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

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.

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

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

entrance

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.

entrance

entrance

As you can see, its hard to get parking on lunch time and possibly dinner. You will have to park on the street

parking lot

If you don’t know any spanish, mercado is market, so expect a market in here. This place is a combo meat shop, bakery and restaurant.

Some Cold Goodness

Meat Counter

Next to the meat stuff is the bakery, I can eat everything in this department.

Yummmy

They make bread from scratch

some type of alfajors

more sweets

more alfajors and Coloso ones

This part of the bakery always puts up a challenge with my mexican or south american friends. The flan comparison. I say Filipino flan kicks the $^%^ out of your flan, but thats just my personal opinion. If someone offered me one of these, i’d still eat it and enjoy and on the side of my mind i’d think “mine is better”

Flan c/ Dulce De Leche

This one I thought was a different kind of flan, but its really just bread pudding with caramel.

Budin De Pan c/ Dulce

Now for the food. My friend Angel told me that this place is known for steak and empanadas, so lets start with empanadas.

Empanadas

More Empanadas

Keep Em Coming

Ok so I decided to take an order togo. These suckers cost $1.50 each and they offer beef, chicken, corn, spinach. If you do an order TOGO, they’re $1.20 so there is your deal.

My Empanadas

See what is inside

I wanted to get the entrana and compare it to Lala’s but that will be another visit, and yes I will bring friends. I met some locals eating here and yes they highly recommend this place. Met a guy named Diego, I believe that’s how you spell it, he gave me his opinions about Argentine food and recommended the Milanesa. Then Bam, the guys eating just got their order. They were nice enough to let me take a picture. Here goes.

Milanesa De Pollo w/ Egg

Milanesa De Pollo

Here is another one that I would most likely get instead of the regular. This is similar, but with Ham and Cheese and Tomato Sauce, yummy. Would it be too much to ask for a bite? >:) heehee.

Milanesa Napolitana Pollo

Well I was supposed to come here with my friend who recommended it, but he’s a night owl and would ruin his sleep schedule. I’ll save another entry for that time I have lunch with him. But I will definitely come back to this place to try some of the others on the menu.

They have two locations: Studio City and West Hollywood.

11935 Ventura Blvd, Studio City CA 91604 818-623-4477
7229 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles CA 90046 323-934-6838

Entrance

One thing for sure about Studio City, parking sucks bad. So will be required to vallet to park in their little area which is only 3 bucks. Once you enter, the place is very dim at night as little candles light up the place.

Dining Area

Same Dining Area

They start you off with some Bread and Oil.

Bread and Oil

So we started with some empanadas, they have 4 kinds; Beef, Chicken, Spinach, and Ham & Cheese.

Empanada Trio

Empanada Trio Opened

More empanadas

Now for the main stuff. I ordered Entrana al Ajo, which is like the Entrana (grilled certified angus skirt steak) topped with garlic and parsley. My friend ordered the Picante chicken which was ok. Our waitress suggested it for the spicy type, but it wasn’t spicy at all, but more of a cajunish type flavor. It wasn’t bad, but I think my friend was expecting something different. Here are the pics.

Entrana al Ajo, before surgery

Entrana during surgery, wow medium rare

Picante Chicken

Picante Chicken again

As for desert I they had some flan con dulce de leche, panguegue con dulce de leche (crepes), and more. The one I wanted to order was Panqueque de banana con dulce de leche, which is the same as the first but with banana. This stuff is great, but their pet monkey that they adopted last month broke in the place and ate all the bananas. They found this out a little late. And since it was my friends birthday, they hooked us up w/ some flan on the house.

Birthday Flan, that stuff on the top is caramel goodness

So overall it was great, I am so stuffed and would definitely come back to this place. Next time I’m gonna get a full order of Sangria.

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

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.

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.