Penguin Eats

Osha Thai @ SF

2011-07-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

I think I did a post on Osha Thai a few years ago, but I think it merits another update, especially when pictures are taken with my new Nikon P300. Osha Thai is just as delicious as before, and prices are typical of SOMA. Honestly, Thai food should not be that expensive. A bowl of curry should be $6 at most, because in the motherland it's probably $1 if not less! But just like all the other southeast asian food that exists in the states, there's always a markup. Quite sad really. Regardless, Osha Thai is a good place to get thai food if you're in the area, the dishes are a good size, and it's pretty authentic.

Duck Curry

this is ohhh soo good, but it is also ohhh so spciy. you see that red sauce that the duck is sitting in? well that will hurt going in as well as going out. however, it's quite amazing, just need a giant bowl of rice to go with it. best part of the duck? completely deboned! so this is a date friendly food, you don't have to worry about picking out bones as you eat in front of your date

Pad See Eww

super flavorful and fresh (definitely can taste the fish sauce) but the beef was a little tough, i think they overcooked it

Tak Kee Lee @ SF

2011-07-03T16:56:00.000-07:00

Tak Kee Lee has a great breakfast deal. $5.25 for a bowl of noodles (your choice of 3 proteins, choice of noodles), toast and milk tea - and you get to add your own condense milk. Yay! You can also have two eggs, sausage/bacon/ham, hashbrowns, toast and milk tea for the same price. ABC may be across the street, but the owners at Tak Kee Lee are more hospitable, take more care/attention to your food and the prices are much more reasonable. Don't buy into the ABC non-sense!

Two Eggs, Sausage, Hashbrowns and Toast

Flat Rice Noodles w. Fried Egg, Satay Beef and Preserved Vegetables

this bowl will make you full until 2pm, and keep you going the whole day!

Lychee Season!

2011-07-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

Did you know it's Lychee season? I do love summer, not only is it warmer outside, but there are more variety of fruits than just oranges and apples. Lychee may not look too tasty on the outside, and yes it looks pokey, but they don't hurt at all (unless you're in southeast Asia some where a whole bunch falls on you while you walk under a tree), and they juicy, sweet and crunchy on the outside. The best part is when the seed inside is small relative to the meat. They are super refreshing on a hot day. I don't recommend paying more than $2.99 a pound, because it's not worth it at all.

Mel's Diner @ SF

2011-07-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

Pure nostalgia!!! Mel's Diner may not embody culinary excellence, heck it makes burgers and there are other places that make better burgers in San Francisco, but it's something about biting into a mushroom burger that sends me back to when I was 10 years old. A time when life was simple, when I literally did live day by day, and did not have to worry about, home, family, bills, work, etc - all the stuff that comes with adulthood; responsibility. This is the reason why I return to Mel's time and time again, and why I always order the mushroom burger.

Onion Rings

Mushroom Burger!

Iz It Fresh Grill @ SF

2011-07-03T16:31:00.000-07:00

Two dollars for a fried drumstick may be pricey, but the chinese fried chiclen from Iz It Fresh Grill is damn good, and boy is it fresh - made to order! It's different from southern fried chicken, chinese fried chicken has a thin layer of breading if anything, and it's flavored with asian spices - I believe five spice. The skin is crunchy and the inside is juicy. It reminds me of the fried chicken I've had in Central California at the Cultural Center, and that recipe is long lost, or the fried chicken drumettes I've had in Chinatown as a kid (man those fried chicken drumettes were good, my grandpa would get mad that I would buy fried chicken from another deli than to eat the ones he sold, hahaha).

Brass Knuckle @ SF

2011-07-03T16:22:00.000-07:00

While hanging at OTG on Thursday at Upper Haight I over heard someone sais the Notorious P.I.G. at Brass Knuckle was amazing, because it was some kind of waffle sandwich with pork. I kind of imagined that the waffle sandwich look like the one I had in Portland - I was wrong. Now don't let my picture fool you, because my camera is just that good, but the sandwich was not good at all. Notorious P.I.G. is a roasted pork sandwich with ham, swiss, pickle and a rosemary waffle. However our sandwich was cold, and was not freshly made at all. The pork was cold, the cheese was congealed and the waffle itself had been sitting around. Big disappointment.

Chairman Bao @ SF

2011-07-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

Are you in the mood for some yummy soft pillows of bao? I am! If you're lucky enough to find Off The Grid (they're at various spots around t city during the week), and lucky enough to find Chairman Bao, you HAVE to stand in line and wait for some bao. Yes the line might be long, and yes it is a little pricey, but trust me you won't be disappointed. Think Peking Duck but with Pork Belly!!

Menu: no duck confit today, but pork belly is a must!

Melts in your mouth good

Boiling Crab @ Rowland Heights

2011-05-29T19:56:00.000-07:00

Crawfish, crab, shrimp, oysters, and more at Boiling Crab! The spices are tasty, and in my opinion spicy is great because well things just taste better. Be prepared to be messy, and don't wear your best dress. It's also not a great place for a first date since you'll be licking your fingers, and basically sucking at every seafood on your table. It was difficult to take any pictures since my hands were messy and I didn't want to dirty my camera. Hot N Juicy Crawfish in Las Vegas is wayyy better.

Raw Oysters

not as good as the one's i'm ubsed to having in northern california from hog island. these oysters were different, and i'm used to the fresh, clean and sea salt oysters.

Dungeness Crab

super tasty and fresh

Crawfish

Fried Catfish

Happy Kitchen @ Chino Hills

2011-05-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

Decent food at Happy Kitchen in Chino Hills, but the items are a little pricey for what it is. I guess the food isn't greasy which is a plus, but that's about it. Thought that some of the things were bland, and needed additional salt.

Beef Roll

Knife Cut Stir Fry Noodles

Rice Noodles w. Beef, Spinach and Salted Veggies

Green Onion Pancake

Potstickers

Xiao Long Bao

The Counter @ Walnut Creek

2011-05-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

Another Groupon. I purchased one for The Counter, because I've been to the one in Roseville before and it wasn't that bad, or maybe it was just ok and forgotten that it was just "meh." Either way, it was a good thing I had a Groupon because I would not have wanted to pay full price for the burgers. It can be so easy to have a gigantic bill if you keep adding toppings and whatnot. It's a gimmick. It would be great if their ingredients were better.

Chili Cheese Fries

mediocre at best. there was not enough cheese, and those that were there weren't melted. the chili was just "meat" sauce.

1/3 Burger w. Gruyere, Mushrooms, Grilled Onions, Jalopenos, Tomato and Lettuce

first bite was good, because it was fresh. but after that...meh. the burger was cold really fast, and the grilled onions did not taste like it was freshly grilled for me, but was previously cooked and placed into a giant "heating pan." ciabatta bun could have been toasted too to make it better

1/3 pound w. grueyere, grilled onions, avocado, bacon, lettuce and tomato

Saigon Bistro @ Fairfield, CA

2011-05-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

**note**
forgive the bad quality of the photo's, it was done via cellphone

Saigon Bistro has pretty good pho for being in Fairfield. The prices are decent, the restaurant is clean and most importantly the pho is full flavored and full bodied. You can definitely tell the broth has been stewed for over 10 hours. Good portions too. So if you're ever in Fairfield, it's raining and you are hankering for a nice bowl of soup, head to Saigon Bistro.

Pacific Catch @ SF

2011-05-29T17:26:00.000-07:00

Huge portions and fresh seafood at Pacific Catch. My favorite is definitely the Ahi Tuna Salad, but ask for tuna poke, and the fried oysters!

Edamame and Pretzel Fishies

Ahi Tuna Poke Salad

love love love the tuna poke. giant chunks that was thoroughly marinated. there was shredded carrots, gingers, seaweed salad, avocadoes and other things. the salad got spicer and spicer as i ate, i think the wasabi was making it's way through my taste buds. a definite return!

Sampler: Fish, Coconut Shrimp and Oysters w. Sweet Potato Fries

oysters were my favorite!

Salmon Sandwich

fresh and flaky salmon

Suppenkuche @ SF

2011-05-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

This is probably the BEST German food in San Francisco, and I actually do not know of any other German restaurants but I'm sure they exist. Suppenkuche is a great place for delicious food, reasonably priced food, great atmosphere, great beer and just an overall place to unwind after a long week of work! DAS BOOT!

Schneider Weiss

probably the best german beer in SF, and definitely the best beer at suppenkuche. it's so refreshing, full bodied, almost chocolately, and did not make me do that "ick" face

Bread & Butter w. Dill

dill butter was heavenly. would have loved to spread that on almost everything

Potato Pancakes w. Homemade Apple Sauce

oh wow, what an experience in my mouth. i thought they were great as is, nice and crispy and savory, but then you add the apple sauce and it's another dimensionof flavor. i highly recommend it

DAS BOOT!

Pork Knuckle w. Dumpling

grabbed the last special of the night! this knuckle took some work, massive bone with meat, skin and tendons sporadic over it. but when you get to a piece with nice crispy skin, it's like WHOA

Schnitzel

best schnitzel ever, better than wolfgang puck's. the schitzel was tender, breaded lighty and fried until perfection. the flavors were simple, and a sprinkle of lemon juice just brings it all out.

clean

Appertif

after dinner bitters. you pound it on the table a few times and down it

Cioppino's @ SF

2011-05-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

Cioppino's really is a tourist trap, and it is so expensive for not so great food. There are many other places in San Francisco that offer fresh and flavorful seafood that won't cost you an arm and a leg. Why do you ask did I dine here then? Groupon! I blame groupon! Never again. So if you're in fisherman's wharf, feeling hungry, walk by this place and ask why not? Answer: Penguin said NOT!

Seafood Saute: dungeness crab, mussels, shrimp, bay scallops and mahi mahi

pesto pasta was lacking in flavor, the dungeness crab was not fresh, the mahi mahi tasted like overcooked chicken breast

Fish and Chips

too much batter and the fish had no flavor whatsoever. so bland

Pluto's @ SF

2011-05-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

Affordable, fast, delicious and fresh food. Who does not like Pluto's? You can get a huge salad for less than $10 that can easily feed two people, or freshly made hot sandwiches. Don't forget the garlic fries!

Cheesesteak w. tilamok chedder, carmelized onions, lettuce and tomatoes

Garlic Saturn Rings (curly fries)

ABC Resturant & Bakery @ SF

2011-05-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

While I do not necessarily condone people eating at ABC, and call it as "good food," I have to admit that it has the best HK Milk Tea that is the most comparable to my favorite in Hong Kong, and it has great breakfast deals. That being said, you'll only find me here in the mornings before 11am, usually with a cup of milk tea and a bowl of rice noddles. It'll fill you up until 3pm. Might make me fat in the process too, hahaha.

Thick Rice Noodles w. Beef Stew, Pig Skin and Hot Dog

breakfast of champions!

Tony's Pizza Napoletana @ SF

2011-05-29T16:18:00.000-07:00

**note**
Pictures of food with my new Nikon P300, which makes the food POP and look even more delicious! It has a very cool food setting too. Let me know what you think :)

Tony's Pizza Napolentana

I came here a few months ago, and since then I was craving it because I did not think I had enough the first time. Also, I really wanted the sicilian because it just looked so damn good when I looked at the other tables. They don't take reservations, and there is always a wait. Food is good, fresh, and solid.

Calamari

fresh and the batter is light. good way to start the meal because it starts the enzymes in your mouth for the rest of the carbs in the meal

Margherite Pizza

the world famous pizza! there's only so many per day, and it is good. the tomato sauce is sweet and zesty. only complaint is that the crust does not stand on it's own, i.e. when you pick it up it droops down, which is something that does not happen with ny pizza. maybe it is the water over there that gives the dough more foundation

i don't remember what it was called, but it had prosciutto, goat cheese, romaine and balsamic vinegar. this dough was more thick than the margarite. my fav part was the goat cheese because it was so full of flavor and oh so creamy despite the balsamic

Spaghetti and Meatball

meh, nothing amazing and definitely would not come back for this dish

Sicilian

my favorite! the crust was nice, thick and buttery. because of the deep dish pan, it's crusty too. every bite is orgasmic! the toppings are proportioned, and full of flavor. the pepperoni was spicy, and the salami was salty. this was even good the next night after heating it in the oven

Blue Bottle Coffee @ SF

2011-05-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

A pure San Francisco staple! If you're ever in San Francisco, or just hankering for a great cup of coffee without the fuss head to Blue Bottle Coffee. There is usually a line, but it is totally worth the wait. The coffee tastes just like coffee is supposed to, there's no burn taste, it's robust, full flavor and full bodied. The snacks and plates that they offer are great too. I love how their bread is from Acme Bakery, oh so yum! Just grab a friend, newspaper, magazine, book, ipad or your kindle and enjoy a nice cup of joe :)

Latte

i <3 coffee art, and blue bottle is amazing at doing coffee art, they pour the coffee and milk somehow, where the milk eventually floats to the top then voila art!

Girbraltar

it is so strong but still drinkable. comes in a little shot glass

Poached Eggs over Kale and other Veggies w. Parmesean Cheese and Tomato Sauce

super healthy breakfast, but definitely sticks to your ribs. eggs were cooked perfectly, but not a fan of the greens

Croque Monsieur

yummy. i love love love the bread, it was perfect. the gruyere and black forest ham was a great compliment, and a little mustard tops it all. great with girbraltar

Kingdom of Dumpling @ SF

2011-01-30T13:16:00.000-08:00

Probably the best Xiao Long Bao in the Sunset/Parkside area is at Kingdom of Dumpling. Everything comes out nice and fresh. The wrappers aren't too thick. Good amount of meat inside each dumpling, and the XLB maintains the soup all the way to your table. Only requires you to pop it, but be careful! You'll burn your tongue. What I like to do is to bite off the top part of the XLB, let it cool off for a few seconds, and slowly suck a bit of the soup out. Then bit the whole thing in half, while the soup drains onto your spoon, then eat the rest. Tres delicious. What also makes this place so great is that the prices are so reasonable! You won't go broke after eating here, not at all, and you'll be so full you may not even need dinner.

Be forewarned that this place is super tiny. There's about 6-8 tables, and fits about maybe 20 people at max - uncomfortably. Be prepared to wait outside on the street, as there is no standing room, and it may be cold outside while you wait.

Funny store, some stupid asian girl tried speaking Mandarin to the host to get a table before me. Little did she know that I would speak my mind. I immediately interjected between her and the host and said that I was next to get a table and I was here first - in Cantonese. Yea don't get in the way of my food. I follow the rules, as should you. NO CUTTING! People really don't learn from grade school don't they?

Xiao Long Bao

[shanghainese soup dumplings]

the best! look at the little pump juicy morsels waiting to explode in your mouth! eat with caution as they are hot!

Pork and Chive Dumpling

not as good as XLB. they were good, however the exterior was too thick and chewy for my liking. the inside mixture was fantastic though

Chive & Scallion Pancake

nice and light, crispy and chewy on the inside. i would have liked more chive/scallion/green onion flavor though

Potstickers

my next favorite thing! pan fried until they're cooked on the inside, which means it takes time to cook these little guys. they're nice and crunchy on the outside, but when you bite into them they're hot and bursting with flavor and juice. delish!

Annabelle's Bar & Bistro @ SF

2011-01-30T13:03:00.000-08:00

I've walked by Annabelle's Bar & Bistro for many years. It always looked busy and well it hasn't been shut down over the years, so it must be good right? I was wrong. While the food was good, it was super pricey, and the taste cannot justify the price. I always like to find a place that is tasty, but the price matches up with it. They have to compliment one another, and that just isn't the case at Annabelle's. So while the food is good, and even tasteful, the prices are too high for me to return for a second visit.

Complimentary Bread w. Butter

Garlic Fries

nice and crispy. had a good garlic flavor, not too strong. didn't use fresh garlic though, didn't see or taste minced garlic. must have tossed with garlic oil, i would have preferred to see some minced garlic in it

Mac & Cheese

pretty normal. good cheesy flavor and i liked the crusty/crumbly top

Calamari

probably the best thing on the menu, but how could you possibly fail calamari right? i appreciate how they kept the tentacles also, some places only use the body and well the tentacles add a good crunch

Braised Short Ribs

[tomatoes, carrotes, zucchini and creme fraiche]

the short ribs were nice and tender, and well flavored. but i didn't care for the mix of vegetables underneath. plate was lacking too considering the price $25

Maple Grilled Pork Chop

[apple & currant chutney, kale, five spice purred yam]

while the pork chop was tender and thick, i didn't care for the flavor. i didn't like that it had a sweet glaze. i'm more of a savory person than sweet when it comes to porkchops

Hon's Wun Tun House @ SF

2011-01-30T12:39:00.000-08:00

Won Ton Noodles are pretty much a staple when it comes to Chinese comfort food. There are tons of won ton noodle joints around the city, but only one withstands the test of time. That is Hon's Wun Tun House in Chinatown. I've been coming here since I was a kid, and after all the years the prices haven't increased that much and the taste remains the same. They're only open M-F during the day, and that's it. Expect to either wait in line or sit at a table with a stranger. This is by far the best I've had in the states, and the only place that is better is what I had in Hong Kong. To optimize my eating experience at Hon's, I order beef stew with rice noodles (ngau nam ho fun) and a side of just won tons in soup without the noodles. That is perfect. Now the portions aren't big here at all, and they've stayed the same over the years. Soup is delicious, and so are the won tons. It's all good here and you can't go wrong with what you order.

Beef Stew w. Flat/Wide Rice Noodles

nice and hearty. it's good for when it's cold and raining outside. it'll warm you up real fast. i also prefer the rice noodles over the thin egg noodles. why? not sure, just a preference i've had since i was a kid

Just Won Tons in Soup

yummy and delicious bite size morsels. i like the won tons from here because they don't stuff the wrapper with pork or shrimp. it's a good balance.

El Farolito Taqueria @ SF

2011-01-30T12:30:00.000-08:00

Mexican food! I know I don't post much of it on my blog, but that's cause I'm really picky. I've had good Mexican food in Mexico, and prior to that Central California where there are some really amazing eateries for cheap. My fav is crunch tacos, I really love crunchy tacos, and I know that crunchy tacos aren't really authentic, but still my fav. While El Farolito does not have crunchy tacos, their food was damn good. Portions are HUGE and prices are cheap. The familia from NY was visiting and they wanted "authentic" Mexican food. I forewarned that authentic would be better than anything they ever had in NY, and that it would be dirty, small and probably no table service. After dinner my aunt goes, "when I said authentic, I didn't mean that authentic. But that was good :)"

I didn't order their burritos which is on the 7x7 list, because I wasn't that hungry and the burrito looked huge. I opted for the enchiladas, which is my next favorite after crunchy tacos. So goood!!!!

Chicken Quesadilla

[grilled chicken, sour cream and cheese]

huge and i love how the tortilla is grilled til crunchy

Enchilada Combo

[one carne asada and one chorizo]

the enchilada were amazing. i haven't had enchilada's this good except in Central Cali in towns such as Delano. i loved the chorizo because it had a nice spice to it and wasn't too greasy. i really liked the sauce too, truly authentic and again not too greasy. the whole thing didn't taste like lard, which is what mexican food tastes like sometimes. rice and beans were good too, but i barely touched them because there was so much food

Carne Asada Super Nachos

[beans, melted cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and jalopenos]

this really was super. it was huge! no way one person can eat this by themselves as it's main entree. so much toppings. really yummy. need to work out afterwards

the tortilla chips at El Farolito were really good. nice and thick with a good crunch.

Zazie @ SF

2011-01-30T12:09:00.000-08:00

What a cute place for brunch! Waiting an hour for Zazie is totally worth it, seriously. I love the cute little french-cottage-decor. I love the menu, everything on it looks so good. I can totally see why their eggs benedict made it to the 7x7 list, yums! I love how everything is so fresh, comes out hot and not too greasy. This is definitely not diner-fare, but good food! Oh yea, at the bottom of the menu it disclaims that an extra $1 is added per person at the table to provide health insurance for workers. I think that's sweet, and I appreciate them adding a written disclaimer rather than just increasing the prices out of no where. Oh yea quick tip, go on a weekday. While the weekend brunch is good, but the weekday lunch/brunch is better because you get the weekend brunch menu, as well as the weekday lunch menu. I like options, so the more the better - although it does make my decision-making-ability more difficult. Oh well, here are pics!

when you order tea it comes in a cute tea kettle

Special Egg Skillet Dish

[Fried Polenta, Mushrooms, Basil, Fresh Tomato Sauce, Cheese, Fried Eggs]

this was amazing, and i was so jealous my little cousin ordered this. the flavors just popped all over the place. the tomato sauce was perfect (good amount of acid, sweetness and sugar). the whole thing tasted like a lasagna, but not heavy at all. i can't find this anywhere on their listed menu, so it must be a special item. hmmmm

Eggs Benedict

[english muffin, avocado, bacon, poached egg and hollandaise sauce]

best thing ever! honestly, the best benedict i've ever had. best part was that we ate in the little patio in the back, which is exactly what 7x7 suggested i do. the eggs were cooked perfectly. egg whites were all set, and the egg yolk was just runny enough. hollandaise sauce was freshly made, not all icky and congealed. they really know how to make their benedicts

Scrambled Eggs w. Black Forrest Ham & Cheese

tasted pretty normal, nothing wow. good cheese though, i think it was fontina. nothing special about scrambled eggs.

also tried:

-grilled chicken breast sandwich: tres delicious. chicken breast nice and tender. good amount of spread, and bread was nice and crusty

-croque madame: yums! loved the bread, and the gruyere was fantastic

Humphry Slocombe @ SF

2011-01-29T14:17:00.000-08:00

Slowly making my way through the 100 Things to Eat via 7x7, and on the list is the secret breakfast my Humphry Slocombe. Let me tell you, the ice cream is great! It was sweet and light at the same time. There are also tons of other flavors, and they let you sample all of it before you make your decision. Eco friendly too because the spoons that you use to taste are these metal tiny spoons, which are uber cute. I asked if I could take one, and they said no. Actually they get asked all the time, so they have to guard the spoons and make sure customers dispose of the spoons when they're done tasting. I will definitely go back for some other flavors in the future. Key is to not go on a weekend, and on an off time, no lines :)

Viva Madrid @ Claremont

2011-01-29T14:08:00.000-08:00

Viva Madrid was not good for tapas, not at all. It was pricey and the portions were small. I know that the portions in tapas are supposed to be small, a bite here and there, but $7 for three tiny pieces of squid that's smaller than a thimble is ridiculous. $6 for stewed beef, that looks more like left overs is not worth it. While the flavors weren't too shabby, I can't justify the price for what was served. My fav place for tapas is still Cha Cha Cha in SF. If you're craving tapas and you're in SF I highly recommend that place because it's definitely worth it, and won't hurt your wallet.

Queso Espanoles

cheese and olives

Calamares con Chorizo

[squid stuffed w. chorizo in an onion, herb, tomato sauce] $4.75

totally not worth it, especially for two tiny pieces. wasn't even good. sauce was off and squid was chewy.

Mejillones Viva Madrid

[mussels w. onions, garlic, tomato and garlic sauce] $9.75

good portion size, however the mussels were not fresh although the sauce was semi-ok, a little watered down.

Esparragos con Jamon

[asparagus w. serrano ham] $4.25

i imagined whole spear of asparagus wrapped with serrano ham, not two spears that have been cut up into 5-6 pieces. two spears of asparagus is not worth $4.25, completely ripped off. didn't taste all that great either. tasted like ham, no wow

had other things too, but i forgot to take pictures.

- champinones rellenos (baked mushrooms stuffed with chroizo): meh

- carnes de vaca al vino (chunks of beef cooked w. garlic and white wine): good, but teensy-tiny. not enough to feed 4 people, one if you're lucky

so hungry afterwards we had to order a basket of bread to fill ourselves up. completely ridic where they would charge for a basket of bread!

Thanh My @ Westminister

2011-01-29T13:21:00.000-08:00

So many Vietnamese restaurants in Orange County how to choose??? Well I asked a friend and she suggested Thanh My which is right off of Bolsa Avenue. Clean restaurant, which is a definite plus, but the con to that is that it was actually pricer than I expected. I thought with all the Pho places in OC that a bowl of pho would be $4 or less, not $6+, which is too much. Regardless the place is really good. Probably one of the best pho broths I've had. I could really taste that it was stewed for days, fresh ingredients and just really yummy. Got the eggrolls too which were really good as well, and you had to mix your own fish sauce which was completely legit. Never had to do that. Pork chop over broken rice was yums too. It was legit broken rice, fully, and pork chop was well marinated and grilled. Kind of pricey for how little it was. This is a definite repeat :)

pho just does not photograph well

Class 302 @ Rowland Heights

2011-01-29T13:11:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've all had shaved ice, where ice is shaved into granular of ice and then you pick your choice of syrup which is poured all over the ice. But have you ever had shaved snow? It is the best dessert out there, and a must order if you ever go to Class 302 in Rowland Heights in Southern California. How is shaved snow different from shaved ice? Well, shaved snow does not have the granular of ice, there are no pieces. Your teeth doesn't crunch when you eat shaved snow. Shaved snow is like ribbons of snow that are piled one ribbon after another, and it's soft - just like snow. Then there's various toppings you can put on the snow, as we as various flavors of snow. My fav is the original flavor, which is some mixture of milk and sugar (looks like snow), topped with condensed milk, strawberry and mangos. It's utterly heavenly. It all melts in your mouth instantly without even biting. Enough yapping, here's the snow!

Hot N Juicy Crawfish @ Las Vegas

2011-01-20T22:49:00.000-08:00

Have some of you noticed that the latest food craze is Asian style Louisiana crawfish and seafood? Where the seafood comes out in a plastic bag, you put on a bib, eat over butcher paper, with your hands and suck everything off the shell? Yup this concept is appearing all over the place, and I do have to say it's genius! Yes a little on the messy side, so I don't recommend coming here on a first date, or if you're not comfortable with the other person. I'm sure you're all familiar with Boiling Crab and such, well if you're ever in Las Vegas you must go to Hot N Juicy Crawfish. It was actually featured on Man vs. Food. Everything is just delicious! Crawfish fresh! Fried foods amazing! I love their batter, it was thick and light at the same time, if that's even possible. Seasoning is great. It got a little spicy, but totally do-able. Flavors to choose, juicy cajun and lemon pepper :p If you can't handle the heat then don't come here, you'll be wasting your time. I will return when I go back to vegas.

Cajun Fries

they have a nice kick after the fourth or fifth fry

steaming bag!

why hello there? won't you get into my belly

Butterflied Fried Shrimp

the best fried shrimp i've ever had. they were huge, and i love that batter

corn cobb soaked up all the flavor and was super juicy!

Santouka Ramen @ Los Angeles

2011-01-20T22:40:00.000-08:00

SANTOUKA is the best ramen ever. Legit. Hands down. I've been to a few of the "best" ramen places and this is the one place I'm still dreaming about. When I went to Ippudo, I thought it was great. Then I went to Totto Ramen, which was better. I've had Tanpopo in SF, and that was just ok. I have yet to try Daikokuya in Little Tokyo, LA but I will.

Santouka is inside the Japanese supermarket, and at first I was confused. I was disappointed, I mean how great can a ramen joint be if it doesn't have its own store front. I was wrong. I walked in and while there were other food joints, Santouka was the only one that had so many people slurping their noodles. I knew that we went to the right place.

The ramen was delicious. Everything about it was perfect, from the broth, to the noodles, to the chasu, to even the other little toppings. I loved my broth, it was so flavorful and definitely stewed for hours if not days. They really use the finest and freshest ingredients. I loved the chasu too, especially mine - I got the special that uses pork cheek. Heaven! It was the perfect ratio of lean to fattyness. I may go back in a day or two because I'm having a major craving now. I can't even describe the delicious experience I had with my bowl of ramen.

Salt Ramen

doesn't it just look like a perfect bowl of yummyness?

Small Bowl of Pork Belly and Rice

so if you order the combo set, you get a bowl of ramen, a small bowl of rice with your choice of topping and a soy-sauce egg.

I got the special ramen - miso flavor broth. The noodles and broth were in one bowl, and the toppings were on a separate plate, which I then proceeded to just throw it all in. Of course I tasted the broth first, and wow. It was quite the experience. My taste buds exploded!

Chasu via pork cheek, wood ear mushroom, green onion and bamboo shoots

all slopped together!

Gatsby's Diner @ Sacramento

2011-01-20T22:26:00.000-08:00

For some reason I've been wanting to go to Gatsby's Diner in Sacramento forever, and I think it's because of all the reviews on Yelp. Also I think it's because each time I look to see where I should eat, it always pops up. Finally came here with watermelon and our respective boy toys. The decor is ok, and there's this huge tepanyaki grill in the middle of the dining area - I think it used to be a tepanyaki restaurant. Apparently it's been converted to an area where the burgers are made. Nothing spectacular because you don't watch them cook your burger for you, and also you smell like food afterwards - something I definitely don't enjoy.

I'm actually shocked to see that they filmed Triple D (diners, driveins and dives) here because it's airing on January 31 on the foodnetwork. The burger really wasn't that great. I expected amazingness, perhaps something as great as Ray's Hell Burger from DC or at least something better than In-N-Out, but it really wasn't. The burger was average. I'll agree that the burger patty definitely was not dry, it was juicy - but that was it. I didn't like the bun, I didn't like the spread, and I didn't like the mushroom that they used - because it seemed like there wasn't any.

The service was pretty bad initially too. Took the waiter some time to bring us water, then he totally forgot about the shakes and floats that we ordered, which we expected to come before the burger. Then he forgot a diet coke, which doesn't even require much effort (get ice, hold cup to soda machine - done). However, they did redeem themselves when the waiter told us that he would comp our drinks, which was nice. I appreciate it when places realize their mistakes, and in addition to apologizing they add a little more "umph." Overall, burger good, not great, not worth the price and I won't be returning. I will like to see what Guy Fieri has to say about this place though.

Bacon Mushroom Swiss

[8 oz. burger patty topped with swiss cheese and crispy bacon, with mushrooms, mayo, and caramelized onion, served on a toasted bun]

Bun Xeo @ my home

2011-01-20T22:15:00.000-08:00

Haven't displayed mom's cooking in awhile, and that was mostly due to the fact that I wasn't eating at home all that much a few months ago with all the traveling and all. Mom made bun xeo awhile back ago, and yum! Fav of my bro and I. Bun xeo is a vietnamese omelet, where the shell is not made of eggs but this flour mixture and tumeric that makes it yellow. Inside there are onions, bean sprouts, pork and shrimp. You can technically add whatever you want, but that's how we make it at home. I love how the skin is super crispy, it's amazing you really need to try it. I've seen it on menus at various Vietnamese restaurants and they usually charge around $10-$12 which is insane considering the ingredients are cheap, and restaurants normally fill it with mostly vegetables.

Batter for the crepe - yellow via tumeric powder

Broiled Pork Belly

Yellow Onion

Shrimp

Cooking....

Voila!

Old Town Sushi @ San Mateo

2011-01-20T22:09:00.000-08:00

My mom heard about Old Town Sushi in San Mateo and said that we had to go. She heard that the sushi/sashimi was fresh, big portions and a great price. I didn't dare argue that we shouldn't go. Old Town Sushi is everything she said. The sushi/sashimi were uber fresh, and were a decent size cut (I had a good bite when I bit down on it.) The price was great too, totally affordable. The uni HUGE! They put like two-three layers on that sucker. I saw that someone right next to us ordered the "Lion King Roll" it takes about 4-6 people to finish it. I was full just looking at it. I definitely recommend this place, however the place is really small and apparently gets really packed. We definitely ate more than you see here, I just forgot to take pictures and went straight to the eating :p

Hamachi Kama

Sashimi Combo - 30 pieces

[yellow tail, tuna, toro, white fish, salmon, amebi, tako, squid]

all of this for $30, what a steal! what's great is that when you get the amebi they fry the head too, yums!

Dragon Roll

had to take this home, because we were so full from everything else. still good at home though

Uni

yes it is massive! $7 each.

Tanpopo @ SF

2011-01-20T22:01:00.000-08:00

I don't know if some of you know, but my latest obsession is ramen. After coming back from NY and seeing that ramen is popping all over the place I've been on the search to find the "best" ramen. While I have found many amazing places, I have yet to find a place that just blows every other joint out of the park. I heard that Tanpopo in Japantown was great, so I had to give it a try. It's a small place and definitely busy. I did however notice that there were a lot of caucasian people eating, and that usually is a negative sign of greatness, especially when it comes to Asian food.

I got the salt ramen, and it was just ok. The broth had a nice balance, but lacking in the "o-m-g" department. I didn't like the chasu very much, kind of unflavorful and too lean. The noodles weren't very fresh and were cooked too much to my liking - I prefer al dente. The egg was mediocre, I could have made that egg - give me something amazing. The bamboo pieces tasted like they were rinsed in water one too many times. Overall - meh, and I won't return.

Chocolate Fish Coffee

2011-01-20T21:57:00.000-08:00

Wanted to go to a cute coffee place for coffee, and didn't want to go to Starbucks or some derivative of it. Looked on Yelp and found Chocolate Fish Coffee. I saw that they had coffee art and I was sold - I love coffee art, especially when it's done right and wows me. I also saw on their website that a "chocolate fish" is some kind of dessert, so I was thinking that I'd like to try it out. I go there, and no such thing as a "chocolate fish" exists behind the counter, just your typical bakery-fare. Despite not seeing a "chocolate fish" I got a cafe latte. It was definitely good coffee but no eye-opening-experience. Coffee art was just "meh" too. Unimpressed, probably better cafes in the area.

Kiki Japanese Restaurant

2011-01-20T21:53:00.000-08:00

Not necessarily the best Japanese restaurant that San Francisco has to offer, or in the area at the very least, however Kiki does a good job at satisfying your craving without hurting your wallet. A good thing about their combo bento boxes is that you get to pick and choose what you want in your bento box and just add the prices together. I suggest staying away from the raw stuff because on an unlucky day/night, you may get sick and be up all night on the potty.

Bento Box: chicken karage, unagi roll, rice and salad

chicken karage was good. the batter was nice and light. they used dark meat which i appreciate. definitely had better karage, but it does the job

roll was good, nothing spectacular

Lombardi's Pizza @ NYC

2011-01-01T15:48:00.001-08:00

Last meal in NY, and naturally it should be pizza. I mean I needed to eat one more slice before we left, and I did already go to shake shack a second time. We decided on Lombardi's Pizza in SoHo, and luckily no line. After eating Lombardi's and Grimaldi's, I think it's safe for me to say that I really like Lombardi's more. My jaw didn't hurt afterwards. Lombardi's pizza lasted longer than the first few minutes, where Grimaldi's was good only when it popped out immediately. The crust was perfect, good amount of cheese and sauce. There was a fair amount of toppings too. Loved it. I will definitely return back to Lombardi's.

Momofuku Milk Bar @ NYC

2011-01-01T15:41:00.001-08:00

David Chang. David Chang. Momofuku empire. I only dream of being able to eat at Momofuku Ko one day, and if his desserts (cookies and pies) are amazing-and-best-cookie-i've-ever-eaten, I can only imagine what his actual cuisine tastes like. The cookies, WOW. Compost cookie - espresso shavings mixed in with it, chocolate chips, toffee, and I don't know what. It's like you take a bite into the cookie, and you're thinking wow this is good, perfect consistency, chewy and soft. But a few seconds later, a few more flavors bursts into your taste bud, and you're just taken aback. I don't know how to describe them, but I will truly miss them. I think a perfect meal would be a slice of pizza, shack stack from shake shack, then a cookie from Momofuku. Yes. I love the cookies so much I was able to convince my aunt to make the trip to buy them and bring them all the way back to CA. She had trouble finding the Milk Bar, it's kind of hidden. But wow. I want more.

Umi Sushi @ NYC

2011-01-01T15:25:00.001-08:00

Umi Sushi is another affordable sushi place in NYC. They're fish is super fresh, and for the sashimi combo for 2, it was only $25. Good deal for me, because I was uber full.

Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles @ NYC

2011-01-01T15:16:00.000-08:00

Another cheap place to eat, and guess where it's located? If you say Chinatown you are correct! Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles are only $6 a bowl, and way cheaper and yummier than that crappy Pho 32 place on 32nd st. So the noodles here are hand made by some old man in the kitchen, honestly you can peer into the kitchen and see the guy pulling the noodles via his hands. The broth is nice tasty for a cold day too. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

Westville @ NYC

2011-01-01T15:07:00.000-08:00

Affordable and healthy food at Westville. I liked their menu because they offered a good selection of stuff, and I was really hankering for a salad, I needed some veggies in me, and the salad I saw looked good. All their ingredients are fresh and came together very nicely. I would definitely return to the place because it didn't put a dent in my wallet, which is nice.

Vegetable Medley

[sweet potato fries, asparagus, artichoke and grape tomatoes w. zucchini]

Grilled Pork Chop Smothered w. Onion and Mushrooms

really good! so full bodied and flavored. you would think the onion and mushrooms would be too much, but it wasn't. the pork chop was cooked perfectly too, not dry at all

Cobb Salad - only $10.50

[grilled chicken, bacon, avocado and blue cheese over romaine and mixed greens w/ balsamic lemon dill vinaigrette]

i really liked this. it was a good salad. i know how can a salad be good, but trust me there are some terrible salads out there

chicken tenders w/ cool bleu cheese or hot buffalo sauce and green salad

Jade Asian Restaurant @ NYC [Flushing]

2011-01-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

I don't want to write too much about Jade Asian Restaurant before I get livid and rant. All I have to say is that the food is decent but the service is horrible. They better recognize.

San Loco Mexico @ NYC

2011-01-01T14:45:00.000-08:00

Finally a taco that is decent in NY. A place that I can actually return to when I crave tacos, and this place is San Loco Mexico. They have crunch tacos! My fav! This place stays open late which is great. Ingredients are fresh, and while it's not as good as CA, it does the job.

Flor de Mayo @ NYC

2011-01-01T14:42:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for perhaps, at least in my opinion, the best restaurant in NY? The reason is because it's super affordable, and you can feed lots of people for little $ (when you consider what other restaurants). When you go to NY, you have to go to Flor de Mayo, I know I've said this a few times already with other restaurants, just think that I'm making you a list, and planning your meals for you. Flor de Mayo is chinese, cuban and peruvian food. Yes I know you're thinking, how can that be good, but trust me it ALL works - real well. The downside is that they don't take reservations, and like most places they only seat you if you're entire party is here. The place is small, cramped and always busy. Now the plates of food you see below was enough to feed 8 people, and we were all stuffed. Additionally, I think this is the only place in NY where you can buy a pitcher of sangria for $20. That's right, $20.

Avocado Salad

this is what avocados should taste like, sweet and creamy. these avocados were perfectly ripped, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and threw some raw red onions on top. i loved to smear this over the bread. yums

Bistec de Palomilla

this dish was good, but i didn't like the breading on the steak. it was too thick. definitely had better elsewhere, but don't let this deter you from coming here

Lomo Saltado

[sliced steak sauteed with potatoes, onions and tomato served over yellow rice]

tres yummy. super flavorful, super fresh, you can taste the "wok hay" and i love the yellow rice. it has it's own fragrant flavor and it absorbs everything else as well

Pollo de Brasa

you HAVE to order this. where else can you get a whole chicken for only $12 that's so tasty? the chicken is not dry at all, and the skin is uber crispy. this is what they're known for, so just order it!

Pork Chops

equally good and huge

sangria

Eileen's Special Cheesecake @ NYC

2011-01-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

Naturally visiting NYC means eating cheesecake. We opted for Eileen's Special Cheesecake because we saw a special on TV saying they were good, more airy and uses a graham cracker crust. Personally I don't like cheesecakes but Panda does, so we went. It was like $3 for the cheesecake, and in his opinion nothing amazing. It was good, but not oh-my good, like some things in life are. No repeat. Next time we need to try Junior's, heard theirs is reallll good and thick.

Saint's Alp Teahouse @ NYC

2011-01-01T14:19:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to like Saint's Alp Teahouse. After being in NYC for a few weeks I was starting to miss the HK teashops that SF has, so I googled and yelp and this is what I found. The milk tea was different from what we're used to. I don't really know how to explain it, I think it was too smooth and not robust enough. The food was really just ok, nothing great.

Milk Tea

Beef Stew Over Rice

not tasty at all

Popcorn Chicken

this was good, but again how do you mess up popcorn chicken

2 Bros Pizza @ NYC

2011-01-01T14:11:00.000-08:00

So there's a secret pizza place (ok not so secret for native new yorkers, yes secret to out-of-towners) in NY, where the pizza is good and super cheap. It's called 2 Bros Pizza, and it's scattered all over Manhattan. Don't just walk by without giving it a try or without even a thought. It's another way you can survive in NYC on the cheap. Ready? You can get a slice of cheese pizza for $1, that's right just $1. You can get two slices and a can of soda for $2.75. Honestly can you find anything cheaper? Even the pizza at Costco isn't cheaper. The best part is that the pizza is fresh because so many people purchase it so they crank out the pizza as fast as possible, and the pizza is actually good. Again even the cheapest pizza place in NY is great, it's better than the expensive pizza in CA. Someone keeps telling me that the pizza in NY is amazing because of the water. We need to start transporting their water here to CA. Someone get on that stat :)

Souvlaki Gr @ NYC

2011-01-01T14:03:00.000-08:00

Right outside to Trader Joe's in Chelsea is the Souvlaki Gr, and it always smells nice. Naturally I had to try. The prices are reasonable too, I think $3.50 for a pita. Panda and I each got a lamb pita and share fries. The pita sandwich was really good. The pita was fresh, there was a nice amount of yogurt sauce, there was fresh diced onions and the lamb was phenomenal - tender, juicy and full of flavor. Yums!

Great Burrito @ NYC

2011-01-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

So I've been told many times that Mexican food in NY just doesn't cut it. It just does not compare to California. I don't understand why. But I really needed to try something, especially since Great Burrito was just down the block from where we were. I was disappointed. Just had the carne asada torta, and a cheese pizza to be safe.

The carne asada was no good. Meat was lacking in flavor and I think meat. Something. I didn't like the avocado/guac gunk they scooped on. It's like avocados just suck in new york, and they're scarce, so they watered it down like there was no tomorrow. The pizza was ok, because honestly how can you screw up pizza when you're in new york. Stay away from this place, I even think if I was drunk enough it still wouldn't have been good. That's saying something.

Fig & Olive @ NYC

2011-01-01T13:55:00.000-08:00

Cute place for a date, and also good just for a snack. Fig & Olive has good selection of crostinis and tartars. However do keep in mind that this is the ultimate NY premium price place. Bring plastic or lots of cash. Crostinis are good, but not worth the price. Choose 6 crostinis for $18, and $4 ceviche/tartars for $16. Kind of hurts...lots

Olive Oil & Bread

Crostinis: mushroom, artichoke, truffle oil and parmesan; salmon, ricotta, citrus, cilantro; manchengo, fig spread and almond; prosciutto, ricotta, fig, olive; shrimp, avocado

Ceviche: bronzino and cherry tomato; salmon and citrus; shrimp lemon; tuna tartar

Snack Taverna @ NYC

2011-01-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

FETA CHEESE!!! The one thing that I will always remember and love so much from Snack Taverna is the feta cheese. It was literally to die for. All I wanted to do was smear the feta cheese on everything. I've never had such feta that was so fresh and so creamy. We ordered greek salad and asked for feta on the side, and omg. Ok so for the rest of the food, it was good and tasty, but the feta really out did the rest. Sorry I'm obsessed with the feta, but here are pics of other things that were eaten there!

Greek Salad

[country salad of tomatoes, red onions, cucumber, greek feta, and olives]

i really liked the salad. the dressing was light and mixed well. the greens were uber fresh and it was a nice way to start the meal, to start the palate going and the stomach acid flowing

Feta Cheese on side

yummo! i love this feta so much it was sooo good

Fresh Pita

Skordalia

[yukon gold potato and garlic]

tasty, but i like hummus more

don't remember

Pork Loins

didn't like the bed of sweet potatoes and the raisins

Lamb Shank

tender and juicy, but flavors didn't completely mix well

another one i forgot

Veal Meatballs

liked lots. tender and juicy. god flavors

Bouchon Bakery @ NYC

2011-01-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

Overpriced cookies and ice cream...but it's Bouchon what do you expect? Nothing else to say.

Chocolate Chip Cookie

quite tasty and fresh

Totto Ramen @ NYC

2011-01-01T13:25:00.000-08:00

I thought the ramen at Ippudo was great, boy was I wrong. The ultimate ramen place in NY that I found was at Totto Ramen, which is this really small restaurant over by the Theater District. If you go to the MoMa and spend hours there looking at art and then get hungry, walk about 3 blocks and you'll be at Totto. However be prepared to wait in line (we waited for 30 minutes), and remember to bring cash!

So what makes Totto better, besides the bowls of ramen! Well there's the fact that there are legit Japanese people cooking the ramen, and the chasu is seared til crunchy! Ok let's break down the different categories in ramen:

Broth: great at Totto, full bodied, full of flavor, and I liked the little globs of oil, I knew it was real and had been stewing for hours if not days

Ramen Noodles: cooked perfectly, it wasn't all soft and mushy, it had a nice bite and the soup wrapped around it well when I slurped

Chasu: pork belly, the type of pork that should be used. There was a nice balance of fat and lean meat, where it all marbleized together. Then there's the fact that you see the guy using his hand-held torch searing the meat into crispyness

Other ingredients: perfect balance! seaweed, the egg, yums

Totto Spicy Ramen

[Original Rayu, Spicy Sesame Oil, adds a spicy kick and refreshing

aftertaste to our original Paitan ramen. Topped with scallion,

onion, char siu pork, and a nori.]

Totto Miso Ramen

[The finest Koji Miso and ground pork in a scoop atop

slightly wavy noodles in original Paitan soup. Topped with

a seasoned hardboiled egg, scallion, bean sprouts, onion

and char siu pork.]

done!

Gofra Bite @ NYC

2011-01-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

I looked on yelp, and Gofra Bite looked good on yelp. I thought hmmmm tasty waffles, why not. Major disappointment. The belgian waffles weren't even freshly made, they were made in advanced and reheated. The ingredients used weren't the freshest and were watered down (whipped cream and chocolate sauce).

Doughnut Plant @ NYC

2011-01-01T12:37:00.000-08:00

Don't ask me how I randomly know about places to go try. Honestly, there's a running list in my head after I hear or see something, and I file it in my "need to eat when visit" folder. Doughnut Plant was one of these places. Apparently known for their amazing donut. There were tons of flavors, and I tried the tres leches, Panda the cinnabon and Vino the carrot cake. The donuts were good, not too sweet, however my complaint was the price. Super expensive, again with the NY premium. Compared to VooDoo Doughnut in Portland, the price in NY didn't mean it tasted better. I think I may like VooDoo more.

Tres Leches

Inside Tres Leches

Carrot Cake

Cinnabon - massive

Grimaldi's @ NYC [Brooklyn]

2011-01-01T12:22:00.000-08:00

I think during my stay on the east coast I had pizza every two days. You would think that I would tire of it, but that wasn't the case. The pizza was just that great. So there's a battle in NYC as to who has the best pizza, Grimaldi's in Brooklyn or Lomardi's in SoHo. First stop was Grimaldi's. We did the typical tourist thing which was walk across the Brooklyn Bridge then to eat at Grimaldi's after we burned some calories. We arrived at an off-time, around 3pm, which was perfect because it was after the lunch rush and our wait was only 10 minutes. Sweet!

Outcome: The initial bite of the pizza was great. It came straight from the oven to our table piping hot - I almost burned my tongue. I liked the dough, and the cheese was great. However, when I moved onto my second slice, it just wasn't that good enough. My jaw began to hurt because the dough was too chewy, and there wasn't enough sauce on the pizza. So it wasn't worth the walk across the bridge to eat at Grimaldi's, and if I had to wait 2 hours in line for it, it wouldn't cut it either. I did find later in the week that Lombardi's was tons better. More on that in a later post.

Pho 32 @ NYC

2011-01-01T12:16:00.000-08:00

Worse Pho EVER. Do not go to Pho 32 on 32nd st. I don't care how much you are craving Pho or Vietnamese Noodles, it's just not worth it. First off it's made by Koreans, not that I have anything against them, but it's like having Vietnamese people doing Korean BBQ, it's just not the same. Second, it was super expensive $9 for a bowl of pho, insane, especially when in the motherland it's probably only 50 cents. Lastly, it sucks. The broth was horrendous, completely watered down. The vegetables weren't fresh. The bowl was tinnyyy. For $9, I would at least expect a normal size bowl, but no it was small. If you really want soup go find some Won Ton Noodles or go find ramen, way better than the pho they have here.

Rice to Riches @ NYC

2011-01-01T12:12:00.000-08:00

Best rice pudding at Rice to Riches, yes they are a little expensive, and yes this may be a front to a mob, but I really wished there was a store in SF. I love how you can sample everything then once you decide you can add toppings. Best part are the cute little containers :)

Prosperity Dumpling @ NYC

2011-01-01T12:06:00.000-08:00

So where can you eat in New York where it won't burn a hole in your wallet? Honestly, since there is this NY premium everywhere, where a normal meal in Cali would cost about $7-$8 a person, in NY it would be $12-$15. So imagine my surprise when Matty and I both ate for $2.75, less than $3 TOTAL! Prosperity dumpling in Chinatown. Always gotta go to Chinatown to get the cheap food. So for $1 we got 6 potstickers, so we got two orders, then for 75 cents we got an onion bread. It was enough to feed us, for real. The potstickers were nice and crunchy, juicy and flavorful on the inside. The onion bread had enough sesame and green onion flavor. I love cheap good food!!!

Ray's Hell Burger @ DC

2011-01-01T11:59:00.000-08:00

We were told by some friends that we HAD to try Ray's Hell Burger, especially since it was so close to where were were staying in Arlington, VA. So we found Ray's Hell Burger, and luckily there was no line. However after we ordered people began to pile in.

Back story to Ray's Hell Burger, is that it was a burger place to the adjacent steak restaurant by the same owner. Apparently the burger pattys were made with the fines steak meats, which made the burgers so yummy. NO LIES. While I can't compare the burger to In-n-Out and Shake Shack, for I believe each burger place is its own monster, non-comparable, Ray's was amazing. The hamburger patty was juicy, succulent, full of flavor, tender, and just oh my. Best part was that you could add foie gras, which was too rich for my blood, but what was included in the price was you could get a roasted garlic spread on your bun, which I highly recommend. It was just heavenly. Additionally, grilled mushrooms and onions, even more fixins included in the price. I hate it when places nickel and dime you on everything, it's quite annoying actually. So if you're ever in the area, you MUST make it to Ray's Hell Burger, it's amazing!

eat me...

Nooshi @ DC

2011-01-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

Nooshi...hehe such a funny name. I think it's a combination of noodles and sushi, to be Nooshi. Prices are uber reasonable, which I love. I mean you can get sushi rolls for $4.50, that just doesn't exist in that many places anymore. Sushi's fresh, and portions are a decent size. Good for big groups of people.

Noodles on a Boat

[grilled lemon chicken, vermicelli, bean sprout, roasted peanut, cilantro, basil]

quite tasty actually. it was light too which was nice. as you can see we've been eating a lot on the east coast, so it was nice to have something light. chicken was marinated well

Tuna w. Avocado, and Hamachi

fresh and cheap!

Snack Stand by Lincoln Memorial @ DC

2011-01-01T11:42:00.000-08:00

After walking through all the memorials, starting with Holocaust Memorial to Thomas Jefferson to FDR to Lincoln, we were hungry and thirsty. Hot dog! It was the best hot dog, honestly. I didn't think it could taste that good, but it did. Maybe it's because of all that walk and I was tired. Hmmmm...

La Madeleine @ DC [Georgetown]

2011-01-01T11:38:00.000-08:00

So many places to eat in Georgetown, how to decide! Well we wanted fast, good food, and cheap food - always a good idea. Saw that La Madeleine had good reviews on yelp, so why not. Food was great. I really liked the tomato soup, the quiche loraine and the sandwich. Not too greasy, and really affordable.

Quiche Lorraine

Turkey Bistro

[Smoked turkey, crisp bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, melted provolone and sun-dried tomato pesto* spread on a sun-dried tomato roll]

Vapiano's @ DC

2011-01-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

I really like the concept at Vapiano's, and if you have a large group of people it really helps paying the bill at the end. So when you first walk in, everyone is handed a card - guard that card. There are various stations for food; pasta, salad, soup, pizza, dessert, and drinks. When you decide what you want, you go to the station, you order your food and you swipe your card. Your order is on your card. You get your food, get a table and eat up! You pay at the end as you exit with your card. Each person pays what's on their card. Pure and simple for major groups, no math needed! Love the concept!

Now on the food, it's decent, it's good, but not amazing Italian food. However things are made fresh, which is a plus.

Scampi

nice lemon flavor, pasta cooked al dente, shrimp was cooked perfectly - plump and succulent, and i liked the spinach too. added nice color to the plate

Cabonara

creamy and good flavor. however not enough pancetta

Pitango Gelato @ NYC

2011-01-01T11:27:00.000-08:00

Walked by after having lunch at Matchbox and I had a craving for something sweet. Saw Pitango Gelato, and I was still craving the gelato I had at Eataly. I wanted hazelnut for sure, and they didn't have strawberry so we opted for coffee. Gelato was not the same as Eataly. The hazelnut wasn't flavorful enough. However, we saw this weird contraption on the counter, and we were told it was sipping chocolate. The lady behind the counter offered us a taste. Best sipping chocolate ever! So rich, thick and chocolatey. Best part was that it was free. How I love free.

Matchbox @ DC

2011-01-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

Matchbox was ranked very high on Yelp, so of course I wanted to try. Funny thing is that I asked my friend Salami what we should eat when we were around the Capitol and he recommended Matchbox as well. It took a 20 minute or so walk from the Capitol to go to DC's Chinatown. Before I discuss what we ate at Matchbox, I need to say that DC's Chinatown is the cleanest Chinatown I've ever seen. Additionally each store had chinese characters to indicate it's name in Chinese. I knew immediately this wasn't a "real" Chinatown, it was too good too be true. In my opinion it was congress' creation.

So the food at Matchbox was delicious. I knew we had to order the mini sliders, highly recommended, and we decided on a pizza. Both were great! Fresh flavors, bold flavors and really did the tummy well.

Mini Burgers

[hand-pattied certified angus beef / toasted brioche / pickles / onion straws w. gouda cheese]

yumsies! these were the best sliders i've ever had. i loved the onion straws too, they were so light, it was like you were eating air

Matchbox Meat

[pepperoni / spicy italian sausage / crispy bacon /
zesty tomato sauce / mozzarella]

i love east-coast pizza. it really is great pizza. the crust is a perfection of crispy and dough. doesn't hurt my jaw. good amount of cheese and meat. yums!

Johny's Luncheonette @ NYC

2011-01-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

Johny's Lunchonette is around the corner from where we stayed. We were hungry, we didn't want to go far and we didn't want to spend a lot of money, which is hard when you're in Chelsea. It's a small diner type place with counter seating and one table. There were a lot of to go orders. The sandwiches were initially a good idea, and the first few bites they were good. However after that I was unimpressed. I needed more from the sandwich, I had to ask for tomatoes, and the guy charged me - ouch. End result: no repeats, and go if you're uber hungry and don't have much money; cash only.

Bacon 'n Egg Sandwich topped w. Fries

Cheesesteak w. Onion Rings

Johny

Sake Bar Hagi @ NYC

2011-01-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

Japanese style tapas or also known as an izakaya. I found this place awhile ago, and all the reviews on yelp are great, so I really wanted to try it. I liked how they had takoyaki, my fav. However, after ordering food I was really disappointed. The place was expensive, and unsatisfying. Everything sounded great, but it was unable to follow through.

Avocado Salad

not yummy at all. avocado from nyc not as tasty, and didn't like the citrusy-grainy dressing. also they used lettuce, so meh

Chicken Skin Skewers

yes i did type that correctly, chicken skin. don't knock it til you try it. might sound gross, but it's crispy and full of flavor.

Pork Cheek

just so-so. pork cheek is a delicacy, and really tender meet. however the flavor here was lacking, and my mom makes better pork cheek

Chicken Karage

again just so-so. Ippudo's was better. i didn't like how they put shaved daikon on top, i didn't know what to do about it. also the piece of chicken were huge, i would have liked it more if they made it more into bite-sized pieces

Takoyaki

another major disappointment. batter was lacking, not enough sauce, the bonito flakes were faux, there wasn't octopus inside, or at least i couldn't tell. i honestly can't find a place that does takoyaki like they used to do it in Japantown in SF

American Kobe Beef

a waste of kobe beef. too salty, and meet was tender, but that was about it. no wow-factor

Ramen

definitely cannot compare to Ippudo

Okonomiyaki

another disappointment. i love okonomiyaki, let me tell you my friend Boo's who is white can make better. i myself can make better, naturally. the okonomiyaki here was like a bigger version of their takoyaki. the okonomiyaki wasn't seared enough, bonito flakes were lacking again, sauce was mediocre, and the ingredients inside were cheap.

Paris Baguette @ NYC

2011-01-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

There are tons of Chinese bakeries in SF, there are even Japanese ones, but it wasn't until New York that I found there are Korean bakeries - Paris Baguette, and boy are they yummy. Breads are fresh, flavorful and lots of varieties.

Honey Toast

wow. so good. it's like crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, and there's this nice honey/sugar glaze outside that gives every bite a nice flavor

Cheese Puff

warm it a little in the microwave and boom! yumsies!

E-Mo @ NYC

2011-01-01T10:22:00.000-08:00

A tiny little hole in a wall in Hearld Square, or off of 32nd St aka K-Town, there is this place that only sells Korean Sushi. Totally random, and uber affordable. So we walked into E-Mo, why not? It's a nice snack that you can munch on while you walk, and you won't feel guilty eat it. Pretty good, and I love how it's made fresh to order.

Eataly @ NYC

2011-01-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

Italy is Eataly. I love that phrase. I don't know how to describe Eataly, except it's Mario Batali's new baby, it has tons of food, and if you're a foodie you will be in a pseudo-heaven. Just go...go and go. Preferably, go on a weekday, on low time (before 12pm, after before 6pm, and after 8pm).

Eataly's Gelato

[strawberry & hazelnut]
honestly the best I'VE EVER HAD, and i haven't been to italy yet. these two flavors are a perfect compliment, because the hazelnut is creamy and sweet, while the strawberry is fresh, light and with a hint of tartness. the hazelnut tastes like the ferero rocher candy

Cooking @ home w. Eataly's Pasta

Beef Short Ribs and Cheese Tortollini

voila!

Matsu Sushi @ NYC

2011-01-01T10:01:00.000-08:00

Walking along the upper west side and on our way to central park, we began to get hungry. I didn't have anything planned for what to eat while we were there, I thought we would just "wing" it. Eventually the hunger came over and we just randomly went to Matsu Sushi - the menu looked good enough. I believe $7 for a bowl of donburi, which is pretty reasonably priced for NYC. The donburi's were just ok, no amazing epiphany, no rude-awakening in the food world.

complimentary miso soup

Chicken Donburi

Tonkatsu Donburi

Ippudo @ NYC

2011-01-01T09:53:00.000-08:00

So my latest obsession these days is ramen. I'm not talking about the ramen you get at a store, bring home and cook in a matter of 3 minutes. I'm talking about real, legi, Japanese ramen. Maybe it's because it's winter, and I'm constantly craving something that will warm me up. Regardless, before my trip to NYC I knew I had to go to Ippudo once I was there.

Panda and I arrived at Ippudo at the perfect time - before 6pm, which means before the dinner rush. We were able to get a table in 30 minutes, which is great considering as we were seating someone asked how long the wait was for them, the hostess said over an hour. The decor at Ippudo was very chic, and considering it's located by NYU/St Mark's Square, totally makes sense. However I was taken aback that I didn't see that many Japanese workers/chefs, considering this is a Japanese restaurant, from Japan (funny store while I was eating at Ippudo in NYC, Watermelon was eating Ippudo in Tokyo).

The ramen was the BEST I've ever had up until that moment. I loved the broth, and I loved the consistency of the noodles. Kind of like al dente, with a bite, and a give when you bit down on it. The decorative bowls were a nice touch too, where each different bowl of ramen had it's different bowl to represent itself. Kind of cool. Now, as you will see in future posts, I found an even better ramen place in NYC. TBA.

Ramen Bowls along the wall

Ramen Noodles encased for the bar

Chicken Karage

fresh, flavorful, chicken was tender, and the batter was nice and light.

Tori Ramen

[Salt flavored ramen noodles in 'Ippudo chintan' clear chicken and pork soup with pork loin chashu, menmaa, spinach, 1/2 boiled egg, naruto, shiso & daikon]

i loved the bowl. the noodles were cooked perfectly, not mushy at all. the broth was nice and clean, and you could definitely tell it's been stewed for hours. the chashu was good, but a little too lean for me, and could have stand to had more flavor

Akamaru Modern

['The original tonkotsu' soup noodle with Ippudo's special sauce, pork belly chashu, cabage, kikurage, scallions, miso paste & fragrant garlic oil]

this was the best! just look at it! look at all the flavors just swimming around. after you took one sip and thought you had a flavor down, you were wrong because more flavors came bursting out. the broth was hearty and full bodied. hmmmm

Resto @ NYC

2011-01-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

While I tried the Indian food from the previous post, Panda decided to try Resto, I guess it looked the most safe. However what he ordered was a "sloppy goat" which from my memory is a "sloppy joe" but with goat meat. He didn't like this either. It was kind of boring. The bread was too chewy, and it was too spicy for him.

Tanjore @ NYC

2011-01-01T09:33:00.000-08:00

At Madison Square Park there were a bunch of vendors and food vendors set up for a few weeks. Panda and I decided to try some food. I was hankering for some Indian food so I went up to Tanjore. I go the chicken masala and the vegetable mix. It doesn't look appetizing on the picture because it's all mushed up, but taste-wise, it wasn't that great either. I've had better Indian food, and I would have preferred naan bread over rice.

Charlie's Kitchen @ Boston [Harvard Square]

2011-01-01T09:25:00.000-08:00

Ate here because there's an outdoor patio so Boos could bring his dog Argos while we ate. Food was really just ok. Seemed like typical bar/diner fare. I suppose if you're in the area, you're hungry, poor and need to be seated fast this is the spot - Charlie's Kitchen.

Chili Cheese Waffle Fries

good but definitely a heart attack waiting to happen

Fish and Chips

definite had better. batter was too thick, not flaky enough and too fried. A Salt and Battery ten times better.

Lobster Roll

disappointment comparing it to Boston Chowda Co. not enough lobster, and don't let the giant piece of knuckle fool you. they also used lots of celery which i'm not a fan of. pass.

Mr. Bartley's @ Boston (Harvard Square)

2011-01-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

Famous burgers, allegedly, at Mr. Bartley's. We luckily walked by when the line was short, so we only had to wait for 15 minutes. Mr. Bartley Junior takes your order while you wait in line, which is nice and we were able to snap a picture of him with his son. Sweet.

So let's get to the food, it was honestly ok. Nothing amazing. No Shake Shack, No In-n-Out, and I've had better burgers elsewhere.

My personal experience there, a waitress was carrying plates above me, and it fell right on my purse (brand new) and onto the ground and splattered. Kind of pissed me off. Good news, they comped my food! So yay. That made me happy. Would I return next time? If there wasn't a line, and I would just go for a regular cheeseburger, not the special stuff that they name the famous people after.

The Mayor Mumbles Menino
[(1st non English speaking mayor) topped w/ fried egg, bacon, cheese & fries]

The Jersey Shore
[with bacon, cheese, grilled mushrooms & onions, w/ onion rings]

Boston Chowda Co @ Boston

2011-01-01T09:07:00.000-08:00

It is a necessity to have clam chowder and a lobster roll when in Boston. So I did the research that was possible, and was told that Boston Chowda Co has the best chowder, and that it was ranked pretty high on the "Hot on Yelp" list. Turned out that Boston Chowda Co was in Quincy Market so that was nice, I was able to look at other things while I made my decision. Let me tell you, the chowder was the best I've ever had. It was a perfect ration of cream to clam stock. There were huge pieces of clam, and it wasn't over burdened by potatoes like most chowders are. Yum! Then there was the lobster roll, I think this was my first official lobster roll and I am totally sucked in! The mayo was uber light, the lobster was fresh, and the seasoning was just perfect. I think it totally set the bar for lobster roll. I really liked the roll too, I could tell immediately that the bread was fresh and uber soft. One thing about Boston Chowda Co, they only make 3 lobster rolls at a time, and once they sell out they make more. I like this concept because it keeps the food fresh, and since it's so popular they sell out fast!

Lulu's Sweet Shoppe @ Boston

2011-01-01T00:55:00.000-08:00

Looking for something sweet as you walk along the north end? Stop by at Lulu's Sweet Shoppe where it's cute, and has a nice selection for your sweet tooth. I personally chose the one that looked like a hostess cupcake, and it was the best hostess cupcake I've ever had. The cake was so moist, and not too sweet. The chocolate ganache on top was perfect and the cream filling was yumsies.

Wagamama @ Boston (Harvard Square)

2011-01-01T00:48:00.000-08:00

Cold! Cold! Cold! What to eat when it's cold? Usually a nice bowl of soup, or if you're Asian a nice hot bowl of noodles! That is precisely what we found at Wagamama. Now the food is definitely not asian-asian, but white-asian, and what made it great was that Panda and I had a coupon for buy 1 get 1 free. Which is what I love to hear. Food was fresh, tasty and it definitely kept me warm.

Chicken Katsu Curry

good portion size, and a bit too spicy for my panda, however he did like the crispness of the katsu and it filled him up.

Chili Beef Ramen

definitely not the best ramen i've had, but better than the one's that you cook out of a package at home. the broth was nice and warm, and i liked how there were lots of vegetables. i wasn't a fan of the beef, where it was like the beef was stir fried separately, i think i would have enjoyed beef from pho instead

Muqueca @ Boston

2011-01-01T00:33:00.000-08:00

What to eat near Harvard? Specifically what to eat near Sommerville? Answer, Muqueca. It's brazillian food, but don't think brazillian steak house. I think the food here is more homely, and not so much focus on meat. It's definitely different, and still good. The name of the restaurant is named after the traditional brazillian dish. Lots of robust flavors, filling and definitely a place to eat family style so you can eat lots.

Fried Yucca w. Portuguese Sausage

the yucca was nice, not try. portuguese sausage added nice flavor. that was about it. no wow-factor, i think i would have enjoyed fries more. lol

Feijoada Completa

[brazillian national dish. black beans stew w. fresh and fried meat, pork, sausage and bacon]

Fish and Calamari Moqueca

signature dish and stew. i loved this, there were so many yummy flavors and the sauce was great for rice. the fish and calamari was uber fresh.

collard greens, fried plantain, farofa & orange

Stuffed Artisan Cannolis @ NYC

2011-01-01T00:11:00.000-08:00

Yummy! Get some cannoli's at Stuffed Artisan Cannolis. Usually I'm not a big cannoli fan, but this was really delicate, not too sweet and fresh. I liked how the ricotta cheese was not too rich and was really light in the taste.

Shake Shack @ NYC

2011-01-01T00:05:00.000-08:00

SHAKE SHACK! SHAKE SHACK! SHACK SHACK! Besides missing the amazing pizza in NYC, I will most definitely miss Shake Shack. Now I'm not talking about their regular cheeseburger, but it is definitely worth the 40 min wait in line in the cold for the Shack Stack. What is Shack Stack you ask? Well it's a cheeseburger, with a cheese-stuffed-portobello-mushroom that is fried. YES! It's the best mushroom burger I'VE EVER HAD. I'm really drooling here. Will someone deliver this to me????

Shack Stack

just look at that portabello mushroom!!!

Cheese Fries

meh, not that great. skip it, don't order.

rawr! nom nom!

Hudson Tavern @ NJ

2010-12-31T23:54:00.000-08:00

Hoboken NJ! Ate at Hudson Tavern and food was decent. I thought it would be just a random bar, but it turned out to be a little more upscale than that. I think it's because they dimmed the light and served things like White Truffle Mac & Cheese, and Pork Milanese - which I both highly recommend.

Pork Milanese

really yummy, and that vinagarette salad thing on top was a good compliment. portion was HUGE, took the entire plate.

Truffle Mac and Cheese

wow...so creamy, so decadent, and it was piping hot! soooo good, and guilty afterwards

Cake & Shake @ NYC

2010-12-31T23:48:00.000-08:00

If you're in NYC you MUST go to the MET, it's blasphemous not to go. However spending hours (yes hours) in a museum will make you tired, hungry and thirsty. If you don't feel like spending money inside the museum, or want to do the "traditional" snacking on the steps outside of the MET, then walk outside to a cute little cart to find Cake & Shake. You can get cupcakes and shakes. We got the white peach shake, and it was delicious. It had a nice fragrant white peach flavors and was not too sweet at all. It wasn't too thick so my cheeks weren't tired from using the straw.

my fav degas

Kyochon @ NYC

2010-12-31T23:40:00.000-08:00

I have been craving Kyochon ever since I left NYC back in 2008. Yes I know there's one in LA, but that's kind of far, and yes I go to LA quite frequently, but LA is huge. I love kyochon and their "healthy" korean fried chicken wings with a nice soy glaze, and if you want spice get it spicy!

So the flavor and everything was there, however I noticed that the price was higher and the chicken wings shrank. They got really tiny. I think it's because they've branched out to Manhattan when before I could only get it in Queens. Also, it's a lot more trendy too...again Manhattan. Regardless, I LOVE!

Haru Sushi @ NYC

2010-12-31T23:20:00.000-08:00

There are so many japanese/sushi restaurants in NYC and any other big city, so how do you choose? How do you figure out which one to go to, or if you're just walking along and feeling hungers, is it safe to go in? Well I'm here to tell you Haru Sushi is definitely a go. Prices are high, but what eating place in NY isn't (have I talked about the NYC premium yet). The fish is uber fresh, and you definitely can eat lots. Downside is the service is horrible. I think our waiter avoided us the entire time, and it took like an hour for them to slice up some raw fish and put it on a plate. You would have thought that they actually went into the Hudson to catch some fresh fish. However, if you walk by and you feel hungry, go for it! It has my approval.

Sashimi and Sushi Deluxe For 2

[salmon, tuna, yellow tail, white fish, unagi, tuna & avocado, spicy tuna, spicy salmon]

this will feed three people. fresh fish and nice portion sized pieces

Tempura

came with plenty shrimp and batter was nice and light

Porchetta @ NYC

2010-12-31T23:13:00.000-08:00

So since having Roli Roti in SF I've been craving the same porcetta sandwich, so when I saw that NYC has Porchetta, which serves the same sandwich in a similar fashion I was sold. The store is uber small, it seats about 5 people along the counter. At first glance it didn't look like what I wanted, the chunks of pork weren't spinning around in its spit, rather those that were finished were just chilling in the warming oven. Regardless, gave it a try. Definitely not the same as Roli Roti. The bread was too chewy, the pork wasn't flavored as well, there wasn't caramelized onions, and yummy seasoned salt. It was different! Then the pork skins weren't crispy enough - it's like it sat in its own oils for too long and it became chewy. We had to pay extra for a side of potatoes, and then not the same as well. Too burnt, too crispy and not fingerling potatoes. Overall - so-so, not impressed. No repeat for this foodie here. East Coasters, come to SF and have some roli roti, it will change you, you will have a new experience...hmmm drooling slightly.

Potatoes

Sandwich

Bee Desserts @ NYC

2010-12-31T23:01:00.000-08:00

Randomly strolled into Bee Desserts after having dinner at A Salt and Battery, luckily it was just down the block because the rain started to pour down and then it proceeded to hail. Apparently they're known for their honey cakes, so obviously we ordered one, but they just ran out and we had to wait 30 minutes for a new batch. We weren't in a rush to go anywhere, so we ordered some other stuff and waited.

When the honey cake made it, it really wasn't that amazing. I've had better regular cakes, so I didn't see how it could be that famous and how it sold out. I didn't taste any great "honey" flavor, and honestly I didn't like the cake batter that they used. But that's just me. I did however did like their regular cake, the strawberry one, because it wasn't too sweet, the cake was nice and spongy and I loved the fresh strawberry preserved they used. It was fresh and light. I'd go back just for that - pass on the honey cake. Thanx.

Strawberry cake

my fav. nice, air and fluffy. fresh preserves

packaging of honey cake

Marshmallow Honey Cake

if you must eat a honey cake, eat this one. it tastes almost like a smore, and that's because of the marshamalllowy layer

A Salt & Battery @ NYC

2010-12-30T22:02:00.000-08:00

The name itself cracks me up, I don't know if it's because I'm a legal-nerd and stuff like that just makes me laugh nonsensically. But really, A Salt & Battery ("assault and battery") HA! It's funny stuff. What makes it better than being a funny name is that the food is delicious! Really! I am not a fan of fish and chips, and it usually is the last thing I will order from a menu. I really would eat a salad first. I'd eat chicken strips/tenders before I eat fish and chips. But man, the fish and chips here are definitely different and better. The fish is fresh, and you get to choose which fish you want. Then there's the shrimp, I do believe that was my favorite!

Pollock

Cod

Shrimp

my favorite!!!!!!! i can snack on these lots!

SoHo Halal Food Cart @ NYC

2010-12-30T21:52:00.000-08:00

Two years ago Panda came to visit me in NYC while I was doing my first year of law school. We wandered to SoHo to go shopping, and we randomly saw a halal food cart and Panda wanted a lamb gyro. We ordered it, the guy made it, and with the first bite it was the best lamb gyro we've ever had. Since then we had yet been able to find a gyro as tasty, and have been craving it ever since. This time when we returned to NYC, we thought how are we going to find the same. We thought, oh well, lets just randomly choose one - SoHo Halal Food Cart. We ordered, and we got it for cheap $2.99, and first bite...BAM. It was the same one! Cheapest gryo ever, and quite delicious. Full of meat and sauce, just the way it should be. Look for it in SoHo!

Baked By Melissa @ NYC

2010-12-30T21:44:00.000-08:00

Cupcakes! I think we all understand how much I love cupcakes, and how much of a snob I've become...slightly. So when I was strolling in SoHo I see a cute little window near Sabon that sold miniature cupcakes. Yes you did read correctly, miniature cupcakes, cupcakes that you can literally pop into your mouth, cupcakes that are Baked by Melissa. This was like the best idea, because I could have as many flavors as I wanted, and didn't have to consume a fullsize cupcake and feel guilty afterwards. YES! What was even better about these cupcakes being tiny and completely bitesize, was the fact that they had all the flavor of a full-sized cupcake, oh yea and these cupcakes were filled! I will definitely miss these. Go and find mini cupcakes!

red velvet, chocolate chip, and s'mores

best flavors!

Roy's Pizza @ NYC [chelsea]

2010-12-30T21:33:00.000-08:00

First meal in NYC? Obviously pizza! Didn't know which one to go to, because there are so many, so Panda and I decided to just walk downtown from the condo and eat where our feet takes us. We saw Roy's Pizza and thought "why not."

The pizza was better than most pizza's I've had on the west coast. Roy's pizza had the traditional thin NY-style pizza. However, after eating lots more pizza after this meal, it was definitely not the best NYC has to offer. So if you're walking along Chelsea, on 8th ave, and you come across Roy's pizza and wondering if it's tasty, yes go for it! But there is definitely better around the city, but of course that requires traveling some and going somewhere that you're feet is currently not at.

Let's Roll @ SF

2010-12-30T21:24:00.000-08:00

A new "fast" sushi/japanese food joint opened up a few months ago - Let's Roll. It looked clean and friendly, and what attracted me the most was the takoyaki (octopus balls) for $2.99. A deal! While it was affordable, it definitely was not yummy. Lots of flavor lacking, not enough batter, and other stuff. However the california roll for $1.99 was good for it's price. Outcome: it's whatever, not amazing, not great, but if you're feeling a snack for $1.99 you can get a california roll which is cheaper than at Safeway.

Q Restaurant Wine & Bar @ SF

2010-11-27T21:54:00.000-08:00

**note**

I know I'm wayyyyy behind on updating. I have lots to update, unfortunately a lot of the pictures are on my camera and I haven't uploaded them to my computer yet. I left my external in NY and am currently waiting for it to be brought back to me. So for the time being, enjoy this post. I left my camera at home and used the camera on my cellphone.

So Q Restaurant Wine & Bar is quite delicious and charming. The decor is really cute and random. For example the tables are like a diarama and have things inside of it, like arm. The table I sat at had a race track for race cars, I really wished I could have raced those cars, it would have been uber fun. Food wise, lots of options and everything looks delicious. Reasonable prices too!

Beto's Bomb

[chorizo scramble w. eggs, sharp white cheddar, salsa fresca, sour cream, served w. black beans and corn tortilla]

this really was the bomb. it was amazing and look at the portions! it was a generous amount. the chorizo wasn't too spicy, but well flavored. i liked that it wasn't a lot of sour cream, because that could really diminish the flavor. the black beans were a nice touch, because of the chorizo were too spicy, the beans neutralized them. i didn't think the corn tortilla was necessary, but i did roll some up and eat it like a mini taco/burrito, but honestly the scramble was great all by itself.

Macaroni and Cheese w. Tater Tots

honestly the name explains itself. Wow. The cheese wasn't too cheesy or creamy where it could be super decadent. Pasta was cooked al dente, and the tater tots added a nice crunch. It would be prefect if there was some protein to this dish, maybe sprinkled crumbled bacon :P

Lunch @ Culver City (LA)

2010-09-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

Lots of restaurants booming around downtown Culver City and one of these is Lunch. I like the name "lunch" it is simple and describes what you can eat there, "lunch." A lot of "trendy" restaurant names are simplistic these days, one or two word names that has you guessing, "what's so special." Salads at Lunch are amazing! Filling, crisp, refreshing, and good topping combinations. Only downside is that the lighting in the room is too dim. So that's not fun. However! If you go for Lunch on a Tuesday, you can step outside to the Farmer's Market, which is tons of fun.

I really liked this display. I want something like that in my future home

Russian Mob Cob

[Chopped Iceberg Lettuce, Turkey, Ham, Swiss, Egg, Avocado with Russian Dressing]

one of the better cob sandwiches i've had. i think because there was no blue cheese, and it was actually kind of healthy, no bacon! i asked for dressing n the side.

Bachelor's Beef

[Roast Beef, Caramelized Onions, Provolone, Tomato, Horseradish on Sourdough]

the bread was tasty...especially after not having carbs for a week. i needed more lettuce and tomatoes. i like my veggies in sandwiches. instead of horseradish i asked for mayo. much better.

Cho Dang Tofu & BBQ @ Diamond Bar

2010-09-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

I love LOVE Korean Tofu Soup! So good. Cho Dang Tofu in Diamond Bar is reasonably priced, clean, good sides, and lots of yumsies. Couldn't eat rice because of no carb diet, but the tofu wasn't too salty and good by itself. Ordered kalbi too and that was tres delicious. All very tasty!!

No Name

2010-09-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

Ahhh....how I love my sushi. You may remember the post "The One We Shall Not Name..." well I waited in line for it again! I don't have much to say other than the sushi is better than I remembered, and just DAMN GOOD! But here are some pictures just to tickle your appetite :)

Tuna

Sashimi Combo

[tuna, yellow tail, tako, salmon, squid, scallops, seaweed salad, ginger]

Yellow Tail

Scallop

Kika's Treats @ San Francisco

2010-09-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

This has to be the BEST smores I've ever had. EVER! It was so beautifully done, so decadent, so delicate, and such harmony between the graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate. Kika's Treats has definitely perfected the camp fire snack - 'smores.

bottom-up [graham cracker, homemade marshmallow, toasted, and chocolate covered graham cracker]

the BEST dessert ever! so good!!! not too sweet at all, perfect.

Curry Up Now @ San Francisco

2010-09-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

Street food is popping up all over the place. Everything is in taco or burrito form, whether it be Korean, Chinese and now even Indian. Curry Up Now is very famous in San Francisco, and there are long lines all over the place. They're known for their Tikka Masala Chicken Burrito. It was good, and SUPER SPICY. So spicy my lips and tongues were burning non-stop and I couldn't eat it any more. Downside was that there was too much sauce and not enough rice. Needed more rice to counteract the spicyness.

[fresh flour tortilla, methi pulao, chana masala, pickled onions and chicken]

SPICY!!!

Raven's Nest @ Long Beach, CA

2010-09-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

Cuban food in Long Beach, who would have known? The original plan was to go get ramen in Little Tokyo, but as traffic was piling it would be difficult to eat at Little Tokyo and then head over to Long Beach Airport. With an iPhone in hand, I managed to find Raven's Nest. The reviews looked good, and well the food was not too shabby. It was pricier than Versailles in LA, and the portions were smaller. I think I still prefer Versailles more, but Raven's Nest did the job. Good food, but nothing amazing to rave about. But I do suppose if you're in the area and you want Cuban food, head over to Raven's Nest.

Complimentary Garlic Bread

Black Beans

Breaded Steak

light and crispy. panda loved it. he couldn't have more!

Ropa Vieja w. plaintains and rice

[shredded beef simmered in tomato sauce with other spices]

super tender and real good. juicy. i could have eaten a lot more