Restaurant Reviews

These are all places where I’ve slurped and burped. I love eating out, but I’m real cheap. If it ain’t worth my money, I get cranky, so be forewarned if I sound rather bitchy in some of the reviews. That said, enjoy slurping and burping with me…all around the world, really. My reviews are divided by region. Holler if I happen to be in your area and you have any recommendations for me!

Los Angeles area:

 

 

 

 

 

 

• LudoBites 8.0 (Ludo Lefebvre, pop-up restaurant)
• Aladin Sweets & Market (Bangladeshi, Little Bangladesh)
• Swadesh (Bangladeshi, Little Bangladesh)
• Sabores Oaxaquenos (Oaxacan, Koreatown)
• Lukshon (Culver City, Pan-Asian)
• Dean Sin World (northern Chinese, Monterey Park)
• Baco Mercat (global, downtown)
• Little Spain (mid-city, Spanish tapas)
• Sapp Coffee House (Thai, Hollywood)
• Geisha House (Japanese, Hollywood)
• NOLA’s (New Orleans, Arts District downtown)
• Mexican street market (downtown)
• Cafe Demitasse (coffee house, Little Tokyo)
• Lee’s Garden (Taiwanese diner, Monterey Park)
• The Secret Fork (food event, local vendors)
• Shutters (Santa Monica, beach hotel, tea)
• El Siete Mares (Mexican, seafood, Boyle Heights)
• Otomisan (Japanese, diner, Boyle Heights)
• Tamale cooking at Chichen Itza (cooking class, Yucatan)
• Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air (upscale, American, Bel-Air)
• Koreatown Galleria (foodcourt, Korean)
• IOTA (cafe, Koreatown)
• Young King Chinese Restaurant (Koreatown, Korean-Chinese)
• Naya (New Indian, Silver Lake)
• Izakaya Fu-ga (Little Tokyo, Japanese, bar)
• Mikawaya Ice Cream (mochi, dessert, ice cream, Little Tokyo)
• Fat Spoon II (Little Tokyo, Japanese fusion, pasta)
• Biergarten (Korean-German fusion, beer bar, Koreatown)
• La Sandia (media dinner, Santa Monica, Mexican)
• 101 Noodle Express again (Northern Chinese, noodles, Monterey Park)
• Fat Spoon (Japanese fusion, curry, Little Tokyo)
• Shamshiri Restaurant (Persian, Glendale)
• Olympic Cheonggukjang (Korean, stew, noodles)
• Dae Bok (Korean, stews, puffer fish)
• MacArthur Park Guatemalan food cart (street vendor, Guatemalan)
• ink.sack (sandwiches, take-out)
• Four Leaf (crepes, boba, cafe, Little Tokyo)
• Bbuh Ggu Gi (soju, Korean pub)
• Antique Bakery (cafe, bakery, Little Tokyo)
• Ristorante Rincon Nicaraguense (Nicaraguan)
• P.F. Chang’s (Chinese, fusion, chain)
• Guatemalteca Bakery (Guatemalan, bakery, market)
• True Food Kitchen (organic, local, Santa Monica)
• Harajuku Crepe (crepe, Japanese fusion)
• Chin Go Gae (Korean goat stew)
• Yujean Kang’s (gourmet Chinese, Pasadena)
• Starry Kitchen (Asian fusion)
• Mama’s Lu (Chinese, San Gabriel Valley)
• Yellow House Cafe (coffeeshop, cafe)
• Real Food Festival (foodtrucks, food festival)
• Mo-Chica (Peruvian)
• Cafe Home (coffeeshop, Koreatown)
• Koffea (coffeeshop, Koreatown)
• Farmshop (organic, cafe, Santa Monica)
• Hwa Sun Ji: first visit, second visit (teahouse, Koreatown)
• Santa Monica Place (gourmet market)
• Urth Caffe (downtown, coffee and dessert)
• Zencu (Sushi, Japanese)
• Tra Di Noi (Italian)
• Danky’s Doners (food truck, Middle-Eastern)
• Hodori (Korean, 24-hour dining)
• The Gumbo Pot (Cajun, food court)
• So-Kong-Dong (Korean)
• In-N-Out (Fast food, burgers)
• Jacks & Joe II, III (Pancakes, all-day breakfast)
• Chin-Ma-Ya (Ramen, Japanese)
• The Spice Table (Singaporean/ Asian Fusion)
• Homegirl Cafe (diner, non-profit foundation)
• Mendocino Farms II (Sandwiches, cafe)
• Native Foods Cafe (Organic/Vegan)
• Tara’s Himalayan (Nepalese & Tibetan)
• Berlin Currywurst (German street food)
• Paulette (Macaron, dessert)
• Joy Mart (Japanese)
• California Yacht Club restaurant (American)
• Aburiya Toranoko (Japanese, fusion)
• Jacks N Joe (pancakes, breakfast)
• Scoops Westside (ice-cream, cafe)
• Freebirds (Tex-Mex, burrito)
• Celaya Bakery (bakery, Mexican)
• Olympian Burgers (fast food, diner)
• Empress Harbor (Chinese, dim sum)
• Intelligentsia (coffee shop, cafe)
• Pal Cabron (Prueblan, Mexican)
• Hong Kong Express (NOT Hong Kong, take-out)
• Manas Indian Cuisine (Indian, take-out)
• Shojin (Japanese, macrobiotic, vegan)
• Jack In The Box (fast food)
• Cool Haus (food truck, ice-cream)
• Lab Gastropub (gastropub, eclectic)
• Koreatown Plaza food court (food court, Korean)
• 8th Street Soondae (Korean, offal)
• Trio House (Thai, pan-Asian)
• Hygge Bakery (Danish, bakery)
• Tasty Garden (HK, Chinese)
• Lemonade: first visit, second visit (USC campus, cafe)
• Mendocino Farms (sandwiches, cafe)
• Olympic Noodles (Korean noodles and dumplings)
• 101 Noodle Express (Chinese, noodles and dumplings)
• Panini Cafe (Mediterranean and cafe)
• Papa Cristo’s (Greek)
• Lee’s Philly (food truck)
• The Slice Truck (food truck)
• Father’s Office (gastropub)
• Bull Kogi (food truck)
• Loteria Grill (Mexican)
• Dim Sum Truck (food truck)
• El Cholo (Mexican)
• India Jones (food truck)
• Chichen-Itza (Yucatecan)
• Syrup Desserts: first trip, second trip (dessert parlor)
• La Taquiza (Mexican)
• The Veggie Grill (vegan)
• Doughboys Cafe: first trip, second trip (diner-style, breakfast)
• The French Crepe Company (Crepes…made by Filipinos. Only in LA!)
• Babycakes NYC (vegan, gluten-free)
• Thai food court at the University Village (USC)…and here’s one more
• Langers Deli (best pastrami on Earth!)
• Pho 36 (Vietnamese)
• Newsroom Cafe (health)
• Sorita’s Pupuseria (Salvadoran)
• Banana Leaf (Singaporean)
• Mr Ramen (Japanese)
• Pasta Roma (Italian)
• Korean Eatery at Han Nam Supermarket (Korean)
• Zucca Restaurant (Italian)
• Galen Center (USC)
• Umami (burger)
• Curry House: first visit, second visit, third visit (Japanese)
• Calbi (food truck)
• Nom Nom Truck (food truck)
• Mr. Pizza Factory (pizza)
• Pete’s Cafe & Bar (American)
• Popovich (USC)
• Tutor Hall (USC)
• IHOP (pancakes)
• Morels (French)
• New Beijing (Korean-Chinese)
• The Panini Grill (Italian, cafe)

Washington DC area (including Maryland and Virginia):

• Baked & Wired (cupcakes, bakery, coffeehouse)
• Crepe Amor (creperie, dessert)
• Woo Lae Oak (Korean)
• La Madeleine (bakery, French, cafe)
• Cenan’s Bakery (bakery, cafe, grocery)
• Panjshir II (Afghan)
• Le Pain Quotidien (bakery, cafe)
• Lighthouse Tofu House (Korean)
• Sweet Ginger (pan-Asian)
• Four Sisters (Vietnamese)
• Zest Bistro (American)
• Jang-Won Korean-Chinese Restaurant (Korean-Chinese, duh)
• Shilla Bakery (Korean baked goods)–> another visit here
• Panera (bakery, cafe)
• Born Restaurant (Thai)
• The Louisiana Kitchen (Creole, Cajun)
• Bubble Tea House: first visit, second visit (Taiwanese)
• Taquila Grande (Mexican)
• Chef Geoff’s (American)
• Tuscan Brio (Italian)
• Amphora: first visit, second visit, third visit , fourth visit (Greek, diner)
• Jimmy Johns (sandwiches, fast food)
• Texas Roadhouse (steakhouse)
• Red Robin (burgers)
• Busboys and Poets (bistro)
• Sette Osteria (Italian)
• Mr Yogato (froyo)
• Clyde’s of Tysons Corner: first visit, second visit (American)
• Jason’s Deli (deli)
• Cafe Oggi (Italian)
• Cheesecake Factory (for people with the appetite of whales)
• Art & Soul (soul food)
• Amma’s Vegetarian Kitchen (Indian)
• Chili’s (“Mexican)

New York City:

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Yonah Shimmel’s Knish Bakery (Jewish, bakery)
• The Bagel Store (bagels, duh)
• Caracas Arepas Bar (Venezuelan)
• Bonobos (Raw vegan)
• Shake Shack (burgers, fast food)
• Family Noodle Restaurant (Chinese)
• Gyro II (crap)
• W Cafe (cafe)
• Ippudo (Japanese)
• Lyla’s Cafe (French, crepes)
• Joe’s Shanghai (Chinese)

San Francisco:

 

 

 

 

 

 

• La Mediterranee (Middle-Eastern)
• In-N-Out (fast food)
• El Torito (Mexican)
• Regalito (Mexican)
• Pellegrini (Italian)
• Tomatina (Italian)
• Smart Alec’s (fast food)

Singapore:

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Crystal Jade Kitchen: first visit, second visit (Traditional Cantonese fare)
• Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao (Shanghainese fare)
• Souperlicious (cafe)
• Cedele All-Day Dining (fusion)
• Skinny Pizza (fusion pizza)
• Food Republic at Suntec City (food court)
• The Coffee Club (cafe)
• Toast Box (breakfast, coffee shop)
• ION Orchard Food Stalls (food stalls)
• Bedok Interchange Food Centre (hawker)
• Din Tai Fung (Taiwanese, dumplings)
• Shokudo Japanese Coffee House at Bugis (Japanese fusion)
• Mosi Cafe (Middle-Eastern)
• Out of the Pan: first, second, third, fourth, fifth visit (can you tell I LOVE this place?!)
• Ma Maison (French-Japanese)
• Canele (French)
• Eatzi Gourmet (steakhouse)
• Swensen’s (eclectic)
• Cedele Bakery: first visit, second visit (sandwiches)
• Eighteen Chefs: first visit, second visit (pasta)
• The Soup Spoon:  second visit, third visit (cafe)
• Golden Pillow (take-out, curry, scarrrry)
• Dim Sum and Indian at Food Republic (Wisma Atria),
• Istanbul Gourmet (Middle-Eastern)
• Piccolo (Italian)
• Raffles City food court: first visit, second visit (Japanese)
• Shokudo Street Food Market: first visit, second visit, third visit, fourth visit (yes, I really like this place too!)
• Sakae Sushi: first visit, second visit , third visit (Japanese)
• Pasta de Waraku: first visit, second visit, third visit (Japanese)
• Old Airpot Road Food Centre, first visit, second visit (hawker)
• MOS burger (fast food)
• Shokudo (Japanese)
• Waraku (Japanese)
• Food Republic at Vivocity: first visit, second visit (food court)
• Changi Village (hawker)
• Aston’s Western food (American)
• East Coast Lagoon Food Centre (hawker)
• Bugis Junction (food court)
• Some place in Geylang…(tze cha)

Korea:

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Dal at GFC, Seoul (Indian)
• “Dragon” Rest & Pub in Jeon-Ju (eclectic and crappy)
• Lotteria (fast food)
• Mr Pizza (pizza chain)
• Bus terminal stop snacks
• Asiana business class food: Singapore to Incheon, Incheon to LAX
• KAL business class food: LAX to Incheon, Incheon to Singapore
• Korean Airlines Lounge, business class: in LAX, in Incheon
• Paris Croissant (bakery, cafe)
• Simpoo Mandoo (Korean deli)
• Food Court at Inchon Airport (Korean)

Malaysia:

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Buffet at A’ Famosa Resort (international)
• Malaysian Airlines food (crap)
• Ishiyaki Hanitama (Japanese)
• Two Sisters (Malaysian)
• Dome (bistro)
• Junid Express (Japanese)

Hong Kong:

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Special: How to Make the Best of Hong Kong
• San Lung Restaurant at Mong Kok (traditional HK fare)
• Stinky tofu (street food, anywhere)
• Mido Cafe at Yau Ma Tei (Macau food, ecelctic)
• Wonderful Coffee House at Mong Kok (coffee shop)
• Black & White at Central (coffee shop)
• Freshness Burger: first visit, second visit (Japanese fast food chain)
• Maxim’s MX (HK-style fast food chain)
• Milk & Milk at Ladies Market (baked rice, Macau style)
• Tea at Ladies’ Market (dim sum)
• Hui Lau Shan (mango desserts)