Food is a quintessential part of the American lifestyle. And here in the heart of Redwood City we have all the resources to satisfy our growing teenage bodies and make snapchat stories enviable. From tacos to dumplings, downtown provides the perfect place to tantilize our tastebuds with a host of delectable flavors. The Raven Report tested some local hotspots dedicated to serving up quality replenishments. Read on to discover our favorite restaurants and satisfy your hunger.

iDumpling

This tiny hole-in-the-wall wouldn’t look like much if it weren’t for the perpetual line seven people deep waiting outside. Authentic and unassuming, i Dumpling is the place to be for quality Chinese dumplings, potstickers, noodles and more.
We ordered an onion pancake (very flat bread made with green onions that is fried and cut into wedges), marinated seaweed and a plate of pork with chive dumplings. The marinated seaweed was strange and unexpected—imagine a thick, gelatinous, somewhat crunchy flat noodle that is tossed with soy sauce and garlic. A slight taste of the ocean bleeds through as you chomp away at the emerald green strips. Although an admittedly bizarre dish if you’ve never tried it before, marinated seaweed is really pretty good.
With a name like i Dumpling, we highly expected the dumplings to be good, and let us tell you, the i Dumpling chefs delivered. The filling was flavorful and juicy. The dough was delicate yet hearty enough to hold in the filling and made for a truly satisfying few bites. After scarfing down the plate of dumplings, we tried to ignore our bursting stomachs. Regardless of how full we felt, there were certainly no regrets.
Located just across the street from Sequoia, i Dumpling has the most convenient location for students. The prices, too, are pretty reasonable ($6.85 for 12 dumplings). It’s just too bad we don’t have open campus for lunch.

Teaquation

Sunset Boulevard: “If you like things that are tart more than fruity this is for you.”
The Joker: “Gorgeous design on the top. [The taste is] very unexpected it has some pineapple going on and a little bit of basil and maybe some mango. Very fruity.”
Dark Knight: “Honestly it just tastes like a frappuccino from Starbucks which I am totally here for.”
Gold Digger: “Whoa, that tastes like my childhood, like a sweetart candy with a little bit of pineapple. That is really nice I am digging that.”

Patty Shack

With our order of mac and cheese burgers, Captain Crunch milkshakes and brie and pear sandwiches, it became clear from our first bites that the Patty Shack’s has a knack for seemingly strange combinations.

The burgers are the highlight, putting your backyard barbeque to shame. The thick patties are juicy and flavorful, ensuring the lucky consumer will want to lick the plate clean. We also sampled their brussel sprouts, which were dressed to perfection with a balsamic vinegar glaze, causing any ill-feeling towards the vegetable to fade with a single bite. The milkshakes too were somewhat unconventional with flavors including Captain Crunch and Reese’s. The sweet potato fries were pretty standard but really, how can you go wrong with sweet potato fries?
With old-fashioned frosted milkshake glasses, wooden picnic table seating, and the most popular sports event playing in the background, the Patty Shack gives a perfect all-American vibe. The restaurant has a counter where customers place their orders and receive a number for their food to be delivered. This creates a comfortable atmosphere—perfect for a Saturday afternoon lunch or casual dinner date.
The one thing that really tripped us up was the bill. The $8 burgers aren’t horribly priced, but once you add the $4.50 side of asparagus and $5 milkshake, the price really adds up. We wish the prices were a little lower or the portions a little larger to fit a more student-friendly budget. But I guess that’s what you get for a delicious meal made from quality ingredients.

Tacos el Grullense

One bite of anything on the menu at Tacos el Grullense and you will never go back to Chipotle. Not only is it more authentic, delicious and cheaper than Chipotle, but there are eight locations throughout Redwood City for you to try. Not all of the locations are related, but they share the name “Grullense” which refers to El Grullo, a municipality in Jalisco, Mexico.
At El Grullense No.1 on Middlefield Rd., the menu options range from tostadas to tacos to super carnitas nachos. We ordered a super Al Pastor burrito, a plate of super nachos, a sope, taco, glass of horchata (a sweet, creamy drink made with rice and cinnamon) and mango agua fresca. We decided to finish it all off with a plate of hot, crispy, fried plantains with a sweet, gooey interior and served with a small container of sweetened condensed milk (which wasn’t really needed). The food was all superb and thoroughly authentic (as far as we gringas could tell).
The nachos and burrito were loaded with tons of ingredients—none of us left with an ounce of room left in our stomachs. The one downside to the burrito was the lack of consistency with which it was filled. The burrito is not for the faint-hearted. Just a warning you must have a moderately high tolerance for spicy food for this one. All the meat was fine, but the carnitas was by far the best. The drinks were exquisite and undeniably fresh—the perfect pairing to a dense and deeply satisfying meal.

Gallery • 10 Photos