62 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM max’s of burlingame BURLINGAME As the trademarked warning on Max’s menu notes, this decades-old restaurant is a bad place for a diet. Well-known for its ample (some might say over-the-top) portions, even the soups come in generous servings. Sharing the menu with deli classics—matzoh balls in chicken broth, clam chowder (only on Fridays) and Russian cabbage soup with diced brisket—is the très continental French onion soup. Served in a traditional crock and overflowing with gooey cheese, the rich broth concentrates the sweet and savory flavors of slow-cooked onions, just the thing to soothe away the chill of a winter’s day. 1250 Old Bayshore Highway. Open daily. la fonda restaurant REDWOOD CITY La Fonda Restaurant—a cheery, approachable space decorated in splashy colors—is just the place to banish those winter blahs. To pep you up, try a spicy bowl of pozole. Made hearty with hominy, pork, chiles and onions, and garnished with thin slices of radish and cabbage, this soup is served alongside tostadas with sour cream and fresh cheese. While you’re there, you might as well splurge on the mole poblano— chicken cloaked in a rich and savory chilechocolate sauce and accompanied by rice, beans and handmade tortillas. 820 Veterans Boulevard. Closed Sundays. pho ha noi PALO ALTO Vietnamese pho, like American comfort soups tomato and chicken noodle, is good for the soul. At Pho Ha Noi, beef pho is the favorite, arriving at your table studded with fresh green onion and cilantro. Blow the savory steam until it’s safe to start slurping up rice noodles and spoonfuls of fragrant broth. Consider pairing it with grilled pork served on a bed of vermicelli noodles or roasted kui fei chicken with sticky rice. The restaurant is walking distance from the Stanford Theatre so if you’re seeking another cozy indoor activity, pop over to watch classic films like Casablanca or Singing in the Rain in this 1920s-era movie palace. 185 University Avenue. Open daily. {food coloring} Soup’s on! Brothy bowls from around the globe. the beat on your eats PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: LA FONDA RESTAURANT
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