Nico Madrigal-Yankowski

San Francisco

Food Reporter at SFGate

Articles

The wagyu burger selling out every weekend at a 103-year-old Bay Area dive bar

2 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Nico Madrigal-Yankowski

Jennifer Crassler had a bad day at work and she knew only one thing would cheer her up. She left her house in the westernmost part of San Francisco, drove across the entirety of the city and the Bay Bridge, and at 6 p.m. arrived at 103-year-old Oakland dive bar Kingfish Pub & Cafe. One thing was on her mind: generously sized wagyu burgers, studded in a crust of coarse salt and pepper, sizzling on the flat-top griddle heated by a single propane tank.
Kamala Harris dines at one of SF's hottest new restaurants

3 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Nico Madrigal-Yankowski

While Kamala Harris might be “ghosting” everyone ahead of the 2026 California governor’s race, she isn’t shying away from one of San Francisco’s hottest new restaurants. On Tuesday, June 3, the former presidential candidate dined at Shoji, at 140 New Montgomery St., according to general manager Shar Guillermo. The much-hyped Japanese restaurant comes from owner Ingi “Shota” Son, who also operates the Michelin-starred San Francisco restaurant The Shota.
San Francisco Ferry Building lets go of popular French cafe

3 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Nico Madrigal-Yankowski

On a typical Saturday or Sunday morning, Grande Creperie has a line so long that it spills out the door onto the plaza behind San Francisco’s iconic Ferry Building. Here, guests enjoy the beauty of San Francisco Bay while they devour the fermented buckwheat crepes from owner Patrick Ascaso that are a near identical match to the ones found in Brittany, France. Business is thriving.
Ayesha Curry named to esteemed list by Food and Wine magazine

3 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Nico Madrigal-Yankowski

Food & Wine magazine just named a prominent Bay Area restaurateur, author, TV star and business owner a “game changer” as part of its annual round of leaders in the food and beverage industry. Ayesha Curry was dubbed a culture changer in the magazine’s July issue for her charity work with the Eat.Learn.Play Foundation, or ELP, which she co-founded in 2019 with her husband and Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry.
49ers star leaves a signature at the French Laundry weeks after chef drama

4 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Nico Madrigal-Yankowski

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is having himself an offseason. After landing a historic contract extension in April, the six-time Pro Bowler was onstage at BottleRock eating pierogi over Memorial Day weekend. While in Wine Country, he and his wife Claire enjoyed dinner at a three-star Michelin restaurant, according to his Instagram page. While celebrating Claire’s birthday over the long weekend, the Kittles visited the French Laundry, a highly acclaimed restaurant from Thomas Keller.
Ali Wong just dined at this popular SF neighborhood restaurant

4 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Nico Madrigal-Yankowski

One of San Francisco’s most famous celebrities just dined at the Inner Sunset restaurant known for an outrageous bowl of pho that now runs $110. Ali Wong, the San Francisco-born-and-raised comedian, recently dined at Gao Viet Kitchen & Bar, according to a May 27 Instagram post from the restaurant. SFGATE reached out to the owner, Viet Linh Nguyen, regarding what Wong might have ordered or if she is a regular, but he declined to comment out of respect for the celebrity’s privacy.
Cult-favorite Califorina-based grocery chain ranks No. 1 in new national poll

4 weeks ago | northbaybusinessjournal.com | Nico Madrigal-Yankowski

In a recent poll that ranks the most reputable brands in America, this beloved California-based grocery chain, which has eight North Bay locations, topped the list of 100 companies.
Cult-favorite Califorina-based grocery chain ranks No. 1 in new national poll

4 weeks ago | pressdemocrat.com | Nico Madrigal-Yankowski

In a recent Axios Harris Poll, which ranks some of the most reputable brands in America, a beloved California-based grocery chain came in at No. 1 out of 100 companies. Trader Joe's, the 58-year-old Monrovia-based store known for its nautical vibes, in-brand frozen foods and viral mini tote bags, had an average score of 82.1, which narrowly beat out Patagonia's score of 82.0. Trader Joe's bested 99 other well-known businesses, including Costco, Apple, Nintendo, Amazon and In-N-Out.
Cult-favorite grocery chain with 8 local stores ranks No. 1 in new national poll

4 weeks ago | northbaybusinessjournal.com | Nico Madrigal-Yankowski

In a recent poll that ranks the most reputable brands in America, this beloved California-based grocer with stores in Napa, Sonoma, Solano and Marin counties topped the list of 100 companies.
How a Stanford grad created one of the hottest dinner parties in San Francisco

4 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Nico Madrigal-Yankowski

Try as they might, the powerful squalls cannot mute the garlicky smell of roulade d’agneau emanating from inside the repurposed commercial loft that guests are about to enter. Safe from the wind and one by one, the diners look for a seat at the massive, 30-foot community table, carefully eyeing which stranger will sit next to them for the next two hours. This is the start of Mosa, one of the hottest supper clubs in San Francisco.