Why I Love the City.

I work in the Heart of the Mission, 2 blocks from Delores Park. On any given day, you'll find several thousand people milling about the 20 block stretch from 10Th to 30th Street. I took a walk around my block...just ONE block...and I'm not kidding,...a walk around the block, staying on the sidewalk, all the way around from Mission, south to 25th, left to Valencia, up and left on 24th, and back to work. Here are the places one can eat:

Up 24th:
* Popeye's: Okay, it's a fast food chain.
* Hidden Paradise Cafe: Chinese coffee shop.
* Vojalonga Trattoria: Upscale southern Italian restaurant.
* Revolution Cafe: Super trendy outdoor bar and coffee house, live music, poetry readings.
* Torta El Primo: Awesome Gordita's place. Just had lunch there today. Their chorizo gordita's are Monty.
* Boogaloo's: Super Hip restaurant, serves only breakfast and lunch. Once saw Benjamin Bratt hanging out there.
* Bahia: Traditional Mexican sit-down restaurant.
* Huen Yuen: Sit down Szechuan divey Chinese joint.
* Esperpento: Upscale Spanish Tapa's Bar...place kicks ass.
* Garcon: Upscale French joint.

Now turn left onto Valencia:
* Luca Ravioli: Traditional Italian deli. At lunch, you'll find a line of construction workers waiting to order the biggest deli sandwiches I've ever seen....and I'm not talking about the bread, it's the pound of meat in every sandwich...Whew!
* Bistro Anex: So-so Bistro
* El Valenciano: Upscale South American Restaurant.
* Last Supper Club: Trendy Dinner spot.
* Senses: Dark, hip, and smoky Japanese joint.
* El Mujahual: El Salvadorian Restaurant..more like a hole in the wall.

Now turn left onto 25th:
* Muddy's: Typical S.F. coffee house.
* Big Mouth Burgers: Burgers for Big Mouth's.
* Casa Banapole: Mexican Bakery.
* Cafe Venice: Mexican Cafe/Deli.
* Cafe Bohemian: Mediterranean Cafe and coffee house.
* China House: Cheap Chinese Buffet joint.
* Mac Donalds: the only other Chain eatery.

Now turn left onto Mission:
* Taqueria Farolito: Hole in the wall serving awesome taco's. Alwayz a line out the door.
* Red Balloon: Nicaraguan Restaurant.
* La Coreneta: Upscale yet traditional taqueria, live music.
* Las Palmas: I have no idea what they serve....I think Columbian?
* Nexxio Deli: Traditional deli with middle eastern flair.
* Smile BBQ: Alwayz smells good when you walk by...a total dive hole in the wall.
* AJ Chinese: Yet another Chinese fast-good joint.
* Kababayan: Food from my homeland.
* Chinese Express: and yet another Chinese fast-food joint.
* Mission's Kitchen: standard American Diner.

And then back to my front door. That's 34 places one can eat inside of one block. And this is not including the 4 corner grocery stores, 3 fresh produce markets, and 2 traditional butcher shops...of coarse that's assuming you can eat raw meat.

Later...