Cha Cha Matcha Matcha softserve: I was worried this matcha cafe may be more trendy than good, but NYC-based Cha Cha Matcha’s matcha-flavored softserve (also available in a matcha and vanilla swirl) is very good, with a consistent smooth texture and clean green tea flavor. It has a pleasantly bitter flavor. Well balanced and also reasonably priced (this $5 serving can easily be shared and costs less than many of their $6 special drinks). Given its quality, I would not hesitate to come back to order some of their beverage ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended nyc softserve icecream chachamatcha matcha 4.0
Golden Steamer Pumpkin Bun: Golden Steamer epitomizes what I love about NYC. It’s a hole-in-the-wall, cash-only bao shop right off of Canal St on Mott in Chinatown, with sweet and savory offerings all around $1 each. The sizable buns can easily be a meal on its own, offering an incredible value. This lightly sweetened pumpkin bun has a eggy flavor and starchy, creamy layers of pumpkin paste towards the center. The bread is more dense than their white buns used in their savory baos (reviews forthcoming) but the bread st... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended cheap nyc bakery chinese steamed bao goldensteamer pumpkin bun 4.0
Pinkberry Passion fruit mango frozen yogurt: Pinkberry is one of the very few chains I return to because I’ve never had anything less than good there. At SFO before my one-way flight, I purchased their tropical passion fruit mango flavor, which had an intense passion fruitt flavor and light orange mango color. It worked perfectly well for breakfast - light and tart, with freshly cut fruit and surprisingly good chewy mochi bits. A little pricy, at over $5 with the small and toppings, but definitely the most reasonable option in Termina... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended froyo sf sfo fruit pinkberry passion mango frozen yogurt 4.0
Cheeseboard Focaccia : High quality roasted tomatoes, whole olives, and capers top this slightly chewy yet light focaccia from Cheeseboard. Seasoned just right and with a drizzle of olive oil, it’s a deeply satisfying savory mid-day snack. Definitely going to miss living around the corner from this spot! 4.0/5.0
recommended berkeley bread tomatoes olives capers cheeseboard focaccia 4.0
Tea Hut Jasmine milk tea with boba: It’s kind of outrageous how saturated quality bubble tea shops are in the Bay Area. We’ve all become accustomed with fine-tuning our drinks to our exact specifications - with numerous toppings, sugar levels, and even the amount of ice, down to a percent. With the range of available options, tea shops are resorting to other ways of distinguishing themselves beyond ingredients, turning to the beverage’s vehicle itself: the humble cup. Here at Tea Hut, a small bubble tea shop right next to b. P... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended sf drinks bubbletea boba milktea teahut jasmine milk tea 4.0
Monterey Market Fresh-squeezed blood orange juice: I’ve always been curious about the fresh squeezed juice at Monterey Market in Berkeley and decided to take advantage of potentially my last opportunity to try it. Unsurprisingly, the blood orange juice has a wonderfully refreshing sweet citrus flavor. Most of the pulp has been taken out, but it has just enough to remind you of just how fresh it is. A bit pricy, at $5 for a 32oz container, but you definitely get what you pay for! 4.0/5.0
berkeley bloodorange citrus drinks montereymarket fresh-squeezed blood orange juice 4.0 recommended