Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast

Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 8, airs Thursday, October 28, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

First up, we’re starting things off with the most important meal of the day: breakfast! Located in Millbrae in the South Bay, the family-owned Millbrae Pancake House has served up scratch-made pancakes and waffles for more than 60 years, like the thin, delicate Swedish Pancakes with lingonberry butter. Next, it’s off to San Francisco’s Japantown for Kalbijjim, Korean slow-cooked braised beef short ribs topped with melted cheese (an Instagram favorite!) at Daeho. Finally, we dig into the fresh hummus and savory, flame-roasted meat that fill the signature Lamb and Beef Shawarma Bowl at Falafel Boy in Oakland.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Janet Monaghan, Jennifer Kirk and Shaun Tai from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Millbrae Pancake House | Millbrae

* Daeho | San Francisco

* Falafel Boy | Oakland

Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 7, airs Thursday, October 21, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

What’s better than bacon? Novato’s Bacon sizzles with breakfast delights, like the Pacifica Pan-Fried Frittata with smoked salmon, capers, sour cream and scallions — akin to a bagel and lox atop fluffy eggs. Next, we take the backroads through the hills of West Marin to Due West Tavern at Olema House to taste the signature Steak Frites, a tender New York Strip in a pool of red wine reduction with crispy, golden fries and a dab of Point Reyes blue cheese butter. Finally, we follow the smell of spit-roasted pork to Al Pastor Papi, one of the Bay’s hottest food trucks, where the Al Pastor Burrito draws a devoted following to the eye-catching hot pink truck.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Alexandra Charlos, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen and Christina Davis from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Bacon | Novato

* Due West Tavern | Olema

* Al Pastor Papi | San Francisco (Food Truck)

Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 6, airs Thursday, October 14, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

This week, we cruise down to Daly City for breakfast for dinner at Tselogs, where the Sisigsilog, a sizzling platter of savory chicken, a fried egg and garlic rice, is a fan-favorite. Then we’re off to San Francisco's Mission District for Beef Tartare at Ernest, a twist on the steakhouse staple that’s topped with ikura and served with sushi rice and nori. Finally, we land in Pacific Heights for made-to-order Korean comfort food at Zazang Korean Noodles, where we dig into Jajangmyeon, a handmade black bean noodle dish.

This week's special guests include Golden State Warriors superfan Robin Schreiber, the famed Dance Cam Mom, TikTok creator Nick Cho — Your Korean Dad — and local foodie and social worker Aisha Nelson.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins social worker Aisha Nelson, Golden State Warriors superfan and Dance Cam Mom Robin Schreiber, and TikTok creator Nick Cho — Your Korean Dad — from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Tselogs | Daly City

* Ernest | San Francisco

* Zazang Korean Noodles | San Francisco

Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 5, airs Thursday, October 7, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

Fresh, fragrant and flavorful — this week’s special teen guests’ picks are all about melt-in-your-mouth delights! Mints & Honey, a chic, colorful cafe in San Carlos, whips up a Rose and Strawberry Waffle with fresh, unique floral toppings. Then, Milohas crafts traditional Colombian pastries like their savory and hearty Beef Empanada in San Jose. Finally, we learn the secrets to making handmade Xiao Long Bao, the delicate, steamed soup dumplings at Union City’s Din Ding Dumpling House.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins special teen guests Caitlynn, Amelie & Richard from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Mints & Honey | San Carlos

* Milohas | San Jose

* Din Ding Dumpling House | Union City

Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 4, airs Thursday, September 30, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

We begin our quest through the Bay Area’s unmissable meals at San Francisco’s famed Arsicault Bakery, once crowned Bakery of the Year by Bon Appetit. We join the early birds to sink our teeth into the Kouign Amann, a sweet, flaky French pastry with a crispy, caramelized shell. Then, we devour the mouth-watering Crispy La Calaca Loca Especial Grilled Pescado Tacos at Oakland’s La Calaca Loca Taqueria, where fresh-caught crispy fish tacos meet guacamole and melted cheese. Finally, we head to wine country and order off-menu at Saint Helena’s Brasswood Bar + Kitchen, where the Hand-Pulled Mozzarella has garnered quite a following with Napa Valley locals in-the-know.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Faith Chihil, Charles Chip Mc Neal, and Rachel Brockl from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Arsicault Bakery | San Francisco

* La Calaca Loca Taqueria | Oakland

* Brasswood Bar + Kitchen | St. Helena

Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 3, airs Thursday, September 23, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

In the scenic town of Occidental, the Altamont General Store rolls out its Beef Hot Dog, with Hawaiian flair, topped with grilled pineapple relish, pickled mustard seeds, spicy ketchup, yuzu aioli and crispy shallots on a brioche bun. Then, Zante Pizza and Indian Cuisine in Bernal Heights blends Indian and Italian cuisine to create a mouthwatering fusion of spinach, eggplant, cauliflower and more, aptly called  “The Best Indian Pizza - Vegetarian.” Finally, Oakland’s Taiwan Bento cooks up the ultimate Taiwanese comfort food with its Fried Pork Chop Bento, a nostalgic dish with  crispy marinated pork, tea egg, and pickled veggies.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Gaia Wu Magidi, Elizabeth and Ian Bass-Galespie, and Jewel Syquia Olson from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Altamont General Store | Occidental

* Zante Pizza and Indian Cuisine | Bernal Heights

* Taiwan Bento | Oakland [CLOSED]

Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 1, airs Thursday, September 9, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

We're celebrating Oakland's vibrant, diverse community with three longtime Oakland residents - and the Bay Area dishes you have to try! First, singer-songwriter Fantastic Negrito finds inspiration at Oakland's own Dela Curo, where Chef Chikara Ono delights with his Omu Curry, a dreamy, savory jet-black curry served atop omurice. Next, award-winning director and Blindspotting actor Margo Hall samples the iconic Chicken Milanese at Presidio mainstay Garibaldis Restaurant in San Francisco. Finally, Oakland Roots soccer player Max Ornstil satisfies our sweet tooth with the indulgent, creamy Chocolate & Vanilla Frozen Yogurt at Yogurt Park, which has charmed Berkeley students and families for nearly 50 years.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Margo Hall, Fantastic Negrito and Max Ornstil from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Garibaldis Restaurant | San Francisco

* Dela Curo | Oakland

* Yogurt Park | Berkeley

Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home

Check, Please! Bay Area Season 16 episode 4 airs Thursday, April 22 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

From quirky diners to traditional bar-and-grills, it’s a trip down memory lane as Leslie Sbrocco looks back at some of the Bay Area’s most historic restaurants.

Get Restaurant Information:

* The Tadich Grill, San Francisco

* Casa Orinda, Orinda

* Tommy's Joynt, San Francisco

* House of Prime Rib, San Francisco

* Marin Joe's, Corte Madera

* Thanh Long Restaurant, San Francisco

Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home

Check, Please! Bay Area Season 16 episode 3 airs Thursday, April 15 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

Time to satisfy those carb cravings with our guests’ go-to places for the best Asian dumplings and noodles and Italian pastas made fresh daily. This special look back episode celebrates everything handcrafted!

Get Restaurant Information:

* Kingdom of Dumpling, San Francisco

* Belotti Ristorante e Bottega, Oakland

* Antipastos, San Jose

* Soba Ichi, West Oakland

* Noodles Pho Me, San Leandro

Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home

Check, Please! Bay Area Season 16 episode 2 airs Thursday, April 8 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

From sushi and lobster rolls to oysters on-the-half-shell Leslie’s highlighting our guests’ favorite spots for the Bay Area’s freshest catch.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Waterbar, San Francisco

* Moss Beach Distillery, Moss Beach

* Old Port Lobster Shack, Redwood City

* La Viga Seafood & Cocina Mexicana, Redwood City

* Sushi Rapture, San Francisco

* Anchor Oyster Bar, San Francisco