Kopi Bar

"Chef Nora Haron’s style of Southeast Asian food is winning over diners at dinner, but the brunch is where one can see a different side of the chef. There are a couple of options that may be considered “classics,” such as the burger, but Haron puts her own touches to the dish by blending grass-fed beef with roasted shiitake, as well as a sambal aioli. Meanwhile, the beef rendang hash highlights slow-braised beef and potatoes with a fried egg and golden yellow yolk at its center. Add on an order of the kaya toast, if you can." - Dianne de Guzman, Lauren Saria

"Chef Nora Haron places Nusantara cuisine front and center at her Walnut Creek restaurant SanDai, where she showcases her take on dishes from the Malay archipelago of Southeast Asia through the lens of Northern California produce. Diners can’t go wrong with the satay options to start, though Haron’s seafood preparations are also packed with flavor such as the recent ikan pepes, a whole rainbow trout wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. The adjacent Kopi Bar is also worth a visit if you have less time to sit and eat, with pastries made fresh daily, plus a selection of specialty coffee and lattes." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff