2019-07-25
San Francisco
SANDWICH
Salty's

Salty's is a coffee cum sandwich shop in Van Ness Avenue of San Francisco. In addition to their flavourful coffee made with beans from local roasters Ritual, this family-owned shop serves an assortment of signature sandwiches on soft pretzel rolls for breakfast and lunch. One of the most popular sandwiches of Salty's is their delicious Glorius Bastard Sandwich ($12.95). It is an avocado turkey club sandwich with pickled onions and chipotle gouda, stacked inside a Dutch Crunch bread roll with salami, mortadella, ham, smoked Gruyère, provolone cheese, tomato, garlic mayo.

Tags: Cafe
 
2019-07-16
San Gabriel Valley
CHINESE
Bistro Na's

Bistro Na's is a fancy, slightly expensive restaurant in San Gabriel Valley. It serves food that was originally designed for royalty and is one of very few Imperial Cuisine restaurants in the US. Each dish of this restaurant is prepared with hand-picked, superior ingredients by a dedicated team of expert chefs helmed by Chef Tian. Bistro Na’s top dishes include crispy shrimp ($24), prime beef rib ($39), peppered lamb chop ($36) and the “Emperor’s Jar” appetizer ($20). This place is pretty pricey, but the incredible dishes are worth the price.

Tips: Don't forget to make reservations before coming to Bistro Na's since they don't take walk-ins.

Tags: Fine Dining
 
2019-07-15
San Gabriel Valley
DIM SUM
Elite Restaurant

Elite in Monterey Park is one of the premium dim sum restaurants in San Gabriel Valley. This place doesn't have food carts, ordering is done from paper menu cards. Though there are more than 100 different things on the menu, the most recommended dishes of this place are its BBQ pork pastry, steamed taro cake, golden cream bun, crispy shrimp rice noodle and pork shumai. Elite's pork shumai is juicy, flavorful, and generous in portion size. The quality of the food remains consistent and reliable in this high-end restaurant year after year but the waiting time is often a little long.

Tags: Pork
 
2019-07-08
San Diego
BRUNCH
JRDN Restaurant

A visit to San Diego is not complete without ocean view dining and brunch and luckily, JRDN offers both. Located in Pacific Beach, this restaurant offers stunning beach views and a perfect spot for people watching. The restaurant serves contemporary California cuisine and its brunch menu has enough variety to satisfy both those seeking breakfast or lunch. Not to be missed is their sticky bun: a giant gooey fluffy breakfast bun topped with either maple bacon or cheesecake bites that are big enough for sharing.

Tags: American
 
2019-07-08
San Diego
ASIAN
Menya Ultra

With an award-winning ramen master from Japan at the helms, Menya Ultra is serving some of the best tonkotsu ramen outside of Japan. Once inside, you feel like you've stepped into a ramen shop in Japan. Overly polite and friendly servers and staff greet you right away and you can witness the ramen being cooked firsthand as you wait for your food. The restaurant wait times are often 1+ hours, but the freshly made noodles bathing in a bowl of rich, creamy tonkotsu broth are worth the wait. They are most known for their tonkotsu ramen but if it's available, I highly recommend the limited edition Neg Mison Ramen.

See the Blog post: https://tinyurl.com/y6byho7n

Tags: Ramen
 
2019-07-02
The Hampton
SEAFOOD
Bostwick's Chowder House

Bostwick's Chowder House offers the true Hamptons summertime dining experience. And if paper plates and a sometimes hour-long wait aren’t issues, the popular East Hampton spot has some of the area’s best seafood. Dine indoors among its seaside-inspired decor, outdoors on the casual patio with market umbrellas or order to go and enjoy your meal at home or the beach. Daily blackboard specials showcase the freshest catch from local fishermen, while menu options range from steamer and fried oysters with remoulade sauce to broiled local flounder, fish tacos, corn chowder, New England-style clam chowder, whole steamed lobsters and their famous lobster salad roll: a mildly seasoned production that packs plenty of lobster meat and butter. 

Tags: Roll
 
2019-07-01
The Hampton
PASTA
Scarpetta Beach

Glass doors and walls afford a spectacular ocean view at this Montauk offshoot of the New York Italian restaurant first launched in New York’s Meatpacking District. The restaurant’s name is derived from the Italian expression “fare la scarpetta,” the pleasure of savoring a meal to its last bite. Fans pack the airy dining room and patio for sophisticated Italian fare. A crudo menu includes options like local fluke with roasted sunchokes, citrus and black salt. Popular pasta choices include short rib and bone marrow agnolotti and the restaurant’s famed spaghetti with tomato sauce. Entrée selections run the gamut from seared scallops with corn, tomatoes and morel mushrooms to lavender-glazed duck on fennel and potato puree topped with caramelized peaches and citrus.

Tags: Italian
 
2019-07-01
The Hampton
SEAFOOD
Duryea's Lobster Deck

One of the most picturesque spots on the East End, this waterfront place was updated when billionaire Marc Rowan took over in 2016. But the iconic 1,400-square-foot lobster deck, and the auxiliary buildings to run the wholesale lobster and ice operation remain. Most dishes, like a full clam bake, lobster Cobb salad and market fish, are served family-style. Fans rave about the lobster rolls, fresh catch and spectacular sunsets on the deck overlooking Fort Pond Bay. The BYOB landmark is seriously casual.  Order at the counter. Cash only.

Tags: Salad
 
2019-07-01
Orange County
PIZZA
Forn Al Hara

This little unassuming eatery in a strip mall located in Little Arabia has been around for decades. Inside, you'll find all sorts of wonderful baked goods including the array of manaeesh (flat bread) on offer. Favorites include labneh & zaatar, sujuk & cheese, and kafta. There are also traditional pizzas for the kids and baklava.

Tags: Lebanese
 
2019-07-01
Orange County
DUCK
Journeyman's Food & Drink

One of the best restaurants in OC right now, Journeyman's is a fine dining restaurant in a relaxed setting. Zach Geerson is a young chef who is not only talented but oh so creative. Mary's Organic Duck is only one of the dishes he offers from the spectacular prix fixe tasting menu which he offers each night. The beautifully executed duck is paired with blackberry and parmagiano and served with a drizzle of sauce at the table.

Check out the blog post: https://tinyurl.com/y3ra4pc8

Tags: American, Tastings