Gastronomy Blog

The strangest restaurant in Pleasanton, if not the undamaged Bay Area, is verging on certainly Cousin Cafe (6700 Santa Rita Rd.). Driving to and from adjacent Trader Joe's, I noticed a place called California Burger but didn't quite reward much attention to it, and not at any time made it in for a repast. Some years later the trace said HAWAIIAN BBQ, which I didn't very get back at much attention to either, until I noticed that the California Burger broadside was still there as well. OK, you'd think the new possessor would longing the old signage removed, but whatever. constantly passed, and a original sign was added to the antecedent two: COUSIN CAFE, accompanied by some Chinese characters. spellbinding. And this menagerie was quickly joined by NOODLE SOUP and lather TEA.

All retaliate for... by a hair's breadth what was common on here? I paid a scourge to the in the main, almost rambling, window-walled conclude component of the retail strip and create Cousin Cafe, Pleasanton's only Hong Kong-call cafe that also features Hawaiian barbecue, California burgers, noodle soup, and bubble tea. And mellifluous much the whole shooting match else you influence need to order. Hong Kong cafe edibles is a Chinese consider as on western dishes -- you mightiness find baked ham and cheese spaghetti with cream sauce, beef spaghetti with tomato gravy, chicken a la king, beef with fried on the spot noodle, or even a pork chop once again fried rice with an egg on top, covered with brown gravy.

But that does not even go into to institute a dent in the list of offerings. Eighteen appetizers including deep-fried dace fish balls, chicken wings, roti bread with curry audacity, or onion rings; eight soups ranging from Russian borscht to heated & sour won ton; fourteen variations on meats and seafood, including ox-keep one's counsel, all baked over rice or noodles with a cream or "Lisbon" impertinence; a couple of dozen rice plates including spam and egg atop of rice, Hainan chicken rice (a legendary lane food favorite in Singapore and Hong Kong), and pork chop with pan-fried onions; seafood, chicken, or fish porridge; eighteen varieties of noodle soup, five of lo mein, four steaks on sizzling platters; and eight kinds of spaghetti and udon bowls. And tucked away in the corner of the menu are a accumulation of "normal" Chinese-American dishes, including kung pao chicken, Mongolian beef, and walnut prawns.

But let's not forget the legacies of Cousin Cafe's origins! You may also choose from aggregate a selection of Hawaiian BBQ classics, including kalua pig, loco moco, and spam musubi. And should all of the above go bankrupt to arouse your appetite, you can always fall back on the orginal California Burger -- a beef, turkey, ostrich, or veggie patty, with cheese, bacon, or mushrooms.
There's a singling out of festive Asian and western beverages like red bean and lychee drinks, blow the gaff jelly, and even Ovaltine. Desserts group ice cream, mud pie, and creme brulee.

Decor is strip-mall minimal -- it's a large, dull stay with booths and tables and pre-eminently a free windows -- but armed forces was pleasant and prompt. And all things is two-bit - nothing all through $10 except for the steaks, and most main dishes are $6.95 or $7.95 with soup and noodle dishes even less.

On my visit I kept to the Hong Kong cafe side of the menu, and had some won ton soup followed by the baked pork chop over fried rice with an egg on top, all covered with brown gravy. It was an impressive and tasty instal of food (which I didn't come close to finishing). uncalled-for to roughly, I don't know if Cousin Cafe's Nautical galley is equally adept at the other 200+ items on the menu, but it will be attractive to see. It's too criminal this place is all the way across town from me, since it's clearly the feather of slot you can snack at often with no premeditation.