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Dinner

Santouka & Gyutan Tsukasa - Costa Mesa

June 4, 2017

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

- is my favorite ramen shop here in Los Angeles, hands down. When I went to Japan a few years ago, it amazed me how delicious the ramen was. People rave about sushi in Japan which I don't disagree but, I can honestly say you can find compromisable sushi here as well. Going back to ramen in Japan, I was blown away with the layers of flavors within the broth. A lot of soup bases here are imported or have fat delivered to recreate the umami-ness you would expect in a tonkotsu broth that have been bathing for 12+ hours. A lot of times, you would just find the soup to be heavy and fatty. Say goodnight after breakfast. At Santouka, the broth is clean, rich and deep in depths of flavor.

Shio Ramen (salt ramen) is my favorite. This is their white tonkotsu soup with melt-in-your-mouth charsiu pork.00

You can create combos with your ramen. I'm not sure why, yet, but I will do research later to why the sets are so ginormous and loaded with carbs. Literally. In Japan and Japanese restaurants here, you can get chirashi with a side of udon. Oyakodon with a side of udon. Why?! I don't mind. I love it actually but, just curious.

665 Paularino Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Mitsuwa Marketplace Costa Mesa Store

21515 Western Ave., Torrance, CA 90501 Mitsuwa Marketplace Torrance Store

3760 S.Centinela Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90066 Mitsuwa Marketplace Santa Monica Store

More locations >>HERE<<

Gyutan Tsukasa

665 Paularino Ave Mitsuwa Marketplace Costa Mesa, CA 92626

I've talked about this place before. So nothing much about this besides they are amazing. Delicious beef tongue grilled over binchotan served with wasabie, pickled veggies, miso nanban and a heaping of steamed rice.

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Bistro Papillote - Costa Mesa

June 4, 2017

French being my favorite food, there's not much options where I live. I enjoy going to Costa Mesa from time to time and have been discovering little boutique shops here and there. We came across Bistro Papillote in The OC Mix. It was Memorial Day and the place I wanted to try was closed so this was the next runner up.

Their breakfast lunch menu is really straight forward. At Bistro Papillote, you will find escargot, pate, quiches, crepes, croque madame and monsieurs, and sandwiches.

Black forest ham with gruyere sandwiched between a soft bread baked till crispy around the edges. A Croque Monsieur is just the same concoction without the egg.

Pomme puree, baby spinach, eggs and baguette sticks. Pommes puree is just French mashed potatoes.

This dish was simple and elegant. I loved the silkiness of the mashed potatoes. I will definitely recreate this at home.

Check them out if you're ever in the area. Their dinner menu also looks great.

3313 Hyland Ave Costa Mesa, CA 92626

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Kings Row - Tandoori Nights

May 15, 2017

Chef Sundeep does it again. I've been going to Kings Row for a couple of years now and have always enjoyed their monthly roast pig feast that's hosted on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Chef Sundeep, their executive chef, does not play around when curating a menu for their monthly food haul. This time around, Chef Sundeep had planned for and contemplated for this moment to tie his culture into the food he creates.

Giant kebabs grilled outdoors on their patio grill. The varieties come with the choice of Tandoori, Garlic, Chili, or Shawarma Chicken, served on a fresh naan wrap with lettuce, onion, and tomato. Choice of Raita, chutney, or hot sauce.

Each naan is rolled out my hand. Chefs Sundeep's house recipe.

Margarita Slushies

Ridiculously refreshing.

Chef Sundeep hosts a special food event once a month on every 3rd Thursday. Stay tuned to see what he has in store for this month. I wonder.

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Yellow House Cafe

May 7, 2017

My first time at Yellow House Cafe was a memorable one. The food was decent and I was extremely pleased with their Kimchi pasta which also had bacon. I also got to spend some time with a good friend of mine, Hugh. Mr. I-can't-eat-dairy means I get all the pasta to myself. I am not complaining one bit.

Give the pasta a quick mix before diving in. I could still remember this and itching to go back and order this again.

Fried Tonkatsu with curry sauce (very yummy).

Open form 11am-12am (Friday-Saturday opened till 2AM, perfect drunk food). If this was closer to me, it would be dangerous.

234 S Oxford Ave Los Angeles, CA 90004 Koreatown

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Water Grill - DTLA Brunch

April 11, 2017

Just in, Water Grill (Click for location) spotted in Downtown Los Angeles is not serving brunch. Located on 544 S. Grand Ave, you will find popular brunch items such as Poached Salmon Rillettes (love), to Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (amazing), and Crab Benedict (jumbo lump blue crab yo).

Aside from a tasty menu, they are also serving delicious brunch cocktails worth getting your day spinning. Their popular jaw dropping WG Bloody Mary dressed with an old bay salt rim, chilled blackened shrimp, and thick cut bacon will make you order another just for more bacon. Another popular cocktail is their Ramos Gin Fizz with gin, fresh citrus, egg white, orange blossom, milk/ shaken with vigor and charged with soda. The First Class Flight is a bottle of bele casel extra dry prosecco with carafes of oj, grapefruit & daily agua fresca.