My family has four birthdays throughout the month of August: my dad, my sister, my aunt, and me at the tail end! So what better way to end the month than to rate the various meals we’ve eaten?
Dad, LUNA Mexican Kitchen
Starting off with a banger, we went to LUNA’s for my dad’s birthday. I ordered the Salmon Avocado Salad, which was very refreshing! I stabbed apart the salmon and mixed it with the lemon dressing; the mix of tangy citrus and simple fish was a perfect balance. My dad’s favorite flavor is probably chocolate, so we got a chocolate cake from Icing on the Cake in Los Gatos. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the biggest fan of this—the cake was somehow wet and dry at the same time, leaving my mouth at a loss.
Sister, Din Tai Fung
It’s hard to go wrong with Din Tai Fung. With the wide variety of spicy wontons and warming xiaolongbao, there’s something for everyone. Props to my mom for getting a reservation like two months in advance, she’s a pro at planning ahead! My favorite was definitely the long soup dumplings (not the famous xiaolongbao). Now for the cake, my sister got the birthday flavor from Susie Cakes. The texture of the cake is a solid 10/10, but the frosting is a little too sweet for me, so I excavate the cake out between layers of frosting…
Aunt, Horsefeather
This was my first time going to Horsefeather, so I was super excited to try it out. We did family style, so I got to try a little bit of everything. My favorite dish we ordered was the stone fruit salad, which pairs romaine with cherries, peaches, grapes, plums, and cranberries. I’m a total sucker for sweet and savory, so this was right up my alley. They also have Japanese curry ketchup that comes with their fries, I would recommend ordering it if you’re ever there!
Kathryn (me), San Tung
If you need a Chinese food recommendation, this is your place. They have the best fried chicken and green beans, and their dumplings are a close runner-up, too. The chicken is pretty spicy, so definitely avoid it if you don’t have a high tolerance. The only downside to eating at San Tung is the wait, but it really proves how good the food is!