you're so full

I ate at these places all within the last week. Gluttony, my friends:

Bistro 10UN - A restaurant run by the International Culinary School at the Art Institute serving up a three-course meal for $15!!! I had heirloom tomato soup, pan-seared salmon with sauce basquaise, and stone fruit and berry crisp with vanilla ice cream. I also tried my coworker's flat iron steak and chocolat pot de creme (love going out to eat with small eaters!). Everything was delicious, but really my favorite was actually the chocolat pot de creme, which is chocolate mousse that had just the right degree of bittersweet. It was served with the most deliciously buttery shortbread cookie. A-

Costco - I went to Costco to buy a few items including discount movie tickets (to watch Captain America). You absolutely cannot go wrong with a polish dog and soda for under two bucks. Every single trip to Costco, I cannot resist. I wonder how many polish dog I have eaten in my entire life. A

Mandalay Burmese Restaurant - I love Burmese food, and I've been here a few times. This place was featured on Check Please Bay Area recently. This time I had tea leaf salad, Ong No Kaw Soi (coconut chicken noodle soup), Mandalay special noodle, ginger lemonade, and an ice cream dessert. My favorite is the Kaw Soi, which I always get at every Burmese place I go to. The portions could be bigger for me. I ended up paying $32 a person, which I think is a lot for Asian food, cuz I am an Asian cheapskate. B+

Pho Huynh Hiep 3 at Westlake - Back down to my price level. Came here after Captain America and had a nice bowl of combinatin flat rice noodle. Nothing fancy or special but always reliably comforting. B+

Smokin' Warehouse - Ventured out to 3rd Street/Bayview area for BBQ. It's actually an Asian-owned joint operated out of a pick-up window with one solo bench on the sidewalk. I don't remember where I read about this place but it's been on my to-try list. I had the beef brisket platter with corn bread, baked beans and steak chilli. Also ordered an extra mac n' cheese. The beef brisket was about the most tender brisket I've ever had. The sides were okay. I like my cornbread grittier. But it wins for the meat. A-

Outerlands - Only a five minute or so drive from my house, and I've never tried this popular place due to not wanting to deal with the line out the door. So a Wednesday lunch would be just the right opportunity. And man, am I sorry that I haven't been here earlier? I had the grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of shitake mushroom soup. The soup is somehow light and hearty at the same time, with just the slightest kick - it has got to be one of the best soups I've ever had. The bread in the cheese sandwich is spongey and thick and grilled to crunchy, crusty perfection. All this was washed down by a cup of Sight Glass coffee. Our waiter, a hipster dude with Dave Grohl hair, was super nice. And while we were there, some TV crew was filming a feature for some upcoming Food Network show. So I may end up on tv soon! A

Alhamra - I need to venture down to the Mission more, and I would if it weren't for the impossible parking. So yeah here I am on a weekday, enjoying potato naan, chicken boti tikka, lamb korma, and mango lassi, some of the best down-home Indian/Pakistanian food I've had. And that mango lassi - I think they laced it with crack or somethung, cuz I can drink a jug of that stuff. One complaint though is that the service is not too friendly, but whatever. A-

Komi Buffet - At the former Todai location in Daly City. I've long wanted to try this place since there is always a huge crowd waiting outside (so must be good, right?). I have a love-hate thing with all you can eat buffets. I love unlimited sushi and desserts. But I hate the pressure of having to eat til I am sick, cuz otherwise they win. Anyways, back to that big crowd out the door - well what I failed to oberve is that it's a cheap-ass bargain-loving Chinese crowd. They are just there because $12 for all you can eat lunch is an extreme bargain. The food itself is just okay. It's got a good variety of sushi, of fairly decent quality. The hot food is, as is typical of these places, mediocre. The desserts - a variety of small cakes, two mousses which were too sweet for me, two Chinese dessert soups, and some fruits - didn't really hit the spot for me. All in all, for sure it's worth the money, and I'll come back for a weekday lunch when I am craving for sushi without wanting to spend a lot of money. But it's ultimately not satisfying in any way other than getting you stuffed. B-

Tani's Kitchen - A tiny, always-packed Japanese restaurant in Westlake. Tiny means that this place only has three tables and a bar counter. It feels like a greasy diner, except they serve sushi and teriyaki. I had a spicy chicken rice plate, which was basically chicken thigh and leg meat in a spicy teriyaki-ish sauce. It came with green salad and macaroni salad. The chicken was really tender and the sauce has the perfect kick. No frills but plenty of taste. We came here at around 5:30 for dinner so we wouldn't need to wait. By the time we left, which was shortly after six, the crowd had gathered out the door. Those people wouldn't be eating for a while. B+

San Dong Noodle House - Geary near Arguello. This place serves Northern Chinese food. I ordered beef noodle soup with hand-pulled noodles and shrimp & pork dumplings. Beef noodle soup is one of those things I always order at this type of place, and the noodle here was great. I like the thick, chewy consistency. But the soup was on the salty side. Nontheless I would come back to try other items like their dim sum and skewers. Always good to have another Northern Chinese place on the list. B-