[Veloce]

(06-19-2013 05:26 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

I've still yet to find a pizza in L.A. that I'm absolutely in love with.

What style do you like?

800 degrees probably comes closest to Napolitano style, but that's not for everyone.

Sotto also does a twist on Napolitano style. They might make my favorite pie in the city, and I'm not a big pizza person (I'm burnt out on the shit)

Some people love Mozza, others hate it. It's definitely not pizza, but I think it's pretty damn good regardless.

Olio and Stella Rossa are both excellent pizzerias.

Everyone has differing opinions on pizza. Originally, authentic pizza didn't and does not have a crispy crust. But ask 100 people what they like in a pizza and they'll tell you a crispy crust is essential.

[Drazen]

i love 800 degrees..just a plain margherita...a bit soggy and underdone in the middle....great stuff. wish they had things like black truffles and more artisinal ingredients..but they are "chaining out". also wish the line didn't suck.

didn't like Mozza all that much, been a few times. I thought they overcooked the pizza..a bit dry for me and i've gone a few times...i like the napoli style where you have to eat with a fork and knife.

Gjelina also makes good pizzas though.

[speakeasy]

The type of pizza I like? I guess it's just New York style. Not too thick crust, heavy on the cheese cheese, tart tomato sauce, and salty/spicy pepperoni that explodes with flavor.

I've only had pizza like this once in LA when I was a kid. The place closed years ago. I'm not into all these healthy or fusion pizzas. A pizza is a guilty pleasure for me.

[Drazen]

they are opening a Grimaldi's in El Segundo.
http://www.grimaldispizzeria.com/califor...ntal-park/

i've been to the vegas ones, they are pretty good..but then again I don't know NY Pizza. People say Joe's is pretty good for NY style as is Mulberry Street in Beverly Hills. I've been to both...but wouldn't have a real frame of reference...to me they were ok.

[MikeCF]

San Francisco

* Little Star Pizza - corn meal crust, deep dish pizza
* Michael Mina - good everything
* Redwood Room - not sure what the restaurant is called, but it's at the Clift hotel
* Koh Samui & The Monkey - good thai food (pineapple fried rice, especially) and great happy hour specials
* Food trucks - lots of good ones; check out Off the Grid, which can sometimes be a good pick-up scene, too. http://offthegridsf.com/markets

[Veloce]

(06-20-2013 07:19 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

The type of pizza I like? I guess it's just New York style. Not too thick crust, heavy on the cheese cheese, tart tomato sauce, and salty/spicy pepperoni that explodes with flavor.

I've only had pizza like this once in LA when I was a kid. The place closed years ago. I'm not into all these healthy or fusion pizzas. A pizza is a guilty pleasure for me.

The best NY style pizza that I've found is Vito's on La Cienega. It would be considered "average" by NY standards but it fills that craving if that's what you want, and I think it's pretty good. It's not cheap but the pizzas are huge. If you eat there you can just order by the slice. Some real characters working there too.

I would say it's considerably better than the Joe's that opened here.

[JimNortonFan]

Dude,

Just curious what an exert on food thinks.

Chicago vs NY pizza?

Your ideal pizza?

Best I've had was 4 cheese in Rome and Chicago style my mom made with tomatoes from the garden.

[speakeasy]

How could I forget this place...in Vegas, Origin India. My fav Indian restaurant thus far. It's right across from the Hard Rock Hotel. It's the bomb! Very nice spot too as far as ambiance.

I also like Benihana, even though it's a chain restaurant. It's a nice place to treat my family too when they're in town. It's Japanese for people who don't like sushi.

[poutsara]

nice lists.

[Drazen]

There's a gabys a mile east on Lincoln and Washington. Also on Jefferson across from playa vista I think just east of centinela. Love their turkey meatloaf

[EasyMoney]

My favorite LA restaurants:

1) Fathers Office - best burger I've ever had.

2) Plan Check - amazing american comfort food. Incredible burgers.

3) Pho Cafe - It's in Silverlake. Best cold vermicelli style bun I've ever had, anywhere.

4) Casa Vega - my favorite burritos in LA.

5) Hugo's Tacos - the best carnitas tacos I've ever had.

6) Grill on the Alley - best filet mignon I've ever had. Some say Mastro's is better - maybe they're right - but I've never had a bad experience here.

7) Sugarfish - amazing sushi that isn't crazy expensive but still very good.

8) The Nook - a very chill, yet sophisticated new american bistro in west LA.

9) Carnival - great Lebanese style Mediterranean food in the valley.

10) Wood Ranch - really solid corporate BBQ. Service is always amazing, and the ribs are excellent.

[Drazen]

I'm pissed the Nook stopped doing lunch. Loved their nook burger.

[MikeCF]

(06-24-2013 01:26 PM)EasyMoney Wrote:  

<snip>

Good list.

You left off Baby Blues.

I forgot to list that, too, even though it's down the block and I get to-go regularly. Thanks for PartyonBro for the reminder.

[EasyMoney]

Baby blues is pretty damn good too, that's a good point.

You can also still get the nook burger on the dinner menu. My favorite was the catfish burrito and the ahi sandwich, I was so fucking pissed at them when they said no more lunch service.

I also forgot to put Damiano's Pizza on fairfax on the list. I've heard its closing down and Ludo Lefebrve is going to do a fried chicken concept in that space. I like Ludo, but I fucking love the pizza at Damianos after getting wasted at the Kibbitz room.

[Veloce]

(06-20-2013 09:25 PM)JimNortonFan Wrote:  

Dude,

Just curious what an exert on food thinks.

Chicago vs NY pizza?

Your ideal pizza?

Best I've had was 4 cheese in Rome and Chicago style my mom made with tomatoes from the garden.

Never had Chicago Pizza so I can't say. While I've had tons of NY pizza I gotta admit that I've never had any of the heavy hitters like DiFara, Motorino, Patsy's, etc. I'm usually short on time when I'm in NY. I'm definitely not the guy to ask about NY or Chicago pizza.

The best pizza I've ever had was a Naples style pizza from an Italian buddy of mine that worked at Da Michele in Naples for a few years. Ask anyone in Naples where the best pizza comes from and 9 out of 10 will say Da Michele. He learned from a long line of masters.

We met and worked together at a restaurant where I was the chef and he did all the pizzas, churning these beautiful pies from a wood burning oven. At one point I was eating one every day. They ruined me. I hardly eat pizza anymore since I lost contact with the guy. It's a long story that involves him getting married to a Mexican girl for citizenship, going on an Italian soap opera, and him getting a call from his mob boss back in Naples to not be in contact with me anymore. I'm not kidding and I wish I was making this shit up.

[speakeasy]

(06-24-2013 01:26 PM)EasyMoney Wrote:  

10) Wood Ranch - really solid corporate BBQ. Service is always amazing, and the ribs are excellent.

Wood Ranch is good, but if you're ever in the valley and want some awesome mom and pop style southern BBQ at a hole in the wall, can't beat Mom's BBQ.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/moms-bar-b-q-house-van-nuys

Been going to this place literally since I was a kid. And it's the same family in there cooking. It's one of those joints with celebrity autograph photos plastered all over the walls.

[LoveBug]

Sacramento

La Mission (Mexican Restaurant)
Red Lobster
Chicago Fire (pizza)
Gatsby's (Hamburger)

[Screwston]

Farmageddon, there's a new food truck park right outside downtown by 59 north. I think across from Minute Maid park. Someone told me about it but I haven't checked it out. There's supposed to be like 10 of them in a parking lot or something. Those yuppie trucks are always overpriced, I'd rather just go to a taco truck for cheap.

Thumbs down for not having House of Pies on your list lol. That place is good and cheap.

(06-20-2013 01:31 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(06-20-2013 01:06 PM)Farmageddon Wrote:  

Best Pho in Houston. The bone marrow pho is like manna from heaven. The Pho Binh Trailer:

Isn't this the Vietnamese place that Houston went to the time that the Indian guys were drunk and falling all over the place?

That was a Chinese restaurant ran by Vietnamese. I forgot the name but it's right at Bellaire and the Beltway, he's probably been there if he's gone eating around Chinatown. it's gooooood.

[kosko]

Greeks will give you good food for your money, they got the Restaurant hustle down. Oddly enough its the Greek Restaurants in Toronto that I've had shitty food, but if a Greek guy makes a burger or steak the shit will be damn good.

I'm a low baller with food. I've been burned paying descent money for food so I play it with safe with hood classics always. I would pay top dollar for a bomb as meal if I had the funds but those mid-range places that are sort of "high-end" are all traps full of shitty food. Chains all fall into that category, people in Canada love wasting money at mediocre spots like the Keg and Milestones, why? when I can get a hood meal for $7-10 bucks and be more satisfied.

Toronto for sure is a food trap. A lot of places will serve you dog shit and charge you a arm and a leg for it. Once a hood spot gets blown up by SWPLs and hipsters it will jack up its prices and price the regulars away.

There are well known institution places here of course but they are always busy and nobody even knows if the food is any good as its just a hype thing going there. I can't take some broad eating a nasty Starbucks pastry that Terroni got the bomb ass Pizza in town when she is eating nasty shit in my presence.

SWPL don't trust the grimy Chinatown spots. I tell them they get their meat and shit the same place your holy Keg gets it - don't be delusional in thinking they are sourcing worse shit, everybody is low balling it in that low-end and mid-range game. I worked in a few of them and If its full of Asians and half the shit on the wall you can't read its good food - they don't fuck around eating at shitty spots.

Some guaranteed bomb food for cheap here in the Tdot:


^Best BBQ Pork and Duck. These guys don't play and will give you extras if they like you.


^ Schnitzel. Nothing else.


^These two Arab guys from Philly opened this shop and and its got bomb cheese steaks. Good quality Rib-eye and nuclear orange cheese sauce.


^Shit is never open but the breakfast here is bomb


^Best Indian buffet hands down. Their Butter Chicken is a addictive - me and my homie cleaned it out twice last time we ate there.


^ Bomb ass Lebanese food


^ Only spot in Toronto that makes real Greek/Prarie style Pizza.


^Bomb burgers and Pemeal Bacon Sandwhiches. Like I said these Greeks know their shit.

I just need to find a legit Viet spot and my life is complete. I need that Bun Cha in my life. All Toronto spots just serve Pho and I don't like that shit as I've never been a big soup guy. Since nobody orders anything else but Pho the other dishes are all shit usually.

[Dragan]

My favorite spot is a small cafe/ bar/ grill in Belgrade Serbia serving roasted meats as their main speciality. Called Baltazar in the Vracar district. Sure it helped that it's cheap and i could get something on the menu for 3-4USD, but I was told time and time again that they had some of the absolute best grilled meats. Over my time living in Vracar, I got to try all sorts of wonderful grilled meats and Serbian beer at Baltazar. So many times, I looked around the patio outside, and saw people just being happy (and I mean really happy) to be sharing meals with friends or family. I have never been to a place where people looked so happy to be interacting with their friends or family, and the feeling was completely contagious. I would see groups spend 2 or 3 hours just chatting and eating, and it gave me faith, that their still are good people in this world that value the sacredness of mealtime, and dutifully break bread together and catch up. The food, also, was my introduction to Serbian roasted specialties and I miss the spot daily, mourning over inherently bland American food. I would recommend at baltazar: the mixed meats plate (1 kilogram), the pljeskavica, the chevapi, the chicken wings (my favorite all-time wings), the shopska salad, and of course their bread (which is my favorite Serbian bread).

[Rush87]

Sizzler niggas!

[Rhyme or Reason]

Pho 79 in garden grove. Best pho in town, they serve Ox Tail.

[Canopus]

(03-28-2018 03:52 PM)Rhyme or Reason Wrote:  

Pho 79 in garden grove. Best pho in town, they serve Ox Tail.

79 has the broth down to a goddamn science, I swear. Basically, I could live a year in GG or Westminster just wandering up and down Brookhurst, subsisting on a diet of nothing but pho and bun bo Hue and banh mi and giggly Viet-American EDC sluts...uhh I mean spring rolls. Sorry, the keys are like right next to each other.

[iop890]

Sanguan Sri has some of the best Central Thai food in BKK and is cheap as fuck. This is the best time of year to go since they'll be serving Khao Chae for the summer.



For something nicer, Than Ying is great too and has a better atmosphere.

Then there's the obvious choice, David Thompson's Nahm, it's expensive for Bangkok but again cheap compared to fine dining most other places. It was <$200 for two people, alcohol included, last time I went, compared to $1200 for comparable food & wine in Singapore.