Pizza at .pizza.us - Korean style. Bulgogi pizza with beef. Also had the cheeseburger pizza with pickles. Only grip is we wished there was more meat on the pizza. Their condensed milk bread was unexpe
Guerrilla Tacos with carne asada taco and potato and cheese taquito. Also had the posole and oysters!!! Everything was great. Every bite’s purpose was to satisfy cravings was met. Love this place, but seems to always forget about this place. Unfortunately when I’ craving or thinking of tacos, guerrilla tacos isn’t always what I think of. I should change. . . .
After watching these guys on TikTok almost every morning I knew I had to stop by a grab a burrito. This morning I took a screenshot of their TikTok feed and decided to ride a line scooter to snag one.
Lobster roll and halibut sandwich at Sally’s in San Diego. Pretty good lobster roll. And the halibut sandwich was ginormous. Was in San Diego for the day for a conference. . . .
Brunch at Westwood’s Egg Tuck. This local chain of breakfast sandwiches and burritos makes solid eggy handhelds. Within the yolk colored walls they focus on just a few menu items. Of course I had to g
Amazing meal. But we could only finish about a third. So much to bring home. Pro-tip- the bread under the meats is like GOLD. The bread acts like a sponge to soak all the juices and is soft and juicy. . . .
Checking out my friends band at the iconic Troubador in West Hollywood. My friends daughter is a talented bass player. Nice solo and great show. I like watching live music at small venues - best way to enjoy the performance. The troubador is historic with many bands honing their chops on the very same stage. If these walls could talk. . . . . .
At the Rams game for Monday Night Football. Enjoying a the Rams taking on the Dolphins and wondering why I traded away Tyreek Hill - he did ok - only 2 catches, but still my fantasy team stinks and is in last place 😢🥲. . . .
Breakfast Burrito from the Queen of LA. Her burrito street cart is right on grand avenue across the street from the music center. Simple burrito with eggs, hash browns, and beef, with a good green sauce. Her Korean mom was there making sure they made quality burritos. . . . .genetics
Los Angeles Dodgers World Series parade!8th World Series - 2024 Champs! 7 buses of champions! . . .
Woodinville Whiskey tasting with the Southern California Whiskey Club. Great bourbons and rye whiskeys. There was a Founders tasting that was amazing - real smooth. The rye was also really good. Their master distiller was mentored by Dave Pickerell who was the master distiller from Markers Mark. Good stuff. . . .
Tempura from at their latest location in Pasadena. Tempura with udon noodles, soba noodles, and their tempura sushi. People were lining up before they opened. Yummy! Had tempura at their South Bay location and this place does not disappointment either. Would gladly visit again, just hopefully without a line. . . .
Kimchi pancake, rice box, and skewers at Dan Sung Sa. And lots of Makgeolli. I like the Korean Pocha’s, since they’re a hole in the wall drinking joint. Cramped tables, dented drinking bowls, and long waits - give this place charm. Always an enjoyable night, maybe not memorable. Yet we always return. . . .
Seafood brunch at Crude e Nudo on Santa Monica Main Street. Cool little sidewalk cafe with fresh seafood. Had the roasted fish collars, chickpea toast, and tuna tartare toast. Everything was yummy. Would certainly visit again and would recommend. . . .
Barbecue from APL. Beef rib, pork ribs, pulled pork, cornbread, and stuffed pig trotter. Amazing bbq from a Hall of Famer and YETI ambassador - APL Adam Perry Lang. The boneless pig trotter was stuffed with sausage with crispy skin - was absolutely amazing. We got in line at 11:30 with doors opening at 1pm. Was told a couple of their smokers were from Franklins. Would definitely visit again and would absolutely recommend. And worth it to stand in line. We stood in line for about 1.5 hours. . . . \_bbq
Lunch at Destroyer. Interesting name for a restaurant. Even more interesting and eclectic menu, as well. Crispy chicken schnitzel, courgette and fresh cheese tart, and red gem salad. Tucked away in an industrial part of Culver’s city - Destroyer is very much an LA lunch joint Would return and try the other choices. Would also recommend. . . . .la .la
Pasta Sisters in Culver City. Pappardelle with Pesto with Burrata Cheese. Arugula salad. And Pappardelle with a Ragu sauce. The pastas and sauces were all very good. Good chew on the pasta. The table bread was not toasted but had good olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Solid meal. I'd come back to try other things. . . .
Stone pot rice with Chinese sausage at a Hong Kong style cafe in Monterey park. Brings back memories of late night meals after a night of drinking. Or when I was stumbling around in LKF, also after a night of drinking, looking for a place to eat (but settling usually with a shawarma). What’s cool about this place is the HK taxi parked right outside and the old movie posters. Was full, but had to also have the peanut butter toast. Friend had the baked rice. Yummy! . . .
Smash burgers! First time making and grilling them. Used 73/27% beef, when I should have used 80/20. This time it was just too much fat dripping out when grilling. Added garlic powder, pepper, and worcester sauce with the beef to mix. Then I salted them right when i started grilling them. Yum! Will certain try again soon! . . . cheese
Spicy Chicken in Koreatown. Dak Galbi one of my favorite Korean dishes. Shared cast iron vessel with chunks of chicken, rice cake, and taro. They will also add fried rice to the pot, and you wait for it to get crispy. I’m not sure why this dish isn’t popular, since it is so yummy. You can only find this dish at a few places in Koreatown. I would return and I would recommend. . . .
Japanese BBQ at Hibiki in the SGV. Had to check out this place. Cool decor. Good service. They grill the meats for you, in case you don’t want to or don’t know how to. But I think they grill it for you to make you eat faster to increase the turns. Anyways the meats were good. Had varies cuts of wagyu and even had beef tongue, which could have been sliced thinner. The wasabi cucumber was interesting - initially eye opening and almost repulsive since you’re expecting something refreshing. The wasabi kick wakes you up and is almost addicting. I will try to make it. Anyways. I would recommend and I might return if I didn’t have to wait. Luckily only waited 5 mins. . . .
Brunch at the Rose in Venice. One of my go to’s in Venice. Not far from the beach and abbot Kinney. And of course I had to have a Bloody Mary. . . . 🌯
Bone marrow and beef at NIKU X. . . .
Lunch at The Bike Shed in DTLA. Hanging with my brother and his family, especially with the nephews. One of my favorite venues in DTLA, arts district. . . . .
Spago, Beverly Hills. Was here for an event. First to Spago. Did not disappoint. Sea bass and Beef short rib. The canapés were also good. Pizza was also expectedly yummy. Should have take a photo of the pizza and the mushroom soup. . . .
Holbox with a Michelin star! Had the grilled kanpanchi collars (last one of the night!), taco de Pulpo en su Tinta (grilled octopus), smoked Kanpachi taco, scallop taco, and ceviche mix to (with octopus, shrimp, and sea bass). Yummy! Was worried that they would be more pricey after the Michelin announcement, but realized the worry was the long lines. Would I go back? Yes. Would I recommend? Yes. . . .
Curry lunch at Had the Wagyu stone bowl and the tonkatsu pork curry. The combo gave us miso soup and fries and cucumber salad. Yummy. Ate too much . . .
Some good ass noodles. Hearty chicken broth that was over the top rich and not too savory. The chicken which was in the form of meat balls, slices, and thigh chunks made up this unique ramen. Unexpectedly yummy. No wonder there was a line waiting outside in the humid sun. . . .
Random photos of my Taiwan trip. Lots of first for me even though I’ve been here many times. Lots of lasting memories of my past. Saw my grandparents home in Tainan. My old apartment in Taipei. My old apartment in Shanghai, too. The Apple Store and Xiaomi store in the xinyi district. Lots of trains and stations. I hope to return again sooner than this last time of 10 years. Last of all, it was great to see old friends and to make new memories with them. . . .
There is a park in honor of a Chinese general named Zheng Chenggong, Prince of Yanping - 鄭成功. He is of significance to me and family personally since our family immigrated from China with him back in the 1640’s or so. This time when I visited my relatives in Hualien, my cousin mentioned that she had our family tree. I’d like to take a look and see our history. So, this statue is the largest statue in China depicting historical figure. It was built on a natural forming stone structure in the bay of Xiamen. Very interesting to visit and see. Glad I went. . . .
I had a cool interaction with the chef of the little restaurant. I was going to buy a small bottle of gaoliang and I asked him to drink with me if I got it, for only 40 RMB. He looked tempted but he politely declined. Later we shared a cigarette and chatted about how his boss won’t then drink on the job and how he is friendly with everyone including foreigners, like me. I do get stares since I am a bit taller and bigger than most locals, especially now with a shaved head. But once you get a chance to chat with local purveyors everyone seems friendly. . . .
小埕戏 is one of the best design restaurants that I have ever been to. Amazing views, excellent blend of modern and traditional Chinese dining furnishings, and indoor, yet outdoor feel with a retractable roof. Fully impressed by this restaurant, and I’ve been to a lot of eateries. The food was traditional Xiamenese food featuring duck, fish, and vegetables, which reminded me of Taiwanese cooking. My ex coworkers also said the restrooms and the views were also impressive. The private rooms also feature great views. And lastly check out that cabinet full of Mao Tai!! . . .
Northern Chinese Cuisine tonight on a rainy day. This famous restaurant has been around since the 1940’s and hosted dinners with dignitaries, like George H. W. Bush. They have the traditional cauldron smoke stack hot pot for beef or lamb. They have the sliced pork with baked sesame bread, and they also have their famous dry noodles. I enjoyed their pickled cabbage and pork soup. Great place to first visited about 15 years ago. . . .
Beef Noodles Soup with a spicy broth or a clear broth. The spicy brother is the Taiwanese style that most people in Taiwan are familiar with. But the clear broth, which is quite flavorful too, is a Chinese style found more in mid- western China. The thin pancake with beef is certain a western Chinese dish. I enjoyed everything here and wondered why I didn’t visit before when I lived here. . . .
Cantonese cuisine tonight. Lobster, fish, clay pot rice, and more. And yet another bottle of Kaoliang. I think this was the third night this week I had Kaoliang. Harsh after the first shot, but taste like water after the fourth one. People say it’s like tequila this way. They also say you shouldn’t get a hangover with this stuff. But I don’t want to test it out. . . .
Goose lunch in Taipei. Popular lunch spot with a long queue. Steamed stinky tofu, Taiwanese sausage with mushroom, rice noodles, and of course roast goose. 阿城鵝肉 . . . restaurant
Taipei DangDai art & ideas. Got to check out the Taipei art show. Taiwanese artist with artists from around the world including Japan, Europe and Africa. Galleries were also from around the world, too. I enjoy and appreciate art. Wish I had more time to really study and understand contemporary artists and their inspirations. I hope to find artists and their works that really connect with me. For me, design is important, but I feel the story behind the works might be even more significant to me. . . .
This was my friend favorite yakitori joint in Taipei. Low key and good environment with good food. Just the right price that young kids wouldn’t go to, so it had the right crowd. Outstanding service. . . .
Lunch at an old favorite with an old friend. I usually go here at least once every time I’m in Taipei. I realize I should have stopped by the one in Tainan - my mistake. My friend and I walked here from their tea shop through the underground shopping mall - Zhongshan Metro Mall. I used to live across the street from the Ming Yao mall in the 90’s. And also lived on Yanji street, about a 5 min walk away. I have always enjoyed the East District 東區. I would also bring family and friends here, too. . . .
Taiwanese cuisine at 巷子口食堂. Traditional dishes that you won’t find at night markets or on the street. Pork and seafood dishes done well. We almost polished off a bottle of Kaoliang,Taiwanese white wine. It was a great night to catch up with old classmates, from our USC MBA program. . . .
Good whiskys and whiskeys at the Malt in Taipei. Nice little bar tucked away off a small street in Taipei. They have a great selection of whiskeys and bourbons. They even had Pappys. I should have gotten more pics but I was feeling under the weather. . . .
Had barbecue with my relatives at one of the most popular American Barbecue restaurants in Taipei. As a visitor to Taipei, I don’t look for western fare while overseas. But my friends know that I am a
Japanese food in Taiwan, is arguably the best outside of Japan. I doubt anywhere else has the diversity, quality of fish, and abundance of great Japanese restaurants than Taiwan. This neighborhood Japanese restaurant does not disappointment, located in the east district 東區 of Taipei 大和 is a favorite of an old friend that I’ve known for over 49 year, our moms went to college together. It was great to catch up with him and his family and of course his mom. . . .
Costco in Taipei. Had to check it out. I had some free time and my buddy was going - so I decided to check it out - on a Saturday afternoon, the busiest day of the week. Yeah, I know I’m crazy. But what the hell. Anyways. The $5 chicken there but slightly higher priced. But they also had some other good deals for hot foods - like pork knuckle. Their hot dog and soda deal was there too. They said their hot dogs came from the US. . . . .taiwan
Taichung Night Market. Lots of yummy things to eat. Lots of people, families, and kids. It has been a long time since I have been to a Taiwanese night market. Enjoyed it but I don’t think I could stay too long. It was a warm night. Plus some of the things were a bit questionable even though they smelled good. . . .
Tainan oldest department store 林百貨 also known as Hayashi. Lots of interesting items from local purveyors. 5 floors of clothing, housewares, and trinkets. The rooftop had a couple of eateries to go along with the great views. The building interior and exterior looks great and well preserved. . . .
Beef Noodle Soup, dumplings, and tofu + thousand year old egg with my cousin in Hualien. This is one of favorites growing up in Hualien. The beef noodle soup has a nice hearty but not overpowering broth. The noodles have a nice “Q” or bouncy texture. The beef chunks were tender but somehow a little dry. Overall I dig it. . . .🍜 🇹🇼
Local dumpling joint not far from where I am staying. Steamed dumplings with both puffy bread-like skin and thin skinned dumplings. I prefer the thin skinned ones. They more on the menu that I want to try. . . . 🇹🇼
Taroko National Park entrance. Due to the recent earthquake, the park is shut down for at least 6 months. This iconic park brings back memories when I was kid visiting with my family, then later on with the Taiwanese Study Tour (Love Boat). My cousin’s wife has a little shop midway up to the final stone temple. Now she is forced to close and her employees are now without work. Hualien’s local economy was already suffering. Now with this earthquake - I was told the government wasn’t or hasn’t provided any financial assistance to the community. With the lack of tourist from China, the no go decision to extend the HSR to Hualien, and now this earthquake- Hulalien will be looking at some lean times. I feel for my relatives and community that I adore. . . .
Ying Yang hot pot. Neighborhood/mom&pop hot pot place. This where locals in the neighborhood get their hot pot fix. . . .
My favorite meal is breakfast and Taiwanese breakfast is one of the best. With the rice balls, egg pancakes, and others. I try to find an egg pancake every morning. I used to have the rice ball with egg, oil curler, and pork floss - every morning but now I realize it is quite heavy and a bit much for me nowadays. You can find these treats almost everyday and almost every other corner. So good. In Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and everywhere in between. . . .
Wagyu Beef Yakiniku at Zonzen Yakiniku 燒肉中山. One of the best meals I’ve had in in Asia. Outstanding beef - marbling, flavor with just salt, and tender buttery texture. Decor was cool. They even have a robot server. . . .
Burgers at Butcher Jr. I had the milk caramel burger, which had a pleasant sweetness that I never experienced before. It was recommend by the cashier. The fries were crispy and the onion rings, too. One noticeable difference was the portion which fit with the typical Taiwanese consumer. Initially I thought it might not be enough, but I realized it was just right. The custom sauces, the honey mustard and the burger JR sauces, both had a slight kick. I’d recommend and would return again. . . .
My buddy’s birthday dinner at 破壞者珈琲食堂. Excellent food and good times. Good to see an old friends and make new ones. Cozy Japanese restaurant smack dab in the middle of Taipei. We had countless courses of food and wine. I’d certainly return and would recommend. . . .
Taiwanese Whisky - Kavalan. Visited the distillery in Yilan and blended my own bottle and went on a tour. Good times. Got to taste and blend a flavor profile that I liked and was able to bottle one to bring home. Cool experience. Then we went on a tour of their distillery and saw their operation. Very similar to the tour I took in Louisville. . . .
Japanese style bbq - yakiniku. High quality meats and good times with old friends. Various grades of beef, chicken, and pork. The chicken rice was good, which turned into a nice flavorful rice porridge. Located just north of the Songshan airport in a newish shopping mall, Noke. I believe I saw this place was reviewed by the Michelin guide. . . . .04
Roast duck at Silk Place. It was pretty good. The duck skin wrapped rice with cheese was something I never had - it will be quite memorable. The standard duck in green crepe skin was familiar, yet had a thicker chewier texture - was ordinary. The fried pancake with scallion and duck was not bad. But I think the last course was the best - the duck soup with cabbage. This soup was rich with flavor and hearty. I’d come back just for the soup. . . .
Drink at a cool little bar - F Gallery. They have big ice cubes for my makers mark old fashioned, which I liked. Wish I could have had more drinks. But it was a school night. Couldn’t stay out too late. I’d return. . . .
My 灶. One of the more notable Taiwanese restaurant in Taipei. Included in the Michelin guide - My “Stove” is known for their chicken, which is cooked with fruit. The dipping sauce are pretty good. One thing to note, when you make reservations you need to order this chicken ahead of time - at least 24hrs ahead. These dishes are all home style favorites done well. I dig the decor. This place could be known as one of Taiwanese drinking places since these dishes go well with beer. . . .
Taiwanese braised pork on rice. Lu Rou Fan 滷肉飯 one of Taiwan’s more famous dishes. At 金鋒魯肉飯 This a flavorful dish that can be found in almost any street stall. This place has been around for awhile and usually has a wait. . . .
Sunday night fights in Bangkok at Rajadamnern Stadium. Cool venue. With A/C!!! Got to see a bunch of fights and got really good seats. Muay Thai kickboxing is a really great spectator sport. There is action constantly. It was cool to hear the crowds go ooh and ahh and cheer for their favorite fighters. Good times! . . .
Thai Chicken Rice at Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice. A Michelin Bib Gourmand rated restaurant. This place is a local favorite, consider street food even though they have a restaurant. The chicken is boiled and the rice is fragrant, just like Hainan chicken rice. But the big difference is the sauce, which I didn’t take a photo of - it is dark savory and spicy with a hint of sweetness - just like me 🤣. Anyways. This was probably the best meal I had in Bangkok. The sauce is the one to return for. Yes I would return and would recommend. . . . #
Thai food at Ror Ruea. Really papaya salad, but incredibly spicy. Tom Yum soup was great with the mushrooms. Egg/shrimp rice was familiar Chinese style dish that my buddy liked. It had a small mom and pop feel, but with A/C. . . .
Snacking at Bangkok’s Chinatown. This Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in the world. This night market features Michelin Bib Gourmand rated stalls which have long lines. Some of the highlights include a rolled rice noodle soup, Chinese donut, and crispy pork belly. It was crowded and it was hot, regardless it was an interesting and fun time. . . .
Singaporean chicken. Yum! Similar to hainan chicken. But the chicken is steamed not boiled. Flavor soup! Love the hole-in-the-wall joint. Would recommend and would visit again. . . .
Thai food at Supanniga - a Michelin rated restaurant. Very good lunch with an old buddy. Haven’t been to Bangkok since 2011. Fresh coconut juice was refreshing and set my expectations high. . . .
Enjoying the experience at Koh Samui. Interesting airport, big Buddha, and the resort. Had a great time. Could have stayed longer. Fun times! . . .
Great outdoor Thai restaurant in Koh Samui. Had the crispy pork belly with rice. Also had the spicy pork neck soup and papaya salad. Yummy lunch. Really spicy and flavorful. . . .
Cantonese Bbq pork and roast pork belly over rice and pork meat ball soup. At short stop at HKG airport with a classic Cantonese deli meal. When I lived in HKG this was my favorite meal. I found great little restaurants that served this classic dish. Yet the first time I had this dish was in LA. I remember my mom bringing home bbq pork in a paper bag lined with foil. I remember later in college, we’d go to Sam Woo’s 三和 in Chinatown to order this or beef chow fun. I later grew to appreciate roast pork belly, too. Bbq pork or chasu or 叉燒 or cha siu. . . .
Nectar of gods or motor oil. Moutai Jiu is undisputed and most popular white wine of China. My classmates and I had a great dinner with Moutai. From the southwest region of China in Guizhou, Moutai has a unique flavor - you have to grow to like it. But some people will feel that Chinese white wine is like motor oil or rubbing alcohol. Strong AF. I do not recommend going up against anyone in a drinking contest if they can drink Chinese white wine. The typical shot of white wine is the size of a thimble. When u was in HKG I had a few drinking buddies who called ourselves the Moutai club. I have loads of stories of Chinese white wine. Another unique thing about this stuff is- you won’t get a hangover. I also think that Moutai, like tequila, get better after the third shot. Sorry for the ramblings. . . . .china
Had a burger today. A Chinese burger - black pepper beef Rou Jia Mo 肉夾饃. These are great. Shaanxi cuisine. Typically lamb is used. But you can find chicken, pork, or beef. The meat is stir fried with seasonings and inserted in a flaky bun. . . .
Scallion oil noodles. 蔥油拌麵 A Shanghainese dish. One of first things I had back in Shanghai. Haven’t been back here in years. . . .
Late night eats at an old favorite in a new location. The katsudon - pork cutlet with eggs and onion over rice. I usually get the oyakudon, but tonight I wanted something different. Unfortunately, it was quite salty - too salty for me. So, after the bill was paid, I told the server and owner. They welcomed the feedback and interestedly, they said feedback is great since it comes from customers that care. The poles that don’t care, and have issues, they just won’t return. I know I will return. And I also recommend. Suehiros was part of my college life. I will always associate Suehiros as part of little Tokyo. It is too bad they couldn’t stay at their 1st street location. . . .
Classic American Diner Breakfast at biscuits and gravy, sausage, eggs, and potatoes. Too bad they’re not open 24 hours anymore. They said they lack the staff and cooks to be open all day and night. They said so many people have been asking. It’s too bad since they’re not far from me. I’ve had so many memories of going there with friends from my days at USC, after late nights of fun, and just breakfast. Iconic LA place. . . .
Barbecue at Had the fatty beef brisket, bbq pork belly char siu, roast pork belly siu yuk, pork ribs, dirty rice, and mapo chili. Went with my fellow bbq judges. Big thanks to for setting it up! Glad we got there early, thank goodness for the rain, and the time change - or else we would have had to wait forever. I recommend the brisket - fatty, the roast pork belly siu yuk (if they didn't give me the burnt parts), dirty rice, and the mapo chili (which could have had more sichuan pepper corn seasoning). I'd visit again to try the beef ribs and chicken and might recommend if you're in the area. . . . .
