it’s all ok.
i was just trying to point out that there are other things on the pitfire menu other than just pizza.
(imho, the other things are superior to the pizza)
4 Likes
Had a day off today…
Tickets to the Hollywood Bowl for LA Phil/Dudamel doing Beethoven’s 9th. (Still humming Ode To Joy as I write this)
Cassell’s Burgers
Very good Patty Melt. Asked for med rare and got med. Still good. Cheddar, grilled onions, mustard on rye.
Myung Dong Kyoja
2 kinds of kimchi. Water and very strong garlicky one. You been warned.
Pork Dumplings.
MDK does chicken noodles but I am partial to Olympic Noodle for their chicken noodle soup and kimchi. And being that it’s summer I went for these cold chlorella noodles. Very tasty! Surprise none of the stereotypical LA health nuts haven’t caught on to this place, its mostly Korean families here with their young kids.
$10 cheapy seats!
Where my Section W peeps at in here?
8 Likes
Extra spicy popcorn chicken, rice, pickles, egg, fried tofu, and veggies from Mindi’s Kitchen in Torrance. Also comes with a cup of soup. Today was chicken & celery. $9. I love this place and get takeout a couple of times a week.
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They still do $10 seats?? That’s rad. I spent many a sultry summer evening up there, before I became responsible member of society.
Man, it sucks getting old…
Thanks for the mention!! I love At Home Kitchen for take out bento, but it’s not that convient to get there! I hope they have Lions Head Meatballs frequently on special!
–Dommy!
Just had to jump in with this dish from KT/Kruang Tedd
Khao Mok Gai, “Buried Chicken”
THIS DISH SHOULD be more popular!!
That rice is so fragrant and flavorful.
The chicken leg is perfectly cooked
THAT GREEN SAUCE!!!
Herby, bright, with a touch of sweet. You are going to want ask nicely for extra sauce!
This dish seems like a Thai take on biryani.
Eat this, than Bang Bang with Crying Tiger’s Braised Squid in Ink, Phuket Style, for the best 2 Thai dishes you never had…
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Waitress told me that only a certain cook makes this dish. (Thai Town Sergio?)
No other place in Thai Town makes this I believe.
Also had the Oxtail Soup, I love Oxtails, but the strong sour taste put me off, I think this goes back to my Mom forcing me to eat that Sour Lamb Soup at Ma’s Islamic Chinese back in the day when I was a kid I’m not a kid anymore
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You are not alone in your adoration of this dish.
KazuNori, Westwood.
I banged out a 6 roll set and a 4 roll set. It was glorious; cheaper than hand rolls at the local cheap sushi bar too.
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We managed to visit some friends in the SGV this weekend and try a few other places around town…
Heidar Baba
A recommendation from @ipsedixit (thank you!), Heidar Baba is a Halal Persian restaurant across from Pasadena City College. I remember driving through a few times with friends in the area and had never noticed this place (nor did they ever recommend it before).
Barley & Lentil Soup:
Whereas Lentil Soup seems to be the most common offering at many Middle Eastern restaurants locally, we appreciated the usage of Barley and Lentils here. It’s a little less earthy and heavy, with some nice herbal notes.
Complimentary Pita & Pickles:
Heidar Baba serves their Pita Bread with Pickled Chilies (lightly spicy), Basil and Butter. The combination of those items creates a surprisingly fragrant, lightly spicy little bite. It would’ve been better if the Pitas were freshly made, as these were cold, cardboard-like.
Baghali Polo with Lamb Shank (Dill Rice with Lima Beans, Lamb Shank):
One of my favorite dishes to order and try at Persian restaurants, Heidar’s Baghali Polo was very respectable and tasty. 
The herbal, aromatic Dill was ever-present in each bite and there were ample Lima Beans adding a nice earthiness.
The Stewed Lamb Shank was tender and moist, albeit maybe a touch salty (just a touch). But when eaten with the Dill & Lima Bean Rice, it helped dilute the saltiness and together, it was a great bite.
Lamb Koobideh (A La Carte):
Their Lamb Koobideh Skewer was nicely seasoned, tender and juicy.
We wanted to try more items, but this was only one part of our bang-bang, but through a happy coincidence, we found ourselves with another friend back in Pasadena soon after…
2nd Visit:
Hummus:
Their Hummus was of the smooth, pureed variety. The Chickpeas and Tahini were the main flavors in this version, with barely any hint of Lemon and I couldn’t really detect much Garlic compared to other versions around L.A. Still it was a nice start to the meal.
Lamb Koobideh (Two Skewers of Ground Lamb Mixed with Grated Onions, Cooked on an Open Fire. Served with Basmati Rice, Grilled Tomato and Grilled Chili):
Their Lamb Koobideh full plate is massive! 
We split this dish and were full. 
And considering it’s only $14.99 that’s insane QPR.
The Ground Lamb Skewers were delicious, just like our first visit. It was really nicely seasoned, the Grated Onions providing a fragrant, lighter backnote to the gamy Lamb itself. There was enough Basmati Rice to feed 3 or 4 people I think.
Gheimeh Bademjoon (Sauteed Eggplant Cooked in a Special Tomato Sauce, Yellow Peas, Beef, and Onion, served with Basmati Rice):
This was a really tasty Stew of Slow-Cooked Eggplant and Beef. I loved the earthiness of the Yellow Peas, and their Tomato-base gave it a nice bit of tart & sweetness and some umami qualities. And while the Stewed Beef was tender and tasty, I think we liked the Stewed Eggplant even more.
Heidar Baba is a surprisingly nice find in a stretch of Colorado Boulevard that’s littered with all fast food / national chains. With some nice prices and the ability to add any Kabob Skewer a la carte (not that you needed to with the amount of food they give normally with each standard order) 
our friends in the area said they’d be glad to go back (and we’d be happy to join them the next time we’re there).
Heidar Baba
1511 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91106
Tel: (626) 844 - 7970
Northern Chinese Cuisine
Thanks to the heads up from Eater LA, we stopped by the long-standing, massive Focus Plaza to try this new Northern Chinese restaurant, with the hilariously generic name, “Northern Chinese Cuisine” (although our Chinese friend who joined us assures us the Chinese name is more interesting than that).
“Cold Sea Cucumber” (mistranslation - Cold Cucumbers):
When I first saw “Cold Sea Cucumbers” on the menu in the cold plates section, I was excited at what this might taste like, only to have our friend tell us, in Chinese that it’s actually “Cold Cucumbers,” darn. 
These were fine, lightly seasoned with more of a Cilantro-heavy focus than Garlic.
Pork with Fennel Dumplings:
Northern Chinese Cuisine makes their Dumplings in-house, and it’s apparent on first bite: There’s a nice heft and chew to Dumplings, with a thicker-skinned style Dumpling. The Ground Pork and Fennel is quite fragrant and tasty, with enough salinity to forego Soy Sauce (just some Black Vinegar is perfect).
They aren’t as sublime as some of the other Handmade Dumplings we’ve tried over the years from recommendations on our old board and here, but they were respectable.
Green Onion Pancake:
Our friend, asking in Chinese to the waitress, said that they make these in-house as well. But sadly, these were doughy, soft and with zero crispness at all! 
These were terrible, do not order them. 
Lamb with Summer Squash Pasti:
They translated this as “Pasti” but these are essentially the variety of Beijing Pies that we’ve seen at Beijing Pie House. The use of Summer Squash was something we haven’t seen much of, so we decided to try that version. The Lamb was sufficiently gamy and the Summer Squash gave it a softer, more liquidy filling.
There was a nice crust and sear, but it felt a touch too oily.
Still overall this was the highlight of this meal.
2nd Visit:
Chicken Heart Kabobs:
We figured ordering their Kabobs might be safe given that it’s supposed to be a Northern Chinese-style restaurant (although there were a lot of Szechuan dishes on the menu as well and a hodgepodge of other dishes). First, the Chicken tasted really old. Like, not fresh at all. It had a bad funk to it.
Second, they added some strange Ketchup & American BBQ Sauce on top! 
I’ll have to defer to our SGV experts (@chandavkl @ipsedixit etc.), but I have no idea if this is normal. It tasted… wrong.
Sauteed “A Vegetable” with Garlic:
Their Sauteed “A Vegetables” with Garlic were much better thankfully. Simple, garlicky and delicious. Nicely cooked through.
Chicken Gizzard Kabob:
Their Chicken Gizzard Kabob arrived next, and was similar: It tasted old and the Ketchup + BBQ Sauce mixture made it even worse.
Pork with Leek Potstickers:
Their Handmade Pork & Leek Potstickers were a nice rebound. Like their Dumplings, these were thicker, with a nice chew and bite. The Marinated Ground Pork & Leeks filling was tasty as well. We would’ve liked more of a crust and sear on the bottom, but even with the lighter sear, it had a nice crunch.
Leek with Vegetables Pasti:
Our Chinese friend mentions that while it’s bundled with the rest of the “Pastis” (the Beijing Pies), the Chinese name is totally different. This is supposed to be their version of “Chinese Chives Box” or “Garlic Leek Turnover” (韭菜盒子). After that explanation when we saw the dish, none of felt that it looked like other versions of this dish we’ve seen around the SGV.
It had a nice sear on the outside, but it was really dense with a thick, hearty crust. The inside was fine: Chinese Chives, Vermicelli and Egg. I remember there were a few that were recommended by @Porthos? or @ipsedixit a while back that we really liked. Not this one, though.
Lamb with Fennel Pasti:
Trying a 2nd type of Beijing Pie (“Pasti”), the Lamb and Fennel was extremely pungent and fragrant. Really gamy Lamb with loads of Fennel, made this a powerful flavor explosion. 
The flavors were great, but overall it tasted a bit too oil-laden (exterior) like the chef hasn’t mastered the right temperature or something.
Northern Chinese Cuisine seems to show some potential - their Handmade Potstickers, the seasoning in some of the fillings - but they fall short in many other areas so far (avoid their Kabobs, their Pasti (Pies) are too oil laden). We like Beijing Pie House a lot more than this place, so we’d probably head back there if we wanted Beijing Pies.
Northern Chinese Cuisine
140 W. Valley Blvd., Suite 209
San Gabriel, CA 91776
Kee Wah Bakery (Revisit)
Since we were already in the area, it was time to enjoy some more Egg Tarts.
Kee Wah Bakery makes 3 different types of Egg Tarts each day. And they make fresh batches throughout the day as needed.
Signature Crispy Egg Tart:
We enjoyed these the most last time, but this time, this batch was pretty fresh (it was warm), and the outer crust was super flaky and layered (nice), but the filling was surprisingly really eggy! Like we tasted a distinct Egg quality to the filling, which was still custardy, but not very sweet. Maybe a new recipe? Or just an off-batch? It wasn’t bad - tasty - but different from the usual Hong Kong / Dim Sum “Egg Tart” you come to expect.
Portuguese Egg Tart:
Their Portuguese Egg Tart was just as enjoyable as last time: A deeper, custardy flavor, nice bit of caramelization on top.
Kee Wah Bakery
150 W. Valley Blvd.
San Gabriel, CA 91776
Tel: (626) 280-2515
Panini Cafe
Ever since @Porthos proclaimed Panini Cafe as making the juiciest / best Chicken Kabobs in L.A., we’ve bookmarked the place, but have kind of mentally blocked / ignored this until now.
I remember first hearing @Porthos rave about Panini, and when I looked it up, I found out it was a local, mini-chain of restaurants. It had a bit of a corporate look and I thought, “How good could this really be? It’s not even a mom-and-pop specialist” etc.
And while the Santa Monica branch would’ve been much closer, it was only when driving down Brand in Glendale (on our way to another hangout with a friend) that we saw the Panini Cafe branch here, and decided to give it a try.
Green Lentil Soup (Organic Lentils, Tomatoes, Oil, Garlic, Red Onion, Parsley, Mint, Crushed Pepper in a Vegetable Broth):
Their Green Lentil Soup is much lighter than the usual “Lentil Soup” found in more specialized restaurants. It had an almost Minestrone quality to it, but overall it was quite tasty and lighter. I also liked that they include a Whole Wheat Pita (served warm, and tasty) which was nice to get away from the white carbs.
Charbroiled Chicken Shish Kabob (with Organic Bulgur Wheat Pilaf, Skewered with Grilled Vegetables and Mediterranean Greek Salad):
First, the amount of food is ridiculous! This is like Claim Jumper-levels of food, and they have this on Lunch Special pricing (I think all day) at $8.95(!) (paging @Ns1), this was great QPR, because…
OMG! This is THE juiciest, most tender Chicken Breast Kabob I’ve ever had! 
I’m only sad that @Porthos isn’t here so we could thank him for the recommendation! @Porthos was right.
I have no idea how Panini Cafe does it (perhaps an overnight brine?) but imagine moist, juicy, tender, wonderfully seasoned Chicken Breast chunks cooked over open flame, with real depth of flavor (not generic, bland “Chicken Breast” that you might come to expect when you hear those words).
Delicious.
I also really liked the Organic Bulgar Wheat Pilaf (you can also choose White Basmati Rice) as a more healthy option. The Bulgar Wheat Pilaf was fluffy, nicely seasoned, lightly salted and with some natural sweetness from the cooked down Carrots in there.
The Mediterranean Salad was OK. Nothing to write home about, but it was plentiful.
I’m not sure how the rest of Panini Cafe’s menu is like, but that Chicken Kabob special at $8.95 (and even at full price $12.95) feels like a bargain given the joy at eating a fantastic, juicy Chicken Breast Kabob that’s better than the Chicken Breast Kabobs we’ve tried at many of the more popular places.
Panini Cafe (Multiple Locations)
400 N Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203
Tel: (818) 291-4000
Also in: Santa Monica, Downtown L.A., Beverly Hills, Woodland Hills, Playa Vista, Irvine, and more).
Inotheke
I’ve been wanting to try Inotheke ever since @bulavinaka @theoffalo @CiaoBob had been talking about this place last year. It’s so close as well, yet we keep forgetting to go. But we finally made it a point to try it!
Inotheke is a beautiful space; bright and cheery. Inotheke bills itself as Contemporary Greek + Mediterranean Cuisine, and given how few noteworthy Greek restaurants are in L.A., we were really hopeful this would be a nice place to go back to.
Dolmades (Ground Turkey, Rice, Dill, Lemon Sauce):
These were delicious! We liked the use of Marinated Ground Turkey, and the overall taste of each bite of the Stuffed Grape Leaves with some of the Turkey, a bit of Rice and that Lemon & Dill Sauce made this one of the more memorable versions we’ve tried in a while.
Grilled Octopus Salad (Fresh Herb Salad, Shallot, Capers):
This was delicious! The Octopus was sufficiently tender (a few pieces were a touch chewy, but not overly so), with a nice briny, salty, bright quality. Thanks @bulavinaka @CiaoBob @theoffalo.
Cod Skordalia (Lemon-Garlic Mash Potato):
The one major downfall of this Cod dish was that the Fish was badly freezer-burned. 
It tasted like Frozen Cod, but there were definitely parts of the Cod that tasted like it suffered from freezer-burn. Given that hiccup, however, the actual cooking of the Cod was nice, and the Lemon Garlic Mashed Potatoes were fantastic! Very light, delicate Mashed Potatoes that had a perfect Lemon-y citrus quality, giving it a lightness and just enough Garlic to give it a nice punch.
If they used a fresher Fish here, this would’ve been a stellar dish.
Lamb & Orzo (Tomato, Parmesan):
Super tender, morsels of Stewed Lamb, in a light Tomato Sauce, with toothsome Orzo Pasta. Delicious! 
Highlight of the meal!
Inotheke is a pleasant delight for those looking for a more refined version of Greek cuisine. We really liked most of the dishes we had (Dolmades, Octopus Salad and the Lamb Orzo), and the flavors in the Cod Skordalia were spot-on, it was just the piece of Cod we got was freezer-burned.
If there’s one quibble with Inotheke it might be the QPR / value: It felt a bit spendy (our lunch ran almost $40 per person), given the portion sizes and ingredients (nothing was really “extravagant”); we chalk it up to Santa Monica rent. Still, in the end, given how close it is and a nice change of pace and generally tasty dishes, we’ll be back from time-to-time.
Inotheke
606 Broadway Ave., Ste 101
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Tel: (310) 458-3366
6 Likes
This dish screams for Pepto Bismo.
Not normal. Unless you live on Pluto.
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I think my baseline for chive pockets might be from Luscious Dumplings. Hui Tou Xiang and Dean Sin World are also respectable, though I haven’t been to the latter in a while.
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Barbacoa de borrego from El Borrego Restaurant in Lawndale. Nice and tender lamb barbacoa. Also came with some really delicious and hearty lamb consommé.
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Inaba
Love this place, everything was as good as ever. The special eel and zucchini was ridiculously good, deep fried glazed eel sandwiched between two zucchini fries. Even the sushi is good, the battera was another standout with delicious mackerel on top of fluffy airy vinegared rice and the tekka maki was properly made with just the right amount of wasabi smeared on the inside. #friedisafoodgroup
Peach and prosciutto tempura
“Figs on a plate”
Shishito
Sweet potato
Eggplant
Pumpkin
Whiting
Squid
Shrimp
Eel zucchini
Squid
Shiitake
Whiting
Flathead
Onion
Scallop
Anago
Squid shiso roll
Uni shiso
Battera
Tekka maki
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Pie (and cake) sampling at Pie 'N Burger in Pasadena! Strawberry cake, summer peach pie, banana meringue pie with extra whipped cream, butterscotch meringue and boysenberry pie…
Heavenly.
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i think we can all now agree j_l is, indeed, special agent dale cooper, fbi.
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Chargha House report:
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