Author: Terry Chen

  • Noodle in a Haystack: Creating Bowls of Ramen Delight

    Noodle in a Haystack: Creating Bowls of Ramen Delight

    Inspiration can come from a number of sources and this pair of foodies is one of mine. Clint and Yoko, husband and wife, host Feastly meals highlighting their love for Japanese cuisine, more specifically ramen. Their goal is simple but challenging – to bring reliably good ramen to SF. If anyone has lived in SF…

  • Ju-Ni: Serving Symphonies of Sushi

    Ju-Ni: Serving Symphonies of Sushi

    I’ve found one of my “ones”, and cannot wait to tell you about it. Before going into the restaurant itself, I’d like to clarify what it takes to be a “one”. It’s not just about the food. The institution needs to be more than that: the environment – space, decor, lighting, plating – all play a…

  • Castagna: Playful Fine Dining in Portland

    Castagna: Playful Fine Dining in Portland

    I love Portland. It is a magical land of eats, microcrews, hikes and no sales tax which activates the inner consumer in me. Stuff, for LESS? Yes, count me in. There are many great deals in Portland, and one of them is at a New American restaurant called Castagna. Not many institutions there where there are of a white-cloth…

  • Lists: Where do I Foodjourney?

    Lists: Where do I Foodjourney?

    Recently I’ve had a number of people ask me where I eat at or if I have recommendations to eat in certain cities, and…I’m awfully flattered! It’s great to hear that people value my perspective on food, drink, and the like. Below are lists on Foursquare (it’s really the easiest way to share places with my…

  • Aster: It’s Magically Delicious

    Aster: It’s Magically Delicious

    I generally stay away from anything that reminds me of “fusion”. An image of two foods singed together, unnaturally meshed, and creating a frankenstein dish makes me very uncomfortable. Why? Often times, I’ve actually pay a lot for this type of “cuisine” at restaurants and doesn’t taste good; it’s usually confusing and leaves my tastebuds in a disappointed state. Aster seems…

  • Yakiniku Champion (焼肉チャンピオン): Premium Meats, Japanese Eats!

    Yakiniku Champion (焼肉チャンピオン): Premium Meats, Japanese Eats!

    I’m starting off this new year with a post about a meal in 2015 because, well frankly, it was really delicious. It was one of my more memorable meals during my Asia trip; to no one’s surprise the meal was in Japan where the “average” restaurant would probably kill it in SF or NYC in terms of…

  • Best Bites of 2015

    Best Bites of 2015

    As I reflect upon this year with big changes like moving to a new city (chime in “California love”), entering a new decade (“30s is the new 20s” according to Jay-Z), and starting a new job, I couldn’t help but come up with a list of my best bites for this year. It spans several…

  • Lazy Bear: Listen and Learn

    Lazy Bear: Listen and Learn

    TL;DR – Lazy Bear is worth the money and very deserving of its Michelin star. This post captures meal is documented its entirety and in a detailed fashion. I got schooled at Lazy Bear and I loved it. With notebooks and a pencil in hand – in fact, they give you these tools – all the chefs at Lazy…

  • What’s On My Plate: New + Home

    What’s On My Plate: New + Home

    For my plates, I’ve been wanting to make something that either: Incorporates an ingredient I’ve never cooked before Reminds me of home aka. Taiwanese food There’s both on this plate, which makes it an A+ in my book: Chinese tea egg (茶葉蛋) and trumpet mushrooms. If you’re wondering how it tasted, it was delicious (obviously since I made it…

  • Lord Stanley: Not My Neighborhood Joint

    Lord Stanley: Not My Neighborhood Joint

    As someone who is passionate about food (aka one who constantly thinks about their next meal as they are eating their current one), I have been assessing the SF food scene and comparing it to what I know – New York. Friends from the East and West coast want to know where I stand, and I am always…