Rating: All-Star

Stubbs is just a short walk from the hotel, and it definitely feels more upscale than Cooper’s. Instead of laying everything out on butcher paper, it’s menu ordering here — but still with that Texas BBQ soul.

Rating: Role Player

After landing in Austin, I was craving BBQ — and Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in downtown fit the bill without having to trek outside the city.

Rating: All-Star

Airports usually tempt you with high-fat, high-carb, high-sugar, salty meals that can derail your health before you even take off. But at Napa Farms in SFO’s Terminal 2, I found proof that travel doesn’t have to mean compromising your body’s fine tuning.

Rating: All-Star

We stopped into North Beach Cantina recently, and it quickly became one of those meals you want to tell your friends about.

Rating: Role Player

We turned a family milestone into a sweet celebration—our daughter finally got her braces off. The reward? A trip to Uji Time, the kind of spot where dessert feels like a victory parade.

Rating: Role Player

On our trip to Berkeley to watch the Cal Women’s volleyball team, we stopped at Mixt for lunch. The salads hit the spot — healthy and fresh, just what my wife and I needed.

Rating: Role Player

We stopped into Sheng Kee for an afternoon treat and ran into an odd house rule right away

Rating: Liability

When El Porteño in the Ferry Building ran out of chicken empanadas (WTF?), we went searching for a backup because our kids love empanadas. We landed at The Epicurean Trader a few stores down, hoping for a save.

Rating: Role Player

Before the ice cream run later that afternoon, we made a quick pit stop at Gott’s for the kids to refuel after swimming on one of those rare hot San Francisco days. Nothing fancy, just a kids’ chicken tenders meal — two pieces, crispy on the outside, tender inside, and enough to keep the hunger at bay before dinner.

Rating: Role Player

Catching a hot day in San Francisco feels like spotting a unicorn — rare, fleeting, and best enjoyed with something cold in hand. We ducked into Gott’s at the Ferry Building for a quick ice cream treat for the kids, and it hit the spot.

Rating: All-Star

Food was good! Our kid scarfed down the chicken pad see ew — and trust me, his first response is usually, “I don’t want that.” But this time, he dove right in and ate without hesitation.

Rating: Role Player

If you want the taste of old-school Hawaiʻi, Keneke’s Grill in Punaluʻu is the real deal. This is not a polished, touristy spot—it’s a down-home, country-style eatery where the food speaks for itself and the atmosphere brings you back to simpler times.

Rating: All-Star

We stopped at KOA Pancake House near the Honolulu airport (HNL) for a family breakfast, and it hit the spot perfectly. This place is old-school local, with friendly service, hearty plates, and the kind of comfort food that feels like home.

Rating: Role Player

We sampled a handful of spots here on our visit, and overall it gave us a good variety of Asian flavors under one roof.

Rating: Role Player

Tried Raising Cane’s at Ala Moana recently, and while the food itself was decent, the overall digital and pickup experience has a long way to go.

Rating: All-Star

After dinner, with no agenda beyond “let’s go for a walk,” we found ourselves drifting toward Lush Gelato, just off Washington Square Park. The kind of place you don’t plan around, but somehow always remember.