Restaurant Review: Kokio Republic (via Grubhub)

Hadn't had a meal delivered in a LONG time, decided on fried chicken. Apparently, nearest KFC does NOT deliver to my area (a few blocks too far?) so I had to pick someone else, and seems Kokio Republic was highly rated. 

Ordered combo 1: 4 pieces Korean Fried Chicken (hot and sweet flavor, mixed bone-in and bone-out), + 3 kimchi balls, which is just under $20. Added a pickled korean radish as side, and a bulgogi beef taco. Add driver fee, Grubhub charge, minus discount, plus tax, plus $3 tip, comes out to be just about $30. 

Delivery was fast, tried the food, felt as if I ordered the wrong thing, due to my changing taste buds. 

Kimchi balls: eh... didn't really taste like kimchi, a bit of grain, probably rice. I just had kimchi yesterday, and this doesn't taste like kimchi. 

Korean Fried Chicken: I did ask for mixed (half bone-in, half-boneless), and I probably should have just asked for all boneless. I did ask for hot and sweet, but it tastes mostly sweet, very little spice. I probably should have specified "fiery" (3 spice level vs 1). The chicken is nice and tender, not dry, but delivery means outside isn't crispy any more. 

Pickled Korean Radish: this is pickled? It just tastes like cubed with a little vinegar. It is crispy, and it does counter the saltiness of the chicken. But I probably should have ordered Persian cucumber instead. 

Bulgogi beef taco: hmmm... street taco (tiny little tortilla) with some better in the middle, tastes pretty good, but $5 for that little thing? A bit overpriced, IMHO. 

I probably should have ordered 6 pieces Korean Fried Chicken, fiery flavor, boneless, and instead of the bulgogi taco, something like kimchi beef risotto or noods, or tteokbokki skeweyer. 

For the price I paid, I just feel I didn't quite get my money's worth. It's not bad, but it's not that good either.     

Kokio Republic, 711 Geary, San Francisco

My Quick Review of The Halal Guys

Yes, I live in San Francisco, and no, I didn't know about the Halal Guys as I didn't have a chance to get to them until I happen to find them recently. This is a review of their O'Farrell location. 

I have a weird work schedule that often requires me to find a meal late at night, and this particular location is near one of my late break areas that are still open. I've tried the beef "Sandwich" and the Chicken platter. Keep in mind that if you go in at late night they often may run out of some items, and one night when I showed up at about 9PM they are closed!?!  

The beef "sandwich" is really wrapped in thick pita "bread" that's soft and fluffy, but being that big, is not ideal wrap material. Still the ingredients are reasonably fresh and pretty tasty, but the trick seems to be all in their signature white sauce, which is where most of the calories seem to be from. They'll throw in a packet or two and if you read the label, that 2 oz packet is 330 calories (!) 

And the chicken platter is basically the same things albeit packed in an aluminum "bowl" with chicken added then sauce dripped all over it, plus a few bits of pita albeit cut into large "chips". If you are cutting down on carbs, this is probably what you should order. That's quite a bit of food. 

You can then add "sides" like extra olives, jalapeno peppers, and so on. 

I haven't tried their falafel yet, and if I go back again I would give them a try. 

They are expensive for fast food, but not outrageously so. Expect to have your wallet dinged for 12-18 depending on the number of options you added and/or if you ordered one of their specialty drinks (packaged a bit like the boba tea places). I personally skip the drink. 

They apparently only work with UberEasts, but not Grubhub. 

All in all, Halal guys deliver a satisfying meal of chicken or beef (or falafel, not reviewed) and they open till late night for your midnight hungers. If you live in the area, definitely give them a try. 

RANT: when health Gestapos strike

Image via Wikipedia

Health Gestapos are everywhere, and in the name of "healthy kids", they set their sights on... taco truck that no student even patronizes.

The story begins with a famous taco truck of San Francisco, the "Tonayense", is parked near a school. The problem with this fact: the truck was there first. Really. The school opened later.

So what's wrong with the taco truck parked near a school? It's actually against city law. Sometime in 2007, San Francisco city council passed a law prohibiting any "mobile food vendors" from selling food within 1500 ft of any school, to complete the "wellness policy" of schools, advocated by a "parents group".

(For comparison, most restraining orders against domestic abuser only require the abuser to stay 500 ft away from the victim)

So why was this policy in place? The advocacy group claims that 1) the mobile food vendors sell unhealthy food 2) it creates two classes of students: those that can afford to dine outside, and those who don't  3) it hurts the school cafeteria by depriving it of income.

The principal of the school in question had NO complaint about the taco truck at all. He eats there almost every day, and he had seen NO STUDENTS AT ALL. Several city papers also staked out the place. No students.

As for the claims... A1) The tacos and burritos and whatnot are no less healthy than any national fast food stores  A2) only seniors in the high school are allowed off campus for lunch, and almost all of them consider the taco truck too expensive  A3) San Francisco school policy for cafeteria is to feed EVERY student that comes through, whether they can pay or not, so cafeteria CANNOT be hurt by students eating elsewhere. It is not in the money earning business any way.

The taco truck was forced to move two blocks, but not before it raised a stink through a series of hearings, and many charges and counter-charges of misrepresentation, lies, and whatnot in public.

Much ado about nothing, I say.