As we near the end of the semester, I genuinely cannot wait to go back to my home in the Bay Area and experience all the different cuisines I love dearly. My favorite question my parents ask as they pick me up from the airport is “okay Mija, what food do you want to eat?” It’s truly a foodie’s dream come true. They ask me this because they know that after months in rural Ohio, I NEED a flavor burst on my taste buds.
In honor of the approach of this beautiful day, here are some of my favorite places to eat in the Bay:
1. Fentons
Okay, now I know this is a basic answer, but listen: their ice cream hits so hard. Specifically, I love to get a mocha almond fudge milkshake in a glass cup. It’s creamy and very well-blended, leaving me with a brain freeze that is entirely worth the pain.
2. El Pollo Loco
I was raised on this food. Coming from a low-income household of two extremely busy and tired parents, Pollo Loco was a lifesaver for my family. It was cheap, fast, and healthier than most drive-through food, a perfect combination for my family. As our family has gotten older, we go there less, but when we go, I almost always get a chicken avocado quesadilla. It fills me up while reminding me of my childhood. It’s a craving I’ll always have (even writing this now is making me hungry…)
3. In N Out
Again, I know this is basic, but hear me out: you will never eat a better cheeseburger in your life after having this one. It is a California classic, and you simply can’t visit without trying it.