BEST ETHNIC FOOD

BEST ETHNIC FOOD

Banana Q Restaurant & Bakeshop
301 Georgia St # 2122A
Vallejo, CA 94590
(707) 552-4327

Fabulous Filipino fare at buffet-style prices has made Vallejo’s Banana Q a favorite with the folks over at city hall. For less than five bucks, you can eat like a hari (that’s tagalog for “king”), but unlike those crummy $1 Chinese joints, Banana Q’s food is really something special. Short on time but can’t stomach another boring burger or greasy piece of pizza? Head over to Banana Q for some traditional Filipino food–a fabulous fusion of Asian and Spanish cuisine. Owners Rami and Nelly Maranan promise to hook you up with a meal that’ll blow your mind without hurting your pocketbook. And don’t you dare leave without trying one of their famous senorita rolls, served fresh the oven. People come from miles around for these. Oh, and there’s live music every Friday and Saturday night.

Café Bastille
22 Belden Pl.
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 986-5673
www.cafebastille.com

San Francisco’s French Quarter affords those of us without the time or the money for a European vacation an opportunity to experience European culture without leaving The City–and without jet lag or one of those awful passport photos. Café Bastille, located on a quiet alley nestled between Union Square and the Financial District, has become a favorite with Euro expatriates jonesing for their home continent’s café culture. Take a seat at one of the little sidewalk tables and you’ll swear you’re in Paris. But ambiance isn’t all this place has to offer. The bustling café also offers hungry Francophiles an authentic taste of the Left Bank–serving traditional bistro fare and a few French specialties at more than reasonable prices. And there’s live jazz to boot every Wednesday through Saturday. This cozy little café is the best darned place in the city to get your French on. And talk about romantic–this place oozes romance.We’re not kidding!