Cliff "NekoJita" C.'s Profile

Ho Sum Bistro truly embodies the yin and the yang. One or two of their dishes are very good, while others so bad I wonder if the cook was coming off a weekend meth binge when he/she developed the recipe.  

Just to be clear, I WANT to like Ho Sum Bistro -- I really do -- but one of the only things I like is its Ho Sum chicken salad. Other than that, they consistently under deliver.

I've been coming here on and off for years, and I've tried several different dishes. Most of these have been the dim sum style offerings, including the poached wrapped won tons (in a mildly spicy Szechuan sauce), quenelles, pot stickers and the coconut shrimp. Of these, only the shrimp underachieved. The rest are pretty good, especially the Szechuan won tons.

However, it's when I foray into Ho Sum's entree selections that I've found very little to like. While the lettuce wraps are great, the lo meins are sub par, the fried rices are simply not very good and the Marco Polo noodles are just plain gross. These are like a tan tan mein gone horribly awry. Everything about this dish is bad: texture, taste and most of all, the smell -- smells like garbage. No, really. I'm not exaggerating. It smells like garbage.

But if you can believe it, the absolute worst dish has to be Ho Sum's mu shu. I had the chicken. Maybe I went wrong by getting the take-out version, but when I got home and opened the box, I discovered one(!) mu shu wrapper laying in a limp, steam-induced coma over a pile of greasy, wilted julienned vegetables and bits of chicken. It was fucking horrible. Shame on the chef for even sending this out of his kitchen. The oil smelled old and used, and there was so much of it I was able to POUR it out of the to-go container. And, seriously, one wrapper? Either someone made a mistake or someone's been hitting the meth again if they think one wrapper is cool.

OK. Rant over. Seriously, I'm not suggesting that you avoid this place, just realize that the dishes are very much hit and miss. And, hey, who knows? You might actually like some of those I hate.

After all the bad dishes I've had from Ho Sum, I'll still go back if I'm ever in the area or have a craving for their chicken salad. It's that good.

I guess Sagami has been around for 20 years or so, but I just went for the first time recently. Verdict: good, but not great -- 3.5 stars.  

The place is tiny, but it's a cozy tiny. Not packed-into-a-Tokyo-subway tiny. The first thing I noticed was that all of the customers were Japanese. Felt like I walked into an izakaya, but just a tad more upscale than say, Honda Ya in Tustin.

We sat at the sushi bar. The second thing I noticed was that the chefs were very friendly and attentive. They're from Nagoya, which may not explain why they're so friendly, but does explain the Nagoya influence on several of the dishes. Stuff like kishimen, which is a flat, fettuccine-like udon. They also serve dark miso sauce on a few things, such as the katsu donburi -- a rice bowl topped with a pork cutlet. Instead of the traditional sauce that most people are used to, it comes topped with a dark miso sauce.

I got the katsu donburi/udon set. The katsu donburi wasn't bad, but I think I like the traditional katsu donburi better. Glad I tried this Nagoya style, though.

The udon was good, but the dashi, or soup stock, was a bit on the sweet side. Figured it was that Nagoya influence coming through again so I just went with the flow. It was good, but I prefer Kansai, or Osaka-style udon.  

I also ordered several sushi, including albacore, blue fin -- both fresh and tasty -- and a specialty roll called a crunchy shrimp something or other, which I actually liked a lot. It was one of those frou-frou sushi rolls purist chefs probably hate to make but, hey, I'm not the one who put it on the menu (probably put there for the odd gaijin like me who stumbles into the place). I'll definitely order it again some day.

For an app, I tried the dengaku tofu, grilled blocks of tofu topped with that same dark miso sauce. Nice, but not spectacular. I came to the conclusion that, basically, the hot foods that I had were only so-so, but the sushi chefs really helped boost my overall opinion of Sagami. Enough to make me want to come back again some day and try some of the other dishes.

They're open for lunch every day from 11:30-3:00, so I'll definitely be coming back for lunch since it's kinda close to my work.

Yeah, yeah, I know everybody's got their own favorite donut shop, and Krazy Eddie's is my go-to place for donuts and, occasonally, bagels.

They have all the usual suspects, including glazed, cake, cruller, bear claw and fritter. But there's something about Eddie himself that I dig about this place.

Not really sure how crazy Eddie really is, but I do think he knows how to make a good donut. And he's one of the friendliest guys you'll ever find in a donut shop, too. It's one of the reasons I keep coming back. That, and the contents of that pink box.

It opens at 4 a.m. so if you're an early bird, you're gonna find some of  the freshest, warmest, most delicious donuts around. On Saturdays, you need to get there before 9 or 10 if you want to have more choices. By that time, all the great ones are taken. Seems like everyone else thinks Krazy Eddie's donuts are worth getting up early for, too.

First let me just put this right out there: The Bagel Shack kicks Bruegger's ass. Like Leonard and Duran. No mas. No mas. No comparison.

Been here several times and have never been let down. They have a good selection of bagels, although I wish they had just plain, ol' whole wheat bagels. Instead I opt for the multigrain kind, which are good, but I really like whole grain bagels. Not a complaint, just an observation (and desire). Their jalapeño / cheese bagels are also tasty.

They also have a nice variety of cream cheeses that are light, fluffy and full of flavor. i'm not one of those purists who thinks all bagels should be eaten untoasted, either. Uh-uh. I love the taste of whipped vegetable cream cheese on a warm, toasted bagel half. Throw on a sliced onion and tomato and I'm set.  

Their bagel sandwiches are also delicious. I usually go for the simple ham, lettuce, tomato and onion sandwich. It's a good deal at a decent price. They have several other sandwiches that i haven't yet tried, but it's only a matter of time before I do.

Winner by knockout. Look out all you other wannabe bagel shops, there's a new champion in town.

Pound for pound, the Seoul Garden Korean BBQ is the best value for your buck.

That's what a friend of mine says about this place. And that's a good thing because between us, we can put away at least a couple pounds of meat during lunch.

The meat, while maybe not the finest cuts you'll find, are still pretty good, helped in part by the great Korean marinades they're in. There's teriyaki style pork, chicken and beef; spicy pork, pork chops, chicken, beef -- and bacon (which is the least tasty of the bunch -- a little too fatty and surprisingly tough). There's other, more adventurous stuff such as tripe, tongue and liver. Not for me, but I give the place credit for offering lots of variety.

There are vegetables, tofu, whole garlic cloves and other non-meat items to grill as well. If you don't have an afternoon meeting or are planning to avoid all human contact for the day, I'd recommend grilling up some garlic cloves and some napa cabbage kimchi to eat with your meat. Wrap it all up in the leafy lettuce and dip it into the spicy miso paste, and you'll have a little heaven in your hands.

There's another buffet line that has an American style salad bar that's reminiscent of a Sizzler, so I pretty much avoid this section since I'm here to chow on the grilled meat and vegetables.

The other side of this salad bar section also features various Korean/Asian salads and light dishes. This is where you can find the kimchi, bean sprouts, tofu salads and even California rolls.

In another section, there are a few trays of hot dishes, which usually contain fried rice, gyoza (dumplings), spring rolls, vegetable tempura and barbecued chicken wings. These items aren't exactly four-star, but they're a nice change from all the grilled foods.

All-in-all, Seoul Garden BBQ is a pretty good deal if you're into the AYCE thing. Just realize you'll likely leave there smelling like what you just ate, and you're going to be fighting off a serious case of the 3-o'clock sleepys later. But it's worth it.

Oh, and don't forget the soft-serve ice cream. You can take a cone to go.

Fatburger is my favorite burger chain, and people who rate it poorly are on 'ludes.

There's something about the fried-not-grilled meat that make these burgers so good, juicy and athrosclerosis-inducing. But this is a good thing. I'm not here to graze on rabbit food. I'm here to feed the carnivore in me meat, glorious meat.  

I'd pick this place over any burger joint in the county. Give me a Fatburger with everything except mustard and relish, and an order of onion rings. Mix up some ketchup with the chipotle Tabasco sauce for dipping the rings and I'm in fat heaven. I'm salivating like one of Pavlov's dogs right now just writing about it.

Also good: their chili dogs, chili cheese (skinny) fries and their milkshakes.

I've never been to Mollie's for lunch or dinner but if they're anything like their breakfasts, look out. These guys make GREAT breakfasts.

Mollie's has a Mexican influence so you'll find lots of excellent egg-and-whatever burritos and omelets here. The chile verde is tasty. All of the dishes come with rice and beans so they're sure to fill you up. You can even order rice and beans instead of potatoes if you're going with the gringo breakfast (or vice versa).

Speaking of which, the "American" breakfasts are pretty damn good, too. Mollie's has usual choices: waffles, pancakes, and a fine gravy and biscuits. There's even a breakfast sandwich. Actually, I've been here a ton of times over the years and everything I've ever ordered has been really good.

One thing that stands out is the service and ambiance. Mollie's is family owned and that comfort-vibe is woven throughout the place. Everyone is helpful, attentive and really friendly. Someone is always coming by to refill my coffee without being asked. Others are asking how everything is. I think these little things really do count.

My only gripe is that the place is so small, the bathrooms are outside. A minor drawback for sure, and certainly not the restaurant's fault. Just something worth mentioning. Other than this, I give Mollie's a thumb's up.

If you're going on a weekend, be prepared to wait a while. The place is popular.

I'm not sure I can add anything to what's already been said 100+ times before me, but here are my two cents on Break of Dawn.

I guess it's good for a change from the usual breakfast fare, if that's your thing.

My family and I went on a Saturday morning. Walked right in. No wait. While we enjoyed it overall, it wasn't anything special -- and it certainly didn't live up to the hype that so many Yelpers had created.

As for the food, the creme brûlée French toast was tempting, but for $12, I'll pass. We ordered the regular French toast which came with caramelized sugar sprinkled on top. Nice touch. Didn't really need syrup, but it sure made it taste that much better.

We also had their version of huevos rancheros (Mi Rancheros?), which was quite good, but I wouldn't order it again. I'd rather try something else on their menu next time -- like the meatloaf or the Green Eggs and Ham eggs benedict.

I went for the mac -n- cheese, which I was told has only been on the menu for a couple weeks now. It had plenty of mac and plenty of cheese sauce flavored with smoked Gouda, but the real kicker was the generous chunks of beef shortrib and Sicilian(?) sausage mixed throughout. Or was it the perfectly prepared poached egg on top? Hard to say what the kicker was with all those ingredients blended together. But it all worked somehow. And yes, this is as decadent as it sounds. When the server brought it to the table, I felt uncomfortably like Mr. Creosote from Monty Python's "Meaning of Life." All I needed was a wafer-thin mint.

Bottom-line, I'd probably go back someday, but it's not going to be a priority. Breakfast to me should be a bit less in the style and a little more on the substance. Maybe I'm old fashioned that way.

Oh, and by the way, the coffee was excellent.

Went to Mesa Grill for lunch with three coworkers today and left feeling like I had swallowed a football. At least that was the size of the Burrito Supreme I ate. I swear it was bigger than some babies I've seen. Certainly heavier.  

I wasn't sure how this place really differs from your typical Baja Fresh or any other Mexi-joint, but I think the inclusion of coconut chicken on the menu is one difference. I'm sure there are more but I wasn't paying attention. Anyway, the chicken sounded good so I'll have to try it next time I come.

But today, i had to feed my Jones for a burrito which, despite its football-sized girth, was pretty good. Not awe-inspiring, but solid. Two of my lunchmates got burritos as well but theirs were not quite as enormous. Another had a pulled pork torta that looked delicious. After she was done, she looked really happy and satisfied. I've seen guys look just like that back in college -- only they were doing whippets. Made a mental note to try it someday, too, because any sandwich that can give you a buzz like that -- count me in.

The staff is really friendly if that matters to you. Me, I was just glad I found this place to add to my choices of places to go for a good lunch.

When I think of deli names, "Mort's," "Al's" or even "Wolfie's" (on Miami Beach) come to mind. These are deli names. Tommy Pastrami is a porn name. It almost sounds too goofy to be any good.

I got the combo with the original pastrami on rye and added provolone. Came with a drink and my choice of sides so I tried their homemade potato salad.

The sandwich was actually pretty good. Meat was juicy but not wet. Not too much fat or gristle. There could've been more meat for nearly $9, but, oh look, it came with a pickle. Bread was soft and fresh, too. A solid B+ on the sandwich.  

The potato salad was good, but I could see where some people would say it's too salty. Me like. A- on the salad.

For a deli here in the OC, Tommy Pastrami is pretty good despite the dumb name. Bonus: it's not far from my house. Overall, I give this place a B-.

I'll likely be back when I crave a deli sandwich and don't feel like flying to NYC or S. Florida.