Ramen Underground

Kitty Solo
Ramen Underground
355 Kearny Street
San Francisco, CA 94108

(415)765-9909
Ramen Underground @ Financial District, SF

With so many ramen shops popping up these days, it's hard to keep up to date! However recently my friend and I came across this little spot tucked away in the financial district of San Francisco. It's a small and crampled little place, but the smells and warmth were equally as inviting.

Soy Milk Ramen

[$9]

The ramen was relatively cheap, but probably because it lacked usual toppings like seaweed or bamboo shoots that usually come with ramen in other shops. Other toppings were available as a $1 add on. One slice of very soft chashu (sliced pork) was given. The broth itself was very good, a light and savory flavor (but did not taste much soy). As for the ramen noodles, they were soft with a bit of chewiness. [4/5]

Green Tea Tiramisu

[$4]

Initially I as a little skeptical upon ordering this because I had assumed it'd just be a regular tiramisu with some green tea powder dusted on top. However to my surprise it was something of its own. There was moist green tea cake sandwiched upon layers of cream. Dusted on top was of course green tea powder (careful not to inhale!). The texture was similar to semifreddo, and this dessert wasn't too sweet at all! Just the right thing after a bowl of ramen. [5/5]

Overall Score: [4/5] Although a very simple place and tiny place, this is a nice getaway for a hot bowl of noodle soup. I much prefer this place over its pricier rival Katana-ya.

Chile Pies

Ducky Solo
Chile Pies
314 Church Street
San Francisco, CA 94114

(415)431-9411
Chile Pies @ Castro SF

Carne Asada Pot Pie with Green Chile and Salad

[$8]

The carne asada pie was pretty decent.  Very flavorful meat and potatoes with a nice savory sauce.  A very wholesome pot pie taste and feel.  Eating the pie and subsequently paying for it made me want to try and make my own pies and tarts.  The pie's filling and crust were up to expectations except for one thing.  I don't know if it was supposed to be this way, but the pie was a bit blackened/burnt when it was served to us.  I don't know if it was the girl who was manning the store that day's handy work or if all their pies are this darkened (see picture).  I will be taking some points off for being over crisped.  Also, the pot pie was about the size of those frozen $1 Banquet pies you can buy at the super market, but at 8x the cost.  Not sure if it is 8x the deliciousness. [3/5]

Mexican Chocolate and Pecan Pie with Whipped Cream

[$5.5]

I was hoping for a sweet pie with some crunchy nutty bits to balance.  The pie had a very nice chocolate taste and there were plenty of pecans.  The sweetness might be a bit too much for some people.  Kitty did think it was a bit too sweet.  Maybe I just like chocolate, but I thought it was just sweet enough.  I was expecting a different kind of flavor, but I can't quite explain what that is.  It wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but it was satisfactory. [3/5]

Overall Score: [3/5] I love pies and all, but I can't help but feel like it is a bit pricey for what it is.  It did inspire me to try to make my own pies in the near future.  At least just a small pot pie.  I would come here again, but not for a long time.  

Pachino Trattoria & Pizzeria

Kitty Solo
Pachino Trattoria & Pizzeria
318 Kearny St
San Francisco, CA 94104

(415)956-4056
Pachino Trattoria & Pizzeria @ Financial District SF

What is a girl (or guy) going to do if she's hankering for some Italian food but does not want to spend a fortune? Pachino Trattoria and Pizzeria would be a fine choice. It's a small and quaint little restaurant in the heart of the Financial District of San Francisco. It has a simple menu with decent prices for fairly good quality. I didn't have a chance to try their pastas but they ranged about $16 or so. But I digress....

Beef Carpaccio with Capers, Arugula, and Parmesan 

[$10]

This was a refreshing and simple appetizer. The lemon juice, capers, and cheese gave this dish a little bit more depth in flavor. It was a good deal for the amount of slices you get. [3.5/5]

Pesto Pizza with Sausage, Onion, Pancetta, Mozaarella, and Spinach

[$15]

This was a 9 to 10 inch pizza ideal for two people (one if your appetite was voracious). Their pizza was not greasy and the crust was fluffy. They were very generous in the spinach, pancetta, and sausage, and one could taste the pesto through the mozzarella. It was a very satisfying pizza. [3.5/5]

Overall Score: [3.5/5] This is a great date spot. It's quiet and intimate while the quality of the food is good without hurting the wallet.

Art's Cafe

Kitty and Ducky
Art's Cafe
747 Irving Street
San Francisco, CA 94122

(415)665-7440
Art's Cafe @ Sunset SF

On a cold winter weekend, brunch is in order, and what we came across was this small little diner in the Sunset district that could only fit around 10 people at a time, all hunched over at the counter whether it's for the warmth from the griddle or the food that they're eating. Run by an old Korean couple, not only does Art's Cafe serve your all American breakfast fanfare, but also a small selection of Korean food as well such as the hearty bibimbap and protein rich bulgolgi.

Spinach, Onion, Mushroom, and Sausage Hashbrown Sandwich with Two Eggs

[$7]

This really hit the spot. I love hash browns of all shapes and sizes, but the crispy ones are the ones that go straight to my heart (literally). And dipping those crispy morsels into that over easy egg? Divine cholesterol I tell you. But I digress....I think it was a very clever idea to make a hash brown sandwich. In a mouthful one can enjoy crispy carbohydrates, savory sausages, and a touch of veggies and fungi. Not to mention $7 is a steal these days... -Kitty [4.5/5]

Bibimbap Veggie Omelette with Hash

[$6.95]

This is one of the few fusion items they had on the menu.  It definitely works.  Anything savory can possibly be placed inside an omelette, so why not bibimbap ingredients?  It sounds just like you would expect.  Its an omelette filled with carrots, bean sprouts, spinach, and some other veggies.  It was a bit unusual to have a bit of cheesiness go with the bibimbap, but if you can have a cheese and spinach crepe why not a spinach+veggies omelette?  -Ducky [4/5]


Overall Score: [4/5] This is a very intimate family-run hole in the wall, but a very good hole in the wall no less. We'd get our arteries clogged here any time. 

Dan Sung Sa

Kitty and Ducky

Dan Sung Sa

2775 Telegraph Ave

Oakland, CA 94612

(510)663-5927

Whether it's the case of late night munchies or looking for a night out with good booze and food, a Korean bar always comes to my mind. What makes this place noticeable are the old Korean movie posters that are plastered all along the walls. Many of them feature slightly scandalously clad ladies and thus this venue is nicknamed Porno Palace. They are famous for their alcoholic yogurt drinks that come in a variety of fruit flavors. But tonight we're mainly here for the food....

Deep Fried Chicken Strips with Peanut Sauce

[$12]

This dish was a little different but definitely not out of the ordinary. I've always dipped by Thai satay chicken into peanut sauce before enjoying them but never had I thought to use that same concept with fried chicken. It comes in a fairly large platter that 3 to 4 people can easily share. A safe dish to order for those that are shy on the spice level. -Kitty [3/5] 

Rice Cakes with Potstickers, Glass Noodles, Ramen, and Seafood (aka Everything)

[$15]

It tastes like a bunch of stuff dumped into a pan and stir fried with some gochujang.  Definitely a with alcohol kind of dish.  Lots of starches, some egg, and lots of sweet chili sauce.  It was kind of fun to eat though.  Never know what I'm going to get until I pull it out of the plate.  Will I get again?  Probably not. -Ducky [2.5/5]

Cheese Corn

[$8]

The label and picture itself is self-explanatory. But it intrigued me what this combination would taste like and my curiosity could not let it go. At first bite I was overwhelmed by the flavors of butter and cheese hitting me left and right. Fans of Southern food would surely appreciate this combination. I eventually began to enjoy it more when I just nibbled it here and there, but the price still irked me for something and simple as cheese and corn. -Kitty [2.5/5]

Garlic Chicken Wings

[$13]

Very unique taste.  Not quite garlic and not really soy sauce.  Kind of reminds me of like garlic, soy sauce, and a hint of vinegar chicken.  Fried chicken with a light crispy exterior and moist chicken interior.  This was my favorite dish of the night.  -Ducky [3/5]

Overall Score: [3.5/5] A definite spot to hit for fatty delicious carbohydrate and protein heavy Korean junk food.  We didn't drink, but this looked like an excellent drinking/bar/establishment.

Joshu-Ya Brasserie

Kitty Solo

Joshu-ya Brasserie

2441 Dwight Way

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510)848-5260

Joshu-Ya @ Berkeley

Berkeley is an eclectic area filled with nooks and crannies of hole in the wall dining spots. Here at Joshu-ya Brasserie is a small restaurant just a few blocks from the main UC campus. It's a quiet little place and offers some outdoor seating when weather permits. It presents itself to be a little more upscale serving sushi, tapas, and entrees with Asian and Western influences.

French Fries Deep Fried in Duck Fat Served with Aioli

[$6]

Served fresh and hot, upon biting into this fried morsels I could immediately sense the aroma of duck fat all around the oral cavity. Careful not to burn your tongue or the roof of your mouth! Dipping the fries with its accompanying aioli sauce can help dampen the oily flavor for those who find it too overwhelming. The novelty eventually wore off though and in the end, it's really just fries. [3.5/5]

Salmon Filet with Sea Urchin Porridge and Bonito Broth

[$19]

I really enjoyed the simple flavors of this dish and the assortment of textures that was offered. The skin was seared crispy but the fish itself was unadulterated without seasoning. This allowed the full flavor of salmon, complemented by the porridge and broth give a pleasant dining experience. [3.5/5] 

Seared Scallops and Mushroom Risotto with Beet Puree

[$18]

The scallops were seared well, neither dry nor present of chewy uncooked center. The mushroom risotto was decent. It was the beet puree that put some originality to this dish, giving it a little extra sweetness on top of the scallops. Normally Joshu-ya does serve scallops, but this particular dish was their special that night and may or may not be on their regular menu. [3.5/5]

Overall Score: [3.5/5] A little bit pricey, but this quaint spot provides a great romantic venue for a date or a girls (or boys) night out.

Kunjip

Kitty and Ducky
Kunjip
1066 Kiely Blvd
Santa Clara, CA 95051

(408)246-0025

Whether it's a cold winter day or a hot summer afternoon, Kunjip has been our go to home-y comfort food restaurant. It's a Korean restaurant tucked away in a plaza where it does not serve the typical bibimbaps and tofu soups that most people are used to. Their menu primarily consists of soups, cold noodles, and stewed meats. Albeit a more limited menu than the bigger restaurants around, Kunjip certainly makes it up for quality.

Bibim Naeng Myun

Cold Noodle with Assorted Vegetables, Beef, and Egg

[~$10]

Cold noodles?  Sounds weird?  Yes, so weird.  Good?  Maybe.  Is that a slice of watermelon?  Why yes sir it is.  This dish is exactly what it sounds like and looks like.  It was a cold noodle dish with gochujang (the red sweet and spicy korean sauce that is on everything), sliced up cucumber, some radishes, some other vegies, a hard boiled egg, 3 slices of beef or so, and a slice of watermelon on top.  Put all those things together and you get what this dish is.  It really just reminded me of a cold noodle salad korean style.  The watermelon can be a nice refreshing taste once the spiciness is too much.  On a side note, they offer unlimited noodle refills on this dish.  I'm not sure if its unlimited noodles, or they add more of the other stuff as well.  However, this dish was very filling.  I could barely finish it myself.  There was alot, A VERY LARGE, amount of noodles.  Very carb heavy and I don't see how anyone has room to get a free refill on the noodles.  If you like saucy, spicy noodles with cold cut veggies and pickled radishes and watermelon, then this dish will hit the spot.  I personally am not a fan of cold noodles drowning in spicy sauce, so I didn't like it too much.  But, I am a fan of trying anything at least once.  Well, not ANYTHING, but most things.  Is it something worth trying?  Yes.  Would I get it again? Maybe in 5 years.  [2/5] -Ducky

[Interrupting Note: I actually didn't like eating cold noodles until I came to Kunjip. I personally enjoyed this dish very much the more I tried it. -Kitty]

Galbi Tang

Beef Short Rib Soup with Glass Noodles

[$12.45]

This is what Kunjip is primarily known for, their Galbi Tang. It comes in a hot clear soup broth bubbling with a couple green onions, a red date, glass noodles, and incredibly fall-off-the-bone soft beef. Along with a bowl of rice and a soy sauce/vinegar based dipping sauce, this makes a very hardy meal especially during winter time. The broth was flavorful but not loaded with sodium, and eating the beef with the dipping sauce is a must! Between the slightly spicy and salty flavor from the sauce mixing with the soup released from chewing your beef, one can not help but sigh in utter bliss/comfort. [5/5] -Kitty

On a side note, although not pictured above, they have a stewed meat and potatoes dish that costs around $30. It is tremendously delicious and a good deal for 2 to 3 people to share.  It is a very hearty meat and potato stew.  It took us several days to finish it.

Overall Score: [5/5] A great place for Korean food lovers or those who want to start delving into Korean cuisine. Hardy and healthy with a family style influence, that's Kunjip.