San Francisco Food Diary

Hashiri Bettei Kaiseki Aoki 🍙 A traditional omakase restaurant in Saratoga run by a Japanese couple. The flavor of the ingredients, service, and ambiance are all impeccable. The only downside is that the meal takes almost four hours—be prepared to spend most of your evening here. Perfect for date nights or catching up with a few close friends! GIWA Santa Clara 🥪 A newly opened Korean brunch spot in Santa Clara. Personally, I found it pretty average and not worth a special trip. Compared to the long-time Bay Area favorite Sweet Maple, I’d choose Sweet Maple anytime! Although the ambiance is nice (there’s a flower shop at the entrance), the food and service are just mediocre. The staff weren’t very patient either. Not really worth it! 😒 Mio Vicino 🍝 A traditional Italian homestyle restaurant in Santa Clara. It’s often filled with groups of elderly Italian locals dining together—a good sign! The flavors may not be mind-blowing, but the dishes are classic and the portions are generous. A solid lunch option if you’re in the area at noon! JOEY Valley 🥣 A newly opened chain restaurant in Valley Fair. Everything from the ambiance and service to the food is pretty good. While the flavors may not be extraordinary, I personally think it’s way better than GIWA! However, the prices are on the higher side. Even without ordering much, a meal for two easily exceeds $100—definitely pricier compared to other brunch spots in the Bay Area! 💸 #StudentFoodie #EatAndRecord #StudentFoodExplorer #BayAreaFood #BayAreaLife #SanFrancisco #JapaneseFood #Brunch #ItalianCuisine #WeekendsInTheBay