Topic Wiki

Dan's TR: http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/87280

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 199038 times)

Offline PlatinumGuy

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 14958
  • Total likes: 2421
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
    • View Profile
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #300 on: November 04, 2014, 12:30:18 PM »
It's basic food but perfectly fine
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline Yaalili

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 12764
  • Total likes: 473
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 157
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Crown Heights, NY
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #301 on: November 04, 2014, 12:45:34 PM »
Anywhere new to eat in San Francisco? Tonight between 4-8 for dinner.  How has Sabra been lately?

All the places are in the wiki. HT: whYME.

Offline MosheP

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 1486
  • Total likes: 8
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #302 on: November 09, 2014, 12:31:50 PM »
All the places are in the wiki. HT: whYME.
Thanks

I ended up at Sabra.  The falafel was awesome,  along with the humus and tahinni.

Burger,  fries,  soup and schnitzel were mediocre at best. 

The prices are insane though. 

It's basic food but perfectly fine

I agree 

But not worth the prices

Offline madopo

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2011
  • Posts: 182
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #303 on: December 31, 2014, 05:10:22 AM »
Has anyone here done Yosemite with young children(4 and under)? If so,any places to stay nearby using points?

Offline JayR

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Posts: 734
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
  • Location: The City That Never Sleeps
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #304 on: December 31, 2014, 09:02:32 AM »
last time in sf (2 yrs ago) , i remember eating at a kosher vegetarian restaurant. anyone knows of it?
You can modify your original post. The modify button is right next to the quote button.

Offline zow

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 2943
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #305 on: December 31, 2014, 04:21:41 PM »
last time in sf (2 yrs ago) , i remember eating at a kosher vegetarian restaurant. anyone knows of it?
If I am not mistaken, it was called something like Shangri-La.  It was not supervised by the Vaad, but I believe it may, at one time, have been under another rabbi's supervision.  It might have been the K-ORC, which is a common hechsher that has been blogged about much.

But the long and short of it is that there is only one Vaad-supervised "restaurant" in San Francisco at this time, and that's Sabra.

There is the relatively new French cream puff bakery in the Haight that is Vaad-superivised (and, as I undersand it, cholov Yisroel, owned by a Chabad woman), but most adults would not consider cream puffs to qualify as a meal, so therefore, not a "restaurant."

I did just last night enjoy a platter of sushi rolls from L'Chaim.
It was delicious.
The proprieter is himself an orthodox rabbi,Alex Shandrovsky, who told me that he is renegotiating his contract with the Vaad for the new calendar year, and is currently "self-certifying".  I asked him about his qualitfications, and he told me:

"I received my Smicha from Rabbi Aharon Zieglar, one of the main Talmudim of Rabbi Joseph Solovetchick.

http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=100633

All of our food is Parve and there is no Bishul Akum regarding the rice."

My LOR gave the the go-ahead (not ideal to be one's own mashgiach, given conflict of interest, but given the limited options and given the relative ease of maintaining kashrut over sushi [so long as you don't mix in the shrimp, I guess!]).

In any case, delicious sushi, and very accommodating proprietor.

(And don't forget there is a kosher KKD in Daly City.)
Enjoy!

Offline JayR

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Posts: 734
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
  • Location: The City That Never Sleeps
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #306 on: December 31, 2014, 11:07:06 PM »
If I am not mistaken, it was called something like Shangri-La.  It was not supervised by the Vaad, but I believe it may, at one time, have been under another rabbi's supervision.  It might have been the K-ORC, which is a common hechsher that has been blogged about much.

Thanks for info :)
You can modify your original post. The modify button is right next to the quote button.

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 12818
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #307 on: May 27, 2015, 12:44:19 AM »
Landing in SFO at 1025.
what time should I schedule an Alcatraz tour?  (Factor in a stop at coffee bean)
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Yaalili

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 12764
  • Total likes: 473
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 157
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Crown Heights, NY
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #308 on: May 27, 2015, 11:52:35 AM »
Give urself about 2 hours.

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 12818
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #309 on: May 27, 2015, 12:29:27 PM »
2 hours? It's a half hour drive. No need to get luggage. Why 2 hours?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline sams

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 1140
  • Total likes: 38
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #310 on: May 27, 2015, 12:57:49 PM »

Offline Yaalili

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 12764
  • Total likes: 473
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 157
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Crown Heights, NY
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #311 on: May 29, 2015, 10:33:02 AM »
2 hours? It's a half hour drive. No need to get luggage. Why 2 hours?

Between traffic which is terrible up there, parking a few blocks away and having to show up some time before boarding, I would play it safe. Not really any standby options for Alcatraz they are usually sold out, so if you miss it..

Offline CS1

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 3651
  • Total likes: 49
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
    • California Gourmet Premium Chocolate
  • Location: United States
  • Programs: DDSLA, DDSCLE, Bonvoy Titanium Feb 2025
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #312 on: May 29, 2015, 10:35:33 AM »
....Not really any standby options for Alcatraz they are usually sold out, so if you miss it....
...then you'll have to swim.....
California Gourmet Belgian Nut-Free Chocolate Chips https://bit.ly/CaliforniaGourmetDirect

Offline ushdadude

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 6300
  • Total likes: 923
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #313 on: May 29, 2015, 10:36:41 AM »
...then you'll have to swim.....

or make a boat out of raincoats

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 12818
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #314 on: May 29, 2015, 11:34:06 AM »
Between traffic which is terrible up there, parking a few blocks away and having to show up some time before boarding, I would play it safe. Not really any standby options for Alcatraz they are usually sold out, so if you miss it..
I hear.
Should we rent a car? Or just use Uber? Stopover is only 7 hours, I was just going to taxi/Uber. Is that a bad idea?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Yaalili

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 12764
  • Total likes: 473
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 157
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Crown Heights, NY
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #315 on: May 30, 2015, 11:01:58 PM »
I hear.
Should we rent a car? Or just use Uber? Stopover is only 7 hours, I was just going to taxi/Uber. Is that a bad idea?

Not a bad idea at all, in that case probably 1 and a half hours should be enough, what are your time options from when you land?

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 12818
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #316 on: May 30, 2015, 11:22:36 PM »
Land at 1025.
12 or 1230
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Yaalili

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 12764
  • Total likes: 473
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 157
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Crown Heights, NY
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #317 on: May 30, 2015, 11:35:16 PM »
Land at 1025.
12 or 1230

12 should be fine, with no flight delays. Pier 33 is only about a 5 minute walk from the funky pier 39, either before or after the alcatraz tour.

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #318 on: June 10, 2015, 12:57:53 PM »
Any recent restaurant reviews?
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

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 3213
  • Total likes: 1240
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: San Francisco/No Cal Master Thread
« Reply #319 on: June 10, 2015, 01:20:02 PM »
Any recent restaurant reviews?
No recent reviews, but I did just update the wiki.

I was speaking to someone from the Vaad yesterday and got some updates...

The proprieter is himself an orthodox rabbi,Alex Shandrovsky, who told me that he is renegotiating his contract with the Vaad for the new calendar year, and is currently "self-certifying".
What I was told was that his certification was revoked due to multiple serious kashrus violations.


Choux bakery is no longer certified kosher.


Apparently there's also something new in SF, I didn't quite catch the details. some kind of take out or something like that. sounds like people are happy with it.

Sabra is under new management, apparently the service is improved, I'm not sure about anything else.