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512 Center Street, Moraga 925.377.0420
I don't eat Thai food that often (that needs to change), but this place is good. I love the fried banana with coconut ice cream. I know Moraga is in the boonies, so is it worth the drive? To be honest, probably not, but its a great place if you're in the area.
Swarna Indian Cuisine
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1690 Locust Street, Walnut Creek 925.933.1110
Open for lunch and dinner and their lunch buffet is pretty good. I am not too familiar with Indian food, so this was a great way to introduce me to a lot of things instead of reading a menu and saying, "Huh?" The food here wasn't as salty as other Indian restaurants I've been to.
Fujian
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1518 Bonanza Street, Walnut Creek 925.932.0368
Very good Japanese food. Loved the dragon roll, great lunch specials, and Erick (my supervisor) can't get enough of their Nabeyaki Udon.
Blue Ginko
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3518 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette
Hehe... I think this is where I first saw the dragon roll! Their sushi is really good and I love sitting at the bar watching. I was there with a friend and after dinner, I think we sat there for almost 45 minutes watching the chef (hey, we were in college and had nothing better to do)!
Sushi Zone
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388 9th Street #268, Oakland 510.893.9663
Where else can you get a sushi set, have it arrive at the table and the lobster antennas are still moving? Now that's fresh! Really excellent sushi!
Matsu Sushi Japanese Restaurant
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4930 Dublin Boulevard, Dublin 925.833.3966
1914 Contra Costa Boulevard, Pleasant Hill 925-671-9972
I love the Dublin location in at the Hacienda business area. Loved their dragon roll and the service was very pleasant.
Teriyaki Plus
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1991 Monument Boulevard, Concord 925.687.5555
3170 Santa Rita Road, Pleasanton
I am so glad that one of my college buddies found out about this place. I think it's owned my Koreans so along with the combo meals you get those yummy Korean cellophane/bean thread noodles. Great place for a quick meal on a college student's budget!
Sun Hong Kong
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389 8th Street, Oakland 510.465.1940
Ok, to be really, really honest, I do not really like the food there, but I just had to mention it because I ate there all the time my freshman year in college. So that's why I gained the freshman 25 (oh, not the 15, but the 25)! I guess when it comes to Chinese food, I like the nicer foo-foo restaurants, but I wouldn't say Sun Hong Kong is down home. I don't know how to describe it, but the reason I mention it on this list is because I had so many great memories there that if I would ever go back there, it would be a tribute to my college years.
Koryo Charcoal Barbeque
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4390 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland 510.652.6007
Again, another place tied to my college years. We had the APASA (Asian Pacific American Student Association) nomination dinner one year and it turned out really well. This place really is an experience and grilling your food is really fun.
Ole's Waffle Shop
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1507 Park Street, Alameda 510.522.8108
You can literally eat breakfast, lunch and dinner here. It's a great diner and I heard it's been there forever.
Back Fourty Texas BBQ
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www.backfourtytexasbbq.com
1918 Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant Hill
A true carivore's paradise. Please do me a favor and go.
Tequila's Taqueria
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160 South Livermore Ave, Livermore 925.371.1191
Great place and comparable to Pancho Villa, but still doesn't top it. Not too much selection, but has all the basics you can find in an authentice taqueria. Portions are pretty sizeable. I remember I saw one of our clients eating one and had to do a double take on the burrito because it looked really good.