Ben Park
@benpark62.bsky.social
I am a semi-retired serial entrepreneur, mentor, teacher, and author. I am a total foodie, Apple Fanboy, and tech support for my friends and family. I have too many interests to list here and always enjoy learning new things.
I went to charge my EV, and it takes a bit of time. So, I went to grab lunch at Chick-fil-A. It's the spicy chicken sandwich combo. I just love their waffle fries. Still not too bad by today's standards at about $15.
October 19, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I went to charge my EV, and it takes a bit of time. So, I went to grab lunch at Chick-fil-A. It's the spicy chicken sandwich combo. I just love their waffle fries. Still not too bad by today's standards at about $15.
I went back to Udon Mugizo in San Mateo for lunch. I ordered their combo menu, which included Shrimp Tempura Don and Udon. The meal was excellent as usual, and it was a good deal at $27, including tip. This is definitely one of my favorite places to eat.
October 11, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I went back to Udon Mugizo in San Mateo for lunch. I ordered their combo menu, which included Shrimp Tempura Don and Udon. The meal was excellent as usual, and it was a good deal at $27, including tip. This is definitely one of my favorite places to eat.
I went to lunch at Wise Sons Jewish Deli in Oakland. I wanted to compare my favorite sandwich, Reuben, with other delis. It came with fries and coleslaw. This place had good pastrami, but it was not enough in the sandwich. I should have gotten à la carte, not a combo. The total was $25 with tip.
October 11, 2025 at 10:29 PM
I went to lunch at Wise Sons Jewish Deli in Oakland. I wanted to compare my favorite sandwich, Reuben, with other delis. It came with fries and coleslaw. This place had good pastrami, but it was not enough in the sandwich. I should have gotten à la carte, not a combo. The total was $25 with tip.
When you are hungry, nothing beats KFC, Korean Fried Chicken. This is a lunch special at Bonchon in downtown San Mateo. It's a small chain around the Bay Area. I got half wings, half thighs with half regular and half spicy. The meal costs just over $16, including a can of soft drink.
October 8, 2025 at 3:05 PM
When you are hungry, nothing beats KFC, Korean Fried Chicken. This is a lunch special at Bonchon in downtown San Mateo. It's a small chain around the Bay Area. I got half wings, half thighs with half regular and half spicy. The meal costs just over $16, including a can of soft drink.
I went to check out the new Korean grocery store in East Palo Alto, Mega Mart. It was one of the biggest ones I know. I ordered the lunch special with Bulgogi. The meal was large and pretty tasty. I would come here more often. Only $20 for this meal.
October 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM
I went to check out the new Korean grocery store in East Palo Alto, Mega Mart. It was one of the biggest ones I know. I ordered the lunch special with Bulgogi. The meal was large and pretty tasty. I would come here more often. Only $20 for this meal.
The Paramount Theater in Oakland never looked this good from the outside. A photo from my walk in Oakland.
October 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
The Paramount Theater in Oakland never looked this good from the outside. A photo from my walk in Oakland.
I went to Dave's Hot Chicken in Oakland for lunch, a small regional chain. I ordered a slider and a strip combo with fries, medium heat. The cheese on the fries and the sliders were additional. The spicy level was perfect, and the chicken had a lot of flavor. With the drink, total was about $24.
October 4, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I went to Dave's Hot Chicken in Oakland for lunch, a small regional chain. I ordered a slider and a strip combo with fries, medium heat. The cheese on the fries and the sliders were additional. The spicy level was perfect, and the chicken had a lot of flavor. With the drink, total was about $24.
My lunch was at Falafelle in Belmont. It's been a while since I had falafel, and this place looked good. They don't have a sit-down area, so I ate it at a local park bench. It was good but nothing spectacular. Falafel Drive-in in San Jose is still the best. It was just under $20 total.
October 1, 2025 at 5:30 PM
My lunch was at Falafelle in Belmont. It's been a while since I had falafel, and this place looked good. They don't have a sit-down area, so I ate it at a local park bench. It was good but nothing spectacular. Falafel Drive-in in San Jose is still the best. It was just under $20 total.
I went to Berkeley for dinner at one of the very few Jewish delis in the Bay Area, Saul's. I had a Pastrami Reuben Sandwich, and it had one of the best Pastrami sandwiches I've ever had, a bit salty. Definitely worth visiting at least once. It is pricey, about $25 for the Sandwich and a side.
September 15, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I went to Berkeley for dinner at one of the very few Jewish delis in the Bay Area, Saul's. I had a Pastrami Reuben Sandwich, and it had one of the best Pastrami sandwiches I've ever had, a bit salty. Definitely worth visiting at least once. It is pricey, about $25 for the Sandwich and a side.
Some photos I took while on my walk.
September 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Some photos I took while on my walk.
I headed to Menlo Park to try Cook's Seafood for lunch. This is their fish and chips, with Halibut, not Cod, but this was a much more flavorful.. At first, the meal seems pretty small, but Halibut is a dense fish, and the meal filled me up. Two pieces of fish were $20 before tax and tip.
September 8, 2025 at 1:48 AM
I headed to Menlo Park to try Cook's Seafood for lunch. This is their fish and chips, with Halibut, not Cod, but this was a much more flavorful.. At first, the meal seems pretty small, but Halibut is a dense fish, and the meal filled me up. Two pieces of fish were $20 before tax and tip.
I went to a restaurant for lunch, but they were closed. They are supposed to be open every day, so I'm not sure what happened. This is Chuan Chim Thai Cuisine, right next door. I had my usual Pad See Ew. It wasn't too bad, but the noodles were a bit soft. Less than $19 after tip.
August 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I went to a restaurant for lunch, but they were closed. They are supposed to be open every day, so I'm not sure what happened. This is Chuan Chim Thai Cuisine, right next door. I had my usual Pad See Ew. It wasn't too bad, but the noodles were a bit soft. Less than $19 after tip.
I was in Sunnyvale, and I had to go to my old hangout, St. John's Bar & Grill, for lunch. I always loved their Cheesesteak sandwich, especially the Combo Steak. It comes with a bag of chips. I am amazed that they keep the price down to $15 range after all these years. A definite nostalgia trip.
August 22, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I was in Sunnyvale, and I had to go to my old hangout, St. John's Bar & Grill, for lunch. I always loved their Cheesesteak sandwich, especially the Combo Steak. It comes with a bag of chips. I am amazed that they keep the price down to $15 range after all these years. A definite nostalgia trip.
My lunch from Poke Koma in Alameda. This is a large size because I was hungry. It was more than I needed, and I couldn't finish it. It had five scoops of protein. I chose double spicy tuna, Hamachi, scallops, and shrimp. It had tons of other stuff, like crab salad and Mentaiko, over sushi rice.
August 18, 2025 at 11:47 PM
My lunch from Poke Koma in Alameda. This is a large size because I was hungry. It was more than I needed, and I couldn't finish it. It had five scoops of protein. I chose double spicy tuna, Hamachi, scallops, and shrimp. It had tons of other stuff, like crab salad and Mentaiko, over sushi rice.
When Caltrain goes by you fast. I love these trains.
August 18, 2025 at 11:40 PM
When Caltrain goes by you fast. I love these trains.
I have passed by this place many times, Peninsula Italian American Social Club. The daily special was Veal Scaloppine. I chose it for lunch. The food was actually excellent, a bit smaller portion. They even gave me a free cookie. A bit pricey at $30 before tips.
August 16, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I have passed by this place many times, Peninsula Italian American Social Club. The daily special was Veal Scaloppine. I chose it for lunch. The food was actually excellent, a bit smaller portion. They even gave me a free cookie. A bit pricey at $30 before tips.
I was in the mood for a burger. Typically, I would go to IN-N-Out, but I was near Five Guys and I haven't been there in a long time. Here is the smallest burger and fries. It's huge. While it's only one patty, the veggie filling takes up a ton of space. All good at about $20, including a drink.
August 15, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I was in the mood for a burger. Typically, I would go to IN-N-Out, but I was near Five Guys and I haven't been there in a long time. Here is the smallest burger and fries. It's huge. While it's only one patty, the veggie filling takes up a ton of space. All good at about $20, including a drink.
I was in Burlingame and was starving. I went to Mykonos, a high-end Greek restaurant. This is a lamb shank dish, which was sublime. The bones came out without resistance, and the meat was well seasoned. Here is the shocker: this simple lunch was $45, including a tip. Not sure if it was worth it.
August 11, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I was in Burlingame and was starving. I went to Mykonos, a high-end Greek restaurant. This is a lamb shank dish, which was sublime. The bones came out without resistance, and the meat was well seasoned. Here is the shocker: this simple lunch was $45, including a tip. Not sure if it was worth it.
I went for lunch at Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar in San Mateo. I ordered their Fish & Chips lunch, which came with Coleslaw as a side. It was a bit pricey for what I got, but it was actually filling. The fish and fries were crispy and had good flavor, and the Lemon added a good zest. $26 including tip.
August 9, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I went for lunch at Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar in San Mateo. I ordered their Fish & Chips lunch, which came with Coleslaw as a side. It was a bit pricey for what I got, but it was actually filling. The fish and fries were crispy and had good flavor, and the Lemon added a good zest. $26 including tip.
I was in Oakland this week, and this was my lunch from Rayman's Nudough. I know it doesn't sound like a Vietnamese place, but it had a decent Grilled Fish Banh Mi, which was my first time. The bread was decent, and the fish was delicious, but they had too much pickled veggies. It's worth a visit.
August 9, 2025 at 6:03 PM
I was in Oakland this week, and this was my lunch from Rayman's Nudough. I know it doesn't sound like a Vietnamese place, but it had a decent Grilled Fish Banh Mi, which was my first time. The bread was decent, and the fish was delicious, but they had too much pickled veggies. It's worth a visit.
My lunch was at my favorite Thai place in downtown San Mateo, New Thai Elephant. This is Pad See-Ew, in my opinion, better than what most people order, Pad Thai. I love the texture of the wide noodle. It does need a bit of spice and vinegar to make it right. About $15 for the meal.
August 6, 2025 at 2:51 PM
My lunch was at my favorite Thai place in downtown San Mateo, New Thai Elephant. This is Pad See-Ew, in my opinion, better than what most people order, Pad Thai. I love the texture of the wide noodle. It does need a bit of spice and vinegar to make it right. About $15 for the meal.
Those of you who want to visit the San Francisco area during the middle of the summer, be aware. This was in Colma, just south of the city, at midday, totally foggy and with slight drizzle.
August 2, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Those of you who want to visit the San Francisco area during the middle of the summer, be aware. This was in Colma, just south of the city, at midday, totally foggy and with slight drizzle.
I have been interested in trying out Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers in Colma for a while. I believe it's the first of the chain in this area. I had the Box, which is four fingers, fries, a toast, and Cole Slaw. I thought it was pretty good for a chain food. Total of about $15.
August 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I have been interested in trying out Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers in Colma for a while. I believe it's the first of the chain in this area. I had the Box, which is four fingers, fries, a toast, and Cole Slaw. I thought it was pretty good for a chain food. Total of about $15.
I went for lunch at my favorite Turkish restaurant, Nomadic Kitchen in Redwood City. This place is fantastic. Typically, you choose four items for the appetizer, but since I know the owner, he brought me everything on the menu to try. For the main, I had Lahmacun, my favorite dish there. A must try.
July 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I went for lunch at my favorite Turkish restaurant, Nomadic Kitchen in Redwood City. This place is fantastic. Typically, you choose four items for the appetizer, but since I know the owner, he brought me everything on the menu to try. For the main, I had Lahmacun, my favorite dish there. A must try.
The grand opening of Curry Pizza House in downtown San Mateo was a few weeks back, and I finally had a chance to try it. I ordered one of the lunch specials, Veggie Curry Pizza. It was just the right amount of spiciness with a decent flavor. About $15 with tips.
July 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The grand opening of Curry Pizza House in downtown San Mateo was a few weeks back, and I finally had a chance to try it. I ordered one of the lunch specials, Veggie Curry Pizza. It was just the right amount of spiciness with a decent flavor. About $15 with tips.