Holy Basil DTLA

Back to our regular programming, we ventured into DTLA for some highly-recommended eats.  Located along the border of the Fashion District and Skid Row, we found Holy Basil where they are dishing up authentic casual Thai street eats.  The setup tries to emulate the street hawker experience while indoors (including little plastic chairs) There is an ordering window and it took me awhile to get service as they are quite busy in the kitchen.  

To start, we went for the Moo Krob Slab with a cilantro garlic chili sauce.  This featured some pretty crunchy cracklings atop the tender pork belly.  I found it a touch on the firmer side, but it wasn't dense by any means.  The belly itself was a good mix of fat and meat.  It was buttery and tender.  The pork belly wasn't oversalted, so it still had the natural sweetness of pork.  I really enjoyed the sauce where it was bright, spicy and aromatic.

The most impactful dish we had was the Fried Fish & Rice consisting of hand-shredded barramundi, cilantro, chili flakes, chili fish sauce and shallots with jasmine rice.  Wow this was packed with so much flavor and textures!  Definitely lots of umaminess from the fish and the fish sauce, while the mess of things on top provided brightness, sharpness and heat.  I did find the fish a bit dry though, but with the sauce, it really didn't matter.

We also had the Kaeng Kiew Wan (or Green Curry) with Jidori chicken, coconut milk, Thai eggplant, winter melon and Thai sweet basil.  This was a much lighter curry with only a smattering of coconut milk.  However, it was quite fragrant and aromatic.  Lots of impact from the basil as well as some fermented shrimpiness in the background.  Nice amount of sweetness too.  I found the pieces of chicken to be quite moist and not dry at all.

Lastly, we gad the classic Pad Thai with paprika, sweet radish, tiny dried shrimp, egg, tamarind fish sauce, bean sprouts and chives.  This benefited from the hot wok fry and there was caramelization and smokiness as a result.  Plenty of tamarind tang and palm sugar sweetness for impact.  The radish added nice crunch while the dried shrimp did its salty briny thing but only in the background.  Overall, the food at Holy Basil was delicious and full-flavored.  I would love to come back to try more dishes (when I'm in LA next that is...).

The Good:
- Impactful flavors
- Okay pricing
- It has got that interesting location and setup thing going for them

The Bad:
- Hard to get someone's attention to get something or order
- Area is a bit dodgy, but you should be okay

Saigon Dish

Sometimes, even while on vacay, you just might want to go basic with something less expensive and also less heavy.  This was the case here when Viv and I decided to just grab some Vietnamese nearby our hotel.  We made our way to the highly-rated Saigon Dish in Lawndale.  I guess we weren't the only ones thinking that as there was an extensive wait list going on.  Instead of giving up, we merely put our name down on the iPad and waited in the car.  Almost 45 minutes later, we were seated.

A bit out-of-character, we decided to order the Shrimp Tempura.  Nope, no spring rolls, no salad rolls and no salad.  Nothing really unusual about this dish as it was what we expected.  It consisted of meaty shrimp that had some rebound texture while coated in a light tempura batter.  The outside was crispy while the batter was slightly greasy.  It came with a sweet chili dip and the whole thing just ate pleasantly.  Not sure if this would be the most interesting thing to order as a starter though.

Viv went for the Phở with lean steak and brisket.  This was a solid bowl of noodles as the broth was clean but had depth.  It wasn't too salty while the natural sweetness of the components did come through.  There was sufficient tender meats, but they could've put a bit more to balance out the amount of al dente noodles.  But really, it was a good value and was more than enough food for Viv.

For myself, I had the Bún Bò Huế.  Unlike many versions out there, this one was legit as there was a large pork knuckle sitting in the fragrant broth.  Unfortunately, there was no pig's blood, but I can understand it may not be a big seller.  Now back to the broth, we could taste the lemongrass for sure, but there could've been more shrimpiness.  The spice was medium where it did add impact.  The noodles were slippery and chewy while the meats were tender (including the pork hock).

Lastly, we added the Bo Luc Lac with rice.  Despite the considerable amount of onions, it really didn't define the dish.  The cubes of beef were super moist and tender.  It had been stir-fried enough to slightly caramelize the onions and hence provide some sweetness.  This complimented the black pepper and soy.  I would've liked to see some peppers added to the mix rather than just onions.  Overall, the food at Saigon Dish was quite good and very reasonably-priced.  That is probably why they are so busy all the time.

The Good:
- Inexpensive
- Solid eats
- Fairly fair portions

The Bad:
- Pretty busy, you might have to wait (unless you do the online waitlist)
- Seating arrangements are not the most comfortable

Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen

We do far too much Asian food while travelling and at home.  I guess there is something comforting about it.  Well, there is a different type of comfort food that we don't normally have the opportunity to access when we are at home in Vancouver.  Despite the diversity, there is very little-to-no soul food around.  But while in LA, we decided to hit up Dulan's out in Inglewood.  They are well-known for their large portions with all the classics as well as all the sides too!

There was no doubt we would be ordering the Fried Chicken.  This recipe has been passed down generations and it was definitely solid in my books.  The chicken was fairly tender and had a crunchy exterior with rendered skin.  I wouldn't say it was super-flavorful, but it wasn't bland either.  For the sides, we had the Mac & Cheese and Collard Greens.  Soft & cheesy with a seared crust, the mac & cheese was pretty heavy.  This was certainly a comfort version of the dish.  I really liked the collard greens as it did have a beautiful smoked turkey essence.  It was mildly-seasoned and was great with the fried chicken.

Weighing a tonne, the Short Ribs were definitely fork-tender as advertised.  However, due to being rather lean, the meat was on the drier side.  It did have a natural meatiness to them and the stewing juices were sweet from the onions and full-of-depth from the meat.  For the sides, we had the Candied Yams and the String Beans with Carrots.  Soft and incredibly sweet, the yams were texturally-appealing and buttery.  A bit too sweet for me, but I'm sure others enjoy them immensely.  The beans and carrots were pretty typical being soft and naturally-flavoured.

Really enjoyed the Oxtail as they were tender and fell-off-the-bone.  Lots of gelatinous parts and there was plenty of umami meatiness.  Some fall flavors with the seasoning gave it lots of body.  We got the Mashed Potatoes and Corn Bread Dressing as the sides.  Loved the mash as it still had plenty of potato texture left.  The gravy was smooth and not too salty.  As for the bread dressing, it was soft and fluffy while being sweet and aromatic.

So our meals also included Corn Bread.  Really liked eating these as they were moist and fluffy while still having the typical cornbread robust texture.  It had a balanced corn sweetness.  Overall, the food at Dulan's was definitely comforting and you certainly won't go hungry.  Each meal could easily feed 2 less hungry people.  I particularly enjoyed the oxtail and fried chicken.  Most of the sides were good and the corn bread was solid.  So if you are hungry for comfort eats, Dulan's got you covered.

The Good:
- Solid comfort food
- Large portions
- Lots of tasty sides

The Bad:
- Shortrib was a bit dry

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