Pizza Hut sucks, at least the local one does!

I am not a pizza lover. Unfortunately, I sometimes end up eating pizza at work simply because it is convenient, fast and delivered. The closest Pizza Hut to work is at:

1241 W El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Phone: (650)968-8100

For the third time in a row over a course of about 6 months, I have ended up with an upset stomach after ordering pizza from this store! :-(

On the other hand, I have had much better luck with Little Caesar's pizza. Very aggressive pricing, yet decent quality. They don't deliver in most places.

Chinese Restaurants in Mountain View

Two good Chinese restaurants in Mountain View on Castro Street: Hangen Szechuan Restaurant and Hunan Chili. They are very close to each other and are virtual clones of each other. As for downsides: Hangen -- The owners wife could use a visit to "charm school"; Hunan Chili: They try to get you to pay in cash, though nowhere does it say that they have a min charge to use the credit card. If you want to get around it, just say "I have no cash". They'll then accept your credit card!

If you visit either of these try the Mapo Tofu. If you like spicy food you'll love this dish.

Lovely Sweets in Fremont

A low key, hole in wall place that serves Indian food (punjabi cuisine) and plenty of "lovely" sweets, this restaurant/sweet shop is worth trying out. The food is good and always freshly cooked. The sweets are exceptional especially the "rasmalai".

We returned to this restuarant (mostly because its a little out of the way) after a few years and definitely found it worth our while.

Shalimar in Fremont on weekends

If you plan to eat at Shalimar on Fri, Sat or Sun nights, I suggest you go early or plan for a long wait. Its extremely crowded and I understand that even if you order a take out the wait is pretty long.

In true desi style, the Shalimar folks have no proper process for sign up and table access. Its a free for all. Very often customers get into arguments about who showed up first. At least on one occasion I heard there was serious brawl!

You might find junta standing next to you at the table waiting for you to finish and leave! To avoid/minimize this, see if you can get a table that's deep inside rather than close to the door.

The food is still very good. The chai is free and so are the onions, chillis, pepper and chutneys.

Spice Hut in Fremont

The popular Spice Hut restaurant in Sunnyvale has now opened one in Fremont, close to Coconut Hill, the Indian grocery. The food is extremely good, and the place is very crowded despite being very spacious. If you like Kerala-style cooking, its definitely worth checking out.

Chicken Recipe

Tried out this Chicken Chettinad Recipe today. Turned out pretty good! Definitely worth a shot if you like cooking and have the patience to look up the recipe.

If you are wondering where Chettinad is, it is a region in southern India in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Pakwan: A Shalimar clone worth visiting

Tired of the long wait at the Shalimar resturant in Fremont, California? You now have a lessser know alternative by name Pakwan, not very far from Shalimar (less than 10 minute drive on Fremont Blvd). The food and price are very similar and the quality definitely comparable. At present it is less crowded than Shalimar, mostly because most people don't know of its existence. Its opposite the Lucky Sweets on Fremont Blvd. There was previously a Malaysian/Singaporean restaurant at the same place.


Location: 41068 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont 94539

A couple of good restaurants in the SF Bay Area

Penang Garden (Malaysian) in Milpitas, Dish Dash (Lebanese/Mediteranean) and Spice Hut (Indian) in Sunnyvale.


Went to Woodlands in Fremont today. Good south indian vegetaran food, but service is a little slow.


If you live in the bay area these are definitely worth going to.