As graduate students, we need outlets and interests that allow for some external interaction. Dining out and learning about your local food culture is one way to merge outside of our individual lanes and connect with a greater community. While tempted to turn to Yelp or Doordash to learn about local eateries, we should try and reach out to fellow students or faculty/staff at our university for real-life and personal recommendations.
As a graduate student myself, I have spent a significant amount of time cooking independently. And at this point, in my twenties, many expect me to carry out this task without complaint or personal struggle. Although I continue to step up to the plate (no pun intended) to face this reality of independence, I still hold a deep fascination with food others prepare.
Ever since I was about five years old, I have experienced a powerful interest in what other people eat. Whether a classmate’s lunch, a dinner prepared by a neighbor, or a meal out, the possibility of tasting a dish made outside my own family’s kitchen spiked my curiosity. This love did not disappear as I grew older, in fact it only matured. Anthony Bourdain, food media on YouTube, and Yelp became my sources. But nothing encouraged my inclination to explore my surrounding’s cuisine like Yelp.
Yelp became an escape. Rather than endure the silence that accompanies solitude, I would whip out my phone and observe as many local restaurants and eateries as possible. I could see both food and beverage establishments, perusing every type of cuisine without any inkling to focus on one. Being from California’s Bay Area helped. The region harbors every type of food imaginable.
Although I still love a diversity of restaurants, Yelp became far too influential over my decisions and disconnected me from the spontaneity of trying new foods organically. Everything I tasted as a kid came through a synthesis of family, neighbors, classmates, and restaurants. Food for me was a combination of personalities that emanated from my environment, not from my cell phone. So, when I moved from the East Bay to attend Fresno State, I decided to learn about the local food scene through word of mouth rather than Yelp.
The first recommendation came from my cousin who suggested I try Heirloom in North Fresno’s Park Crossing shopping center. While highly reviewed on the app I am now trying to avoid, eating there felt much more personal than had I found it using the internet. The food was simply delicious. I tried the Shrimp Teppanyaki on top of a neat bed of bacon-fried rice. The shrimp was crispy and tangy, and the rice was comforting and satisfying. From observing dozens of signs around town, I have learned that teppanyaki is a big thing in Fresno and this American establishment did a fantastic job presenting their take.
My next dining experience was with a classmate at Taqueria Pancho, a spot he recommended. It’s situated in a somewhat bucolic orchard on the corner of W. Shields and N. Cornelia in Fresno. The food was incredible. I had pastor and pollo tacos with all the toppings that I’d gathered from their small but abundant salsa, onion, and cilantro bar. While small, the tortillas were piled high with protein, chopped up into savory smithereens!
The same classmate, along with others, and my cousin, also recommended Pad Thai on Shaw Avenue. Everyone in the area seems to know about this restaurant. The portions were copious. Thai food in the Bay Area is a little different. The restaurants seem to emphasize spice, heat, and street food, with less attention given to portion size, sweetness, and customer service like at this restaurant.
I sampled from a plate of Pad See Ew with beef, a dish of Chili Jam Chicken, and a platter of vegetables in a tasty broth. The wide, flat rice noodles had that signature chew, the sweet flavor of the chicken was addicting, and the vegetables were ample. I emphasize the word platter in my description of the vegetables, for it was a large display of quality steamed veggies fit for a family’s holiday gathering!
A final dining out experience came from a slightly more impersonal recommendation, but one that still connected me to family. A close relative sent me an article about a local filmmaker named Enrique Meza. Meza described how the Central Valley impacted him as a person and as an artist. In the article, he recommended the asada tacos from Taqueria El Premio Mayor. This stood out to me because I had just driven by a small strip mall on Maroa Street and believed I saw that specific name on the signage in the parking lot. I decided that this was a new opportunity to try some more Fresno food from a local’s suggestion.
I went there one afternoon and made the mistake of only ordering one asada taco. The taco was too small for dinner, so I refrigerated it, along with the rice and beans I ordered, to have another time. I finally had it two days later and reheated it in the microwave, which typically depletes the flavors of their original integrity. Despite being microwaved, the asada was delicious! The texture still had the bite one desires in steak, without the chew associated with poorer quality meat.
Moving to another city for our education, and dining out alone, can be isolating and lonely experiences. Applications such as Yelp, DoorDash, and PostMates can further fuel feelings of separateness while eating alone. As graduate students, we often get caught in our own individual experiences, whether embedded in our studies or in the kitchen. However, we may feel more connected and familiar with both food and our surroundings if we reach out to people we meet and ask for restaurant recommendations. Eating can become a social activity when shared with others through personal suggestion and/or face-to-face conversation.
By: Karly Kurkjian
fresno state graduate writing studio 