I frequently drive past an Arby’s in South San Francisco. Every time i see it I think to myself ‘Damn I want to get my five on’ but I never do.

If you are unfamiliar with ‘getting your five on’ familiarize yourself with their wondrous marketing of five items for $5.95 (I think i got the pricing right). They have the same basic menu items as any other dollar menu but each item costs 20 cents more. The 20 cents is worth it, however, because Arby’s has some pretty special stuff. Take for example the jalapeno poppers, mozzarella sticks, or curly fries. Just thinking about it makes my arteries jump for joy.

Fortunately for me I live near one of only four Arby’s restaurants on the Peninsula. The next closest Arby’s locations are in San Francisco, Menlo Park, and Sunnyvale. That’s only 4 Arby’s on a 40-mile stretch of the Bay Area! Ten miles per Arby! It would appear that the franchising gods at Arby’s corporate headquarters are much more selective about their territories. These guys have rarity down to a science.

The next time I pass that Arby’s in South SF I’m stopping in for a mocha shake, some jalapeno poppers, mozzarella sticks, a cheddar melt, and a junior roast beef. How much is that going to cost? $5.95 + tax. Awwwwww yeah.

Find an Arby’s near you

The Avalon Park area is near the golf course and bleeds into San Bruno near the big military cemetery. Avalon Park is pretty much directly in the flight path of SFO. It can be very loud as 747s take off overhead. Be sure to look for houses with good sound insulation. Double-pane windows advised.

Notable employers nearby include Genentech, Gap world headquarters (San Bruno), and Youtube (San Bruno).

Local Merchant Circle highlights:

• My Asian grocer of choice is Pacific Supermarket at Westborough and el Camino Real.
• For general retail you’ll end up at Target and Tanforan Shopping Center in San Bruno.
• Good Chinese noodles at New Mandarin Garden
• Great sandwiches at Little Lucca Sandwich Shop

• The only Arby’s on the Peninsula is a few blocks away. There next closest Arby’s locations are in San Francisco, Menlo Park, and Sunnyvale.

Friday I went to Bay Meadows Racecourse to watch the ponies run. On special Fridays they have an awesome deal — $1 admission, $1 beer (7-8PM MGD only), $2 beer (after 8PM MGD only but bigger cups), and $1 hot dogs. The “gotcha” is the $4 parking fee. My evening of 2 hot dogs, 4 beers and gambling losses cost me about $22.