Viral fish sandwiches and souffle pancakes
What’s the longest you’ve ever waited for food, and was it worth it?
A Chinese restaurant in the East Bay recently went mega viral over its $3.50 fried fish sandwiches, resulting in hours-long lines. If you don’t want to spend a massive chunk of your day getting ahold of this fish sandwich, contributing writer Edwina Dueñas has compiled a list of tasty fish sandwiches along the Peninsula. From grilled cod in Woodside to beer-battered salmon in Belmont, read her roundup for 10 fish sandwich options.
Speaking of viral foods, you may recall Japanese souffle pancakes being all the rage in 2016. I remember the first time I tried these thick, jiggly pancakes was in 2021 at the now-closed Uni Souffle in Millbrae. But in recent years, it seems that the souffle pancake hype has died down. A restaurant coming to Mountain View is trying to change that.
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
10 spots for fish sandwiches on the Peninsula
Fish sandwiches have been making waves in the Bay Area. At the start of the year, San Leandro-based Chinese Bakery & Deli went viral for its $3.50 fish filet bun. With a crispy fried white fish filet and Kewpie mayo served on a freshly baked bun, the sandwich alone has been drawing hours-long lines in an otherwise quiet strip mall.
A new Peninsula addition to the Michelin Guide, Japanese souffle pancakes star at a new cafe and a Campbell foodie event
- This Menlo Park restaurant that opened less than a year ago was just added to the Michelin Guide.
- Gram Cafe & Pancakes, a Japanese chain specializing in jiggly souffle pancakes, is opening in Mountain View.
- Palo Alto’s California Avenue will soon allow customers to purchase alcohol to go from local bars, wineries and restaurants and drink it outdoors.
- Wow Tea Drink, a Cupertino-based boba shop, recently expanded to Palo Alto.
- Stanford Health Care recently launched a series of plant-forward recipe videos. Assistant lifestyle editor Karla Kane recently interviewed the dietitian behind the series.
- Tandoori Pizza, an Indian pizza chain, recently expanded to Foster City.
- Redwood City’s Donato Enoteca has launched a GoFundMe for its pastry chef of 15 years who is battling cancer. Ten percent of all April 16 dinner proceeds will go to the GoFundMe.
- La Pizza Spot recently opened in the former Tostada space in Campbell.
- The eighth annual Taste of Campbell is Saturday from 3-6 p.m. at Campbell Community Center. The ticketed event includes wine samples, bites, live music and a silent auction.
- Menlo Park’s Springline is hosting a Hop into Spring event Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with live music, a petting zoo, face painting, carnival games and marketplace vendors.
Mushroom sandwich at Dad’s Luncheonette
With such nice weather recently, I decided to make my way to the Coastside and stop for lunch at Dad’s Luncheonette. Located along Highway 1, Dad’s Luncheonette is within a historic train caboose painted red with blue waves. The menu – developed by three Michelin star chef de cuisine Scott Clark – is streamlined and no frills: a hamburger sandwich, mushroom sandwich, homemade potato chips, macaroni and cheese, salad and soup ($5.50-$15.50).
Food is served in brown paper bags and tables are outdoor and communal, which took me back to the days of school lunch.
While the hamburger definitely tempted me, I opted for the mushroom sandwich. I’ve found that mushroom sandwiches can be hit-or-miss, as mushrooms have a lot of water content that can make sandwiches soggy. I also find that mushroom sandwiches often use battered and fried mushrooms, which feels a bit too carb-heavy and oily for my liking.
But the mushroom sandwich at Dad’s Luncheonette hit it out of the park. The hen of the woods mushroom was meaty and flavorful, the egg was rich and runny (and definitely messy), the cheese was gooey and the pickled red onions cut through the richness and added a nice textural contrast. It truly was a textbook sandwich, and I inhaled it in probably one minute.
Dad’s Lunchonette, 225 Cabrillo Highway South, Half Moon Bay; 650-560-9832, Instagram: @dadslunchonette. Open Thursday to Sunday from 11:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Menlo Park Mayor Betsy Nash won’t seek reelection after eight years on City CouncilMarch 24, 2026 10:41 am