Isaan is one of Thailand’s four regions (the other three are the Northern, Southern, and Central regions), and each has its distinct cuisine. The region is nestled next to Laos and Cambodia and reflects their flavors. I recently visited Isaan Station, a restaurant that features food from this area of Thailand. As I searched for…
Mid City
HK Chicken – A Hidden Find for Korean Red Bean Pastry
I always like to know where the locals frequent because you can find the hidden gems. These are typically reasonably priced places with outstanding food. A recent find was in Hawaii when a taxi driver told me where he goes for Hawaiian poke. Not long ago, I discovered where LA’s Korean community goes for bungeo-ppang….
Hasiba Serves Made-To-Order Pita and Creamy Hummus
Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, Hasiba closed in early 2022. 😞 Hasiba Restaurant is a hummusiya (hummus eatery) in Los Angeles, Pico Blvd, near La Cienega Blvd. This area of LA is known as a center for the Jewish community and its numerous Kosher restaurants, including delis, Chinese, Italian, and Mexican restaurants. Hasiba is one of the…
Sōgo Roll Bar Elevates Japanese Hand Rolls
While I’ve sat at the bar at many sushi restaurants, I’ve never experienced a “roll bar.” No, I’m not talking about the accessory on a convertible car, but a bar-like restaurant featuring Japanese hand rolls. Since my daughter volunteers in Hollywood, I took the opportunity to meet her at Sōgo Roll Bar. The Japanese roll…
El Granjero Corners the Original Farmers Market
Many chefs have an entrepreneurial spirit the which leads them to open a restaurant of their own. If the concept succeeds, the entrepreneurial spirit remains strong, and frequently, a chef will launch another restaurant. After all, if they have name recognition, they already have a built-in following. One such chef is Neal Fraser. He recently…
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at The Cat and Fiddle
St. Patrick’s Day is this Wednesday, Mar. 17. If you haven’t lined up your St. Patrick’s Day outing, you should consider The Cat and Fiddle Restaurant and Pub in Hollywood. Their March specials include Corned Beef with Cabbage and Corned Beef Sliders. In addition, diners placing on-line orders may add a pint of Guinness for…
Enjoying Fat Tuesday at Harold and Belle’s
Fat Tuesday is the last day of Carnival and the day before for Ash Wednesday. It is the intertwining of a period of festivals and feasts that lead to a time of fasting and reflection. To celebrate Fat Tuesday, my wife suggested that we order food from Harold and Belle’s, a long-time standing Creole restaurant…
République To Go – Amazing Picnic Experience
Many top-tier LA restaurants have either closed or had to resort to complete dinners to go. It isn’t feasible for a large brick and mortar to convert a to-go operation. This is unrealistic if their customers frequent their restaurant for the ambiance and the service. To celebrate my cousin’s birthday, I ordered from the “to-go”…
Bee Taqueria – Chef Alex Carrasco’s New Venture
Many Americans don’t associate Mexican cuisine as haute cuisine, but in fact, two restaurants in Mexico City were listed in “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants” in 2018. One chef located in Mexico City, Alex Carrasco, relocated to Los Angeles to further his career. In August last year, Carrasco opened Bee Taqueria in LA’s West Adams…
Gish Bac – Oaxacan Cuisine Done Well
Oaxacan cuisine is one of Mexico’s most varied cuisines. Well known features of the cuisine include ingredients such as chocolate, cheese, mole, and grasshoppers (chapulines). I was happy to see one such Oaxacan restaurant, Gish Bac, re-opened after being shut down due to the pandemic. Gish Bac is owned by David Padilla and Maria Ramos…