Taqueria Polanco

Taqueria Polanco
4931 Junipero Serra Blvd.
Colma, CA 94014

When I first moved here, I was told there was no such thing as good Mexican food in Daly City. For a while, I found this was true. But then...along came Taqueria Polanco. After growing up in San Diego, where taco shops are abundant and usually serve mouthwatering food 24 hours a day, I'd say I have a pretty good taste for good Mexican food. Taqueria Polanco may not live up to San Diego's standards (um, don't forget we created the california burrito) but they definitely make the cut in Daly City.

 My "usual" is a carnitas super burrito, no sour cream, whole beans, hot sauce, and extra cilantro. Their hot sauce is homemade and super flavorful. I used to order the mild sauce, but one day I forgot to specify, and I've been hooked on hot ever since! I've tried their california burrito, but I was a bit weirded out by the fact that they used potato wedges instead of french fries. Frankly, it was too much potato for me. Their california fries are made with actual french fries, but if you've tasted california fries from San Diego...don't bother. If you're in the mood for dessert, try their custard-filled churros! You can check out their full menu here.

Taqueria Polanco is small, like most taco shops, so I highly recommend ordering to go. However, they do have a few tables and a long counter-top to eat at if you want to grab a bite there, before heading over to Target or one of the other stores nearby. The staff is always friendly, and the owner Enrrique always makes me feel extra welcome. He started chatting with me when I first started frequenting the place, and by now we are like old buddies! I've noticed that he treats all his customers this way, and seems genuinely delighted to serve them. I also enjoy the colorful atmosphere inside Taqueria Polanco. Unlike many taco shops I've been to, inside is clean and refreshing. A bright Aztec-like mural covers the main wall, and their signature shade of orange adds an additional pop of color. In all, Taqueria Polanco isn't the best Mexican food place I've visited, but no longer can anyone claim that there is no good Mexican food in Daly City!

Happy Thanksgiving

Since Thanksgiving is barely two days away, I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite "Turkey Day" recipes. I enjoy these recipes because they are simple, yet unique. They are sure to spruce up a tired menu, without straying far from tradition. Enjoy, and have a delightful Thanksgiving with the ones you love!


It's Not Thanksgiving Without Turkey:

Rosemary Roasted Turkey
Best turkey I've ever had. I guarantee this turkey will make your guests rave! This recipe adds a wonderful mixture of herb flavors to your turkey, and keeps it moist at the same time. I doubled the pleasure by making this recipe with a kosher turkey a few years back, and the outcome was scrumptious. (Kosher turkeys are more expensive, but have a superb taste.) The only tricky part about this recipe is getting your hands between the skin and the meat of the turkey without puncturing the skin. If you do happen the tear the skin, you can always "stitch" it up with a toothpick. Yet, something about smoothing the olive oil/herb paste under the skin is sort of soothing in a strange way. You can always experiment with different mixtures of herbs if you have your favorites. 


On the Side:

Spiced Carrots
I originally found this recipe in the same magazine as the turkey recipe above, and it too was a hit. (For this blog post, I simply googled the names of the recipes, and viola, I found the exact same recipes online!) I love the unique flavors in this dish. The blend of brown sugar, lemon, cinnamon, and cayenne creates a warm sensation within, just perfect for an intimate holiday dinner. The spicy and sweet flavors are great compliments. It's a great dish for children. Carrots are already usually popular with the younger crowd, and they will also enjoy the cinnamon factor. Vegetable side dishes can tend to be boring and bland, but this unexpected veggie dish will surprise your guests!


For Your Sweet Tooth:

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
The best way to make a meal memorable is to top it off with an outstanding dessert. When I served these for dessert last Thanksgiving, my family was These muffins are healthier than pumpkin pie, but just as tasty. I chose to use the apple sauce in place of oil suggestion to make them a tad healthier. You can also try making them with dark chocolate chips for a twist! To make things easy, you can make the batter ahead of time and refrigerate it. Leave it out while you're eating so it can get back to room temperature, and then pop the muffins in the oven after dinner. Another great bonus about this dessert is that you can easily put extra muffins in plastic bags for your guests to take home. If you are having a Thanksgiving breakfast or brunch, these would also make a great menu item. Either way, these muffins are sure to please!

Tomo Sushi & Teriyaki

Tomo Sushi & Teriyaki
1901 Junipero Serra Boulevard
Daly City, Ca 94014

I love bargains. My favorite clothing store is Ross, buying generic food is a no-brainer in my book, and "frugal" is my middle name. However, there are a few things that I am not willing to buy at a discount. A good pair of fitted jeans is one of them...and sushi is another. Fresh fish isn't cheap, and neither is the cost of storing and refrigerating it properly. (If you walk into a sushi joint and it smells like fish, that is a good indicator that their fish is not  up to par. I know it sounds ironic, but even food experts agree.) So naturally, I get suspicious about cheap sushi and prefer to avoid it altogether. When it comes to fresh, appetizing sushi, there's no place in Daly City that beats Tomo. 

On top of their delectable food, Tomo offers a vibrant, modern atmosphere. Located right next to the Century Theater, it makes the perfect stop on date night before catching a movie. In fact, I first stumbled upon Tomo after a movie with my boyfriend, and I was hooked once the chef delivered our roll with a pickled veggie heart on top! It's also a great place to bring a group of friends, or to enjoy a relaxing bite to eat by yourself at the sushi bar.

My favorite dish at Tomo is the poke salad roll. (Their regular poke salad is pictured above.) If you're unfamiliar with poke salad, it's chunks of spicy tuna on top of wakame salad. Their poke roll has spicy tuna chunks inside and wakame salad atop. The cool, crisp seaweed contrasts the spicy, tender tuna and makes a delicious treat for your tastebuds.

The udon soup is absolutely perfect for a cold day. Little bits of black mushroom and fried tofu float about in the broth and make their udon tastier than any other I've had. Their japanese curry is also great for warming up and has great flavors. If you like sashimi...this is the place for you! I could tell just from their sashimi menu that they serve top grade fish. Tomo offers raw seafood that many places don't, due to health concerns if they aren't fresh. For example, ebi (raw shrimp) and uni (raw sea urchin) are some of the less common sashimi cuts they offer. I'm simple and often order their salmon sashimi.

Overall, Tomo has a wonderful blend of savory food and a welcoming environment. They often have popular 90's music playing and when the owner is there, he walks around making sure everyone is taken care of. I took my friend there one day, and after telling the owner that she liked the music he was playing, he went in the back and made her a copy of the cd. (Now that's customer service!) There's usually a good buzz of people going on, yet not too busy that I have ever had to wait for a seat. Next time you're in the mood for sushi and a movie, I highly recommend going to Tomo!

Boulevard Cafe

Boulevard Cafe
2 Poncetta Drive
Daly City, Ca 94015

Best. Restaurant. EVER.

There's no place I'd rather eat at. Period. It's a restaurant that even Gordon Ramsay could be proud of. If I was having dinner with the president of the United States, I wouldn't hesitate to bring him to Boulevard Cafe. In fact, I've brought all of my guests there, and every one of them has left with full stomachs and praise on their lips. My grandmother (who probably holds a world record for most restaurant complaints in a single lifetime) claimed it was the best chicken picatta she's ever eaten!

The Boulevard Cafe's website says it all: 

"In our homes, a meal was always more than just a way to satisfy appetite. It was a special occasion. It was a time when friends and neighbors gathered together; a time when family and friends enjoyed home cooked meals prepared with age-old recipes, seasonal produce, and the freshest ingredients; a time when stories and laughter were in equal proportion to marvelous food and drink. It was a time, especially, when friends and neighbors were made to feel at home."

The main reason I love coming to the Boulevard Cafe is that it feels like home. The staff is warm and friendly, and most of them have been there for years. Their dishes are familiar and simple...yet excellent in taste. They make their own salad dressings, bake their own bread fresh daily, and even grind their own beef for burgers! (And believe me, you can tell this is true just by the flavors in their food.) Perhaps it was their homemade greek avgolemono soup that got me hooked in the first place. It's creamy, lemony, filled with fresh chicken off the bone, and better than your mama's.

I always order the soup, but I have quite a few other favorites too. If you like Mediterranean cuisine, you'll love the menu at Boulevard Cafe, which is sprinkled with Greek and Italian influence. I often order their tzatziki/pita bread or polenta for an appetizer, and I recently tried their new lamb burger. The fish and chips are a must try! Thick, succulent chunks of fresh cod are dipped in homemade beer batter and crisped to perfection. (I ordered them at least a dozen times in a row before I could bring myself to try something else on the menu.) Their burgers are cooked-to-order and far surpass the best burger place in the area. The house salad dressing, a light champagne-type vinaigrette, is so delicious that my stepmom asked if she could purchase some to go. Just the right amount of dressing glistens off fresh, leafy greens tossed with crunchy julienne carrots.

I have no idea what their desserts are like...because I've never had room left.

On my latest trip to Boulevard Cafe, I tried the zesty crab cakes, another one of their new menu items. The crab cakes were moist, yet crispy breadcrumbs graced the exterior. The lemony flavor was outstanding, and the lime aioli was a great compliment. Although they were scrumptious, I would recommend them for more than one person. (That's why they are on the appetizer menu.) I could barely eat a whole one and the flavors are too rich to eat as a meal.

I'd eat at Boulevard Cafe everyday of the week if my checkbook would allow it. I'm not the only fanatic, so if you come here during "restaurant rush hour" times, expect a little bit of a wait. Boulevard Cafe is the only diner I know of that is so busy on Friday and Saturday nights, they have valet parking. Yes, valet parking at a diner. Their breakfast menu covers all angles, and this is usually their busiest time. They have extra seating for large parties, and I can't think of a more wonderful location to bring out of town guests for an intimate meal. No matter what time of the day, or which day of the week, whenever you visit Boulevard Cafe you're going to get home-style atmosphere and above-average food. I dare you to leave room for dessert!

Broaster Chicken

Broaster Chicken
243 Westlake Center
Daly City, Ca 94015

I've walked past Broaster Chicken dozens of times while shopping around at Westlake Center and always wondered about the food. I've stood outside and browsed their menu at times, yet never fully committed to going inside. I decided to finally stop in last Tuesday and officially make it my first review!

What often deterred me from eating at Broaster before now was the shabby atmosphere. So it didn't surprise me when I strolled in at lunch time and found the place basically empty. The parking lot outside was packed, but only one other customer had ventured inside. The 80's classic Starship hit "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" sounded in the air as I walked by odd bunches of plants, splotches of Halloween decorations, and empty rows of red chairs. While the decor was certainly haphazard, the place was, at least, cleanly. The future seemed dismal, but I stepped up to the register and ordered a teriyaki chicken bowl and crossed my fingers.

Including a can of soda, my total had come to $9.36. (Not exactly as cheap as the place appeared.) As I waited for my food, a woman paused at the menu outside, opened the door and frowned, and then headed out. I couldn't help but take note of it since I had done the same thing many times before. I waited a few minutes for my food, but I usually consider that a good thing, meaning no microwaves were involved. After a short wait, the kind gentleman behind the counter brought out my teriyaki bowl which smelled incredibly savory!

The chicken was tender and tasted just as good as it smelled. The teriyaki sauce that smothered the chicken was absolutely delicious! However, I felt the side "salad" left alot to be desired. It was made with flavorless iceberg lettuce, large tomatoe slices, and was drenched in watery italian dressing. (For the price, I would have much rather had vegeatables mixed in with my chicken bowl.) Two other customers wandered in while I ate, and I took note to order the fried chicken special next time. The server/cashier was very friendly and made sure to say goodbye as each person left the restaurant. I could be mistaken, but he gave off the impression of being an owner.

To sum it all up, this is a place I would stop by if you are in the mood for chicken and in the Westlake area, but I certainly wouldn't travel from afar to eat here. I'd recommend getting food to go since the atmosphere is a little awkward, yet if you do eat here, expect friendly service. The prices seemed a little high for the complexity of the food served, however it was pretty tasty! I won't be rushing back, but I will certainly eat there again sometime.

Daly Eats Mission

Welcome to Daly Eats!

As a local college student, I am always looking for places to eat that are affordable yet satisfying. And believe me...that's not always easy to find. When it comes to eating I enjoy a comfortable atmosphere and more importantly simple, fresh food. This blog is dedicated to reviewing restaurants in Daly City and helping you find a new favorite! I have some great hideaways in mind that I've already experienced (and can't wait to share with you) and I also plan on experiencing new places that I've always wanted to try. Let me know if you have any places in Daly City that you want me to test out! I may also sprinkle in some foodie-talk here and there. A few scrumptious recipes and some food porn never hurt anyone, right?