LAS VEGAS: Lagasse’s Stadium

3325 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702 607 2665

Price: Expensive
Rating: Bleh
Directions: Lower level of the Palazzo
Reservations: You need them if there’s a big game going on
Must Get: Buffalo wings

Do not come here. The only thing worth getting is their buffalo wings which were probably some of the best wings I’ve ever had. However, I will not even come back here for that– our waiter was nice overall, but the service was horrible. We waited almost an hour for cold food. After some complaints, things got better but even in the end they forgot about one of our orders. Their shrimp salad sandwich, filet mignon, ribs, and their artichoke dip were all terrible… Even their fries were bad. Ugh. What a waste. And with a $50/person minimum during the Lakers game, just not worth it. Oh Emeril, I am so disappointed.

BURBANK: Buffalo Wild Wings

127 E Palm Ave
Burbank, California 91502
818 524 2373

Price: Cheap
Rating: Good
Directions: Take the 5 FWY and get off at Olive Avenue
Reservations: They don’t take them
Must Get: Traditional Wings in Spicy Garlic

This place was packed this trip and was also filled during our last attempt to eat here, so you know they are doing something right. I only got wings, so I don’t know about the rest of the menu, but they were pretty good. (They don’t hold up to Croxley Ales in New York which offers 10 cent wings on Mondays and Wednesdays, but that’s clear on the other side of the country for me now.) My cousin, Jessica, said their wings weren’t as good that day as they normally are, so I’ll definitely have to go back and see what the hype’s about. I did like their traditional wings in spicy garlic sauce a lot though. I love that they have a variety of sauces you can choose from– Mango Habanero, Hot BBQ, Parmesan Garlic, just to name a few– but the best thing is you can get a different sauce for every 6 wings you order. The wings overall were kinda tiny though; I had 13 or 14 and was still hungry after…

This is a great place to watch a game though. We watched parts of the Patriots/Packers game; the crowd was going NUTS. If only I didn’t have to drive home in typhoon-like conditions, I probably would have slugged back a beer or two and joined in on the yelling.

ROWLAND HEIGHTS: Korea House

18751 Colima Rd
Rowland Heights, CA 91748
626 965 2007

Price: Cheap
Rating: Good
Directions: Drive
Reservations: Unnecessary
Must Get: Boneless Ribs, Pork Belly

This place doesn’t have the best Korean BBQ you’ll find in LA, but for the price and the amount of food, it’s pretty high up there in the rankings. First off, it’s all you can eat and they offer a tiered pricing list. The more money you’re willing to pay, the better quality of meat you’ll get. The prices for lunch start at $9.99/person while dinner starts at $16.99/person. This price includes getting a side salad (see above), banchan (side dishes), steamed egg, tofu soup, AND meat. I suggest you get their boneless ribs and their sangyapsul, pork belly. I read that their spicy pork is good as well, so I’m going to have to try that next time!

(In case you’re wondering, Chosun is still the best Korean BBQ I’ve had in LA.)

CITY OF INDUSTRY: Rubio’s

www.rubios.com
17525 Colima Road
City of Industry, CA 91748
626-964-9852

Price: Cheap
Rating: Decent
Directions: Drive
Reservations: Unnecessary

Maybe it’s because I haven’t had this in ages and I hyped myself up or maybe it’s because I’m now older and my tastebuds have changed, but Rubio’s isn’t nearly as good as I remember. The fish taco was drowning in sauce and the corn taco shell just tasted bland. Their guac had no kick. And do not get their lobster taco, folks. The only thing going for this place was the guy who worked the register; he was really nice.

I’m disappointed. I’ll have to make my way out to a Wahoo’s soon; hopefully that will be as good as I remember. I’ll try not to expect too much though.

(By the way, I always thought this area was considered Rowland Heights or still part of Hacienda Heights. I’m shocked it’s City of Industry. I pulled the address from Rubio’s website.)

IRVINE: China Garden

14825 Jeffrey Road
Irvine, CA
949 653 9988

Price: Reasonable
Rating: Good
Directions: Drive
Reservations: Unneccessary
Must Get: Their chicken feet, if that doesn’t make you nauseous

The first few dishes at this place made me nervous. They were bland and I was starving. I was beginning to think this restaurant was such a disappointment until the next few plates came which were quite delicious. In the end, the number of good dishes completely outnumbered the bad ones. In fact, my aunt ordered three plates of chicken feet just for herself! However, the almond tea with puff pastry pictured above wasn’t the best. The tea itself tasted grainy. (If you want that, go to Hong Kong Palace in Rowland Heights.)

LOS ANGELES: Young Dong

3828 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 386-3729

Price: Cheap
Rating: Good/Great
Directions: Drive
Reservations: Unnecessary
Must Get: Suh lung tang or their meat plate

My family has been going to this place for years. Their suh lung tang (or is it sul?) is one of the best I’ve ever had, but early warning the broth is clear and not white here which some people find surprising. I don’t know what’s different about this place because it doesn’t taste like anything’s missing to me. I love that they give lots of noodles with it; I prefer noodles over rice with my suh lung tang. There’s a bit more than 10 items on this menu, but I think this is definitely the way to go and you have to make sure you get the kind with fat. Sounds disgusting, but if you try the no fat one, you’ll understand why. Their meat plate, which is just a platter of the meat that comes in suh lung tang, is also a good bet too, but usually there’s plenty of pieces in your soup.

For those of you who have never eaten suh lung tang before, make sure you add lots of salt and green onions (both of which can be found on your table) before you try it. If you don’t, you’ll just think it’s bland and you won’t realize what you’re missing.

GINZA: Irimoya 入母屋

104-0061 東京都中央区銀座7-9-20銀座ライオンビル4F
4F, Ginza Lion Bldg. 7-9-20 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061
03-3571-5570

Price: Expensive
Rating: Good
Directions: Get off at the Ginza Station from the JR
Reservations: Unnecessary when I went, but you probably need them on the weekends or for big groups

This place is great if you want a private dining experience and you have a good amount of money to spend. Each party has it’s own room. It’s a shabu shabu place and everything is a set menu. My parents and I had no idea, so we ordered things a la carte to cook at our table/private dining room which was still probably no bigger than my StuyTown bathroom. We ordered some things to grill which were amazing and fresh, so I trust everything here would be just as great. Next time I know. We probably spent more money ordering individual dishes than it would have been had we gone with a set.

Note to self: next time come back for their shabu shabu! And their seafood platter to grill.

AKIHABARA: Sushizanmai すしざんまい

kiyomura.co.jp
東京都千代田区神田花岡町1-1ヨドバシAKIBAビル1階
1F Yodobashi AKIBA bldg, 1 Kanda Hanaokacho 1 Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0028
03-5298-4792

Price: Cheap/Reasonable
Rating: Great
Directions: Get off at the Akihabara Station on the JR
Reservations: Unnecessary

This place has great sushi for the cost. It was inexpensive, especially if you compare it to New York prices, and they give you a lot of food. The oysters here are especially delicious. It’s no wonder they have a number of restaurants throughout Tokyo. Give it a try the next time you are in Japan.

HOMEMADE: Dan Zai Mein

So now that you know how to make Taiwanese minced meat, here’s a recipe for Dan Zai Mein. Just heat up some noodles (I suggest you buy fresh noodles which can be found in the refrigerated section of an Asian market; do not buy dried noodles!) and the minced meat in separate pots/containers. After the noodles are ready, put them in a bowl and then cook some spinach in the same pot. After the meat is reheated thoroughly, add scoops of the meat and soup (from the meat) in the bowl with noodles. Then add the cooked spinach and cook some shrimp in that same pot if you want as well. After the shrimp is done, add it to the bowl with all the other ingredients. Since the soup from the meat will probably be too salty, you can add some hot water, soup from the noodles (I suggest scooping some out before you cooked the spinach and shrimp in there), or add chicken broth. Chicken broth would probably make it taste much better, but I think hot water is good enough. And then, you know me, I always top it off with some cilantro and green onions.

If you’re looking at the egg (soy egg, lu dan, 滷蛋, whatever you know it as) in the picture and wondering how to make it, it’s quite easy but you’ll have to make it while you are making the minced meat. Just add hard-boiled, already de-shelled eggs in after you add the water and the shallots. After 30 minutes, there will be some flavor on the eggs. Personally, I think this is when the flavor is perfect, but my parents prefer it more saturated with soy sauce. If you want heavily flavored, just cook everything longer. 45-60 minutes should do it.

TAIPEI: ChiaTe

www.chiate88.com
105台北市南京東路5段88號
No.88, Sec. 5, Nanjing E. Rd., Songshan District, Taipei City
02-8787-8186

ChiaTe has the best pineapple cakes. I was skeptical at first because my parents’ client took us there, but I should have known with the line coming out the door. They have just the right amount of sweetness and the pastry itself is not that flaky. ChiaTe has a wide variety of flavored pineapple cake as well, but I’ve only had their cranberry one which is worth a try. It’s not just cranberry sauce; it actually has chunks of cranberry inside. However, I have to admit, I’d rather just have the original flavor. Another thing worth getting is their milk cakes, which is actually another pastry, not a cake.