You can do a lot better than Chilis. There’s a huge variety of dining options in and around the South Bay, some of them on the higher end. I think the question is more whether the Chili’s is the only game in town or whether you have options that aren’t Chili’s or fast food.

Having lived in Sunnyvale for a bunch of years, this is just not true. Heck, there’s more than one Michelin starred restaurant with tasting menus well above $100 a head in the South Bay (Manresa, Baume, and Chez TJ).

How is it "just not true"? There are literally a couple Chili's (and plenty of TGIF's and other similar places) within a couple miles of the house in question. The fact that there are _also_ some real nice places doesn't change that (also, my wife and I literally fell asleep while eating at Chez TJ. One of my worst meals ever. Baumé is superb, however.)

The Bay Area isn't uniquely bad. It just isn't uniquely great either. It's a nice place to live. So are lots of other places. There are some great restaurants. There are some great restaurants in other suburbs, too.

I mean, surely there are shitty chain restaurants even in food meccas like NYC. Maybe I misunderstood what you were trying to say here.

There are many excellent Korean, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, mid eastern, etc. restaurants all around.

Yes, absolutely. Gochi is one of my favorite lunch spots, and a short walk away. This is also true for every college town in the rest of the country. The Bay Area isn't magic.

With the money you saved you could also buy a house in India, Korea and China.

A very good point but el camino leads to koreatown or the city so hopefully you have a car or enjoy the bus/train. That road is terrifying on a bike tho.

Don't need to go to Koreatown for a good meal. Gochi and Orenchi Ramen are both within walking distance. Also a few good dim sum options there.