mrgreenbeenz's Profile
Cheap Lunch in Santa Monica?
Thoughts on the Hungry Pocket Combo Plate: Lamb over-marinated and somehow both under and overcooked at the same time. Babaganoush and Hummus both served with a puddle of tahini on top - also weird, but not unsuccessful. Tabouli salad - parsley was unchopped - kind of liked it but the lettuce under had brown patches. Regrettable pita. Not terribly inexpensive. Holding out hope for z garden.
Tacos Por Favor had a mixed reviews cemita poblano - at least they had good bread. Al Pastor was not up to par but if their not going to treat their torta like a complete afterthought they earn a follow up.
Fish and Chips
I want to retract my previous statement. I meant Robin Hood's - not Fox and Hounds. Don't blame me - blame the deficient name-selection abilities of area BritPub owners.
Fish and Chips
I like Fox and Hounds in Studio City. My favorite was the one they do on Friday's at Golden State but it's been awhile so check before that they still have it before you go,
Cheap Lunch in Santa Monica?
Hit up the Hungry Pocket today. Very serviceable falafel - not a perfect fry but a little bit spicier than most. Lettuce could have been crisper. Can't be too picky - it was under five bucks. Passed Tacos Por Favor today and after seeing it written up in the LA Weekly 10 Best Tacos (likely as a pro forma concession to their WestSide readers) it is next up on my list.
five guys burger sucks
FIVE GUYS ONE REDEEMING VALUE
I want to echo a brief comment by johnb above. First, I think Five Guys is tasty but a pretty piss poor value for the money. It's good but not really good and when you include the fact that you can go to a really high-end burger joint for one or two bucks more it doesn't even rate.
Here's the thing though. I live in SoCal and Five Guys is the only place that does classic East Coast boardwalk fries. These are thick cut, skin-on fries fried lightly served vertically in a cup, then completely smothered in malt vinegar. There was a fry stand called Thrasher's in Rehoboth DE and Ocean City MD (not sure if it was elsewhere) that did this style and it's one of those touchstone foods from my childhood.
At the Five Guys I've been to in Cali I have never once seen anyone but myself use the malt vinegar. It sits on the counter like its a touch to the decor. Maybe it's the childhood association but I really think this is one of the best ways to eat fries. I've had the burger three or four times now but if I happen upon a five guys I just pop in and get the fries. Takes me right back - and those I've shared them with really like them too so I'm inclined not to just chalk it up to some weird regional taste thing.
If you go to five guys skip the burger - douse your fries in vinegar and see if you like it.
In N Out Burger question for a newbie
I just had a friend move from TX and say the same thing - then he tried the burger in CA and had a completely different opinion. The important thing to understand is that what made In n Out special was that they had a 'never-frozen beef' distribution apparatus in SoCal, Vegas and a few spots in AZ. Everything was processed through the mother-warehouse in Baldwin Park. I guess they've tried to recreate that in TX but it's likely a somewhat different setup (maybe frozen, certainly different beef) out there.
That said, In n Out is not the be all end all of hamburgers. Its more that its the same price as McD's or Wendy's and a vastly superior product. It's only slightly worse than Five Guys which is at least three times the price.
NYC -> LA in June: Tell Me What I'm Missing
Good list. I'm going to second the either/or on Animal and Son of a Gun. Also, Ricky's Fish Taco's is essential and a quick hop down the hill. As far as you're larger taco hunt goes you should be prepared to travel to the east side to get anything memorable (I'm sure servorg's recs will suffice).
On the cocktail front I wanted to suggest trying Las Perlas - as far as I know there aren't any mezcal bars in NY - if you go on a Monday night most of the menu is an all night happy hour. Also, during the summer Villain's on Santa Fe by the river is one of my favorites - the best manhattan I've had in LA and a lively scene on a warm evening. There might be a line if you go late.
As far as Malibu goes I frequently take visitors on a short hike up to the Escondido Falls off Winding Way and then hit up Malibu Seafood for something very basic like fish and chips. The food is nothing to write home about but on a beautiful day with great weather it tends to be memorable. Anyway, the quality is interchangeable with Neptune's Net.
lamb for Easter that isn't gamey and isn't chops.
I love to take a butterflied leg of lamb and then give it 12 hours in a jerk rub (I use Walkerswood) - at that point you can either par-smoke it or grill it. No reason it couldn't go in the oven.
Mexicali Taco & Co. is back!
Sampled a few of their items last week and was really impressed with the cachetadas - chorizo and cheese on top of a cripsy tostado. The carne asada vampiro was nice but while the meat was good quality it didn't add up to much more than an overstuffed quesadilla. I tried their chicken taco just to sample all the meats - a flavorless waste of time - but really, I knew that when I ordered it. I imagine chicken tacos are de rigeur when you're spitting distance from the Orsini.
Glad to have a daytime taco stop in the no man's land between EP and Chinatown but what is up with no carnitas? Only chicken, chorizo and carne asada. I respect a limited menu but I respect pork more. Also, without changing the basic layout from El Nene the new design looks like a food truck threw up inside of a restaurant and then asked me to follow it on twitter.
Poor decor choices aside, I will back for more cachetadas. Nice to know that I don't have to wait until dark to get my taco on in Victor Heights.
Good fishmonger / Seafood Market near Downtown/Echo Park/Silver Lake
I like Fish King but don't think of it as the be all and end all of LA fishmongers. Pricey and for a fish-focused market their selection can be a little thin.
For a value proposition I like Han Nam Chain - the Korean supermarket on Olympic a block and a half west of Vermont. Great selection and great prices. Occasionally Woori Market downtown (the old Mitsuwa) has great fish for cheap but you'll need a discerning eye to navigate their inventory successfully. If you've chosen well usually you'll get a subtle nod of recognition from one of the guys working the counter.
LAX-C papaya salad FTW. What else is good there?
After trying out the satay guy a few weeks ago I decided to give the steam tray place inside a go (The SO can spend hours trolling the aisles there and I'm usually shopped out after 15 minutes). The way it's set up is that you can match 1-3 different dishes (mostly curries or spicy catfish steaks) on a plate with rice. Cost is between $5-8 depending on how much you order. Looks like they also do some kind of pork leg dish - but only on the weekends.
I tried the green fish balls and thai eggplant curry. The fishcakes were oddly shaped (not balls at all), making me think maybe they were homemade. Very flavorful, lots of galangal and lemongrass and full of thai pepper berries and a few other veggies. I also tried a pork and greens dish. No idea what it is - I've never had it in a thai place before. The woman behind the counter told me that I wouldn't like it because it was too bitter but I didn't find it bitter at all. It was very good - I guess the closest thing to it I've had before would be a pork rendang. I think the bitter line might have been an attempt to save her best dish for her regulars.
For the money (about $6.50 w tax) it was one of the better Thai meals I've had recently. I guess it makes sense - LAX-C is supported by Thai restauranteurs so presumably the bar is set pretty high. When you take into account the fact that this is well outside the usual Thai-epicenters of Hollywood and N. Hollywood it's a nice thing to have in the hood. It's also worth mentioning that there's a new coffee spot called Chimney in the same complex. Prices are slightly less sticker shocky than LA Mill/Intelligentsia and you get a free cup of made to order drip when you buy your beans. Went very well with the curry.
Lunch for 40 after Bob Baker Marionettes show downtown?
Might want to try El Compadre in Echo Park. Should have enough seats and fit the Mexican theme. If you'd like something right near the theatre you should try Ti Georges right up the block on Glendale - though I'd suggest calling ahead and trying to book the whole place. Might not be able to fit many more than forty in that restaurant.
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El Compadre
1449 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
TiGeorges' Chicken
309 n glendale blvd, los angeles, CA
Any foodie worthy restaurants in this region?
Out of curiosity where else have you tried? Here's my boilerplate spiel from someone who used to live a block from Fairway.
You should be prepared to be gouged in LA when it comes to cheese, coffee and olives. They won't be as good here and certainly not as inexpensive. Otherwise, grocery shopping in LA is a million times better as long as you are 1) intrepid and 2) learn to accept what is available rather than hoping to get what you want all in one place. Fairway does not have the deli counter of Alpine Village. Not the mezze (and feta) of Super-King. Not the hand-made tortillas, the obscure SE Asian vegetables and the general sense that, in fact, YOU NOW LIVE IN THE FOOD CAPITAL OF THE UNIVERSE.
If fine dining and fine dining alone is your thing then, well, sorry, wrong town. The truth of the matter is that the Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Middle-Eastern, Regional Mexican is all second here only to its country (or more accurately in many places, village) of origin.
Explore this city with an openness of mind (and a willingness to venture) and she will reward you a thousand times over.
KyoChon
I've only been to the k-town location so can't speak to which one to go to. If you've never been though make sure to order the whole chicken - half soy garlic, half sweet hot. It's the way to go. I've had friends tell me they couldn't understand what the all the fuss was about. Then they told me they ordered chicken wings and chicken strips. Get the whole chicken, half and half and at least two of the pickled radish banchan (which used to be free and now cost $1).
Also, the k-town location is very brightly lit, a parking madhouse and generally not equal in ambiance to the food. If you're close by consider take out.
Fresh seafood - Octopus, Squid and Sardines - in Los Angeles?
For fresh seafood at a reasonable price you should try Han Nam Chain supermarket on Olympic. It's my favorite market to shop for fish. It's not in WeHo but I live downtown (about equidistant from WeHo) and go there frequently. Farmer's markets are great but the seafood guys at them are crazy expensive. For a 'fish-only' market I 2nd the Fish King recommendation.
This time of year you should have no trouble getting persimmons at a reasonable price. The Monday farmer's market on fountain (and vista?) is a good bet. The Sunday Hollywood fm is definitely worth crossing La Brea for. You could also probably find them for cheap at the Thai markets in Thai town but I'm not sure. Definitely check out the permanent Farmer's Market on 3rd and Fairfax. Huntington's is a great butcher and the produce is excellent - I must also confess a weakness for the chocolate meringue pie at DuPar's.
One bit of advice - if you're looking for an all-in-one solution for grocery shopping in LA you're bound to be disappointed. One of the great joys of this town is cruising various supermarkets for what they do best. I think nothing of running down to Long Beach to get brats at Alpine Village then swinging by a Chinese grocer for Thai eggplants on my way back into town. It' all out there and it can be had on the cheap but it takes a willingness to travel. Once you get a handle on the local traffic patterns and learn not to go to Super King on a Saturday it can be a great source of fun.
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Alpine Village
, Compton, CA 90221
Any good Japanese pumpkin (kabocha) dishes this autumn?
Haru Ulala in Little Tokyo has a great kabocha tempura. Not sure if it's worth a trip in itself but I've gotten hooked on their happy hour. $10 pitchers of Kirin draft and a great happy hour menu; 5:30-8:00pm.
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Haru Ulala
368 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Sunset Beer in Echo Park
A quick follow up on my beer hunt. Was able to find the Hitachino Espresso Stout at Galco's. Amazing balance of chocolate and coffee - not an everyday drinker but a really spectacular beer nonetheless.
I also tried a couple saisons that were new to me. Had the Bruery's Saison Rue - a nice beer but if I'm going to spend $17 for a bottle of something it's probably going to be wine. Also had the Saision Feuillien on tap at Wurstkucke - completely forgettable compared to the Saison Dupont. Still keeping an eye out for the Fantome - I really like the Casper-logo on the label.
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The Bruery
715 Dunn Way, Placentia, CA 92870
Sunset Beer in Echo Park
This place just opened in Echo Park. It's at 1498 Sunset in the corner of a tucked away little strip mall one block east of Laveta Terrace (across the street from A-Grocery). Very easy to miss so keep your eyes peeled. Not only is it the first craft beer store in the area - it also has a bar/tasting room.
Management assured me that the limited selection would expand considerably in the future but I found it to be fairly well-rounded. I should say in advance I'm not a 'hop-head' or 'beer geek.' I find most American craft brews sledgehammer you with hops, grains of paradise, seasonal herbs, etc. So when I walked in I expected to see a lot of Angel City, Dogfish and other beers that aren't really my cup of tea. What I found was a broad selection of beers from around the world. A few German favorites (including one Kolsch), plenty of American, Belgian and English beers and of course a heaping serving of Unibroue selections - perhaps the only Quebecois import more gag-inducing than Celine Dion.
I was really into the Hitachino Nest selection. I'd had the white ale before and it hadn't made much of an impression. But having quaffed the spectacular Red Rice Ale and Ginger-flavored beer I'm now on a quest to get any and all offerings available here. The Hitachinos are just so much more balanced than their American counterparts. I realize I'm coming a bit late to this party but if anyone knows where I can get a full selection please fill me in - especially curious about the Sweet Stout. Also picked up a Saison Dupont - a cloudy Belgian farmhouse ale strangely reminiscent of unpasteurized maekkoli. I thought I was pretty much over Belgian beers but this stuff was amazing - crisp citrus notes and a moderated ABV.
You can buy beers and drink them in store for a $2/bottle corkage. Also around six rotating beers on tap. If they did a $1/bottle corkage happy hour that would certainly draw me in. Having some olives, nuts, charcuterie, etc. wouldn't hurt none either. Also, posted prices is something I'd like to see. It's a classy move that encourages me to buy more - not less (cough, cough Cheese Store of Silver Lake).
Very glad to have this place in the neighborhood. A good option when one tires of Tecate from the CVS.
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Sunset Beer Company
1498 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Good Pubs in Morningside Heights?
Ah finally an excuse to put my graduate education to work. For beer and wings Red Lion is a solid choice - neither are great but both are cheap and there is a pool table. The 'go to' CU bar was always the one across the street - 1020 bar - but no food there. Amsterdam Tavern is probably the best dive in walking distance - you won't find a lot of MBA's and law students there.
If you're looking to eat an actual meal you could do Radio Perfecto or Amsterdam Cafe directly across from the campus - neither's food is good but there is table service.
By all means avoid any drinking establishment on B'way between 116th and around 110th. Also while I recently went to Bier International and kinda liked it (it's a straight rip off of the successful Wurstkuche in LA) you should be certain that you aren't setting yourself up for an inebriated late night trot through Morningside Park - the neighborhood is improving but that's still a dicey proposition.
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Amsterdam Tavern
938 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
Amsterdam Restaurant & Tapas Lounge
1207 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
1020 Bar
1020 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
Bier International
2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026
Echo Park spots
You might want to look into the downtown iteration of Big Wang's (they don't seem to have the link here) for your Sunday AM football. Good wings and reasonable bar food. Says they open at 11am but give them a call and double check - it's the first NFL Sunday so they might open up early. Some bars in EP have TV's but the odds your game are on would be slim and the odds they will be open at 10 in the morning are even slimmer.
10am football is both and art and a science but you may find it leads to an ultimately more relaxing Sunday when your six beers deep by 1pm.
Good God, Sri Siam Cafe!
I really like their crispy rice salad as well. I tried their catfish curry last week and it was pretty impressive - though the duck curry w/ thai eggplant is my hands down favorite.
I've also had their southern thai curry - a fish gut curry deal - and it was outstanding. Though I think overall they have a focus on Northern Thai. These guys are the real deal. Cheap, delicious and friendly - one of the gems of scenic NoHo.
Chinatown Summer Nights
There are cooking demos in the middle of chung king road but the main food attraction last year was a row of trucks off the main plaza (starting near grand star). I recall having a nice beet salad from gastrobus and some shave ice. The grilled cheese truck was there but the line was preposterous.
For the culture element, one night I went there were dragon dancers and kids doing whatever the Chinese equivalent of taiko is. On another night there were only some dj's and there wasn't as much of a cultural element. Maybe since they did four last year and only two this year they will really pack it in.
If you'd like to eat Chinese food your best bet may be walking over to JR Bistro.
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JR Bistro
750 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Poll: Would you eat a dog
Absolutely. I was in ROK recently but the stall that served dog in a nearby market just didn't look very good. If Id' gotten those good chowhound vibes off a dog place would have been on it in a minute. Love dogs too, but more to the point, I wouldn't hesitate to miss a new experience. It makes no sense to confuse the two.
Probably would have made more of an effort to track it down but was busy with seven courses of horse sashimi and live sea eel with brains attached that continue to wiggle on the grill for a couple of minutes.
Mignon, in downtown LA
Went there for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Found the wine selection lackluster and uninspired. A little too brightly lit - seems like no one really thought much about the space - is that what gives it an SF feel? I did like that they had a happy hour special that included almonds. I also got some pretty good cheese. If only they had an interesting wine list to go with it (see Lou for reference).
When does fishcake go bad? Ever?
I assume it lasts damn near forever in its packaging. But once opened, how long is it good for assuming you've got it wrapped up tight in the fridge? I've got some in my ramen right now. Probably more than three weeks old. But boiling kills everything. Right?
What do you bring to the Hollywood Bowl?
Here's a quick breakdown of meal by show for my season thus far and how they worked out (I'm rarely in a box so all of the below were eaten in bench seating). FYI most of these served with as cold as possible gruner veltliner, txakolinas, or other dry whites (I have a special insulated bag and throw my wine in the freezer for an hour or so before I leave) :
Japan Night: Donburi bowl with tempura and katsudon. Kim bap (vegetarian sushi rolls), and radish kimchee. Perhaps a bit too on theme but since the bowls were so small I didn't run into an issue using chopsticks. The kim bap was awesome though and I would recommend it as a bowl staple. It was cheap, finger-foody and plentiful enough to share with neighbors. All were picked up at Woori Mart (formerly the DTLA Mitsuwa)
Jupiter Symp. - Got sandwiches from LA Pizza Co. - fine but nothing to write home about.
Dolly Parton - Kyochon Fried Chicken. A little messy and since we only brought two bottles we got the garlic soy rather than the sweet/hot. (the hot would have necessitated a third bottle). I love to eat fried chicken at the bowl and lament the closing of the relatively nearby Louisiana Fried Chicken. This would have been perfect except that the rotund people on either side of us had inadvertently put us in 'Dolly Parton's Fat Jail.' We had about a seat and a quarter to share between us. In some ways it was just like visiting Dollywood. So we were like two t-rexes trying to shred apart the chicken with our scrunched in arms- but even in adverse circumstances kyochon is freakin' delicious. (note: handywipes were a necessary accompaniment)
Stevie Wonder and Friends - Found myself with a little time on my hands last weekend and put together a farmer's market picnic. Smallish caprese bound with toothpicks and a corn and squash salad seasoned with urfa biber and smoked paprika. A summer delight. Sometimes the best snack is the one you make yourself.
Anyone know of a war-themed restaurant in/near Koreatown?
I think ciao bob is on the right rack here. Dan Sung Sa has a North Korean agitprop decor.
I think that's probably what your pal was talking about (though war-themed is a bit on the uselessly vague side - which war?).
Berlin Currywurst
Finally got around to trying this place after walking past it for months. As mentioned in previous posts the owners were cute and friendly. The currywurst was fine, the fries were fried well but WAAAY over-seasoned. It seemed criminal not to offer beer with this food. I understand it can be tough to get the proper license but c'mon- would you play a symphony without strings?
Am I the only one to find this place absurdly overpriced? Fries, sausage and soda ran me over $17 bucks after tip. I realize rent aint' cheap on the Junction but this was a little over the top given the limited menu/basic preparation.
I may come back if they get their act together on the beer front but probably not. While clearly based on the successful Wurstkuche model they lack the eye for detail and pricing that made that place such a success.
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Wurstkuche
800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Describe your ideal coffee house...
No one seems to want what I want here. Which is why it doesn't exist in LA. I don't really care if there are outlets, wi-fi, ratty sofas etc.
All I want is a combination roaster/coffee bar where I'm surrounded by barrels of freshly roasted beans The sound of steel scoops shushing the beans into pound bags. Groundwork makes an effort with their poorly stocked bin/shelf set-up but it's just not the same as being enveloped in the scent of roasted beans in burlap (the Venice location does do a better job of this than others). LA Mill and Intelligentsia both would have us trust that they are so 'high-end' that we don't actually need to see the beans. Or smell them. Nothing like paying $24/lb. for over-roasted beans.
