did not know what the hell this word was in English, but I watched every part of this dish being prepared and was even more confused when it was presented as dessert. When EJ started explaining, it made all the sense in the world. There is a tofu skin roll, vanilla ice cream, a mushroom topping, cherry miso compote concoction (this is where I butchered the exact creation - this is where the flavor was distracting me from what it actually was). Did you notice the ingredients? What is one thing one will eat at any Japanese restaurant, almost as a courtesy/complimentary item? Omiotsuke is, as polite as one could possibly say, is miso soup. This is Hitomi's take on miso soup, the flavor was spot on. I never thought to pair dashi-like flavors with ice cream (there is already shoyu with vanilla ice cream, but this was a flavor sensation). EJ was so kind when my boyfriend and I admitted we came for an anniversary, and we even got to see his reaction when we said we were also Japanese/Filipino (I'm also an Ox, but no Tigers here). They took this lovely photo of us to commemorate the evening, which sits on our fridge to this day. Again, gochiso-salamat :) to EJ and staff! We hope to come back soon.

First started as a pop-up in 2018, Ox+Tiger offers Filipino/Japanese fusion cuisine inspired by the…read morelives of the two chefs behind the kitchen. Situated in a small, 8 seat counter, dinner is intimate with dishes being prepared right in front of you. The menu features three courses, an appetizer, main, and a dessert - with the option for an additional add-on. Our meal featured a focus on fish, in particular mackerel and monkfish. Each of the dishes were deconstructions of familiar concepts such as Caesar salad and a California roll, but enhanced with new flavors. The mackerel was sublime, perfectly charred exterior with a still raw interior. The monkfish was tender, coated in a ginger, wasabi sauce next to crispy sweet rice and avocado. The dessert was by far the most unique, being a miso dashi, mushroom cherry coated coconut ice cream with a tupig-like mochi on the side. The savory, sweet, sour combination completely catches you off guard but becomes increasingly addictive the more you eat. So bold and absolutely memorable. Ox&Tiger takes familiar concepts, breaks them apart, then fuses them back together with a flair of Filipino and Japanese flavors. This results in dishes that are utterly unique and innovative. Additionally, with menus and playlists designed by family, this truly feels like the epitome of a family-run business and a meal cooked with so much care in front of you. This is absolutely worth a visit and an opportunity to try new flavors you've never experienced before.

I've been wanting to come here for a minute! It's been a tough reservation for me but love that…read morethey're poppin after all this time. They're known for their squab. The rabbit was SO good. I normally don't love hainanese chicken (their cold chicken small bite) but there's is fire. DO NOT SLEEP ON THE JELLFYFISH WITH HOT MUSTARD. Or the escargot for that matter. Dip that milk bread in that buttery garlic chili oil goodness. I'm literally getting hungry writing this as we speak. Everyone was so friendly, Jane was super helpful and nice when we asked questions about menu items. Wish I caught everyone else's name too, very welcoming spot. Heads up; not a huge spot, so I wouldn't recommend for a group bigger than 4. Come here, it's a must! Definitely grab a Rez if you can.

Long overdue review! I've been here twice now, and both visits were excellent. The escargot with…read morethe milk buns is an absolute must order. I honestly think it's the best in town. The steak arrives on a sizzling plate and is packed with flavor. The complimentary salted nuts are also delicious and something I always look forward to. The squab wasn't really my favorite, and I found the clay pot dish to be mediocre and not particularly memorable. Service was fast and attentive during both visits. My only minor complaint is that the space is quite small, but it also adds to the cozy, intimate atmosphere, making it a great spot for a date nights.