FRONT YARD OF THE MAIN HOUSE WITH SERVANT QUARTERS BY THE SIDE AT THE END OF THE LONG DRIVEWAY. SOME PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ON THIS SITE, I DO NOT OWN. HOWEVER, I HAVE NO INTENTION IN INFRINGING ON YOUR COPYRIGHTS.
Yesterday, Wednesday at 3PM, THD hosted a Party for Residents with December Birthdays ( see two Brochures Above). There were 10 residents who attended out of the 18 in the List. We have three birthday cakes. At first there was no beverage serve, but when I jokingly mention, we should have champagne, Our efficient Hosts ( Vanessa, Deanna, Barbara and Jenny) were very happy to serve us the drinks along with our cake. Barbara then asked everyone to say a few words of wisdom. The we talked about our country of birth. Not to my surprised, several countries outside the US were mentioned such as Hong Kong, the Philippines, Germany and the UK. It affirmed the fact that the US is a country of Immigrants.
Here are the four photos that Jenny Shively took during the Party.
Barbara asked each of Us- About our words of Wisdom. I said only one word-Gratitude
Me, Steve and wife Jan Holzman, talking about Chicago, my blogs and my Weekly Massages. Steve and Janice are new residents, only here at THD for about 2 months. They originally came from Connecticut.
Meanwhile, The following photos, I took recently featuring the simple but elegant Christmas Decorations of the Public Venues Here at THD.
Lastly, here are some photos of my simple Christmas Decor in My Apartment Here at THD
Last, but Not Least, My Photo of the Day- My Great Grand son, Beau David with my Grand Daughter Elaine and her husband Kyle Joseph of Portland, Oregon
Downtown Walnut Creek really does feel like an outdoor food court with a sky, with more than 120 restaurants packed into a walkable few blocks, a surprising number of them offering flavors from far beyond California. It is one of those suburbs where the dining scene has grown so quickly that many locals still think of it as “mall food plus a steakhouse,” even as new ethnic spots and fusions quietly remake the landscape.
A downtown that eats like a city
What defines downtown Walnut Creek today is density: more than 120 restaurants and cafés, plus bars, wine bars, and dessert shops, all layered around Broadway Plaza and the side streets leading to Civic Park. Sidewalk patios fill early on sunny evenings, and the Wednesday farmers’ market on Locust Street turns the whole area into an open‑air dining room, blurring the line between shopping district and food destination.
At its core, the downtown still leans heavily on American, Italian, and “California comfort” cooking, burgers, wood‑fired pizza, small plates, and cocktails but that is only the surface. Look a bit closer at the menus and signboards and a different story appears: Burmese tea leaf salads, Peruvian ceviche, Middle Eastern kebabs, and Caribbean‑Latin small plates now coexist with wine bars and brunch spots.
Where the world shows up on the plate
One way to understand this downtown is to stroll a single stretch of North Main Street and count how many countries you can “visit” before you hit the next crosswalk. Within just a few blocks you will find Burmese specialties at Burma 2, where tea leaf salads and rich curries introduce many East Bay diners to flavors that are still rare in most of the country. A short walk away, LITA channels Miami and the Latin Caribbean with plantain‑centered dishes and rum‑forward cocktails, framing Walnut Creek through the lens of a tropical, pan‑Latin city rather than a quiet suburb.
Zooming out a bit, you can trace a whole informal “ethnic arc” around downtown: Thai at small, family‑run places like Kacha Thai Bistro; Middle Eastern and Mediterranean grills serving kebabs, hummus, and falafel; and Spanish‑leaning tapas at spots such as Telefèric Barcelona, where rooftop dining and shared plates offer a European social rhythm in the middle of Contra Costa County. Add in Japanese sushi bars, Korean‑influenced kitchens, and Mexican taquerias mentioned by locals, and downtown Walnut Creek starts to look less like a single cuisine hub and more like a sampler of the broader Bay Area food culture.
Not just “ethnic,” but evolving
What makes the picture more interesting is the growing number of restaurants that blur the old categories entirely. A place like WC Kitchen & Bar, for example, advertises itself as American cuisine infused with Indian and Asian flavors, signaling that “ethnic” food is no longer confined to one side street but woven directly into the local definition of American dining. Menus like this might pair familiar formats, burgers, bowls, shareable appetizers with spice blends, sauces, and ingredients that come from South Asia or East Asia, easing diners into a more global palate without asking them to abandon comfort food.
This kind of fusion mirrors what residents describe seeing in the broader East Bay: more authentic ethnic markets and eateries appearing year after year, with food becoming a casual way to encounter languages and cultures that might once have seemed far removed from suburbia. Walnut Creek’s restaurant boom reflects not only disposable income and retail development, but also a quiet demographic shift more Asian and Hispanic residents, more globally traveled professionals who expect to see their own cravings and traditions represented downtown.
A few examples at a glance
Here is a small, illustrative snapshot of downtown Walnut Creek’s restaurant mix, focusing on places that showcase global flavors:
Restaurant
Primary influence
Notable features
Burma 2
Burmese
Tea leaf salads, curries, and noodle dishes introducing a still‑rare cuisine.
LITA
Latin Caribbean / Miami
Plantain‑forward small plates, cocktails, and a social, design‑driven space.
Kacha Thai Bistro
Thai
Family‑run, “real Thai” cooking with an emphasis on bold flavors and hospitality.
Telefèric Barcelona
Spanish / Catalan
Tapas, paella, and a rooftop setting that imports a slice of Spain to downtown.
Various kebab & mezze spots
Middle Eastern / Mediterranean
Kebabs, grilled meats, and mezze listed among the city’s best Middle Eastern options.
For a blogger, this concentration of restaurants offers an easy structure for a series: one post could follow an “evening in Burma and Barcelona” without leaving North Main, another could map a progressive dinner from Thai to Caribbean to a French‑style wine bar. Downtown Walnut Creek may not yet have the name recognition of Oakland or San Francisco in food circles, but with more than 120 places to eat and a steadily growing roster of ethnic and fusion kitchens, it increasingly feels like a small, walkable world tour waiting to be written about and tasted.
Sometimes, I wonder how these restaurants can financially survive with so much competition and concentration in one specific area. My dear readers, do you have any idea on my train of thoughts?
Meanwhile, Do You know why there are no Filipino restaurants in Walnut Creek?
While dedicated, full-service Filipino restaurants have historically been underrepresented in Walnut Creek's main downtown area, this is beginning to change, and several options exist nearby
.
The reasons for the general lack of Filipino restaurants in specific upscale downtown areas like Walnut Creek often relate to a combination of factors:
High Commercial Rent:Rents in downtown Walnut Creek are notoriously high, which can be a significant barrier for smaller or independent restaurants. The high overhead favors large chains or established fine-dining concepts with proven financial models.
Cuisine Popularity and Market Demand: While Filipino cuisine is gaining popularity, it has historically faced challenges in broad mainstream appeal compared to other Asian cuisines like Chinese or Thai. Restaurants often open where there is a perceived high demand from the local population.
Geographic Concentration: The Filipino-American population in the Bay Area is highly concentrated in other areas, such as Daly City, South San Francisco, and parts of the East Bay like Concord and Pittsburg, which naturally leads to more Filipino dining options in those specific communities.
Alternative Dining Formats:Many Filipino food businesses in the East Bay operate as more casual "turo-turo" (point-point) style take-out spots within supermarkets or food courts, which have lower overhead than full-service restaurants in prime downtown locations.
These articles offer advice on finding Filipino food options in and around Walnut Creek, including popular nearby restaurants and market stalls:
THE BEST Filipino Food in Concord (Updated 2025)
1. Seafood City. 3.9. (13 reviews) Specialty Food Market, Filipino$$ - $$$ Closed now. I also shopped for their fresh Asian vegeta...
Tripadvisor
Are there any good Filipino restaurants in Concord area?
I would agree not a lot of Filipino restaurants on this side of the Bay Area. Mainly take out places. Daly City and SSF have good ...
Facebook
Nearby Filipino Dining Options
Despite the lack of many traditional full-service spots directly in the downtown core, you do have options in and around Walnut Creek:
This spot is located on Locust Street in Walnut Creek and offers Filipino desserts, snacks (onigiri), and an instant ramen bar. Reviewers have expressed excitement for "Filipino comfort food in Walnut Creek".
