"Red Geisha is a Foodie"

We eat noodles at Liang MaMa's Kitchen

2009-11-25T22:50:00.001-08:00

Noodles are a staple at Red Geisha's house aka Big Red AND at Liang MaMa's Kitchen. Their thick house-noodles are handmade and shaved just like old Grandma Daisy used to do it. A bowl of these noodles are super yummy, satisfying and perfect for the passionate noodle lover.

RED GEISHA LOVES these Handmade Noodles!!

Beef Stew Soup Noodles $5.95 & Black Bean "Ja-Jian" Noodles $5.95

"Mixed Up" Combo Appetizer w/spicy peanuts, smoked tofu, sliced beef etc. $6.95

Liang Mama's Noodle Menu - quite a variety to choose from!

This dinner cost us a whopping $24.95!!

Side Note: Order the noodles w/ fried scallions & egg...Eaters beware! They are super addictive!

Liang Mama's Kitchen
5 Stars for Noodles, 5 Stars for appetizers, 4 stars for service

227 W. Valley Blvd. #128C
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 281-1898

Open 7 days a wk till 10pm
Arcadia & Rowland Heights locations - call for info

Hearty Winter Soup - in 30 min.

2009-11-23T23:45:00.000-08:00

This is a 2nd recipe for Red Geisha's blog and it is SO SIMPLE to make!

A healthy, hearty winter soup is just what you need on a cold night or a hard day at work. This soup can be ready to eat in 30 minutes flat. And if you are on a budget, you can make this soup for less than $7.00! Try it and let me know how it worked for you! If you are feeding more than 4 people, UP the ingredients. But you should be able to make a pot of soup and have it for 2 days - for you and your honey.

Red Geisha used all Trader Joe ingredients for this soup: (I happen to be passing by!)

-1 can of corn
-1 can of black beans
-1 can of diced tomatoes, no salt

-1 package of any sausage (preferably a smoked sausage for rich flavor)
-1 brown onion
-1 tablespoon of garlic
-2 tablespoons of tomato paste
-1 can of chicken broth, 1 can water or half box of TJ's Chicken stock (low sodium)
-Optional: If you want to sneak in more veggies (for little ones) just add a bag of mixed frozen veggies (16oz) of any sort to the soup

Getting all things in a pot for your soup:

-Heat olive oil over medium heat and saute diced onion
-Add garlic (do not brown)
-Add cut sausage into pot, saute w/ onions & garlic
-Add one can of diced tomatoes
-Add tomato paste -Stir until HOT, adjust heat so it's not boiling
-Add can of corn, wait till HOT again
-Add chicken broth, add can of water
-Let the soup come to a boil
-Add Salt/Pepper/Cilantro/Parsley - whatever your taste buds like!
-Lastly, add can of black beans
-Adjust salt, pepper as the soup simmers for 10 minutes
-Sprinkle a bit of Parmesan cheese

Bon Appetit! You just made your Hearty Winter Soup!

How does it taste?

You deserve a tasty meal!

Cheers to being a health-conscious foodie,
Red Geisha

Red Geisha's blog WON the #1 Spot

2009-11-19T22:29:00.000-08:00

This is for my Peeps who day in and day out voted for my blog "Red Geisha is a Foodie" and helped WIN the BLOG competition at CD Kitchen!

You guys are SUPER COOL! Thank You for taking time out of your busy days to vote for me. Please bookmark my blog and check back every week for new restaurant reviews as well as savory & simple recipes. Feedback is appreciated for restaurants you would like to know about or simply how to cook a delicious meal. Ask Red Geisha! I am here to serve you!

Many thanks to being a Foodie!

Red Geisha

We go Vegan at Veggie Grill - this is a rare chain

2009-11-18T01:24:00.000-08:00

Am I Vegan? NO.
Do I want to be vegetarian? NO.
Do I like to eat a lighter meal with hidden veggies everywhere? YES!!!

This is a RARE review for multiple locations b/c Red Geisha DOES NOT write about chain stores. That's the thought of the blog - so I try my best to be authentic.

The Veggie Grill is an exception. Not because it's vegan but b/c it's a rare chain that is actually conscious of food choices and the reasons for being vegan. Veggie Grill IS HIGHLY TASTY and every time I've been there, it's been QUALITY. And you know by now, that Red Geisha is VERY PICKY!!!

The "V Burger" is veggie to the max burger. It's amazingly tasty and held together well. But as I found out later, Veggie Grill does not make their patties, GARDEIN (Garden + Protein = GARDEIN) does! The taste is amazing! You'll have to try it with Sweet Potato Fries for an extra $1.50 - it's worth it!!!

5-Star Veggie Burger- SO GOOD

Chicken Filet Wheat Sandwich with Sesame Miso Kale - Fake Chicken and Steamed Kale, that you would never normally order. But it's SO TASTY. A healthy meal for you without the calories. Just AWESOME!

Organic Carrot Cake - So Yummy - I could order over and over and over and over again.

Check out the Veggie Grill at http://www.veggiegrill.com to see what they have on their menu and where they serve their spectacular food. It's great...even for a chain store! Red Geisha APPROVES!

Mom's Chinese Drunken Chicken

2009-11-17T22:38:00.000-08:00

Red Geisha's FIRST Recipe Alert! And I guarantee you that NO ONE else has this recipe - until now!

Mom's Chinese Drunken Chicken is one of those recipes passed down from generations of grandmothers then to your mother and then if you happen to be interested in food, then it's passed on to you. It may be an aquired taste because of the Chinese wine but if you are a fan of authentic chinese food, this should be an appetizing dish for you and your friends.

Here is what you need:

-6 drumsticks ( I buy from Trader Joe's since they claim to have no antibiotics or hormones in their chicken and I live by that)
-Goji Berries (any Asian supermarket - $1.99/bag or if you go Shi-Shi then Whole Foods Mkt and you can pay up to $5.99/bag)
-1/4 bottle of Shiao-Xing Wine (Asian market like Ranch 99, $1.50 bottle)
-Salt, Pepper

-To start, you want to drop your drumsticks in boiling water
-Boil for approximately 8 minutes until chicken is cooked
-Pour hot water over a handful of Goji berries. Soak for 20 minutes
-Wait until drumsticks are cool and dry then put into a ziploc plastic bag
-Pour 1/4 bottle of Shiao-Xing Wine into bag with drumsticks
-Massage the wine into the drumsticks
-Drain the water out of the Goji Berries and add into the bag of chicken
-Eyeball a little salt and grind a bunch of pepper into the bag
-Swish the bag till every part is marinated
-12 - 24 hrs later, you can eat the chicken cold or microwave it for 2 min. and serve on plate
-Cheers to Mom's Drunken Chicken!!! Enjoy! Hope you like it! ps... Mom looks cute and is so proud of Red Geisha's blog! She wants you to come over for dinner!!!

Keep Voting to make us #1! We love you! Thanks!

Our appetites are peaked by new Shanghai

2009-11-16T16:41:00.001-08:00

5-Star Revelation for Shanghainese food!
A PURE DELIGHT!

140 W. Valley Blvd. #212
San Gabriel, CA. 91776
(626) 288-0991

I admit that we (the hubby and I) have been a little 'over the moon' with our chinese food cravings lately and yes I am expecting to gain a few pounds by eating so much but this is what we do! Plus, I am sacrificing my pounds for you! Ok, fine...I'm moving on. Shanghainese food is a delicacy. Please do not compare this type of food to a Panda fast-food joint. There are lots of different types of 'Hot Pots' in Shanghainese food. Some dry hot pot dishes would include Stewed Beef Casserole (oh so tender!), Chili Pepper Eggplant with Chicken & Basil, Fish Filets marinated with Black Bean Garlic Sauce etc. We happen to get Stewed Beef Tendon Hot Pot with Peppers & Onions. Dam, was that yummy!

Steamed Dumplings are a staple in Shanghai. It's what the Shanghainese live on. You can choose from soupy pork dumplings (be careful when you take your first bite! The piping hot broth might explode and burn the roof of your mouth!) or vegetarian steamed dumplings which consist of tofu, clear noodles, mushrooms, mustard greens & onions). The traditional dipping sauce for Shanghainese dumplings is dark vinegar w/ ginger strips. Simple as that. Can you beat $5.95 per order? I think not!

Soupy hot pots are cooked for hours resulting in a savory thick broth. The Shanghainese love their soups! The traditional hot pot consists of meatballs, veggies, egg dumplings, shrimp and vermicelli noodles are added right before serving. The hot pot is a sure fire way to feeling warm and fuzzy and is the ultimate comfort food to tie you over on a cold night. This hot pot cost us a whopping $8.95 and it serves 6 ppl! Choose between Lion's Head Hot Pot (Meatballs) or Combination Meat & Seafood Hot Pot. Incredible value.

The old school Shanghainese know how to make crispy noodles. The 'Double-Sided Fried Noodles' are da bomb. We splurged and got the Whole Crab w/ Meat & Veggies Double Sided Fried Noodles. The dish was a whopping $20.95 b/c of the fresh crab (not fake crab) and it was DELICIOUS. Both sides of the noodles were DEEP FRIED to a crispy tee - which is hard to find at a restaurant. Most of the time they do a half-ass job and we find our double-sided noodles to be soggy & greasy. Make sure you order this dish when you have over 4 people dining b/c it is a HUGE DISH of noodles! Another 5 stars for New Shanghai!

5 STARS for Everything GREAT at Shanghai Restaurant in San Gabriel, CA. We have our two thumbs up for this joint! Contact us for a group dinner! We would be happy to join!

Open 7 days a wk, 11 am - 10 pm
Give them a try & don't forget to leave me feedback! I want to hear from you!

Pho Tasty has very tasty pho

2009-11-03T18:27:00.000-08:00

In California, there are plenty of tasty pho places to go to. The options are endless. I'm just saying, if you happen to be in this neighborhood or just wanted to take a leisurely drive and have some hella good, super clean, thick brothed pho with 'great service' -- Pho Tasty is the place that will deliver all those goodies. You'll walk away, feeling fuzzy with all that good broth and your wallet wont feel any lighter. The SUPER bowl at Pho Tasty is $6.5o and it comes w/ meatballs! That's what I call a 'Bonus Pho!' I instantly became addicted to Pho Tasty and so will you --IF you happen to be in the neighborhood. : )

Pho Tasty is at 19117 Pioneer Blvd. Artesia, CA 90701

(562) 924-1838

Dry noodles w/ Vietnamese BBQ chicken & beef - just add chili sauce

Pho Tasty cures hangovers!

The Vietnamese staple: Fried Spring Rolls do you right

Pho Tasty, 5 stars for great pho, 5 stars for cleanliness, 5 stars for friendly service, 3 stars for distance, $ very reasonable

Mediterraneo...HH worth the drive to Hermosa Beach

2009-11-02T02:51:00.000-08:00

Mediterraneo

Tapas Fria/Caliente Bar
$3 house wines
Make it to Happy Hour & Stay Happy there!

73 Pier Ave

Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

(310) 318-2666

www.mediterraneohb.com

I'm sharing the love by including the Happy Hour schedule right here, so YOU don't miss it!

When we pinned this place down for Happy Hour, our group of friends and I were elated and couldn't wait to spend very little money for some hours of drinking fine Argentinian wine and indulging in good eats. We got there at 7pm, SHARP - and managed to miss Happy Hour by 30 seconds. Wa Wa!

Ok, so we didn't enjoy the prices of Happy Hour but we managed to order everything on the Happy Hour menu and pay full price for it. I know! Blame LA traffic!!!

Staying true to Mediterranean appetizers & our appetites, we scarfed down 2 plates of Hummus & Pita bread. Keep it coming yo! We're hungry!

Fresh beets & spinach salad over warm goat cheese - YUM!

Slice of Potato Au Gratin Pie - I 3-star liked it.

Saffron Basil Cream Shrimp - Delectable, 5-stars baby! I could've have gotten another order if we didn't miss HH. Dammit. Anyway, this shrimp is a MUST have!

Two more Must-Have's:
-Tierra De Luna Syrah-Malbec - A Velvety bottle of Red for an unbeatable price of $23
-Mouth watering "Gambas Grilled Shrimp" marinated in a pesto chimichurri sauce

A summary shot of some other Tapas Caliente

Who doesn't love Proscuitto on Crostini's drizzled with warm goat cheese and fig honey?

Baked Brie, Fig honey to finish the wine off!

After that 2nd bottle of wine, you too, can pick up your tapas and pose with them! Hello Red Geisha and Hubby!

As you can see, our night at Mediterraneo ended in good spirits! Our skewers managed not to poke anyone's eye out and our stomachs kept our tapas safe. We can't wait to get to their Happy Hour next time!

Mediterraneo, 5-stars for ambience, 5-stars for food, 5-stars for wine, $$$ for full price menu

We eat at Michelle's Chinese Pancakes, San Gabriel, CA

2009-10-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

'So What' if Michelle's Pancakes forgot the spelling of their name on their sign? It doesn't mean they left out any details on their food! Let's move on to Michelle's pancake delishshiousness!

It's a hole in the wall, located in San Gabriel in the back of a chinese strip mall. Completely inconspicuous, completely a hidden gem. These chinese pancakes may be a traditional side dish but Michelle's gives it a brand new spin. The traditional pancake is a lot bigger and more doughy but Michelle's pancakes are much more delicate, smaller in size and updated with lots of gourmet flair.

No wonder even local Chinese peeps are hooked! For reference, these pancakes are similar to an empanada. The ingredients are mixed into a patty and stuffed into a thin layer of fresh dough, then pan-fried using little oil and medium heat. The result: a golden brown pancake with all the juices sealed in. One word of caution: Be careful on your 1st bite! The piping hot juices often squirt out soiling you and everyone around you! Also, don't forget to use some of their homemade garlic sauce - it's out of this breath!

What to order at Michelle's Pancakes:

Signature soup: Hot & Sour Veggie Soup - it's piping hot & perfect for a cold day!

Beef, Onion & Carrot Pancakes - Delish! Gimme more!

Pancake flavors: Beef & Leeks, Veggie & Tofu, Cabbage & Pork, Shrimp & Radish - try them all!

A bite later - oh hot, hot inside!

Cod Fish Dumplings - exclusive to Michelle's, a true delicacy

Economical paper menu

Michelle's Pancake, 5 stars for Really AWESOME!

706 W Las Tunas Dr.

San Gabriel, CA 91776

(626) 293-8098

Mon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Mon-Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

The Birth of "Red Geisha is a Foodie" Welcome my fellow foodies

2009-10-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

Hi there! It's me, Red Geisha!

For years, I have been donating my writing to various sites on restaurant reviews, beauty reviews and even at times, giving up my most precious family recipes!

The truth is, is that I am a "Foodie" - I love to eat, I love to critique and I love to tell people about my experiences. I also like restaurants to be "accountable" in every way - from service, quality of food to mannerisms. So I thought about this long and hard and have decided to donate my writings to my own blog. Simply because I hate it when restaurants are subpar and try to cheat us with their crappy food and then charge us our hard earned money.

I am too passionate of a foodie/individual to let this happen. My reviews are at times, quirky, sometimes dirty, but always honest. You can count on me to give you the real deal.

I pledge to post the most honest and enticing reviews for your reading pleasure. Hell, I might even stick in a video or two!

So don't be shy, subscribe to my blog and let me know what you think. Be a "Two Cent Sally" and I will post your comments.

Thank you for reading and welcome to "Red Geisha is a Foodie!" A journey for a true foodie!

Cheers to you - my fellow foodies,

Red Geisha
Email me for comments or any foodie relations at: redgeishagirl@yahoo.com

Little Dom's - am I going to believe Food Network ever again?

2009-10-26T00:33:00.000-07:00

Ok so you know I'm always honest - sometimes too honest! The only reason why I even know about this place is because of the Food Network show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate - Little Dom's Breakfast Pizza. Hence the reason why I dragged my mother, my friend, my husband to go out to Los Feliz to eat there with me. Looking back, it was a lost cause but at the time, as we were rushing to get there, my senses told me every bite of that pizza was going to scream "YUMMY" at me. Suffice it to say, that didn't happen. Am I ever going to believe what the Food Network has to say? I would have to sadly scream back, "Hell No!!"

First Impressions at Little Dom's:

-The hostess, the bartender and some patrons at the bar were more interested in talking about what show they booked rather than realizing there were 7 people waiting at the podium.

-Every other word that came out of their mouthes were "FUCK this/Fuck that."

-Loved the decor, loved the bar, loved the fruit-infused vodka bottles. By the way, can I get some attention here?

Service at Little Dom's:

-Hostess/Wannabe Actress: Can you clean a table w/o looking for your reflection in the window?

-Our Waiter: Nice. Big red beard. A bit impatient. Made cute joke about diet coke refill. He was fine though.

Food at Little Dom's:

-The Food Network featured Little Dom's breakfast pizza as one of the "Best Things I Ever Ate." Well, if this breakfast pizza was the best thing the Food Network ever ate, then I hate to tell you--THEY LIED! Never trust them again. There was nothing "Best" about it.

-Smoked Salmon flatbread w/ red onions, lemon juice, capers and cream cheese was good b/c it was nothing out of the ordinary. You could've used a thin slice of wheat toast w/ the same ingredients and saved $16 buckeroos.

-Rosemary potato and Fontina cheese Frittata...hmmm...really? No. I dont think I tasted anything worthy in this omelette. Yeah I said, omelette! Surely it was not a Frittata.

-Finally something WORTH MENTIONING! The Ricotta Cheese Blueberry Pancakes saved the day! They were fluffy, light, pre-made (which I do not like) but delish and served within 24 seconds of ordering them. These pancakes saved our Lil Dom's experience.

So the breakfast pizza was not close to the best thing we ever ate but the blueberry pancakes saved the day. Would I go back to Little Dom's? Hmm, probably not. If I lived closer, maybe I would just get their pancakes as take out b/c their service was far from stellar. Do they care about being stellar? I didn't feel it. I also didn't feel they were passionate about their food.
And that is a Big No No for me.

Little Dom's Food: 3 Stars for the pancakes, 2 stars for everything else

2128 Hillhurst Ave.

Los Angeles, CA (Los Feliz area)

(323) 661-0055

The Formosan, a Taiwanese Steakhouse

2009-10-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

A Taiwanese Steakhouse? Really?
Yes! And it's really GOOD too! If you've traveled to Taiwan before and spent time eating at a night market, you probably remember seeing these sizzling hot metal plates with a big piece of meat on it, steam rising through the air and the smell of black pepper sauce calling out your name. The good news is, you don't have to go to Taipei for Taiwanese steak! You can find it in the Cerritos area! (it's closer than Taiwan ok! Geez!)

The Formosan is not only a bargain for hot plated steaks, your meal comes with soup, salad, garlic bread, sizzling egg & vegetables, steak and a side of spaghetti or rice. There's also a combo plate -- their version of a Surf N' Turf -- you can choose from Rib Eye, Filet Mignon or a T-Bone steak AND a fillet of Sole, grilled shrimp or calamari steak (my favorite). The combo plate is a lot of food but for the price of $17.95, YOU CAN'T BEAT IT! Many thanks to Andy Man for the intro! We absolutely LOVE The Formosan! ps...they are closed on Tuesday nights.

Here are the mouth watering highlights of our dinner: Dang! I'm hungry!

The Formosan Restaurant
18846 Norwalk Blvd
Artesia, CA 90701
(562) 924-0366

4 Stars for Food, 5 Stars for Price

Combo plate: Filet Mignon with Grilled Shrimp

Combo plate: Filet Mignon with Calamari Steaks -My favorite

Danny is getting credit for having dinner w/ me

Oh boy, I'm stuffed. Get me to bed now!Treat yourself to an excellent meal!

Cheers to being a Foodie,
Red Geisha

Shinsengumi - 4 stars for food and 1 star for the seating host

2009-10-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

Shin Sen Gumi Yakitori

Category: Japanese

Neighborhoods: Gardena, Torrance area

We love Yakitori and this is the place that we always always go to. The food is a 4-star hella excellent, the atmosphere very noisy b/c they do a traditional Japanese welcome shout. Some would say is rowdy and all too loud but when you're drinking, it all becomes great fun. So once you are seated, everything is great. BUT the SEATING HOST is a SUREFIRE 1 STAR wonder. Here's my annoyance: We waited for over an hour this past weekend but that wasn't the kicker. The kicker was the Seating Host -- 1. Spoke extremely poor English 2. Did not know how to manage the flow of hungry people signing up -- so he told everyone the wait was 15-20 min. THEN on top of having our names on a waiting list, he would jump around to the ppl who he could speak Japanese to. My party of 4 got bumped off TWICE. WTF? He said, oh those ppl to bar, you no bar right? I said, bar or table is fine by me...but he managed to hear what he wanted to hear. Our usual Shinsengumi guy - Teppei - was not there to impress our out of town guests, so it was an embarrassing experience for us. The Seating Host needs to be switched out immediately or we probably won't go back. The South Bay has lots of Japanese to offer. Once we got in, thankfully our Sapporo beer was served promptly!

Shin Sen Gumi Yakitori
4 star food/1 star service
18617 S Western
Gardena, CA 90247
(310) 715-1588

Shin Sen Gumi - All Star Delights

BEST: Chicken Meatballs & Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Japanese style chicken wings aka Tebasaki

Don't forget to get the grilled garlic on a stick!
Yum!

Yaki-Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls) w/ Salmon fill

Eat something tasty today!

Cheers to being a Foodie,
Red Geisha

October 3, '09 - Happy Moon Festival! We eat at Oak Tree, Pasadena, CA.

2009-10-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

Oak Tree is one of those Chinese restaurants that caters to all kinds. It's not the super chinese-y restaurant - they speak English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghai-nese and Caucasians can order safely. With that said, you can order sweet and sour -- whatever -- and you can also order one of their specialty dishes -- Taro Duck. Sounds weird but it's pretty delicious and pretty exclusive to Oak Tree. The buttery taro is smothered on top of ready cut duck fillets and fried into a deep crisp. Served like a layered taro duck cake with a crispy outer layer & a sweet savory sauce on the side...this dish TASTES EXCELLENT! I cannot think of any other Chinese restaurant that serves this dish. So it makes this Taro Duck THAT more special.

Other dishes that are specialties of Oak Tree are: Baked Rice with Chinese Sausage (2nd BEST!), Pepper Steak (um, where's the pepper and how comes the sour is so strong?), Deep Fried Salty Pork Chops, Pipa Tofu (one of their specialties but kinda of bland for my taste), Fresh Saltwater Shrimp (OH so Yummy & Fresh!), Sauteed Veggies (very easy to recreate) and Egg Whites/Broccoli & Scallops -- which in my opinion are kinda blah. As some of you know, I am a gourmet wanna-be chef that cooks & recreates foodie dishes on my own. For this Egg White/Broccoli/Scallop dish, I would add some chili pepper flakes, grated ginger, garlic and a hint of vinegar to bring out the seafood aroma. It would be a HIT with high heat and just the right amount of tarte added to it. In summary, Oak Tree is safe for the dishes they specialize in. But any dish out of the ordinary (like Sauteed Crab w/ glass noodles) would be a ho-hum dish to order.
Oak Tree (****) 4 Stars out of 5

Happy Moon Festival to you all!

Taro Duck- special dish, exclusive to Oak Tree

Chinese Pepper Steak - very tender!

Saltwater Shrimp - so fresh and so sweet

Chinese Broccoli sauteed w/ shrimp paste

Pipa Tofu - another specialty at Oak Tree

Deep Fried Five Spice Pork Chops w/ scallions

Egg Whites sauteed w/ scallops & broccoli

Happy Moon Festival w/ the family!

Eat something tasty for you!
Cheers to being a Foodie,
Red Geisha

Eat at Rudys - Hmmm, I can pass

2009-09-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

Rudy's

Categories: Diners, Burgers, Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Torrance

9/10/2009

Torrance is not the best place for breakfast joints. So Rudy's has a leg up on local breakfasts. Korean-owned, not big on service or courtesy. The ONLY thing that is worth it at Rudy's is the Hungarian Omelette b/c there is 'thought' put into the recipe (smoked paprika, sausage and peppers) -- everything else will give you heartburn. Including the cheap coffee.I would pass but sometimes our friends like to meet us for breakfast there because it's convenient for everyone and it fills the tummy.

Rudys (**) 2 stars
1340 Post Ave
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 533-0752

"By Brazil"ian Losers - Torrance, CA

2009-09-10T02:09:00.000-07:00

By Brazil Restaurant

Categories: Barbeque, Brazilian, Caterers
Neighborhood: Torrance

9/10/2009

Don't you hate it when there is all this hype about this restaurant and then you go to give it a try with a group of friends and then you realize it was a waste of money and time? Enough said. There are plenty of other restaurants in the area that are far more professional, serve tasty meats, and have courteous service. Furthermore, they are representing being Brazilian - so they should (at least ) be passionate about their food!!!

By Brazil (*) 1 star - see below
1615 Cabrillo Ave
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 787-7520

Go here instead:

Greenfield Churrascaria (*****) 5 stars

Category: Brazilian (all you can eat)

5305 E Pacific Coast Hwy
Long Beach, CA 90804

(562) 597-0906

Comments:

"Ribeye and skirt steak were all delicious and flavorful."

It's $29.99 a person with full salad bar.Totally worth it.

You deserve to eat well!
Cheers to being a Foodie,
Red Geisha

A Very Special Style of PHO - Long Beach, CA

2009-08-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

Pho Hong Phat

Category: Vietnamese

8/29/2009

Hot Pho Damn!!! This "hole in the wall" Pho place will leave you completely satisfied and planning your next trip there before you finish. The broth is amazing. The broth base is the key to their success - lots of beef soup bones, orange peel, five spice, star of anise, cilantro and onions - which they boil the heck out of. The result is a super tasty pho that keeps you wanting more and more. Word of caution: This pho is highly addictive!! Be sure to ask for extra soup b/c they do not charge you for it!

Pho Hong Phat (*****) 5 stars
3243 E Anaheim St
Long Beach, CA 90804
(562) 498-3754

Thai Dishes - not flashy & OH SO YUMMY!

2009-08-29T01:50:00.000-07:00

Thai Dishes

Category: Thai
Neighborhood: El Segundo

8/29/2009

How many Northern Thai food restaurants do we have around LA? Not that many! But this place is one of them. And for that, they serve a traditional Kau Soi - the curry noodle soup. It is hands down the BEST on the menu here. So this review is really for the savory taste of Kau Soi - an absolute favorite of mine! The coconut curry soup is savory, the noodles are firm and the spices leave a great spicy aftertaste. My mouth is watering now! Yum! I have not ordered anything else there so like I said, this review is only for the Kau Soi. Enjoy!

Thai Dishes (*****) 5 stars
11934 Aviation Blvd
Inglewood, CA 90304
(310) 643-6199

Lucques - WeHo - Hollywood Shi Boo!

2009-08-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Lucques

Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: West Hollywood

8/29/2009

Just had dinner at Lucques tonight. It was OK, just OK.

-Wine by the glass selection was poor. You don't expect that since it's WeHo sass.

-Entree: Braised short ribs - though the meat was ultra tender, the sauce was incredibly heavy and SALTY. So salty I couldn't even finish half of it.

-Addt'l Entree: Chicken Jidori - a definite better choice. Lighter, great flavor, tender chicken. great handmade pasta and really nice beans.

Having once been LA's #1 top choice restaurant, I feel there are many better choices for the money and for the atmosphere. Would I go again? In time.Well, maybe.

Lucques (***) 3 stars
8474 Melrose Ave
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 655-6277

Sue's Kitchen - Famous for Beef Noodle Soup

2009-08-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

Sue's Kitchen (chinese homestyle cooking)

Category: Chinese
Neighborhood: Torrance

8/27/2009

Who would have thought this poe-dunk little hole in the wall had GREAT Chinese Comfort food??? Wow! Makes me think of my moms home cooking. So Delicious! Sue's Kitchen is known best for their beef noodle soup and the side dishes. The beef noodle soup is definitely the best choice on the menu. I've had it over 20 times. But I have to say, the last time I went, it wasn't the same. So I REALLY HOPE they keep up their quality.

Sue's Kitchen (****) 4 stars
23918 Crenshaw Blvd
Torrance, CA 90505
(310) 539-1992

Mitsuwa Market - Torrance - 5 BIG STARS

2009-08-27T22:00:00.001-07:00

Mitsuwa Marketplace

Categories: Grocery, Ethnic Food, Japanese
Neighborhood: Torrance

8/27/2009

BEST BEST BEST Spicy Miso Pork Ramen at the food court at Santoku! OH SO DELISH!!!! Get yourself there and watch the line at lunch time. Everybody that knows about this ramen shop (in the food court) is HOOKED!

Mitsuwa (Santoku Ramen ******) 5 stars
21515 Western Ave
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 782-0335

Three Spice Thai review - Gardena, CA.

2009-08-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

Three Spice Thai Kitchen

Category: Thai

8/27/2009

Love this place when my Thai cravings hit! A few things that I love the best on their menu: Panang Chicken (ask for extra spicy if you can handle it - not for amateurs), Fresh Papaya Salad, Thai style fried tofu and Green curry any style. What I like about this place is that you can see the kitchen in action and everything is very fresh. Highly recommended!

Three Spice Thai Kitchen (****) 4 stars
16400 S Western Ave
Gardena, CA 90247
(310) 516-6514

Cafe Luna - Torrance

2009-07-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

Cafe Luna

Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Torrance

7/14/2009

Disappointing local Italian eatery that features a Mexican menu as well. Have you seen the Cafe Luna Taco Trucks parked in their lot? It's ridiculous! A last attempt to keep themselves afloat. Honestly, the best way to stay open is to go back to the basics -- fresh homemade marinara, old fashioned meatballs (not your meatballs from Trader Joes!!), a good shrimp scampi, a nice vodka sauce. It's THAT simple! I cannot recommend Cafe Luna any longer - not until they make a positive change in their business.

Cafe Luna (*) 1 star
1870 W Carson St
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 787-0077

Lazy Dog Cafe - Torrance, Del Amo Mall

2009-07-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

We go here for the 'dog' name and because we can bring Shadow....here's the review.

Lazy Dog Cafe

Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Torrance

7/14/2009

Loved Lazy Dog at first. It's dog friendly, the patio area was nice, the service WAS great and the food was really good as well. Somewhere along the way in it's increased popularity, the service became lacksadaisical - where the "staff just needed a job for now" attitude - the patio area was flooded by 14 year old teens being obnoxious and sitting near the fire pit while waiting for a movie. And the FOOD - went downhill completely. The only safe thing is the Margarita Pizza. They couldn't seem to get the burger right after 2 attempts. Finally, it's the Lazy Dog Cafe - they offer NO Doggie treats and no water for the pooch. Go figure!

Lazy Dog Cafe (**) 2 stars
3525 Carson St
Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 921-6080