AYCE hot pot for the win! Came to Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu after they were featured on Yelp's top 100…read moreplaces to eat in the Bay Area list. Even though they aren't too far from me I hadn't heard of them before. It's an unassuming spot tucked into a shopping center next to a bagel and water shop, but it gets crowded, and for good reason. This was only my second time ever having hot pot, the first time was not AYCE and was an individual pot, so it was fun to try the shared AYCE way. We picked two broths, the Shrimp and signature, and then went down the menu selecting proteins and other add-ons. We went with the Ultra over the supreme so we could get some of the nicer cuts of meats. They have happy hour pricing of a few dollars off earlier in the evening, which was going on when we were in. Non-meat dd-on favorites included the Napa cabbage, kabocha squash, ramen, bok choy, and shitake mushrooms. We got the Enoki mushrooms the first round, but switched to shitake for round two and they were the favorite. My boyfriend's favorite meat was the wagyu, and I was partial to the pork and angus beef, but everything was good.

Soups: . Black Garlic Tonkatsu…read more. Tom Yum Broth AYCE :) Picked the Ultra Option for more meat selection and Mini Gyudon Rice Bowl (had 4 bowls of it, it's so flavorful and delicious). Soups are flavorful, garlic actually comes through, meat is good quality that melts in your mouth, marbling looks good. I will say that the broth does end up becoming really salty near the end but you can ask the servers for more broth.

First time trying the boba tea and it was good. I ordered the kunquat fruit tea and my husband got…read morethe peach fruit tea with herbal jelly. I do like that both drinks were not overly sweet and I can definitely taste the fruit flavor. The place was clean and had plenty of seating. A good place to seat, relax and play some board games which they do offer with friends. I really didn't interact with the staff as I ordered my drinks on a touch screen and they called my order number. Everyone was professional and there was no problems. Next time I come back, I'll try their food when I get my tea.

This could be my new favorite boba shop. Original milk tea has a great tea flavoring. I opted for…read moreno added sugar on the taro milk tea and there was still taro taste to it as opposed to other boba shops that would've just watered it down. They also had taro crystal boba as a topping option (not really much taro taste to it, but I enjoy the crystal boba texture). They offer small and large option for drinks too. The shop is very clean and lots of seating. They have a wide menu variety too so I'll be back to give some of the food options a try.

I always get the General Tso's chicken. One of the best in the city. I always get my food to take…read moreout. The restaurant ambience is below average.

Order: Sesame…read morechicken: tender boneless pieces of chicken in a mixture tangy and spicy sauce. lettuce on the bottom for the base. Employees in front are friendly and provide fortune cookies. There are tables for dine in, and place is clean. chicken is tender. food gets expensive each year, but the taste is the same

I have studied with this wonderful group for 3 years now…read more There is nothing but praise that comes to my mind: The teachers are very good, patient and always there, rain or shine. The location is gorgeous, right on the lake, with loads of birds watching us. And it is free! The first class on Saturdays and Sundays at 8:30 am starts with wonderful Chi Gong breathing, stretching and meditation. Followed by the whole group doing the whole set, best they can, depending on their knowing the set. At 9:30 the group breaks up into 3 groups: Groups 1,2 and 3. For group one, you learn the first 19 moves, etc.

Have you ever wanted to go lawn-bowling without a lawn? Have you ever wanted to do something…read moreFrench without having to speak French, be rude, or eat something you normally wouldn't touch? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then pétanque is the game for you. What is pétanque? It's like lawn-bowling, but it's played on a more gravelly surface. My brother's Dutch girlfriend and her parents introduced me to it a few years ago, and then my brother figured out that Golden Gate Park has its very own pétanque courts. I couldn't get an exact location for Yelp, but if you're driving south on 36th Avenue from the Richmond District, turn right as soon as you can after entering the park (right next to Spreckels Lake). Follow this road until it dead-ends, and then turn left into the little parking lot. The pétanque courts are on the left. To play, you'll need your very own pétanque set. I don't know where you can find one, but they're pretty cool. A set comprises two or four pairs of steel balls (each pair has its own pattern etched into it so that you can tell the pairs apart), a little starter stone that has a cool French name, a measuring device, and--if you're lucky--a string with a magnet on the end so that you don't have to lean down to pick up your pétanque balls. The courts themselves aren't in the best shape, but it's really neat that there are so many of them. (I believe there are twelve total, but there may be more.) I've never seen more than three groups of people playing at one time, but it's fun to imagine the place jam-packed with people originally from the South of France. There's a kind of amateur group that you'll see playing here regularly, and they're pretty good. Then there's this absolutely amazing group filled with mostly older guys. But the star player is some young guy who never misses. Ever. And his ball never hits the ground before it knocks out the target ball. Two odd quirks about this place are the really old, cheap trophy and the cordless phone, both of which are glued (for some reason) to a bulletin board. The phone is green, and I thought it had moss growing on it, but it might be painted green. In any case, pétanque is fun, and you should play it.

The Tao is the unspeakable whole always in motion but always meaningful. I was very glad to find…read morethem. It makes my heart feel cool and expansive as I breathe.

Someone in New York told me about this form of tai chi. The last 3.5 years have changed my life. I…read morelive with various autoimmune syndromes and a lot of soft tissue pain. Tai chi is opening my body and my heart, and gives more hours per day to be alert and useful. Taoist tai chi people are open and generous, and believe that everyone can learn. Come out and give us a try.

I cannot recommend Tai Chi Milpitas enough. I started training here looking for better balance,…read morephysical fitness and stress relief, but I gained so much more. Master Peng is a truly exceptional teacher--he is incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely cares about the progress of every student. He has a unique ability to break down complex movements into simple, manageable steps, ensuring everyone understands the internal energy (Qi) aspect, not just the physical form. Thanks to his guidance, I feel stronger, more balanced, and much more centered. If you are looking for authentic Tai Chi in the Bay Area, this is the place to be. Thank you, Master Peng, for your dedication and wisdom!

I joined Mr. Bao's classes about two months ago and really enjoy it. My wife and I go twice a week…read morefor Tai Chi and Kung Fu, and it's been a great experience. Mr. Bao is an awesome teacher--very professional but also easy to follow and learn from. After just a few weeks, we already started feeling stronger and more confident in our bodies. The classes are fun, relaxed, and welcoming. Definitely recommend if you're looking to get into Tai Chi or Kung Fu

During this summer break, the daily two-hour intensive training came to a conclusion with the…read morenational martial arts competition that the kids participated in over the weekend. Teams from various places, with an estimated four thousand people including parents, gathered. The kids' teams won both gold and bronze medals, but the most significant gains were the earnest process and the growth experiences gained through participation. "It takes a village to raise a kid." Grateful to have such a group and environment in a foreign land, allowing the children and parents to grow together. This was our first summer training camp, and honestly, shuttling the kids every day amidst a busy schedule and managing various tasks was sometimes quite overwhelming. However, each time I saw the masters and classmates so spirited and dedicated, witnessed the two kids flourishing and advancing in a short period, and understood the meaning of participating seriously in a competition, it became clear that effort leads to success. This was a rare learning experience for the children. Many thanks to the masters who, year after year, tirelessly committed to the daily training from morning to night. It requires immense passion, patience, and self-discipline to teach, organize, be strict yet compassionate, handle administrative tasks, and even cut watermelons and distribute popsicles . They also participated in competitions and served as main referees, making a sincere effort to set an example and promote the spirit of martial arts. Sometimes I feel sorry for the two masters, juggling multiple roles day and night is truly tough, but congratulations on returning with a well-deserved sense of accomplishment . Thanks to all the parents for supporting the children's learning. Although not participating in the competition, the equal decade-long commitment from the sidelines is appreciated. Looking forward to experiencing and growing together with the children in the upcoming journey of life.

This dojo is named Pure Shaolin Kungfu but in China, pure shaolin encompasses mixed martial arts…read morebased in kungfu foundation. To get a black belt, students are required to train in 8 hand forms and 8 weapons. The black belt exam requires the student to pass soft weapon, hand form, long weapon, single weapon and double weapon as well as strength and flexibility. This ensures that whatever environment the black belt is in, they are able to defend themselves with what's available. This is not a dojo that hands out belts to make money. The students earn their belts and get satisfaction from their achievements. Both my kids have been with Sifu David and Sifu Grace since they were 4 years old. My daughter is 20 at UC Davis. When my daughter was in high school, the high school students decided they wanted to start a Flying Dragon club for 3-5 year olds. Sifu Grace sponsored the program and the students were responsible for creating curriculum, accounting, marketing and promotion. This gave them so much practical life experience that I couldn't have asked for a better place for my very shy daughter to come into her own. My son is 16 and just had knee surgery due to some skeletal issues and upon returning to the dojo, both Sifu Grace and David have customized the training with taichi, chi gong and boxing to promote strength and stability during his recovery. Both my kids have their black belts and have moved on to their 2nd degree. It was fun to watch my daughter train with the wooden mannequin like Bruce Lee. Grandmaster David is one of the last generations to come out of the Shaolin Temple in China. He entered the temple at 5 years old and trained inside the temple until he went to WuHan Sports University. Grandmaster Grace was trained by her grandfather who trained communist military until she also went to WuHan Sports University. Upon graduation, they both taught at the University creating curriculum, preserving the traditional style as well as promoting the Wuxi performance style. I've seen students grow up with the Sifus and become family. They also have visiting scholars from specialists who train the Chinese police, Grandmasters from other kungfu disciplines (not shaolin) for cross training.

I wanted to take a Qi Gong class and made several efforts to inquire about instruction. No one ever…read moregot back to me. Very disappointed.

I highly recommend this Shaolin Kung Fu studio. My son started there when he was 5 and now he is…read more17 - a black belt and part-time instructor with Master Yan. I recently told Master Yan's wife, Joanna, that Master Yan helped me become a better father simply by watching his classes. Master Yan is a true master from the Shaolin Temple in China - something that I found out later on my own as Master Yan is very modest. I am so grateful for all Master Yan has done for my son and me. It's amazing that a true master from China teaches here in Alameda. And it's more affordable than any other martial arts place that I have found. Thank you.