Best Taste Chinese Restaurant – Oakland, California

For the first time ever, I went down to California in 2013 to celebrate Chinese New Years with my husbands family. We had a wonderful time and one of the places that I remembered really well was Best Taste and they’re known for their Clay Pot Rice, so we went there to eat some, along with other things – but those are just minor things!

We had a chicken clay pot, and the rice was cooked into the pot leaving a nice hard crust that my husbands family craves and loves! There’s really nothing like eating rice cooked from a clay pot – and we just do it normally as it’s a pain to clean afterwards. This dish was excellent and my favourite as it had tons of chicken pieces in it, with the delicious rice and soy sauce!

The other clay rice pot we had was basically a Chinese cured meat one, and it’s got a bunch of Chinese sausages in it, with some vegetables. Chinese cured meat is different from anything else, and I’m not sure if it’s an acquired smell/taste, but I know I love it. Some people do find it too greasy – but it works so well with rice! The rice absorbs the grease with the soy sauce and other flavours that it was steamed with! It’s truly a treat and if you haven’t tried it – now is the time!

Overall, I absolutely loved this place! It’s the type of food I love and I guess my aunt-in-law love this stuff too! I’m so happy they brought me here, and I’m sure I’ll request to go back next time I visit them!

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Best Taste

814 Franklin St
Oakland, CA
(510) 444-4983

Golden Island Cafe – San Francisco, California

I really love desserts, and even Chinese desserts. I was brought to Golden Island Cafe in San Francisco and it has been memorable! I still think about this location and the desserts from here all the time! The hours are great as it could accommodate us even as an after dinner dessert.

We ordered a few desserts and they were all delicious! We love the look, taste and texture of Sesame Paste and Sweet Tofu which was basically Dau Fu Fa (tofu pudding dessert) with black sesame paste/soup.

We also had an order of Lychee with Sago as sago is my favourite Chinese dessert! This one is no exception as it’s delicous sago with lychee slush, topped with lychee fruit!

Lastly, we ordered the Sago with Mango, as the name says, it’s a bowl of sago, topped with mangos! It’s delicious, fresh and even refreshing!

Overall, I love this place and I know I will return next time I’m in the Bay Area!

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Golden Island Cafe

1300 Noriega St
San Francisco, CA
(415) 759-9118

World Ground Cafe – Oakland

One afternoon during out trip to California, we decided to slow down the pace and start the day with a nice hot drink. We came across a place called World Ground Cafe which was still in Oakland. We actually like to come here often to pick up some drinks on the go! The location is great for us, the people are always friendly, and the drinks are always fresh and delicious!

I really like to order their Hot Chocolate as it’s rich and creamy! It’s never too greasy tasting – but yet, I don’t ask for whipped cream. It seems to be my “go to”drink in the morning, which I have no problem with!

The other drink we seem to enjoy ordering a lot was their Spicy Chai as it was a nice spicy chai. It’s not the same as the ones we get back at home, but it does leave a nice fragrant note and flavour in the mouth. It definitely warms up the body on those cold wintery months!

Overall, we like this place as it has what we need, at a price we like, and the location that is convenient for us! Most importantly, it’s worth the price we pay too! Especially for something as basic as hot chocolate! I am sure I will be back next time I’m here – since I’ve been back for a few years now!

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World Ground Cafe

3726 Macarthur Blvd
Oakland, CA
(510) 482-2933

Fentons Creamery & Restaurant – Oakland, California

Going to California, we like to go for ice cream, especially during the hot summer days. We accidentally found Fentons, and after mentioning it to family and friends… I guess we’re the last to know about this awesome place!

When we found Fentons, it was an “in between” meal, so we came in for a snack. Our snack, we shared a Half Crab Sandwich Combo which was half a crab meat sandwich which was really fresh and delicious.

You really tasted the crab, and the sandwich plus condiments didn’t take away from the fresh crab flavour.

For dessert, we shared a seasonal ice cream, which was blood orange ice cream and we topped it off with melted marshmallows and it wasn’t too sweet or anything. It was in perfect harmony — one of the best ice cream desserts we ever had! I think just to try new things, we’ll always try whatever is on their seasonal menu.. so, you know it’s in season!

Fentons Creamery & Restaurant

4226 Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611