Although I’m a relatively pale person, I do enjoy the ocean/beach. I am fortunate to live close enough to visit it more than I ever did during the first 20+ years of my life. To be exact, I currently live 3.7 miles away from the North Pacific Ocean. Occasionally, when I have the time, and contrary to “Walking in LA” by Missing Persons, I like to travel to the ocean on foot.
It never gets old.
Never.
Unlike most traditional Korean B.B.Q. restaurants I’ve been to where someone at the table does the cooking (not usually me), KKHB was more like a “regular” restaurant that cooks the food in the kitchen and brings it out when it is ready. I preferred this partly because I’m lazy, but mostly because I’m always nervous about food poisoning (N.B. I poison easily). Other pros: (1) Quicker; and (2) Supposedly we didn’t leave smelling like Korean B.B.Q. for the rest of the day (not sure if this is true though, obv.).
I ordered the extra spicy beef b.b.q. lunch special. It came with a lot of goodies: soup, salad, seasoned vegetables, kimchi, and steamed rice.
Korean Kitchen Hibachi B.B.Q.
135 Japanese Village Plaza Mall
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 680-1039
So happy that my 200th post is Umami Burger in Santa Monica (connected to Fred Segal). Great burgers, great beer, great location.
pronunciation: uːˈmɑːmi / oo-MAH-me.
translation: savoriness / the 5th taste.
review: delicious / DELICIOUS.
favorite burger: Hatch Burger (4 types of green chilies, house made American cheese).
pictured: Special Burger (I don’t remember what was in it) & Smushed Potatoes (dutch yellow creamers, double fried — get the ketchup!)
UMAMI
500 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401-2406
(310) 451-1300
Mon-Wed & Sun: 11am-10pm
Thu-Sat: 11am-11pm
It’s apparent that I’m a big fan of FO I & II. A lot of my friends One close friend even assumed that when Sang Yoon opened Lukshon next door in February 2011, I was first in line. Sadly, my friend was incorrect. It was only until a few weeks ago that I was able to finally check it out. Because I have let a lot of time lapse, I am just going to summarize my experience as wonderful — Being promptly seated by a friendly hostess to being served delicious food and having my water glass repeatedly refilled by an astute waiter. I would go back in a heartbeat. And plan to soon!
I have placed *s next to my favorite drinks/dishes.
THE DRINKS:
* Fujian Cure: Isle of Skye 8 year old scotch, lemon, galangal, lapsang souchong black tea
Yokohama Romance: Prunier VSOP cognac, cherry heering, kaffir lime, lemongrass, shaoxing wine
THE FOOD
Spanish Mackerel coconut vinegar, jalapeno, lemongrass, green papaya
* Spicy Chicken Pops Shelton Farms drumettes, garlic, kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), spicy sichuan salt
* Garlic Pork Belly do ba jian, rice cakes, cabbage, garlic chives
* Baby Monterey Squid stuffed with chiang mai pork sausage, with candlenut, mint, and rau ram
X.O. Rice jasmine rice, house-made x.o. sauce, long beans, egg
* Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts lightly fried in a soy sauce with sesame seeds sprinkled on top
Complimentary Desserts - Chocolate Custard/Pudding & Mango Panna Cotta
Lukshon
3239 Helms Ave.
Culver City, California
310-202-6808
Mon-Sat: 5:30-10:30pm
For reasons I’m not going to get into, a few of my comrades and I were on a mission to find a bar with a ping pong table. Through a little research, we found that not only did Tony’s Saloon supposedly have a ping pong table, but it was also where some of the scenes from The League have been filmed.
I use the word “supposedly” because quickly upon arrival we realized that the ping pong table was out of commission. Apparently, drunk people and ping pong tables are not a great economic investment. The manager told me the tables are broken all the time. Although we couldn’t play table tennis, we stayed for a drink and played some pool. You’re probably wondering how good I am at pool? Well, considering that I can count on my two hands how many games I have played in my life, it is easy to say that I am the opposite of good.
My billiard skills aside, Tony’s is a great place. It was a little empty at the time we arrived, but I prefer that. I don’t go to bars to meet people (that I don’t know already). Tony’s also has a great selection of whiskeys and beers. My favorite part of the bar was the photo booth. For five dollars, you can shove all your friends into a tight space and take silly pictures that are printed on photo paper that is superior to other bar photo booths I know of in Los Angeles.
Because we were still on a mission, we continued on our journey to find a ping pong table, with a brief respite & some tacos at a Chipotle. We then arrived at Casey’s Irish Pub.
We immediately found the dilapidated ping pong table sitting outside in the shadows. People stood around it nonchalantly drinking their beer until we took over and played some crazy games of ping pong.
Overall, I liked both bars. I prefer Tony’s vibe, but I would be happy to go either one. Interestingly, both bars are owned by 213 Nightlife.
Tony’s Saloon
2017 East 7th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 622-5523
Weekdays 5pm-2am; Sat & Sun 8pm-2am
Casey’s Irish Pub
613 South Grand Avenue,
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 629-2353
Hours found here.
Ever since my COLA post, I’ve been bombarded with emails by people demanding to know who is my favorite angel. It is of course Saint Michael, the Archangel with a license to kill.
