Was in Long Beach for a protest and went back to Chiang Rai because I just can’t get enough of that place.
Chiang Rai beef laab:
Dry khao soi with sai ua:
Khao Soi with chicken:
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I gotta check this place out those photos look awesome.
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The plaza with Earthen was as packed as its ever been. Earthen ownership has changed hands twice during covid. New chefs. Not pictured but still very good are the jjammpong and salt n pepper chicken cartilage.
The green onion pancake is not the same. Doesn’t have the same crispness but the actual flavor/recipe seems the same. I recommended to the waitress that the chef go back to the old version.
Mongolian beef for my kid who was craving it. Pretty good but he says Mins in Yorba Linda is better.
The house chicken was thankfully spot on.
They were doing brisk take out but the actual restaurant itself was only half full. There are all brand new nice menus with pictures, prices and captions in Chinese and English.
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Was on Fairfax before a show at the Brain Dead theater so my buddy and I stopped in to eat at Yojimbo. (He had preemptively vetoed Jon and Vinny’s because we have eaten almost exclusively pizza the last few times we were out)
It was aggressively fine.
Heiwa “Kid” Junmai Cup
The best find here actually–loved that they had a cup version.
Salmon Bento
The salmon was cooked well, but the rest of the box was pretty plain. I used the salad dressing the punch pretty much everything else up.
The real highlight though… scoping out Animal after we walked out. There were people seated inside, so I went in and was told they were in a “soft open” and anticipate opening next week (!!!)
Next time I’m on Fairfax the same mistake will not be made.
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you’re burying the lede here, yuuuge news. review forthcoming?
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Don’t think anyone has made any comments about Papi Tacos and Churros.
Sorry that the pics of the tacos didn’t turn out that well…
We’ve walked by the place a few times and once saw a fairly large crowd, so we hoped the food wouldn’t be terrible. It turns out it’s quite good (IMHO). Not sure why the tacos are red. I didn’t try the shell by itself, so can’t say that it made a difference in flavor (as opposed to just being a dye).
Agua frescas were fine. I asked the cashier which one had the least amt of sugar added. She said that they were “all natural,” which I don’t think quite answered the question…
Partner had the birria, I had the chicken. The OG plate is $15. Birria didn’t quite have the funk that I like and expect, although I guess that’s not surprising if it’s all beef? My smoked chicken didn’t seem quite consistently smoky (but the parts that were smoky were very tasty and not overwhelming smoky). The consume was, not surprisingly, absolutely wonderful and warming.
I wouldn’t drive across the city for this, but, if you’re in the area, it’s certainly worth a try.
Brief review of Arth elsewhere: Anyone been to Arth Bar & Kitchen in Culver City? - #5 by paranoidgarliclover
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Is this the bldg still labeled Cactus Taqueria?
They’re dipped in the birria fat and then fried which gives them that red color, if I’m not mistaken.
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Not sure which bldg that is. Didn’t see any signage for Cactus Taqueria.
Papi’s is on Wilshire near 4th (so a block away from the northern most part of 3rd St. Promenade).
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Agree with your sentiment; it’s way better than it has any right to be given it’s steps from the Promenade. Not quite as high level as dearly departed Tacos Punta Cabras (obviously two very different focuses), but still pretty good value for the area.
Last time I went, I was in line behind Ving Rhames, which is fun.
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It’s like next door to where Sur le Table used to be and around the corner from Demitasse and Michael’s
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YES. That’s a very good way to put it (and a large part of why we had avoided until recently).
I think of Papi as something adjacent (culinary-wise) to Tacos 1986.
Have you been to the Italian place in the office building across the street (east)? They do housemade pasta, but apparently it’s a chain? I haven’t been yet. Once the dim sum place opens, you’ll be able to do an around-the-world trip on one street corner!
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Haven’t gone yet; it’s connected to Il Fornaio in Beverly Hills so I imagine it’s aiming to be a bit fancier than its neighbors Colapasta and Uovo.
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Equally shocked as the OP of the topic that Ghisallo isn’t one of the mainstays of this board:
Campesino: slow-cooked quince, basil, ricotta, rosemary, prosciutto
As good as other West Side mainstays like Roberta’s or La Morra (RIP).
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Usually tacos are red because they’re dipped in birria broth, which contains achiote paste.
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Finally got out east to pack up my cubicle…this was a fun greeting
Went to one place I knew would have outdoor dining, Aljibani Halal Market. Happy to see most of my old go-tos in the area appear to have made it through (RIP Boulevard 574 tho).
We’ve got plenty falafel places on the westside, but most of them don’t fry to order like here. And now garlic is coming out of my pores but worth it
Did a semi-bang after at Bageloo, picked up some baked goods to go.
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Uptown 107th and Broadway. Absolute Bagels. Sweetest nicest Thai family is making the best bagels in the city.
Everything with chive and garlic cream cheese.
Egg with BEC. (Nice subtle sweetness to the egg bagel).
No need to toast you heathens! The bagel are warm! Nice texture on the outside and pillowy in the inside.
Aroy mak!
Wash it down with some Thai Tea.
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Luigi’s in Park Slope. The quintessential NYC pizza shop.
The sounds, smells, and the looks of what I imagine a NYC pizza shop should be. In Brooklyn of course. With a Italian immigrant success story. A family that cares about making the best pizza possible at a price for all to enjoy. Pizza for the people. The taste btw is wonderful. The crust, and the sauce all perfect. Only thing I am upset about is someone took the corner slices.
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