RAMEN HALU

Ramenticize

Ramen Halu is arguably the best ramen house in the Bay Area.

If you like authentic ramen, this restaurant needs to be on top of your list.

Chef Kumao Arai (a surfer and a ramen lover) worked for a ramen house in Japan before migrating to San Jose a few years ago. You'll notice the surf theme through out the restaurant.

For starters, I recommend the Hiyayakko - cubes of very fresh cold tofu w/ Japanese seasonings. Pour a dash of soy sauce over the tofu and enjoy with the shaved pork, fresh scallions and ginger (to marry all the flavors).

For the main course - RAMEN!

You have three styles of broth/noodles to choose from (low sodium and low fat options are available upon request).

1. Halu - Very special rich broth w/thick noodle

2. Sho-yu - Traditional soysauce flavored broth w/ thin noodle

3. Shio - Golden clear seasalt-flavored broth w/ thin noodle

I've tried all three and tend to favor the Halu ramen

Lately, I've been ordering HALU Cha-shu Ramen, the portion is just right.

Cha-shu ramen is garnished with a slice of very tender pork, sea weed, and scallions.

If you're adventurous when it comes to your ramen, run - don't walk to Ramen Halu!

The restaurant is on Saratoga Ave. (near Stevens Creek), situated in a mini mall across the street from Garden City. The restaurant is closed on Wednesdays.

Cash Only.

Ramen Halu

http://www.ramenhalu.com/

375-M South Saratoga Ave.

San Jose, CA 95129

408.246.3933

KRUNG THAI

Thai Heaven

It's always a good sign when you have 2 locations, and both have a waiting list almost every night of the week.
We've been eating at both Krung Thai restaurants for over 10 years, it's still our favorite Thai restaurant in San Jose.
I had dinner here last week, and I'm happy to say that the food is even better.

For starters, I recommend ordering some Chicken Satay - Marinated chicken or beef or pork on skewers served with peanut curry sauce and Thai cucumber salad or the delicious Angel Wings - Chicken wings stuffed with ground chicken, shrimp, bean thread noodles, deep fried; served with plum sauce. You can actually order this as an entree.

For soups, we really enjoy Tom Kha Gai - Spicy and sour chicken with coconut milk, galanga and mushrooms.
For the seafood lover, you'll enjoy the Po-Tak - Spicy and sour combination seafood soup. This soup has an abundance of calamari, prawns, scallops and mussels.

For the main course, we normally order their combination Pad Thai (the best in the Silicon Valey) of chicken, prawns and pork.
Last week, we ordered the Roast Duck Curry - Red curry with pineapple, cherry tomatoes, and raisins in coconut milk with basil; served in pineapple shell. This dish is very rich, and stands out from a list of delicious curry dishes (such as panang curry, mussaman and ka-ree gai).
For a beef dish I suggest trying the Prik King Neua - Beef with chili paste and green beans.
Gai Ga Prao is a consistent chicken, basil and garlic dish.

Save the best for last, Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango - Warm sticky rice topped with coconut syrup and fresh sweet mango.

This is my wife's favorite, best to order when mango's are "in season."

Krung Thai

580 S Winchester Blvd. San Jose (behind Westfield Valley Fair) - 408.248.3435

640 S Winchester Blvd. San Jose - 408.260.8224

They accept cash and major credit cards.