Eating my way through...

King Dog
breakfast dog 6.5 out of 10 (hawaiian bread rolls+)

151 N Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90004

(323) 460-4744

Santouka Ramen (mitsuwa market)
miso ramen and unagi don 6 out of 10

21515 Western Ave
Torrance, CA 90501

(310) 212-1101

ROFL Cafe 
6.8 out of 10 (good price point/overall well executed)

7661 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046

(323) 951-1536

El Flamin' taco truck
8 out of 10 (favorite taco truck in LA)

505 S Vermont Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90020

(213) 718-1790

Dino's Chicken & Burgers
8 out of 10 (good price point/love there chicken/huge portions)

 

2575 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90006

(213) 380-3554

Sweet Surrender
7.9 out of 10 (overpriced cupcakes but overall taste good/must try neiman marcus bar and red velvet cake+)

 

6439 Ming Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93309

(661) 835-8530

Comfort food

I've been busy and haven't posted anything in awhile buts here's the recap of valentines day '13. Dinner at Olympic Cheonggukjang my favorite spot for cheonggukjang I call this place "grandmothers house" (halmuhnee jeep) because it reminds me of my grandmothers cooking and the folks that work there kind of remind me of her too also some of the interior decor resemble shit you see at your super traditional grandmothers house. Brings me back to the old days visiting her on a Sunday afternoon. So back to the cheonggukjang its delicious and full of stinky fermented soybean just how I like it. This time around we got "nak jhee bokum" to accompany our cheonggukjag for those of you not in the know nak jhee means octopus and bokum means sauteed, all together in a spicy chili sauce with vegetables and rice cakes. You also get plenty of banchan (side dishes) my favorite would be the steamed cabbage and fermented soybean paste. Not your traditional valentines day dinner but hell I love my lady cause she loves it too match made in heaven.


Olympic Cheonggukjang
2528 W Olympic Blvd Ste 104
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(Parking lot)

Wine tasting in SB

Wine tasting on a thursday afternoon in Santa Barbara could it get any better? Yes it can the weather was amazing probably one of the nicest days I've ever experienced in my adult life granted we are in California and the weather is nice 80% of the year I could not ask for more beautiful weather then the one we got in January at that. About a two hour drive from LA and the traffic was light which was pleasant. Our first stop was Curtis Winery we had bought a deal a while back for 2 wine and truffle tastings including a bottle of wine to take home. First look its a beautiful winery small producing vineyard owned by the firestone family. We started with 2 whites and moved on to 4 reds with the truffle pairing. They were all good usually the case first stop and your palette is the cleanest. The truffles were noteworthy to there made locally and delivered twice a week so you know their fresh and all made by hand. By the time we were done with the tasting it was lunch time already slightly buzzed it was a good idea to eat a little something to get through the day. Perfect spot outside on the grounds of the winery for our picnic lunch which I made that morning. Made a simple sandwich with turkey, queso fresco, arugala, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vin, kozlicks triple crunch mustard (best mustard in the world must try) and a little lemon juice. Accompanied by First try Tim's Jalapeno Potato Chips (best jalapeno chips I've ever tasted), 365 coconut water I dont recommend only bought it cause it was on sale. Had some cut up apples and oranges for dessert. Next stop up the road was Koehler Winery and from what I remember they had a good cab. From here we ventured to the small town of Los Olivos its like a winery village you can park and walk to each tasting room. Its a good idea to go online and search for 2 for 1 tastings a lot of the winerys offer it. Started off at Fontes and Phillips known for their whites and roses owned by a couple really nice people. Next William James named after the owners father named William and their young son James. They're located next door to Fontes in the back patio of the antique/art store. Small family run operation of blended wines the sangiovese was good everything is bottled by hand and even the labels are cut and glued on by the family. Really nice lady started it as a family hobby and went professional a couple years ago. That was the end of our wine adventure gotta trek it back to beat LA traffic. Will be back though for their winter wine fest Feb-18-22.


Curtis Wines
5249 Foxen Canyon Rd
Los Olivos, CA 93441

Koehler Wines
5360 Foxen Canyon Rd
Los Olivos, CA 93441

Fontes & Phillips Wines
2362 Alamo Pintado Ave
Los Olivos, CA 93441

William James Cellars
2356 Alamo Pintado Ave
Los Olivos, CA 93441

 Kozlik's Canadian Mustard
www.mustardmaker.com (purchase online)
93 Front St E
Toronto, ON M5E 1C3 (purchase inside St Lawarence Market)

San Gabriel for chinese

Was in the mood for some "good" chinese. The girl and I took a drive out to San Gabriel looks like a little chinatown. We went to a spot called Newport Tan Cang Seafood Restaurant which has a ton of reviews. First look at the place I think it used to be a former denny's. Walked in large lobster tank ahead and the space is pretty big they have private party areas off to the side with large round tables to. Grab a number and wait. Luckily we were seated with in 15 min of walking in there. nice Seated and before even receiving a menu we each get a small cup of hot and sour soup. So finally we order first look its you typical chinese menu with a few vietnamese dishes we order from the lunch special menu good bargain, wanted the lobster special what this place is known for but maybe next time with a larger party and a fatter wallet. We order the clams with black bean sauce, sauteed pea sprouts, steamed whole fish (tilapia), and beef chow fun. Everything tastes clean and the vegetables and seafood are fresh. You get a large container of white rice to. Everything comes out pretty quick and about half way through the meal the fish is brought out which is normal. Dove into the fish and the rest leftovers for tomorrow or maybe tonight. Next time i'll order a whole fish fried or steamed and the pea sprouts call it a day. I'll be back again maybe


Newport Tan Cang Seafood
518 W Las Tunas Dr
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(Parking lot)

Korean sausage

Saturday afternoon was walking around sawtelle blvd with the girl and stumbled upon Seoul Sausage Co. Owned and operated by the fellas from the Seoul sausage truck GFTR 3 champs. Place looks cool almost butcher shopesque everything is served on butcher paper and in brown boxes. They got those korean sac sac drinks, sodas and boxed water. Ordered the spicy pork with apple cabbage slaw. Pork needed more spice and the texture was off not like your normal sausage kinda reminded me of a soondae texture the slaw was unmemorable but the bun was good I think they get them specially made for them its like a hot dog bun/brioche feel nice touch but overall the dog needed more flavor all I got was sweet. The other thing we ordered was kalbi poutine let me start off by saying im a poutine feen I've had poutine all around the country almost opened my own poutine shop but thats another story we'll get into later. So their rendition of kalbi poutine im not a fan of I know its their take on poutine but why call it poutine if you don't have any aspects of real traditional poutine except for the fries which it was lacking once again no flavor it needs layers of flavor the pickled onions nice touch the short rib tender the cheese was cheese the mexican creme ok probably won't order it again and I won't be going back for a second round. Oh best part of the meal I washed it down with a half and half green tea/coconut water drink from marukai market good shit must try it. side note saw one of the owners outside walking this fly ass chick to her car dressed like she came straight from the club and no one comes out looking like that in the middle of the afternoon can I say walk of shame but damn I could be wrong for all I know it could be his sister but either way you go boy makes me want to rethink my career choice.


Seoul Sausage Co.
11313 Mississippi Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90005
(street parking/valet lot next door)

Marukai Market (west LA locale)
12121 West Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Sushi night

Had dinner with my gf and her sister at Noshi Sushi the other night. My first observation of the place it kinda looks like a dive. When you step inside there are no windows and it looks dated but I don't care im here for the sushi. I actually seek out little hole in the wall places diamonds in the rough neighborhood joints. You shouldn't have to blow a weeks pay check to eat good. Oh by the way this place is a bargain for decent sushi. So on to the sushi we ordered al la carte had some yellowtail, uni, baby scallops, squid, otoro, mackerel, sweet shrimp, and a side of baked crab hand rolls. Everything was legit and the fish was fresh I recommend ordering this way cause the main attraction is the sushi but next time I would sit at the sushi bar and not in a booth. My only gripe was the sushi rice it was improperly prepared every time I would pick up a piece of sushi the rice would fall a part no bueno but I'll give them another shot I have a good feeling about this place.

Noshi Sushi

4430 Beverly Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90004

(cash only/parking in rear of building)

call me east coast

Born and raised in philadelphia. The home of the iconic cheesesteak and italian style sandwiches. You can call me a sandwich enthusiast I grew up on this stuff and been eating it all my life. Basically  I will try anything on or between or encased in bread. I have a soft spot in my heart for this stuff. Then I moved to LA... the bread sucks out here ie. pizza, bagels, sandwiches, cheesesteaks, hot dogs etc the list goes on. LA seriously took a nose dive in the department.. and please don't call it a philly cheesesteak or a ny whatever if your not in the actual city it comes from I find it insulting