malisa's Profile
Is CalbiBBQ any good?
Gimmicky, isn't it? A Korean taco truck. Well, I'm one who loves sandwiches of all kinds, the mixing up of complementary flavors. I also love corn tortillas. So when I ran across CalbiBBQ at Universal Studios yesterday, I couldn't resist trying this novelty. I love Korean food. I ordered the beef taco, which was $2.99 and tiny. It came with lettuce, a few small pieces of beef, green onions, sesame seeds, topped with cheese. I have to admit I did like it. It had a good "Asian" taste (I'm Taiwanese so I can say this with impunity) and even though the beef was sparse, it was enough for the whole thing to taste good together. I don't think I would like half an hour just to get this again, but next time I pass the truck, I would purchase again.
Alaska
On a 14 day Princess cruisetour, and here's my take on what we experienced:
We went to the Glacier Brewhouse in Anchorage which was awesome. I had an in-house brewed cream soda which was awesome, a Po'boy sandwich which was perfectly flavored and cooked, with the bread lightly crisped on the outside and soft inside. My husband had the blackened halibut, which was the most perfectly cooked halibut he's ever had in his life, and we are foodies from Los Angeles!
The below mentioned Yukon rail trip lunch at Lake Bennett was high quality, although part of why it's so highly rated is because we're all quite hungry by the time we get to Lake Bennett. The apple pie was good but not the best I've had, and I craved more beef in the main dish, the beef stew, which was a bit too salty.
Restaurants in Paris open on Xmas?
We are looking for a place to eat for lunch, our last day in Paris! Any suggestions?
We're from Los Angeles, don't like the food too heavy but love to eat. Preferably about 40 Euros or less per person.
Casual Seafood in L.A.
San Marino Seafood. No paper plates, but not formal dining at all. BYOB. Fresh, delicious. Reasonable, not tiny, portions. Once they ran out of the medium-type shrimp, so they gave me the large-type shrimp instead. "Is that okay?" they asked. Well, of course!
Sushi in Pasadena?
my husband and I used to be regulars (for 5 years) at Z Sushi due to the good size of cut for the price, but it was so unpredictable in terms of fresh quality that we switched to Yoshida. However Yoshida was too expensive so we are now going to a place we love in Monrovia which I won't post here because it's not in Pasadena and I can't think of the name right now.
Best steaks in L.A.?
Been to Ruth's Chris, porterhouse Bistro, Arnie Morton's, Mastro's, Arroyo Chophouse. Out of these, Mastro's Filet Mignon is above and beyond the best piece of steak, and I normally don't like filet mignon.
Sushi in Pasadena?
we tried Japon Bistro once, it was way too expensive for the small servings, and not worth the price.
Din Tai Fung -is it that bad??
It's delish! We go there every two weeks or so, yummy!!!!
pasadena discovery
If food is so bad in Pasadena then why is it so hard to find a table without a wait in many of the restaurants? A few examples...
CPK is underrated. So is Louise's Trattoria and Gaucho Grill, in Old Town, just because they're chains. Mi Piace is pretty good, though admittedly on some nights the food is spotty. Other great places are Gale's, Green Street Restaurant, Cafe Verde, Smitty's, to name just a few of my favs off the top of my head now.
Just returned from Philly! (from a Los Angeles foodie)
Spent a week in Philly at a conference...I went to school in Philadelphia from 1997-2001, so I was nostalgic, but I know the food scene has changed a lot since I've been there last, so I looked up recs from this wonderful website....reporting back....
I'm from Los Angeles, by the way, I think that's important to note one's taste and background...
--Here's a google map of a list of restaurants from this Board, though I was not able to make it myself to many of them...
http://tinyurl.com/2v435z
My reviews:
-Branzino: Italian, $$$...their specialty is the Branzino fish, a tender, whitefish that is delicious but their accompanying sauce was strange, even for a foody like me!! As Chef Ramsey would say, way overcomplicated and just weird. Our favorite was the rabbit ragu which came with delicious al dente homemade pasta. My husband enjoyed their lamb shank.
--Bonte Cafe: a new experience...the best waffle I've ever had! sugary, cinammony...the waffle version of a cinnamon bun, best with their delicious coffee! good cheap breakfast.
--Penang: an old favorite of mine...large portions! and good fresh food.
--DeNic's in Reading Terminal Market: I ordered the Pulled Pork sandwich with Provolone and Broccoli Rabe as recommended..be forewarned that this is a strong taste which my husband didn't like at all, but it was definitely interesting. My husband ordered the beef brisket which personally with regard to meat I preferred.
--of course had to show my husband what a real cheesesteak is like, so I brought him to Jim's Steaks. Delicious and so incredibly fresh!
--Marrakesh: exotic moroccan atmosphere unforgettable from when I lived in Philly back then...the food is okay. I think the ground chicken was vegetarian. Much better that that Moroccan place near Rodeo Dr. on Wilshire in Los Angeles.
--Monk's Cafe: per Citysearch one of the best hamburgers. comparable to a gourmet hamburger in Los Angeles. great bar to hang out in.
--Buddakan: atmosphere nice and fancy, but food okay. larger portions that I remember getting when it first opened year ago. Quite Americanized "fusion" Asian food. I prefer real Asian food.
--Marathon Grill: A great last-minute find. The bread on my sandwich was good but difficult to bite a piece out of. compared to other restaurants, great deals to be had here.
--Naked Chocolate Cafe: only if you love chocolate, as my husband was not a big fan. Serves European style very thick hot chocolate. Yum.
--Sinju Sushi: more expensive than I expected. BYOB. They have a long list of their special sushi rolls of which we picked randomly, and they turned out really good.
Thanks.
Great Salads
I seventh (seventh poster here) CPK's salads! It should be called CPS! I've tried several and they're all great! I always want to go there all the time but my husband like lots of variety, nightly. CPK's salads are even better than any of Green Street's salads, except for the Dianne, of course. I'm constantly salivating at the Waldorf with ranch dressing (the dressing is quite light) and the Thai Crunch Salad. By the way, their pizzas aren't that great, with the exception of one I just discovered--the Tandoori Chicken one...ummm.
Best Sushi in San Gabriel Valley / Pasadena?
I agree with Maki and Sushi. My husband used to go there for lunch every day until he changed jobs, and he said the sushi was always good, with generous portions! We used be regulars at Z's but sometimes the sushi is not fresh, esp on non-busy nights. We tried Japon Bistro in Pasadena once and were sorely disappointed in the quality. Yoshida's is ok but not always the freshest.
Z's sushi with pics
My husband and I were regulars from 2002 to 2006 and found the sushi to be spotty at times in terms of freshness. it's usually fresh when they're busy like on Fridays or Saturdays but not on the weekdays, so we stopped going there often. We go to Yoshida's now but find it to be expensive and so so.
The L. A. Burger Hunt Map
I LOVE burgers and I disagree with Pie N burger, because the patty is not thick enough for medium or medium rare! it's rather dry in fact, though the burger as a whole is rather tasty. My husband, another burger fan, says why go there when In N Out is cheaper and comparable. personally I don't like In N out, but have only tried the one on Huntington and Garfield in Alhambra.
Really underrated is Hamburger Hamlet, just 'cause it's a chain! We go there weekly (on Lake Ave in Pasadena) for the awesome hamburgers. They don't always end up grilling it medium if you ask for medium (it's heavenly when they do though) but it's still really yummy!
Which LA Restaurants are UNDERrated?
disagree with La Paella. not authentic, and everything was overpriced and way too salty to eat!!
Which LA Restaurants are UNDERrated?
Hey people, a lot of these restaurants you're mentioning are rated pretty well actually! Let me tell you about underrated. On these boards people bash Louise's Trattoria, Gaucho Grill, CPK, Hamburger Hamlet, because they're chains.... but I love these places, and I love food and I eat out a lot, frequently at expensive top-notch restaurants! Maybe you just gotta know what to order--the pasta at Louise's, the hamburgers at Hamlet, the salads and certain pasta dishes at CPK, and just order anything at Gaucho Grill. At least the ones in PASADENA are good....it's where I frequent.
Boston chowhound seeks LA sushi
We go to Z Sushi a lot. It's hit or miss regarding whether the sushi is fresh. My husband has a theory that the sushi is fresher on busier days like the weekend. The teriyaki chicken or beef is just americanized chinese stir-fry! and the tempura is not light/flaky/crunchy like it should be.
Best Churros in LA area?
Went to San Diego, they had awesome churros! Can we find fresh-made churros around here?
If you had to pick one neighborhood in LA to live in for best dining options, where would it be?
Having lived in San Marino for all my life, I'd had the best Chinese food. Then it was time to explore the hot places. I moved to the mid-Wilshire area for the experience for a few years. It was great to be near WeHo, Korea town, Culver City, Santa Monica!
all-you-can-eat sushi
Try Joe's Sushi
7185 Lincoln Ave
Buena Park, CA 90620View Map
7142269100
All you can order for a set price (though from a set menu, but still a reasonable long-enough menu).
Hokkaido Seafood Buffet review - Newport Beach
Have you heard of Joe's Sushi in OC? A small place, great for an all you can order sushi bar!
Pie & Burger - UH OH!
The best burger for the money "in town" is Hamburger Hamlet, in my opinion. My favorite is now off the menu-- the "Caesar Burger." Yum, and not too expensive, thick patties. When they really do cook it to order (sometimes even if you say rare they cook it well done), it's heavenly! I live in the area, I like Pie N Burger, for me it's great as a very casual meal or for take out--I love their generosity in lettuce--my husband thinks it's no better than In N Out. You all should try the Grilled Chicken Sandwich!!!! Marinated, and yummy. expensive though.
Best Clam CHOWDER
I second Souplantation. Also good is the one at San Marino Seafood.
Best (Inexpensive) Sushi in LA?
We used to be regulars at Z sushi for 4 years, going once a week, and, noticeably, the sushi is not always fresh. We discovered Yoshida and haven't been able to go back to Z's since.
Good breakfast burritos in the Pasadena area?
Where's the place where they put a mexican yummy red slightly spicy sausage tasting sauce in the breakfast burrito? That's my favorite breakfast burrito!
din tai fung - MUST ORDER ITEMS?
I vote too for the melt-in-your-mouth pork/crab dumplings, my favorite. I also love the broccoli--cooked perfectly, and so flavorful. I love rice cakes of any variety, but do find the dish here rather oily. A side note-I always mix equal portions of the black vinegar/soy sauce/hot chili on my plate to dip--yummy!
