855 El Camino Real, Suite 161, Palo Alto; (650) 561-3492. Belcampomeatco.com
San Mateo
Kat’s Vietnam House is serving Vietnamese fare in San Mateo in the former space of Lahmacun Pizzeria Mediterranean Grill. Pho is the headliner dish, with traditional beef broth as well as variations with chicken- and seafood-based broths. Other soups also are on the menu. Starters include fresh shrimp spring rolls and a shrimp and pork-filled Vietnamese crispy crepe. Catfish in a claypot and noodle plates are among dozens of other options. For lunch, try the banh mi sandwiches. The room maintains a casual, intimate ambiance; the new owners have kept the prominent coast-scene mural.
35 Laurie Meadows Drive, San Mateo; (650) 574-0107.
What is an eggette? It’s the popular specialty of an emerging chain, Eggettes, which has unveiled its fourth local outpost in San Mateo. An eggette is a soft-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside Hong Kong waffle snack. Shaped sort of like a honeycomb, its egg-shaped segments may be torn apart and enjoyed individually. Flavors include original, chocolate, coconut and honeydew. The eatery also serves pearl milk tea drinks in flavors such as white chocolate and lychee, and offers a $2 do-it-yourself pearl milk tea bar at which guests may adapt drinks to their preferred sweetness and flavor combinations. The food menu also features curry fish balls and crispy popcorn chicken.
47 B St., San Mateo; (650) 393-5897. Eggettes.com
Daly City
Islands to the Bay has taken the place of Plaza Rizal in Daly City. Island music, images of Pacific beaches and picnic bench seating set the scene and relaxed tone. The menu features generous portions of traditional Filipino fare, as well as foods from Saipan (the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands near Guam, and a U.S. Commonwealth). Many of the dishes, such as sisig and crispy pata, feature pork. The menu also includes chicken adobo, kare-kare (oxtail and offal meats stew), lumpia spring rolls and rice plates. Meat-free dishes include fish escabeche (a whole deep-fried tilapia with coconut ginger sauce) and pinakbet, a vegetable stew. Prices are very friendly; nothing costs more than $10. Don’t forget the refreshing halo halo (shave ice and evaporated milk) for dessert.
950 King Drive, Suite 104, Daly City; (650) 754-6421. Islandstothebay.com
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