Thanks for all the suggestions, I've been remiss in reporting back as I ended up getting an apartment right off castro so most days I just go home and make myself lunch. I haven't yet been able to try out many of the suggested places.

In Sunnyvale have tried Stoddards and Basil Thai, both were tasty and I would go back to either. Have hit La Castena and Burrito Real, interesting about the change in owners, the burritos were good but not as outstanding as I remembered. I'll give La Bamba a shot.

Don't remember ever seeing Michael's, I'll have to go a-looking.

I think the Mexican place mentioned is Fiesta del Mar? I haven't been since I returned to the bay area but I remember liking the "grandma's recipe" which was chicken with some kind of Orange sauce. I think the owner's sister owns Palo Alto Sol on California Avenue in Palo Alto which has the same dish.