Albany: Bua Luang Thai Cuisine; restaurant review

80 North

Bua Luang Thai Cuisine 

1166 Solano Ave./Cornell Ave.

interior of Bua Luang Thai Cuisine in Albany, California

Featuring a decor with a modern vibe, Bua Luang Thai Cuisine’s ingredients are fresh, spicing is simple, and portions are generous. Sauces are freshly made and do not include MSG. Stars on the menu include empanada-like curry puffs, thick Panang beef curry, and atasty pumpkin curry. Dark brown rice and a large selection of seafood and vegetarian items are also available. Lunch specials are on the pricey side but include a crispy salad with tasty dressing and a choice of several appetizers.

Panang beef at Bua Luang Thai Cuisine in Albany, California

garlic stir-fry at Bua Luang Thai Cuisine in Albany, California

pandemic update:
The minimum for takeout is $25, and for delivery $35. Lunch specials are available for takeout, with rice and salad but no appetizer. A parklet is available outside.

More things to do in Albany. 

More things to do in nearby Berkeley.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.   

image ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Albany: Delhi Diner; restaurant review

80 North

Delhi Diner  

1373 Solano Ave./Carmel Ave., (510) 528-5000.  L-D daily.

colorful exterior of Delhi Diner in Albany, California

Operating inside a mango lassi-gold-colored building, the spacious and attractively decorated Delhi Diner restaurant serves a traditional Indian menu with many, many choices.  Lunch is a good time to pick up a bit of a bargain.  Though prices aren’t in the cheap category, lunch entrees do include a tasty soup, naan, and rice.  Condiments are always complimentary.  My dining partner and I shared a pakora appetizer, a chicken masala curry, and a mango lassi and were well fed.  My only quibble was with the chicken, which was not first cooked in a tandoori oven (I thought that was a requirement for this dish).  Items are cooked to order, so you can request your spiciness levels, though I found that medium-high seemed to translate as bland.  Vegan and gluten-free items are available.  Service was very good, and the practice here is to automatically add a 15% gratuity to the tab. 

colorful interior of Delhi Diner in Albany, California

lunch specials menu at Delhi Diner in Albany, California

lunch specials menu at Delhi Diner in Albany, California

pakoras at Delhi Diner in Albany, California

condiments at Delhi Diner in Albany, California

soup at Delhi Diner in Albany, California

More things to do in Albany.

More things to do in nearby Berkeley.

Way more thing to do in Berkeley.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Albany: Gordo Taqueria; restaurant review

80 North

Gordo Taqueria  

1423 Solano Ave., b/t San Carlos Ave & Santa Fe Ave., (510) 528-8226.  Daily 10am-10pm.

exterior of Gordo Taqueria in Albany, California

This simple spot has always been a top favorite with my children.  To order, get in line at Gordo Taqueria, choose from the limited menu, then try to find a seat in the small interior.  Most people seem to order to go, so there is often seating when it looks to be impossible.  Our favorite item is the super burrito, which is stuffed with all the good stuff, including sour cream and avocado, and is big enough that my husband and I almost always share just one.  However, we are also fond of the huge quesadilla made with a flour tortilla and again stuffed with almost everything.  This one I could manage to eat all by myself.  The crispy taco also has many fans.  Most dishes are available vegetarian.

interior of Gordo Taqueria in Albany, California

flour quesadilla at Gordo Taqueria in Albany, California

 

burrito at Gordo Taqueria in Albany, California

More things to do in Albany.

More things to do in nearby Berkeley.

Way more thing to do in Berkeley.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Albany: Zaytoon Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar; restaurant review

80 North

Zaytoon Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar  

1133 Solano Ave./Kains St.,  (510) 898-1316.  L-D Tu-Sun.

bar at Zaytoon Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar in Albany, California

The menu at Zaytoon Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar presents Levantine eastern Mediterranean cuisine and Jerusalem street food, and everything is made from scratch.  Clean lines, high ceilings and a Middle Eastern vibe define the decor.  For a starter I enjoyed the mezze platter, which provides a sampling of the goods--super-smooth hummus, rustic chopped baba ghannouj, tabouli, eggplant salad, and crispy falafel.  We paired the starter with the kefta ground beef and lamb kebabs and would have welcomed way more of the accompanying mint-jalapeno sauce.  There are quite a few dishes on the interesting menu that I will return to try.  They include the traditional Arabic cheese and Musakhan rolls of chicken and sumack rolled in borek dough; the fattoush salad with romaine lettuce, crispy pital, and radishes; the traditional maklouba rice dish that is served upside down with vegetables, pine nuts, and chicken or lamb; and samakeh--pan-fried fish with potatoes.  I also hear the moussaka is excellent.  We paired our two shared items with delicious cocktails and were good to go.  I sipped A Second Date (rum-date syrup, flower water, walnut bitters, orange oil) presented iceless in a stemmed glass, while my date enjoyed a Habibi (bourbon, amaretto, allspice dram, tahini, honey) served over ice in a highball glass.  International wines, draft beers, and non-alcoholic fresh-squeezed mint lemonade are also options.  The unusual desserts include a crumbled baklava sundae with ice cream and caramel, and a tahini sundae with date syrup and halvah--both of which pair well with Yemeni Senaai  coffee or Moroccan mint black tea.

colorful dining room at Zaytoon Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar
in Albany, California

mezze platter and cocktails at Zaytoon Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar
in Albany, California

kebab plate at Zaytoon Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar in Albany, California

More things to do in Albany.

More things to do in nearby Berkeley.

Way more thing to do in Berkeley.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Albany: Little Star Pizza; restaurant review

80 North

Little Star Pizza  

1181 Solano Ave., (510) 526-7827.  L-D daily.

dining room at Little Star Pizza in Albany, California

Of the Bay Area deep-dish pizzas I have tried, the one made here at Little Star Pizza is most like what everyone raves about in Chicago.  And even though it is not exactly the same--that is impossible to achieve outside of the windy city--it is very, very good.  Made with a delicious cornmeal crust, it is stuffed with good, stringy mozzarella cheese, tangy tomatoes, and fresh ingredients.  I liked that the onion and bell pepper slices in my Classic--which also included mushrooms and sausage--were still crunchy enough to taste distinctly.  More winners include a spinach-mushroom-ricotta cheese and a housemade meatball-ricotta-fresh mozzarella.  Thin crust pizzas are also available.  Sides include roasted cauliflower and broccolini plus a large variety of salads--I was very pleased with my Caesar, but the Goddess with a creamy pesto dressing is on my list to try next.  Lunch brings on a sandwich menu (I hear the meatball sub is very good) as well as a lunch special that includes a personal size deep-dish or thin-crust pizza with an optional side salad at additional cost.  A full bar is available.  Note that these pizzas are made from scratch and can take a while to prepare, so ordering an appetizer or salad to enjoy while you wait makes sense.  Though it can get busy in the evening, the large, open dining room has plenty of seating that assures minimum waiting.

lunch special menu at Little Star Pizza in Albany, California

Caesar salad at Little Star Pizza in Albany, California

personal-size pizza at Little Star Pizza in Albany, California

window-tables at Little Star Pizza in Albany, California

2020 pandemic update:  This has become my all-time favorite pizza pick-up spot.  But they don’t do curbside pick-up.  I always order a regular-size Classic, half-baked, with a Goddess salad.  We eat half the pizza and all the salad one night, and the other half pizza a few nights later.  It holds up.  When we’re feeling really hungry, we order the large, but that is a lot for even two people over two nights.  I especially like to tie in this pick-up when I need to visit the post office a few doors down.

take out exit at Little Star Pizza in Albany, California

More pandemic updates.

More things to do in Albany.

More things to do in nearby Berkeley.

Way more thing to do in Berkeley.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Albany: La Crema (CLOSED); restaurant review

80 North

La Crema  

CLOSED  1106 Solano Ave./San Pablo Ave, (510) 558-3349. 

Situated inside an expansive space with high ceilings and big windows, this simple yet colorful spot provides plenty of seating.  My favorite seating is in one of the tiny window pop-outs that makes you feel like you’re right on the sidewalk, yet you are protected from all the negatives of that.  The menu at La Crema features not only the usual suspects in a Mexican restaurant--burritos, enchiladas, tacos--but also taquitos and nachos not to mention pupusas, plantains, and empanadas.  Many vegetarian options are available.  On Taco Tuesdays the price of a street taco drops from $3 to $2.  They are small, so you’ll want two or three.  Larger plates (platos) include enchiladas verde or mole, fajitas, and a chile relleno.  Drinks include aguas frescas, beer, and Mexican hot chocolate.  At weekend brunch, look for chilaquiles and huevos rancheros.  You order at the counter, then secure your utensils and pick a seat.  Menu.

exterior of La Crema in Albany, California

order counter at La Crema in Albany, California

interior at La Crema in Albany, California

pop-out window seating at La Crema in Albany, California

taco at La Crema in Albany, California

More things to do in Albany.

More things to do in nearby Berkeley.

Way more thing to do in Berkeley.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Albany: Sugata Restaurant; restaurant review

80 North

Sugata Restaurant

1105 Solano Ave., Albany, (510) 529-4027. L-D Tu-Sat; $$-$$$. Reservations advised.

This intimate, atmospheric spot feels like it was lifted up from Japan and dropped down here intact. Choose to sit at a small sushi counter, on the floor in a private tatami room, or in the small main dining room. Lunch specials at Sugata Restaurant are well priced at around $12 to $14 and include miso soup, marinated cucumber salad, and fragrant tea. My tempura bento box additionally included one shrimp and many vegetable tempuras, rice, salad, and 6 pieces of sushi. My partner’s bento box was the same except his main items was a chunk of fresh salmon with teriyaki sauce. The fresh fish sushi has a stellar reputation, and I’ve heard people rave about the seaweed salad and sukiyaki.




interior and menu board at Sugata Restaurant in Albany, California





sushi bar at Sugata Restaurant in Albany, California





appetizers at Sugata Restaurant in Albany, California





bento box teriyaki salmon at Sugata Restaurant in Albany, California





bento box teriyaki tempura at Sugata Restaurant in Albany, California


More things to do in Albany.

More things to do in nearby Berkeley.

Way more thing to do in Berkeley.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

updated 10-31-23

Albany: Everest Kitchen; restaurant review

80 North

Everest Kitchen  

1150 Solano Ave./Kains Ave., (510) 679-5079.  L-D daily. 

Himalayan-Nepalese-Indian cuisine is on the menu at Everest Kitchen.  There is something for everyone, which means meat dishes as well as vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free items.  The lunch special offers good value at just $11 and is a great way to explore the menu.  It comes with white or brown rice, naan (bread) and papadam, daal soup, raita yogurt (which is perfect over the undressed green salad), and a Nepalese potato chutney.  I discovered that medium hot here is basically no heat, so will order hot next time.  I liked the Baigun ko Tarkari (eggplant roasted in a tandoori oven, then chopped and cooked in a tomato-onion sauce).  My dining companion was delighted with the Tofu Tikka Masala sauce, but neither of us thought the tofu tasted like it had been cooked in a tandoori oven.  Next time I’ll try the Cauli Chana (cauliflower with garbanzo beans) or the Pharsi ra Chana ko Tarkari (pumpkin curry with garbanzo beans). 

When ordering from the regular menu, momos are a must.  They are like soup dumplings, and the tasty chicken version is full of hot chicken and chive juices.  Also on the regular menu, goat curry (also on the lunch special), flavorful vegetarian kofta balls, huge vegetarian samosas and smashed samosas, and the traditional Nepali dish called kukhura ko choila are worth trying.  Both the honey naan and cheese naan are tasty, as are the mango lassi and chiya (like chai).  No condiments are put on the table. If you want tamarind sauce, you need to request it.  

exterior of Everest Kitchen in Albany, California

interior of Everest Kitchen in Albany, California

Baigun ko Tarkari lunch special at Everest Kitchen in Albany, California

Tofu Tikka Masala  lunch special at Everest Kitchen in Albany, California

More things to do in Albany.

More things to do in nearby Berkeley.

Way more thing to do in Berkeley.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Albany: Cafe Eugene (CLOSED); restaurant review

80 North

Cafe Eugene  

CLOSED  1175 Solano Ave./Stannage Ave., Albany, (510) 647-9999.  L M-Thur, Br F-Sun, D daily. 

Featuring a woodsy interior that accents the Pacific Northwest lean of the menu, Cafe Eugene is particularly popular for breakfast and brunch.  One of the owners is from Eugene, Oregon, and was inspired by the Chez Panisse-like former Excelsior Cafe there, which I remember visiting in the 1970s and ‘80s.  Three big wood booths each will accommodate six people, and large windows revealing the exterior action give it a cafe feel, and a nice little sheltered dining area is out on the sidewalk in front.  Items on the menu that most give a nod to the north include delicate house-cured salmon and drinks mixed with marionberry liqueur--a I-5 High Five gin cocktail and marionberry mimosa.  Coffee is Catahoula’s smooth Lola blend.  My brunch choice was Green Eggs & Sam, which consisted of a perfect toasted biscuit topped with really good eggs scrambled with greens, some of that delicious house-cured salmon, and a lemony sauce--all topped yet again with a fanned sliced avocado half.  I would definitely order this tasty green dish again, but next time I would ask for the biscuit on the side with some butter and jam--it was just too delicious to not enjoy on its own.  My dining partner had the daily scramble mixed with asparagus and pecorino cheese and served atop smoky grilled Acme bread.  We shared a side of cute little cubes of perfectly crisped home fries topped with a nicely spicy horseradish sauce, no ketchup needed.  Though the bowl of fresh fruit contained a variety of pit-fruit and berries and the shredded apple accent was a pleasant surprise, the boring presentation was a disappointment.  Items here are fresh and unusual.  If you want “the usual” you’ll need to extract it a la carte from the sides menu--two farm eggs any style, home fries, bacon.  I don’t know where we found the space, but we indulged in strawberry shortcake for dessert, which was made with one of those fabulous biscuits topped with macerated strawberries and whipped cream.  The lunch and brunch menus are almost identical, except lunch drops the egg options.  Dinner adds on some more substantial items, including mussels and steak.  One of the most popular items then is a shareable platter of smoked salmon, pickled vegetables, and hard-boiled eggs.  Bread is served by request.  

exterior of Cafe Eugene in Albany, California

interior of Cafe Eugene in Albany, California

marionberry mimosa at Cafe Eugene in Albany, California

Green Eggs & Sam + more at Cafe Eugene in Albany, California

strawberry shortcake at Cafe Eugene in Albany, California

More things to do in Albany. 
 
More things to do in nearby Berkeley.

Way more thing to do in Berkeley.

More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

images ©2016 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Albany: Sam’s Log Cabin; restaurant review

80 North

Sam’s Log Cabin  

945 San Pablo Ave./Solano Ave., in Albany, (510) 558-0494.  B-L Tu-Sun; $$.  No reservations.

Built in 1930 from a Sears & Roebuck catalog kit, this tiny, cozy log cabin has worn floors, lace curtains, and comfy banquettes along the walls.

exterior of Sam's Log Cabin in Albany, California

At Sam’s Log Cabin I was expecting a counter with swivel stools, but that isn’t happening.  However, seating is comfortable, and overflow tables are available on a back porch that is especially nice in good weather.  The crowd here is notably hipster.

interior of Sam's Log Cabin in Albany, California

Quality ingredients include local organic produce, in-house whole-animal butchery, and in-house curing (it’s hard to imagine how they manage this, since this is a very little log cabin).

counter area at Sam's Log Cabin in Albany, California

Breakfast is perhaps the most popular meal here and is served all day.  The menu features pancakes with fruit, a daily scramble special made with organic eggs (I enjoyed a satisfying white cheddar cheese-smoked ham-zucchini version, but had them put the zucchini on the side),

daily scramble at Sam's Log Cabin in Albany, California

and mild chilaquiles.  OJ is fresh-squeezed, and scones and biscuits are housemade and a don’t-miss.  Lunch includes soups made from scratch, seasonal salads with local greens, and housemade fish sticks.  Thanksgiving coffee from Mendocino is the drink of choice.  Items remaining on my to-try list include banana walnut pancakes, biscuits with gravy, and the egg salad and turkey sandwiches. 

 


More things to do in Albany. 
 
More things to do in nearby Berkeley.

Way more thing to do in Berkeley.  

More ideas for exploring Northern California.
 
images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Albany: Potala Vegan Restaurant (CLOSED); restaurant review

80 North

Potala Vegan Restaurant  

CLOSED  1045 San Pablo Ave./Marin Ave.,  (510) 528-2375.  L-D daily; $$.  No reservations. 

dining room at Potala Vegan Restaurant in Albany, California

Named for the striking hilltop palace in Lhasa, Tibet, this all-vegan, all-organic restaurant has only one set menu available each day.  A server with take your order after you select your choices from a white board in the entry, after which you can help yourself to a glass of water or complimentary hot tea—on the day I visited it was Organic Kukicha Twig Tea—from the bar and then seat yourself. 

At Potala Vegan Restaurant your choices involve how much food you would like—a simple, medium, or full plate.  I ordered the medium portion and finished it all.  All but the soup is served on a single dinner plate.  An a la carte menu is available; children are welcome and can order from that.  No fake meats are used.  The menu for my visit was kidney bean veggie soup (my favorite item); wild brown rice and green split pea with onion (I also really liked this); sauteed red and green cabbages, carrots, and potato; steamed collard greens with beets burdock onion sauce; mixed green salad with brown rice vinegar-tahini dressing.  Flavors and textures vary, and I felt healthier when I left.  I would have liked some bread, but none is served here.  Cookies and other desserts cost additional, and vegan wines and beers are available. 

Decor is secondary but pleasant--some lovely Thai carvings left from a previous restaurant here, flute music, a tiny orchid on my table that I had to pinch to be sure it was plastic--and comfy booths are a big plus, as is the free parking lot.

kidney bean veggie soup at Potala Vegan Restaurant in Albany, California

medium plate at Potala Vegan Restaurant in Albany, California

More things to do in Albany. 

More things to do in nearby Berkeley.

Way more thing to do in Berkeley.  

More vegan-vegetarian places.  

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers