Pie Face - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Address: 289 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Items Ordered:

• Pie: Chicken & Mushroom with Mashed Peas & Potatoes and gravy

OMG can I open a franchise for this place in the US?? Open 24 hours on a main street in Melbourne, Australia, this place was full of cute little pies in all kinds of flavors including steak, eggs, chicken, sausage, etc etc! The mushroom and chicken one was delicious. We went for breakfast and the crust was a perfect flakiness and the contents were nice and warm and savory. In addition, we also got one with mashed potatoes and peas, and gravy on top - although I could do without the peas. Lastly, you can't help but love the smiley faces on them! :)

--v

T's Thai - Santa Monica, California

Address: 1215 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Items Ordered:

• Tom Kha Seafood Soup
• Panang Curry with Chicken
• Pad Thai with Chicken
• Pineapple Fried Rice

Located just a street away from 3rd Street Promenade, T's Thai offers a large selection of Thai dishes. My favorite dish was the Tom Kha Seafood soup that surprisingly, actually had a generous portion of all kinds of seafood - scallops, shrimp, crab and more. Everything else was solid - would recommend it for a meal after a long day of shopping on the promenade!

--v

Orochon Ramen - Los Angeles, California

Address: 123 S Onizuka Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90012

Items Ordered:

• Orochon Ramen (Spicy Levels of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) in Salt & Miso soup flavorings
• Gyoza

Lured here by the publicity of appearing on Man vs. Food, each of us set out to test our spice thresholds. They really aren't kidding when they say this bowl of noodles was spicy! I got the Salt #3 (Impact) and even though I was so hungry, I had difficulty eating it without gulps of water between spoonfuls. Adam Richman took on the Special #2 - the challenge was to finish the entire massive-sized bowl (noodles and soup and all) within a 30 minute period. I would be scared to even attempt it! Overall, I enjoyed my meal but I think my taste buds would have appreciated it more if they could actually taste it all after being numbed by the spiciness. Yes, I realize I just got the 3 (fifth spiciest), but I swear the Salt one is spicier than the other soups! Be prepared for long waits for the small restaurant, but definitely worth going to attempt the challenge (special #2 or otherwise)!

--v

Update

I'm finally back from my vacation so I'll be returning to blog on here soon. There's so many restaurants to blog about! Thank you YJ for blogging while I was gone!

--v

Alegria Cocina Latina - Long Beach, California

Address: 115 Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

Items Ordered:

• Chicken Mole: roasted chicken in an Oaxacan mole sauce (over 100 years old!)
  
• Ropa Vieja: braised marinated beef Cuban style
  
• Pescado Negro: blackened butterfish over jalapeno mashed potatoes
  
• Paella Valenciana: saffron rice with beef, chicken, ham, mussels, clams & vegetables

This place was pretty empty for daytime happy hour on a Wednesday, but with only 1 waitress for our party of 8 and other tables, it was an advantage. We ordered 3 appetizers (appetizer tower) and 4 entrees to share, and that was plenty of food. The chicken, beef, and butterfish had distinctive flavors of Latin America, and I was glad this wasn't just another typical bar food type of happy hour. However, the paella was way too salty, and I would not order this again. We also tried the sangria, which was adequate, but not better than Cafe Sevilla across the street. Overall, it's hard for me to imagine coming back here when Cafe Sevilla is right across the street beating Alegria Cocina Latina in service, taste, price, and sangria.

--y

Guppy House - Anaheim, California

Address: 5642 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807

Items Ordered:

• Kim chi fried rice
• Pineapple fried rice
• Popcorn chicken
• "To-Go" shaved ice with mango and strawberries

The food at Guppy House is not particularly interesting, but the upside of the place is that it's a good hangout spot and the plates are GINORMOUS so there's always enough to share. The pineapple fried rice is a pass, but popcorn chicken and shaved ice are pretty tasty. The "to-go" option is the smallest portion they have, but it can easily feed 5 teeny bopper girls. The one in Irvine is always busier than the Anaheim location so keep that in mind for Fri/Sat night outings.

--y

Michael Mina - San Francisco, California

Address: 335 Powell St (inside Westin St. Francis), San Francisco, CA 94102

Items Ordered:

• Ahi tuna tartare appetizer (not pictured)
  
• Sonoma County duck trio: duck breast, seared foie gras, leg confit
  
• Brandt Farm beef trio: filet mignon, grilled ribeye, braised oxtail
• Cheese trio (not pictured)
  
• Catherine Schimenti's dessert trio: panna cotta, raspberry chiboust, chocolate mousse cake
  

While the concept of trio plates and presentation of dishes was extremely exciting, the same can't really be said regarding the food at Michael Mina. Some noteable dishes were the ahi tuna tartare, which was a generous portion of well-seasoned tuna and the panna cotta, which was light and creamy at the same time. On the other hand, not much can be said about the entrees. I might have had more succulent duck meat at Chinese restaurants and the foie gras was too oily/fatty for my taste (although that might not be the restaurant's fault). As far as the beef trio, my roommate concluded that it was really just unremarkable. Overall, the ambiance and great service at the restaurant still made it a good experience, and that's why there are plans to visit another Michael Mina restaurant, XIV in Los Angeles, sometime soon.

Honey's Kettle - Culver City, California

Address: 9537 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Items Ordered:

• 16-piece chicken meal, 8 biscuits, fries, macaroni salad, mashed potatoes & gravy
  

Did you know that at one point in my life my nickname was "fried chicken?" That's b/c all things chicken, and especially fried are my favorites. I'm not sure why it took me so long to try Honey's Kettle but once I bit into the crispy chicken skin and revealed the juicy, savory meat inside I was hooked. This has really got to be the best fried chicken in L.A. that I've tried. Even better than Korean fried chicken and Popeyes! (:P). The biscuits were soft and buttery and so good with honey on top. YUM!! Also, I would recommend the mashed potatoes b/c the gravy has chicken pieces in it and makes you not want to share it with anyone. Even after re-heating the chicken in the microwave, it was still crispy and scrumptious. All I can say is: EAT HERE, IT'S DELICIOUS.

--y

Crawfish Montage - Various

Addresses:
1. Hong Kong City Mall - 11205 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77072
2. Crawfish & Noodles - 10613 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77072
3. Boiling Crab - 13892 Brookhurst St, Garden Grove, CA 92843

Items Ordered:

• Crawfish, sausage, corn, and potatoes

One of my most favorite things to eat in Houston has to be crawfish. During crawfish season between March and June, the crawfish are HUGE and inexpensive. At Hong Kong City Mall, the crawfish are usually the largest and cheapest ($4/lb!), and for non-spice eaters, the mild seasoning is the perfect choice. However, my new favorite place is Crawfish & Noodles b/c the seasoning is the absolute best of all I've tried thus far. At $6/lb, it is slightly more expensive than other crawfish restaurants in Houston, but since there's no line and their other seafood options are also just as scrumptious, this has become my new go-to place to take visitors and meet up friends. Lastly, I don't eat crawfish in California often b/c of the ridiculous prices and crazy lines compared to in Texas, but Boiling Crab in Garden Grove has the cajun seasoning down, along with a great atmosphere to enjoy with friends. At ~$12/lb for crawfish, we supplemented the usual 1.5-2 lbs per person with plenty of fries, shrimp, corn & potatoes to offset costs. The crawfish were a bit smaller than in Houston, but in late June, that is to be expected anywhere. I'm having some crawfish withdrawal right now after this post. Can't wait for Spring 2011 to get here already!

--y

Bing Crosby's - San Diego, California

Address: 7007 Friars Rd, San Diego, CA 92108

Items Ordered:

• Crab & shrimp stuffed loch duart salmon w/ sweet corn succotash & potatoes
  
• Grilled NY steak w/ Dianne sauce & garlic mashed potatoes
• Chocolate decadence
• Grand marnier creme brulee
  

How do you get to eat at some of the nicest restaurants in any city for free? You just have to sell your soul and attend a drug talk sponsored by a pharmaceutical company. Since Bing Crosby's was known for good food and atmosphere, I decided that 2 hours of nodding and feigning interest was worth it this time. We were seated in a private room so I didn't get to see people dancing outside or hear as much of the music as I would have liked, but the atmosphere was very lively when we ventured outside. The stuffed salmon was crispy on the outside and the crab tasted fresh inside. I really liked the concept of stuffed seafood. The steak was only okay as I found the Dianne sauce a little too salty. The chocolate decadence was kind of dry, but the creme brulee made up for it, and the meal ended on a positive note overall. As for the drug that was presented, I can't remember a darn thing about it.

--y

The Breakfast Klub - Houston, Texas

Address: 3711 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002

Items Ordered:

• Wings and french toast
  
• Katfish with butter grits & biscuit
• Eggs benedict

So you've eaten at Roscoe's in L.A., and you think you're a fried chicken and waffles connoisseur. Well, wait till you go to Texas and eat at The Breakfast Klub (TBK), you will be blown away! Instead of small pieces of chicken and a hard waffle, TBK serves 3 huge pieces of juicy, crispy fried chicken wings, and you can substitute french toast for waffles--although both options are sweet and delicious. I tried the catfish and SUPER BUTTERY grits too, and now I can't decide what to order for my next visit. The food is so spectacular here, but the bad part is everybody and their mamas know it too. However, I wouldn't mind waiting in line for some of the most delicious Southern food ever in the whole wide world.

--y

Border Grill - Santa Monica, California

Address: 1445 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Items Ordered:

• Guacamole and chips
  
• Green corn tamales
• Roasted lamb tacos? or carnitas tacos?
  

Obviously I can't remember everything I ordered from Border Grill, but what I do remember is that the guacamole was super fresh tasting and the green corn tamales were like a special dessert treat at dinnertime. Hot and full of corny goodness (ha ha), I would go back for the tamales alone. I remember we went during happy hour so the food was a bit cheaper, but we did wait at the bar for about 35 minutes--just enough time to get buzzed enough to enjoy everything about the meal.

--y

E Tutto Qua - San Francisco, California

Address: 270 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

Items Ordered:

• Ravioli alla Fiorentina: ricotta & spinach filled ravioli in a basil & tomato sauce
  
• Paccheri Ripieni: tube pasta filled with spiced meat in a tomato/mozarella sauce
  
• Spaghetti Neri: squid ink pasta with mixed seafood in a garlic white wine sauce
  
• Tiramisu

I liked everything about E Tutto Qua. The decor was festive with lights hanging on the walls and the waiters had Italian accents, which was charming and even makes your food taste more authentic :D. The vegetarian ravioli and Paccheri were plump and generously filled with meats or veggies, and both sauces were good to the last drop. Someone ordered the squid ink pasta, which was new to me, and actually very tasty. The birthday tiramisu had the right texture and amount of bitterness. Overall, great restaurant to check out if you get the chance.

--y

Update

Hi! Victoria will be out of town for the next few weeks so you'll just be seeing posts from me for a bit. Hope that doesn't make you too sad. :(

--YJ

Cozymel's - El Segundo, California

Address: 2171 Rosecrans Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245

Items Ordered:

• Chicken fajitas
• Fajita steak salad
• Fish and shrimp tacos

Came here for a going-away lunch a few weeks ago, and I thought the restaurant was very spacious and good for group events. There are also a ton of options on the menu for picky eaters. I ordered the fajita steak salad and thought the meat tasted great, but the vegetables were just okay. Overall, the food was adequate, could definitely be more fresh-tasting, but sometimes its having great company that counts ;)

--y

King's Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant - Torrance, California

Address: 2808 Sepulveda Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505

Items Ordered (sorry about the phone pics):

• Spam musubi
• Kimchi fried rice
• Chicken katsu loco moco
  
• Paradise cake

The King's Hawaiian rolls are always delicious at BBQs and holiday parties so I just had to try their restaurant in Torrance. The spam musubi was miniaturized, which made it even better and cuter to eat. The kimchi fried rice was greasy and delicious. As far as the chicken katsu curry: fried stuff + gravy on top just cannot be beat. Unfortunately, the paradise cake was only okay; it tasted like those cakes from Asian bakeries with the bleh icing on top. I also bought some blueberry muffins and cookies to go, and they were SO GOOD!! I wish this bakery was right by my house so I could eat one of those muffins for breakfast every morning.

--y

Pascucci - Santa Barbara, California

Address: 729 State Street, Santa Barbara, California, USA 93101

Items Ordered:

• Marsala Risotto - Italian arborio rice, smoked chicken, broccoli, portobello mushrooms, marsala & cream
• Tre Formaggio - Italian sausage, fontina cheese, smoked mozzarella, & parmesan, penne
• Garlic Bread

I've come here to eat and have eaten take out from here so many times. It's on the top of my list when I came to Santa Barbara in the past to visit my cousins that were at UCSB, and now just when I want to take a day trip to the city! I can easily say its my favorite Italian restaurant - I especially love these dishes, coupled with the delicious warm garlic bread. The dishes look small, but they are so filling. A wonderful blend of cheeses, sauces and meat. Located on the lively State Street, it's just a short stroll away from the beach and all the shopping options. Yum!

--v

Cupcakes Couture of Manhattan Beach - Manhattan Beach, California

Address: 916 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Items Ordered:

• Fleur de Caramel and Strawberry Shortcake cupcakes
• Petite cupcakes (1 each)

What girl doesn't love cupcakes? What about designer cupcakes that also look and taste delectable? Even better! I only heard about Cupcakes Couture through a friend with a Groupon, but once inside I went a little picture crazy because the store and the cupcakes were so adorable. The Fleur de Caramel was my favorite because of the hint of saltiness along with caramel in the icing. The strawberry shortcake icing tasted like strawberry cheesecake and the filling inside was like vanilla pudding, but got a little too overwhelmingly sweet after the first bite. The devil's food cake in the Fleur de Caramel was moist and easy to finish. I didn't get to try any of the petite cupcakes that we bought, but my first impression is that CCoMB makes better cupcakes than Sprinkles.

--y

Ketchup - Los Angeles, California

Address: 8590 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069

Items Ordered:

• Appetizers: meatballs, mac & cheese, truffle fries with ketchup sampler
• Entrees: BBQ baby back ribs, scallops, sea bass, and pork chop

Ketchup is a cool concept restaurant with an amazing view of Sunset and hot waiters ;). The decor was cute, but too much red starts hurting my Bruin eyes after awhile. I was extremely excited to try the truffle fries with ketchup sampler, which included chipotle and BBQ to name a few. The fries along with the mac&cheese and scallops were the best parts of this meal. The scallops were abundant and well-seasoned, and even the accompanying vegetables were delicious. The mac&cheese was just my type--extremely cheesy! However, the meat dishes were nothing out of the ordinary, and I can't remember much about them. I would likely return to Ketchup but only on 50% off Sundays when the food is more reasonably priced.

--y

Empanada's Place - West Los Angeles, California

Address: 3811 Sawtelle Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Items Ordered:

• Beef selected fresh lean ground beef potatoes, hard boiled eggs, olives & spices
• Spicy Beef ground beef with peas, carrots and potatoes a touch of northern argentina
• Chicken fresh california grown chicken with peas, carrots, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and herb spices the super chicken pie!

I was rooting for Argentina in the World Cup after USA was out - too bad for today's unfortunate results! About 2 years ago, I spent some time in Argentina, and I must say that of all Argentinian cuisine, I loved empanadas the most. I wanted to eat them everyday! Stepping into this small place brought back memories of my travels and of any empanadas I've tried around here, this one most closely resembles the ones I had in Argentina. I got 3 empanadas and each one had the perfect mix of ingredients such as ground beef, chicken, eggs, potatoes, peas, and the crust was a delicious level of crispiness and flakiness. There are meat options and vegetable options, so there's sure to be one that you'll want to try! I think I want to get some more of these today... Yum! Definitely the BEST empanadas I've tried in the states!

--v

Urth Caffe - Beverly Hills, California

Address: 267 S Beverly Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90209

Items Ordered:

• Egg white omelette
  
• Curry chicken salad
• Oatmeal with fresh fruit and granola
• Tiramisu
• Cafe lattes

It is true that this particular Urth Caffe location in Beverly Hills is crowded, but for good reason. Sitting out in the sun, people watching, and enjoying delicious food and drinks really does a body good. Everything that I have tried here from breakfast to the salads and sandwiches is fresh tasting and prepared with care. The portions are definitely filling--even if it's only greens. Urth Caffe makes me want to become a vegetarian, get a hybrid car, and run 26 miles in recycled shoes. It is really that fresh tasting. One of my favorites is the tiramisu, which is a hugely generous portion of sugar, caffeine and mascarpone cheese. It has just the right balance of sweet and bitterness from the cocoa and reminds me of really fancy pudding. If that doesn't give you enough of a sugar rush, try the cute coffee drinks, which are actually quite tasty too. I have been to this location several times and have yet to see a celebrity I recognize so I guess there will be many more visits in the future, lucky me ;).

--y