Food is a personal, love-filled part of life, with recipes and tradition passed down through generations of family and cultural ties. Sometimes, a mass-produced, chain-style meal won’t satisfy that craving for a little bit of delicious nostalgia. Luckily, we’re surrounded by rich communities that can provide that taste of emotion — all within a 10-minute drive. Although these restaurants are delicious, they are often a bit tricky to find, so here are a few tasty options we encourage you to try.
Jay’s Cafe:
Just a few minutes away from Kenmore lies Jay’s Cafe, a diner-style restaurant with the coziest feeling. Their menu and staff create a wonderfully homey atmosphere. Their Belgian waffles are deliciously crispy on the outside but have a soft and fluffy inside. Their country benedict breakfast contains eggs cooked to your preference, and they are just the right amount of runny, all underneath a delectable gravy. While the latter dish comes with sausage, the former doesn’t. However, we recommend adding it to perfectly balance salty and sweet. Their coffee is also a great addition to a slow, morning breakfast. If you’re not a coffee drinker, their strawberry lemonade is a perfect sugary pick-me-up. Even when the place is busy, their dishes come out fast and warm, and their staff is incredibly sweet. Their price-point is also pretty enticing — entrees range from $14 to $18 — and portion sizes keep you full until dinner. This is an excellent place to go out with friends and family without denting your wallet too much. We recommend Jay’s Cafe to anyone who loves nostalgic breakfast food.
Abuelo’s Market and Taqueria:
Hidden inside a convenience store is a small restaurant most would struggle to find. The fact that this gem is hidden is tragic because it is just that good. Abuelo’s Market and Taqueria is a well-kept secret with super friendly staff and flavorful, delicious food. Their nachos fulfilled a craving we didn’t even know we had. With cheese, beans, chicken, sour cream and pico de gallo, this dish is mouth-wateringly good. With a soft tortilla, melt-in-your-mouth tilapia fish, a spicy-sweet house sauce and crunchy veggies, the texture of the fish tacos will leave you wanting more. Luckily, you order each taco individually, so you get a personalized portion size and can get that one more taco you’ll probably want. Additionally, they have two salsa flavors at every table, a milder verde one and a spicier salsa roja. Both are included with your meal and the only thing Abuelo’s dishes could possibly be missing. Abuelo’s also has agua frescas, a light blended drink popular in Mexico. Think smoothie, but sweeter and more liquidy. When ordering, you’re able to choose between two flavors, Jamaica and Horchata. Jamaica is a combination of sweet and tart, and the Horchata flavor is light and creamy, made with rice and cinnamon to achieve a pudding-like taste. If these drinks aren’t to your taste, other classic sodas and energy drinks are available! All-in-all, Abuelo’s is the perfect stop that anyone will love. Bring your friends and family and share the delicious cuisine.
Gyro Boss:
Kenmore is home to many delicious cuisines: Mexican, Italian, Chinese. However, some cultures’ foods are harder to find, with one of the rarer kinds being Greek. If you look hard enough, you’ll find a small family-owned restaurant hidden in the depths of the bustling Lake Forest Park Shopping Center. The delicious smells from Gyro Boss waft to customers in the surrounding shops, and the food court environment is amazing for a quick bite while shopping. Not only is the service fast, the food is super fresh, and the open kitchen style allows you to watch your food get cooked! Their menu has Greek salads topped with vinaigrette and crumbly feta cheese, french fries loaded with tzatziki sauce and seasonings. Plus, of course, the restaurant’s namesake: gyros. Gyros are a complex dish involving soft pita shell and tender, fragrant meat — usually lamb, beef or both — with a creamy tzatziki topping. We highly recommend this meal because of its enormous size. It’s the perfect size to share or take on alone if you’re feeling brave. The pita is soft, moist and perfect for eating either with your meal or as a last bite when you’re done with the meat. We personally love the beef and lamb combo, but you can’t go wrong with any choice. The tzatziki, a delightfully fresh sauce made with yogurt and cucumber, really ties together the whole meal. If you’re still hungry after your main course, don’t worry, because the restaurant boasts two delicious desserts. For a classic, consider the nut roll; it’s super crispy with hints of lemon, honey and cinnamon. If you’re looking for a delicious old-fashioned Greek sweet, look no further than the baklava — it’s also our personal favorite. The layers of the phyllo dough are perfectly flaky, and the pistachio topping adds a nice crunch. But whatever you choose, we know you’ll love the bustling family air of this delicious little shop.
