M & L Market

M&L Market: Sandwiches Done Right In San Francisco

Do you love finding the hole in the wall places to eat? Think kind of restaurants that usually only the locals know about and get to enjoy. Then you are going to want to know about M&L Market in San Francisco. They are said to have the best sandwiches in town.

They are located a little off the beaten path and are considered quaint by most. The black and white checkered floor and the cha-ching of the old time cash register makes you feel like you stepped back in time a bit. This is a real family owned business and you will find Judy making your sandwich, Quincy manning the slicer, and May ringing up your order at the register. If you are good you might get an almond cookie from May.

There is a trick to ordering at this deli so be prepared when you go. Some reviews have likened Judy to the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld, but that is not the case. She just has an ordering system that works best for her and asks the customers to order that way. So if you go know that you need to pick your bread first, then pick the topping you want, and last order the extras. They are said to have the best pastrami sandwich in all of San Francisco. Their sandwiches are so good that people have no problem waiting in line for up to 45 minutes.

The prices pretty reasonable for the monster size sandwiches that are served up. Most customers say that one sandwich will easily fill up two people. Pastrami, turkey, raise beef, tuna, and egg salad are a few of their best sellers. Bring cash they do not accept credit cards or checks.

You can find them at 691 14th St., San Francisco, CA. They are only open Monday through Friday and their hours are from 11:30 a.m. to about 4:00 p.m. and only during about 8 months out of the year. They close down for the holiday season. This should be on your must try list if you are anywhere near San Francisco.

Monte Alban

The Monte Alban Restaurant in Los Angeles, California is one of the finest Mexican restaurants in the Los Angeles Area. This restaurant takes its name from the ancient Mayan civilization of Monte Alban, in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. They specialize in cooking authentic cuisine of Oaxaca which includes their jaw-dropping red, green, and dark mole sauces. They offer a lunch special for $6.99 which comes with many amazing entrees to choose from and a drink.

Many of the locals who frequent their restaurant all ave chosen their Mole Negro as their favorite dish. Their signature the Mole Negro or black mole is slightly sweet with a hint of chocolate flavor where as their green mole is spicy yet light. Tender pieces of chicken breast is served with their delicious mole and white rice. Other delicious dishes customers have mentioned include garlic mashed parsnip and potato, 
empanadas with squash blossoms, chicken tortilla soup, Volcan (volcano) molcajete (a mix of beef, nopales, actus cheese, peppers served in molcajete with a side of tortillas), fried plaintains and Qaxuacan flan. Monte Alban also serves interesting drinks such as horchata with tuna (fruit of the cactus). This drink is described as an icy, milky drink with pieces of red tuna floating on top of it.
Monte Alban has a unique and artsy decor. The interior of the restaurant is pointed with murals covering the walls and the ceilings. The ceiling is painted blue to resemble the sky with clouds. The walls are murals painted on the walls to give you the feeling that you are outdoors walls. Mexican costumes and masks adorn the walls. 

The OP Cafe

It can be hard to find a family-friendly high quality Asian restaurant in Fremont but La Sen is a good place to eat whether it is a family gathering or a romantic evening with your significant other. La Sen is a Vietnamese restaurant if you are looking for great presentation but more importantly better taste of food. Some favorite dishes from the restaurant include the bun bo hue which is a spicy beef noodles soup and their spring rolls. Despite the restaurant having a very warm, inviting atmosphere it retains a sense of sophistication by not being too casual; perfect for a night out. Although it is somewhat hidden the the Fremont hub, it is a cute but established restaurant that is not too expensive as well. La Sen offers both lunch and dinner. Overall, it's laid back vibe and fresh food definitely make it a place to stop and try sometime if you're wanting an inexpensive, fun night out.

Locals and visitors to Santa Monica, California love to eat the OP Café. Located in Sunset Park near Santa Monica’s southern edge, this casual, laid-back café serves some of the best lunch and breakfast the area has to offer. Since its opening in 2006, the OP café has been pleasing the palettes of its customers. Its menu includes California fusion fare made with fresh, local ingredients. The casual atmosphere welcomes guests for breakfast and lunch daily. With all entrees priced under $10 it’s no wonder this is one of Santa Monica’s favorite cafes. 

Customers can order breakfast all day and choose from California classics. The Diablo Burrito is popular among customers who love spice. It consists of eggs, chorizo, bacon, black beans and home fries wrapped in tortilla with spicy Diablo sauce. For those who want a milder option to start the day, buttermilk pancakes or homemade granola with fruit is a good choice. Still others may opt for a hearty breakfast of Huevos Rancheros. This dish comes with corn tortillas topped with two eggs and cheddar cheese. It includes a side of pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole and black beans.

The OP Café lunch menu provides an array of options for a light lunch. Customers will love the Classic Burger with beef, lettuce and tomato. The Garden Burger is another selection. It consists of a tasty veggie patty, lettuce, tomato and jack cheese topped with avocado ranch dressing. Salad lovers can choose from one of the five salads on the lunch menu. The OP House Salad is a popular choice. It comes with mixed greens, candied walnuts, cranberries, gorgonzola and a vinaigrette dressing. The Mexican Grilled Chicken Salad offers a Southwest twist. Made with black beans, corn and pico de gallo topped with chipotle ranch over mixed greens, it is one of the local favorites. 

Thalia Spice

Thalia Spice --833 W Chunicago Avenue, Chicago, IL

Located in Chicago’s vibrant Noble Square neighborhood, Thalia Spice serves a variety of Asian cuisine, including Thai, Malaysian, Indian, and Japanese food, combined in a way that owes to both tradition and creativity. Fans of spicy food will find a new home away from home.

The restaurant is best known for its Thai food, with all of the usual Thai classics on the menu, along with a few interesting additions. Thalia Spice’s Pad Thai is some of the best in the city, spicy and tangy in that unique Thai way. Other customer favorites include the Drunken Spice Noodles, and River Boat Noodles, prepared in the traditional fashion.

Along with world class Thai cuisine, Thalia Spice is also one of the few restaurants in the area that also serves Malaysian and Indonesian food, like the Thalia Lard Nar (a pan-fried noodle dish) and the Indonesian Curry Mee (steamed egg noodles with shredded meat). Rounding out the menu are offerings from India and Japan, the former in spicy curry dishes like the Indian Chicken Makhana, and the latter in Tempura and Gyoza. While the menu is diverse in its offerings, it is unified by a theme of spiciness and rich flavor, along with fresh, high quality ingredients. Vegetarians and those seeking healthier options will also find plenty to choose from, including a variety of fresh salads.

While the menu is lively and exotic, the prices at Thalia Spice are reasonable and the portions very filling. Much like the neighborhood it is located in, the decor of the restaurant is decidedly casual and hip, perfect for a nice lunch or dinner with a group of friends. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable, happy to help navigate the large menu. With free parking and nearby public transit, Thalia Spice is a convenient, fun way to explore the spicy side of Asian cuisine.

Bar Pintxo

Bar Pintxo is located at 109 Santa Monica Blvd in Santa Monica, CA, and it is quite the place to visit. You will walk into a restaurant that is both modern and part of the old world. It is a place that has exclusive wines. These wines are only available here. They are sold to them by family owned wineries from Spain, so you can expect quality when you sip on your aromatic wine of choice. 

So, what kinds of things can you expect to eat here? Well, perhaps you might be interested in their Tocino con Fruta de Tiempo, which is a pork belly that is braised in duck fat. This delicious braised piece of meat comes with a seasonal fruit compote as well. Perhaps you might be interested in trying their Esparragos con Mojo Verde, which is preserved white asparagus. It comes with a delicate green herb puree, seasonal sprouts, and Marcona almonds, oh and those almonds have a touch of paprika. This is the kind of restaurant that was made to impres. They take pride in it, something that is evident in some of the food they serve. You can see this in some of the aforementioned dishes and the rest of their menu.

Monday and Tuesday the restaurant is open until 10PM. On Wednesday and Thursday they are open all the way until 11PM. On Friday and Saturday they are open until 12AM. The parking is validated, or you can also park on the street. Credit cards are accepted for your convenience of course. Most of the people who come here have been coming for years. One reviewer on Yelp said that after eating here, it made her feel like she was wasting her money if she tried eating somewhere else. She said that everything here was delicious.