i like to eat.

Jason was randomly craving for some chicken and waffles on a Sunday night. My previous experience of this popular combination wasn't that great. We didn't know any other restaurants that served this, so he Yelped and found Merritt Bakery.

Upon stepping into the restaurant, I was amazed by its massive size. There's a take out counter, full bakery, dine in seating and even lotto machines. It's your one stop shop!

Jason, Mike and I went to Merritt Bakery with a mission - we were all to order chicken and waffles. My order of chicken breast and waffles was pretty darn good. The chicken wasn't dry. It had a light, crispy batter and the waffles were fresh and thick - none of that Eggo stuff.

But.....I don't get the whole chicken and waffles combination. I mean, they're both good on its own. I just don't understand how eating them together makes it better. Someone please explain?

                     

Click here to download:

083009_merritt.zip (3053 KB)

Before I moved to San Francisco, I only ate Thai food a few times.

And after? Every block in my neighborhood has a Thai restaurant.

My first San Franciscan Thai experience was at Osha on Geary x Leavenworth. It was really late and I was craving for some food. Osha was conveniently next door to the bar I was at, Rye, and the only place still open. At peak weekend nights, the wait time can range from 10 to 30 minutes, but luckily, I remember I didn't have to wait too long for a table.

The food satisfied my craving and was also wallet friendly. Score.

Ever since that first experience, Osha has been my go-to-spot for late night dining.

But, this time, it wasn't after a long night at the bar, it was just a normal weekday dinner night with Kate.

It was slightly chilly and Kate was sick, so we ordered Tom Ka Tofu, a coconut based soup with vegetables. I've had better Tom Kas at other places, but this one quickly warmed us up. We split Chinese broccoli with roasted pork that came in a garlic and oyster sauce. We also ordered one of my favorite dishes, spicy eggplant with chicken. This dish is stir fried with garlic, basil, chili and bell pepper. Spicy is in its name, but I usually order it mild. Trust me, don't ever order hot at Thai restaurants. It's extremely hot!

The price is reasonable (it used to be much cheaper!), portions are generous (we didn't finish everything) and they're quick. I often feel like they load up on the MSG, but it's ok once in awhile...

Osha has expanded to many other locations with fancier ambiances and higher prices, but I still prefer the original and "ghetto" location on Geary for its authenticity and proximity. It's funny that only a few years ago, Thai food was "exotic" to me, but with its saturation in SF, it's an every day cuisine now.

     

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The_Go-To-Place_Osha_tag_thai_.zip (681 KB)

My weekend trip to Los Angeles was quickly coming to an end. So far, I've had delicious food and I'm already hoping I'll come back to LA soon.

The last dinner was at C&O Trattoria in gorgeous Venice Beach. Jason and I were slightly full from the previous meal of Kogi, so we decided to split a pasta dish. It was definitely a smart choice considering their portions are huge. I can't imagine one person eating the entire dish!

Our friend that recommended the restaurant suggested the prosciutto fettuccine. The pasta came with diced prosciutto, mushroom, roma tomatoes, shallots in a brandy cream sauce. The sauce was slightly too thick to my liking, but I could definitely taste the brandy. The flavors were alright, but a dash of Tabasco helped pump up the taste.

There was a never ending plate of garlic rolls, which were unfortunately, hard. I like my bread warm, soft and flaky. Not baked until they're super crusty. :T

The best thing about C&O is its energy and ambiance. Every half hour or so, waiters pass out lyrics for the song, "That's Amore." The loud speakers suddenly start blasting and the entire restaurant sings. You can feel the fun, high energy of everyone in unison.

There are two options of dining - indoor and outdoor. You know how much I love outdoor dining (see post) and with LA's perfect hot weather, of course we had to sit outside! :) The kitchen is in between the two "restaurants," so it's kind of cool to see the action while you're outside waiting for your table.

C&O is touted as one of the "top 7 restaurants in So Cal," which in terms of food, I don't think it deserves that title. But, for large groups that want to have a good time with affordable prices and generous portions, this is the place to go. It's low key, casual and the outdoor dining is a huge plus (and frequently a must) in sunny Los Angeles.

     

Click here to download:

Last_Supper_in_Los_Angeles_tag.zip (594 KB)

My friends and I had a lot of time to kill before dinner and fortunately, there was a Kogi truck near our hotel. My previous attempt was a failure, so I was hoping this time would be better. Plus, eating some Kogi was my number one mission in Los Angeles. I HAD to get some, dammit!

We arrived at the location 10 minutes before Kogi started serving (6P) and there were already 50+ people in line! I couldn't believe it and was praying it was worth the wait.

Minutes kept ticking as we waited...and waited...slowly inching our way towards the truck. Plus, this time around, there was no music to entertain us, just conversations of "are we almost there yet?!, it BETTER be good and should we jump ship?"

About 40 minutes later, we were at the front of the truck, knowing exactly our game plan of what to order and what we'd split. Jason and I ordered 2 spicy pork tacos, 2 (signature) short rib tacos and we'd split a kimchi quesadilla with our other friends.

OMG.

First bite of the short rib taco, AMAZING.

Both tacos were on two tortillas, filled with marinated, barbecued meat and topped with a tasty sesame-chili salsa, romaine lettuce and cabbage in Korean chili-soy vinaigrette and sesame seeds. The tacos were bold and juicy with the perfect amount of meat and vegetables.

I was skeptical about the quesadilla - cheese and cabbage? Hmm, doesn't sound like a good combination. But wow, the flavors actually work! The quesadilla was golden brown and topped with Kogi's special sesame-chili salsa. I'm not 100% sure what cheese they used, but it tasted like cheddar and was a compliment to the mild kimchi.

Kogi was well worth the wait and delicious. But, I wouldn't wait more than 20 minutes for it. I feel like I have more important (haha, VERY important) stuff to do than wait 40+ minutes in line. Just not my cup of tea with my (surprisingly) low patience, but I'm so glad we didn't jump ship this time.

Mission accomplished! :D

Side note, read this interesting article about Kogi's typical (and long) day.

       

Click here to download:

Second_Attempt_of_Kogi_tag_kog.zip (910 KB)

We were so hot from the heat that we needed something to cool us down. We went to Yogurtland, a charge by the ounce frozen yogurt place with a variety of flavors and toppings.

There were so many yogurt flavors - strawberry, lychee, coffee, original, berries, cookies and cream, cake batter, blueberry tart, toasted coconut, Madagascar vanilla and chocolate. I couldn't make up my mind, so I had a little bit of the flavors I wanted to try - strawberry, coffee and original.

After the self-service yogurt, you go to the topping bar that has even more options to choose from - fresh fruit, chocolate chips, gummy worms, fruity pebbles, m&ms, almonds, granola, pound cake and more.

I topped mine with lychee, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and mochi. I should have added some fruity pebbles for a crunchy texture, but my combination was still good, delicious and light.

We were in luck because Yogurtland was running a promotion for only 16 cents per ounce! It's usually around 30 cents, so my little cup of goodness cost me less than $3. :)

       

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Fro-Yo_tag_desserts_yogurt_lan.zip (769 KB)

My only request for LA was to try Kogi, a Korean bbq taco truck. In LA, there's this huge craze of taco trucks reinventing themselves and selling food that's not typical of a taco truck. Some trucks have Mexican/Chinese tacos (Don Chow Tacos), Vietnamese sandwiches (Nom Nom Truck), Japanese rice burgers (Marked 5) and even Indian food (India Jones).

I was determined to try Kogi, the original and granddaddy of them all. Since the trucks are mobile, they rarely are in the same location. So, you have to follow them on Twitter to know the exact location and time. It's a great method of intertwining the internet into one's business. Plus, it's like a game, you never know when and where the trucks will pop up. These trucks are novelty and the idea of tracking them down is fun.

We looked up the nearest Kogi truck and for that day, it was at a book store's parking lot. By the time we got there, there was a massive line (I already expected this - there is usually a long line at these trucks) and music was bumping from loud speakers. I appreciated Kogi had brought some entertainment, while their guests waited patiently in line.

It was extremely hot with no shade and after twenty minutes of moving only a few inches, I threw my towel in and said "let's leave." I thought I was a very patient person, but the heat makes me grumpy and the line was moving way too slow. I also felt bad that my friends were waiting solely for me in a very uncomfortable, hot situation.

As we left the line and walked back to our car, I saw several people enjoying their tacos. I was bitter that I couldn't taste the deliciousness and still determined to try Kogi by the end of the trip.

       

Click here to download:

First_Attempt_of_Kogi_-_Fail._.zip (915 KB)

Saturday's lunch in Los Angeles was a hangover's cure at Tito's Tacos. Something about greasy food always seems to make you feel better.

Upon stepping out of the car, you can smell the fried food. Sounds kind of gross, but it was comforting that this place is definitely fresh. The restaurant is small, but they are very quick and you can order inside or outside. From the outside, you can see the kitchen and employees preparing massive amounts of refried beans, salsa and frying taco shells.

Jason and I ordered four tacos and a tostada that came with a large helping of fresh salsa and chips. The fried tacos were amazing. Every time I think or see these tacos, my mouth starts watering and I instantly crave them. The corn shell was still warm and fresh from the fryer. The combination of shredded beef, lettuce, cheese (extra charge) and salsa was delicious. I didn't need any of that sour cream or guacamole to enjoy this bad boy. And even better? Only $2.20 each! Everything on the menu is less than $5.

The tostada was the same fried tortilla but flat and topped with refried beans, lettuce and cheese. Pretty darn good too, but I'd stick with the tacos.

I usually like chunky salsa, but Tito's was the total opposite. It was a smooth puree of fresh tomatoes, onion, peppers, garlic, lime, cilantro and other herbs. The salsa was watery and made everything taste better. By having a smooth puree, it melted the flavors together, rather than tasting big chunks of tomatoes.

I loved Tito's Tacos and would love to find something similar in the Bay Area. It seems like most Mexican restaurants only have soft tacos, but there's got to be something similar. Suggestions?

                   

Click here to download:

Tacos_tag_mexican_food_lunch_t.zip (2030 KB)

The whole reason we went to LA was to celebrate my birthday and Jason's (we're one week apart). For our first night, we wanted to celebrate at an affordable place (no bottle service at a fancy lounge), since there were so many of us.

The LA experts in our group geared us towards Koreatown, a non-pretentious place where drinks are cheap. We first headed to Bliss, which had the look of a night club, but was very mellow. It was too mellow for a late Friday night, so we went down the street to Blink. Blink was packed, but luckily there was a table to seat all 15 of us. Blink was less of a nightclub and more of a restaurant where you can drink a lot. haha.

What's cool about Blink is they offer drink and food combinations. If you order a bottle of liquor, it comes with your choice of appetizers. Within minutes, our large table was filled with various apps - dried squid, beef jerky, nuts, fried chicken, grilled beef, kabobs and fruit.

I stayed off the Glenlivet and stuck with soju cocktails and Korean beer, Hite. Soju cocktails are actually one of my favorite mixed drinks. Soju is rice wine, but it tastes like vodka, so I rarely drink it straight. At most Korean restaurants, you can order soju mixed with yogurt drink (something like Yakult). The yogurt drink is sweet and often masks the hard taste of liquor.

Remember I mentioned affordability? Blink only cost us $15 each!! Wow, I was shocked to hear how cheap it was. You can never get that good of a deal in SF!

           

Click here to download:

BDay_Celebrations_tag_bliss_bl.zip (1259 KB)

Yakiniku, Japanese barbecue, is a highly entertaining way to eat your meal. You cook bite sized marinated meat, vegetables and seafood over charcoal, which is encased in the middle of the table. After you cook the meat/vegetables, you can dip it in special sauces.

The very first time I had yakiniku was at Gyu-Kaku in Japan. It was nothing like I've ever had before and was so good. After my trip to Japan, I scoured the Bay Area looking for something similar, but surprisingly, even San Francisco didn't have too many options or it's very expensive. Going to LA, I knew there was a Gyu-Kaku branch, but my friend suggested a better place, Manpuku.

Jason did all the ordering for our table and I engulfed everything in front of me. We ordered a ton of meat, vegetables and seafood to cook over our little griddle. I can't even remember all the food we ordered, but we had prime beef rib eye, chicken breast, prime beef short rib, assorted vegetables, shrimp, scallop, salted beef short rib and salted beef tongue. Yes, there's offal involved for those that enjoy it.

The food has a robust smoky flavor and a great sear if you cook it right. You can't leave it on too long or you'll burn it! :P I think this is also the reason why I love campfire cooking, the flavors are more intense and an open flame seals in the smokiness.

Since we had a large group, we had to split into two tables and they ordered a cold noodle soup called morioka reimen (thanks Genki) that was amazing. At first, I didn't expect the chewy noodle soup to be cold, but the first bite got my taste buds dancing. It was so refreshing, light and delicious. There was even an apple in it! So many unexpected things in this little dish!

You HAVE to try Japanese barbecue. It can get a little pricey, but the food is delicious and it's a fun way to enjoy your meal.

   

Click here to download:

Things_to_Try_Yakiniku_tag_bbq.zip (484 KB)

Pizzeria Delfina's been in the news recently (listed as top 25 pizzas by GQ, plus some Serious Eats and SF Chronicle's Michael Bauer love), so it's quite fitting that I'm posting about it.

I've been wanting to go to Pizzeria Delfina since forever and finally got the opportunity to check it out a few weeks ago. My boyfriend and I went to the original Mission location (18th x Guerro) during prime time, Saturday around 7pm and it was packed. But mind, you, the place is ridiculously tiny with only 25 or so seats and small outdoor seating - definitely not a good place for large groups.

We got the best seat in my house (in my opinion), counter seats. I love being up close, next to the action. Upon seating, we were served a little container full of deliciously thin breadsticks.

What I loved about the menu was it's changed daily. There are the classics for fritti, salads, pizza, etc, but within each category, there's something new and special, handwritten. It's a nice touch.

My boyfriend and I ordered an insalata tricolore and proscuitto pie with a bottle of vino rosso. The salad was outstanding and filled with radicchio, endive and arugula with lemon vinaigrette and topped with large shavings of grana padano. It was light, fresh and sweet. Plus, I can eat grana padano every day. The cheese simply melted in my mouth. Loved it.

The pizza was topped with prosciutto, mozzarella di bufala, panna and arugula. I could see and taste Delfina's inspiration - New York style with its thick crust and Naples with its array of fresh, seasonal toppings. Thankfully, the crust wasn't too thick and doughy, but light and airy crunchiness.

I still prefer my all time favorite, A16 (see post) for its pizzas, but I enjoyed Delfina's super laid back, casual ambiance with its hip waiters and chefs. It IS the Mission, after all. ;)

On a side note, the GQ article listed Delfina #4 while A16 was a measly #16. Ouch! Also on the list is another SF establishment, Gialina. Anyone been there?

         

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Finally_Went_to_Delfina_tag_fo.zip (1129 KB)