Lotus Cuisine of India

704 4th St.
San Rafael

This is a grand daddy of Indian restaurant in Marin. It took over the former French restaurant site on 4th St in San Rafael. Their food is consitent and dependable. Lunch buffet is $8.25. Maybe the best Indian in Marin.

Taqueria Mi Familia

55 Bellam Blvd. Suite D
San Rafael
457.9520

Are you looking for a burrito place that is bustling with people from south of the border? If so, try this place. Burritos are $3.50 (so cheap!), and huge. Central and South Americans are lined up at lunch time to get their good and huge and cheap burritos. You have a choice of three kinds of salsa, free fried tortilla chips, limes, and of course, jalapenos.

Just try to avoid it between 12:00 and 1:00; the line is too long.

Vietnamese Sandwich Cafe w. No Name

Grand Ave. (Between 3rd and 4th)
San Rafael

I have been looking for a place in Marin that serve Vietnemese sandwiches for a long time. I had some in Little Saigon (formerly known as Tenderloin) and Sunset in the City. I was immediately hooked.

They are sandwiches (banh mi) made of warm meat, cilantro, Vietnamese sauce, and lightly pickled vegetables in a French crusty bread. This no name cafe, unfortunately, uses inferior bread, and crumbs fall constantly as you eat. Bur for $3.25~ $3.75, I am not complaining. They are still expensive compared to $2.50 in the City ;)

Saigon Village

720 B St.
San Rafael

Do you like pho? But you don't want to venture into the City or Oakland? Here is a great Vietnamese restaurant that serves very good pho and their eggrolls are the best, according to a gourmet Vietnamese friend.

Just in case, you are hungry for pho.

Eliza's

2877 California St.
San Francisco
621.4819

Eliza is a modern-looking Chinese restautant. It has an unlikely combination of super modern interior with brushed aluminum/glass top tables and silver chopsticks, and the old stand- by fish plates and Chinese knickknacks here and there.

They serve Mandarin/Hunan (northern) Chinese dishes. I am so used to ubiquitous light-coloured Cantonese food; Eliza's dishes are dark brown with soy sauce. They are tasty, and quick, and cheap!


We shared Steamed Dumplings with Spicy Sauce ($5.25) and ordered two lunch dished; one with sauteed string beans ($5.30), the other with eggplants and prawns ($6.15). I enjoyed everything! Each lunch plate comes with soup and steamed rice.

Great value and good taste!

Pazzo

2 Henry Adams St.
San Francisco

This is a convenient place for a quick lunch inside Showplace building at number two Henry Adams St. It used to be haunted by designers and their clients only, but these days, young high-tech people from near-by Macromedia/Adobe come to have their lunches here, too.

Their portobello mushroom sandwich is the best I tasted. I mean I had had portobello sandwiches in expensive eateries, too. But nothing beats theirs! I highly recommend it.


Last time, I had chichen chowder and half of Bambino sandwich. Chowder was a bit too salty, and Bambino sandwich was a little too bland. It is a new take on a classic Italian sandwich with arugula, tomato, mozzarella, and prosciutto. This one is sans prosciutto, whcih usually provides its saltiness, since mozzarella is very mild and doesn't have too much salt. So it didn't have the neccessary tang.

Still this is a good place to have a quick bite when you are in the area.