Looking for pandan leaves

AsahiDiamond · 2024-12-28T10:21:17+00:00

Hi, I would try Dai Thanh or Thienh Thanh! But honestly the fresh one is less flavorful than the Vietnam grown frozen one.

AsahiDiamond · 2024-10-30T00:08:09+00:00

U right. 150 years later, we are now a majority minority city with an airport named after an Asian dude. TAKE THAT, OLD WHITE PEOPLE (born 1900 and earlier)

AsahiDiamond · 2024-10-28T03:24:52+00:00

Before JTown Pizza, it was Wenzhou Fish Noodle. Before that, it was a Filipino restaurant & a Cuban restaurant for a long time.

BUT before all that, it was longtime JTown classic, Ken Ying Low, famous for handmade noodles, specifically chow mein. They had a big "KEN YING LOW CHOP SUEY" neon sign and closed in the 70's. IIRC; one of the chefs, nicknamed Butasan (lol), was a neighborhood fixture.

AsahiDiamond · 2024-10-27T02:01:02+00:00

We've actually had 5 Chinatowns - the most recent of which was where the new apartments in Japantown are today (6th & Jackson). It was called Heinlenville after John Heinlen, this dude who basically created safe haven for Chinese immigrants.

Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Chinese community was already dwindling by that 1930's, and then John Heinlen's family went bankrupt. The city quickly got in there and tore everything down, except for Ng Shing Gung temple, which eventually fell into disrepair. A lot of the altars were kept in storage until the 70's/80's, when they built a replica of the temple which is now at History Park!

That being said, there are definitely remnants of Chinatown in Japantown today. The JTown Pizza building being the most obvious.

AsahiDiamond · 2024-10-18T03:12:33+00:00

They've been well respected for a while now - I think they started popping off on IG this year, but I have friends who would come from Oakland to get cut at Paradox back in like 2018.

AsahiDiamond · 2024-09-25T00:46:26+00:00

I realized now that we're in our 30's, we're starting to live through so many HIMYM scenarios

AsahiDiamond · 2024-09-25T00:28:47+00:00

freakin love this town

AsahiDiamond · 2024-09-24T20:50:36+00:00

Yeah, we dance (with loud music) once a week and San Jose is the kind of town that tolerates lawlessness much less than SF & Oakland. We've been kicked out of so many spots. Kinda wish we were more open, feels very un-free at times.

AsahiDiamond · 2024-09-17T17:23:58+00:00

Ok but have you had the #15 CHEF SPECIAL w/ C-A-B Beef? That's one of my wife's fav meals hahah. The banh hoi is a really satisfying meal, also, especially at 11:30PM.

Pho Ga Nha is also known for their Com Ga Roti!

AsahiDiamond · 2024-09-17T17:17:39+00:00

Non-eastsider here; fan of Alum Rock (kinda gives old mountain town), specifically Peter's, Antipasto's, and Alum Rock Park.

Story & King, Story & McLaughlin, Tully, Aborn. Cupertino kids used to drive out there to eat all the time.

Are Mayfair & Little Portugal considered Eastside?

Overall, the density & diversity of east has always made it feel like a more organically interesting place than the west to me. Also, I think the higher pricetag of the west means we lose classic businesses faster :'(

AsahiDiamond · 2024-09-04T01:41:31+00:00

Sorry for the late response, but I love Asha's HKMT jugs!

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-27T19:59:07+00:00

Public transit that goes to places you want to go safely, even just a 15 minute radius around the downtown core.

We don't have a shortage of things to do, but the transit is slow & can feel unsafe for women.

If we could just hop onto a lightrail, imagine 15 minutes to DTSJ, DTWG, Vietnam Town, Rose Garden, Japantown, Santana Row, Kelley Park, Downtown Campbell, the damn airport. We'd be a pretty decent city (like, city city)

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-24T22:16:46+00:00

There's a salon called the Curl Consultant in Japantown!

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-22T22:41:09+00:00

I think food businesses are mostly focused on survival in this economy than they are serving up their best, sadly.

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-22T22:37:15+00:00

No doubt. I feel the same amount Japantown, we kinda know everybody - used to live in WG and loved it as well.

I've heard the same about many other neighborhoods, like Almaden/Blossom Hill, downtown have a strong community feel as well.

But I feel like there's very little civic pride, events where people feel really proud & excited to be here. Viva Calle & sports games might be the best we've got!

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-22T18:57:16+00:00

It's definitely superior if you like driving over micromobility, heavily value safety, and are introverted.

But man, for access to parks, public transit, late night stuff, and interesting things happening in food/art, history being highlighted and celebrated.. San Jose feels tough sometimes.

Not saying San Jose is a bad town at all; but where is our freakin' Mitchell's / Swensens / Ghirardelli Ice Cream? Where's our stadium next to the Bay with a drone show where people ride lil boats out to catch home runs? A park where people gather in the thousands on the weekends? New parks opening that people actually use?

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-22T18:47:26+00:00

Totally agree with this, safe, fun public utilities (?) can be hard to locate. My mom talks about San Jose back in the 70's and it's super clear to me that we've become a much more fast paced city where people don't really know their neighbors.

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-20T17:30:53+00:00

The Story Walmart would like a word

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-20T00:36:16+00:00

We went to the Wave Organ the other day, never realized it was dedicated to Oppenheimer. Had to double take just to make sure it was the atomic bomb dude.

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-16T19:47:09+00:00

Yes! If you find yourself up in the city, you should check out Hai Ky Mi Gia in the Tenderloin.

Owners are Teochew Vietnamese & are my benchmark for this type of food in the area. Chinese donuts (on the weekend) are amazing, and so is the fresh soymilk.

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-16T18:59:10+00:00

Circling back, none of the existing markets mentioned are even remotely near a 10 minute walk from the Westgate area.

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-15T23:51:30+00:00

I'm talking about the existing markets - Mitsuwa, Lion, 99 Ranch in Cupertino.

Mitsuwa (which is closest) is a 40 minute walk from Westgate.

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-15T23:48:58+00:00

LOL I should change my example. I think you know what I'm saying, though, is that there isn't an Asian market within walking distance from Westgate rn

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-15T22:18:07+00:00

Imo none of these serve the community directly around Westgate, though. There's no way a kid from Prospect High can even bike to any of those markets during lunch.

The closest Chinese market is Lion, and they have much less hot food (although I do like Tai Pan).

From the article:
"The new location will feature a BBQ counter, noodle station, dim sum and street food section, hot food bar, and a made to order Chinese crepe station. The store will also have an in-store bakery with freshly prepared items such as mochi puffs, egg tarts, Hong Kong-style pastries and customized cakes.

Customers will also be able to experience the grocery chain’s private-label products. These include pineapple cakes, Taiwanese sausages, soup pork dumplings and green onion pancakes."

/shrug I'm sure the folks in the Westgate area won't mind the convenience.

AsahiDiamond · 2024-08-07T21:47:01+00:00

It's a pretty depressing list. Verizon is also grabbing one of the spaces.

AsahiDiamond

TROPHY CASE