Best Japanese Food in Healdsburg

I was visiting with my friend Ana today. We were talking about how our week was going. I ask what she did last night, she tells me she went out with a few friends for Japanese food. I ask her where she went. She says, “We went to that place in Windsor.”

“Hmm.” I’m thinking out loud. “How did you like it?” (Because I’m always thinking about content for this magazine.)

“Honestly? She pauses. “I like Sake ‘O better. I mean. I don’t really like the location of Sake ‘O in that strip mall thing. But I like their food better.”

Now, my interest is peaked, “What do you like?”

“Oooo.” She draws in her breath and her eyes light up. “The martini shimp. Definitely the martini shrimp.” I start searching the drawers in my kitchen for a pen an paper to write things down because I know I’m going to forget.

Now she starts thinking about her experiences at Sake O. “The vegetable tempura.”

I still can’t find a pen.

“Martini shrimp,” I repeat to commit it to my memory. “Martini shrimp. Vegetable tempura.”

“And the dragon roll,” she adds nodding her head. “Yep. The dragon roll” I can see the memory of her last dragon roll in her eyes.

“Ok. Martini shrimp. Vegetable Tempura. And the dragon roll.” I say it again because I can’t find a pen to write it down.

She starts to recite more items from the menu and I have to say, “Only three Ana. How am I supposed to remember any more than three.” But I’m impressed that she can almost recite the menu.

What Do You Like to Eat, Healdsburg?

My friend Sean told me the other day he’d visited each and every of the 53 eateries in town (not on one day–but over the course of the last few years). And I realized that every Healdsburgian probably has something to say about each and every one of these places.

You live here, my friends. Who knows better than you what you like to eat and where.

So, I just thought I would ask. What is your favorite menu item at any of our local restaurants?

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That’s it. What do you think Healdsburg? Where do you eat? What do you like on the menus?

Best Mexican Food in Healdsburg

I met Nista at the music in the plaza series that plays after the Farmer’s Market on Tuesday evenings. I’m just wandering around looking for a good picture and I stumble (almost literally) over Ronald (a friend I know from snowboarding). I laugh and ask if I can crash his blanket.

He introduces me to his colleagues. He’s a winemaker at Jordan Winery and everybody on the blanket was somehow connected to Jordan. I felt a bit out of place. One girl asks where did I work? And I answer that I am an independent. I don’t work at any winery–nor in the wine business in general. She grabs my shoulders with both hands and exclaims: “Wow. I’ve heard about people like you, but I didn’t really believe you existed.”

We both laugh.

Ronald eventually introduces me to Nitsa. She’s bubbly and smiley and I like her immediately. When she asks what I am doing, I tell her about this website and what I’m trying to do here. She thrilled and her reaction gives me some confidence. She starts talking: “If you want to know anything about the restaurants here, talk to me.” She uses her thumbs and points at herself. “I’ve been out and about with my husband for two or three years. WE KNOW what’s what on the menus.”

I ask her to clarify.

“Mexican, for examle,” she says. “Mexican. If you want a good taco, you have to try the Al Pastor taco at El Sombrero. If you want the best enchilada, Taqueria Santa Rosa for sure. The cheese enchilada. And they have THE BEST salsa. THE BEST salsa in town.

She’s animated and continues: “And El Taco Grande (and motions in the direction of the Longs Plaza), you have to try the Wet Willi at El Taco Grande.

I raise an eyebrow and question: “Uh…what is a Wet Willi?” I’m not sure if I actually want to hear the answer.

“Oh.” she laughs. “It’s a burrito. Actually, it’s a chili relleno, fried and rolled into a burrito. And it’s big enough for two people. For the entire day! That’s all you need to eat,” she emphasizes. “ALL DAY!”