guseats's Profile
Pasadena Recommendations
While this waaaay out of date, but in case you come by Pasadena again, I really like Azeen's on Union. It's an Afghan place, around 15 for and entree, 5-10 for apps. They have wine but you don't really go there for the wine, it's a comfortable casual place with excellent food. The chicken kebab had some of the juiciest, most flavorful chicken I've ever had. The Qalabi Palaw (seasoned rice pilaf with shredded carrots and raisins on top of incredibly tender lamb ) are excellent, as are the Mantu -- like potstickers but filled with ground lamb, and chickpeas, topped with yogurt and chutney.
Excellent.
Dried Fruit/Cheese/Prosciutto for Eastsider?
Hello all,
I recently moved from the westside to Alhambra. I'm a little bit lost as to where I can find some good prosciutto, cheese, and dried fruit without driving all the way to Santa Monica or going to Whole Foods or something, google has been unhelpful, and with the holiday season and parties starting up, it looks like I'm going to need to find places that serve good quality items for appetizers soon. Since chowhounders are the best at this kind of thing, I turn to you.
Any and all suggestions for good spots would be much appreciated!
Downtown, Pasadena, SGV, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and in a pinch Hollywood are all fairly convenient. But if you know of a place farther out west or a gem anywhere, really, would be great.
Dinner near the new Largo?
Ronin sounds great, (yinyangdi suggested it, though). I'll have to check it out when I go back.
Ciao Bob / heavymeta1 - I totally agree that it's a Flannagan Shenanagin! I asked once about the food at the old place, and part of it was due to regulations, they needed to sell more food than drinks for their classification or something. Clearly, serving good food wasn't high on their list of priorities. But, other than Jon Brion, I'd say the Largo (either new or old) was the easiest for me concert wise. If it wasn't sold out, I'd just swing by last minute, get a drink, and settle back.
Some New Largo tips, though - no bar in the main theater. Little Room is like Fairfax Largo - cash only, no reservations, has the bar, and is for the smaller names. For the Jon Brion show in June they said they would charge for the second Brion set of the evening, even though when I was there they didn't.
And, technically no food in the main theater. So be sure to eat somewhere outside first.
Also, thanks Ciao Bob for naming that Pho place! It was driving me crazy. Absolutely Phobulous is definitely more the quick, casual scene. I suspect Ronin offers more on ambience.
Dinner near the new Largo?
The new largo is (forgive the caps) A LOT easier now. since it's a lot bigger it harldy ever sells out and part of the reason why they hand out tickets at 7 is because they're not really tickets, just a post it with assigned seating. Or just checking off the list. Nowadays I just swing by for the show about 30 minutes before if it's not Flight of the Conchords type of show which would sell out the place.
In any case, I just wanted to encourage the OP of the listed restaurants to find something quicker with somewhat brisk service.
Dinner near the new Largo?
When I've been there I just go to the small Vietnamese place about half a block south of the new Largo. Pho something? I haven't had the pho but the sandwiches and the bun are pretty decent. Don't get anything with shrimp. The vegetarian spring roll is better than the pork one.
It's very small and very casual and a good price, not the best vietnamese but it's walkable so you don't have to repark your car (if you park in the garage to get your tickets you don't want to repark. If you park on the street, there's a good chance you'll get great parking around 7 but very little around 9).
Also, although you think you have a good 2 hours, it actually ends up less than that as you wait for them to start handing out tickets -- depending on where in line you are it might be a little while and because if you go away and then come back there's also the problem finding parking which can take a while in that area. The garage is pretty limited in spaces, and the spots are definitely a tight squeeze.
best general korean menu?
Agreed with martiniman. I think one of the best noodle dishes for winter though is kalgooksoo (or knife cut noodles) - if you get the chicken version, it's like asian chicken noodle soup and an incredible comfort food.
best general korean menu?
Wow, great thanks for your suggestions (and also echoes of for help)! I'll definitely check out your recommendations.
To answer some questions:
- Sa Rit Gol used to be one of my favorite places, but their price hikes have kept me away. (Though when I want black cod I go there, and their banchan in general has been fantastic)
- Not really a fan of Hodori either, but it was a staple of college years because of it's hours and very broad menu that could accommodate a large group's variety of taste. I think what I'm looking for is a Hodori for grown ups with better taste.
- Re the range of items: I think something that's got a variety of categories rice, soup/stew, noodles, some meat/bbq, appetizers (pancakes), and good banchan is what I'm looking for. (Might be too much to ask!)
- Basically, I want a general purpose menu because I'm increasingly finding myself meeting up with fairly large groups (6 -8) of people who want to get together either because they're in town for weddings, business, haven't seen each other in a while. These groups tend to be comprised of a wide range of tastes some wanting rice, some wanting vegetarian options, some wanting bbq, and some wanting noodles.
- To the beginners in Korean food (aliris, jen10), most people will tell you that the best way to eat korean food is at places that specialize. CostcoWater has some good suggestions that are good for beginners (though Park's and Tofu Village are newer places that make life a bit easier for English speakers I find them a bit sterile and pricey for my taste. Tofu Village though gives a really large variety of banchan which is great.)
best general korean menu?
I'm Korean and love eating at my favorite ktown and OC restaurants for specific food items: tofu stew, black cod, pork, bibimbab, bbq, porridge, noodles, etc, etc. Generally when we go out to eat it's for a specific dish + banchan.
But if you ask me where to go for a menu that offers a variety of Korean dishes I can only think of Hodori, and I stopped going there years ago, my go to place closed down a few years ago and I haven't been able to find a replacement since.
I would love any suggestions you might have!
First Time Visit to Houston!
oooh thanks! I also got some more information, apparently I'll be around the I-10 and Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Toll Road).
First Time Visit to Houston!
All these suggestions sound great! I'll definitely report back where we end up.
Location wise, sorry for the confusion! I kind of just looked at a map to find our general areas.
I've still got a week or so before the trip so any other thoughts would be great. I'll probably compile a nice neat address book of your suggestions and thoughts and take it along with me. I'm excited!
First Time Visit to Houston!
Two friends and I are visiting Houston for the first time (March 7-10) and I'm really excited! But I'm at a bit of a loss in trying to get my restaurant list together. Any suggestions are appreciated! Here's the essential information:
1. I've never been to Texas
2. I'm from Los Angeles and Sacramento so I'm familiar with west coast Mexican and our interpretation of Tex-Mex but I'm looking forward to trying the real deal.
3. I'm hoping to get some BBQ at some point but Tex-Mex is higher on my priority list (unless someone tells me it shouldn't be). A good steak house is something I'm also thinking about. Someone told me the beef quality in Texas is really superior to the stuff we get out in LA. Also burgers! We love a good burger.
4. The general areas we'll be in (but I'm willing to drive but not too far east) Generally, west of 59 and 288:
- IAH airport (of course)
- TC Jester Park
- Fairbanks/Hudson
- Spring Valley / Hunters Creek Village
- rodeo
5. We'd prefer local, places with unique to Houston/Texas/Southwest dishes, would rather avoid fast food chains, and price wise I'm open to anything from taquerias to nice lunch/dinner places. And any "must haves". We're also pretty adventurous!
6. We have 3 breakfasts, two lunches, and one dinner that we need to find places for, (and we're always open to snacks, desserts and Ice cream)
7. I'm particularly interested in a good breakfast place though. (Either Tex-Mex or otherwise.) Especially for the first day since we arrive at 6 am and we'd like a somewhat relaxing breakfast (but a crazy scene is worth it for great food),
8. Here's what my limited research on the boards has said I should try (but I have no real concept of geography, I'd rather go to the almost best that's closer over the best and deal with traffic for too long)
Taqueria Aranda's
Lankford's Grocery
Miller's Cafe
West U
Williams Smokehouse
Thelmas
Goode Company
Any other tips and thoughts are appreciated! Chowhounders are always the best tipsters! Thanks!
Where to go for the best PUPUSAS ???
I second the Torrance farmers market on Crenshaw -- also on Saturday mornings. The pupusas were excellent to my untrained palate (my pupusa experience is limited to my roomate's mother's).
Westside Recs?
Does anyone have a reccomendation for a nice casual (WeHo/Westwood/Culver City) restaurant that's a reasonable price? A party of 5 is going to be going to the house of blues sunday night and had originally planned on going to Dominick's Sunday Supper but I can't get a reservation. Any suggestions?
I'm particularly looking for places (Hole in the walls, good Mexican, Italian, asian, Cali) with fast service since we don't want to miss the show. Also - two of our party are new to LA so any must trys are appreciated (I'm located in the SouthBay and my familiarity with the westside restaurants isn't that great)
Spicy Ramen in Little Tokyo?
Thanks guys, we ended up at Orochon, I did miso level 4 friend got miso but spicier level. she reported prefering the noodles at Orochon over Daikokuya (it surprised me since I vastly prefer Daikokuya's noodles, though it's been a little while since I've been. I'm hoping the recent reports of dissatisfaction with their ramen are flukes).
We got the dumplings and cold tofu - both pretty good but nothing to sing praises about. I felt the noodles didn't have that great elasticity that I associate with my fave ramen noodles, too stiff or something. The miso broth was a little weak on flavor, I think I'll get another level of spiciness if I order again.
Rameniac, GREAT name and site -- Next time I have a ramen question I'll definitely check it out.
Thanks for your help, guys!
Spicy Ramen in Little Tokyo?
Hi all - I'm on the search for good spicy ramen in Little Tokyo. I've done my usual perusal of the boards and found tons of diverging opinions (Orochon/Kouraku/the place near Daikokuya/ and others) but I couldn't find a focus on spicy ramen (or at least ones that were up to date) in my quick review. (I'm usually a Hakata style girl but this was a request by a friend)
I consider noodles and broth to be equally important in evaluating a bowl of ramen.
Thoughts and recommendations are appreciated!
So the girlfriend didn't like seafood for 4 yrs., now she has come around...somewhat. [Moved from Home Cooking board]
I'm not a fan of fishy fish either and agree with Strephking that Tilapia and halibut are good mild fish. I use Tilapia quite a bit for myself as it's inexpensive with a good firm texture.
Does she find fresh tuna steaks offensive as well as the tuna in a can? I find good fresh tuna steaks to be good and not fishy but stronger than say Tilapia.
Generally I find fresh water (tilapia is fresh water) white fish are good.
Some other suggestions:
Mahi Mahi
"Chilean Sea Bass" is actually Patagonia toothfish, they're nice and mild but overfished.
Orange Roughy is also a firm white fish with a mild taste but also over fished. (and might be too fishy for your gf, though I think it's within most people's "fishy" limits)
ra bok ki in LA?
Does anyone know of a place that serves good ra bok ki (or rabokki) in Los Angeles (Koreatown, westside, or Torrance area in particular?)
It's the combination of the spicy rice cake (ddeok bokki) and ramen dish. And if anyone has a favorite ddeok bokki place I'm all ears (or eyes in this case).
Any recommendations for birthday party prix fixe menu in West LA?
May not be quite what you're looking for but what about dominicks Sunday Supper? www.dominicksrestaurant.com
it's $15 prix fixe with a rotating sunday supper menu, cheap enough that other menu dishes can be ordered to supplement... not stuffy, though more upscale than pizza and fried things.
korean bbq is great, but perhaps not the most conducive to a relaxed and quiet dinner.
Visiting NYC--need cheap rec's
As a Californian that went to school in lower Manhattan good cheap eats was pretty crucial to my survival. Some suggestions by type. All of these places I've been to and found to be great and kept me fed for less than $10 bucks a person (generally).
Here are a couple of resources: www.menupages.com; this website provides the menus of many of the restaurants in Manhattan.
Below 14th Street but totally worth going.
== Middle Eastern ==
Hummus Place (east village and greenwich locations, never tried upper west side) http://www.hummusplace.com/#
plates are filling and are under 6 bucks. advantage - they take credit cards
Mamoun's Falafel
for $2 bucks (at least a couple year's ago) there's a great falafel sandwich. great for a snack on the run. down the street from hummus place on macDougal, between bleeker and 4th.
Bereket
great, cheap turkish kebab place, open late, half a block from katz's deli.
== Pizza ==
Una Pizza Napoletana http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2004/10/una_pizza_napol.php
This place is serious. They stay open till they run out of dough and they only offer two types of pizza by the pie not by the slice. Go early to avoid waiting. only open from 5 pm Thurs - Sat. Sundays, open at noon.
Lombardi's
Pizza by the pie. Go for tradition, though better pizzas can be had. On Spring St. Features a thicker crust than many places. If you can make it across the Brooklyn Bridge there's also Grimaldis a good place also for tradition. I'm not a fan of the overly cheesy Ray's pizzas.
== Bagel/Bread ==
Ess-A-Bagel (upper and lower east side locations)
My favorite bagel. Go in and ask for anything warm. It's got great texture and flavor.
H & H (not below 14th!)
Upper westside. Smaller than Ess-A-Bagels with softer crust.
Amy's Bread
Multiple locations. In village, chelsea, Upper Westside
http://www.amysbread.com/
I love their savory twists, particularly black olive.
==Chocolate==
The Chocolate Bar on 8th Ave
Kind of pricey, but iced hot chocolate is good.
Jacques Torres
Has a location on Hudson.
http://www.mrchocolate.com/hudsonLocation.aspx
== Cheesecake ==
Eileen's
http://www.eileenscheesecake.com/
Opposite of Lafayette and Spring.
==Mexican/Cuban==
Cafe Habana
In Nolita. I go for the Mexican style grilled corn. Though Austin might have comparable grilled corn. There are other great dishes
http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/cafe-habana/
they're cuban/mex place that's pretty good.
==Asian==
Menchanko Tei (multiple locations one near midtown and one on 6th below 14th somewhere)
Japanese Ramen -- this is a far cry from instant noodles.
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
and the dumpling place across the street with delicious Shanghainese soupy dumplings. (Sadly, I can't recall the name)
I have too much basil, but I don't want pesto!
Make your own basil infused olive oil!
