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Summary of kosher food options in the bay area:

Restaurants:
(all under hashgacha of the Sunrise Kosher / Vaad Hakashrus of Northern California unless otherwise stated)

San Francisco
Sabra Grill (Chinatown)
L'chaim Foods (not a restaurant, take out / delivery only) currently "Under Orthodox Certification of Rabbi Joel Landau."
Frena BakeryDairy and pareve sambusak, burekas, shakshuka, savory and sweet baked goods
Limonnana Middle Eastern dishes, principally Falafel, Shawarma, and Hummus, and of course, delicious limonnanas.
Hummus Bodega Hummus, Falafel, Middle Eastern in the Richmond district

East Bay
Amba Falafel (Oakland) (Fleishig as of 4/28/14). Pas Yisroel available by request CLOSED
Oakland Kosher (Oakland) Fleishigs. Check for certs on www.restaurant.com.
Cafe 3 at UC Berkeley
Touro Kitchen in Vallejo, CA - http://dining.tu.edu/menu.html

South Bay
Izzy's Bagels (Palo Alto) Pas Yisroel. Some Items Cholov Yisroel, Check the kashrus certificate, Open on Shabbos
Kosher Food Oasis at the OFJCC (Palo Alto) Holy Sushi requires ordering in advance. Walk-in orders are accepted for Caffe Mediterraneum and for many items at Malawach Bar. Please check vendor sites for individual holiday hours. All under the Vaad.
Jerusalem Grill (Palo Alto area)  not Kosher, no Kashrus certification, not Jewish owned (as of Nov.22, 2015)
Pars Kosher Market in San Jose, certified by the Vaad, now has a small eat in section (4 tables, first come first serve) with a short meat menu and ready made hot food. Also lots of kosher groceries.
Stanford University Cafeteria weekday lunches five days a week and dinners Monday - Thurs. General public can pay at Florence Moore Dorm and enjoy the Kosher section. Fleishig (meat) for both meals each day. Flo-Mo, as it is called, is on Mayfield Ave., across from the parking lot of Tressidor.  Finding the dining hall can be a challenge for outsiders but any student will direct you.




Groceries (etc):

San Francisco
CHOUX Bakery - French cream puffs (Haight-Ashbury) Pas yisroel, cholov yisroel. No longer certified kosher / open on Shabbos.

East Bay
Oakland Kosher.
Grand Bakery (Oakland) Pas Yisroel, Dairy items are NOT cholov yisroel. Closing 12/23/16
Berkeley Bowl (Berkeley) has some kosher items.
Costco (Definitely the one in Richmond. I believe this applies to others in the Bay Area, but this is what I know firsthand.) has cholov yisroel cheese and Jack's sausages. (As of August 2014)

South Bay
I believe Mollie Stone's in Palo Alto has a big Kosher selection. there are probably other options there as well.

« Last edited by ninjaleh on January 17, 2023, 12:38:15 PM »

Author Topic: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread  (Read 199179 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #20 on: December 19, 2010, 04:03:01 PM »
4.5 hour layover in SFO tonight.
Any kosher restaurants worth hitting up that are accessible via public transport?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline whYME

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #21 on: December 19, 2010, 10:56:00 PM »
4.5 hour layover in SFO tonight.
Any kosher restaurants worth hitting up that are accessible via public transport?
I assume it's too late for tonight, but anyhow:
The simple answer is no.
-Unless you're really desperate and have a lot of time, nothing is close to SFO.

Offline Dan

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #22 on: December 19, 2010, 11:00:23 PM »
I assume it's too late for tonight, but anyhow:
The simple answer is no.
-Unless you're really desperate and have a lot of time, nothing is close to SFO.
Still on the plane.
Was kind've hoping for some restaurant but we'll survive, we have plenty of food with us.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline whYME

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #23 on: December 19, 2010, 11:18:52 PM »
It's not like there's nothing worth going to at all, It's just that the places worth going to are a bit far (at least by public transit) from SFO.
for example, The Kitchen Table in Mountain View, I hear it's supposed to be pretty good, but (according to Google maps) it's almost 1 1/2 hours each way by public transit. (1/2 hour by car)
Similar thing with Amba Falafel in Oakland. The menu is pretty limited but it's a decent place to grab a quick bite. (if you're not an hour and a half away)
The closest to SFO is Sabra, ("only" 55 minutes) but the food is nothing special and the service is terrible, the owner has a real nasty attitude.

Offline Yaalili

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #24 on: March 06, 2011, 10:47:37 AM »
And if u make it to San Jose, there are so many high-tech places too see.

Among them are: Apple, Ebay, Facebook, Google, HP and Yahoo!

P.S. in SJ there is also a not-to-miss, Winchester Mystrery House - really cool!
« Last Edit: March 06, 2011, 10:51:21 AM by DealFinder92 »

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #25 on: May 13, 2011, 06:59:30 AM »
gotta do Alcatraz take the audio tour, take the trolley across the city, of course rent bikes to cross the gg bridge ,check out lombard street in genaral its just a nice city.
Possible to do that all in 13 hours, 7:15am-8:15pm including getting to/from SFO?
If not, what would you cut out? Either way, what's the best order to do it in?

Anything else that is more of a must see/do? Not food.

Offline Yaalili

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #26 on: May 13, 2011, 07:30:56 AM »
Possible to do that all in 13 hours, 7:15am-8:15pm including getting to/from SFO?
If not, what would you cut out? Either way, what's the best order to do it in?

Anything else that is more of a must see/do? Not food.

I was just in San Francisco, and we spent quite a few hours at pier 39, so much entertainment and fun there. If u would like to do Alcatraz, make sure to get tickets on their website like a week before u plan to go, being that they sell out very quickly - i learnt that the hard way :( - You will want to spend a few hours on Alcatraz (it is SF's top attraction). Also prepare to be stuck in heavy traffic at times, so don't overstuff ur day, maybe do Alcatraz, Pier 39, Lombard St. & The GG Bridge.

Offline nossif

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #27 on: May 13, 2011, 08:12:31 AM »
We were just in San Fran...the only kosher food in san francisco proper is sabra grill, and it might have been the worst restaurant ever, and to add insult to injury it was super expensive...for example - a hamburger was $25, yeah, and it sucked

The Kitchen Table, in Mountain view is pretty nice, and it's about 45 mins outside of san fran...if you're in san fran long enough, I suggest taking a drive down the coast to monteray and carmel, it's a beautiful drive, and monteray is very nice, and they have an excellent aquarium...and you can hit up kitchen table on the way back (thats what we did)

If you're into nature, try muir woods (the redwood forest north of the gg bridge), and definitely try land's end (western part of san fran) which was really nice, despite the terrible weather we had

also if you want a good laugh, hit up haight-ashbury - the birth of the hippie movement...you can spend a whole day there people watching


Offline Yaalili

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #28 on: May 13, 2011, 10:05:53 AM »
We were just in San Fran...the only kosher food in san francisco proper is sabra grill, and it might have been the worst restaurant ever, and to add insult to injury it was super expensive...for example - a hamburger was $25, yeah, and it sucked.

The Kitchen Table, in Mountain view is pretty nice, and it's about 45 mins outside of san fran...if you're in san fran long enough, I suggest taking a drive down the coast to monteray and carmel, it's a beautiful drive, and monteray is very nice, and they have an excellent aquarium...and you can hit up kitchen table on the way back (thats what we did).

There is a restaurant in Oakland called "Amba Falafel" which is really good, but nothing fancy. And if u are going to Kitchen Table make sure to call before, as they are closed certain hours.

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #29 on: June 02, 2011, 10:23:26 PM »
Looking to book the Alcatraz tour.
Any difference where I book it?
Seems like its $36. Any way to get a better price/discount?

Offline Yaalili

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #30 on: June 02, 2011, 10:49:48 PM »
Looking to book the Alcatraz tour.
Any difference where I book it?
Seems like its $36. Any way to get a better price/discount?

Yes there is a difference where u book it, some of them overcharge and some of them are scams. The official website with the lowest prices is http://alcatrazcruises.com/ - It is $26.

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #31 on: June 03, 2011, 02:46:02 AM »
Yes there is a difference where u book it, some of them overcharge and some of them are scams. The official website with the lowest prices is http://alcatrazcruises.com/ - It is $26.
Thanks.
Any ideas on bike rentals to cross the gg bridge?

Offline Yaalili

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #32 on: June 03, 2011, 01:56:26 PM »
Thanks.
Any ideas on bike rentals to cross the gg bridge?

You can find several bicycle rental companies around Fisherman's Wharf, and most will give you a map and instructions on how to bike across the bridge to Sausalito and return by ferry. They are all pretty much around the same prices., expect to pay between $20-40 per day.

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #33 on: June 03, 2011, 03:57:40 PM »
You can find several bicycle rental companies around Fisherman's Wharf, and most will give you a map and instructions on how to bike across the bridge to Sausalito and return by ferry. They are all pretty much around the same prices., expect to pay between $20-40 per day.

Thanks for the help.
How long would it take to do the ride? Not racing across but too slowly, only have the one day...

Offline Yaalili

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #34 on: June 03, 2011, 04:35:14 PM »
Thanks for the help.
How long would it take to do the ride? Not racing across but too slowly, only have the one day...

The GG bridge is 1.7 miles each way, the time it will take will be depending on how fast u bike :)

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #35 on: June 03, 2011, 04:43:48 PM »
The GG bridge is 1.7 miles each way, the time it will take will be depending on how fast u bike :)
Any specific spots that you can get a nice view of the whole bridge?

Offline Yaalili

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #36 on: June 03, 2011, 04:54:18 PM »
Any specific spots that you can get a nice view of the whole bridge?

If u are going by any chance on a Sunday u can go to fort point, interesting views and history.
http://www.nps.gov/fopo/index.htm

If u are going other days of the week, right before u get on the bridge from the SE corner, would be a pretty good spot for a nice view of the bridge.

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #37 on: June 03, 2011, 04:56:08 PM »
If u are going by any chance on a Sunday u can go to fort point, interesting views and history.
http://www.nps.gov/fopo/index.htm

If u are going other days of the week, right before u get on the bridge from the SE corner, would be a pretty good spot for a nice view of the bridge.
Nice! Sunday it is.

Offline Bp

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #38 on: June 16, 2011, 03:46:44 PM »
Nice! Sunday it is.
Is a trip report coming?

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: San Francisco Master Thread
« Reply #39 on: June 16, 2011, 03:48:20 PM »
IYH ill work on it.