Category Archives: Bay Area

Rasa Malaysian (San Jose)

Malaysian / Singaporean restaurants are becoming more popular here in the South Bay. The most popular one is Banana Leaf in Milpitas. Layang Layang in Cupertino is another well-known one. We used to go to one called Cafe Sochi in Cupertino but that closed down a long time ago. The manager went to Penang Village on Coleman near the San Jose airport and we went a couple of times but hadn’t been back in a long time.

I read in the Metro that there was a new Malaysian restaurant called Rasa Malaysian (no relation to Rasa Malaysia) that was operating in the same space as Penang Village. I thought we’d go check it out to see if it was any good. We arrived around 6:45 and were seated immediately. We heard the manager speaking Hokkien to the cook so we asked if she was from Penang. She said yes. We said we want authentic Penang-style food, not “fixed” to American tastes. She said they would try to accomodate us.
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Brittania Arms (San Jose)

Annie has a great taste memory of a visit to England where she had real fish and chips. The fillet of fish was so long it hung over the sides of the plate. The chips were fresh cut potatoes just out of the fryer. It was some of the best food she had there (notwithstanding the mushy peas).

Went to Brittania Arms on Almaden Expressway for some Fish n chips for Mother’s Day lunch. This being Mother’s Day, we were very surprised that there was only one other occupied table in the whole restaurant. Annie got the two-piece fish with chips. The cod fish fillets were huge! The breading was nice and light, and the tartar sauce worked well. The “chips”, though, were totally lame.


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Goveas Mexican Restaurant (San Jose)

Here in San Jose, there is no shortage of Mexican restaurants. Most of them are good, with some better than others. If you avoid the chains and go for the mom-and-pop type establishments, you’re sure find some gems.

Goveas is one of those restaurants where you can get a good meal at a decent price. Located in a strip mall at Tully and Quimby Roads, across from the Eastridge Mall in east San Jose, it’s a small joint with maybe a dozen tables, one waitress, a couple of cooks, and the owner. Decor isn’t much to look at but you come here to eat the food, not the decor, right?

Annie got the chicken enchiladas. They were yummy. She didn’t care for the white, sour-cream based sauce though.

My chile verde burrito. Great flavor, quite filling, and only $3.25! Can’t go wrong with that. Only thing I don’t get is why they have to serve it on a searingly hot plate.

They do an excellent chicken mole as well. This place has become our default Mexican restaurant.

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Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Fri 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sat 9:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sun 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Aloha, Nate

East Lake Seafood Restaurant (San Jose)

One of the first restaurants I ate at when I first arrived in San Jose was East Lake Seafood Restaurant in east San Jose. It had (and continues to have) a reputation for good Chinese food at great prices. Most nights, if you go at dinnertime, their tables will be full.

Same thing happens on the weekends for lunch. If you don’t show up early enough, there will be a line out the door and the hostess will be telling you the wait is half an hour to 45 minutes. So why all the fuss?
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