My Eat-Venture » Asian

Daikokuya – Little Tokyo

Cyrus P — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:44:47 +0000

I have been wanting to go to this place for a while, but everytime I went, the line is just too long.

Well here are the details:

http://www.daikoku-ten.com
DAIKOKUYA – LITTLE TOKYO
327 E 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
TEL: (213) 626-1680

Entrance

I finally got a chance to visit my friend Charles at his downtown LA office, and decided to have

lunch at this place. The line wasn’t as long as I usually experienced but we waited a good 30

minutes. First thing we ordered was the gyoza

Gyoza

They had a bunch of other stuff on the menu, but we came here for the Ramen. There are two ways to

they prepare the Ramen for you, its either Tsukemen (separated) or Daikoku Ramen (all together)

Tsukemen

Tsukemen Meat and Fixins

Daikoku Ramen

They also have an option to make the soup richer by adding something called “Kotteri” flavor which is

added to the soup from the back fat. Sounds gross, but its freakin delicious

Daikoku Ramen just Served

Look at that Soup with Kotteri

Sam Woo – Van Nuys

Cyrus P — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:58:48 +0000

Here is a place I usually go to for some bbq chicken or roast duck. Or when you feel like some warm porridge with duck and century egg. Its on the way home and its right next to a 99 Ranch Market so you can do your groceries on your way. This place is another chain, and the closest Sam Woo in the valley. My buddies from work decided to eat here for a Friday Lunch.

entrance

When you enter, the first thing you will see is their TOGO BBQ area. Here you order the bbq stuff on display by the pound, which is completely different pricing from the sit in menu.

BBQ pork Ribs and BBQ Pork

BBQ Pork and SoySauce Chicken

Ginger Chicken and the rest

Roast Duck

Usually when its packed, you write the number of people eating on a pre-numbered list and you just hold the stub, and they will call you by number. Here is what we ordered

Kim

Careful with this dish when eating with Kim, he loves duck so much he stares you down when he see’s you take his favorite piece. Just look out for his fork, if its held with a fist face down, then you’re in trouble.

Jerry

Jerry was looking for the Mang Thomas Lechon Sauce for this Roast Pork

Rock Cod Filet with Black Bean Sauce

Oscars Fav

And for the Carbs for it all, Salty Fish Fried Rice with Chicken, and Singapore Style Fried Rice Vermicelli

Fried Rice with salty fish and chicken

Singapore Style Fried Rice Vermicelli

Good lunch, definitely killed it. This place is in a good spot for me, so when I feel like eating some decent chinese in the valley, I go here for a quick fix. If you do not mind driving, go to the other Sam Woo’s you will notice that they’re not consisitent with quality and taste. Some places are better with specific dishes, but its still good food for the price.

BCD Tofu House – Reseda

Cyrus P — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:33:47 +0000

So it’s dinner time and Jen’s getting hungry. That is like activating a time bomb. We decided to do go somewhere we haven’t eaten in a while. We went to BCD Tofu House, which is a popular chain. Some places are open super late where you can count on getting a nice warm meal after partying.

http://www.bcdtofu.com/bcd_eng.php

We went to the one in the Valley by Saticoy and Lindley.

entrance

Don’t expect all the korean sides which you normally get from other korean places or korean bbqs. You get the basic, kimchi, bean sprouts, fishcake and etc. But you get fried fish with a combo order.

Sides

more Sides

I love the spicy pork, so I ordered the combination of Assorted Tofu and you get to choose the spice level plus Pork Bulgogi. Jen got the combo with seafood tofu and Kalbi. When they give you your side, they also bring the rice over which is being cooked separately on a small pot. Your Tofu comes boiling and they give you a raw egg to cook along with it.

Tofu before egg

Tofu all mixed and ready to eat

Boiling TOfu

Pork Bulgogi

Kalbi

Dinner is Served

So nothing real fancy, its a place perfect for that cold night with hot tofu in your system. Korean food is one of my favorite and I’m always game to go when you want.

Hide Sushi – West Los Angeles

Cyrus P — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:02:34 +0000

I just picked my brother at LAX from his trip in ASIA. The ride back on the 405 North was still pretty heavy, so we decided to grab something to eat. Exited on Santa Monica and drove through Sawtelle Blvd for some Japanese Food. Ended up at this place called Hide Sushi.

Location: 2040 Sawtelle Blvd. West LA, CA 90025
Phone: 310-477-7242

Entrance

THe place is pretty small, but pretty much a full house. We waited for about 10 minutes so it wasn’t too bad. And by looking at the menu, they decent lunch and dinner combo that is about 9 bucks for lunch, 15 for dinner. Here is what we ordered.

Ankimo (Monkfish Liver) which is good with some Ponzu Sauce,

Ankimo

Hamachi (Yellowtail), Sake (Salmon), Saba (Mackerel)

Hamachi, Sake, Saba

I would definitely go back in this area, there are a lot of places to eat on this block. So hopefully I’ll come back for more of Sawtelle.

Chang's Garden – Arcadia

Cyrus P — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:12:38 +0000

Its almost lunch time, and my cousin wanted to meet up for lunch. He will be moving back to Connecticut next week for work, so we wanted to treat him out to a place he won’t be seeing in a while. We decided to go to Chang’s Garden located in Arcadia.
Location:
627 W. Duarte Rd.
Arcadia, CA 91007
Phone 626-445-0707

Chinese Cuisine

Lately I have been going to Arcadia, Monterey, Alhambra area for chinese food. The community is smothered with the best places for Chinese food, and you think they’re all in China Town? So this is what we ordered.

We started of with Madam Sung’s fish Chowder. This would serve 4 people at least 2 servings each.

Madam Sung

More of the same soup

Then one of my favorite’s “Pork Ribs Shanghai Style”, which I still need to find out where the best place for this is. THis place has a good balance of flavor, not too saucy but just right. If you know the best place for Shanghainese Ribs, please email me.

Shanghai Style Ribs

Same Ribs

Fish With Rice Wine Sauce

Here is a dish that I would love to have a bite from time to time, but its freaking dangerous with all that skin and fat. But its too tasty to avoid. Warning Do not eat this daily, or you will clog your arteries.

Tung Po Pork

More Pork

For those who love fried calamari, I would replace that with this any time. After taking a bite of this, I can’t go back to the usual fried calamari.

Seaweed Flavored Fried Fish

More Fish

And you got to have chow mein, this one didn’t really have anything special, but it has three meat, pork, chicken and shrimp.

Three Flavor Chow Mein

Bottom line, it was good trying this place and I would definitely come back here again. But this area has so many places to visit, it would have to wait its turn for a second visit.

Rincome Restaurant – Granada Hills

Cyrus P — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:32:30 +0000

Ok here is one of my favorite Thai Restaurants in Northridge, I discovered this place about 7+ years ago when I got their menu in the mail. They always had coupons where you buy more than a specific $ you get 5 bucks off. This place is called Rincome Restaurant:

Location:
17050 Devonshire St, Northridge, CA
Phone: (818) 366-5805

Entrance

They always have special combos all day for about $8.95 where it comes with Thai bbq chicken and fried rice, then you get to pick a 2nd item. Jen picked that combo and paired it with Beef with Mint Leaves. Really good and spicy one of her favorites.

Thai BBQ Chicken and Beef with Mint Leaves

Same Thing, just another shot

I took the same thing and found out that you can add a special item that isn’t on the usual list for an extra 2 bucks. This favorite Dish of mine I can only find in this Restaurant. My brother ordered this first, and I grew a liking to it, and it is called “Sizzling Beef”. This is served on a hot plate with a bed of spinach and just all good stuff. I believe it has peanut sauce and chili and cucumber on top. They bring it to you while its hot and sizzling, i think it fogged up my camera at first but you get you might see a little bit of steam from it.

Sizzling Beef

Thai BBQ chicken which is part of that special Combo

Krua Thai – North Hollywood

Cyrus P — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:33:45 +0000

Ok This should have been my #1 entry for places to go. I been going to this place since they opened. This place is open till 3:30am which is a perfect place for late night eating after clubbing or any night event.

Here are the details:
North Hollywood area @ 13130 Sherman Way
Phone: 818-759-7998

The front Neon Sign

This is an all time favorite all over, usually you get your own entry with a cup of rice and fried egg on top. I can always count on oscar or loris or my brother to order this so I can take a bite. Heehee

The Full Entree of Pad Ka Paow Beef

Now for my favorite, I never get sick of this garlicy, peppery chicken. I keep asking people how to make this and I get soooo many versions. Fish sauce or not? Oyster Sauce? I’ll figure it out.

Fried Garlic and Ground Pepper Chicken

Here is a pretty spicy but more on the salty side fried rice that has seafood in it. I like this, but I don’t usually order it as it has too much flavor that clashes with the other dishes, but if its there, I will definitely take a scoop.

South Sea Fried Rice

And for the best part of this place, “The Smoothies” All fruit smoothies as you can see them put in fresh fruit, but dont forget they also put sugar. If I did enough workout for that week, I always grab one of these. I will list them in order from my Fav to least fave. Green Tea Ice Cream, Cantaloupe, Coconut, Watermelon, Pineapple, Strawberry. If one is not available, then I get the next, its as simple as that.

So in this case, they ran out of Green Tea Ice Cream. /cry

#2 favorite Cantaloupe Smoothy

If we can’t think of a different place to go, we always fall back to this. This place gets packed on Thursday nights or any clubbing nights, so if you dont like the crowd pick a different day or go earlier than midnight.

Nippon Ramen – Reseda

Cyrus P — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:26:32 +0000

Here is one of the first Japanese Ramen places I have been exposed to in the Valley. Ramen Nippon located near the intersection of Sherman Way and Reseda.

Address: 6900 Reseda Blvd. #D Reseda,CA 91335
Phone# 818-355-5946

Ramen Nippon

This is the perfect place to go to during those cold rainy days. I took advantage of this day off to pay a visit to this warm cozy place.

Also wanted you to be aware that this place only accepts Cash. It’s kind of tough because their ramen is not cheap. Average dish would cost you at least 8 bucks plus tax.

Ramen Nippon

Mabo Ramen

Gomoku Ramen

Spicy Miso Ramen

Tan Tan Men

Gomoku Yakisoba

Fried Rice with Gyoza Add-on

Curry Rice add-on

Pho999 – Reseda

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:30:24 +0000

Here is one of the more popular Pho places in the valley. This specific one on Reseda is one of the only pho999’s that serve this special BBQ Grilled Catfish.

Pho999 Back Entrance

This darn thing is huge and delicious; you would have to call it in before you arrive. It takes about 30 minutes to prepare because they grill it and bake it. This includes the rice paper, some rice noodles and 2 sauces with all the fixins.

BBQ Grilled Catfish

Devoured, Yumm!!!

My Favorite Drink

Clay Oven Indian Cuisine – Sherman Oaks

Cyrus P — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:29:46 +0000

Here is one of my favorite Indian Cuisines my work buddies and I go to on a weekly basis. This place is a pretty busy spot during lunch but somehow there is always one parking spot just for my crew every time we go. That’s love.

Clay Oven Back Entrance

We always enter from the back entrance and try to get a spot outside. At least you’re guaranteed good Indian food and at the same time, hang out by Ventura Blvd. You get your monies worth for the lunch buffet priced at $8.95. We end up paying $11+ because we split the bill 4-5 ways and my buddy oscar always sneaks in his soda while we all have water.

Here are some pics of the place:

Rear Parking - Really Sucks Back here

Tandoori Chicken

Assorted Pakora and Chilli Chicken

Lunch Buffet

Curry Lamb and Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Wings, Curry Lamb and Chicken Tikka Masala

Chili Chiken

Chili Chicken and Chicken Tikka