I stopped by FOB West, the kiosk expansion of Fob Kitchen in Oakland, where I had a stellar lunch. The chicken fat-enriched arroz caldo shouted with garlic, while the beef adobo tacos were satisfyingly juicy. I was most into the grilled chicken insasal plate, a flame-blistered leg and thigh paired with a side (I recommend macaroni salad), a salad, and rice tinted with achiote seeds. I especially liked the finadenne, an accompanying condiment made of soy sauce, citrus and peppers.
FOB West. 1620 18th St., Oakland. fobkitchen.com
Neapolitan-style shop Fratm Pizzeria in San Rafael makes great meatballs, which are on the smaller side, but packed with flavor. They’re fork tender, not overly crumbly, while the thick tomato sauce is spicy and extra tangy. Swipe up the excess sauce with complimentary bread, which makes for an excellent sponge.
Fratm Pizzeria. 901 4th St., San Rafael. fratmpizzeria.com
Matcha is so hot right now that even established restaurants are getting into the game. Such is the case with Hinata Matcha,which took over the patio of Japanese restaurant Hinata Sushi in Hayward. The matcha latte with matcha foam was nicely frothy and not overly sweet, but the “pocket” fruit sando stole the show: griddled milk bread that’s as thick as Texas toast, cut in half diagonally and stuffed with cream then topped with chunks of mango. Whereas the average fruit sando might go untoasted, this version is crisp all over, providing a welcomed contrast against thick cream…