On a recent San Mateo outing, I finally made it to Molly Tea, which began in Shenzhen, China, and I get why it always has a line out the door. The snowy jasmine, a milk tea capped with jasmine-infused whipped cream and candied pecans, was terrifically calibrated — which is to say, it was not overly sweet, perfumed nor milky. I was concerned that the whipped cream would be overkill but it was aromatic and lovely. Molly Tea might just have the Bay Area’s best jasmine milk tea.
Molly’s Tea. 153 S. B St., San Mateo. usa.mollytea.com
I tried my first Indian mandi, the rice dish with Yemeni origins that’s become a trend in south India, particularly in the city of Hyderabad, at Hashtag Indiain Milpitas. The vibe of the restaurant is eccentric, to say the least, with a dining room that’s littered with AI-generated images, some depicting a desert feast, others famous Indian actors. In addition to standard seating, the restaurant has majlis, carpeted and cushioned low-to-the floor eating areas, and a fake jail with cartoonishly big handcuffs — likely inspired by the jail-themed mandi spots in Hyderabad, where you can pay to live like a prisoner. The menu is enormous, offering fried samosas, Indo-Chinese food and even pasta. The main draw, however, is the mandi, specifically the one topped with “juicy chicken,” which has a creaminess similar to butter chicken, but with deeper heat. The basmati rice steals the show: fluffy, redolent with spice and chewy.
Hashtag India. 61 Serra Way, #120, Milpitas. hashtagindia.com
On a lunch visit to Turtle Tower in downtown San Francisco, the best bite was an appetizer of grilled oysters. Doused in soy sauce, scallion oil and a bit of vinegar, the Hanoi-style oyster was surprisingly meaty, with a springy bite and hints of umami and smoke. It paired well with shrimp chips and a glass of sparkling lemonade…