Wallowing in French Nostalgia at Crêpes Oh la la (Formerly known as Crêpes-a-Go-Go)

Nothing compares to the crêperies in France, but I have to say that there's a pretty decent one in my own backyard. 


What was once part of the Crêpes-A-Go-Go chain, is now apparently independent and now called Crêpes Oh La La. Though the name changed and its location is a couple blocks farther from the Broadway Plaza area in Walnut Creek, the service and food remain the same. Which makes me wonder about the change in the first place, but, I digress...

The Sautéed Chicken with Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Garlic, and Onion ($6) savory crêpe is a new favorite of mine. It's as if they put all the elements of a pasta into a crêpe, minus the pasta. They don't skimp on the ingredients at all, and it's perfect if you're in the mood for something hearty and filling. 

You can't leave here without having a dessert crêpe, especially one with Nutella. I devoured Nutella when I lived in France and so every now and then I have a hankering for it. Pictured is the Nutella Banana Crêpe ($4.75), which is split into two (a perfect serving after eating an entire savory kind!). You get just the right amount of every ingredient, and the best part is the warm nutella coating your every bite. 

This restaurant is for those who want an affordable, traditional piece of France after a long day of shopping.  The menu has a variety of options that'll appeal to any mood or craving, and you can personalize your very own by adding extra elements.

Crêpes Oh La La 

1548 Locust St
Walnut Creek, CA 94596

An Off the Grid Run-In at UN Plaza: Tandoori Chicken USA Mobile

From this angle it just looks like a wrap, french fries, and a questionable green sauce.

But it is in fact a Tandoori Chicken Sandwich Combo ($9), with your choice of french fries or basmati rice, and a drink of your choice.

I found this at Off the Grid at UN Plaza by the Civic Center BART station, and my boyfriend I happened to stumble upon it while we were thinking about where to have lunch. 

I had never had Indian street food before, so I decided to try out Tandoori Chicken USA Mobile Food Truck. It offers Indian favorites such as tandoori chicken, paneer, and chicken curry. You decide whether you want to stick with tradition and get a side of basmati rice or change it up with french fries. I was in the mood for the latter, which are in fact not  of the plain shoestrong variety. They're natural cut and bear some skin, which makes them incredibly addictive. The sandwich combo also includes a side of some tasty green curry sauce, which is mild and has a coriander kick. 

Off the Grid Shoutout: 3-Sum Eats

My boyfriend and I went to Off the Grid last night in North Berkeley -- our second week in a row -- so, we decided before getting there that we'd both try something new. Last week we went to Hapa SF and partook in some sisig action (marinated pork, onions, and peppers that is boiled, broiled, and finally fried).

I was delighted to see 3-Sum Eats, which I had always missed at the main Off the Grid at Fort Mason. The concept behind "3-Sum" is simple: choose a sandwich from list #1 on the menu, move on to list #2 where you can find sides such as Deviled Eggs ($4) and Mac n' Cheese Spring Rolls ($6), and conclude with a dessert from list #3 like a Brioche Bread Pudding ($3.50).


I remembered a friend of mine raving about something on list #1: their Corn Flake Crusted Fried Chicken Sandwich ($8). Bottom line: My friends have great taste.

Served in a brioche bun with old bay aioli, carrot-cabbage slaw, and pickles -- it all adds up to perfection. All these elements in a handy sandwich make you wonder why there isn't enough of this stuff out there.

Plus, you can't expect anything less from the man behind this food truck, Ryan Scott, a former contestant of Top Chef: Chicago.

A Concord Treasure: New Lim's Garden Seafood Restaurant

Concord surprisingly has a pretty damn good Chinese Restaurant. It should consider itself lucky. New Lim's Garden Seafood Restaurant has been around for longer than I've been living in the area, so that's more than 15 years. My family and I have been ordering out from this place for the longest time, and it's because we consider it to be one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Bay Area -- comparable to those you can find closer to the city. 

My closest friends in the Concord area value this restaurant as much as I do. 

There's nothing like cheap, good, authentic Chinese food. What's not to love ?


Here's a few of my favorites/usuals: 

For a family of 4, one order of the Yang Chow Fried Rice ($6.25) will suffice. Not only is it incredibly authentic, it's heartily packed with shrimp, peas, egg, Chinese sausage, and carrots. 

Their Peking Pork Chop ($7.25) is crisped and slathered to perfection. Pork, light breading, and sweet and sour sauce is quite an addictive combination. 

The Chinese Broccoli with Beef ($6.75) is a sautéed melange of kai-lan (Chinese broccoli), beef, and carrots lightly doused in black bean sauce. The best part of this dish is the kai-lan, because its texture and flavor pair so well with the sauce. 

You can get two Deep-Fried Flounders for $8.95. Topped with scallions and served with a sweet soy sauce, it's lightly breaded and perfectly fried. I pick this fish like crazy to the bone.









It's amazing how much food you can get for just a little under $30. Their menu is full of Chinese classics and is bound to have your favorite dish. 


Also notable is their lunch special that costs $5.50-$6.50 per person and is held form 11:00am-12:30pm. You can get a selected choice of vegetables, beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, or fish with soup, fried wonton, steamed rice, or fried rice. 


So the next time you're in Concord (for whatever reason), and have a Chinese food craving, this is definitely the place to be. 


Location: 4340 Clayton Road, Concord
Monday-Thursday: 11:00am-9:30pm
Friday-Saturday: 11:00am-10:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am-9:30pm

Power of the Purple Restaurant: King of Thai Noodle House

Cheap and authentic Thai food that's a mere one block away from Union Square? Tourists and locals alike who get hunger pains from a day of sightseeing or shopping can enjoy King of Thai Noodle House on O'Farrell Street in San Francisco. Its walls are painted purple, just like the shirts of its waitstaff, both of which make for a fun, inviting ambiance.

Pad Thai is a hit or miss at Thai restaurants, but I definitely think it's a winner at this restaurant. It's the most popular dish in this cuisine, with its textural and tasty combination of stir fried rice noodles, shrimp, egg, ground peanuts, tofu and bean sprouts in a fish sauce and tamarind juice. At only $6.25, this is practically a good deal meal in itself. 

Their Pumpkin Curry ($8.25) is filled with chicken, squash, Thai basil, and chicken. It's highlighted quite nicely by a bright, spicy flavor -- elements that fit perfectly this autumn season. You'll find yourself drenching the remaining sauce all over your rice to the point that you've practically licked both dishes clean. 

Hoi Jor ($6.95) is deep fried bean curd filled with ground pork, crab meat, ground shrimp, and ground water chestnuts, served alongside sweet plum sauce. The thin, crispy bean curd encases a meaty, succulent interior. I found myself quite addicted. 














Another notable item on the menu is Kao Gra Prow ($8.25), which I didn't order this time around in an attempt to try new things and therefore don't have a picture on hand. It's a combination of any meat of your choice (chicken, beef, pork, or seafood -- shrimp, calamari, imitation crab meat, and sliced fish cake), thai basil, red pepper, and thai chili, all served over a mound of white rice. I always order it with ground beef. It has just the right amount of spiciness, which allows the dish to fare well with rice. 

Location: 184 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, CA

Caffe Puccini: More than just a espresso.

It's hard to come by a good Italian restaurant, in fact I think the best Italian dishes can be made at home with the right ingredients. But there's nothing wrong with enjoying it while dining out, so long as it comes from homemade, true Italian tradition. 

Such is the case with Caffe Puccini in the North Beach district of San Francisco. Nestled among many touristy establishments with hosts and hostesses beckoning for you to come in, this café/restaurant keeps to itself and tends to be frequented by more locals than visitors. 

At first glance it looks like just a café and nothing more. But you'll most likely see that there are some people twirling pastas or munching on foccacia. If you have a hankering for more than a cappuccino and a cannoli, the mere sight of that might put you over the edge. 

This is a seafood lover's dream. It's called Linguine ai Frutta di Mare ($14.95), a heavenly combination of mussels, clams, and shrimp in a white wine broth. Every aspect of this dish is fresh, from its "hot off the press" temperature to the clean, flavorful finish of every bite. 










This is one of my favorite pastas, Pappardelle alla Lepre ($12.95). It's pappardelle pasta with rabbit in red wine sauce. Rabbit might not be inviting for some, because it comes across as gamey and stringy. I think the rabbit is rich and hearty, pairing well with the pappardelle. 










The service here is great, and on this day in particular, my family and I were helped by a lovely Italian woman who made sure we were well taken care of. Italian hospitality like this just puts the cherry on top of my experience here.


Location: 411 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco