Monica "fool me twice, shame on me" D.'s Profile
Date
Listed in: you. MUST. TRY. this., FOOD TRUCK OBSESSION!!!
2 Previous Reviews:
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9/16/2010
"That's the greatest comeback since Lazarus!" -- Al.
Yes, Dos Chinos boys, the infamous 'Al' guy that you remember so well? He's my older brother, he's a Yelper, and he rarely gives second chances after nasty first impressions. He and I were both absolutely impressed by the second time around and we're trying desperately to help spread the word!
On Tuesday and Wednesday nights we managed to maneuver around Orange County to stalk the Dos Chinos truck, and boy were we not disappointed both nights. In Santa Ana we managed to snag a Saigon shrimp ceviche, Bolsa pork belly taco, filet mignon asada taco, Garden Grove short rib taco, and a sriracha-tamarind cheesecake dessert. First of all, the GG taco was alright -- still missing a tad bit of seasoning -- but filled to the brim with meat. The filet mignon taco was amaaazing. The accompanying salsa of the ceviche was truly a delight -- they even refunded 'Al' a dollar because they couldn't fill the ceviche dish with as much shrimp as they would have liked. But the pork belly was to DIE for -- crispy, plenty of meat, perfect seasoning, and great salsa. I personally just fell head over heels for the dessert -- just a tad bit of heat at the very end, with a delicious fruit topping. Perfection.
Although Dos Chinos' presence at the OC Din-Din-A-Go-Go at K1 in Irvine on Wednesday night was received warmly, it was a little too welcome -- the line was ridiculously long and moved way slow. But seriously -- the wait was SO worth it. The Bolsa burrito is SO INCREDIBLY GOOD -- filled to the hilt with cheese, some veggie form, and toooons of crispy deep fried pork belly goodness. My only complaint was how small it was... but that's probably good in the long run, helping to salvage our gradually raising cholesterol levels.
Dos Chinos -- you guys have done it, you've truly made it to the upper echelons of foodie truck greatness. Your hard work and pure effort really are appreciated, and I'm honored to have been a part of your rising fame. 'Al' and I both thank you from the bottom of our hearts with how down to earth and awesome you personally are! (My brother got a 'free' asada taco with his order on Wednesday night... so cool.) -
8/31/2010
I reallllllly wish I could be as nice as good ol' Alex P. in raising my Dos Chinos rating. Based on customer service and general coolness alone, I would totally give Dos Chinos four stars. But the food was just such a gigantic disappointment that I couldn't in good conscience take it higher than 'meh.' You guys are so very nice and I know you're constantly trying to get to 'that' higher point, but the food just really missed the mark of my very high expectations.
A huge part of the lower rating has to do with the availability of food. Now I'm not even pretending to be any sort of expert on stocking gourmet food trucks, but when you run out of not one but TWO of your most popular dishes, then it's completely disheartening. No GG short rib and no Bolsa BBQ pork... uhhhh, that's the whole reason we sought the truck out in the first place!
So we had to settle for the breakfast burrito, Hollywood chicken taco, shrimp tacos, and papas con carne fries dish. I do have to say that the one saving grace of the evening was the fries... DAMN do you get a lot of goodness for only $7, and it's absolutely a split-worthy dish. Alex P., Alvin D. and I dug into the greasy fresh goodness and were definitely not disappointed. We ultimately discovered that the guacamole was a *tad* sweeter than usual, but we didn't think anything negative of it. It worked perfectly with the salt of the potatoes and the marinated tenderness of the rib eye. Throw in sour cream and we're in love. I suppose than can be said for most edibles.
We dug into the shrimp tacos and although the shrimpy flavor was there, the sweetness of the sauce thrown on there sort of killed any possible combination. It's shrimp (done VERY nicely) amidst a mish-mash of sweet sauce. If that's what you're going for, gentlemen, then success. I liked this taco slightly less than the fries but definitely more than the chicken.....
Ah, the chicken. NEEDS SALT. Any person with any kind of a culinary inkling knows that chicken in particular really needs a salt component to kick it up to that notch of flavor-holding deliciousness. What we got was a strange curry concoction that although delivered curry flavor just did not succeed in overall taste. Curries especially really need salt in order to make the spices pop. In the case of Hollywood here, it was very difficult to take down.
I seriously do appreciate being refunded upon discovery that there wasn't gonna be enough Bolsa BBQ pork for my greatly anticipated taco. I did really want to give the money for you guys' tip but in a semblance of embarrassment on your behalf, you gave the dollars back, and that was extremely sweet of you.
Finally the breakfast burrito -- WOW, what on earth is this??? The meat, again, was perfectly done. But there's supposed to be chorizo in the eggs... didn't get any. Again, lacking salt. But the overpowering sweetness of the guac was just waaaay too much to handle. We wound up taking home our leftovers and doctoring the burrito in the morning by removing as much of the green stuff as possible (and the sweetness permeated even MORE the day after) and adding garlic salt and Tapatio to make it bearable.
Dos Chinos, you're great fellas and again, keep on keepin on. There's a great deal of sadness in your revelation that you *may* not serve your Sriracha cheesecake any longer, but we understand that it's not the easiest dish to produce. However, I look forward to returning to your truck and raising that 2-star rating.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
(949) 459-3809
El Fenix Carniceria
Categories:
Mexican,
Grocery,
Meat Shops
Marvelously marinaded and sliced meats, deliciously sturdy bread, your choice of salsas and such, gigaaaantic slabs of fresh white cheese, and just the perfect amount of toasty goodness. AND SO CHEAP! All less than seven buckaroos.
Groceries are fresh. Popsicle flavors are widely varied. Meats and cheeses galore. The hot food is WAY better than anything around (ahem, or next door, natch). Don't be intimidated or overwhelmed at all -- everyone is friendly, helpful, and extremely tolerant of a fat loud Spanglish speaking Filipina girl who occasionally frequents their aisles.
PS. I was picking up a six pack of Inca Cola along with my other armfuls of goodies, and accidentally kicked a singleton Inca Cola can underneath the shelving right in front of the beverage cooler. My apologies. For reals.
Broth is okay, ingredients are a fair amount, noodles are actually pretty tasty -- even without all the accoutrements of hoisin or Sriracha. But here's a REAL quick tip: if you're gonna go balls out for that sexy slurpalicious oxtail side, do NOT get any other meats -- maybe some rare beef or a little tripe perhaps, but the oxtail speaks for itself. And they give you SO DAMNED MUCH of it too! Completely worth forgoing the other riffraff.
Cash only. Service is so-so, especially on a losing sports betting weekend (boo!). Prices and portions certainly are fair, but again, realize that you're stepping more into a family-and-friends-style hangout that just happens to serve food, and less into some sort of refined dining experience.
Whether it be a Yelp event, food truck gathering, or brewery presence, LT consistently provides two things: one, high quality ingredients presented fabulously, and two, genuinely friendly and hospitable service. Most recently, I got to try their smoked salmon quesadilla and mango lychee...ade. I would have liked a tad bit more salt (perhaps capers?) on the quesadilla and the lychee wasn't so present in the drink, but both were still yummy and worth my pretty pennies.
I've also tried their ahi poke tuna nachos (ABSOLUTE PERFECTION) and their blue crab ceviche, both of which are really worth checking out if you're into the seafood thing. Seasoning, ingredients, everything, all together, just madness as to how good it is. This is the reason people go "WHAAAAA?" at the oxymoron of a gourmet food truck.
Honestly though, I was prompted to write this as a pseudo-response to an article I recently read about LT superstar Jason Quinn and his new restaurant in Santa Ana. Jason responded personally to a Yelp review and as an avid writer on this precious public forum, I gotta respect him for his stance. I won't go into details, but I want to say to all of you guys that not only do I admire your pioneering chef spirits, but I also tip my hat to you guys' defense of your craft, your lot in life, and your passions.
Thanks a bunch from the bottom of this fatty foodie heart for helping to shape the gourmet food truck scene in southern California. You guys have always been so cool to me and your food really is praiseworthy. Cheers!
Las Vegas, NV 89103
(702) 942-7778
Little Buddha Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Categories:
Sushi Bars,
Chinese,
Asian Fusion
10 minute wait for the beautifully laid out, classy decorated dining room, or immediately at the sushi bar? C'mon........ come on. Although the idea of omakase was tempting at such a lush and revered spot, Megs offered to pass since she was a self-proclaimed noob. Knowing that, we dove into appetizers and a few rolls, with just a smattering of nigiri and of course cocktails!
Megs opted for the Tru Blood martini and I (duh) chose the Lychee Martini. Both were delicious and perfectly complemented our meals. If you must get a starter, I HIGHLY recommend the fillo-wrapped tiger prawns -- the coconut basil sauce it comes with is one of the greatest dipping sauces I've ever encountered, for reals. We rounded the first course out with tempura veggies, and be forewarned -- the tempura sauce is more savory than sweet, which was a nice change IMO. Also -- tempura baby bok choy will change your life.
One of their house specialty rolls comes with marinated lobster on top of a shrimp tempura roll, and that was a favorite with both of us. Megs requested to try the spider roll, and seriously, I've never had soft shell crab that tasty, fresh, and well fried. I also enjoyed their rainbow roll, to which I added an order of yellowtail nigiri for Megs to compare and contrast the common fish types in sushi. Lastly I just HAD to tack on an order of spicy yellowtail/albacore, and that was perfect -- nicely spiced, fresh tasting, and neatly made.
I think that last sentence pretty much sums it up. We had a lovely server that was helpful but not overbearing, and sushi chefs that were kind but left us to our own devices. The restaurant is dark and intimate, but look up on occasion to see some lovely touches of decor. But the best part about this place is just how fresh everything is -- no, it isn't the all you can eat quality that most are used to, natch -- but it's of a much higher and therefore tastier pedigree. The yellowtail melted in our mouths (TM Megs), the rolls hardly required anything else other than efficient chopstick usage, and we still walked out of there full and happy. Yay! I can't afford LB every time I stop by, but it's certainly a once-in-a-while treat to enjoy!
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 698-7900
China Poblano
Categories:
Chinese,
Mexican,
Asian Fusion
Service: affectionate and easygoing, if not slightly awkward and inefficient. Generally when I spill a boatload of water as I pour it from pitcher to customer glass, I like to wipe it up -- but hey, that's just me.
Cocktails: my girls Megs and Les, they don't shy away from the good ol' flammable stuff. I opted for the Lychee Sour, which was perfection, but Les didn't particularly care for her Singapore Sling, which I also liked, so we switched. Megs got the Lemon Drop Noodles and while the novelty of a gastronomy-inspired "noodle" inside an alcoholic beverage was always there, the satisfaction with the drink itself was not. Slightly too sweet and therefore too concentrated.
My Mexican half:
Chips and salsa -- can't go wrong. Especially if you like the smokiness and texture of a fresh homemade chipotle salsa, start out with this. Just beware -- doesn't come with a whole lot of chips.
Queso fundido -- melted cheese, baked in a traditional clay bowl, with rajas strips placed on top. Delicious, surely not for the faint of anti-cheese heart.
Coctel de camarones -- the best part of the Mexican cuisine IMO. Perfectly seasoned with gigantic pieces of shrimp, avocado, and crab. Delightful, but pricey.
Fried fish taco -- fried to perfection and topped with a complementary green chile salsa. Divine. Don't forget that squeeze of lime it seriously needs though.
Carnitas taco -- comes with chicharrones. How can you go wrong? My girl Les doesn't do onions and it came with a generous topping of 'em. Buyer beware.
(BTW: Extra tortillas, while deliciously fresh and piping hot off being handmade about ten steps away, cost $4. Buyer REALLY beware!!!)
My Chinese half:
Har gau -- the promise of shrimp and pork belly is, without a doubt, irresistible to most. This comes out awesomely fresh and still appealing to many a dim sum lover, but... salt much?
Ten treasures (?) -- this is SOUP noodles, not regular fried/dry noodles. with ham, shrimp, fresh veggies, enoki mushrooms and noodles. I loved it, but again, couldn't deal without our side of soy sauce. Salt much?
Siu bao (or whatever they call it here) -- the meat is absolutely delicious and the bread is kneaded to a perfect consistency. But seriously........ it's called salt.
The bottom line: China Poblano is gorgeous -- a well-thought-out, neatly decorated space that no doubt will attract a ridiculously large clientele due in part to its being in the newest hotspot in Vegas, but also in part to its well-known celebrity chef backing. Personally, being part Chinese and practically 'raised' Mexican, I do appreciate this sort of "fusion status." However, it's a simple matter of seasoning and salt in most cases, and for how much we paid, I'm not sure it should come down to that. Would I come back? Sure. Would I make sure to order a side of soy sauce and get my extra napkins ahead of time? Absolutely.
Long Beach, CA 90803
(562) 795-0243
Tilted Kilt
Categories:
Restaurants,
Pubs,
Sports Bars
The busboy was even in a kilt. You gotta respect a place that is consistent across the board. But damn some of these girls were fine! It helps that our waitress was pretty herself :)
After a jaunt over from Joe Jost's, I was beered out (is that possible!!?!?) and opted for Jack and ginger ale. Thanks for the ginger ale and splash of JD, ladies!
We opted for some HH special appetizers -- Irish nachos and soft pretzels. Pretty good, nice and fresh, but ABSOLUTELY NO WAY would I get these for regular price! Just... medium. Very medium overall.
In a town filled with hotspots of awesomeness, uniqueness and hard-working residents who deserve the best for their buck, I don't really foresee coming back here anytime soon.
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 432-2337
Congregation Ale House
Categories:
Pubs,
Gastropubs
What made us smile so widely upon entering Congregation was the fact that all three of us -- my bro, Paisa Alex and myself -- are Catholic. So you can imagine, just all good Catholics out there, that since we go to church a handful of times a year, including but not limited to weddings, baptisms, and funerals ("Merry Christmas, Father... See you on Easter!"), we would be naturally blown away.
"Holy" Water. Brothers and Sisters on the restroom signs. Staff members addressed as "choir members." Gargoyles and religiosity and stained glass, oh my!
The beer selection is indeed impressive, but it's definitely not geared for a hophead. Nice Belgian styles available with a neat mix of SoCal breweries. I myself got the Jesus Yeast special beer -- 'twas alright. Prices were right up my alley as well.
There's a mighty fine looking covered patio that proved to be popular with the Congregation patron crowd, and why not? They have a brilliant system of ordering and serving, which works neatly for a bar.
Next time I will for sure try an exotic sausage. Who doesn't want an exotic sausage in their mouth? ...Why yes indeed, that IS what she said!
ETA: Happy Hour is outstandingly referred to as "Mass." No really, I wanna go to Mass now. Please don't be angry with me for saying that, God! You know what I mean...
Strong moderate-to-high priced drinks? Oh yes. (CASH ONLY!)
People around my age picking my kinda music? Yup.
Not too crowded, not too many annoying patrons? Awesome.
Tables with mini-games (although some were missing batteries or other parts)? SO GOOD. Still fun and completely unique!
-1 star for the bathroom. So........ there's one room with side-by-side toilets, no divider. I kind of secretly wished the Bestie would go in with me, but........ um, awkward. And I'm sure fights have started in that line that grows. ONE bathroom??? Boo.
I ended the night by buying a monkey hat from 7-11 that I don't really remember getting. That 100% means that it was a great night. Especially thanks to Shannon's!
So what's up with 3 (actually, more like 2.5, mostly belonging to Jessica)?
The bestie, Proverbial Boy, Korean Alex and I stopped by for a little pre-gaming this past Saturday night. You walk in and there's... an empty hostess stand, a rather spacious wine and cheese (and other stuff) specialty shop, a wide open area which may or may not have been part of the bar with a smattering of communal tables, and a nice rustic-feel dining area to the rear. It's lovely inside, but somewhat confusing. Where's the hostess? Do we sit wherever we want, or... What's with this outdoor patio?
With heat lamps, one open table, just enough seats for us and two neat shiny flat panel TVs on the wall (it's a small patio -- only two tables), we knew it was for us. Plus we didn't have to deal with the noise inside. Cool.
Appetizers included:
-- Crab Pot. If you love crab, you will love this. Comes with a butter garlic sauce that I wanted to mainline right then and there.
-- Oysters. I am usually not all about the West Coast (more creamy tasting and less briny than the Easterners) varieties, but DAAAMN these were huge and tasty! Perfection.
The burger was a huge let-down. It sounds and looks so impressive, but it just falls flat on flavor. The meat was slightly overcooked and underseasoned, and for whatever reason the entire bite just lacked pizazz. What can I say? It happens.
Fries, however, were a different story. Truffle oil + sea salt = mindblowing sex. You will not regret enjoying these crispy, tasty treats.
Alex orders a Green Flash IPA. Jessica comes out with half a beer, it's on the house since he popped the keg but they're replacing it now. Wanna wait? Jessica recommends the Taps Cream Ale as a substitute. Um... I don't think she originally brought out Green Flash if you think that a mild cream ale is gonna sub well for a hoppy, floral IPA. Just sayin'.
Alex's original order? They're out of it.
Our original dessert order? They're out of it.
Our substitute (the apple fruit tart)? Completely tasteless. The dough needs sugar. The fruit needs sugar. The entire thing needs sugar more than a 40-year-old virgin does.
All in all, Bru is definitely a cool place and the beer selection is quite impressive (when they actually have them in stock -- which I guess could be said for their food as well). Glad to know it's in my 'hood! We'll be back... when all the kinks are ironed out. Who runs out of anything on a Saturday night???
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1173 Useful, 902 Funny, and 1020 Cool
Orange County, CA
Yelping SinceSeptember 2007
Things I Lovethe Bay Area, all Asian cuisines, math, driving in my car, Anthony Bourdain, biking and training to ride, Seattle, chronic relaxation, IPAs, my friends and family, Red Sox, golf, tall goofy looking white guys, music that moves me, Family Guy, Spain, vodka drinks, happy hours with food, laughing a whole lot and loudly, dive bars
My HometownOrange County, CA
When I'm Not Yelping...I'm teaching little 'angels' how to add subtract multiply & divide
Why You Should Read My Reviewsso you can live vicariously through my long-windedness and nicknames
The Last Great Book I ReadA Song of Ice and Fire series... starting with Game of Thrones
My Last Meal On EarthMom's dinuguan, extra spicy and extra vinegary
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I gave in to Twitter: @foodie_mond0ggy
Most Recent Discoverypretzel buns have changed my life
Current CrushI'll give you a hint... he's tall
1) PLEASE BRING BACK THE SRIRACHA CHEESECAKE!!! Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please.
And 2) HABANERO CHOCOLATE ORANGE CHICKEN... omfg. Don't mind the mess I've made. I just had mindblowing freaky crazy fetishizing fantasizing uber sex with the bowl.
Hop: nice to see you out and about again sir!