Santana Row offers up SoCal flavor

Shopping, mobbing and people watching around Santana Row can surely work up quite an appetite, as well as a considerable monetary deficit. So if you don't want your lunch to burn a hole in your wallet too, stop by Wahoo's Fish Taco restaurant. With a tasty fusion of Hawaiian and Baja style dishes, this taco joint isn't your run of the mill taqueria.

Ambiance: The restaurant has the great feel of a casual SoCal beach-side food stop. Tons of skate and surf paraphernalia line the wall and ceilings. They've got a good distribution of tables, booths and bar stools to suit the type of mood you're in whether you would like a private conversation or a primo seat for watching some Santa Clara football -- no wait, we don't still have that do we?

On nice days, they have an outdoor patio overlooking a courtyard where you can check out any strangers to satisfy the voyeur in you.

Service: The young servers that bring food to your table are quite nice, and if the owner's there, you'll notice how serious the business is about pleasing the customers and making them feel at ease. They also bear with you when you ask what exactly their blackened spicy Cajun blend is.

Dress Code: Don't worry about trying to impress anybody; no one is going to freak out about flip flops and a torn T-shirt.

Bonuses you won't find on the menu: They've got a bunch of TV's replaying sweet surf and skate videos. And, while you're catching up on your SoCal culture, nothing goes with a great fish taco quite like a cold cerveza from their wide range of libations.

Downfalls: Don't expect to drive up and order, because the nearest parking spot is in the garage about 200 feet away. Also, the line to order puts you in a confining hallway that can cramp your decision-making process.

Recommendation: The blackened fish tacos and burritos are ridiculously tantalizing. The combinations of ahi rice and cajun white beans are a staple for Wahoo's, so don't pass them up. They've got a fresh taste ranging from teriyaki bowls to wet burritos to a scrumptious chicken tortilla soup. Stop in sometime and grab a light lunch so that you can feel like you actually do live somewhere in California, and you definitely won't leave hungry.

--Written by Teru Olsenby Alexander Aragon--the santa claraTry Wahoo's in Santana Row for some fresh SoCal cuisine.A taste of the East down the streetThe Chinese food in Market Square may be absolutely to die for, but if you want to stretch your legs and take a walk down The Alameda, you can find an alternative to cafeteria-grade Chinese food at the Joy Cup. Being in close proximity to the campus, and taking Flex, the Joy Cup can be a nice little curveball in your dietary intake.

Don't go looking for a large establishment with the rotating tables and unmarked tubs of MSG, though. The Joy Cup is a quaint little hole in the wall establishment which has more of a hangout living room feel than that of an established restaurant.

* Ambiance: The surroundings are a little drab, with not a lot of eye candy around the place. It really doesn't feel like a restaurant at all, but more of a patio that happens to be indoors. I really like the fountain that they have -- it exudes the calmness that we all need to take in about this time in the quarter.

* Dress Code: Just wear whatever will keep you warm on the walk over there.

* Service: The super nice Asian man at the counter greets you as soon as you walk in, delivers the food to your table and I don't believe I've actually seen him without a smile on his face. You'll feel very comfortable and well taken care of there.

* Downfalls: The menu doesn't exactly pack a lot of punch, seeing as they don't provide a great deal of variety. They also do not offer soda, so unless tea or a smoothie is what you're looking for, water is your only alternative for a beverage.

* Bonuses you won't find on the menu: They've got a huge big screen HDTV where you can pop in any number of DVDs they have. They also have a sweet comfortable leather couch that you can lounge on while you wait for your order.

A comprehensive menu of flavored smoothies and teas is a pleasant little change of pace to appeal to your thirst, too. You can also check your e-mail and work on those fabulous research papers on the computer with internet access they have there.

* Recommendation: This place has a nice little caf feel to it. The prices are great -- you'll only have to bring five dollars for any of their Bento Boxes. The fried calamari is superb and the rice is definitely top-notch.

All in all, the Joy Cup is a great place to snag a quick meal and catch up on some of your movie-watching. The Bento Boxes are fabulous with a mix of rice, fries, some veggies and your choice of meat dish. It's great, quick food, but don't start planning your entire evening around the hole in the wall restaurant.

--Written by Teru Olsen