Back to back lunches at Mizlala [crispy broccoli and Kefta plate] & Johnnies Pastrami [Merguez dog & Green goddess].
15 Likes
Kaiseki Motoishi debuts in Beverly Hills! My thoughts and pics are forthcoming…
#SakuraMochiMadeByChefKazu
11 Likes
muri is the name designated for the newest tasting menu at hibi. It debuted tonight, and it was fantastic. We are lucky to have such great artistry in L.A.
One of the highlights made my list for Bite of the Year:
Whiteleg prawn, done tempura-style, with charred avocado, dessicated shrimp skin (!), cilantro flowers, and a kimchee puree base, all on top of a housemade corn tortilla. Think Seoul meets Tokyo, envisioned through a SoCal lens… Huge bite!!!
14 Likes
Yakimono: Amadai matsukasa-yaki, celeriac puree, tomatillo+black garlic, ponzu, cabbage glass chip… Tilefish “pinecone”-style is hard to pull off properly, but Niki-san and Carole-san make it look so easy at n/naka, PLUS they maximize the flavor with all those high execution touches which always dazzle me. The Spring Modern Kaiseki at n/naka is in full bloom!
8 Likes
how difficult a rez is n/naka these days?
Please respond in the standard unit of “Hayatos”
For example:
McDonald’s would be 1/1,000,000 Hayatos
Rao’s in NYC might be 2-300 Hayatos
13 Likes
Current conversion rate is 1 Hayato to 2.0307 n/nakas
9 Likes
Paradise Dynasty (Costa Mesa)
I was super curious and even more enamored at the “sale” price of $4.99 per half dozen order of these pho XLB in collaboration with their Phoholic neighbors in the same complex.
This was not as pho-y as I was hoping. It felt slightly muted. I wanna be slapped in the face by pho when I bite in. I wanna be transported back to my childhood sitting down to my late grandma’s pho. I got more of a hint and faint reminder of that memory.
It’s perfectly fine, I suppose but I was looking for more pho flavor in terms of spices and beefy aromas. I’m happy to have paid $4.99 per order. Prices increase to $7.99 per order starting tomorrow for the first 100 orders each day and $14.99 for 101 and after. It’s not novel enough to me for the return on investment.
The pho flavors were more pronounced when I dipped in the traditional XLB sauce made tableside.
The pork chop fried rice was much more successful. The egg fried rice had great flavor and a balance between egg, rice and scallions. Pork chop was crisp and well-seasoned. I’d come back for this dish alone.
16 Likes
One of the best sandwiches on Eater is in Brea? Who knew. The wagyu pastrami on marble rye at Waygu Carniceria. A very good sandwich. Nice and toasty. Good quality meat pairs well with the cheese and mustard. Wish there was a little more meat but I’ll be back. $22 with a bag of chips and a soda.
15 Likes
Those are great sandwiches!
And the price is easier to absorb than a whole wagyu steak.
2 Likes
You can buy a package of that Waygu Pastrami from the butcher case and make FATTY sandwiches. SO GOOD. I also love slicing it up and adding it to scrambled eggs at the very last minute. Killer in a Breakfast Burrito or just with toast.
8 Likes
Luxe handroll concept Iki Nori soft opens in Hollywood, just one block east of Iki Ramen (6464 Sunset Bl.). The Iki empire now boasts this newest addition, a 12-seat handroll bar. The nori is hyper-high in quality: Flavorful, perfect crispness, and I dare say it’s even better than KazuNori’s. Guests can choose to customize each roll as well. However, unlike KazuNori, Iki Nori features a full bar with fun cocktails, such as the Ube Horchata. Parking in Hollywood can often present problems, but in this case fear not! Iki Ramen customers may use the large parking lot located just south of the building.
As with all things Iki, the side dishes are terrific here as well. One highlight is their mentaiko shirataki (konjac noodles), with ikura and crab: The unusual texture reminds me of the shredded tofu salads seen in Chinese cuisine. And when mentaiko is added, the umami here is really enhanced…
18 Likes
Absolutely perfect timing - great location near the Palladium!
3 Likes
Hey!! Glad to hear that Iki has found some footing in Hollywood! That spot is not too far from the Hollywood and Highland Train station either!!
1 Like
Phin Smith and Smoke Queen. There was a farmers market on Main St. Roasty, nutty, a lil sweet. Perfect.
Cheers guys.
Beef rib, pork ribs and crispy pork belly were all great. The brisket was dry and not good. Sides were excellent. One of the best mac n cheese at a bbq place. The spicy cucumbers were basically like kimchi. Very good.
14 Likes
How long was the line?
Very long line and not very fast moving. We were about 40/50 in line at opening and didn’t get food until ~1:15. I’d say the line was in the 100/125 range at noon opening. You might actually be better off coming later in the day but risk running out of protein.
1 Like
Finally went to check out Lima the hand roll place at 99 Ranch in Westwood. I liked it, very nice presentations too.
15 Likes
Boil & Bake (Costa Mesa)
This was delightful…open-faced bagel with their house made lox, cream cheese, Valdivia heirloom tomato, onion, capers, dill, lemon and drizzle of olive oil
I had mine on a cacio e pepe bagel…and with all the flavors it was a touch hard to taste the cheese, but I could definitely taste the course ground pepper.
Hopped in at 8AM on a Saturday and the line was minimal…to which I loved. A quick order.
These folks make about 6 flavors of bagels that are posted as you walk in. They also have some sweet pastries for those not in a mood for a savory breakfast.
The fresh-squeezed orange juice was also great! I saw giant crates of fresh oranges in the hallway next to their office and the restroom so you know it’s really fresh.
If you have business in the area, I’d suggest you stop by. Next time, I’ll have to get extra bagels to take home so I can try them without toppings.
15 Likes
Damn that looks great!!
It’s become chic for chefs and restaurants to use lox and smoked salmon interchangeably when really they are not.
So their website says that it’s house cured lox, and you call it lox, so please forgive me for asking:
Is this salmon smoked? I’ve only seen one place in the last like 15 years (Maury’s Bagels) that had lox. Everything else has been smoked salmon?
If it’s lox, this might be a destination for me… from Sherman Oaks lol
TIA!!!
4 Likes