There are many great things in life, and one of them is food! I’m listing out all of my favorite places I ate at in the past year.
Berkeley
Cheese Board Pizza is one of the best pizzas in Berkeley! You can’t go wrong with their green sauce. It was a bit crowded (because this is one of the most popular spots in town), so I would recommend going early!
Michelin star boba? Count me in! It was a great experience going to ChiCha San Chen. There was a lot of tables and benches to catch up with friends or even watch the staff use their fancy tea making, espresso-looking machines. The little drink carrier for the milk tea was a nice touch.
Castro Valley
Private Retreat
It was such a privilege to work at a private retreat in Castro Valley over the summer! The retreat’s private chef handmade pizzas, which were so so so good.
Garden Grove
Whip X Banh Mi is soooo cute inside! I don’t really remember what I ordered, but it had all the best parts of a banana pudding and a strong coffee. Definitely looking forward to going again in the future!
Honolulu
Tonkatsu Tamafuji had the best tonkatsu that I’ve ever eaten so far! The outside had this flaky and crunchy bite with a soft, tender, and melt in your mouth pork katsu. And, I love clams so eating the fried rice and the clam miso soup was everything I loved an more. I liked that we can make our own sauces too. The line was so long, so I definitely recommend making a reservation before you make your way here.
I heard so much about Zippy’s before going to Hawai’i, and I can see why! The diner felt like home. Community members of all ages were at the Zippy’s I went to and I loved getting an inside look at how the community hangs out and gathers. I wish I made multiple stops to try everything on their menu.
Livermore
I checked out an Afternoon Wine & Cheese Pairing with Dante Robere Vineyards and The Cheese Parlor. I love food pairings, and getting people to tell you about the craft of their artisanal products while you eat was a great experience.
Long Beach
Stereoscope Coffee had great lattes and matcha! The line was long, but I didn’t really mind because there were so many cute dogs passing by. Plus, the ocean breeze trickled in the morning I went. It was so nice to live in a sweet fantasy of living in a walkable beach town.
Oakland
Even though I’ve been working in and out of Oakland, I never really had a chance to try out Café Gabriela until this year. I was sleeping on this place! To have a panini with Filipino flavors, it was so good. I think it’s also a good spot to balance people watching and getting some work done in between.
Palo Alto
2025 was definitely my year of getting into all kinds of tea parties (afternoon tea, cream tea, and high tea). esc was a treat! The savory items on their menu were pretty good! I’m always a fan of fried potatoes and salmon dishes. The best thing about this particular high tea was their tea. Ah! They were good. I usually like my tea to be more on the herbal, leafy side and they were just to my preference.
San Antonio
Just look at those spreads. Postino came in clutch with their different bruschettas. I loved that so many of them had balancing flavors in their bites. Some were the sweet marriage of tart and creamy while others were herby and savory matches.
San Marino
Tea Rose Garden Room at Huntington Gardens
This was my first high tea of the year! The Tea Rose Garden was a good one to set the tone for what I would eat and get inspiration from. I had the gluten free option with friends so that’s why the bread is different. And, it’s nice that we explored the Huntington Gardens after eating.
San Francisco
Eating dim sum is always good when you get to hang out with your alma mater! I went to HarborView Restaurant & Bar for a University of San Francisco alumni event. To be honest, the green beans with scallops and mushroom was my favorite, but there were other great selections.
Waikiki
You can’t go wrong with Foodland Farms! I went to Ala Moana’s Foodland and it was everything I wanted out of poke and more. There was freshness and umami flavors in every bite.
Yo, Island Vintage had the best honey that I’ve ever tasted! It went so well over their açaí bowl. Omg and the haupia cream too??? To die for!
And with that, I’m looking forward to all the food I’ll eat in 2026!
Kristine Cecile 
Leave a comment