Lan

Black Angus is supposed to be one of the higher-end family steakhouse joints, but it’s hardly worth the price. While the restaurant is clean and servers friendly, the prices are ridiculously high for what you get. The food isn’t even that good – steaks are dry and vegetables are undercooked. Outback is a much better choice for steak lovers, and for cheaper too!

Noah’s Bagels are a great way to start the day. Healthy, cheap, and fast, Noah’s is a great choice for people on th go. At this one in particular, there is a Starbucks right next door, so it’s an ideal location to go for breakfast.

“In-N-Out, In-N-Out, that’s what a hamburger’s all about!” So goes the jingle for this California/Nevada burger chain, but surprisingly there is truth to advertising. In-N-Out burgers are the closest you can come to that fresh off the grill burger that you might make yourself at a summer BBQ. In addition to the great burgers, their fries are cut and made fresh on the spot and so they stand out when compared to the fries at other places. If you’ve never been, you have to try it at least once. And if you come back for more, be sure to try out the secret menu – just ask for your order “animal style.”

Togo’s is Togo’s, anywhere you go. In general Togo’s sandwiches are tasty, fast, and filling. The only thing with this Togo’s in particular is that for some reason they don’t the Black Pepper Lemon chips that every other Togo’s seems to carry.

Even in the heart of Little Saigon, few restaurants have such a wide selection of all the Vietnamese staples such as Bún, Phở, Cơm, Mì, Cháo, etc… Of course, providing such a wide selection also means that no particular dish stands out as excellent. However, all the items here are acceptable, so it doesn’t matter that nothing is particularly excellent. It is worth nothing though, that what has made Brodard famous in the Little Saigon area are its Spring Rolls – which are so good that may people come just to fill up on this appetizer. Indeed, these rolls, which are offered in Pork and Shrimp varieties are made to order in any quantity you may desire and it is not uncommon for people to pick up 100 or so for a party. The rolls are quite delicious, but what makes them so is the special orange sauce that Brodard uses. Peanut-allergic folks beware however, the sauce is made in part, by peanuts.

In summary, Brodard is a decent eatery, but what makes it an excellent place to dine are the rolls, so don’t go there without trying some.

On a side note, Brodard has recently opened a newer, “higher-end” version that has a bar and a more romantic atmosphere. Unless you are trying to impress someone, the second Brodard is not worth it, as the prices are higher for the same quality food.

With a wide selection to choose from, Thai Nakorn showcases the best of Thai cooking. Whether you order fish, chicken or beef, everything is delicious. Thai Nakorn is the perfect place to take guests or to hold business lunches. A favorite restaurant for the uninitiated and Thai enthusiasts alike. On another note however, parking is somewhat difficult at this place.

Thai food in general is very good. But Stateside, it’s hard to find a really really good Thai place. Blue Mango is one of those places. The have a wide selection, and everything tastes great. Most notable are their curries, which range from yellow to red to green. So for those of you who only know to order pad thai in Thai restaurants, head out to Blue Mango and try something new – you can’t go wrong.

I’m no expert on Turkish food, but as a beginner, the food here is excellent. What’s more, the atmosphere is exotic and provides a true escape from the urban atmosphere of Chicago. While hardly a theme restaurant, the decor is authentic and the hookah bar upstairs adds to the effect. On Friday and Saturday evenings there are live belly dancers who perform right on the dinning room floor – the perfect icebreaker for first dates. Also, the owner is quite the character.

There aren’t that many Vietnamese people in Windsor so you wouldn’t expect there to be any good, authentic Vietnamese food. But Truc Linh proves this to be wrong, as they serve up delicious Vietnamese home cooking. This family-owned and run restaurant is clean, friendly, and the service is great.

As far as Vietnamese restaurants go, this one caters more to the American crowd than Vietnamese folks. Having said that though, the restaurant does a good job of altering the Vietnamese formula to appeal to non-Vietnamese palates and the food here is quite good. The restaurant is located in an exciting area, off of University Ave. in Palo Alto. With a fully stocked bar, the restaurant is quite an exciting place to eat at night. If you’re looking for a place to eat and drink and be merry with friends, then this is an ideal location. However, if you’re merely interested in exploring Vietnamese food, there are more authentic and less expensive places to do this further south along the 101.