The Donut Hole
15300 Amar Road
La Puente, CA 91744
626-968-2912
Drive-through only; 24 hours.
Visited: May 2010, Dinner, Take-out
Well, the real reason to visit The Donut Hole is that you get to drive through the donut's hole! It's very cool. The donut shop is open 24 hours, and even at 8pm, they still had a nice selection to choose from.
We just got a couple things - a Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting and a Raised Glazed Twist. Both were fresh and satisfying. They don't sell French donuts (which is a rarity, anyways).
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Dim Sum Express, Monterey Park, CA
Dim Sum Express
326 N. Garfield Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91745
626-307-5800
Walk-up stand; 4 tables and benches on the side.
Parking in the lot behind.
Open 7:30a-7:00p.
Visited: May 2010, Late afternoon, Take-out
We were a little apprehensive in visiting this place because almost all of the dim sum items are sold by the piece, and that just seemed way too expensive (and unlike most other dim sum places). However, after we saw how large they were, and how tasty, we were sold.
The Siu Mai ($0.75) were large and plump, and very flavorful. I sometimes worry when siu mai are too big cuz they don't cook all the way through, but these were great.
The Har Gow ($0.85) had large pieces of shrimp - you could actually tell they were shrimp, not just minced orangey-pink bits. Very good.
The steamed Cha Siu Bao ($0.85) was also very tasty. There could have been a little more filling, but overall it was still satisfying.
The Hom Suey Goks ($0.75) were very large. They were a little greasey, but the dough was nicely chewy and the meat filling had a nice flavor.
We don't usually order Egg Rolls ($0.75) for dim sum, but thought we would try them while we were here. Yeah, no. They were nicely crisp and had lots of veggie filling, but they were very oniony. The overwhelming flavor was onion.
The flat Fried Wontons ($1.35) were disappointing. They tasted like fried egg roll wrappers (which is fine) but there was hardly any filling.
The Pot Stickers ($1.35 for 4) and the Steamed Dumplings ($1.25) had plenty of filling and were very tasty.
Also good was the Chicken Rice in Lotus Leaf ($1.65). The rice was tender, and there was the right amount of chicken filling. This would make a great lunch.
And the Turnip Cakes ($0.75) had a very nice pan fried char, and lot of yummy tasty bits.
The last thing we ordered, we were a bit disappointed in. They also feature some 'fast food' non-dim sum items. We tried the spicy Deep Fried Pork Chops and rice ($4.49). For the price, you get a lot of food. But it didn't have much taste - definitely not spicy.
Overall, we were quite pleased with this little dim sum walk-up stand.
326 N. Garfield Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91745
626-307-5800
Walk-up stand; 4 tables and benches on the side.
Parking in the lot behind.
Open 7:30a-7:00p.
Visited: May 2010, Late afternoon, Take-out
We were a little apprehensive in visiting this place because almost all of the dim sum items are sold by the piece, and that just seemed way too expensive (and unlike most other dim sum places). However, after we saw how large they were, and how tasty, we were sold.
The Siu Mai ($0.75) were large and plump, and very flavorful. I sometimes worry when siu mai are too big cuz they don't cook all the way through, but these were great.
The Har Gow ($0.85) had large pieces of shrimp - you could actually tell they were shrimp, not just minced orangey-pink bits. Very good.
The steamed Cha Siu Bao ($0.85) was also very tasty. There could have been a little more filling, but overall it was still satisfying.
The Hom Suey Goks ($0.75) were very large. They were a little greasey, but the dough was nicely chewy and the meat filling had a nice flavor.
We don't usually order Egg Rolls ($0.75) for dim sum, but thought we would try them while we were here. Yeah, no. They were nicely crisp and had lots of veggie filling, but they were very oniony. The overwhelming flavor was onion.
The flat Fried Wontons ($1.35) were disappointing. They tasted like fried egg roll wrappers (which is fine) but there was hardly any filling.
The Pot Stickers ($1.35 for 4) and the Steamed Dumplings ($1.25) had plenty of filling and were very tasty.
Also good was the Chicken Rice in Lotus Leaf ($1.65). The rice was tender, and there was the right amount of chicken filling. This would make a great lunch.
And the Turnip Cakes ($0.75) had a very nice pan fried char, and lot of yummy tasty bits.
The last thing we ordered, we were a bit disappointed in. They also feature some 'fast food' non-dim sum items. We tried the spicy Deep Fried Pork Chops and rice ($4.49). For the price, you get a lot of food. But it didn't have much taste - definitely not spicy.
Overall, we were quite pleased with this little dim sum walk-up stand.
Shakas Hawaiian Flavors, Monterey Park, CA
Shakas Hawaiian Flavors
2300 Garfield Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91754
323-888-2695
http://www.shakas.com/
Casual; order at the counter.
Located just north of the 60 freeway.
Parking in the strip mall and on the side street.
Second location: 101 Main St, #C, Alhambra, CA 91801
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Take-out
Shakas is a nice casual Hawaiian fast food place. We tried just a few things, but were quite satisfied, and will definitely be back to try more menu items.
We had the Kalua Pork Tacos - two crispy tacos FILLED with kalua pig and topped with raw cabbage, cheese and pico de gallo. The kalua was smoky and rich, however, I figured out that kalua tacos are not for me. While tasty, they were waaay too rich for my blood.
We got a side order of the Mochiko Chicken. Boneless chicken pieces that have been marinated in a sweet soy sauce, and then lightly coated and deep fried. These were delicious little morsels. They identify the Mochiko Chicken as a house specialty, and they're right.
We also got an order of Spam Musubi ($1.95) which was very fresh and flavorful. I love it when there's just a little sauce on the rice, and this how they do it. It was larger than I expected - maybe 4 inches long.
They have all the other traditional Hawaiian grindz (Loco Moco, Kalbi, Katsu, Huli Huli Chicken, etc.) so we'll be back to try.
2300 Garfield Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91754
323-888-2695
http://www.shakas.com/
Casual; order at the counter.
Located just north of the 60 freeway.
Parking in the strip mall and on the side street.
Second location: 101 Main St, #C, Alhambra, CA 91801
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Take-out
Shakas is a nice casual Hawaiian fast food place. We tried just a few things, but were quite satisfied, and will definitely be back to try more menu items.
We had the Kalua Pork Tacos - two crispy tacos FILLED with kalua pig and topped with raw cabbage, cheese and pico de gallo. The kalua was smoky and rich, however, I figured out that kalua tacos are not for me. While tasty, they were waaay too rich for my blood.
We got a side order of the Mochiko Chicken. Boneless chicken pieces that have been marinated in a sweet soy sauce, and then lightly coated and deep fried. These were delicious little morsels. They identify the Mochiko Chicken as a house specialty, and they're right.
We also got an order of Spam Musubi ($1.95) which was very fresh and flavorful. I love it when there's just a little sauce on the rice, and this how they do it. It was larger than I expected - maybe 4 inches long.
They have all the other traditional Hawaiian grindz (Loco Moco, Kalbi, Katsu, Huli Huli Chicken, etc.) so we'll be back to try.
The Donut Man, Glendora, CA
The Donut Man
915 E. Route 66
Glendora, CA 91740
626-335-9111
Walk up stand, no seating. Cash only. 24 hours.
Plenty of free parking behing the shop.
Visited: May 2010, Afternoon, Take-out
The Donut Man is best known for their Fresh Strawberry and Fresh Peach donuts. Large circular raised glazed donuts that are cut in half and filled with fruit and glaze. The fruits are seasonal - either they have strawberries or they have peaches. When we arrived in the late afternoon, they were in the process of making a new batch of the massive strawberry donuts. We decided that they had so many other tasty things that we tried those and come back another time for the strawberry.
We tried their other specialty, Tiger Tails. Looong twisted raised glazed donuts that are plain, or have chocolate twisted in. Very good.
Their Boston Creme Pies were also decadent. Large (maybe 4 or 5 inches in diameter) raised donuts filled with custardy cream and topped with chocolate icing. Exceptional.
They also make French Donuts which are hard to find. They were fresh, and they custom glazed one for us with chocolate. Unfortunately, it wasn't that great. It was mushy in the middle. (Randy's in Inglewood makes excellent French donuts.)
We also tried their very large donut Cinnamon Rolls (maybe 6 inches in diameter), and their traditional Raised Glazed Donuts were very good.
There was slight hint of old oil, but overall they were very good donuts. And everyone was very friendly, including the other customers in line. It seems everyone's in a good mood when ordering donuts!
Despite the late afternoon/early evening timeframe, we were pleased at how fresh the donuts were. For a 24-hour business, it was great to know that they make their donuts regularly and provide quality donuts at all hours.
915 E. Route 66
Glendora, CA 91740
626-335-9111
Walk up stand, no seating. Cash only. 24 hours.
Plenty of free parking behing the shop.
Visited: May 2010, Afternoon, Take-out
The Donut Man is best known for their Fresh Strawberry and Fresh Peach donuts. Large circular raised glazed donuts that are cut in half and filled with fruit and glaze. The fruits are seasonal - either they have strawberries or they have peaches. When we arrived in the late afternoon, they were in the process of making a new batch of the massive strawberry donuts. We decided that they had so many other tasty things that we tried those and come back another time for the strawberry.
We tried their other specialty, Tiger Tails. Looong twisted raised glazed donuts that are plain, or have chocolate twisted in. Very good.
Their Boston Creme Pies were also decadent. Large (maybe 4 or 5 inches in diameter) raised donuts filled with custardy cream and topped with chocolate icing. Exceptional.
They also make French Donuts which are hard to find. They were fresh, and they custom glazed one for us with chocolate. Unfortunately, it wasn't that great. It was mushy in the middle. (Randy's in Inglewood makes excellent French donuts.)
We also tried their very large donut Cinnamon Rolls (maybe 6 inches in diameter), and their traditional Raised Glazed Donuts were very good.
There was slight hint of old oil, but overall they were very good donuts. And everyone was very friendly, including the other customers in line. It seems everyone's in a good mood when ordering donuts!
Despite the late afternoon/early evening timeframe, we were pleased at how fresh the donuts were. For a 24-hour business, it was great to know that they make their donuts regularly and provide quality donuts at all hours.
Bahooka Family Restaurant, Rosemead, CA
Bahooka Family Restaurant
4501 Rosemead Blvd
Rosemead, CA 91770
626-285-1211
http://www.bahooka.com/
Casual; great for families or drinking get togethers. Full bar.
Plenty of free parking in their lot.
Visited: May 2010, Afternoon, Take-out
This place is quite the sight to see - even if you just come to look and not eat (which is almost what we did). There are fish tanks EVERYWHERE! Great fun to look at. It's also quite a maze of a restaurant, but looks like it would great fun to hang out with friends and have lots of drinks with umbrellas.
They feature Polynesian food and tiki bar fun stuff. We decided to try a couple of their noted appetizers. First, Bahooka's Special Exotic Ribs ($23.25 for two pounds) which were like Chinese-style red ribs but then they were served with American-style bbq sauce. The ribs were tender, but didn't really have much taste. I was expecting much more.
And we got an order of the Crab Puffs ($10.75 for 2o puffs) which were rather odd little things. They were little fried balls of soft crab filling. The first one kinda tasted crabby, but the next ones just seemed salty.
So, I'm thinking that we won't be back for the food, but for the ambience. And after a few drinks, maybe those appetizers will be downright delish.
4501 Rosemead Blvd
Rosemead, CA 91770
626-285-1211
http://www.bahooka.com/
Casual; great for families or drinking get togethers. Full bar.
Plenty of free parking in their lot.
Visited: May 2010, Afternoon, Take-out
This place is quite the sight to see - even if you just come to look and not eat (which is almost what we did). There are fish tanks EVERYWHERE! Great fun to look at. It's also quite a maze of a restaurant, but looks like it would great fun to hang out with friends and have lots of drinks with umbrellas.
They feature Polynesian food and tiki bar fun stuff. We decided to try a couple of their noted appetizers. First, Bahooka's Special Exotic Ribs ($23.25 for two pounds) which were like Chinese-style red ribs but then they were served with American-style bbq sauce. The ribs were tender, but didn't really have much taste. I was expecting much more.
And we got an order of the Crab Puffs ($10.75 for 2o puffs) which were rather odd little things. They were little fried balls of soft crab filling. The first one kinda tasted crabby, but the next ones just seemed salty.
So, I'm thinking that we won't be back for the food, but for the ambience. And after a few drinks, maybe those appetizers will be downright delish.
Euro Pane Bakery, Pasadena, CA
Euro Pane Bakery
950 E. Colorado Blvd, Suite 107
Pasadena, CA 91106
626-577-1828
This is the 'old' location near Lake. They're opening another location further west on Colorado (west of Los Robles.)
Some indoor and outdoor seating.
Metered street parking.
Visited: May 2010, Afternoon, Take-out
Euro Pane was recently on Food Network's Best Think I Ever Ate (for its Egg Salad Sandwich), however it was on our list to try before that. We were going to be the area, and thought we'd stop in.
It was around 3 in the afternoon, and we were very disappointed in the selection that remained. They didn't even have any more bread left to serve sandwiches! The cases was partially filled onesies of this and that, and it was all rather surprising since there was a line of customers who left rather disappointed. They were scheduled to be open until 5:30, and I don't know what they were planning to sell.
We tried a few things, and were rather disappointed in the lacklusterness of the items. We tried a slice of the Frittata which was really more like a quiche. It had some veggies in it, but the problem were the long frilly herbs that made it difficult to eat.
We also tried a Cinnamon Roll, and they threw in a Dinner Roll for good measure (I guess to clear the cabinet faster?). Both were just there, not inspiring.
The intriguing thing was the bag of Chocolate Chocolate Chip Biscotti-like things. They tasted and felt like a chocolate chocolate chip cake that was sliced thing and left to dry to produce these crispy wafter cookies. Fascinating and tasty. They didn't have a label so I don't know what they called them, or what they were supposed to be. Maybe they were just dried out cookies? Dunno, but they were tasty.
We were hoping to try the brioche, croissants, lemon bars, etc, that we had heard good things about. But alas, based on what we tried, we won't go out of our way.
950 E. Colorado Blvd, Suite 107
Pasadena, CA 91106
626-577-1828
This is the 'old' location near Lake. They're opening another location further west on Colorado (west of Los Robles.)
Some indoor and outdoor seating.
Metered street parking.
Visited: May 2010, Afternoon, Take-out
Euro Pane was recently on Food Network's Best Think I Ever Ate (for its Egg Salad Sandwich), however it was on our list to try before that. We were going to be the area, and thought we'd stop in.
It was around 3 in the afternoon, and we were very disappointed in the selection that remained. They didn't even have any more bread left to serve sandwiches! The cases was partially filled onesies of this and that, and it was all rather surprising since there was a line of customers who left rather disappointed. They were scheduled to be open until 5:30, and I don't know what they were planning to sell.
We tried a few things, and were rather disappointed in the lacklusterness of the items. We tried a slice of the Frittata which was really more like a quiche. It had some veggies in it, but the problem were the long frilly herbs that made it difficult to eat.
We also tried a Cinnamon Roll, and they threw in a Dinner Roll for good measure (I guess to clear the cabinet faster?). Both were just there, not inspiring.
The intriguing thing was the bag of Chocolate Chocolate Chip Biscotti-like things. They tasted and felt like a chocolate chocolate chip cake that was sliced thing and left to dry to produce these crispy wafter cookies. Fascinating and tasty. They didn't have a label so I don't know what they called them, or what they were supposed to be. Maybe they were just dried out cookies? Dunno, but they were tasty.
We were hoping to try the brioche, croissants, lemon bars, etc, that we had heard good things about. But alas, based on what we tried, we won't go out of our way.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Ristorante Deneno, Alachua, FL
Ristorante Deneno
14960 Main Street
Alachua, FL 32615
386-418-1066
http://www.deneno.com/
Casual nice. Full bar.
Plenty of parking in the public lot across the street.
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Dine-in
This adorable restaurant in the heart of downtown Alachua is such a gem! The portions are generous, the prices are very reasonable, and the service is friendly.
We started with the Calamari ($6). A very lovely pile of nicely coated and crisp calamari as well as these little slices of coated crispy lemon slices - quite an interesting flavor surprise. The marinara was thick and spicy, and very tasty.
The have an open wood burning pizza oven, and we had the Portobello Pizza ($6) with lovely portobello mushrooms, and grana padana and mozzarella cheeses, and the Blanca Pizza ($7) topped with garlic, artichokes, and a number of cheeses - ricotta, parmesan, romano, and mozzarella. Both were plate-sized with a very lovely chewy crust and plenty of toppings.
We also tried the very tasty Deneno Burger ($8) that came topped with gorgonzola, red onions, and choice of swiss or cheddar. The burger also comes with mushrooms, but we opted out of those. As the pizza crust was great, the burger also came on a very nice homemade roll. A generous serving of pasta salad also came with.
It was a very relaxing lunch with great good. I'm looking forward to trying other menu items.
14960 Main Street
Alachua, FL 32615
386-418-1066
http://www.deneno.com/
Casual nice. Full bar.
Plenty of parking in the public lot across the street.
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Dine-in
This adorable restaurant in the heart of downtown Alachua is such a gem! The portions are generous, the prices are very reasonable, and the service is friendly.
We started with the Calamari ($6). A very lovely pile of nicely coated and crisp calamari as well as these little slices of coated crispy lemon slices - quite an interesting flavor surprise. The marinara was thick and spicy, and very tasty.
The have an open wood burning pizza oven, and we had the Portobello Pizza ($6) with lovely portobello mushrooms, and grana padana and mozzarella cheeses, and the Blanca Pizza ($7) topped with garlic, artichokes, and a number of cheeses - ricotta, parmesan, romano, and mozzarella. Both were plate-sized with a very lovely chewy crust and plenty of toppings.
We also tried the very tasty Deneno Burger ($8) that came topped with gorgonzola, red onions, and choice of swiss or cheddar. The burger also comes with mushrooms, but we opted out of those. As the pizza crust was great, the burger also came on a very nice homemade roll. A generous serving of pasta salad also came with.
It was a very relaxing lunch with great good. I'm looking forward to trying other menu items.
Hans' Homemade Ice Cream, Santa Ana, CA
Hans' Homemade Ice Cream and Deli
3640 S. Bristol St
Santa Ana, CA 92704
714-979-8815
Casual. Plenty of parking in the strip mall lot.
Located near South Coast Plaza.
Visited: May 2010, Evening, Dine-in
Hans' is a traditional ice cream scoop shop and parlour that also serves salads and sandwiches. Since we make some pretty good homemade ice cream, we're always looking for shops that make good 'homemade' or small batch ice cream.
We tried a One Scoop Dish ($3.50) of Coffee Ice Cream. If was definitely coffee flavored, but more like coffee and cream than just coffee. I prefer my flavors to be more distinct.
We also tried a One Scoop Dish of Lemon Custard that was pleasantly lemony; good, but not sensational.
And a Regular size Chocolate Milkshake ($5.25) that was quite pleasant and chocolatey, rich, and cold. It definitely hit the spot.
We wouldn't object to going back, but would not make a special trip, especially when our homemade ice cream is pretty tasty.
3640 S. Bristol St
Santa Ana, CA 92704
714-979-8815
Casual. Plenty of parking in the strip mall lot.
Located near South Coast Plaza.
Visited: May 2010, Evening, Dine-in
Hans' is a traditional ice cream scoop shop and parlour that also serves salads and sandwiches. Since we make some pretty good homemade ice cream, we're always looking for shops that make good 'homemade' or small batch ice cream.
We tried a One Scoop Dish ($3.50) of Coffee Ice Cream. If was definitely coffee flavored, but more like coffee and cream than just coffee. I prefer my flavors to be more distinct.
We also tried a One Scoop Dish of Lemon Custard that was pleasantly lemony; good, but not sensational.
And a Regular size Chocolate Milkshake ($5.25) that was quite pleasant and chocolatey, rich, and cold. It definitely hit the spot.
We wouldn't object to going back, but would not make a special trip, especially when our homemade ice cream is pretty tasty.
Shivers Bar-B-Q, Homestead, FL
Shivers Bar-B-Q
28001 S. Dixie Hwy
Homestead, FL 33033
305-248-2272
http://www.shiversbbq.com/
Casual; large shared tables and benches. Beer and wine.
Parking in the front lot.
Visited: March 2010, Lunch, Dine-in
We had a lovely late lunch at Shivers, home of hickory smoked bar-b-q since 1950. It has a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
We tried the Beef and Pork Combo ($10.99) - 2 very nice servings of very tender beef brisket slices and sliced bar-b-q pork that also came with two sides. We got the Bar-B-Q Beans which were sweet and smoky with nice chunks of pork, and the Sweet Corn Souffle was terrific. There were choices of three sauces on the table - sweet, spicy and mustard-based. I had the sweet, and it was very good. The spicy was a bit too hot - meaning it was all hot without much flavor.
We also had the Hickory Burger ($7.99) with cheese ($0.50) and bacon ($0.75) added to it. The burger was thick, tasty, and very satisfying. The burger came with two sides, and we got the Bar-B-Q Beans and French Fries, also very good.
Additionally, we got a couple appetizers. The Onion Rings ($3.89) were a massive pile of skinny, lightly coated onion rings. And the fried Corn on the Cob ($2.19) was amazing. The corn became sweet and caramelized from the frying, and was oh-so-tasty.
A very nice little place that was recommended by locals.
28001 S. Dixie Hwy
Homestead, FL 33033
305-248-2272
http://www.shiversbbq.com/
Casual; large shared tables and benches. Beer and wine.
Parking in the front lot.
Visited: March 2010, Lunch, Dine-in
We had a lovely late lunch at Shivers, home of hickory smoked bar-b-q since 1950. It has a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
We tried the Beef and Pork Combo ($10.99) - 2 very nice servings of very tender beef brisket slices and sliced bar-b-q pork that also came with two sides. We got the Bar-B-Q Beans which were sweet and smoky with nice chunks of pork, and the Sweet Corn Souffle was terrific. There were choices of three sauces on the table - sweet, spicy and mustard-based. I had the sweet, and it was very good. The spicy was a bit too hot - meaning it was all hot without much flavor.
We also had the Hickory Burger ($7.99) with cheese ($0.50) and bacon ($0.75) added to it. The burger was thick, tasty, and very satisfying. The burger came with two sides, and we got the Bar-B-Q Beans and French Fries, also very good.
Additionally, we got a couple appetizers. The Onion Rings ($3.89) were a massive pile of skinny, lightly coated onion rings. And the fried Corn on the Cob ($2.19) was amazing. The corn became sweet and caramelized from the frying, and was oh-so-tasty.
A very nice little place that was recommended by locals.
Gourmet Cobbler Factory, Pasadena, CA
Gourmet Cobbler Factory
33 N. Catalina Ave
Pasadena, CA 91106
626-795-1005
Take-out only. Street parking.
www.thegourmetcobblerfactory.com (although the website isn't that helpful)
Visited: May 2010
We were curious about the Gourmet Cobbler Factory, and whether they really just served cobblers. They in fact do have some other pies, and now appear to be serving bbq.
We were happy to find that even though we were there at closing time at 3pm, they still had fresh hot cobblers. We chose 3 small desserts, and while they weren't cheap, you do get a lot of filling.
We tried the Peach Cobbler which was very good. It had a thin crust on both top and bottom, which made it seem more like a deep dish pie.
And the Pecan Pie was good also. It had a nice bottom crust that wasn't mushy.
And lastly, we tried the Sweet Potato Pie which was good, but very sweet.
While she may have a selection to choose from in her case, your best bet is to place an order ahead of time.
33 N. Catalina Ave
Pasadena, CA 91106
626-795-1005
Take-out only. Street parking.
www.thegourmetcobblerfactory.com (although the website isn't that helpful)
Visited: May 2010
We were curious about the Gourmet Cobbler Factory, and whether they really just served cobblers. They in fact do have some other pies, and now appear to be serving bbq.
We were happy to find that even though we were there at closing time at 3pm, they still had fresh hot cobblers. We chose 3 small desserts, and while they weren't cheap, you do get a lot of filling.
We tried the Peach Cobbler which was very good. It had a thin crust on both top and bottom, which made it seem more like a deep dish pie.
And the Pecan Pie was good also. It had a nice bottom crust that wasn't mushy.
And lastly, we tried the Sweet Potato Pie which was good, but very sweet.
While she may have a selection to choose from in her case, your best bet is to place an order ahead of time.
Aloha Food Factory, Alhambra, CA
Aloha Food Factory
2990 W. Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91803
626-308-0215
Located 2 blocks east of the end of the 710 freeway.
Plenty of parking in their own lot.
Casual. And Hawaiian style, they're closed on Mondays and holidays.
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Take-out
We wanted to get a good feel for this restaurant, so we ordered several items. The kitchen is rather small, and it took a while for our order to be completed. In the meantime, the lovely lady of the house gave us each a sample Macadamia Nut Pancake. The little pancake was tasty itself, but it was really the topping and little crunchy bits of mac nut on top that were amazing. I'm not sure what the topping is - it's not syrup, or sweetened condensed milk, but it was more like a creme anglaise. Very tasty.
We ordered the Loco Moco ($7.25) which was a very large portion of rice, hamburger patty, scrambled eggs, and gravy. While fine, it was overall rather plain. Which is what we found to be the case with all of the items we ordered. Good, but plain - not highly seasoned.
For the Aloha Plate ($10.99), we chose Kalua Pig and Cha Shu (which we had heard raves about). The Plate came with steamed rice, veggies, and Mac-Potato Salad. The Kalua was light on both smoke and flavor. And the Cha Shu was tasty roasted bbq pork, but definitely not cha shu. If we had been served it without a name, we would have assigned it the title of cha shu.
And lastly, we got the Kalbi Plate ($9.75) that came with rice, veggies, and Mac-Potato Salad. The ribs were tender and had a nice char, but also very plain. As if they needed to marinate longer, or have a sauce applied during or after cooking.
A friendly little hole in the wall that also serves shave ice, but not sure that we'd be back for the things we've already tried.
2990 W. Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91803
626-308-0215
Located 2 blocks east of the end of the 710 freeway.
Plenty of parking in their own lot.
Casual. And Hawaiian style, they're closed on Mondays and holidays.
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Take-out
We wanted to get a good feel for this restaurant, so we ordered several items. The kitchen is rather small, and it took a while for our order to be completed. In the meantime, the lovely lady of the house gave us each a sample Macadamia Nut Pancake. The little pancake was tasty itself, but it was really the topping and little crunchy bits of mac nut on top that were amazing. I'm not sure what the topping is - it's not syrup, or sweetened condensed milk, but it was more like a creme anglaise. Very tasty.
We ordered the Loco Moco ($7.25) which was a very large portion of rice, hamburger patty, scrambled eggs, and gravy. While fine, it was overall rather plain. Which is what we found to be the case with all of the items we ordered. Good, but plain - not highly seasoned.
For the Aloha Plate ($10.99), we chose Kalua Pig and Cha Shu (which we had heard raves about). The Plate came with steamed rice, veggies, and Mac-Potato Salad. The Kalua was light on both smoke and flavor. And the Cha Shu was tasty roasted bbq pork, but definitely not cha shu. If we had been served it without a name, we would have assigned it the title of cha shu.
And lastly, we got the Kalbi Plate ($9.75) that came with rice, veggies, and Mac-Potato Salad. The ribs were tender and had a nice char, but also very plain. As if they needed to marinate longer, or have a sauce applied during or after cooking.
A friendly little hole in the wall that also serves shave ice, but not sure that we'd be back for the things we've already tried.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Cherrystone's Grill & Grotto, Gardena, CA
Cherrystone's Grill & Grotto
15501 S. Vermont Ave
Gardena, CA 90247
310-329-8200
http://www.cherrystones.org/
Casual nice; sit down dining.
Plenty of lot and street parking out front.
Visited: May 2010, Dinner, Dine-in
This is an interesting restaurant with your traditional fare that you would find in a restaurant called 'grotto' such as prime rib, meatloaf, and fish and chips. But it's also a Hawaiian restaurant, so you get things like katsu, kalbi and bento boxes. It's such an unassuming restaurant with great food and friendly service.
We had the special thin sliced Prime Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy ($14.50) - so very tender, and the gravy was dark brown and heavenly. It came with a serving of seasonal veggies, and started with a nice little dinner green salad.
We also tried the steamed Chilean Seabass with Chinese Black Bean Sauce ($18.50). This was very tasty, and the fish was cooked very well despite its thickness. The fish came with steamed rice and vegetables. It also came with a starter salad, and we chose the somen salad that came with greens in a very nice soy vinaigrette. I could have eaten a whole meal of that salad alone.
And we got the Teriyaki Salmon Bento Box ($13.00) that came with somen salad, mac salad, broccoli medley salad, steamed rice, and fruit. While tasty and interesting, the other entrees seemed more exciting.
On special were their Sesame Wings which is usually only available on the catering menu. These were lovely soy-sesame marinated wings then deep fried to a golden brown. Tasty and very meaty.
Our neighbors at the table next to us had the braised shortribs with gravy and the panko crusted pork chops. Both looked super tasty, and gave us inspiration of what to try on our next visit.
15501 S. Vermont Ave
Gardena, CA 90247
310-329-8200
http://www.cherrystones.org/
Casual nice; sit down dining.
Plenty of lot and street parking out front.
Visited: May 2010, Dinner, Dine-in
This is an interesting restaurant with your traditional fare that you would find in a restaurant called 'grotto' such as prime rib, meatloaf, and fish and chips. But it's also a Hawaiian restaurant, so you get things like katsu, kalbi and bento boxes. It's such an unassuming restaurant with great food and friendly service.
We had the special thin sliced Prime Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy ($14.50) - so very tender, and the gravy was dark brown and heavenly. It came with a serving of seasonal veggies, and started with a nice little dinner green salad.
We also tried the steamed Chilean Seabass with Chinese Black Bean Sauce ($18.50). This was very tasty, and the fish was cooked very well despite its thickness. The fish came with steamed rice and vegetables. It also came with a starter salad, and we chose the somen salad that came with greens in a very nice soy vinaigrette. I could have eaten a whole meal of that salad alone.
And we got the Teriyaki Salmon Bento Box ($13.00) that came with somen salad, mac salad, broccoli medley salad, steamed rice, and fruit. While tasty and interesting, the other entrees seemed more exciting.
On special were their Sesame Wings which is usually only available on the catering menu. These were lovely soy-sesame marinated wings then deep fried to a golden brown. Tasty and very meaty.
Our neighbors at the table next to us had the braised shortribs with gravy and the panko crusted pork chops. Both looked super tasty, and gave us inspiration of what to try on our next visit.
Sonny's Famous Steak Hogies, Hollywood, FL
Sonny's Famous Steak Hogies
1857 N. 66th Ave
Hollywood, FL 33024
954-989-0561
www.sonnysfamoussteakhogies.com
Casual; take-out, order from the counter; eat in, table service.
Plenty of free parking out front and on the street.
Cash only.
Visited: March 2010, Dinner, Dine-in
As seen on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives with Guy Fieri, this fun little sandwich shop has great Steak Hogies, akin to Philly Cheesesteaks, and everyone working there was really nice. They've been around since 1958 - they must be doing something right!
We had the #90: Steak Hogie, Plain with Fried Onions ($5.45) plus the recommended Provolone ($0.50), although Mozzarella and American are available. The Sauce was also recommended, so we got a dish on the side. It's a homemade marinara style sauce, which did add a nice kick. So really, this sandwich became a #50: Steak Hogie, Sauce and Fried Onions ($5.45) with Provolone. A very satisfying sandwich that hit the spot for dinner.
We also had a #90 with Provolone, Green Peppers ($0.50) (cooked, but not well cooked as I prefer), and I would have ordered the mushrooms, except that I read reviews online that these were canned mushrooms, and I'm not a fan of those on sandwiches. No sauce. Again, a very satisfying sandwich.
We noticed other folks ordering the pizza, pasta and other hot and cold hogies, and then the smell of buttery garlic entered the small dining area. We couldn't resist, and got an order of Garlic Rolls ($2.90) that are only served in the evenings. These tender bread morsels are coated in butter and minced garlic and herbs - YUM!
Sonny's is definitely going to stay on our list the next time we're in the Ft Lauderdale / Miami area.
1857 N. 66th Ave
Hollywood, FL 33024
954-989-0561
www.sonnysfamoussteakhogies.com
Casual; take-out, order from the counter; eat in, table service.
Plenty of free parking out front and on the street.
Cash only.
Visited: March 2010, Dinner, Dine-in
As seen on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives with Guy Fieri, this fun little sandwich shop has great Steak Hogies, akin to Philly Cheesesteaks, and everyone working there was really nice. They've been around since 1958 - they must be doing something right!
We had the #90: Steak Hogie, Plain with Fried Onions ($5.45) plus the recommended Provolone ($0.50), although Mozzarella and American are available. The Sauce was also recommended, so we got a dish on the side. It's a homemade marinara style sauce, which did add a nice kick. So really, this sandwich became a #50: Steak Hogie, Sauce and Fried Onions ($5.45) with Provolone. A very satisfying sandwich that hit the spot for dinner.
We also had a #90 with Provolone, Green Peppers ($0.50) (cooked, but not well cooked as I prefer), and I would have ordered the mushrooms, except that I read reviews online that these were canned mushrooms, and I'm not a fan of those on sandwiches. No sauce. Again, a very satisfying sandwich.
We noticed other folks ordering the pizza, pasta and other hot and cold hogies, and then the smell of buttery garlic entered the small dining area. We couldn't resist, and got an order of Garlic Rolls ($2.90) that are only served in the evenings. These tender bread morsels are coated in butter and minced garlic and herbs - YUM!
Sonny's is definitely going to stay on our list the next time we're in the Ft Lauderdale / Miami area.
Wolfe Burgers, Pasadena, CA
Wolfe Burgers
46 N. Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-792-7292
http://www.wolfeburgers.com/
Casual; order and pick up at the counter. Plenty of indoor, covered and open patio areas.
Free parking in the lot behind the restaurant.
Visited: a few times, Lunch, Dine-In
Most recently: May 2010
Wolfe Burgers actually has quite an extensive menu including breakfast and Mexican fare, but we stuck to the burgers.
A Wolfe Burger is standard 1/3 pound, and then there are variations on the Wolfe Burger.
We had the Ultimate Wolfe Burger that had two patties and the addition of blue cheese and bacon. It was a good burger that satisfied that great burger craving.
We also tried a Bacon Cheeseburger with Cheddar. Wow, both the bacon and the cheddar were so flavorful! They really turned a plain burger into one with a lot of pizzazz.
The service is quick and friendly, and all around a good experience.
46 N. Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-792-7292
http://www.wolfeburgers.com/
Casual; order and pick up at the counter. Plenty of indoor, covered and open patio areas.
Free parking in the lot behind the restaurant.
Visited: a few times, Lunch, Dine-In
Most recently: May 2010
Wolfe Burgers actually has quite an extensive menu including breakfast and Mexican fare, but we stuck to the burgers.
A Wolfe Burger is standard 1/3 pound, and then there are variations on the Wolfe Burger.
We had the Ultimate Wolfe Burger that had two patties and the addition of blue cheese and bacon. It was a good burger that satisfied that great burger craving.
We also tried a Bacon Cheeseburger with Cheddar. Wow, both the bacon and the cheddar were so flavorful! They really turned a plain burger into one with a lot of pizzazz.
The service is quick and friendly, and all around a good experience.
Dave's Chillin-n-Grillin, Eagle Rock, CA
Dave's Chillin-n-Grillin
2152 Colorado Blvd
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
323-490-0988
http://www.daveschillin.com/
Casual; order at the counter, and the food is brought to you. Very small with indoor and a couple outdoor tables.
Some parking on the street, and a public metered lot in back (use the back entrance).
Cash only.
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Dine-in
Dave's is known for their sandwiches and smoothies. We decided to try their most famous and talked about sandwiches.
The 10" Hot Sub Meatball Sandwich ($9.50) with everything - onions, pepper spread, cheese and sauce. The bread was great - crusty and chewy. But there wasn't enough sauce, and the meatballs weren't strong enough to hold their own. What does make the sandwich is the amazing 'pepper spread.'
And the Tuna Melt ($7.00) with everything - pepper spread and tomatoes. I had read rave reviews about the tuna melt and how it was this amazing sandwich. I have to say that yes, I thought the sandwich was quite good. However, my ideal tuna sandwich is made with tomatoes and pepper jack cheese, and this tuna melt just tasted like my normal tuna sandwich that I make for myself. I'm guessing that no one else thought to make their sandwich with pepper jack before, so this was an 'amazing find.' I would order it again, after all, it has my fave tuna sandwich flavor profile.
We chatted with Dave for a moment about the pepper spread - which is really what makes their sandwiches so amazing. He originally developed it for the Italian Cold Sub, but the spread was so popular that he started adding it the others. It's a lovely pink-orange colored spread based on red bell peppers. Again, this is something else that is also my in recipe repertoire, but I guess for most folks, it's 'fancy' and 'new.'
While we enjoyed our sandwiches and the staff were really nice, the service was really really really slow, and we weren't even there at lunch rush.
2152 Colorado Blvd
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
323-490-0988
http://www.daveschillin.com/
Casual; order at the counter, and the food is brought to you. Very small with indoor and a couple outdoor tables.
Some parking on the street, and a public metered lot in back (use the back entrance).
Cash only.
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Dine-in
Dave's is known for their sandwiches and smoothies. We decided to try their most famous and talked about sandwiches.
The 10" Hot Sub Meatball Sandwich ($9.50) with everything - onions, pepper spread, cheese and sauce. The bread was great - crusty and chewy. But there wasn't enough sauce, and the meatballs weren't strong enough to hold their own. What does make the sandwich is the amazing 'pepper spread.'
And the Tuna Melt ($7.00) with everything - pepper spread and tomatoes. I had read rave reviews about the tuna melt and how it was this amazing sandwich. I have to say that yes, I thought the sandwich was quite good. However, my ideal tuna sandwich is made with tomatoes and pepper jack cheese, and this tuna melt just tasted like my normal tuna sandwich that I make for myself. I'm guessing that no one else thought to make their sandwich with pepper jack before, so this was an 'amazing find.' I would order it again, after all, it has my fave tuna sandwich flavor profile.
We chatted with Dave for a moment about the pepper spread - which is really what makes their sandwiches so amazing. He originally developed it for the Italian Cold Sub, but the spread was so popular that he started adding it the others. It's a lovely pink-orange colored spread based on red bell peppers. Again, this is something else that is also my in recipe repertoire, but I guess for most folks, it's 'fancy' and 'new.'
While we enjoyed our sandwiches and the staff were really nice, the service was really really really slow, and we weren't even there at lunch rush.
Joey's Smokin BBQ, Torrance, CA
Joey's Smokin BBQ
25308 Crenshaw Blvd
Torrance, CA 90505
310-257-1324
http://www.joeyssmokinbbq.com/
Located in Rolling Hills Plaza between CPK and Iccho. Plenty of free parking, but can be limited on busy Fridays and weekends due to the movie theaters.
Additional South Bay location in Manhattan Beach, as well as locations in Tustin and San Diego County.
Casual; walk up to the counter to order, then food is brought to your table.
Visited: June 2010, Dinner, Take-Out
We had known about the location in Manhattan Beach since it opened a couple years ago, but hadn't may our way over to it. This location in Torrance opened earlier this year, and we decided to finally go and try it (after it had some time to settle in - there were some horror stories about wait time when it first opened).
We wanted to try several of the menu items, and decided on Family Pack #3 ($79.99) which they say serves 6. I would say that *easily* this would serve 6 hungry adults, and you could even serve 8 adults without a problem. Quite a value to feed so many people. So what do you get...
1 full slab of Baby Back Ribs with your choice of sweet (Suh-weet) sauce, Carolina wet, or dry rubbed. In general, we prefer sweet bbq, so we went with that. The ribs were meaty, smoky and tender, and the sauce was a nice touch.
1 whole Lazy Smoked BBQ Chicken, also very tender. I thought that the chicken was a little plain, but I suppose that's just how chicken is. The skin was very nicely cooked and sauced, and the chicken went very well with the extra Suh-weet bbq sauce that we had and the baked beans.
1 pound of sliced Smoked Brisket - now this was to die for. I think this is the best smoked brisket I have ever had. Not only was it super tender with a light light smokey flavor, but it actually still tasted like beef. Oftentimes, I find that smoked brisket has lost its beef flavor when taken over by smoking, bbqing, or grilling. The best item in the Family Pack.
1 pound of Pulled Pork - a very close second to the Smoked Brisket. Tender and flavorful, and I bet this would taste excellent piled high on a sandwich.
1 quart of Mama's Downright Addictive BBQ Beans which were made with tender kidney and red beans, and sweet. If you like your baked beans or bbq beans to be sweet, then you'll love these. They go very well with the chicken and the pulled pork.
The Pack also comes with 1 quart of creamy cole slaw, but we opted for 1 quart of Mac n Cheese (for $2 extra) instead. Interesting Mac N Cheese, more like buttery noodles with a hint of cheese than, pow, in your face cheesiness. Overall, a very nice product, but don't look for uber cheese flavor.
And lastly, the Pack comes with 6 squares of Cornbread. Now, everyone has their favorite type of cornbread, and I like mine to feel a little gritty from the cornmeal. This is not that kind. This is more the sweet fluffy cake-like cornbread that could almost pass for dessert.
In addition, we also ordered a Basket of French Fries ($2.99) which is a large order of skinny shoestring-style fries. Well cooked.
We were very happy with this meal, and the leftovers it will provide.
Some other tantalizing menu items that we hope to try soon are the BBQ Flat Iron Steak Sandwich, the Half-Pound Burger upgraded to Kobe, the homemade Louisiana Hot Links, and the BBQ Wild Smoked Salmon Salad.
25308 Crenshaw Blvd
Torrance, CA 90505
310-257-1324
http://www.joeyssmokinbbq.com/
Located in Rolling Hills Plaza between CPK and Iccho. Plenty of free parking, but can be limited on busy Fridays and weekends due to the movie theaters.
Additional South Bay location in Manhattan Beach, as well as locations in Tustin and San Diego County.
Casual; walk up to the counter to order, then food is brought to your table.
Visited: June 2010, Dinner, Take-Out
We had known about the location in Manhattan Beach since it opened a couple years ago, but hadn't may our way over to it. This location in Torrance opened earlier this year, and we decided to finally go and try it (after it had some time to settle in - there were some horror stories about wait time when it first opened).
We wanted to try several of the menu items, and decided on Family Pack #3 ($79.99) which they say serves 6. I would say that *easily* this would serve 6 hungry adults, and you could even serve 8 adults without a problem. Quite a value to feed so many people. So what do you get...
1 full slab of Baby Back Ribs with your choice of sweet (Suh-weet) sauce, Carolina wet, or dry rubbed. In general, we prefer sweet bbq, so we went with that. The ribs were meaty, smoky and tender, and the sauce was a nice touch.
1 whole Lazy Smoked BBQ Chicken, also very tender. I thought that the chicken was a little plain, but I suppose that's just how chicken is. The skin was very nicely cooked and sauced, and the chicken went very well with the extra Suh-weet bbq sauce that we had and the baked beans.
1 pound of sliced Smoked Brisket - now this was to die for. I think this is the best smoked brisket I have ever had. Not only was it super tender with a light light smokey flavor, but it actually still tasted like beef. Oftentimes, I find that smoked brisket has lost its beef flavor when taken over by smoking, bbqing, or grilling. The best item in the Family Pack.
1 pound of Pulled Pork - a very close second to the Smoked Brisket. Tender and flavorful, and I bet this would taste excellent piled high on a sandwich.
1 quart of Mama's Downright Addictive BBQ Beans which were made with tender kidney and red beans, and sweet. If you like your baked beans or bbq beans to be sweet, then you'll love these. They go very well with the chicken and the pulled pork.
The Pack also comes with 1 quart of creamy cole slaw, but we opted for 1 quart of Mac n Cheese (for $2 extra) instead. Interesting Mac N Cheese, more like buttery noodles with a hint of cheese than, pow, in your face cheesiness. Overall, a very nice product, but don't look for uber cheese flavor.
And lastly, the Pack comes with 6 squares of Cornbread. Now, everyone has their favorite type of cornbread, and I like mine to feel a little gritty from the cornmeal. This is not that kind. This is more the sweet fluffy cake-like cornbread that could almost pass for dessert.
In addition, we also ordered a Basket of French Fries ($2.99) which is a large order of skinny shoestring-style fries. Well cooked.
We were very happy with this meal, and the leftovers it will provide.
Some other tantalizing menu items that we hope to try soon are the BBQ Flat Iron Steak Sandwich, the Half-Pound Burger upgraded to Kobe, the homemade Louisiana Hot Links, and the BBQ Wild Smoked Salmon Salad.
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