Baxterita's Profile
AZ CH visiting Manhattan in Oct.
Hubby and I are heading for a week-long vacay to Manhattan in Oct. Not interested in places in Queens, LI, etc. as that will be taken care of w/friends.
We are looking for some quintessential Manhattan experiences. We've both visited twice before, so we're not doing the touristy things as much but want to experience some uniquely NYC eats that are NOT pizza or hot dogs.
We are prob. going to stay in midtown.
We DON'T want -
1. fine dining
2. dim sum
3. Mexican/Thai/sushi/deli - all been there, done that.
We love ethnic places and obviously Manhattan is crawling with them, but what are the GOOD ones?
How about a Korean place that has ddukboki (spicy rice cakes)?
Hon Machi on Dobson/Ray next to Pita Jungle?
Does anyone know anything about the Hon Machi on Dobson/Ray next to Pita Jungle? I believe that they are not related to the Hon Machi teppanyaki/sushi places, one by Chandler mall and the other on Alma School/QC.
I am wondering if it is worth a try...
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Pita Jungle
1949 W Ray Rd Ste 28, Chandler, AZ 85224
AZCH visiting Seattle in August
Hubs and I will be visiting Seattle at the end of August. We will be staying at Hotel 1000 Seattle - where BOKA is located. We live in the Phoenix burbs so we have plenty of Mexican food. I am Korean-American and we eat a lot of Asian food - Thai, Sushi, Vietnamese.
That said, I am looking for seafood recs. Not too touristy but "where locals eat." We will be going to Pike Place Market but I'm assuming locals actually eat there :-) No fine dining. I love (cooked) seafood and I can't get it here in the desert!
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Pike Place Market
1501 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101
Review: Restaurant Takamatsu (Phoenix, AZ)
Eric, this review cracked me up! I am a Korean American and my white husband and hapa son eat at Takamatsu-Chandler every weekend. I do believe all the Takamatsus in AZ are related - same family members own them.
The dried cuttlefish is also one of MY "childhood faves" - I think your wife might be the first white person to enjoy that as well...
We should get together to go out to eat!
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Takamatsu Restaurant
1949 W Ray Rd # 32, Chandler, AZ
Kid-friendly 30th Bday Restaurant suggestions? (Chandler, AZ)
Patsy Grimaldi's has great pizza (but no pasta) and they have great beers on tap/wine list. If you have a very large party, I believe they have a section they can close off.
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Patsy Grimaldi's Pizzeria
1035 W Queen Creek Rd, Chandler, AZ 85248
Donna's Bakery Cafe in Tempe (PHX)
I stopped by Donna's Bakery Cafe in Tempe next to Kebab Palace on Kyrene and Elliot the other day. The place just opened! It has Asian-style bakery items. Swiss rolls, bbq pork buns, coconut buns, and mousse cakes, etc.
I am always hankering for Asian-style bakeries so this was an unexpected treat. I got the cream cheese bun - yum! and hubby said the bbq pork bun was the best he's ever had... And we eat a lot of this stuff...
It was great! I highly recommend it. They also have some sandwiches, smoothies (they also offer boba), etc. Def. a place for chowies to check out for a quick snack/treats.
www.donnasbakerycafe.com.
Scottsdale, Phoenix, Jerome, Sedona, Flagstaff
There really aren't that many to choose from in Jerome. I think people like the Haunted Hamburger.
For Flagstaff, I am dying to go to Beaver Street Brewery! If you like microbrews, this is a Flag fave. I love their Thai mussel appetizer.
For PHX, I would say try and see if you can get a reservation at Barrio Cafe. Or tho New Mexico cuisine, I'd recommend Los Dos Molinos in the PHX location. Carolina's for Mexican in PHX. Also, Fry Bread House for Navajo tacos.
Sedona with family
Don't do Garland's - I don't think they accept kids. Call for reservations - if you have a babysitter it will be a wonderful night out for you and the spouse. Their food is absolutely DELICIOUS!!!
Best Restaurants Close By Us? (Chandler, AZ)
Welcome to AZ, roboscott! I bet Denver is beautiful this time of year, sigh... Anyways, if you live in Ocotillo and expect to find a LOT of inexpensive independents I just have to kind of chuckle... I'm almost a lifelong resident of the Chandler area and you have to realize that it was an agricultural place not too long ago. Esp. Ocotillo! I grew up picking peaches and apples on the farms around here b4 they built all the houses.
Anyways, there ARE great places to eat in PHX but you have to be willing to drive. It IS a sprawling metro area, after all. I completely agree w/you that there aren't enough good indie restaurants. Tons of chains for all the young families and snowbirds. PHX is basically a giant suburb.
I guess my point is, if you want better eats, you gotta go to PHX and Scottsdale. You can find lots of links on the boards here - NOCA, CherryBlossom Noodle Cafe, Binkley's, etc.
Sushi Kee (Mesa, AZ)
I keep hearing from diff. people that Sushi Kee is good. I thought it was located on Warner in the Barro's plaza, but upon a quick search there is a Sushi Kee at Power and Main...
Can a Chowie please confirm which is the "good" sushi place? Thanks.
Family-friendly dining in the East Valley (Phx)?
Thanks yamalam for the exhaustive list! of course, we've tried most of them...Maybe we've even seen your family there... I do recommend Swadee Thai - we just went there for the lunch special this week - if you're able to get out during the wkdays, I recommend it. I don't know about kids and La Stalla on the wknds as I think it tends to be a date night place (but maybe later at night?) but I recommend their pastas and proscuitto pizza as well...
Family-friendly dining in the East Valley (Phx)?
Hey guys. I now have a 10 month old bouncing baby boy, which means that we can't drive out to wherever whenever anymore.
Can you please give your 2 cents on family-friendly dining in the East Valley? Not trendy Scottsdale, but more the Mesa/Chandler/Gilbert area.
Since Hubby and I are Chowhounds, I have a feeling we've prob. been to all of them but I am wondering if there are some other places I haven't been to....
We'd like a list of not-too-"chainy" places that have clean restrooms in case we need to change the bebe.
Our usual dining out list goes something like - C-Fu for dim sum, Takamatsu, Sushi Eye, Pita Jungle, Patsy Grimaldi's, Mint Thai Cafe, Thai Basil, etc...
Thanks in advance for any ideas!
New Latitude Eight Thai Grill in Chandler
Thanks for the review! Hubby and the baby and I visited Latitude 8 a little after they opened for the tasting menu. We had it at lunch - not sure if they would have it for dinner?
Hubby and I got all diff. things. I loved his spicy papaya salad more than I loved my spicy fruit salad, which was still good. I had the panang and Hubby had the pad thai. The pad thai looked very "light" but had a wonderful sweet/sour counterpart taste. Hubby also loved the banana basil dessert. It sounded kind of strange to me but it was actually very good, as was my mango sticky rice. Everything is pretty spicy - they didn't ask us for a preferred "spice level." They were still very much "in progress" but it looks like a wonderful addition to downtown Chandler's dining scene.
Zorba's in Chandler, AZ?
Has anyone been to Zorba's in Chandler, AZ? It's a Greek place. It's a family-owned place and I love those mom and pop joints, but didn't know if it was quality. Please let me know! Thanks!
Gentle Ben's in Tucson?
Has anyone been to Gentle Ben's in Tucson recently? I'm a UA grad but that was 8 years ago... I remember they had the best spinach and artichoke dip, but I wasn't drinking microbrews then... Has anyone visited lately and how is the beer/food quality?
We may be taking a trip down to Tucson and am wondering if that is still a good place to go.... Thanks!
Which Korean Restaurant in the E. Valley?
JK, which one did you end up going to? Disclaimer: I'm Korean American and would have recommended Takamatsu, esp. if you were wanting to grill bulgogi yourself. Please let us know- thanks!
What's your favorite take-out side dish? (PHX)
I like the Thai style green beans from Trader Joe's. It has a pad Thai type sauce. I think they're $1.99 per bag in the frozen section.
Chandler help for tonight?
If you're looking for more of a "hanging out" place with a bar, I'd say go for Kona Grill at the Chandler mall, right by your friends' place. They have reverse happy hour starting at 10pm in the bar. I'm not impressed by their regular menu, but their half price sushi rolls and other items such as onion rings and pizzas are quite good and great with alcohol! Parking shouldn't be a problem by 9pm...
I love Mac's but they close at 9 or 10pm. 98 South will break your $25 budget, more of an older crowd/$10 cocktails kind of place, I think... Love Fibber Magee's, double the rec for that. They have great food (get the Irish soda bread and smoked salmon dish :) and big portions...
Chandler or S. Phoenix dinner $$$
It's not really "fine dining" but if your son is a big meat eater, he might like Fogo e Brasa, a Brazilian meat buffet (but classy) in Ahwautukee, I believe on 48th st. and Chandler Blvd., next to Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet. Don't know about driving after that much meat in one's stomach, tho...
Cheap E.V. Chinese takeout??
I don't know if it's as "bad" as you'd like as it's pretty dang good, but for Americanized Chinese I would recommend Sun Chinese dining (used to be Lin Chinese Dining) on Knox and Alma School Rd., next to Saigon Pho. Delish hot and sour soup, "wonton crisps" with mustard and sweet and sour to start your meal, yummy kung pao. They also have a Chinese/Korean fusion menu including black bean sauce noodles, more "authentic" ethnic stuff.
How is Patsy Grimaldi's?
There are actually more locations - I eat at the one in Ocotillo (Chandler) all the time. The antipasto is not good, but all their salads are high quality and even a "small" is enough for 2-4. Def. add salami and mozz. to the house salad - yum! I've found their pizzas to be delish and Hubby is addicted. Even though at the Oct. location they have teenage servers, they have excellent service - seems like they do a great job training them. Also, they have a great alcohol list - microbrews and wines like Pazzo. Maybe the manager does a better job of QC at the one I go to?
Mini-Reviews: The Jester Goes To Flagstaff and Sedona (long-ish)
Thanks JK! I do love heading north to get out of town, esp. when it hits 120 degrees down here in the metro PHX area. I'll have to keep these in mind for next time.
Did Old Town Creperie have nutella crepes?
Also, I love Beaver Street Brewery. I say they give Four Peaks and Oak Creen Canyon Breweries a run for their money... I remember last time, they had a Thai curry mussel appetizer that had one of the best Thai curry sauces, and I like to think I know my Thai food! Kind of weird and "upscale" appie for a brewery too...
PURE Sushi Scottsdale Restaurant? (PHX)
Has anyone been to Pure Sushi, I believe on Hayden and 101 in North Scottsdale by Grayhawk golf course? I had heard preliminary good things (may actually be owned by Japanese people?) but can't seem to find reviews and their website is not up yet.
I am wondering if besides sashimi they still have rolls, noodles, etc. I figure since it's in trendy Scottsdale they would, but then again, the name IS "Pure" sushi...
Sports Bars w/ Great Food - Phoenix Metro Area
Don't know where you're looking to go, but I like Jilly's American Grill. There's one in Chandler - http://www.jillyschandler.com/ off the I-10 and also one across the street from Kierland Commons in Scottsdale by the Dial corporate building. They have those booths where you have your own TV - so you can watch whatever you want. I've found their food to be surprisingly good for a sports bar, and good portions.
Great Mother's Day brunch in Phoenix/SE Valley area?
It seems that any holiday is an opportunity for the resorts around here to charge exorbitant prices for overcrowded dining. That said, Hubby and I would like to take out my MIL for a nice Mother's Day brunch. I've never been. She lives in Gilbert and I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for a nice brunch? Doesn't have to have champagne, but a great view/reservations accepted would be great. Willing to drive 30 minutes... How crazy are the prices around here? I'm guessing $30-$50 p/p for a holiday brunch... thanks in advance, Chowhounds!
Group Outing (PHX)
I would say Devil's Martini in Old Town Scottsdale. However, I would def. call them to let them know 50 are coming. It may be hard to find a place to park a bus in Old Town as well.
Saigon Pho & Seafood (Chandler, AZ)
Glad you enjoyed it! Saigon Pho is on my weekly dinner list :) The egg roll is pork I think, not shrimp, so it was prob. the fish sauce (the vinegary sauce, if you didn't know) that you were tasting? I would also recommend the regular shrimp spring rolls and the Chinese broccoli with fried tofu, yum...
Gomo's Korean in AZ
Does anyone know if Gomo's korean restaurant is going to re-open somewhere and if so, when? They used to be on Ray and Kyrene...
Phoenix: Whats your favorite sushi?
In the SE valley, I highly recommend Sekai Sushi in Gilbert on Gilbert past Southern, on the NE side where the Target is. I've heard rumors they might be opening another location in the SE valley too. Quality sashimi, great Las Vegas rolls...It's family-owned and has lots of regulars.
GoMo's Korean?
Does anyone know what happened to Gomo's Korean food? They were supposed to reopen somewhere in the East Valley last I heard, but so far no news...
