You can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and while the recipe will change slightly (with or without collards in the middle, delicata or butternut squash) the basic dish is pretty much intact: steamed sweet corn tamal, sour cream-infused scrambled eggs, sofrito of tomato, onions and banana peppers. Sound good? Trust me, it’s Something … Continued
It’s not like I’m choosing sides in a NYC bagel war, or somehow claiming to know which joint in L.A.’s Thai Town makes the best khao soi, but when you start ranking fried chicken, I know the haters are waiting in the wings, so to speak, ready to pounce. Although I’m not sure I’m going … Continued
Marugame Monzo’s menu of fresh, handmade udons ranges from traditional, such as their kitsune udon, to more innovative offerings, like their miso carbonara udon and udon gratin. Located in the Little Japan section of Downtown L.A., you can see your udon prepared directly in front of you, through a giant glass window into the kitchen. … Continued
From the Boka Restaurant Group (Boka, Girl & the Goat, GT Fish, etc.) the company’s first Japanese concept is a stunner. Up until I went, there were only a handful of sushi restaurants in Chicago I would even recommend (Katsu, Mirai, Juno), but add Momotaro to this list. Not only is the fish sliced expertly, … Continued
This unassuming, family-owned Thai restaurant in L.A. serves up superb traditional Northern Thai cuisine. Local Thai Chef/Ambassador Jet Tila introduced me to this place, and it was so good, I ate there on two consecutive visits, even though it was a 30 minute drive from where I was staying. One of the best holes-in-the-wall anywhere … Continued
Guests at Baco Mercat will be greeted by a vivid menu of dishes influenced by Western and Eastern Mediterranean cuisine; prepared with fresh Southern Californian produce. Their signature “baco” flatbread takes a prominent places on their menu. Working as a vessel for pork, beef, poultry, seafood, and vegetables, it’s served in its original sandwich form … Continued
Here’s a reference you don’t see very often when writing about Los Angeles: Ganda Siamese Cuisine is just a 5-minute walk from the Hollywood/Western subway stop. I discovered this place totally by accident, and it happens to be in the heart of Thai Town, in a densely-packed strip mall with a ton of delicious options. … Continued
Sometimes, curiosity gets the best of me. It’s one of the hazards of my job, driving around the city, rubber-necked, looking at interesting awnings and neon signs that beckon from beyond the sidewalk. What is it that makes someone pull over, pay the meter and walk into an unfamiliar space? Unless you’re going based on … Continued
This dim sum restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel is the only 3-star Michelin dim sum in the world. I think that rating (as I do with many of the Michelin-rated places in Asia) is a stretch. This is definitely power lunch time, with commanding views of the Harbor and the skyscrapers that surround it, … Continued
If you decide to take the leisurely, 40 minute ferry ride to Lamma Island, you’ll be struck by the number of seafood restaurants as soon as you walk ashore. Managers stand as hawkers, trying to get you to sit down and order a beer, then eventually, a full meal. Avoid them. Walk about 15 stalls … Continued
Known for one thing – the Hong Kong typhoon shelter crab, with mounds of chopped, roasted garlic and chilies – this casual restaurant, located in the Wan Chai District, isn’t cheap. But I had never seen this preparation before. The garlic and chilies serve as a dry rub of sorts, for the enormous crab that … Continued