New restaurants are popping up in the 650, with a new brothy ramen spot giving delicious fill possibilities in Colma. Further afield, a paella type dish is the star of the new Kamameshi spot, which Daly City and South San Francisco fans have been waiting for since a closure due to, sigh, construction late last year. Coastal romps are great anytime of year, and the promise of an Aztec mocha and expertly made buttery croissant or Icelandic crepes called pönnukökur are part of the scene at a new spot on in Montara.
Target shopping runs can now be built around an appealing dining option: ramen at the new Momiji, a postage stamp sized space that recently housed Taqueria Polanco. Tonkotsu may be the winning bowl for most in this small space, but you can also broth with the miso, shio, spicy tonkotsu and shoyu versions for variety’s sake.
Avid fans of soy milk ramen have a place at the table here, too. There is also (fried) chicken karaage or tempting donburi rice bowls to round out the menu. Insider’s tip: if you need to add a seat to your table, look to the back of the restaurant for a DIY seat add-on. There can be a wait and the parking lot gets crowded, but the service is great and the hot green tea ($1 with refills) and ramen will easily let you forget the day’s worries. 4931 Junipero Serra Blvd., Colma.
In nearby Daly City, the Japanese food favorite Kamameshi House has opened in a new building after closing last December in its longtime Westborough Square Shopping Center outpost (that's South San Francisco for the geography fans in our midst). Much of the new current restaurant has the same furniture from the old spot, and the register counter even made the journey. For food, the house specialty is paella fusion at its best: steamed rice with seafood, chicken and veggies, and yes, you can have it all seafood or all chicken if that’s what your heart and belly desire. Brothy bowls of udon are also worth exploring as are the soba listings, and sushi fans can also get their fill in comfortable booths at the sushi bar where more of the action can be seen. There is another show-stopping dish called the sizzling platter of beef that is hearty eating fun. 2085 Gellert Blvd., Daly City; (650) 952-0444.
Juice, croissants and a clean appealing space are a part of the adorable Montara Café & Bakery, a new option with a "get in here now" red exterior for coast dwellers that is kitty corner from the post office. It’s a chance to try Icelandic pönnukökur, which are intriguingly light crepes that rightfully come with butter, jam and whipped cream—you did ride that bike today, right? Indeed, healthy types just off their bikes are drawn to the fresh juice program here, and the Croque Madame, breakfast burrito, chilaquiles and spicy Aztec mocha seem to please just about everyone who steps into this sunny joint that definitely has beautiful views of sun and fog to go with an international-meets-local menu that works. 1408 Main St., Montara; (650) 728-1188.
Follow @mladdfood
