Restaurant Reviews: A Bronco's Guide

Eat Your Heart Out: Bronco’s Restaurant Guide

I’ve always been a foodie and so when I first got to Santa Clara I made it my mission to find the best restaurants in the area. Luckily, one of the first friends I made here has is equally as obsessed with me so we made a restaurant bucket list and have been working through it ever since. While we still have some ways to go, these have been my favorites so far.

Falafel’s Drive-In (San Jose)

This was one of the first places I went to and it is totally worth the hype. The vibe is perfectly old school and while it seems unassuming at first, the second you have a bite of their falafel sandwich, you’ll discover it's anything but. The falafels are perfectly seasoned and the tahini, housemade hot sauce, tomato, and crispy lettuce are the perfect pairings. You definitely can’t leave without getting a banana milkshake and they even do their fries perfectly, too.

True Food Kitchen (Palo Alto)

True Food was recommended to me by a good friend when I visited SCU my senior year of highschool and it has become one of my most favorite restaurants (ever). While it is certainly a health-forward restaurant, all of their dishes are extremely flavorful and interesting and I promise you won’t leave unsatisfied or hungry. If you make it here the Edamame Dumplings are a MUST- they are genuinely life-changing. Other favorites include: the Hangover Rx mocktail, Cauliflower Polenta, and the Teriyaki Quinoa bowl.

Luna Mexican Kitchen (San Jose)

Luna is right down the Alameda (about a 7 minute drive from school) and has some of the best modern Mexican cuisine I’ve ever tried. They’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and their menu has equally good vegan options as they do classic meat-forward ones. Chips and guac are an 11/10, but if you want the full experience order a Parillada. It’s a little coal fired grill that comes with your choice of protein (or vegetables) already roasting on the parrillada, and various accoutrements like tortillas, black beans, salsa, rice, etc. Basically it gives you an excuse to play with your food and build a perfect plate. The best part is there are plenty of servings so you can go back once, twice, or until the food runs out.

Oren’s Hummus (Palo Alto)

Mediterranean food is my favorite cuisine, so when I met up with an old friend that goes to Stanford, we decided I had to cross Oren’s off my bucket list. The restaurant itself is usually pretty packed, and for good reason. The pita’s are served warm and baked fresh daily and it feels like you're eating a cloud. It goes without saying that the hummus is crazy good, especially scooped up with a pita and topped with a roasted veggie skewer or dunked in their brunch special: Shakshuka. I’ve already ordered it twice since.

Bills Cafe (Santa Clara)

I’m obviously not the first to recommend Bill’s Cafe, but if you want some good old-fashioned American food, you’ll leave feeling happier (and fuller) than you arrived. It’s nearly impossible to decide what you want to order off the five-page menu, but the best part is you really can’t go wrong. The banana pancakes ARE worth it, and if you love eggs benedict, you should really order them. The icing on the cake? Fresh squeezed orange juice that they make in house, by-order.

Jasmine Thai (Santa Clara)

This is one of the few restaurants I don’t have pictures from because it's too quaint to do so. It's perfect for a casual girls night or when you want some really cozy comfort food for take-out. It’s certainly a mom-and-pop joint and that's probably why it's so good. I didn’t find it on my own, in fact, about every person I’ve talked to at Santa Clara has recommended it to me and I can understand why. Their Pad-Thai and Fried Rice are perfectly indulgent, but I can’t go without ordering their Yellow Curry (tofu and extra broccoli) with a side of brown rice. They give you enough for two servings and it is hands down my favorite cozy-meal. It’s just under 10 minutes walking-distance from campus and I feel as though I’m becoming a regular!

Palo Alto Creamery  (Palo Alto)

The Creamery will fulfill all of your childhood dreams of eating your weight in ice cream and dessert at an old-fashioned Soda Fountain. Everything, including the ice cream, is made from scratch and is available until they run out. Our waitress gave us a free (and warm) cinnamon bun and their last coffee cake muffin, and I don’t think I have to explain how amazing they were. What you cannot leave without trying is their Banana Cream Pie. I’m biased because it's my favorite, but it is hands down one of the best I’ve ever tried.

Laili (Downtown Santa Cruz)

Walking by Laili, you would probably never think to stop in; it’s down an alleyway off the main street of downtown Santa Cruz: the classic hole in the wall. It mixes Morrocan and Mediterannian cuisine with fresh ingredients and the whole experience is enhanced by their dreamy outdoor seating area. We got the Bolani (complimentary flatbread), Beet Salad, Chicken Skewers, Roasted Cauliflower, and finished every single thing. I’m sure the same would go for anything else on their menu (but you should really get the Roasted Cauliflower). On your way back down mainstreet, I highly recommend you stop by Pacific Cookie Company too.

Manresa Bakery Cafe (Campbell)

Manresa started off as a small bakery that made artisanal breads and pastries until they launched their cafe which is just under 15 minutes away from campus in Campbell. It’s bright, lively, and highly Instagrammable. You order at the register and they bring your food to the number at your table. Although it's a casual setting, the food is far from it. The macro-grain bowl is filled with the most flavorful roasted squash and wild rice, topped with a perfectly gooey fried egg and weirdly crushed popcorn? I finished all of it. It’s a little on the pricier side, but if you do find yourself there, at least go for the toasted house Levain with salted butter.

Tender Greens (Palo Alto)

I think chain restaurants get a bad-rap, but I am so grateful there isn’t just one Tender Greens. Their menu consists of simple, healthy, and satisfying food that reminds you of a home cooked meal. You can customize your own plate from an array of proteins, sides, and greens (grilled salmon, seasonal vegetables, and butter lettuce is my go-to) or you can order straight from their premade salads, sandwiches, and plates. In more exciting news, you don’t have to go to Palo Alto for much longer since they are finally opening in Santa Clara Square, which means you have no choice but to try it!