@PorkyBelly, how was Chi Spacca compared to before the chef left?
nice day - what is the rice dish?
That was the kimchi fried rice at republique, i would not order it again.
This was my first time back since Colby left and it was good as ever.
I had quite an indulgent weekend and itâs not even over!
Saap for dinner thursday
Friday I got the oyster thing on with the buck-a-shuck from whole foods
Saturday lunch at Marugame Monzo
Today - about to hit Hollywood Pies
No pictures, because Iâm terrible at it, but Iâll provide extensive opinion (esp on Hollywood Pies) later tonightâŚ
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Sunday lunch: BBQ from Bobâs Market in Santa Monica. I saw the smoke from an outdoor grill several months ago on Sunday and was finally able to make it today! Pulled pork for me, tai-tip for partner (not pictured). Not transformative, but pretty darn solid for $20 (incl tax). My pork wasnât as, well, pulled as I had expected (seemed more fork-stabbed than pulled). Not super highly seasoned, but the accompanying BBQ sauce tasted like a less viscous version of McDonaldâs BBQ sauce (thatâs a good thing). Potato salad was nicely seasoned.
Partnerâs tri tip sandwich had too much other stuff in it (lettuce, tomatoes); I think it wouldâve been fine w/ just the meat. Again, a little under seasoned but nicely tender (my pulled pork was just teensiest bit dry).
Pickles (housemade?) were tasty and not too sour.
As an added bonus, the people watching was fantasticâŚ
lots of Japanese food this weekend.
For lunch - I did a gyoza sampling.
Shin Sen Gumi Hakata Ramen (not pictured) in West LA has, perhaps, the worst gyoza I have ever had. Tiny, dried out, over cooked. Ramen was so-so.
These babies are from Kotoya Ramen on Santa Monica Blvd - they were excellent! Hand made very flavorful filling. Well cooked.
Sunday Dinner - Kagura in Torrance for Tonkatsu - really great pork and spot-on sauce.
Cold Echigo, Pestle and sesame seeds too!
Also had good Momotoro tomato, and Cabbage/sesame salads
Fantastic Sake
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I love Kagura. The best for Tonkatsu. They just opened up one in El Segundo too!!
âDommy!
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Great to hear, Dommy, thanks. It is so good.
We tried the thicker cutlet not the Millefeuille Katsu, after debating. Do you have a preference?
I like the Millefeuille, very juicy and the layers pick up more sauce! We donât think the stuffed ones are worth it, they are just for show and donât really add anything.
But both are much better than the versions at Kimukatsu
âDommy!
Nice. Next time will try the Pork Napoleon!
CB, have you tried the ones at Beni-Tora? I doubt they do the skin in-house, but theyâre pretty good, IMHO.
How is the ramen at Kotoya? I live almost w/i walking distance, but I never stopped to try it, for whatever reasonâŚ
Never heard of Kagura. Will have to try to make time for that. I do love a good pork tonkatsu. My fav used to be the one in the Mitsuwa Torrance, but that stall closed down. 
What is a pork napoleon???
LOVE Beni-toraâs gyoza. Best, IMHO on the west side, but Kotoyaâs are solid, and so is their Ramen. I like the White Miso there very much.
Millefeuille is like a Napolean of pork - made of many thin layers of pork (vs. pastry for the a real Nap).
I agree! Just had it today. 
great. it get overlooked but they do a solid bowl.
And I just retuned to beni tora- they have such great gyoza.
I think I can rest now - my gyoza itch has been scratched well.
Really like the gyoza filling at kotoya ramen.
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There was one seasoning (which I donât think was salt) that was a bit pronounced in the Kotoya gyoza. It wasnât unpleasant at all (and probably cut nicely through the ramen broth, I think). The filling is very generous and moist, and the gyoza has an appealing plumpness.
I really liked the ramen. Very subtly flavored, and my lips didnât feel like an oil slick. I like that you can specify the level of fat. The chasu, BTW, was MELTINGLY tender. SO good (no wonder they count each piece separately as a side!). Egg was a little underdone, but always better underdone than over-, IMHO. I also thought it was kind of weird that they give you a whole egg instead of slicing it. Noodles were cooked nicely (still a tiny bit of chew to them). My only complaint is that the portion isnât very big! But the quality is there. For me, their ramen seems just âright.â
Really a delightful place. And they open until 11:30PM, so I know where to go for all my late-night ramen/gyoza needs! 
Settebello
Coppeliaâs
Carneyâs
Chi Spacca
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Wtf, thereâs legit Colombian in Huntington Beach??