Thanks. I'll put China Tea House on my short list for the next trip to the Harrisburg area. If central PA can support dozens of sushi restaurants, I'm sure it could support at least one restaurant with dim sum cart service. If someone does it right, I bet they could do really well.

Thanks. I've found some good information on the Philly board in the past and we've been exploring when we have the chance. Just looking for something a little closer to home. And I'm still hoping to find a hidden gem.

Anything anywhere between (and including) Harrisburg and King of Prussia? Better yet, anything good? Cart service a plus but not mandatory.

I'd also be interested in great Chinese food of any type in the area.

Most of the places I would recommend are closed on Sunday. You can find a decent variety of local smoked meats at one of the local supermarkets - Stauffers or Oregon Dairy. Dietrich Meats in Krumsville is open on Sunday. It's not in Lancaster, but a great place for smoked meats and cheeses if it works into your travels.

Maison in Lancaster is great. 15-20 min away.
Rice and Noodles Vietnamese relocated from New Orleans after hurricane Katrina so there's a connection there and it may be the best "ethnic" option around. 10-15 min away.
If you like beer, the Bullshead in Lititz is a must. A great beer list and good food to boot. You could visit Appalachian Brewing company and do a beer tour. But Bullshead should be the anchor.
Tomato Pie Cafe in Lititz serves a great tomato pie and is convenient for a stroll thru Lititz Springs park or a visit to Wilbur Chocolate Factory.
Pour in Lancaster for a nice beer and wine list and good charcuterie.
Carmen and David's Creamery in Lancaster for truly great and unique flavors of ice cream.
Martin's Preztel bakery in Akron for a snack. Buy a bag and ask for a soft pretzel if they're baking.
The Green Dragon market in Ephrata (Fridays) and Central Market in Lancaster are unique but very different local experiences.
Some of these require a short drive, but If you live to eat, it will be worth it.

Correction. I just stopped by yesterday and they don't have canned goods. But they do have chow chow in the deli case. Overall, a nice stop for your exploration.

Is it one day in each of the three or one day in total?

Tomato Pie Cafe in Lititz has good tomato pie.

The best place to get a good sense of PA Dutch food may be a market off the beaten path. I like the Village Farm Market in Hinkletown. They will have fresh baked goods (like shoofly pie) and canned items (like chow chow) along with good prepared foods for you to take along.

Rice & Noodles is one of our favorites. I think you'll be impressed with Khom's Eggroll Paradise. We loved the curry stew. I've read good things about the beef stews. Next visit, which will be soon, I think we'll try one of them.

If you like Vietnamese bun, you may like their sweet and sour noodles. Kind of the same idea, but with the addition of coconut cream, and less vegetables. My wife loved it. I could appreciate it, but bun has never really gotten me excited.

I also like the Virginville Hotel. It's a bit further off 78, but a nice drive along the creek. Their ham and bean soup is great. And the fries smothered with stewed tomatoes and beef is something I'm craving as I write.

You could try Deitsch Eck in Lenhartsville. I have not eaten there, but have passed by many times and the menu looks interesting. Can't imagine that it would have any trouble beating Cracker Barrel. If you wind up eating there, please post back.

Wow! What a great surprise! Just got takeout from here and I'm impressed. Vegetable (eggplant and sweet potato) curry stew with chicken was outstanding and the eggrolls were great, especially the original and the vegetable. I don't have much experience with Cambodian cuisine, but Thai and Vietnamese are practically a religion to me and I can tell that this place is the real deal.

Anyone else have dishes to recommend here? So happy to have this place in Lancaster. I can't wait to explore the menu.

The menu they have in the restaurant is slightly different than the one online. And be warned, it is take out only. There are a couple of tables outside, but you won't want to eat there.

www.hoteggroll.com

Don't let the name fool you. It's much more than just eggrolls.

Amen. Great ice cream. Definitely a local gem.

I recall there being two bakeries, an idea which Chowrin's links below support. If there are, I believe that they are/were related in some way. When I lived in NYC, I bought some from the Union Square Market several times. They looked identical, but the ones bought at the bakery in Akron always tasted better to me. Maybe it's just a matter of them being at their freshest.

The bags/buckets she describes are from the bakery in Akron. The ones in NYC come from a different bakery I believe. But buy direct from the bakery in Akron. These pretzels must be fresh to be at their very best.

Maison is great. Pour is another higher end option in Lancaster.

Martin's Pretzels are worth the short side trip if you like pretzels. Go to the bakery on Diamond Street in Akron and get them fresh. You can also buy "soft" pretzels there. They are absolute perfection, crunchy on the outside and still soft in the middle. Weisers Market in Akron has outstanding freshly baked donuts if you get there in the morning. Both are closed on Sunday. Not sure if Martins always bakes on Saturday.

Hoovers (www.hooversfarm.com) is a great farm stand. Not sure about the heirlooms... Reiffs is close to Hoovers and worth a stop if you're already in the area. Maybe stop on your way to/from Central Market?

Well, I've only been to Jaleo in DC, and Bazaar was a very different experience in every aspect. Perhaps you've been to another of his restaurants that's more similar.

I haven't done DineLA, and maybe it's better than most Restaurant Weeks, but I've never been a fan of Restaurant Week menus, and it's hard for me to imagine having an epic meal when eating off of one. Bazaar's DineLA menu is much broader than I expected it to be, but it doesn't include many of the dishes I remember most from my meal there.

In any case, you were underwhelmed. I was impressed. I read a lot of reviews (both negative and positive) on this site before we ate at Bazaar, and I'm glad I didn't let the dissenters dissuade me. Nothing worthwhile is universally adored.

Bazaar is the first place that came to my mind. I would consider our one experience there to be epic. Great food, creative (often theatrical) presentation in a unique setting. Epic in every sense. Some of the most inventive and delicious dishes I've had in years and a night we won't soon forget.

DiNic's sells roast pork sandwiches pretty early. Hard to pass up anytime. I've had them for breakfast and was never alone.

I really like El Maizal (Colombian). I've never done BYO there, but I don't see why you couldn't. I'd call to check. You can have a relaxed meal there and it's more of an everyday restaurant than Maison.

La Costena (Peruvian) and Rice & Noodles (Vietnamese) are great as well. Rice & Noodles can get very busy at times and may not be the place for a leisurely meal.

El Maizal Art Restaurant
306 North Mulberry Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 517-9709

La Costena
315 W King St
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 397-1996

If my one experience at Maison was representative, it may be the best restaurant in Lancaster BYO or otherwise. Can't wait to go back. Hands down the best meal I've had since moving to the area.

Hoover's Farm Market is just outside of Lititz and worth checking out. Good selection of fruits and vegetables, many homegrown or local. Some other local items as well. www.hooversfarm.com

Close to Hoover's in location, if not selection, is Reiff's. Drive over from Hoover's and at minimum you'll get to enjoy a covered bridge.

Just to be clear, El Burrito Jr. also serves soft tacos. Corn tortillas.

I've never had the hard shell tacos, so I can't comment on them.

I was a little hasty with that post, and I should qualify my opinion about the New York bakery. From the limited experience I've had with the NY pretzels, I found them to fall a bit short of those baked in Akron. They're still far better than any other brand.

Here's what has been said before about the difference.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

It might be useful to have a link to the CHOWtour message board from:
- The bottom of the main page
- Each of Jim's reports from the road

After seeing Jim Leff write about the "heart-breakingly beautiful brownness variation among bags of Martin's pretzels" in CHOWTour Dispatch #8 and his overall adventures in PA Dutch Country in CHOWTour Dispatch #9, I began to daydream about the Martin Pretzel bakery in Akron, PA.

To all interested, if you're ever in Lancaster County, you could stop by their unbelievably small bakery on Diamond Street in Akron (go in through the back screendoor) where you can buy the pretzels right out of the oven at any variation of browness or saltiness you choose.

If they're making a batch (they usually are), and if you ask, they'll almost certainly sell you "soft pretzels." Which means that they'll reach in by hand to pull them off the conveyor belt early. It's really a soft/hard pretzel hybrid. And it's so good that my words would fall short in describing it.

If you enjoy Martin's pretzels, this will be a Double-edged Sword proposition, however. You'll never enjoy a bag purchased from the store in quite the same way.

Even the fully cooked pretzels purchased from the bakery are better fresh than store-bought. I notice a significant difference in texture and taste even a day after they've been baked.

Still, even bought off the self, Martin's pretzels are better than any other, IMO. Especially the Akron version. The New York bakery's fall short.

If you do go to the factory, you should know that it is a very conservative Mennonite operation. They are kind and happy to serve you face-to-face, even answer questions. It makes things better all around if the same humble courtesy is returned to them.

Good luck.

There is nothing extraordinary within walking distance from where you are staying. Mostly a line of chain restaurants along the water.

I love the recommendations above--Santouka (great ramen in a busy foodcourt), Kotohira (great udon, more relaxed)--but these are a long cab ride away, at least $20 each way. Probably $30+. Could you rent a car? They're cheap in LA.

I would avoid the Lobsterfest. Too expensive for what you get. If you want seafood, walk to the Redondo pier to Quality Seafood, down on the lower level, by the marina. Not much to look at, but a good selection of oysters (raw) and other seafood (that they will steam for you). Don't let them fry anything.

Other decent places within walking distance (even if a longish walk):

- Sushi Sei in Hermosa, on the main street, good sushi, worth a look if you are coming from somewhere that lacks decent sushi
- Good Stuff in Hermosa (for breakfast) along the Strand
- Chaba Thai on PCH: the only Americanized Thai food that I've ever enjoyed, especially Tom Kha soup and Lamb Shank Musman Stew. Really good and I love the authentic stuff
- El Burrito Jr. on PCH: Tacos, enchiladas, burritos etc. Decent carnitas. A walk-up place.

All of these are places that I love to have in my neighborhood, but they are not life-changing food experiences.

The best bet, if you want some adventure, and something better, is to get in that cab and head to Torrance where you can find some exceptional Japanese. Search for others in addition to those above. I love Musha too. It's a lot of fun.

And to comment on your first thought, I would say that fish tacos are not considered a specialty here. And I haven't heard of carne asada fries.