Healthy SF Bites

December 19, 2015Leave a comment

The Plant (Marina and Pier 3)

Fully Belly Salad

Shiitake Spring Rolls

Udon

Casual local and organic cafe serving healthy dishes and fresh juices. Recommend: Shiitake Spring Rolls, Udon Noodles, and Full Belly Salad (kale, roasted beets, pea shoots, quinoa, avocado, hummus, pickled onions, and sunflower seeds). (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Blue Barn (Marina and Russian Hill)

Winter Salad

Truffle Sandwich

Delicious sandwiches and salads. They also have good seasonal soups. You order at a counter so it can be quick but there is usually a line and the food that takes a while to prepare. I usually order ahead of time and pick it up. Recommend: Winter salad and Truffle sandwich. (5 taste, 4 atmosphere, 3 service)

HayDay (Financial District)

Healthy Sandwiches and sides. The menu changes seasonally. It’s a block from my work so I come here frequently for lunch. They also serve breakfast— rich Straus greek yogurt (with lots of topping options) and avocado toast. Recommend: Moroccan Chickpea Salad, Smoked Rainbow Trout toast, and Roasted Sweet Potato and Romaine Salad. (4 taste, 4 atmosphere, 4 service)

SF Brunch

November 30, 2015December 19, 2015Leave a comment

Here are some of my favorite SF brunch places (so far). Click here to see my full list of restaurants.

Sweet Maple (Lower Pac Heights)

Salmon Open Face (a poached egg and avocado on garlic sourdough)

Millionaire’s Melt (egg sandwich with bacon and gouda aioli)

South of the Border (breakfast tacos)

the Millionaire’s Bacon (bacon cooked in brown sugar).

I arrived at 9:30 am on a Saturday with 3 three friends and there was already a 45 minute line. But don’t worry they serve complimentary coffee while you wait. When you sit outside they give you a blanket to stay warm. We ordered the SM Omurice (rice with scrambled eggs and ribeye), South of the Border (breakfast tacos), Millionaire’s Melt (egg sandwich with bacon and gouda aioli), the Salmon Open Face (a poached egg and avocado on garlic sourdough), and of course the Millionaire’s Bacon (bacon cooked in brown sugar). Recommend: the Millionaire’s Bacon, Salmon Open Face, and Millionaire’s Melt. (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 3 service)

Lovejoy’s Tea Room (Noe Valley)

A flowery and eclectic tea house with mismatched furniture and nick-nacks. A fun place to come with a group of girlfriends and gossip. It’s very kid-friendly. There were 3 little girls sitting at their own miniature table. We ordered the high tea special which comes with 2 sandwiches, scones, salad, chocolate biscuits, and unlimited tea per person. Recommend: Chestnut black tea (4 taste, 5 atmosphere, 4 service)

Don Pistos (North Beach)

Huevos Rancheros

Tamales

Popular Mexican brunch place. The waiters are extremely attentive and friendly. The owner even sent out 4 free margaritas—we would have been more grateful if it wasn’t 11 am! The food is excellent. The portions are small but filling. Recommend: Huevos Rancheros and the tamales. (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Home Plate (Marina)

Complimentary scones

The New Yorker (salmon and avocado scramble) with carrot potato latkes

The Eggs Benedict served with carrot potato latkes

I came here at 7:30 am (it opens at 7) and it was already busy. It is extremely crowded by 9. They serve complimentary scones. Most dishes come with their homemade carrot potato latkes. The coffee is good too. It is one of most reasonably priced brunch places you will find in the marina. Recommend: The New Yorker (salmon and avocado scramble) and The Eggs Benedict. (4 taste, 4 atmosphere, 5 service)

East Side West (Marina)

Dirty Hippy (squash blossoms, garlic greens, hollandaise, and truffle oil).

Fresh Off the Boat (cheesy red enchiladas with poached eggs and avocado)

A popular bar in the marina. The food is mediocre but it is a fun place to come with friends. Very lively. A lot of people come here to watch games and order beer. Recommend: Dirty Hippy (squash blossoms, garlic greens, hollandaise, and truffle oil). (3 taste, 5 atmosphere, 3 service)

Café Roses (Marina)

A simple Italian brunch spot in the Marina. They use fresh and locally-sourced ingredients. Very popular so arrive early. The menu is small but you cannot go wrong. I like to sit outside on a nice day. Recommend: Crescenza-Stuffed Focaccia breakfast pizza with an egg. (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Caffe Sapore (North Beach)

Veggie bagel

Loxs bagel

Neighborhood coffee shop serving hearty and satisfying bagel sandwiches. A perfect place to come on a rainy day to sip on coffee and read. Recommend: Bagel and loxs. (4 taste, 4 atmosphere, 4 service)

Pescatore (North Beach)

Veggie Frittata

Cute and reasonably priced Italian restaurant. I’ve only been for brunch but they also serve lunch and dinner. Not the most trendy brunch place in town but it is a perfect place to bring your relatives. It is in the Best Western Hotel. Great service. They brought my friends and I each a complimentary pancake! Recommend Veggie Frittata. (4 taste, 4 atmosphere, 5 service)

Healthy Restaurants

September 8, 2015September 8, 20152 Comments

Healthy Restaurants

A few of my favorite healthy/organic/farm-to-table restaurants.

Au Lac (Fountain Valley and Downtown LA)

“Cream cheese” and flaxseed crackers with dehydrated onions

Steamed jicama rolls with peanut sauce

Curried rice

The tiRAWmisu

They specialize in Vietnamese/Chinese raw food but also have vegan and vegetarian options. The atmosphere does not match the price of the food; however, the eloquently prepared raw entrées belie the cheesy Chinese décor. The servers are very attentive. Our waitress gave us extra peanut sauce for our leftovers. They serve free filtered alkaline water (at Pressed Juicery it’s $2.50 a bottle). I recommend the steamed jicama rolls with peanut sauce, “cream cheese” and flaxseed crackers, curried rice, kelp noodles chow mein, and the tiRAWmisu. (5 taste, 4 atmosphere, 5 service)

Café Gratitude (Larchmont, Downtown, and Venice) 100% organic plant-based cuisine. Sister restaurant to Gracias Madre. The dishes range from Indian curry to pesto kelp noodles. I ordered the “Fabulous,” raw lasagna with squash blossoms and Brazil nut Parmesan. The vibrant colors in the dishes make them look more like art than food. They offer everything a vegan could wish for—cashew nacho cheese, pumpkin seed pesto, and tiramisu with coconut cashew cream. It is a vegan/vegetarians dream come true but carnivores will love this restaurant too. The freshness and creativity of the food make up for the lack of meat. (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

True Foods (Newport and Santa Monica)

Salmon Dip (not on the menu anymore)

Veggie Crudités

Veggie egg white omelette and Kale-Aid

Watermelon sorbet

Lemon Pie with coconut cream and strawberries (summer seasonal dessert)

My all time favorite restaurant. They offer vegan, vegetarian, and gluten- free dishes as well as sustainable organic meat. Their menu changes seasonally to serve the freshest ingredients but some of my staples are the caramelized onion tart, spaghetti squash casserole, and the flourless chocolate cake. (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Malibu Farm (Malibu Pier)

Egg sandwich

Seasoned eggs and veggies

I went to the cafe at the end of the pier but they also have a restaurant. The dishes are locally sourced and organic. I got the egg vegetable plate (that comes with potatoes and whole wheat toast) and my friend got the egg sandwich. Large servings for the price and quality. Everything was delicious. You order inside at the front then find a table. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. We enjoyed sitting outside and watching the paddle boarders. Very fast service. (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Kreation (Santa Monica) 100% organic Middle Eastern cuisine. They offer an array of brunch dishes, tapas, desserts, and juices. I think their tapas are the best items on the menu. I recommend the ash soup, the eggplant dip, and the hummus. The soup is extremely hearty filled with veggies, beans, quinoa, and a dollop of yogurt. For breakfast I recommend the oatmeal almond pancakes and the Mediterranean plate. The pancakes are filling but do not feel unhealthy (check check out my pancake recipe here). (4 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Euphoria loves Rawvolution (Santa Monica) Raw, organic, vegan. Stop in for a quick and healthy snack like the lentil chili or bok choy salad. They also have delicious raw desserts. They list all their ingredients on their website. (3 taste, 4 atmosphere, 5 service)

Old Vine Café (Costa Mesa)

Quinoa and vegetables

Italian-inspired café located at the Camp. Elegant and refined but casual. Large selection of wine. Recommend: Quinoa and vegetables and pulled pork panini. (4 taste, 4 atmosphere, 5 service)

Urth Caffé (Beverley Hills and Santa Monica)

Spanish Latte and Thai Tea Latte

With multiple locations all over LA, Urth has become a staple restaurant for LA foodies. They specialize in organic coffees and breakfast items. I prefer their tea lattes though. My favorite is the Thai Latte. It tastes like a hot version of a Thai Iced tea. My favorite breakfast dish is the salmon and eggs served with brioche and arugula. My mom’s favorite is the beef hash and the eggs verde. You cannot go wrong here. (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 4 service)

Celebration Dinners

September 7, 2015September 7, 2015Leave a comment

Celebrations

These are my favorite restaurants for special occasions.

The Ivy (Beverly Hills and Santa Monica) Very fancy and well-known.

Fried calamari and oysters

The halibut

My mom and our family friend Nu

I came here for my 21^st birthday. You are greeted with complimentary champagne and ushered into an elegant living room with a live pianist and fireplace. The whole restaurant is covered in huge floral printed couches and pillows. We ordered the fried calamari, oysters, halibut, black cod with ginger coconut curry, and wild swordfish. While the food was delicious, this is a place you go to enjoy the atmosphere. The servers make your experience very magical and special. Dessert is brought out with a firecracker candle. There is a good chance you will see a celebrity—we saw Larry Flynt. Recommend: The black cod with fresh ginger and coconut curry. Atmosphere: lavish and elegant (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Animal (N. Fairfax) Very creative and adventurous tapas food.

Grilled Quail, Plum, Pomegranate, and Apple

Pig ear with chili lime and egg

Part of Jon and Vinny’s restaurants (Son of a Gun, Trois Mec, and Petit Trois, Helen’s). We shared the bone marrow, grilled quail, pig ear, BBQ pork belly sandwiches, and ended the meal with the yellow peaches mocha and brown butter ice cream. The servers are eager to recommend dishes for first-timers. Recommend: The bone marrow and pork belly sandwiches. Atmosphere: dimly lit, chic (5 taste, 4 atmosphere, 5 service)

Lucques (West Hollywood) Refined and pricey.

Scallops

Chocolate tart with espresso hazelnut and cardamom ice cream and the shortcake with pistachio ice cream

I came here on my college graduation night with my family. The servers are very attentive. The owner actually checked in on us and asked how our meal was. We ordered the scallops, the halibut, the market fish, and the lamb. For dessert we ordered the chocolate tart with espresso hazelnut and cardamom ice cream and the shortcake with pistachio ice cream. The food is decent but not the best I’ve tasted in that price range. Recommend: the scallops and the halibut. Atmosphere: elegant, sophisticated. (4 taste, 4 atmosphere, 5 service)

Sugar Fish (Brentwood) Upscale sushi.

I came here for the four-course Dine LA meal: First course – seasoned edamame; second course – one piece of salmon sashimi; third course – 4 pieces of sashimi (albacore, salmon, yellowtail, and scallop). My favorite was the scallop piece. The fourth course was a toro hand roll. Cost $20. Recommend: “Trust Me” meal. Atmosphere: clean, simple, trendy. (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Flores and The Ladies Gunboat Society (on Sawtelle Blvd.) Rustic chic LA restaurant.

Unfortunately, I did not take any photos but check out their Yelp Page! Flores uses fresh ingredients but takes it to the next level with rich flavors and decadent sauces. Everything is served family style. The décor of Flores is a fairy’s cavern meets a grandma’s living room with vintage-style mismatched silverware and plates. We ordered the house made biscuits with maple butter and sea salt, toasted farro risotto, seared diver scallops, and salmon. The desserts are out of this world. We ordered the vanilla bean cake with mascarpone mousse and the berry crumble with buttermilk ice cream. The cake was extremely moist and rich. Recommend: the biscuits, scallops, and vanilla bean cake. Atmosphere: trendy, vintage/rustic, modern eclectic. (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Upscale OC Fast-Food

September 4, 2015September 4, 2015Leave a comment

Upscale Fast-Food

Here are some of my favorite casual restaurants in OC.

East Borough (Culver City and Costa Mesa) Authentic Vietnamese food with a trendy street-food vibe.

Veggie spring roll and kale salad

New age Vietnamese café that uses fresh ingredients. The location in OC is at the Camp. I like to sit outside at the large wooden table under the awning. Recommend: the pho baguette, the borough spring roll, and pickled mango kale salad. The iced coffee is good too. (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

The Melt (Orange County and Los Angeles) Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.

Simple menu with burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches. You can add grilled bell peppers for free. I ordered the cheese steak melt and dipped it in the tomato soup. Great place for kids. Recommend: The cheese steak melt and sweet potato fries. (4 taste, 4 atmosphere, 5 service)

Luna Grill (Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest, and Irvine) Healthy Mediterranean food.

Mahi Mahi Plate

Gyros Plate

Sample Platter

Healthy and quick Mediterranean food. REAL certified. This is awarded to restaurants that use fresh and sustainable ingredients. We ordered the sample plate (falafel, stuffed grape leaves, couscous, hummus, and pita bread), the gryos plate, the mahi mahi plate, and the lamb kabob plate. The plates include rice, grilled tomatoes, and grilled carrots. The mahi mahi was overcooked but overall everything was very tasty. Vegetarian options available. Recommend: The sample plate and the falafel. (4 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Urban Seoul (Irvine) Modern and trendy Korean food.

Bibimbap

Urban Seoul adds a Korean twist to Mexican/American dishes. They have a kimchi quesadilla, gogi sliders, and pork belly tacos. The food is spicy and flavorful. Recommend: the Kalbi burger and Bibimbap (a classic Korean rice dish). (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Fins (Mission Viejo) Create your own poke bowl.

Two salmon poke bowls (one with a seaweed salad)

Simple and fresh poke bowls. The setup is like Chipotle. You choose a fish (tuna, albacore, spicy crab, or salmon) and rice (brown or white). Then there are a variety of toppings and sauces to add on top. Everything tasted fresh. I only wish they were more generous with the toppings. The bowls are small compared to Chipotle. Recommend: The salmon and sesame dressing. (4 taste, 4 atmosphere, 4 service)

TLT (Irvine and Westwood) Mexican/Asian fusion.

Daily special. Kogi beef lettuce wraps with peanut sauce.

TLT grew out of the Lime Food Truck. The food is unique and full of flavor. They have tacos, sliders, and veggie sides with an added flair. Lots of spices and marinades. They also serve craft beer. On the weekends they have $15 bottomless mimosas and a brunch menu. The photo is a daily special—kogi beef lettuce wraps with peanut sauce. Recommend: PBAT (braised pork belly sandwich), Brussels Sprouts (with prosciutto and chipotle-honey aioli), and Seared-Ahi Tuna Taco. (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Le Pain Quotidien (LA and OC) French countryside bakery.

Chicken curry with cranberry chutney tartine

Smoked salmon with dill tartine

Simple French boulangerie-esque café with communal tables. I love their almond milk mocha. The mocha has real cocoa and is bitter unless you add sugar. They have delicious breads and spreads. The photos are of the smoked salmon with dill tartine and the chicken curry with cranberry chutney tartine. The tartines are tasty but would be better if the bread was toasted. Recommend: The Lorraine Quiche. (3 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Recent LA Eats

August 18, 2015August 18, 20151 Comment

A quick review of a couple restaurants I went to this summer:

Tripel (Playa Del Rey) Modern gourmet pub.

A small locally-sourced restaurant with a gastro-esque feel. Simple menu with complex entrees—squid ink pasta, waterzooi, and paella. They also have craft beer on tap! I got the stout on tap but next time I want to try the Coconut Porter or the Organic Chocolate Stout. The bartenders are very friendly and are eager to suggest beer. We started off with the charred octopus and the spicy coconut & red curry biscuits. I found the recipe here. The biscuits come with orange blossom honey and clotted cream. It’s a perfect combination of spicy and sweet that goes well with beer. Next we ordered the steamed mussels & clams and chicken waterzooi. Waterzooi is a Belgian stew originally made with fish. The Tripel rendition has heirloom carrots, leeks, kale, potato latka, fenugreek, and gremolata. Fenugreek and gremolata are two types of herbs. It tasted like a curry but the vegetables make it lighter and fresher. The mussels and clams were the highlight of the meal. They have a lot of butter and herbs that will leave your mouth watering. You have to end the meal with their homemade chocolate chip cookies and bourbon milk. Their secret—it’s just milk with bourbon! Atmosphere: Cozy, open, and modern. The bar is situated in the center of the restaurant. There is also a cute store in the back that sells an assortment of kitchen knickknacks and dining ware. (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Wurstküche (Venice and Downtown) Sausages and beer.

Wurstküche specializes in exotic German sausages that include rattlesnake and rabbit. You order in the front then go to the back to eat. The room is lined with communal tables with butcher-paper tablecloths. The servers bring out crayons when you are finished eating. A lot of people just come for the beer so it gets pretty rowdy. We went around 7pm on a Thursday and had trouble finding seats together. We were squished in-between a couple on their (possibly) first-date and a group of guys in their mid-twenties. I ordered the apple and chicken sausage with caramelized onions and sauerkraut. Delicious. For beer I ordered the Koestritzer Schwarbier. A dark malty German beer that is slightly sweet. The Aventinus was also good but stronger (8.2% alcohol). Atmosphere: industrial, dark, and rowdy. (5 taste, 4 atmosphere, 5 service)

Flores and The Ladies Gunboat Society (Sawtelle) Rustic chic American food (sorry no photos).

Flores uses fresh ingredients but takes it to the next level with rich flavors and decadent sauces. Everything is served family style. The décor of Flores is a fairy’s cavern meets a grandma’s living room with vintage-style mismatched silverware and plates. We ordered the housemade biscuits with maple butter and sea salt, toasted farro risotto, seared scallops, and salmon. The desserts are out of this world. We ordered the vanilla bean cake with mascarpone mousse and the berry crumble with buttermilk ice cream. The cake was extremely moist and rich. Atmosphere: rustic chic, vintage, modern eclectic. Unfortunately I did not take any photos but check out their website! (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Gracias Madre (West Hollywood). Plant-based 100% organic Mexican food.

The sister restaurant of Café Gratitude. They have a good happy hour too. We shared the gorditas (potato-mesa cakes with cashew crema), flautas de camote (rolled tacos with sweet potatoes and cashew nacho cheese), and tamales. All delicious. We also ordered the bacon cashew chips and homemade horchata. I got the Bowl Dos, which is braised lentils, peanut sauce, and coconut rice. While the bowl was good I did not think there was enough sauce and toppings for all the rice. Next time I would stick with the appetizers. Atmosphere: The décor is chic, simple, and earthy. (4 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Sunny Blue (Santa Monica and Culver City) Healthy sushi balls.

Sunny Blue is home to the sushi ball. They have vegan and vegetarian options. I tried the chicken curry, spicy salmon, and shitake mushroom. The shitake mushroom ball was a bit bland. There was no filling. All the ingredients were mixed in with the rice. I would recommend asking which ones have filling and which ones do not. The spicy salmon and chicken curry were better but not great. The salmon tasted like it was canned. It was also very crowded and it took a while to get our food. It is walking distance to the beach so we took our food to go and ate at a park facing the ocean. (2 taste, 4 atmosphere, 3 service)

Best Burgers in LA

August 13, 2015Leave a comment

The Best Burgers in LA

In order of preference:

Stout (Santa Monica, Studio City, and Hollywood)
An upscale Gastropub that serves unique burgers and craft beers. I got the Six Weeker Burger that has fig jam, arugula, Brie, and caramelized onions. Make sure to order a side of sweet potatoes fries and dipping sauces. You can tell the basil is fresh in the lemon basil aioli. I paired my burger with a cream ale called summer solstice. The beer was light and creamy. It tasted like vanilla. Great burger. Great beer. Definitely recommend. Atmosphere: It has an industrial but trendy LA-feel. The Santa Monica location turns into a bar at night. It’s open until 4 am. Tip: They will sample any of the beers on the menu so be sure to ask if you are unsure on what to order! (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Father’s Office (Santa Monica and Culver City)

Small Gastropub with 35+ craft beers on tap. You cannot leave LA without eating the Office Burger— caramelized onions, gruyere, applewood bacon served on a brioche bun. If you like stouts or porters I recommend the Old Rasputin Imperial Stout. Atmosphere: Lively, dark, and small. Tip: Go early to get a table. The Santa Monica location is tiny but the other location is bigger. You must be 21+ to go inside. They also sample their beers. (5 taste, 4 atmosphere, 5 service)

Plan Check (Sawtelle, Fairfax, and Downtown)

High-end burger place known for their ketchup leather. I got the Plan Check Burger and the sweet potato fries. Delicious burger but not as good as Stout or Father’s Office. It’s also $12 for the burger and an additional $6 for fries. Atmosphere: casual, cozy, trendy. Tip: They sing on your birthday and bring a free dessert. (4 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)

Bella's Belly

Where brussels sprouts and ice cream happily coexist

Category: restaurants

Healthy SF Bites

The Plant (Marina and Pier 3)

Blue Barn (Marina and Russian Hill)

HayDay (Financial District)

SF Brunch

Sweet Maple (Lower Pac Heights)

Lovejoy’s Tea Room (Noe Valley)

Don Pistos (North Beach)

Home Plate (Marina)

East Side West (Marina)

Café Roses (Marina)

Caffe Sapore (North Beach)

Pescatore (North Beach)

Healthy Restaurants

Healthy Restaurants

Celebration Dinners

Celebrations

Upscale OC Fast-Food

Upscale Fast-Food

Recent LA Eats

Best Burgers in LA