Ramen Yamadaya

My quest to find a more awesome ramen joint than Santouka always disappoints.  I swear Santouka must use MSG in their broth.  It’s just way too tasty.  Somehow that’s where every other places seems to fall short.  The Rock Dweller accompanied me here.  Usually when we dine together, it’s difficult to pay attention to the…

Oumi Sasaya

The South Bay has its fair share of excellent Japanese restaurants.  Triple T being the stereotypical Taiwanese Japan-o-phile, feels right at home here.  Why do Taiwanese people love everything Japanese?  I have no idea, but it’s like they were brainwashed from the womb to worship anything and everything “made in Japan.”  If you’re reading this,…

Marugame Monzo

I love all kinds of noodle soups.  It wasn’t like that when I was a kid.  I was all about rice and my mom always had to make me something else when everyone else was eating pho.  I also was a big tomboy and hated wearing dresses.  It’s amazing how some things change so much….

Kintaro Ramen

Every city has its “Bests.”  Best burger, best hot dog, best pizza, best brunch, best Italian, best sushi.  I think you get my drift.  Our short getaway to Vancouver was certainly an attempt to eat the best the city had to offer.  With its reputation for all that is Asian, mainly of “Ching Chong Chang”…

Otafuku

Otafuku is just another one of the MANY Japanese restaurants populating the South Bay.  They call themselves a noodle house serving udon, soba, and the like but then they also have dons, skewers, sashimi.  It’s confusing.  We came for lunch and I would have been pleased had I followed the cardinal rules of restaurant dining…

Du Kuh Bee

Aside from dumplings, Portland is also lacking good Korean food.  I’m sure nothing compares to LA’s Koreatown except Korea itself.  It’s amazing how Korean food used to be something so foreign and weird tasting to something I really love.  I guess it’s cuz I have a penchant for stinky things and Korean food is full…

101 Noodle Express (Lu Wei Ju)

We all know Irvine is missing a solid dumpling and noodle house.  A&J makes a decent attempt, but it still leaves a big void.  I mean, if I knew how to make awesome dumplings, I would totally open up a joint in Irvine because I knew it would win big.  I’m talking lines out the…

Inaba

Ok, so I feel like I’ve been blogging a lot about Japanese food in the South Bay.  So far, I have yet to be disappointed.  Inaba is home to some solid soba and udon dishes.  The menu had many choices, but I like to go with dinner sets when I can.  It’s headache enough to…

J&J

For all of those tired of the updates about Thailand, this one’s for you… The San Gabriel Valley has no shortage of dumplings.  In my experience, most of the dumplings are just OK, never really achieving that yum-inspiring lip-smacking deliciousness of Luscious Dumpling, which I am convinced has to use MSG.  Most taste like something…

A&J

Even though Irvine is packed with Chinese people, the Chinese food is still inferior to that in the San Gabriel Valley.  The SGV is more like bleeding Chinese people, so that probably explains the difference.  This was my first time at A&J which is a Taiwanese restaurant, I think.  They serve dumplings, noodles, small cold dishes,…

Daikokuya

Daikokuya makes up one of the Big 3 ramen joints in LA.  I already posted about Shinsengumi, which probably ties for 2nd place with Daikokuya in my opinion.  While I love their curly ramen noodles, I get more excited about the pork bowl than the ramen.  Also, the wait time is simply atrocious.  I thought I’d…

Yu Chun Chic Naeng Myun

I never knew about Korean food until I got to college.  My first experience was not a great one.  I was really put off by all the strong, pungent, and spicy flavors.  Since then I’ve really grown accustomed to the flavors, and have really learned to appreciate the bold taste of Korean cuisine.  I would say…