Fremont has been a sleepy town on small restaurants that specialize on Indian, Afghan and Chinese cuisine. Recently, there are a lot of big chain restaurants like Red Lobster, Burger King, McDonalds, AppleBee's, Chili's, In and Out, Wendy's and growing competition between a gourmet grocery store, and other groceries that feature either organic and natural goods, and other goods you may find like Safeway, Trader Joes, Whole Foods Market, Raleys, Grocery Outlet and $.99 Store.
On Central Fremont, along Mowry Avenue -- you can catch any of these restaurants, grocery stores, and other gourmet stores within 3 to 4 blocks apart.
But I have my favorites when it comes to gourmet and affordable buys:
Trader Joes -- only grocery store that offers new gourmet products and affordable buys like cheese, salads, frozen section that has Italian, Mexican, Spanish, and Indian cuisines. English crumpets, strawberry shortcake biscuits, and organic bananas for $.39, etcetera.
Raley's -- the first grocery that offer the bulk and natural food section. This is a place where I buy whatever I need on my pantry. Sometimes they also feature regional and international products for introductory low prices for a month, and they are later priced in regular prices. They offer high-quality meats whether it is pork, chicken, seafood, salmon, crabs, and beef. Often buy here produce, and meats here.
Whole Foods Market -- this branch is like your standard WFM; however, it has a Tap Alley (you can sample 4 beer or ales for $7). They just had a grand opening on September 25, 2013. So I went on the afternoon to check this place out. Wow, I am kind of impressed. They have everything in here. Of course, when you enter the store, you will see fresh and organic vegetables, fruits, herbs and plants grown mostly from local farms and other places. However, prices can be steep here. But you will find some deals here on a weekly basis. On the right hand side of the entrance is where the carts are stored either the big red ones, and the green little ones. On the left side of the entrance is a coffee, juice and smoothie bar. Then they have a bulk station which is huge, I think I saw over 5 types of oats, 10 different types of organic rice, lentils, 10 different varieties of beans, 6 flours, and other choices. They have a bean counter about 10 varieties, and other trail mixes as well. You can also mix and match your own trail mix for $5.99/lb. At the first aisle is where kitchen utensils are found, and beside it are 10 varieties of coffee beans of different flavors and roast. Across is where the dairy, eggs, kimchi and other party dips. tofu, and vegetarian turkey, and meatless products and refrigerated condiments are stored. They feature a whole variety of organic and natural products on 5 aisles from shampoo to wine, beer and ale.
The bestsellers here are the:
Seafood department or the Fishmonger -- organic and natural seafood like Atlantic Salmon for $4.99, and everything is here. This place is the bomb.
Hot Prepared Foods (Hofbrau Style): A huge buffet style of hot prepared foods that is over 10 varieties. They rotate different choices every day, and at different times. The first day I saw a lot of Indian cuisine. Then the next morning, it was all breakfast continental style cuisine like breakfast links, roasted potatoes, scrambled eggs, canadian bacon, etcetera. This cost $8.49/lb.
A salad bar -- this is also huge, and never seen anything like it. This cost $8.49/lb.
They have few small kiosks that sell different types of foods that are interconnected like:
Baked Goods (a.k.a The Bakery) -- At this time, they sell 2 macarons for $4. These are big macarons that feature red velvet, mango, chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, coffee flavors. I had one and they are good. I am surprised these are big. The shells are nicely textured, but a little sweet but the buttercream they put between the macarons are flavorful. I tasted the mango- great for a sweet snack. These tiny ones are worth it. They also have 2 cake slices for $7 -- tres leches, carrot cake, strawberry shortcake with blueberries, special eruption cake. The cakes are not too sweet. They also have the gluten-free apple and pear tarts for $6. Great for a cup of tea, or maybe for parties as well. They also have petite desserts like Chocolate mousse cake, fruit tarts, strawberry cheesecake for $4. Some enclairs and cream puffs. They also have cakes, tarts and pies too.
They also bake their own breads that are in-house -- average of $4.99 to $6.99 -- I tried their four cheese loaf and it was good. Dutch crust bread and french baguettes.
On small and tall bins are the cookies and they cost $9.99/ lb. They were many to choose from - like mini chocolate chip, mini oatmeal raisin, mini toffee, mini mint chocolate cookies. They are other internationally inspired holiday cookies like Strawberry Hamanstachen, Raspberry hamanstachen, chocolate and vanilla checkerboard cookies, Orange ice box cookies, madeleines, chocolate rugelach, raspberry rugelach, mexican wedding cookies, sugar cookies.
There is another that feature pastries from danishes to bread rolls:
2 pastries for $5
$1 for 1 cut french bread or roll
Baker's dozen of donuts = 12 + 1 donuts for $9.99.
There is a sandwich shop where you can create your own for $7, or try their own creations named after districts around Fremont like The Mission Peak (Mayor Bill Harrison's recommended pick), The Mowry, Lake Elizabeth, The Niles to name a few.
They have frankies -- maybe these are hot dog sandwiches.
and sammies-- thin flatbread sandwiches.
A mexican and burrito spot
On the Wok -- is a Chinese inspired food spot for anything you want on a wok.
Gengi Spot - a small sushi and Japanese appetizers spot
They also have a pizzeria - 2 slices of pizza for $5. If you buy 1 its $2.99.
And a dosa spot made with different fillings.
They also have a cheese bar that features a small variety of cheese coming from local fromage and farms in Northern California and other states, France, Spain, Ireland, Italy, and the UK. These are mostly semi-hard, triple cream, and soft cheeses made with cows, goat.
They also make savory waffles, and grilled cheese sandwiches too.
Sprout Market -- smaller version of Organic and Natural foods that features really low deals on produce, meats, game and fish, and also a whole variety of frozen foods, health and wellness, and also a huge bulk section that features a lot of nuts, flours, rice, lentils, beans, and different types of trail mixes depending what is in it. Finally, these grocery stores are starting to compete each other based on quality, price, sales (weekly deals) and variety of products to get customers to come back to their stores.
In my opinion, I am more adventurous when it comes to food and have sampled a lot during my travels, and shopping. I do have my favorites, and Fremont is becoming one of the destinations for foodies like me. Although we have a lot of small restaurants that offer their own specialties like Shalimar in Walnut Avenue, De Afghan Kabob in Fremont (the small spot has the best Kabobs), Gaters Grille - best Mediterranean food and flavorful meats with their own spices. La Sen and Vu Thau 3, the best Vietnamese restaurants. Los Cabos -- has the best meats cooked from scratch, pickled cabbage and jalapeno coleslaw, and food are excellent. Tacos Las Perlas - best Mexican food truck that offer humongous burritos. Maiwand is an Afghan grocery store and bakes their own Afghan bread for $2.
Asian Pearl Restaurant at Boscell Drive -- unique Chinese and Hong Kong style gourmet cuisine. I love their dimsum and dinner menu here.
Miki Bistro for their sashimi and sushi selections.
And in Union City -- who can forget an Asian Plaza that has a lot of Chinese restaurants like Tapioca Express -- this is one of my favorites spots to get the Yogurt frost, appetizers and boba ice milk drinks.
New China - a tofu place that I always buy tofu and chinese food is so good here. Never skimpy on ingredients and use good quality ingredients.
This is probably a start who wish to try good restaurants, and shop in the Tri-city area. Fremont is so diverse with so many Indian, Afghan, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, and Mexican restaurants, yet new restaurants and grocery stores will pop up soon to be a diverse food mecca throughout the Tri-City area.
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