I finally made it to Tacos El Grullense E&E in Redwood City, specifically the one at the gas station, which locals swear is the best. I agree. The strongest taco filling was the tripas, which were as crispy as chicharron. (Skip the carnitas.) What sealed the deal was the fiery salsa roja, which had ample body, needling heat and earthy overtones. This beats any 7-Eleven meal I’ve ever had, in Japan, here or anywhere.
Tacos El Grullense E&E. 3018 Middlefield Rd., Redwood City. tacoselgrullenseee.com
The busy interior of izakaya Chome in San Francisco, with its many prints of Japanese pop culture, feels like a Spencer’s Gift Shop. The lengthy menu is a bit chaotic — grape beer topped with frozen grapes on a skewer, pork chasu over tostadas and grilled chicken cartilage. Skip the entrees in favor of snacks, such as chutoro, which is topped with a cumin-forward yuzu salsa, and “bacon” made of grilled pole beans.
Chome. 3601 26th St., San Francisco. 415-655-9623
M Sandwiches Cafe is a Vietnamese deli in San Mateo with one of the better renditions of grilled pork banh mi, which drips with soy sauce-flavored rendered fat. Inside a soft roll with a crisp exterior goes thinly sliced pork that’s been grilled until fully caramelized, along with chicken liver pate and the usual veggies: pickled radish, carrots and jalapeño. For extra punch, order a side of house-made condiments, such as a mayo spiked with cilantro and lime zest…