Alice Yin

Starting his culinary journey in Japan, the chef moved to Peru and learned to adapt his style to local ingredients. In time he would find himself in Beverly Hills, where he partnered with Robert De Niro to open the first of what's now grown into a 37-restaurant international empire. Meanwhile, Ellison, CEO and founder of Oracle, owns The Epiphany, a swank downtown Palo Alto hotel and home to the most recent addition to the Nobu family--the first in the Bay Area.

Chef David Kinch has spearheaded one of the most successful restaurants in the world in his 3 Michelin Star restaurant Manresa in Los Gatos, so the idea of customers walking up to a hostess stand, perusing the menu and ordering takeout would seem more than a bit presumptuous. Once-in-a-lifetime fine dining experiences don't exactly do to-go. But Kinch has an impressive array of less expensive restaurants that cater to a more economically eclectic crowd. His fame-and undeniably inventive, delicious cuisine-has been enough to keep the 60 or so seats of his latest venture, The Bywater, filled during dinner service seven days a week.

All-you-can-eat, family style buffet draws massive crowds to renowned Gen Korean BBQ.

Yeganeh Bakery and Kafe Unik serves up delightful treats, tasty sandwiches.

Campbell steakhouse Willard Hicks searches for identity with hit-and-miss dishes.

One of Mountain View's hottest new spots offers small plates, big prices.

Kotetsu Ramen holds its own in the battle for noodle supremacy.

Liquid Bread Gastropub steps out on a limb, succeeds in taking risks few would dare.