As someone who grew up in an area whose food scene doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, I have a soft spot for the Bay Area’s Tri-Valley . It has its own dining identity, with particularly strong Indian, Mediterranean, Korean and Japanese restaurants. A typical day of eating in East Bay cities like Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton might include Burmese tea leaf salads, titillating Indian chaat, punchy Pakistani-style burgers , sensational dim sum and historic soft serve .
In recent years, the dining scene has swelled with even more thrilling options, and after repeated visits I’m here to share my top picks. The bulk of my recommendations are in Pleasanton. Some spots are entirely new, like an all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue gem, a Mediterranean deli and a south Indian specialist. But one is an expansion of my favorite katsu source in the Bay Area.
People in the Tri-Valley know it has a dynamic food culture, and hopefully this list helps more understand that.
Balaji Mess
Balaji Mess specializes in the home-style cooking of India’s southern states like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Thalis — comprehensive meals consisting of curry, rice and soup served on banana leaves — are top billing at the restaurant, but are only available during lunch. In case you miss it (like I did), I recommend ordering a full-size entree of egg curry ($12.99), where the orbs come boiled in a creamy, herbaceous sauce. For something smaller, try the superb curry leaf paneer appetizer ($12.99), where chewy curds are doused in a fragrant herb paste. Dosas are another strong suit, especially the incredible butter-fried benne dosa ($11.99), which is heavier and slightly thicker than the paper-thin variety. Wash it down with a dialed-in masala tea and admire Balaji’s lime green walls…