South Bay Area Recommendations

Ramen: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hokkaido-ramen-santouka-san-jose

Korean BBQ(all you can eat): https://www.yelp.com/biz/gen-korean-bbq-house-milpitas-3. They have multiple locations and dinner is usually packed, but Sunday lunch is pretty empty

BBQ: https://www.yelp.com/biz/smoking-pig-bbq-san-jose. This is the original location. Their brisket and burnt ends are the best! I like to go to the Newhall location because it's easier to find parking and cleaner https://www.yelp.com/biz/smoking-pig-bbq-san-jose-7

Steakhouse: https://www.yelp.com/biz/forbes-mill-steakhouse-los-gatos

Brazilian Steakhouse(all you can eat): https://www.yelp.com/biz/fogo-de-ch%C3%A3o-brazilian-steakhouse-san-jose-3

Japanese Katsu: https://www.yelp.com/biz/demiya-san-jose

Dim Sum: https://www.yelp.com/biz/koi-palace-milpitas

Chinese Hot Pot: https://www.yelp.com/biz/taichi-pot-shabu-shabu-santa-clara-7 or https://www.yelp.com/biz/haidilao-hot-pot-cupertino

Japanese: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yayoi-cupertino

Seafood/Cajun: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-boiling-crab-san-jose-8

American/steak: https://www.yelp.com/biz/willard-hicks-campbell

Brunch: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-table-san-jose

Bar/lounge: https://www.yelp.com/biz/paper-plane-san-jose-2

Fine dining: https://www.yelp.com/biz/prot%C3%A9g%C3%A9-palo-alto-2 or https://www.yelp.com/biz/plumed-horse-saratoga

Korean: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tofu-plus-cupertino

Chinese dumplings: https://www.yelp.com/biz/din-tai-fung-santa-clara-5

[Updated] Oahu - Hawaii

Now that we've visited Honolulu the 2nd time, here are more recommendations to add to the list!

Restaurants:

Sushi Sho

https://www.yelp.com/biz/sushi-sho-waikiki-beach

Pricey, but so so good! Advanced reservation is a must!

Arancino di Mare 

https://www.yelp.com/biz/arancino-di-mare-honolulu

Uni pasta and the risotto are very good!

La Mer Halekulani

https://www.yelp.com/biz/la-mer-honolulu-2

Better to have reservation around sunset time, asked to be seated near the window.

Ramen Bario

https://www.yelp.com/biz/ramen-bario-honolulu-3

Get the tsukemen.

The Pig & The Lady

https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-pig-and-the-lady-honolulu-4

Reservation is recommended, garage parking nearby or street parking. Get the chicken wings and pho!

Yauatcha Waikiki

https://www.yelp.com/biz/yauatcha-waikiki

Unique dim sum experience!

Things to do:

Diamond Head hiking 

https://hawaiistateparks.org/parks/oahu/diamond-head-state-monument/

Cash only parking $5

Parking is tough to find, so either come early or find a different method to go here.

Nuuanu Pali Lookout

Very windy!

Byodo-In Temple

Beautiful temple, not sure if it's truly worth the $5 entrance fee.

Tantalus Lookout

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60982-d4295521-Reviews-Tantalus_Lookout_Puu_Ualakaa_State_Park-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii.html

Much better than the popular Nuuanu Pali Lookout! Better views and less people.

San Diego Recommendations

this page is in progress!

Things to do

Cabrillo National Monument - https://www.yelp.com/biz/cabrillo-national-monument-san-diego

Foods

Sushi Ota - https://www.yelp.com/biz/sushi-ota-san-diego
Whisknladdle - https://www.yelp.com/biz/whisknladle-la-jolla

Wa Dining OKAN - https://www.yelp.com/biz/wa-dining-okan-san-diego-2

San Francisco Recommendations

this page is in progress!

Things to do

Battery Spencer (Viewing Golden Gate)

Union Square

Fisherman Wharf

Pier 39

Ghirardelli Square

Palace of Fine Arts

California Academy of Science

Lombard Street

Foods

Crystal Jade - https://www.yelp.com/biz/crystal-jade-jiang-nan-san-francisco

B Patisserie - https://www.yelp.com/biz/b-patisserie-san-francisco-2

Ju-ni - https://www.yelp.com/biz/j%C5%AB-ni-san-francisco-5

Los Angeles Recommendations

this page is in progress!

Things to do

The Broad

Petersen Museum

Anaheim Packing District

Getty Center

Getty Villa

Griffith Observatory

3rd St. Promenade

Santa Monica Pier

LACMA

Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Grove

Beverly Hills/Rodeo Drive

Foods

Marugame Monzo - https://www.yelp.com/biz/marugame-monzo-los-angeles-2

Animal - https://www.yelp.com/biz/animal-los-angeles

Izakaya Hatchi - https://www.yelp.com/biz/izakaya-hachi-torrance

Kazu Nori - https://www.yelp.com/biz/kazunori-the-original-hand-roll-bar-los-angeles

Providence - https://www.yelp.com/biz/providence-los-angeles-2

Tsujita Annex - https://www.yelp.com/biz/tsujita-la-artisan-noodle-annex-los-angeles-3

Republique - https://www.yelp.com/biz/r%C3%A9publique-los-angeles-2

Kang Ho Dong - https://www.yelp.com/biz/kang-ho-dong-baekjeong-los-angeles-4

Blu Jam Cafe - https://www.yelp.com/biz/blu-jam-caf%C3%A9-los-angeles-2

Pa Ord - https://www.yelp.com/biz/pa-ord-noodle-los-angeles-3

Han Bat Sul Lung Tang - https://www.yelp.com/biz/han-bat-sul-lung-tang-los-angeles

Portos - https://www.yelp.com/biz/portos-bakery-and-cafe-burbank

Go Greek Yogurt - https://www.yelp.com/biz/go-greek-yogurt-beverly-hills

Las Vegas Recommendations

this page is in progress!

Things to do

LinQ

Bellagio garden

Tix4Tonight for shows

Wynn garden

M&M World

Coca Cola Store

Venetian Gondola

Restaurants

Buffet - https://www.yelp.com/biz/bacchanal-buffet-las-vegas-7

Thai - https://www.yelp.com/biz/lotus-of-siam-las-vegas

Burger - https://www.yelp.com/biz/shake-shack-las-vegas-2

Burger - https://www.yelp.com/biz/gordon-ramsay-burger-las-vegas-3

Dessert - https://www.yelp.com/biz/momofuku-las-vegas-las-vegas

Oxtail Soup(11pm-9am only) - https://www.yelp.com/biz/market-street-cafe-las-vegas-3

Seafood - https://www.yelp.com/biz/oyster-bar-las-vegas-2

Vietnamese - https://www.yelp.com/biz/pho-kim-long-las-vegas

French - https://www.yelp.com/biz/mon-ami-gabi-las-vegas-2

French - https://www.yelp.com/biz/bouchon-at-the-venezia-tower-las-vegas-2

Dessert - https://www.yelp.com/biz/carlos-bakery-las-vegas-2

Dessert - https://www.yelp.com/biz/bouchon-bakery-at-the-venetian-casino-las-vegas

Restaurant Hopping - Kusakabe SF

Tasting Menu

Kusakabe just recently made it to 1 star Michelin Star Restaurant in 2015. Coming back from Japan, we were craving good Japanese foods and lucky for us, we were able to secure a reservation to Kusakabe a week after we were back. The Omakase menu is $95/person. Their menu is updated frequently, so check their website to see updated menu. After finishing with your Omakase menu, you will be presented with their a la carte menu, where you can order even more foods! We ordered both the toro and a5 wagyu beef for our last Omakase selections and we also ordered the uni and tamago from the a la carte menu. 

Foods are excellent! Instead of giving you a small plate for soy sauce, the chef already brushed the sushi with soy sauce. Each foods are outstanding and a different experience than any other Japanese restaurant that we've been to. 

Restaurant Information:
Kusakabe
584 Washington St. 
San Francisco, CA 94111 
(415) 757-0155

Plenty of street parking outside the restaurant.