Danny C.'s Profile
DateCulver City, CA 90232
(310) 839-6800
Fraiche
Categories:
Italian,
French,
American (New)
Neighborhood: Culver City
Now, it's packed. Even after 11PM, it's still packed. However, new machines, friendly staff, and ummm pretty nice "scenery" will keep me going back.
I will say, going at peak hours might not be the best option if you want to have a pretty worry free workout as most of the equipments would be occupied. I personally like this one better than the Magic Johnson Altadena location, but only if they have a basketball court here......
All in all, can't complain. Plenty of parking downstairs.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 205-0124
Yatai Ramen Twist
Category:
Japanese
Neighborhood: Mid-City West
The 5 of us spent $27/each for 5 separate ramen to try. Both Gyozas, 1 tofu appetizer, and a boba for each person.
The food was meh. Disappointing and overpriced. Service was fine, though it was slow.
Honestly, stick with Santouka, Hakata SSG, or any one of your neighborhood joints. Ramen in West Hollywood. I should have known better......
http://bit.ly/alsRug
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 617-3474
Starry Kitchen
Category:
Asian Fusion
Neighborhood: Downtown
From the NoHo location to the DTLA location, I've enjoyed my food here. Especially those green crispy tofu balls!
Also, the crab cakes were quite killer. It's sad I couldn't go more often from my work in Pasadena, but when I get the chance to have a long lunch again, Starry Kitchen here I come!
Parking is validated and now they offer Diet Dr. Pepper in addition to Coke Zero!
Go. Now!
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 284-4610
Old Country Cafe
Category:
Taiwanese
Neighborhood: Alhambra
The pork chop rice? My friend that's friend Taiwan wasn't too impressed, and I thought it was just so-so. The best pork chop rice that I've had recently was from Pearl Restaurant in Monterey Park, and it was much better than Old Country Cafe.
The stinky tofu was fine, as was the Taiwanese Meatball (ba wan). Nothing stood out, but nothing was bad.
The place is a total drive, and parking spots are limited. The style of seating is similar to say, Apple Pan in West LA, as it's primarily bar seating.
Would I come back? Probably/maybe? It opens till midnight, and when you're hankering for some TW food late, this might be your only option. Other than that, there are plenty of better places around.
Get:
Lobster Pasta. The full order is the best deal.
The fish dishes here are fresh and relatively healthy. Pretty good on a summer day here in So Pas!
That is all.
New York, NY 10002
(212) 505-3700
Doughnut Plant
Categories:
Donuts,
Coffee & Tea,
Bakeries
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
First thing that came to mind was the size of the doughnut, which was smaller than your average doughnut. However, the taste and flavor was on a different level. The vanilla custard filling was fantastic, similar to your usual crème brûlée. Very nice. In addition, the top of the doughnut was done fabulously with the caramelized sugar that was finished off by the blow torch. What a fantastic dessert!
Even though I was craving the tres leches doughnut, I decided on the seasonal special meyer lemon doughnut as the 2nd donut instead. I'm glad I did! The meyer lemon was light, and refreshing, quite a nice contrast to the heavier crème brûlée doughnut. I especially enjoyed the lemon zest that was found prominently in the doughnut.
To recap, Doughnut Plant was a great choice for my first meal in NYC. The service was fantastic, and the doughnuts were great. All the doughnuts were made fresh in-house, as there were fresh batches coming in at all times. The place was small, but there was a consistent line and after trying the doughnuts, I could definitely see why. I wish I made a return visit before I left, but sadly, I ran out of time and appetite. Though on my next trip, I do want to try the tres leches doughnut, along with their famous chai tea that a lady I spoke with that was raving. Come to Los Angeles Doughnut Plant! Even though normally I don't crave fried desserts, you've made a believer out of me!
In addition, Doughnut Plant is opening a new location at the Chelsea Hotel that will offer their own special flavors that cannot be found at the Lower East Side location, so I'll look forward to see how that location fares. Besides seasonal doughnuts, Doughnut Plant also offers holiday doughnuts, like the upcoming candied ginger doughnut, just in time for Lunar New Year! If any of you guys are in NYC, bring me back some doughnuts from Doughnut Plant. Thanks!
For more pics: http://bit.ly/638Ywj
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 577-3918
El Taquito Mexicano Truck
Categories:
Mexican,
Food Stands
Neighborhood: Pasadena
Cheap (@ $1.20/ea) - check!
Less than 2miles away from my pad - check!
Although it's probably not the best taco truck in LA, it definitely hits the spot whether if you're drunk or just hungry. There are a good 6-8 type of meat and offal choices, and each are great! Stick with the red sauce if you want the taco to be spicy, or green for a milder taste.
Located at the Nishikawa Auto Services, give it a try!
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 957-1111
Keatley Detail
Categories:
Auto Detailing,
Car Wash
Neighborhood: SOMA
After the drive up from the 5, I figured my car was in need of some pampering after many years of negligence, thus I figure this is the place to go since I would be spending the weekend in SF.
Once I dropped my car off on Saturday morning I was able to relax and watch a bit of the College football games on the LCD TV at the lounge. In addition, the fridge was stocked with cold beverages, just what I needed after a long drive from Los Angeles. Sadly, I wasn't able to enjoy too much of the amenities around me since I got some R&R on the leather couch at the lounge.
Anyways, about the car detail. First and foremost, I'll say this is not your daddy's car wash, so don't expect to pay $10 for it either. Bring your car here for a special occasion, bring it when you really need to get a good wash for your car, or hell, bring it like me where I just needed a few hours to rest up and relax from my drive up. The car wash was great inside and out, for the price I paid for, I was very pleased with the result. It's a place I wish LA has more of instead of the usual $10-15 car washes.
The staff at Keatley Detail was very pleasant as I spoke a bit with Mike, the manager of the place. Everyone was professional and my car was finished after a fairly short wait. (I could have rested longer in the lounge, not a problem!). Would I come back? Most definitely! .
Listed in: My favorite place around the…
1 Previous Review:
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8/22/2008
Kam Hong Garden, you have just made my top 5 in the SGV. Maybe even in my top 3!
After Felicia was discussing her bowl of Beef Noodle Soup on a Yelp Talk thread earlier, I've been craving the Knife Cut (Dao Xiao) Noodles for awhile. Sadly, my attempts to eat here had its bumps in the road.
The first time I came here, it was closed. On a Wednesday at noon?? WTF?!? After using a few 4 letter bombs, I proceeded to Dai Ho and had a great bowl of noodles, but deep down inside, I was determinded to make a return trip. That trip was last Sunday. My friend Matthew K., myself and another friend decided to make Kam Hong Garden as part of our "gorge day." (Basically eating at 6-7 places in a single day, but just order 1-2 things at each place).
Anyways, since the picky Matthew K. doesn't touch meat flavored soup items, we went with Champon aka Cao Ma Noodles aka Spicy Seafood Noodles made with the knife cut noodles. The noodles were damn good. Very "Q," very tasty, just what knife cut noodles should be about. I've ate my share of this stuff in Taiwan in my years living there, and the stuff served at Kam Hong is damn legit! The soup base was very good and had a lot of ingredients. We also got the beef rolls, but it was whatevers. Come here for the noodles!
After that trip, I was craving what I wanted to get in the first place, the knife cut beef noodle soup. I got what I wanted this past tuesday. At $5.15, this bowl of noodle is an absolute steal! Tons of noodles in the big bowl, and the soup broth was good as well. I couldn't have asked for anything better honestly, especially here in the United States. I also got a plate of a cold starter. I believe it was beef lungs?? I don't know the exact translation, but whatevers, it was good!
The one item that I want to try next time is their house specialty noodles, San Xi Noodles (#1 on the menu). There are many items on their menu, from soup noodles to dry noodles. They have have knife cut noodle stirred fried in various meats and vegetables. There are lots to choose from and the prices here are cheap cheap cheap!! Check it out, and I don't think you'd be disappointed.
*Note* Cash Only. Maybe I should stop saying that since it appears 95% of the places I review are Cash Only.
*Note 2* As I mentioned before, it's closed all day Wednesday. As of 5/28/08.
*Note 3* Boba here is Buy 1 Get 1 Free
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Fraiche Culver City has a new executive chef, Chef Ben Bailly, formerly of Petrossian in West Hollywood.
What kind of food does he cook? Rustic French cuisine.
Now, as a forewarning, to those that were expecting the old Italian menu, I'm sorry, those are gone (and I think could be found at the Santa Monica Location). If you're bitching and whining about it being gone, then tough luck.
What we're going for here are a great selection of French cooking.
The salads at Fraiche are nice starter items. You have a wonderful beet salad, a brussel sprout salad with chorizo, a crisp endive salad with apples, pecan and goat cheese, and an arugula salad with mushroom.
In addition to the salads, there are 5-6 various dips to go along with crustinis. I'd have to say the trout and the piquillo cheese are my favs of the bunch.
The standout at Fraiche are their pasta. I've tried them all and I don't think I've had a bad plate of pasta. The squid ink with lobster was phenomenal, and the pasta carbonara with the poached egg has always been a crowd pleaser. In addition, my favorite so far has to be the mushroom agnolotti. It's really melt in your mouth good!
There are other items of note, the truffle burger on the bar menu ($12) is probably, if not the best burger in town. The truffle taste is definitely evident in the burger. The seared foie gras has always been cooked to perfection, and the sweet/sour combination of the pomegranate and the rhubarb has always been a nice complement.
Finally, the dessert. Probably one of the best things to eat at Petrossian when it was under Ben Bailly has not been a disappointment here. I'm glad to see the return of the pistachio creme brulee, but the key lime tart has been a favorite amongst my fellow diners. In addition, I've enjoyed the caramel pot de creme, bread pudding, and other dessert I've tried over my visits here. There are some daily specials, so there might be something new on your visit.
The Culver City food scene has definitely grown in the past few years and I think Fraiche under Chef Ben Bailly will bring the restaurant to another level.