Basqueria in Malibu. The famed sandwich shop at Surf Canyon. Today’s sandwich was a chicken with nice crusty bread. Sebastian said he made about 90 sandwiches and he was sold out in about 25 minutes. Crazy. Nice selection of tinned seafood. Picked up some Spanish scallops.
Just tried Midoh at Sawtelle Place, and I’m hooked. Hamburg steak is one of my favorite Japanese dishes, and they nailed it. Don’t overlook this spot, it’s worth finding. .rowlandheights.official
Japanese Sandos from Niko Sandi had the egg salad and the pork cutlet. Also had the takoyaki. Would definitely go again and would highly recommend. Small shop tucked in quaintness of Brentwood.
Taiwanese lunch at Pine and Crane in dtla. We absolutely ordered way too much.
Diamond Jim Cut at Lawry’s The Prime Rib the Yorkshire pudding, creamed corn, and cream spinach. Great meal. It’s had been a minute since I was last here. I’m hope next time isn’t as long.
Had a chance to visit Lou’s Café in Westwood thought it was really good. I kinda like this interior better than the Ktown one I like the counter. It’s kind of cool to sit at a counter. This time we had the chicken rice and also the Hong Kong style toast. The toast was really good at inside. It had condensed milk, which is sweet. It’s actually a really tasty dessert. Again I would recommend and I would visit again. Just like the ktown one. Amazingly they have a nice following with small menu.
The big Met at Petit Trois. This is the famous burger at Petit Trois, a French cuisine restaurant. Tucked in a mini mall without any prominent signage, Chef Ludo has been one of the top restauranteurs
Anyways… of course I would recommend and would return. What also made this night special was the cool private room. I know for western cuisines there are some restaurants with private rooms. But I think when having a large dinner party - private rooms are the way to go! . . .
Unfortunately, I can't recommend this place. But I would give it another chance to see if they would either improve or if today was an off day. Its too bad, since you see the big in the back - so one of think they know what they are doing. . . . .
I want to discuss the frito pie. Interestingly I grew up in Southern California and I had the frito pie when I playing little league. And it wasn’t called that back then. I knew it as pepper bellies - and some times it included beans. I would argue with some of my Midwest friends about this nomenclature about the correct name, which was a non-winning expenditure of mental effortness - which I regret. But after all these not having pepper bellies - it took me back to the good old days of little league. Makes me want to make some at home. . . .
Pizza from Pizzeria Sei. We had the classic Margherita, the Bismarck with prosciutto cotto & egg, the Mala Lamb Sausage with spicy mala oil, and the Ruti pizza featuring hot honey and ricotta. I likee
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.
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. . . .
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
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. . . .
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. . . .
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. . . .
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. . . . .
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 . . .
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. . . .
Might be the best Char Siu in LA. If there is a better one please let me know. Check out for more pics . . . .
Some of the best cookies in LA . . . are from NYC. The five dollar cookie craze. Big oversized and pricey cookies! So as a I tried a bunch. Chocolate Chip Walnut, dark chocolate peanut butter chip, oatmeal raisin, and Rocky road. Though I am not a big fan of dark chocolate cookies, these were pretty good. I try not to eat sweets, but cookies are my weakness. At Levain, luckily when we got there, the line wasn’t that long. I don’t think I would have stood in a much longer line. The peanut butter chip was my favorite. The cookies all had a nice crumble and weren’t overly soft and cake-line. Texture was just right. The flavor was on the sweeter side, just bordering my sweet limit. Would I return - yes. Would I recommend - yes. Would I fight traffic and stand in a long ass line just to get cookies - no. I would come again if I was in the area. . . . .
Weekend brunch with friends at LA Brisket. Smoked brisket, pulled chicken, slaw, brisket salad, Texas toast, and fried chicken skin. Yes I said fried chicken skin. That was unique and really good (and Keto friendly). Glad this place is in DTlA Chinatown. Not far from me. Brisket is solid. The pulled chicken was a bit over cooked unfortunately. Regardless I’d still go again and would recommend. . . . . . .chinatown
Brunch at the Wayfarer Hotel in DTLA. Nice little rooftop restaurant. Bloody Mary was tasty and spicy. . . . . .
A visit to see the contemporary art at the Broad. Saw works from Warhol, Koons, and Basquiat. We missed Murakami’s exhibition by a month. . . . . .
Taiwanese lunch at Pine & Crane in DTLA. Beef noodle soup 台灣牛肉麵, Dan Dan noodles 擔擔麵, pork belly buns gua割包, and some sticky rice, seaweed and peanuts. I think Pine and Crane has a pretty good grasp of traditional and quite authentic Taiwanese food. Though I thought the beef noodle soup’s soup, could have been a little more hearty. But that’s more of personal preference. . . . . . . .
And lastly, had the dumplings. Too bad they were out of the chicken dumplings by 11am. I bet they didn’t even have that day. The pork was good. The beef was unmemorable. The veggie was ok. Their cooking style is quite traditional. Except I would have liked a more crispy skin. I think the unique fillings and wrapper colors were the big draw. I’d order again, just to try the chicken. . . . . . .
Tacos from Guisados. Fish tacos - grilled not fried. I love these tacos. Not a fan of fried fish tacos. Also got the 6 mini taco sampler for $8.50 - great deal. I forgot about this place. I think they are probably the best taco joint in DTLA, could go up against guerrilla tacos. . . . . .
BBQ in Chinatown. LA Brisket. We ordered the OG bowl with Beef Brisket. But it was a little too dry. And the brisket slices were unexpectedly thin. Not sure about the accompanying green salsa sauce. Reminded me of salsa verde. The slaw was really good and sour - just the way I like it. The pork ribs, seemed like small portion. They taste well and had good flavor and texture (that’s the CBJ in me). The loaded fries with brisket was quite hearty, yet seemed to lack enough fries, strangely. I liked the fries a lot. The single Texas toast was good, wish they gave us another slice. Not sure if I recommend, yet. But I’d return just to try others. Brisket 7 for taste, 8 for tenderness, 7 for appearance. Pork ribs 8 taste, 8 for tenderness, and 8 for appearance. . . . . . . .chinatown
Happy Hour at Sara the Wine Bar. Bruschetta, margarhetti pizza, seafood pasta. Fresh pasta made in-house. Cool little spot that’s not too crowded. Would return and would recommend . . . . .
Seafood at . Great little place for oysters and seafood. Lobster roll was really good. The scallops were some of the best ever. The blue crab dip with ritz crackers were great. But the Santa Barbara uni with the white chips and fresh wasabi was some of the best ever!! . . . . .
Birria Torta with consume. From tacos y Birria La Unica. From the Boyle heights location on Olympic. I think a torta might be the best vehicle to eat Birria with consume. The bread soaks up the juices from the consume soup. Bread is like a sponge, where a tortilla doesn’t retain as much. Imagine it is like a French dip sandwich. Also, this place closes early - around 4:30ish. Wish they opened later. Next time I want to try goat Birria. . . . . . .
Pine & Crane vegan lunch. Dan Dan noodles, Sha Gua noodles (stupid noodles), tofu steam buns, bok choy fried dumplings, seaweed, and fried peanut salad. And of course the traditional Taiwanese shaved ice. Yummy and healthy. Popular spot with street parking only. Outdoor seating is best. . . . . .
An Austin Original - Torchy’s Tacos. Breakfast Tacos! The South Congress location is a cool spot on the iconic street. I had the Miya’s (V), the Wrangler (with smoked beef brisket), and the with jalapeño cheddar sausage, egg & cheese. And of course, for breakfast, chips and green chili queso. Queso in Austin has not been copied well in Los Angeles. I fully recommend Torchy’s. . . . . .
Ace 26 tacos! Carne Asada, Carnitas, and Al Pastor. And a potato! Check out the trompo! They were forced to move. But I think this location is better. More parking and large space. . . .
Birria tacos and churros! Freshly made churros are the best. Check out the sweet Dodgers churro Beatle! Birrieria Pavon is my favorite Birria taco stand. Convenient and open late. . . . . .
Wet . . . . . . . . And pie, too. Blueberry and cherry . . . .
The burger at Farther’s Office in DTLA’s Arts District. Very yummy burger and nicely spiced fries. Washed it down with some tart pear cider. I needed that acidic cider since burger was lusciously rich and decadent. Its no wonder that the F.O. Burger is one of the notable burgers of LA. It’s tough to grab a snapshot of this burger. I’ve tried so often it not easy to find the right angle at night while a little buzzed. The fries were surprisingly good. I expected something a little more than something dried bordering on stale. But the flavor was good along with the dipping sauce. Anyways. I was more surprised that F.O. Wasn’t too crowded on a Saturday night. . . . . .
Cole’s French Dip. I had to have Cole’s also. But in reality, I had Cole’s first then Phillipe’s. Everyone will ask - which is better? Let’s point out the differences - thicker slices of beef at Cole’s. Larger bread roll. Larger portions, too 😀 And Cole’s serves these French dip sandwiches till 11:30pm. Plus you can get mixed drinks at Cole’s. I think the hot spicy horse radish mustard is about the same. Nice bite. I did like the gator tots. I think it comes down to personal preference. I can really do both. . . . . .
Philippe’s French Dip. Beef double dip, cold slaw, and lemon meringue pie. The spicy horse radish mustard is a must have with your sandwich. Makes all the difference. Today was a good day. . . . .
Lunch at Wurstkuche. Bratwurst, Spicy Hot Link, and duck sausage and fries. . . . . .
Birrieria tacos. Yummy. Second time here and won’t be the last. . . . .
Shabu Shabu at Kagaya. Wagyu Beef set course at arguably the best Shabu Shabu restaurant in LA. Glad to have had it before the owner retires. But I understand the new owners are taking over right after. . . . . .
Steak at the Palm in DTLA. The tomahawk ribeye and a bunch of sides. Started off with a nice bottle of wine. Solid steakhouse that came from NYC. . . . . .
Brunch at Poppy & Rose. Benedict’s - avocado and fried chicken. And of course a Bloody Mary. Rooftop outdoor dining patio on top of a parking structure at DTLA’a flower district. Make sure you make reservations for weekend seating. Unfortunately the biscuits were a bit too tough for me. I’d still return and recommend. Make sure you park on top of the roof of the parking structure. OpenTable reservations. . . . . .
Great drinks and cool bar. Nice patio with outdoor bar. I would describe them as having finely crafted drinks with bitters. I’ve been told this is the place where bartenders go for drinks. . . . . .
Whiskey and Cigars at had some great whiskeys, bourbons and scotches. also had a cigar. And had some iberico ham to snack on. . . . . .
Sichuan food 川菜 at Xiang La Hui 香辣汇. We had Spicy Roasted Fish with Red Peppers 香辣风味烤鱼, which was super spicy. The square caldron of fire had a simmering oily broth of goodness with cauliflower, potatoes, peanuts, a fish, and of course spicy and mouth numbing Sichuan peppercorns called Hua Jiao 花椒. Out mouths were in a constant state of fire. But with the fish and hua Jiao, it numbed our tongues to allow us to eat more. Not sure if that is a good thing. Later on, I realized that we needed to have the plum juice 酸梅湯, which is a sweet and sour juice. This juice, a typical Chinese drink, is offered at hot pot joints as well as Sichuan restaurants, really hits the spot and soothes your overly excited taste buds and neutralizes that spicy mouth fire tingly sensation, just so you can eat more. I’m sure you’ll pay for it later, if you know what I mean 🚽. We also had House Special Pork Belly 梅菜扣肉, which isn’t a Sichuan dish, but it was perfect for us. The sliced pork was overly salty which had its place for our taste buds, since we had spicy, sweet, sour, and now salty. We each had a bowl of rice to make sure we were full. I recommend this place, but I caution those who might not be ready for a full tongue sensory overload. . . . . .
Gamjatang and Bo-Ssam. The Gamjatang, pork neck with potatoes had good flavor and texture. But it was a challenge to pick and eat the meat. The Bo-Ssam, the boiled pork belly, was messy but yummy with the cabbage wraps and sauces. . . . . . . ❤️❤️❤️
Barbecue Day at Moo’s Craft Barbecue. Beef brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, pork belly burnt ends, sides of corn, Mac and cheese, and slaw. Yummy. Too bad they were out of beef ribs. I heard that not a lot of people are ordering beef ribs. Heck, took beef ribs off the menu. Moo told me that it isn’t that popular. People just don’t know. Smoked Beef Ribs are king if they are done right. . . . . . . . .
Favorite diner. This is how I think American diners should/ought to be. Stereotypical diners with staff in uniforms, classic coffee mugs, hearty meals, and great breakfasts. Only wish they had a Bloody Mary to go with the meal. Too bad they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. And now they open at 7am and close at 5pm. I hope they return to 24 hours soon. . . . .
NFL Experience in DTLA. Lots of cool things to do and see. Interesting. Great for kids. But unfortunately there are lots of lines . . . . .
Vegan Mexican. Potato pimento flautas, enchiladas verdes, and jack fruit carnitas tacos. . . . . . .
Sunday Brunch at Americano in the Art’s District. Pulled pork and polenta and fried chicken and waffles. And of course huge Bloody Mary. . . . . .
Breakfast at JiST cafe. . . . .
Lunch at Manuela in the arts district in DTLA. Started off with the house Bloody Mary with heirloom tomatoes. Then we shared an order of their cast iron biscuits. And we had the venison burger, chilaquiles, and Mary’s grilled chicken sandwich. Their outdoor seating in this reclaimed flour factory is a really interesting setting. With the art galleries nearby it resembles the Beijing’s 798 art district. Manuela also has a garden area that is open evenings where you can eats and drink next to a chicken coop. Parking sucks in this area. But they do have valet parking available. . . . . . .
Cold brew tea and lunch at Steep. Had the braised pork on rice, the chicken rice, and pork soup noodles. I think the pork soup noodles were the best. I loved the flavorful broth. The chicken rice, similar to a Hainan chicken rice, did have the expected garlic rice - but it wasn’t suppose to hence the name. The braised pork over rice with the soft boiled egg was not bad. I did like my pu-erh tea. I like the glass bottles. . . . . . . .
Part 2 at Sushi Gen. Here’s the salmon, miso cod, beer, octopus cucumber salad, and ankimo. . . . . .
Weekend brunch at All Day Baby on Sunset. Of course I had the Bloody Mary. Had the ADB breakfast biscuit sandwich with sausage, which was an extravagant McDonald’s sausage biscuit sandwich. Sausage was thick, juicy, and flavorful. Then there was the hot crab sandwich with avocado. We had the weekend only black pepper fennel sausage roll, which was heavy on fennel and black pepper which I dig. And finished with the PBJ fluffer nutter and a mini banana cream pie. The bans cream pie was exceptional, which the solid banana chunks, the caramel sauces bottom, and the flaky crust. Good day to enjoy brunch on a sunny weekend morning. . . . . .
Our third stop for Hainan Chicken Rice is at Maxwell Chicken Rice in DTLA Chinatown. Maxwell is the name of Food Centre in Singapore with famous hawkers selling street food including Hainan Chicken rice. And in DTLA, this place does not disappoint. The tender and not dry dark meat chicken is succulent with slight flavors. Then again it isn’t about bold flavors. The sauces provide the added taste along with the fragrant garlic chicken rice. Unfortunately I didn’t take picture of the sauces. What makes Maxwell standout is there fried egg and their Vietnamese-influence garlic noodles. I would try again and recommend. . . . . . .
Dinner in DTLA. Joined the DTLA Dinner Club and had a great dinner with six courses. First was the endive lobster boat, then 2nd was the caramelized fennel and leek gratin. For the third course, we had the uni bacon on baguette. The fourth course was a summer salad. And fifth course was braised mocha beef cheeks. And the final course was a homemade donut with ricotta. Nice outdoor terrace with great weather and to meet interesting people. Very cool joint. . . . . .
Hanchic. I would characterize this place as modern Korean or Korean fusion. We had their interpretation of Kalbi Jjim. It had all the flavors and textures of tradition Kalbi Jjim but presented in a different way. It was my favorite dish. Check out that large beef rib bone. We also had ragu tteokbokki and the chamchi toast as starters. And with the one-in Kalbi Jjim, we had the bulgogi risotto. Everything was really good and had the familiar flavors. Also, they don’t have their liquor license yet, so it is byob. There is a liquor store nearby if you need to pick up some booze. . . . . . . .la
Lunch at the Terrace at the Maybourne. Had to have my spicy Bloody Mary. Almost too spicy. We should a rotisserie chicken salad, and handmade corn agnolotti, and pan seared red snapper. Great views and service. . . . . .
The final addition to the Chronicles of Carnitas of East Los Angeles - Carnitas Michoacán. I argue that the best Mexican food region in the US is right here in East Los Angeles/Boyle Heights. The long-standing community has great establishments that celebrate carnitas and culture. Carnitas Michoacán is a 24 hour restaurant that my friends and I used to frequent at the end of a fun night out. Close to the freeway and with a big menu, it is still a place I would stop by late at night. It is said that carnitas was originated in the state of Michoacán. . . . . . .
The Chronicles of Carnitas continues at Porky’s Carnitas. Had to try a place with such a eponymous name. Though not a fan of offal and unfried pork skin - the mixto taco with everything was really good. The texture and moistness was there. While the regular shredded caritas was on the dry side. This revelation has caused me to rethink mixto tacos. . . . . .
The Chronicles of Carnitas of East LA. Starting off with the Zamora Bros. Heard about these guys awhile ago. Had three tacos and torta. And also had a half pound of the chicharrones. The torta was excellent with the cheese. Next time I will have a torta with everything on it. Anyways, I think the Zamora Bros has the best chicharrones in town. . . . . . . . .eastla
Ice Cream! Busman soft serve ice cream. One of those trendy soft serve ice cream joints in KTown. Soft and creamy. They have lots of toppings and even have waffle cones. Small place and long lines. Only street parking available. . . . . . .
Birria Burritos from Burritos La Palma. Simple and little birria burritos. Tasty! . . . . . . .
Chicken sando at pikunico. Yummy. One of the best if not the best chicken sandwich I have ever had. Just enough spiciness and flavor. Good crunchy texture for mouth feel. The side salad was good too. I had the seaweed cucumber salad. All this for $15 for the dinela lunch deal. . . . . .
Seolleongtang at Han Bat Sul Lung Tang. Beef and glass noodle in a milky bone broth. Great on a winters day. You get to season it the way you like it. . . . . .
Valentine’s Day dinner at Bavel. Mediterranean/Middle Eastern cuisine. Excellent food, great service, and wonderful decor. Make sure you get the oyster mushrooms - my favorite of the night. . . . . . .
Injeolmi Bingsoo and the milk ice cream. The presentation was unexpectedly pretty awesomely nice. Didn’t expect that. The shaved ice was better than expected. And the milk ice cream was not overly sweet which was good. We came here wanting to go to another dessert place - which is now closed - but got lucky and found this place. Cafe Bora in K-town is a place we would gladly return to. . . . . .
Porchetta sandwich at and pastrami burnt ends from ans rice balls and fried yucca from a place I forgot the name . . . . . .
The F.O. Burger! It’s all about their sauce. The unique flavor of the burger with their sauce makes this, what I think, one of the most notable burgers in a LA. Without a doubt! Also had the shoestring fries and chorizo balls. . . . .
Feeling healthy and went to Veggie Grilll. Had the Santa Fe Crispy Chickin’ and a side of Mac and cheese. The sandwich was surprisingly good. The Mac and cheese was tasteless. Ugh. I was told if I eat meatless lunches I am less likely to fall asleep after lunch. Might try once a week . . . . . .
Double Cheese Smashed Burger from Burgers Never Say Die. Pretty solid burger with an interesting crunchy texture from the thin burger patties. I like it. But the burgers seem small in portion. I should have considered ordering two. Their price seems a bit high for a single order of their “regular” burger. Their fries are just ok - but generous in portion. This place is popular from youtubers. Would I go again? Yes. Do I recommend? Yes. Would I drive this far again just for it - maybe. . . . . .
Seolleongtang on a chilly December day. Not that chilly today in Southern Cal but regardless it’s still a good and hearty. Seolleongtang is a Korean beef and glass noodle soup. We had the beef brisket one and I had the galbi one. When you order yours make sure you add the salt, pepper, scallions, and rice into the bowl. Don’t forget the kimchi juice, kimchi juice. . . . . .
Brown sugar deeriocra (fresh milk/fresh soy) and orange lulu earl grey with orange. The Alley is another chinese or Taiwanese imported boba tea shop. To me they are all the same. Very hard for me to tell the difference from one shop to another. . . . . .usa .la
Oyaku Don, Udon, and Saba. Suehiro is Little Tokyo’s Japanese Denny’s. Love this place. Can always good Japanese comfort dishes. They good rice dishes, ramen, and other dishes. Open Late. But parking sucks - only paid lots and barely any street parking available. . . . . . .
Chorizo and Steak Tacos from Sonoratown in DTLA. Excellent tortillas and the chorizo was awesome. Wish they had a pork option. The beef chimichanga was also yummy - just enough spice. I would visit again. 2nd Stop of the Taco Crawl DTLA. Omg I am so full!!! . . . .
Pork Terrine Taco and Baja Shrimp Taco from Guerrilla Tacos. Third and last stop of the Taco Crawl in DTLA. Yummy. Tasty and more messy. Good flavor and texture. Love my pork tacos. . . . .
Lunch with buds. Plan Check’s patty melt, burger, and asian salad. Yum! . . . .
Late night meal in DTLA at the Original Pantry Cafe. Breakfast all day and night. Country fried steak and eggs with potatoes, green beans, cole slaw, and chicken noodle soup. I love this place. I like going on weekends and having breakfast at the counter. Hate the long lines. . . . .
Dinner at Malibu Farm Restaurant & Bar. Avocado Hurache, skirt steak, Salmon, Spaghetti Squash Lasagna, cauliflower pizza, and coconut carrot cake. Yummy and healthy. No guilt. . . . .
Malibu Sport Fishing Pier with the iconic sign. . . . .
Burger here and a burger there. . . . .
Blues Traveler in DTLA. Summer concerts at Pershing Park. . . . .
Kanpachi ceviche, fish taco, and octopus taco at Holbox at the Mercado, near USC. Excellent seafood. Fresh and tasty. Yummy . . .
Lobster Pizza and truffle Flat Bread. Pretty good pizza . . .
Brunch at ERB . . .
Brunch at Sqirl. Long ass lines. Flimsy outdoor table and chairs. Smelly sidewalk. And crowded street parking. Thought this place was a foo-foo organic, gluten-free, vegan, bland cafe. Yet, I would recommend and return. Everything including the French toast, quiche, drinks, griddle, the rice bowl, and even the cheese was really good. Yummy! . . .
Good times with old friends at Inko Nito. Great venue and location. . . .
Oyaku-Don at Suehiro’s. One of my favorite Japanese dishes - chicken, egg, and onion over rice. Simple and hearty. Ramen was also not bad. . . .
Dry Aged Beef Burger at the rooftop restaurant at NoMad. . . .
Affogato at Eataly. A new favorite drink (or dessert). What is it? It sounds like avocado (which is how I will remember it). The Classico is espresso with a couple of scoops of Fior Di Latte Gelato (a sweet heavy cream milk gelato, originally/mistakenly thought as just vanilla ice cream). This sort of Root Beer Float is pretty good. The gelato sweetens the espresso and makes a yummy icey coffee drink. . . . . . . . I was feeling blue with my nails today 🤪
Bowl Cut at Lawry’s and all the accoutrements. . . .
Pizza and pasta at Gelso & Grand. And hello to our new friends from LA! . . .
Doubleheader at Yankee stadium watching Baltimore at New York. Check out that thick cut bacon. When is that coming to LA? . . .
Sausage and fries for lunch at Wurstküche in the Arts District in DTLA. Yum! Duck and bacon sausage and bratwurst sausage and large fries. Fries with curry ketchup and Thai peanut sauce. I really dig the crunchy fries. I like the texture more than anything since the fries taste is a bit bland without sauce. . .
Great Sunday with the family pigging our at LA’s Smorgasburg. We had Beef Rib BBQ at Moo’s, garlic fried yucca from Sus Arepas, began ice cream sandwich from Madame Shugah, vegan Mac and Cheese from Avocado Mama, Fries from Super Frites, oysters from the Jolly Oyster, Spam Musubi from Mam Musubi. And also saw Brazilian brigadiero from Maya’s Yum! 📸: . missing
Eating at the bar at Dama in DTLA, fashion district. Had the bread, corn, clams, prawns, empanadas, and potatoes. Washed it down with the Sierra Norte and Pina Colada. Good ambience and crowd tonight. .
Pad Thai, chicken curry, shrimp rolls, and vegetables at Thai BBQ. Average Thai American restaurant. Noodles were too chewy and the chicken was tough. Not sure if there was suppose to be lemongrass, which was absent. Pretty sure I won’t return. Looks like like they were solid with their fried rice - which other patrons were ordering. Also, the majority of their menu was American style single plates. . . .
My drink, the Boiler Maker, at the Hudson during Happy Hour. Fried cauliflower and Mac’n cheese.
Satisfying breakfast at Jenny’s Kitchen. Chilaquiles with a couple of over easy eggs and pork chili verde. With potatoes. Buddy had the same thing. Cool little place that looks like time has stopped with the classic photos.
Philadelphia Hoagies at Big Jo’s. Ate too much!
Hunan cuisine at Hunan Mao Restaurant. My favorite Hunan Restaurant in LA. Preserved pork, eggplant and green beans, pork belly, steamed spare rib with steamed cake . . .
Awesome tasting Japanese Pork Katsu sandwiches from Konbi. Also had the egg omelette sandwich too. Only problem was the crust - I think in Japan, they usually cut off the crust. But Konbi leaves the crust on. Also had the canele, which is not pictured. . . .
The While Plate Short Rib and kakigori shaved ice dessert at Majordomo. Yum! They say the Short rib is for 4-6 people but it was just fine for 4. 🤪 . . .
Snapshots in passing . . . . . .
Awesome brunch spot at the ROW DTLA. Rappahannock Oyster Bar - with lobster Benedict, shrimp and grits, and brioche French toast and yummy kimchi biscuits! . . .
Best Taquitos in LA! Cielito Lindo on Olvera Street. . . .
Biergarten in Ktown. The fried chicken wings were amazing. The chicken sandwich was so-so. And the kalbi poutine was also very good. Also I can’t forget the kimchi Bloody Mary! Yum! Excellent choice to watch football games. Not too crowded and not empty. Former Ram - Ivory Sully and a couple of Rams Cheerleaders helped make the game a little more interesting. . . . .
The cheeseburger potsticker at Ms Chi in Culver City. Crispy chicken, Maobo tofu, tator tots, Brussels sprouts, and Buddha beer. . . . .
Lechon roast pork at El Cochinito. Nice fatty cut if pork, black beans and rice, and steamed yucca. Wife likes the yucca. And had a Yerba matte soda. . . . .
Old school Korean BBQ. Haven’t been here in ages - over 25 years. Had the premium rib and the Yu Ki Jang. . . . .
Saturday Brunch at Manuela DTLA. Airy little restaurant. We had the pork collar & eggs, lamb sausage, chorizo burger, biscuits, and green beans. Liked the place but a bit pricey. . . . .
Beyond the Streets - street art. Great look and up close exhibition of art with some well known artists like and . . . .
Found the Secret Swing in Elysian Park. Easy to find but a bit of a tough ascent. Well worth the views. . . . .
Dinner with wife at Public School 213. She had the PS burger and I had the Roasted Beet & Goat Cheese Salad with a side of Brussels Sprouts. I always liked this gastropub . . . .
The Sparrow Mart .... last day - tomorrow! Interesting stuffed everyday products. Maruchan Ramen, Jameson, and Heinz Ketchup were the best sellers. Compelling and fascinating concept. . . . . .
Spicy Galbi Jim with Cheese at Sun Nong Dan. With a couple of soups. . . . .
The A.P.L. at Majordomo. Korean marinated and smoked beef rib. So tender, tasty, and amazing. Must order if you go to Majordomo! . . . . . .cheng0130
Shanghainese lunch at Yummy Rice. Funny name. One of the better shanghainese restaurants in LA. Braised pork was ok. Vegetable fried rice was good. The cold dish of cucumber and diced soy tofu was good. The spicy wontons and fried fish were even better. Recommend! . . . .
Chuan Chuan in LA at JiouDing Hot Pot. Spicy as hell. One of the most uncomfortable meals, but I can’t wait to try it again. 🤪 imagine this - you go pick a bunch of skewers of meats and vegetables. Then they take them and return them in a cauldron of hot spicy flavorful oil. Then you snack on each of the skewers after a quick dip in garlic oil. We had 52 skewers at $0.39 a skewer. Make sure you get the plum juice. Yum! Unlike anything I’ve ever had. Even in China! . . . . .
Amazing ceviche at La Guerrerense in Ensenada. We had sea urchin, octopus, and fish ceviche. Then had crab salad and the shrimp special with avocado. Yummy. Unlike anything I ever had! . . . . . .
Quick lunch at NYC KTown Food Gallery. Seafood mini hot pot and chicken kimchi fried rice.. . . .
A return to Gammeeok. Had the Sogogi, fried chicken wings, and the galbi tang. The wings were better than expected. . . .
Lunch at Pine & Crane. Taiwanese fare in Silver Lake, minutes from DTLA. Couldn’t order in Taiwanese, was skeptical. But was slightly surprised. Shrimp dumplings had good sauce. Noodle texture was right on the Jia Jiang Mian and Dan Dan mian, but wasn’t the right noodle for me - but that’s just me. The luo ruo fan (braised pork over rice) was ok - preferred diced pork belly instead of ground pork. Sausage, cold sides, and drinks is good for the authentic experience, especially the Taiwan Apple Sidra. And enjoyed the scallion pancake 蔥油餅. Yes, I am Taiwanese and I have set a high bar and should. I’m glad to see so many non-Asians discovering, trying, and accepting Taiwanese food. I dig it. . .
Wonderful dinner at Bavel, sister restaurant of Bestia. Unexpectedly refreshing Middle Eastern cuisine that we usually don’t have. We had foie gras halva and olives to start. Then we had my favorite - the Malawach flat bread. The grilled oyster mushrooms and grilled octopus was yummy. I want to reproduce the mushrooms at home, seriously. And finished off with the grilled lamb saddle chop - never had that before. Yum! Can’t wait to visit again. . .
Picanha at lunch at Fogo de Chão. Picanha is one of the best cuts of beef. Yum! . .
Late meal at Canter’s. 1/2 corned beef sandwich with chicken soup and chicken liver and onions with mashed potatoes and potato pancakes. And some pickles.
Tandoori Chicken Burrito from the Bombay Frankie Company at a Chevron Station. Not bad. Saucey
Had to check out Mr. Holmes, since it was close by. Had the savory danish and the churro croissant.
2nd time at Majordomo. Started with the Bread Bing with Benton’s Reserve Ham to go with a couple of drinks. Next up was the Tapioca Lo Mein - which was the standout of the night. The humongous Spicy Bo Ssäm (for 4-6 people) arrived. Though it was flavorful - it wasn’t as moist (fatty) as we would have liked. Then the requisite veggie dish came (finally) - the Marinated Mushrooms - which was better than expected. Then they stuffed us with the Japanese shaved ice dessert kakigöri, which was the only repeat from our first visit. Yummy but so full. 謝謝 to FYI pork butt = pork shoulder.
Haven’t been back to OB Bear in over 20 years.
Dinner at Rossoblu. Northern Italian cuisine. Had the Salumi plate and braised pork meat balls to start. Then went for the MALTAGLIATI, RISOTTO and NONNA’S TAGLIATELLE AL RAGU’ BOLOGNESE. And finished off with MILK-BRAISED PORK SHOULDER and DRY-AGED HOLSTEIN BEEF TAGLIATA
Dinner at David Chang’s Majordomo. We had 2 Bings - a smoked pork neck & fried egg and a eggs & smoked roe. Both were better than expected. Then had fried butter ball potatoes which had salsa seca and peanuts with interesting texture mix. The Jumeokbap - a DIY rice ball was a crowd pleaser. The black cod in paper, unfortunately not photogenic, had familiar and like-able Chinese or Asian flavors. We also mixed in some yummy fried onion rings. And we finished off the entrees with the popular crispy pork belly with lettuce leaves. We finished off this feast with the two desserts - the only ones available. A shaved ice with fruit - my favorite - that literally melted in your mouth (as soon as you touch it). And had an interesting cinnamon sweet bing (forgot the name) that was also memorable. We need another visit to try the other dishes, like the meats and noodles. Yummy and Yay!
Korean desserts black sesame shaved ice with red beans. And hot pumpkin porridge
Korean Dinner at Genwa Korean BBQ in Beverly Hills we had chapchae, kimchi pancake, beef, pork belly bbq, seolleongtang, sundubue, and tolsopbimbibap. Too much.
Satisfied our craving for Sichuan Chinese food
French cafe with great sandwiches
She said it is the best hunan restaurant in LA. Quite authentic.
Lights and electricity at got to see the Tesla Coil in action at the observatory
Pizza Night . Had the Alla’nduja pizza, the magherita pizza, roasted heirloom cauliflower, Mussels & Clams, pork belly alla plancha and the Spaghetti Rustichella. The mussels & clams were memorable with the spicy broth. The pizza crust had a nice texture and chewiness. The spaghetti with crab meat was also very good. Overall was a success! sorry for the Alla’njuda pizza picture being out of focus.
Too much ice cream. One of the most flavorful and tart strawberry ice cream!!
BBQ at in we had pork ribs, moist beef brisket, beef rib ends, shredded pork, corn bread, collard greens, and baked beans. So much food. I dig the brisket, baked beans, collard greens, and pork ribs.
Mild chicken sandwich and mild leg/thigh 📱📷 by . Arrived at 10, an hour before opening, and there was a 30+ ppl line ahead. Left at 11:40ish with a line longer than we arrived.
Sausage and egg sando I love eggs. I could eat this every day. If I lived closer, I just might.
Pizza, pasta, canoli, gelato, and lasagna at the pizza crust was good, but a little greasy in the middle. The Lasagna was pleasantly better than expected. The meat sauce was good. Ate too much. Suggestion: Go early to avoid the crowds and waits
Pork Sandwich and Bloody Mary I haven’t had it in a long time. Was way better than expected. I liked the bread with the slight crunchy and crispness, chewy. The dip was deal with this chewy bread. The pork pieces were good, but cut a bit too small. The spicy mustard was a nice accompaniment.
Harissa Chicken Sandwich at the .la The Sandwich was quite juicy and flavorful. One of the better chicken sandwiches ever.
Texas BBQ at yummy pulled pork and smoked brisket.
Dinner at in We had the sausage pizza, the lasagna, Caesar salad, Mac & cheese, and portobello mushroom fries. Also had a couple of the woodchuck Apple cider - yum! The lasagna was one of the best I have ever had. The pizza and Caesar were as expected, as was the Mac & cheese. The portobello mushroom fries were quite good - fried with a little cheese and a good sauce.
Beer can chicken, OG Ribs, kale salad, and popcorn. The chicken was nice and crispy without heavy flour type fried chicken. Salad was refreshing and acidic - good with the chicken.
Sandwiches the Peruvian Steak, Pork Belly Banh Mi, and Prosciutto Chicken sandwiches. Got to try them all. I really liked the Prosciutto Chicken sandwich - I definitely will order this next time.
Gamjatang (pork neck soup) and selleongtang (beef soup). Wonderful and hearty and perfect for a chilly LA night. Gamjatang was unexpectedly spiced with flavor. Selleongtang, my go to Korean soup, was good after I salted and peppered it. Unfortunately the potatoes were raw and uncooked. But they gave us a 10% discount. Yay! 😀
Pizza at POT Pizza in had the pepperoni pizza and the Ktown special (with kimchi). Good price for a large slice. Had to order the pepperoni - as the requisite option and also the unique Ktown kimchi pizza. Strange but tasty combo - would order again without a doubt.
Grilled Shrimp bowl from says the grilled shrimp was really good.
Reuben and meatloaf at the am LA institution - unfortunately the Reuben (grislely) and meatloaf (carrots undercooked) was so-so. I should have gotten a simple breakfast.
Getty Villa - a few interesting pieces.
Getty Villa museum exterior. I dig the herb garden, vine covered walkway, and the outdoor forum.
The hot Italian and Austin blues sausage. Large fries with chipotle ketchup dipping sauce. DTLA favorite
I really like fried chicken just enough spice in the Nashville style chicken and sweetness in the honey sweetened. But the regular spiced seemed a bit too salty. Otherwise it is a big winner! I liked the sides with the slaw, fries, and beans. The mint lemonade was very good too. I would definitely return.
12oz prime rib, lawry’s salad with roast beef, and a roast beef dip sandwich. Good pregame meal before the King’s game
Lunch
Our 3rd visit to The Broad. Nice little afternoon visit with a 40 minute wait.
Korean BBQ in the has one of the longest waits. I’m glad that this area gets more Korean food options. But I’ve been told that the KTown location is better. I can’t really tell the difference. Tonight, we had beef brisket and spicy pork belly. The brisket was great but the spicy pork belly was too sweet. I liked the kimchi fried rice a lot, with the box shaking presentation.
One of my favorite ramen shops in LA. Super crowded on a Saturday night. It strangely they are now the Spirit Airlines of ramen, which means everything is a la carte. Their basic ramen is just noodles, broth, green onions, ginger, and a couple of slices of pork. Everything else, like typical the typical egg, bamboo shoots, corn, seaweed, etc is extra. Sure they have preset combinations - which is so American. Anyways.m, I still like the place, but hate the wait. Check out their big festival at the beginning of September st their Gardena location. I think we might just go. .restaurant.gr
Weekend Chicken and Waffles at
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This is the last in a series of Truck Feasting Week. Check out my earlier posts of the Flying Pig, Lomo Arigato, World Fare, and Border Grill.
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I’ve been asked to write a little about this place. So, here it goes. . .
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