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    Russ Fam Kitchen

    4.4 (188 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Russ Fam Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

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    RUSS FAM KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Cuazzy N.

    I came in on a Sunday at 11am and did not have to wait long. Parking is non existent so make sure to park on the street. Service was quick and it took about 15 minutes to be ready. I ordered the longanisa tselog and empanada. My first impression of the empanada after the first bite was disappointment - it was soggy and barely warm. The stuffings inside were pretty good but I wouldn't rate it more than a 7 out of 10. I think it was way more hyped than it should be, especially being charged $8 for it. Other than that, the tselog was good. A solid 8 out of 10 with a fair price. Maybe I'll come check this place out another time.

    Ilocos Empanadas
    Manny Y.

    Came on a Wednesday at 2 pm when they re-opened. There was another person in line. I asked for 4 Ilocos empanadas. It looked like they had already been made and they were baking them to warm them up. I didn't care for the outer shell. It was soggy and chewy. The empanada skin kept sticking on my teeth. I was gonna order chicken wings or birria and the Tita convinced me to get both. She said full chicken wings and half birria. The wings had a thick batter and tasted like curry in the wings crust and was crunchy. The birria is good and came with the birria soup and some pickled jalapeños. There are no chairs or tables to sit on as the "taco stand" like is inside the gas station store.

    Locos empanada
    Ohana C.

    First timer here. Been hearing about all the hype. Their Locos empanada is absolutely delicious. Huge portion. For one empanada it's $8. The only thing they need to work on is the face that you're only allowed ONE small tiny Sauce container for vinegar for one empanada. It's worth the wait. The staff are so nice and welcoming. They treat you like family. The sushi bake they made it was salty. It was okay. Not a fan favorite though.

    Kevin P.

    Line can get long so it's dependent on when you arrive. There is very minimal parking as it's located inside of a gas station. So prepare to parallel park on a slope of a hill. Illocos empanada: 3.5/5, it has a nice crunch to it but the flavor is lacking a lot. The insides barely has any filling at all compared to the one out of San Jose and the outside, although crispy, is extremely oily. Sushi bake: 4/5, it's good but it's a sushi bake. It's hard to get it wrong. Lechon: 1/5, the driest lechon I ever had and not much crisp. It tasted like something was made the day ahead and left overnight but tried to get refried Service is pretty slow, I totally get it's all grandmas working but 45 minute wait for lechon, sushi bake and 3 empanadas (which we got right away), just was not worth it.

    Inside of empanada 04/2026
    Steve T.

    Good little hole in the wall Filipino comfort food in the gas station. Only thing is parking is hard, no parking inside the gas station and NO parking at the pumps. Need to park on the street, down the road by the cemetery has lots of street parking if needed. Might take a little bit after ordering but moves pretty well. So know ahead the possible wait if coming. Empanadas and lumpia were good must pour or drink the vinegar like me lol. "ice scramble" one was good and refreshing

    Russ Fam Kitchen side | IG: @nomwithelaine
    Elaine N.

    I've been here several times and so far it hasn't disappointed me yet! This business is located inside of a gas station, so it might be a little difficult for some people to visit, but they do have a small parking lot and there's also tables to sit at outside of the gas station too. I always get their ilocos empanadas whenever I go here. I love how crunchy their empanadas and it's filled with a bunch of meat, an egg, and other items too. The staff also lets you fill up as many vinegar sauce cups as you want for your food, so I thought that was nice of them. I'd recommend this place! I keep finding myself going back for more empanadas, but they serve other items too so I might try their other menu items next time.

    RamonaEliza D.

    I was craving for some Pinoy street food and some ilocos empanadas. came across a reel on IG that this spot exist and I just got to try them. Drive all the way from the peninsula and I was just right on time for when they open up. The line and wait wasn't bad at all and it was totally worth it. I went overboard and ordered a few items from their menu as I was super ecstatic! The place is like a hole in the wall. Inside a stop shop of a gas station. Parking was a bit challenging because of how popular this spot is. But I managed. As soon as I received my order I was out. And drove and park to a nearby view and munched on. And I absolutely enjoyed it! It was really good!

    Look for the gas station with this van parked outside
    John G.

    3 1/2 stars! I'm Ilocano. I'm from the region where this food originated from. I grew up eating this street food. In fact, it was the last food I ate before boarding that bus to Manila and eventually migrating e ore. I've been craving this food since, and I actually predicted that this street food would become viral/popular more than ten years ago. I knew people would like the crunch of the shell; the mixture of Vigan Longanisa, grated papaya and egg to bring it all together. BTW, Vigan is a region in the Philippines. Not to confuse with Vegan....they are not the same for all the vegetarians out there. The orange color of the shell comes from powdered Anato Seeds. Legit ones are made from Anato powder, not food coloring. I've had different variations of Ilocos Empanada since, and one actually came from the Philippines. But it's not that same eating it freshly made as opposed to having it delivered 7,200 miles from the islands. It's just not the same. I'm still looking for that same exact bite and flavor. So when I found out this place inside a gas station was selling them, I had to check it for myself. I remember this used to be a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern place as it's pretty much the same layout. They offer other dishes such as Birrias, Lumpias, Lechon Kawalis, Sushi, Musubis, Dinakdakan (another Ilocano dish) and all are pretty much fusion. But I came here for the Empanada. When I found out they weren't freshly made and were premade, It kinda dampened my spirit a little bit. However, that wasn't gonna stop me since I've been craving them for who knows how long. Besides, the gentleman working the cash register was working his magic and he was very energetic, highly enthusiastic and very much engaged with each customer. I didn't get his name, but he was an African American gentleman, and he should get a raise. I ordered two; one to take home wifey and one to devour right away. Oh, and make sure to grab some vinegar as it just adds another notch to the flavor profile of the Empanada. After receiving my order, I proceeded outside and couldn't wait to bite into it. It definitely had the crunch, and it was piping hot. Now it was good, but it was different. Just as I thought, it's just not the same having it freshly made rather than having to heat it again as it just changes the texture and quality of the Empanada. In my humble opinion, it would be better to serve these like they do in Ilocos as you can watch them make everything from scratch then dropping them in hot oil to fry them until done. I wouldn't mind the extra wait if they served them this way. But I understand it for the efficiency and expedited service. This would be my only advice for them for the Ilocos Empanadas. But I'll definitely come here again and try their other dishes on the menu next time around. Besides, customer service is top notch like you're one of the Fam.

    Birria sauce
    Ricky C.

    Overhyped, lack of direction, poor customer service communication. A simple hey the line starts outside the door when you're not open yet would make your customer happy while we already waited inside and was told to move outside ended up at the back of the line while we were one of the first customers there would be nice. We totally get that you're famous and we want to try the empanadas and this is like third attempt to get it. I hope it is as good as what people described it. We'll see, we're at the back of the line. So an update, Cheezy Birria was delicious, Sushi bake was good too, Empanadas was ok. We ordered the Ube Iskrambol and was in disbelief that it was frozen, I think I saw the sign that everything is freshly made maybe but the drinks. Luckily, the guy swapped it with the Classic when we ask why is it frozen, he said they're out of ube.

    John P.

    A little slice of home, a couple of hours away! Great service and friendly staff! Pinoy Street food so much more so come hungry!

    Crispy Dinakdakan Rice Plate: Crispy Pork w/ house creamy sauce, ginger, onions, fresh thai chili & jalapeños ($18)
    Cherylynn N.

    Not too long ago, AZN kids were teased for their "weird" looking lunch that "smelled" like hello kitty. But, now so many people want a taste of that funk! I'm so happy to see AZN food trending because of socials with some items going viral for their visual appeal (vibrant color) and satisfying textures (asmr crunch, stretchy pulls, etc). Most importantly, it brings business to AZN mom and pop shops. Ilocos Empanadas went viral last fall and Russ Fam is one of two brick and mortars in the entire bay that sells them (it's also sold at Aborn Market in San Jo on Saturdays). NOTE: Russ Fam is located at Exxon (took over Inshallah Mediterranean). Takeout only with several tables outside. Parking IS rough. A remix of Spanish empanadas, Illocos Empanadas are fried, using rice flour (instead of wheat) and annatto for that distinctive orange hue. It's filled with green papaya, llocos longganisa (sausage), egg, and mung beans. NOTE: Russ Fam only sells Ilocos Empanadas on certain days, announced ahead of time on their IG stories. Currently, $9 each and a max of 2 per person. Make sure you grab suka (vinegar) BEFORE leaving! * Ilocos Empanada ($9): https://tinyurl.com/y29484uu I'm in the minority and found it underwhelming. While it was generously filled with meat (they use ground beef instead of longganisa), the filling was bland and the wrapper was very greasy. ASMR crunchy edges but I had to air fry it to improve the texture of the main surface area. The spiced vinegar did the heavy lifting, adding a spicy punch and cutting through the oiliness. Before Russ Fam went viral, I bookmarked them for their Crispy Dinakdakan and IMO, this IS the thing to get! * Crispy Dinakdakan Rice Plate: Crispy Pork w/ house creamy sauce, ginger, onions, fresh thai chili & jalapeños ($18): https://tinyurl.com/2j8hnj98 A twist on a classic Ilocano dish, the pork is deep fried (instead of grilled or boiled), it's then mixed with mayo, onions, and chili (not sure if they use pig brain). Great savory flavor with a tangy spiciness and satisfying crunchy-creamy texture. The accompanying cucumber and tomato provided freshness but the rice was dry. We didn't order it but you can end on a sweet note with their Iskrambol, a nostalgic Filipino shaved iced dessert that's incredibly hard to find in the bay!

    Ara M.

    Russ Fam Kitchen in Daly City really brought the Filipino street food vibes. We got Kwek Kwek, Ilocos empanada, chicken isaw, siomai, and sago't gulaman! it felt like I was back at a night market. The kwek kwek were crispy, the Ilocos empanada was fresh and flavorful, and the chicken isaw had that smoky, savory char. Siomai hit the spot, and the sago't gulaman was the perfect sweet refresher to wash it all down. If you're craving legit Filipino street food, this is the spot.

    Logo
    Edward T.

    Came here on a friend's recommendation, and wow--what a treat! This is a family-owned spot, and as a cool bonus, the friend who brought me actually knew the owner. Even though I'm not originally from the area, seeing that kind of local community support is really awesome to see. The setup is tucked inside a small mart at a gas station. There isn't really anywhere to sit, but you're here for the food, not the furniture! Grab it to go or eat it standing up--it's worth it either way. The food is absolutely amazing. We started with the kwek-kwek to make sure we were satisfied before diving into the rest, but once we started on the musubi and lechon, we couldn't help ourselves. We ended up gorging on everything just because it was so delicious. Everything was flavorful and hit the spot. We are definitely coming back soon to try the empanadas. If you're looking for authentic, high-quality comfort food, don't let the location fool you--this place is the real deal!

    Cheezzy Birria Tacos and Ilocos Empanadas with vinegar

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    1 month ago

    The Ilocos empanada and the sushi bake was so good! Customer service was rlly great, and all employees were so kind!

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    Page 1 of 5

    Russ Fam Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Russ Fam Kitchen

    Do you guys still sell empanada today? I miss the ig post yesterday 😩

    Please check our instagram for daily updates. Thank you.

    Do they have the ilocos empanada everyday?

    Not everyday. It varies. Please follow us on instagram and check our stories for daily updates.… 

    Do you have isaw everyday?

    For the meantime yes.

    Is this cash only or do you accept debit cards?

    We accept credit card payments as well.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Kan Kiin Brunch & Thai Eatery

    Kan Kiin Brunch & Thai Eatery

    4.0
    (979 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    LGBTQ friendly

    It had been a while since we had Thai food, so we decided to head back to Kan Kian for dinner on a…read moreWednesday evening. Even though it wasn't completely packed, I was so glad I made a reservation in advance! Most of the individual tables were taken, with mainly communal seating left, so having our spot locked in made the experience super smooth. We had our toddler with us, and since she asked for noodles, we ordered the Drunken Noodles and requested them non-spicy. It still had a tiny kick that was a bit much for her, but it was absolutely perfect for my husband and me! To make sure she was fed, we ordered the Pad Thai next--and she completely loved it! The rest of our meal was fantastic. The spicy eggplant had a great flavor without being overly hot, and the pork belly was amazingly crispy and rich. We had to rush home, so we missed out on dessert this time, but we'll definitely be back soon!

    A friend of mine has recommended Kan Kiin a few times, so I was really excited to be in the…read moreneighborhood and finally be able to try it! It was Saturday midday and the area was quite busy, but we were able to find street parking a few blocks away. Tip: if you park on the street, beware of 1 hr parking signs on certain sections of the street! We waited just under 10 minutes to get in because we were a small party and could immediately see how lively it was inside. I really liked the decor. It felt homey, but still sleek and modern, very understated in a good way with natural tones. It was totally my kind of restaurant. Again it was quite busy inside, and I think that may be why service was just okay. When we sat down, our table had two empty water glasses, but no water. I looked at tables next to us and realized they all had bottles of water, and one table had two, so I wondered if they took ours. In any case, the waiter must have missed it when we were seated and given menus, so it took a bit for us to wave someone down for water. We also ended up needing another napkin later, and it was a bit hard to catch the eye of anyone to ask for more as they hustled by. Looking at the menu, everything looked good, so we tried a few things: crab and sweet corn benedict, pork belly benedict, and matcha pancakes. And that's where we were let down a little more. Most of our food came out cold or lukewarm. For the benedicts, I hypothesized it might have been because they were made with fresh hollandaise, but my friend told me hollandaise can be made hot, so that theory went out the window. For the pancakes, I am not really sure what happened. Other than that, my friend's pork belly was very chewy and hard to cut. Overall, though everything was presented well and looked great, the execution was just not there. Still, I had a nice chat with another customer who ordered the porridge and really enjoyed it, so I know they are doing other things well on the menu, it was just not our day I guess. All that said, we had an okay experience, but I don't know if it's enough to warrant a repeat visit if not for a specific occasion.

    Photos
    Matcha buttermilk pancake ( with homemade Matcha cream)
    Matcha buttermilk pancake ( with homemade Matcha cream)
    Sweet corn cake and fresh crab benedict (Served with Potato wedges and Thai cucumber salad with homemade  peanut sause dressing)
    Sweet corn cake and fresh crab benedict (Served with Potato wedges and Thai cucumber salad with homemade peanut sause dressing)
    "Tom Yum"Crispy pork belly Porridge

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    Noodle Station

    Noodle Station

    4.0
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    I was craving something warm and flavorful, since it's been raining and this little noodle spot…read morereally delivered. They have a menu that goes beyond just your typical noodle soups - items ranging from Malaysian‑style curry laksa, spicy roasted duck ramen, to XO sauce dry noodles! We tried a few things and everything felt fresh and satisfying. The house special curry laksa had a rich, creamy broth with just the right amount of spice, and the duck dishes were especially good with tender meat and savory sauces that clung perfectly to the noodles. The small bites like spring rolls and dumplings were nice starters for our group of 4. The service was friendly and quick, with generous portions - exactly the spot we were looking for! I'll be coming back to try even more off the menu next time.

    I was craving noodles and this spot was nearby…read more I ordered the S1 (Crispy Vegetable Spring Rolls) and N4 (Roasted Duck Dried Egg Noodles). The spring rolls were really crispy and the sauce that they use on the side adds a nice sweetness to it. My favorite part of my meal however were the noodles. The noodles were flavorful and the duck was tender. I also loved how generous the portions are and the price is very affordable. If you're into affordability, generous portions, high quality noodles, and great service, I highly recommend checking this spot out. Try it out if you like. :)

    Photos
    Seating area
    Seating area
    11. Spicy Roast Duck Dried Ramen
    11. Spicy Roast Duck Dried Ramen
    8. House Special Curry Laksa Soup

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    8. House Special Curry Laksa Soup
    Megan’s Table

    Megan’s Table

    4.5
    (102 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Incredible Thai food with wonderful service in a cute space. It was a great experience end to end…read more Walked in with a party of 6 an hour before close, and the staff was kind enough to accommodate us at the bar and ensure we got orders in before kitchen close. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food. We all noted that it was truly the perfect dinner portion where you leave full but not stuffed. The price is extremely reasonable for SF as well, so that combo of right size and right price really tickles my fancy. Cambodian Beef Skewer ($12): Bomb. Like, really wonderful. Tender, charred, salty, a bit sweet, and umami. This is one of their specialties, and I see why! It is absolutely one of the best skewers I've ever had. Pumpkin Curry w/ Chicken ($18) + White Rice ($3): So delicious. Silky-smooth curry loaded with all the mix-ins. If you like curry, just get it. I took a bite of my brother's Loc Lac ($15): also great. There was a broth + egg noodle-based dish that I can't remember the name of that was also super good. On the side, we ordered some Roti ($3 ea), and those were flaky and crispy. Finally, dessert was also fantastic. I LOVE to see a restaurant kill the mains and also bring out wonderful desserts. - Mango Sticky Rice ($8): Truly so good. I loved the sesame seeds on the mango to add some crunchy nuttiness to an otherwise smooth dish. They executed very well. - Fried Banana with Honey ($8): Could pop like 10 of these. I say order. - Roti w/ Ice Cream (between $8 - 12): fun, yummy. Probably my least favorite dessert, but still good. Amazing work, Megan's Table!!! If you are in the area, don't miss it :)

    Cozy spot for Thai/Cambodian food with a few tables and bar seating available. The menu is limited…read morebut with solid choices and classic options, including pad thai and pad see ew. We opted to try the cambodian beef skewers, khmer salad and mee ka tang. At the time we went, the phnom penh noodles that was shown in some menu images was removed as an option. The beef skewers were tender with balanced flavors of the aromatics, including lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves. The khmer salad reminded me of papaya salad but with different greens. The salad had just the right amount of dressing--it was flavorful without being overpowering or drenched in sauce. The mee ka tang had wok-charred noodles topped with a mild, lightly seasoned gravy and a generous portion of protein. The prices are reasonable. Food comes out quickly and the staff is very sweet. Overall a great spot for Thai food.

    Photos
    Inside, beautiful
    Inside, beautiful
    Loc Lac $15 (shaking beef)
    Loc Lac $15 (shaking beef)
    Roti ice cream $12

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    Roti ice cream $12
    Rin-Tei

    Rin-Tei

    4.7
    (1.2k reviews)
    11.1 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Takes reservations

    Visited on a Friday night with a friend, restaurant was about half full when we arrived so we were…read moreable to quickly grab a table. Space is minimalist with a clean aesthetic. As we finished dinner most tables were taken but a few bar seats were open so a solid spot for walk in dinner. Beverages: Sake Flight - we got the daily japanese flight which had a fun mix of sakes from japan two filtered sakes and one unfiltered giving us a range of tastes and textures Food: Vegetable Spring Roll - good, very light and refreshing, classic rice paper wrapper filled with crisp fresh lettuce, bell pepper, radishes, and carrots, served with a thick creamy peanut sauce with nice savory nutty notes a great starter Japanese Style Chili Garlic Poached Chicken - excellent, served chilled, tender poached chicken in a delicious spicy garlicy soy sesame dressing, served with cucumber which provided a nice cool refreshing bite, really well balanced with great depth of flavor Soy milk pho with chicken & vegetables- good, a very unique and interesting take on pho, broth has a subtle soy milk flavor with a nice depth from the chicken broth, served with flat rice noodles which made this a lighter dish, chicken in this was also very tender and juicy, the yuzu kosho added a nice subtle citrusy spice to the broth, noodles had a slight bite wish it was cooked just a touch longer, flavors were really balanced as well with lots of complexity Service was good, really quick and efficient, staff was warm and friendly and were knowledgeable about the menu with solid recommendations. Staff refilled our water throughout the meal and checked in periodically. Pacing of dishes also felt just right not much of a wait between courses. Overall really enjoyed our meal at Rin-Tei, a great spot for a nice dinner that's still fairly affordable for the bay area. Really loved the fusion and unique twist this spot offers. Definitely worth a try if you are in San Mateo

    I wanted to like this so bad. This was highly recommended by many folks, but now I'm questioning…read moretheir taste buds haha. Very clean and cute eatery with an adorable entrance. You enter and check in at the front where you will be seated and given menus. Once you decide on your order, you head back to the front to place your order and they'll bring it to your table later. Our order... Creamy Soy Milk Pho $25: It's straight forward, taste like pho with soy milk in it. The dish doesn't open some new flavor combo in your taste buds, just expect it as is. Keema Curry $23: I liked this a lot, fan of curry. However, this wasn't spectacular curry. Tasted as good as I can make it at home, but I'm not a great cook, just follow the instructions on the box. I liked the flavor but bummed that I paid that much for it, haha. I was very confused it tasted as such. Vietnamese Papaya Salad $12: Another of my favorites dishes, but boyyyy, this missed the mark. It was so strangely bitter. Again, the ingredients seemed quite fresh, but the sauce (which makes the whole dish) did not taste good. I would avoid. One note I will say is that the ingredients do seem fresh. I guess it could be considered clean eating? But over all, the visit was disappointing unfortunately.

    Photos
    Cold Sesame TanTan Pho
    Cold Sesame TanTan Pho
    Creamy Soy Milk Pho with Poached Yuzu Chicken and Greens
    Creamy Soy Milk Pho with Poached Yuzu Chicken and Greens
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    Taste & Glory

    Taste & Glory

    4.4
    (849 reviews)
    11.9 mi
    $$

    the food and service was great..... we went for breakfast…read moreback to back because it was that good if you're in the area, go. it's worth the wait!

    Reading the other reviews, I had some a little bit of mixed feelings going in, but I am happy to…read morereport that we had a wonderful brunch here on a busy Sunday morning. Our host was very attentive in managing the daunting looking long line in front of the restaurant, but no matter what, it only took about 15-18 minutes for us to get seated. She hands out menus for you to study before you get inside. Good call. Once seated, you'll enjoy a bright contemporary interior with the usual light wood accents and pretend ivy leaves along a wall or two. The seats are comfy with the wooden looking tables, but best of all, we enjoyed our selections to the fullest. Busy energetic vibe here! Even with a relatively full restaurant, it only took about 10 minutes after our orders for our entrees to appear before us. While I love fried chicken in all its forms and styles, my tummy wanted something somewhat healthy for me, so I chose the... The WHITEOUT - Egg White Omelette with spinach, basil, mushrooms, little bits of red peppers, melted mozzarella on the inside with a healthy amount of feta cheese sprinkled on top. I wasn't expecting too much, but this was surprisingly good down to the last bite. For sides, I went with the default "rainbow" potatoes, which were basically diced fried red and white potatoes and the default mixed greens salad with a vinaigrette dressing. Both sides were the perfect contrast to the eggs and melted mozzarella and spinach. YUM. Easy 5/5! YUZU LEMONADE - enjoyable with a bit of mint leaf, maybe I'll ask for a little less ice. I wanted something a bit more Yuzu, but this was decent. (3.6/5) My dining compatriots enjoyed the Vegan Lover great tofu!), Thai Tea French Toast, Ube Pancakes and Chicken Croffle. No complaints from the gallery! =) Nice presentation throughout and caring cheery service! I'm looking forward to coming back here again soon to try out the Yaki Udon, which was my runner-up to my meal selection today!

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    Banana French Toast
    Banana French Toast
    Tom Yum Scramble

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    Tom Yum Scramble

    Russ Fam Kitchen - mexican - Updated August 2026

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