Beechwood Cafe

For all the times we have visited the City of Angels, we have never hiked up to the Hollywood sign.  I guess it just might be that we were always there during Summer and it would be uncomfortably hot to do so.  This time around, Viv and I were here not in the midst of July or August. The weather was just right.  We were able to snag a parking spot near the starting point of the hike and did the leisurely stroll up the mountain.  Very strange that part of it is someone's driveway...  After that, we were pretty hungry and did the touristy thing and stopped by Beechwood Cafe (apparently many people do this...).

After a 30-minute wait, we were seated and got started with the Housemade Spicy Buffalo Wings.  These didn't look it but they were actually pretty hot.  I personally love spicy food so this didn't make want to order milk, but it definitely had impact and left my lips tingling.  I found the batter to be pretty crispy (even with all the sauce) and the skin was fairly rendered.  As for the meat, it was moist and juicy.  I really liked these and should've gotten more in a different flavor!

We ended up sharing a few dishes including the Backyard BBQ Pizza with grilled chicken breast, cilantro, red onions, jalapenos, cheese blend, marinara and housemade BBQ sauce.  The crust was pretty thin and uniformly crispy.  Interestingly, this pizza featured both tomato sauce and BBQ sauce.  I actually liked that as it broke up the sweetness and added another layer of flavor.  The pieces of chicken were fairly tender while the onions provide sharpness and the cilantro did its herbaceous thing.

For myself, I took the advice of our server and ordered the Kimchi Chicken Burger.  I thought the addition of housemade kimchi was the key to this.  It was crunchy and had a fermented spice to it. Unlike other Korean-style chicken burgers out there, this wasn't drenched in gochujang.  Instead, there was only a modest amount of sauce.  Therefore, the chicken was still crispy and also plenty juicy.  Those fries on the side were pretty awesome, hot and crunchy.

From their breakfast menu and also acting like our dessert, we had the Classic French Toast with strawberries, fresh cream and maple syrup.  This was really good where the bread completely soaked so it was a bit eggy and almost custardy.  The outside was nutty from the pan-sear.  Overall, our meal at Beechwood Cafe was pleasant with some real highlights.  No wonder it is so busy and not only because of tourists.  Food is good and done right while the portions are generous.

The Good:
- Diverse and large menu
- Food prepared properly
- Service was great

The Bad:
- Super busy, prepare to wait
- Cramped seating arrangements

 

Hachi Izakaya

This trip to Los Angeles did not involve much planning or research done into which restaurants we'd be visiting.  Normally, I have a schedule of where we would be eating every day!  But being super busy meant that I was unable to do my usual thing, hence, we just looked for restaurants on the fly.  We were staying around LAX this time around and we didn't want to venture very far for food if we didn't have to.  This lead us to Hachi Izakaya in nearby Torrance.  Reviews seemed to be good, so we went there for a late dinner.

We were only able to secure bar seating, but that worked fine for us.  We settled in with some bevvies and then ordered a bunch of dishes starting with the BBQ Beef Yakiniku Salad.  This was pleasant enough with shredded cabbage and sprouts with a classic Japanese sweet ginger dressing.  The thinly-sliced beef was tender and somewhat buttery while completely seasoned with sweet mirin soy.  There was some caramelization from the grilling.

The next two items came from their Robata section of the menu including the Skate Wing and Yuzu Pork Cheek.  I thought the skate wing was a bit chewy in spots, in particular the edges.  I guess it was a byproduct of trying to get some char.  Despite that, the rest of it was still fine where it was tender with a meaty bite.  It was served with kewpie mayo with togarashi.  We really enjoyed the pork cheek as it was at its bouncy best in terms of texture.  There was a nice sear to it and the bright yuzu did come through cutting the fattiness beautifully.

Onto a couple of raw items, we had the Snapper Yuzu Carpaccio as well as the Blue Fin Tuna & Avocado Tartare.  Fresh with the essence of the sea, the snapper was mildly sweet with its classic meaty texture.  The yuzu provided its usual tanginess.  As for the tartare, the avocado was ripe and creamy while the blue fin was buttery and naturally sweet.  There was just enough soy to accent without being salty.  Not sure if it needed all those greens on top though.

We moved onto a couple of typical fried items in the Chicken Karaage and Crispy Mayo Shrimp (aka Ebi Mayo).  Really solid chicken as it was juicy and well-marinated with a balance of sweetness and saltiness.  The exterior batter was light and crispy.  The ebi mayo featured fairly large and plump shrimp (oxymoron I know...) that were coated in a crispy tempura batter.  They were sauced with a chili mayo that was both sweet and mildly spicy.

Lastly, we had the Bara Chirashi Bowl.  Beyond being fresh and vibrant, there was a considerable amount of chopped fish, cucumber, tamago and ikura in relation to the rice.  Texturally, the rice was on point with an appealing chewiness.  It was also nicely seasoned.  We really didn't have to add much more to this as it was great as it was.  Overall, we enjoyed our late night dinner at Hachi.  Food was solid, prices were reasonable and the service was attentive.

The Good:
- Solid eats
- Reasonable prices
- Nice service

The Bad:
- Pretty busy, so better reserve a table, we were just lucky to get bar seating

Langer's Deli

We've been trying to visit Langer's for quite some time.  However, every time we have been in L.A., it just hasn't happened.  This time around, it was only Viv and I, without the kids.  Hence, we did a bit more exploring into neighborhoods that may be a bit sketch.  To be fair, we didn't feel that we were in danger anytime, even though we had to walk 4 blocks to Langer's.  I guess we could've just parked in their lot and get validated, but like most times, it was full.

We didn't have to wait long as there wasn't much of a lineup on the day we went.  We were seated right by the door, which was interesting.  The first thing we had was the Matzo Ball Soup which was fantastic.  Really enjoyed the chicken broth as it was definitely chicken-flavored and the sweetness really came through.  I could also taste the mirepoix with the celery being prominent.  The matzo balls were ever-so-fluffy and texturally-pleasing.

So I know everyone will tell you to order #19 which is the a pastrami sandwich with coleslaw, Russian dressing and Swiss.  However, Viv didn't want that and heck she wasn't going to be a lemming.  So she just wanted a basic Hot Pastrami Sandwich on rye.  Well, there was nothing wrong with that choice as the meat was super tender and literally fell-apart.  It had a smoky saltiness to it that was accented by the fattiness of the meat.  Add a bit of mustard and it was delicious.  Bread was good too being a light rye that wasn't too soft either.

For myself, I went for the #12 as in the Mixed Delicatessen with Corned Beef, Pastrami and Beef Tongue.  This also came with 2 slices of rye bread, pickles, veggies and olives.  So essentially, I could make my own custom sandwich with the supplied meats.  But I just ate the meats and bread separately.  I thought the corned beef was buttery, tender and a balanced saltiness with pickling spice vibes.  As for the beef tongue, we had a similar flavor profile except since it was fattier, there was a silkiness to it.

This also included a plate of Fries.  These krinkle-cut potatoes were fried until golden brown.  Beyond the aesthetics, they were hot and super crispy.  Inside, the steaming potato center was delicate and soft.  Really good fries.  In general, this was worth the visit, even if the area is a bit colorful.  Just mind your own business and you'll be fine.  I thought the pastrami was very good and brought back memories of Katz's except being more tender and less smoky.  Whatever the case, I enjoyed it and would come back again for more.

The Good:
- Super tender Pastrami
- Loved the light rye bread
- The fries are crispy

The Bad:
- Parking is validated but the lot gets full fast
- Neighborhood isn't pretty, but you'll be find during the day  

Holbox

On my previous visits to LA in 2019 and 2022, we ate at a lot of places but never got to hit up Holbox.  It came highly-recommended and in fact, has recently just been award a Michelin star.  High praise for a food stall located in Mercato La Paloma.  Chef Gilbert Cetina fuses Coastal Mexican cuisine with Southern Californian and Baja Califorinan influences.  They have an 8-course dinner on Thursdays and Fridays, but Viv and I were only able to make it out for lunch while we were in LA.

No matter, because there is still plenty to feast on including the Shrimp Aguachile.  This has to be one of the best, if not the best aguachiles I've had.  There was definite heat from the spicy green aguachile, but it was also refreshing and acidic.  It was also properly seasoned where the sweet shrimp took on all of the flavors.  The addition of crispy shrimp heads were great being a textural contrast to the soft shrimp.  Nice little tweak that elevated this dish.  Oh, and this came with saltines that you can enjoy with the aguachilie.

Next, we had the Blue Fin Tostada with avocado puree and arbol peanut sauce.  Featuring Baja California farmed blue fin tuna cerviche, the buttery soft texture really came through.  Also, the unmistakable sweetness and freshness of the sea was present as well.  Despite being a ceviche, the acidity was dialed down enough to let the blue fin shine.  The avocado puree only added some creaminess as it was mild while the peanut sauce was also creamy with smokiness.  Some pico de gallo provided some crunch and extra brightness.

Another killer dish was the Sopa de Mariscos (Seafood Stew).  This consisted of local rockfish, shrimp, kanpachi, mussels and house-made fish sausage.  This was outstanding where all of the seafood juices were completely incorporated into the broth. Therefore, the natural sweet and brininess of the seafood was at the forefront.  The whole thing was also properly seasoned.  Perfect for dipping that toasted airy bread.  The seafood itself was beautifully cooked where the fish was flaky and the mussels were plump.

From all the choices of tacos, we got a few including the Baja Shrimp and the Octopus.  Crispy on the outside while meaty and perfectly cooked on the inside, the shrimp were pretty sweet on their own.  However, the addition of some cabbage, crema, mayo, salsa roja and pico de gallo added crunch, brightness, acidity and background spice.  As for the octopus, it was tender with just a bit of crispiness on the outside.  It sat atop a calamari ink sofrito which provided some moisture as well as sweetness and earthiness.

Our last item was the Smoked Kanpachi Taco with local queso Oxaca, salsa cruda, avocado & peanut salsa macha. This was on par with the aguachile and seafood stew as our favorite item.  The flavors in this were impactful and memorable.  From the smokiness of the fish to the smoky and nutty salsa macha, this was addictive and we wanted another.  But alas, we were rather full and completely satisfied.  I gotta say that Holbox definitely deserves its Michelin-Star.  The food is fantastic in terms of freshness and execution.  It is interesting and does not hold back in announcing its flavors.  I would come back in a heartbeat and really, I need to get resos for that dinner tasting menu!

The Good:
- Fantastic flavors
- Food is exciting
- Relatively affordable

The Bad:
- Well, it is in a market and seating is a bit hard to find at peak times

Phở Bắc Sup Shop

Meeting up with Lola and Scout in Seattle is always a treat.  If I haven't told the story before, we met them on an Alaskan cruise over 10 years ago.  I was excited to do cruise ship trivia, but could not find a seat at the bar.  However, Lola waived me over and asked if Viv and I wanted to join her and Scout to form a team.  We killed it at that session and subsequent ones on the the 7-day journey.  Since then, we meet up every now and then when we are in Seattle or when they come up to Vancouver!  This time, we met up at a Seattle favorite in Phở Bắc Sup Shop.  They dish up traditional Vietnamese eats with some modern touches as well as offering cocktails.

We started with some fried things including the Pho Fries featuring a dip made of pate pho gravy with minced brisket, herbs, pickled carrots, cilantro, jalapenos and fried shallots.  Oh man this was absolutely delicious.  The uamaminess was so intense with the liver aroma and the sweetness.  Fries were crispy and already good on their own.  We also had the Chinese Donuts that we ended up dipping into the broths of our noodle soups.  They were crispy and not overly dense.

Viv ended up with the Short Rib Pho that featured three bones!  These were so tender as the meat fell off the bone.  There was some delicious meatiness to them and that was filling enough.  But there was still al dente noodles and the broth was fairly clean with the star anise coming through.  We felt maybe the broth was a touch on the lighter side where they didn't overdo it with the salt and rock sugar.  However, there was enough natural flavors from the beef bones already.

For myself, I went for the BBH (or Bun Bo Hue) also sporting a beef rib. This was much more impactful due to the spiciness of the broth.  I wouldn't say it was super spicy, but it definitely lingered.  There was also a bit of brininess and sweetness to the broth.  It cam complete with pork blood cubes and shrimp meatballs.  These meatballs were excellent with a fluffy bounciness to them while being naturally sweet.  The lai fun was slippery and cooked just right.

For Lola, she had the Pho Tron Prawns & Veggies.  This consisted of turmeric noodles tossed in an OG Pho Bac sauce, fried shallots, peanuts and a side of broth.  Those yellow ribbons were the highlight of the dish as they were chewy (in a good way).  Some real earthiness to them and plenty of impact from the sauce.  There was an intoxicating mix of sweet, tangy and briny.  When all mixed together, the prawns and veggies (which were properly cooked) benefited from the awesome sauce too.

For Scout, he went for the Pho Tron with Beef.  This came with the same turmeric ribbons and accompaniments.  There is no soup in this picture because the thought it would be a better shot...  Anyways, the main difference in the protein really changed the dish.  The well-marinated and tender beef provided more punch and depth with salty brininess to already compliment the existing sauce. Overall, we enjoyed the food at Phở Bắc Sup Shop where things were just tweaked enough to create some excitement to the dishes without being completely unfocused.  Loved the industrial vibe of the place and we had some great cocktails too.

The Good:
- Simple and industrial, the dining space worked
- Food was delicious
- Well-planned tweaks to the dishes

The Bad:
- That must be one of the worst parking lots ever
- Gets pretty busy, you might have to wait

Seoul Bowl (Lincoln Square)

This food adventure started by us being totally baffled as where to eat for lunch today.  Yes, that happens and especially when we didn't do any research, it made it just a bit harder.  We tried to hit up several spots but they were all completely full.  Serves us right for not making any reservations for a weekend.  We made our way to Lincoln Square in Downtown Bellevue and stumbled upon Seoul Bowl.  It is located in a really tiny food court and they go by a self-service ordering system.  That worked pretty well, but the food did take awhile to come out.

We decided to try out their Traditional Seoul Wings served on a bed of fries.  This was the 8 piece order, but there is also a 16 piece if you were hungry or wanted to share.  These took forever to come out and we actually had these last.  I found them to be quite crispy with somewhat rendered skin.  The meat was tender and moist but lacking in a bit of flavour.  Underneath, there were some skinny fries and they were crispy but not dry. 

We had 2 bowls including the Bulgogi Bowl loaded with beef rib eye, roasted corn, kale, pickled jalapenos, pickled radish, sweet Asian salad, sweet mashed potatoes, caramelized onion and kimchi cucumber.  Yes, that was a lot of toppings and it actually outnumbered the amount of rice underneath.  Suffice to say there was plenty of texture and flavors including crunch, tang and spice.  I thought the meat was tender and nicely marinated.  Only issue is that there was so much in this bowl, things got a bit wet. 

We also got the Spicy Pork Bowl with all of the same toppings.  By virtue of being spicy, the pork had more impact while being tender and moist.  I didn't mention the rice yet, but thankfully it was on the drier side which worked well with both the sweet soy and yum yum sauce.  Not to mention, this lessened the impact from all of the wet components.  It was basically eating all the banchan, rice and meat in one bowl.  We often do that anyways at Korean restaurants.

Lastly, we got more fries for some odd reason in the Cheese Fries.  These were just like the ones found with the wings but tossed in cheese powder.  They were crispy, but not as crispy as I would've liked because they were sitting for a bit while waiting for the chicken to cook.  The timing was a little off so these got a bit cold and soft.  I think the food at Seoul Bowl is completely serviceable and satisfying to most.  Maybe not my personal favorite, but did the job considering we were out of lunch options.

The Good:
- They really load up the bowls
- Wings were quite good
- Fair pricing

The Bad:
- Maybe the bowls are too loaded?
- Timing for the fried items are off

Suren Persian Cuisine

Here we go with another nearby restaurant that I have passed over and over again, but I just have not stopped to dine there.  The place is Suren and I've actually stared at the place many times while dining at North King Noodle across the street.  Yep, it was about time I would finally dine on the Persian cuisine there.  I guess an invite from them was really the catalyst for me to check it out.  I'm glad that I did because they really did a good job renovating from the old Greek restaurant that used to reside there.  Now onto the food!

We kicked things off with 2 starters including the Deep Fried Dumplings served atop some crispy fries.  These were more like flaky pastries akin to Cornish Pasties   Inside, the meat & vegetable filling was moist and well-spiced.  That was good, but the Eggplant Dip was killer.  The soft eggplant was sweet and tangy while spiced with bright mint and sweet caramelized onion.  On the side, we found some  Persian flatbread to dip into the eggplant.

Onto the mains, we were served a variety of kebabs starting with the Chicken and Koobideh.  Beautifully-charred and in a beautiful shade of yellow due to the saffron, the chicken was super juicy and tender.  Despite being chicken breast, this was nowhere near dry.  Nice aromatics.  As for the Koobideh (ground beef), it was also well-charred (but not burnt) and juicy.  It was beefy while sweet from the onions and earthy from the spices.  Loved eating these with the yogurt dips on the side.

Off to two more kebabs, we had the Salmon and the Steak.  As you can see, the salmon was seared up well on the outside.  Although not super moist, the fish was not dry either.  As for the steak, it was probably the best of the bunch being charred with a smoky nuttiness.  The marinated meat was succulent and really moist.  It required very little chewing and yet, it still had a natural meat texture.  In terms of flavour, the natural meatiness was complimented by the sweetness of pomegranate.  A similar sweetness and tang could be found in the Barberry Rice (in the background).  It complimented the chewy, yet fluffy saffron rice beautifully.  So delicious on its own!

The fruity rice thing continued with a full plate of Lentil Rice and Lamb.  This was super tasty where we found large tender chunks of lamb nestled in fluffy rice, tender lentils, raisins and caramelized onions.  The raisins really added punch to the dish while the earthy spices (like cumin and turmeric) provided the usual compliment to the lamb.  Loved this dish!  Continuing with the same theme, we also had the Lamb Shank with Fava Bean Rice.  Mostly tender and gelatinous, the lamb shank was flavourful and classically "lamb-tasting".  It was cooked with the usual spices which gave it an aromatic and earthy flavour.  This was best eaten with the jus poured over the rice.

We added on a dish that sounded great on the menu called the Chicken Tahchin. This consisted of oven cooked saffron rice with chicken, yogurt, egg and barberries.  Loved the crispy rice as it was served upside down.  It was also intensely aromatic.  Inside, the rice was fluffy while the chicken was flavourful.  We also had some drinks with our meal including the Torsh, Purple Flower and an orange-coloured drink that was not on the menu.  I really enjoyed them all, especially the Torsh as it was fruity and not too strong.

We ended up with four desserts to end the meal and the Cream Roll was reminiscent of the Chinese version.  We quite liked the thin and fluffy sponge cake with plenty of fresh cream in the middle.  This was not heavy and a great dessert for someone who wanted something light.  Then we had the Napoleon which was shockingly excellent.  It looked really dense at first glance, but after we put a fork into it, the whole thing collapsed.  It ate super light with flaky layers and semi-sweet cream.  Some pistachios provided some nuttiness.

Of course we were going to have some Baklava and you know what?  I didn't hate these.  Most of the time, Baklava is so super sweet, I can't eat them.  This one was still sweet, but not overly so.  Nice crispy phyllo and nutty pistachios to compliment.  Lastly, we had the Cream Puffs that featured light eggy choux pastry and fresh cream.  Another light dessert that also can be shared easily.  Overall, the food at Suren was delicious and made me want to come back ASAP.  The meats are cooked beautifully with a char while remaining tender.  Flavours are impactful and most importantly, the prices reasonable.  

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*

The Good:
- Impactful flavours
- Meats cooked properly
- Prices are reasonable

The Bad:
- Maybe the salmon could've been just a bit more moist, but it wasn't dry either