The wings at neon-lit Viridian in Oakland are exceptional. Made extra crispy in the salt-and-pepper style, they’re tingly from Sichuan peppercorn-infused seasoning, garnished with sauteed onions and peppers, and accompanied by sambal ranch with a distinct cooling and heating effect. The wings are available on the late-night menu, which also includes supremely crunchy chili oil-laced tater tots.
Viridian. 2216 Broadway, Oakland. viridianbar.com
For me, the smaller size of the doughnuts at Donut Savant in East Oakland is ideal, in that they’re less of a sugary commitment and they’re affordable — all doughnuts are under $3.50. I’m pretty basic, so stick to the classic glaze or, better yet, the apple fritter, which has a plush bounce, warm spicing and an ideal apples-to-dough ratio. The shop closes at 1 p.m. so get there early to avoid inventory depletion.
Donut Savant. 3000 38th Ave., Oakland. donutsavant.com
D-Delightin San Jose is a Vietnamese fusion restaurant offering beef rib sandwiches, beef cheek birria tacos and sizzling platters of bo ne, steak and eggs. The offerings tend to prioritize style over substance, such as soggy fries topped with peppery shaking beef. The standout from a recent visit was lechon lettuce wraps, a collection of crispy pork belly and cracklings accompanied by fresh greens, banh hoi (woven vermicelli), pickles and spicy-sweet nuoc cham…