Richmond lunch eateries

[exile]

Almost a thousand Department of Health Services workers are being moved this month to a brand new office building on Marina Bay Parkway in the industrial flats of Richmond. Most of us worked in downtown Berkeley or Oakland; we are in deprivation already. Any tips on decent cheap lunch food in Richmond? We are near Cutting, not too far from San Pablo Avenue. Thanks.

[Dr. Biggles]

Rworange ?!?!? Where are yuuuuuuuu?

You do realize you're in a different world now, right?

What few types of food do you fancy these days? We could direct you a little more if'n we knew.

Biggles

[rworange]

Well, Dr. Biggles introduced me to one of the finest sandwiches in the Bay Area at Rick’s Quality Meats. It’s off San Pablo near the El Cerrito Bart station. Usually only available on Fridays. However, Rick’s has some great roast beef that makes a good sandwich. The rolls are not exceptional, but the market sells Acme bread and rolls, so you could always buy one of those and ask Rick to make the sandwich with that.

Ok, working with what is closest to you.

As I mentioned in another post, Point Richmond is almost heaven. Great little corner of the world.

There is a lovely park in your area on the bay that has a mediocre, expensive restaurant next door, Salute e Vita. Great view but you can get that same view for free at the park. At best, not a bad place to kick back after work for a drink because the marina is pretty. They have free appetizers sometimes during happy hour. They looked fried. But really, avoid the food unless you like something that is only a step above Macaroni Grill. A small step.

There is a little market next door where someone said they liked the sandwiches. Can’t say personally.

In the little strip mall with Longs Drugs, Cafe Teatro, which opens at 5:30 am, brews Mountanous coffee. They also have Lindsey teas. The shop also sells bagels, desserts, sandwiches, salads, Paramount piroshki’s (too much dough nice spicy filling), Paramount calzones (all crust, minimal filling) and, huge genetically-altered looking baked pork buns ( $2.50). I’d stick with the coffee.

In that same mall, a new Mexican restaurant is opening soon, El Mocahete. It has a Chevy’s look. .

On the corner of Cutting and Marina Way is Rodriguez Market, the home base of the excellent and inexpensive Tacos Rodriguez taco truck. I haven’t been to the market yet though. It says they sell tacos.

Red’s Sea Food has food made by a friendly couple from Guadalajara. Very often there are lunch specials listed on the sign board. They have a special sandwich called a drowned sandwich – Torta Ahogadas. Not traditional, but I really liked the Torta Cubano.

There are a number of taco trucks as you go up 23rd. Again haven’t tried them yet. The one next to the Peruvian Restaurant seems to have some interesting items. The most popular is closest to you, Fleur de Jalisco McDonald & 21st.

The taco shop across the street from McDonalds on MacDonald is under new ownership and I keep meaning to check it out. Next door to it is Cassandra’s bakery which you might want to keep in mind if you need to bring baked goods to the office. They are open odd days. Andy’s donuts up the street is open 24 hours and makes its own donuts which would keep an office happy.

El Tapatio has mocahetes. I went there twice and had a horrendous all around experience on the second time, but on my first visit the taco I tried was as fine as any that I had in San Diego. I think of that taco. If I can ever get over my huff at El Tapatio, I might try it again.

Tres Hermanas has some good soup and the burritos looked huge. Skip the chips.

Portumex has a solid reputation for good Mexican food.

Probably farther than you want to go, but there are two Chinese buffets up toward San Pablo Dam Road. I haven’t been to Uncles yet, but other people reported below. Empire Buffet in the Albertson’s shopping center. Huge selection. It has pretty decent seafood like mussels and it has a cook to order station. Most of the dim sum is disappointing, the salads and desserts typical buffet junk. Both places have take out options. But if you want take out Chinese, I’d stick to the Point Richmond restaurants.

There is also a Vietnamese pho place in the Albertson plaza, but I haven’t tried it yet.

If you really have time some day, venture a little further up to El Tazamel which just has the best pupusas in the entire Bay Area. Of course, they have to be eaten there as any pupusa will suffer by cooling.

Traveling up Cutting toward San Pablo Avenue Cielito Lindo recently changed ownership with new owners from Nayarit, a state on the Western Mexican coast just north of Jalisco. They are open really late like 3 am should you ever get stuck late at work. They were mediocre when I stopped by, but I keep meaning to stop by again to see how the restaurant is progressing. They still had the old menus when I was there. They had mojarra frita, a whole fried small tropical fish. They seem to be busier lately. Oh, they make their own tortillas.

I haven’t tried everything at Boulevard fish, but they have excellent fried oysters and mustard greens. Do NOT get the cole slaw though which tastes like deceased cabbage. I haven’t tried the fried chicken. The fried fish is good, but Mississippi Cat Fish is so much better.

There is a farmers market on Friday, but it was pretty sad looking when I went early in the season. I keep meaning to check it out again.

I haven’t tried Angelo’s Deli yet which is on San Pablo.

That’s as far down as I’ll go in El Cerrito. If you want to go a little farther in El Cerrito there is FatApples, The Junket and the chain restaurant wonderland in the El Cerrito Plaza that includes Pasta Pomodora.

As Dr. Biggles said, it is a different world but there are enough interesting places around. Please report back on your finds from time to time.

Here are links with more information.

Richmond -- 23rd/Rumrill – Portumex, Tres Hermanas
http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco33/messages/117661.html

Mississippi Fried Catfish Truck … and they have hush puppies
http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco36/messages/127426.html

Red’s Sea Food – Guadalajara Tortas Ahogadas (Drowned Sandwiches
)http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco36/messages/126718.html

Richmond - Boulevard Fish – Fried fish, chicken and oysters
http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco/messages/135363.html

El Tazumal – Best Salvadoran Food in Bay Area
http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco/messages/138409.html

Richmond Mexican - New Cielito Lindo
http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco37/messages/129820.html

San Pablo - Uncle Sam’s Buffet - 2 for 1 Grand Opening (1/8-1/9
)http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco33/messages/116483.html

El Cerrito – Rules for Ricks brisket, BBQ, smoked meats & fish
http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco/messages/138043.html

Richmond - Cassandra's Cakes & Beyond … really
http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco/messages/138255.html

Richmond - Cafe Teatro Coffee and Andy’s Donuts
http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco/messages/134776.html

Richmond Farmers Market – First Cherries & EBT Cards
http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco37/messages/128308.html

Richmond area recommendation: Salute e Vita
http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco34/messages/119282.html

El Sobrante Taco Trucks - La Fortuna & Tacos Rodriguez
http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco/messages/139993.html

Link: http://chowhound.safeshopper.com/21/c...

[wally]

It should be noted that Rick's is near the El Cerrito del Norte BART station. There is another BART station at El Cerrito Plaza.

[Shep]

"Mocahete"

1. Traditional Meso-American stone mortar and pestle. Some sources suggest that it never be washed with soap and water, so as to retain the flavor of variouos items smushed in it over the years.

2. Apparently, a dish of grilled meats and chiles, served in a stone pestle-like dish

3. A restaurant soon to open in Richmond, CA. If a chain, then they didn't bother to set up a website, cause they don't Google.

Thanks, rw, for a comprehensive post as usual.

[rworange]

Looking for something else, I came across this review on 23rd Street taco trucks. One hopes the EBE is not turning into the Contra Costa Times. If El Tazamal gets reviewed, one would hope Chowhound gets a nod.

Anyway, glad they did the footwork (or stomach work)

Highly recommended - the al pastor torta at Tacos Los Primos. This is the truck near the Peruvian restaurant where the menu caught my interest driving by. Here is the elegant description from the review (link below):

“Lebanese immigrants first introduced al pastor to Mexico, and true to tradition, Los Primos threads thin slices of the meat onto a vertical spit -- the kind you see at shawerma places -- and slices off the outsides to order. Their al pastor is blackened on the edges where the chile sauce caramelizes, and underneath, the deep flavor of the roasted pork comes through.”

Also noted at Los Primos' are the slow-cooked carnitas, cabeza, (beef cheeks) and condiments.

The tortas at LOS GRULLENSES were also recommended. Good carne asada and ‘spectacular’ birria de res. Skip the carnitas and al pastor.

LA FLOR DE JALISCO I at 21st and Macdonald is noted for its tripitas, with the other items being described as average. At LA FLOR DE JALISCO II, skip the tripitas and go for the buche, or pork stomach.

Skip the burritos as all the taco trucks in this neck of the woods.

CHA-RO-LAS – skip it. Thank you, JK.

EL TAPATIO – sigh – great as I thought after my first visit. I’m going to have to get over my snit. Recommended is the tongue, al pastor, house salsa roja (sigh, I remember), ceviche tostadas. Making nice with my bad mouthing of El Tapatio due to a bad experience, I will highly recommend the dorado tacos which made me forget the version I had in San Diego … my standard for this.

Also El Tapatio is open 24 hours. It seems this little corner of Richmond is the place for late night eats along with Andy’s Donuts and Cieleto Lio. But I gotta tell you, I live here, I love it, I wander around risky neighborhoods, but even I wouldn’t eat here after midnight.

Anyway, this was a great review, as always … actually probably one of my favorites with the lovely descriptions of the food.

Link: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/...

[Andrew]

La Bamba, On San Pablo right under 80. Great, cheap Mexican/El Salvadorian food.

[Dr. Biggles]

Hey Andrew,

I haven't been in about 8 months. I went 3 times and it took 40 minutes to get my food. The 3rd time was 2 carne asada tacos and that was 35 minutes. It was fantastic though, almost worth the wait. I'll try again soon the food is really good.

Biggles

[Andrew]

Yea, it can be slow. I guess that makes it tough for a quick lunch during the work week. But yep, it is good!

[rworange]

What else do you like there? I have been eying the place for months now. It gets very busy at times.

[Andrew]

The tacos are all good. Burritos. The steak and al pastor are my favorites. Their El salvadoran sampler is good too. The plantains are excellent.

[Melanie Wong]

Here's a link to an old thread on La Bamba.

Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[Morton the Mousse]

Here's a thread on eating in the El Sobrante area, pretty close to Richmond.

Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[Andrew]

Tandoori Chicken USA is excellent!

[rworange]

Even Closer is Point Richmond. Follow Cutting to the very end (going to the San Rafael Bridge) and you will find yourself in Point Richmond. Lots of lunch options mentioned in the thread below.

If you need your Berkeley food fix, Hidden City Cafe is it. The BEST restaurant once you leave the Albany boarder. A former Chez Panisse chef owns it and the quality is stellar.

I have a lot more options, but this will get you started.

Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[Barbara]

Sawaddee Thai is right on San Pablo - I'm pretty sure they're open for lunch.

[Dr. Biggles]

YES !!! Although they do have new hours now, open at 11:30. They've got Lunch Specials and they've always been tasty & stable.

[rworange]

Here's a few more ...

The link below is to a post about Hacienda grill which has to be one of the nicer looking Mexcian restaurants in the area.

I didn't go there, just drove by looking for Sadie's Soulfood Kitchen
1105 Macdonald Ave,
Richmond, CA 94801
510-233-1117

This wasn't meant to be a tease, but didn't eat there either because the one thing that I wanted, salmon croquettes, they don't serve on Sunday.

It does appear from the take out menu that they might deliver. It was pretty empty today, so I don't know how to read that.

They have in addition to the salmon croquettes:
Fried or smothered chicken
Fried or smothered pork chops
Smothered steak
Grilled Steak with shrimp and mushrooms
Catfish
Sauteed shrimp
Chitterlings

Vegetables (1 choice lunch, 2 choices dinner)
Okra, corn and tomatoes
Collard greens/cabbage
Red Beans/black-eyed peas
Macaroni & Cheese
Yams

Desserts include peach cobbler, banana pudding and cakes. I'm going to take a guess here, but I'll bet they are from Cassandra's.

They serve breakfast and inaddtion to the usual, they have grits, biscuits, waffles and hot cakes. You don't hear the term hot cakes much.

There is a chicken and waffle breakfast also.

The decor is shabby coffee shop. It is near Kaiser across the street from a shopping plaza.

The other place I stumbled across that might have promise was Snapper's Seafood.

http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco/messages/144965.html

Hope some of the 1000 of you moving to this area report back on good finds and places to avoid. IMO, Point Richmond is your best bet.

hmmmm ... Department of Health Services workers. You folks don't have anything to do with restaurent inspections ... hate to lose what little we have.

Joking ... just joking. These are all lovely restuarnts and shops.

Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[hongry dawg]

One of my favorites is Kwangtung on San Pablo and Mac Donald. Good Cantonese food, in a homey setting. I often drive from the City for dinner over there. I grew up eating cantonese food, and this place never fails to deliver.
One caveat, not everything is going to be great. Check the little marker board on the wall near the kitchen for the specials. I can't speak for their sweet and sour pork, but their steamed ground pork patty with salted duck egg is pretty tasty, as are the salt and pepper spare ribs.

[rworange]

Thanks for the info on Kwangtung. It usually has lots of customers and I wondered about it.

To the OP, a few more notes.

L & H Hawaiian BBQ is opeing in the San Pablo Dam Road plaza that has Albertson's, Empire Buffet and Old Saigan. IMO, this is a little far for you, however, if you crave Hawaiian ... The L & H in the Appian Way Plaza has had some favorable posts. It is not open yet, though.

There's a decent Popeye's in that plaza as well.

Recently did a taco crawl of the area. While this isn't an exhaustive list of tacquerias, it's a start. The best one nearest you is La Estrilla on 23rd and MacDonald.

Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[rworange]

Richmond - El Molcajete is now open

A friend and I have been waiting for El Molcajete to open. The place has the look of a Chevy’s and we have been anticipating margaritas in this margarita-deprived area.

Nope. Not a chain, but think more in the line of Chipolte … but not as good.

They don’t even have molcajetes yet, just the standard Mexican restaurant food.

The best item is the house-made corn tortillas which were unlike any I’ve had. They are delicate with char spots. Excellent. That’s kind of where it ends.

Place an order at the counter and wait for your number to be called. Since we were there we decided to try a taco ($2.50 – the highest price in this area). They came with probably bagged chips kept warm under a heat lamp. We each had one and decided the calories were not worth it. There is a salsa bar with four fair salsas and lime quarters.

The selection of meats includes carne asada, pollo asada, carnitas, chorizo, al pastor and lenguna. My friend said the grilled chicken was fresh tasting but a little dry. My carnitas were not dry, but not as juicy or crispy as they should be. It was topped with a generous portion of chopped onion and cilantro. It needed to be topped with the salsa for flavor.

Horchatas are from a mix. Beer will be available in three months when the liquor license comes through, but no margaritas.

The owner wasn’t sure when the molcajetes would be available. The problem was that these stone dishes are hot and they are trying to figure out how to get these to the table without the customer burning themselves since there is only counter service and not table service. The wife wants to skip the stone molcajetes and just serve the food on a dish.

Sandard stuff including quesadillas, tostadas, tostada salad, tortas (on small French rolls), nachos and burritos. Plates in the $7.50 - $8.50 range include carne asada, carnitas, chicken chile rellenos and enchiladas. Plates come with rice, beans salad, guacamole, pico de gallo and four of those great corn tortillas. Flour tortillas are available, but don’t miss the corn.

There are also steak, chicken and shrimp fajitas. The first two are $9.75, the shrimp is $11.75. Prawns are served fried, with garlic or a la Diablo. There is shrimp soup, shrimp cocktail and cerviche of fish or shrimp. On the weekend pozole, menuda and birria is available.

Because of the prices and nothing really special being offered, I can’t imagine this place will catch on with the local Latino community. However, it is on the Point Richmond side of Cutting Avenue where a lot of new pricy homes are going up and where a few mediocre restaurants are located. It might be popular with the group who may not want to eat in the grittier, but tastier area on the other side of the freeway. I may check out the molcajetes in a few months, but I’d me more likely to stop by La Estralita up the street where the tacos are $1.25, the meat tastier and the excellent aqua frescas are house made.

Since we were all worked up about margaritas, we decided to make the trek to Fonda in Albany.

El Molcajete
2167 Meeker Avenue (right on Marina Way, in the strip mall with Longs)
Richmond CA 94804
510-965-9812

Hours:
7 days – 11 am – 9 pm

Link: http://chowhound.safeshopper.com/23/c...