Pei Wei

Place: Pei Wei
Location: 270 N. Beverly Drive. Beverly Hills, CA  90210
Entrée: Chicken Pad Thai

I thought North Beverly Drive only housed restaurants for diners who had time to take a 2 hour lunch. I was pleasantly surprised to see the P.F. Chang's sister restaurant in this area.  Pei Wei is similar to Panda Express in terms of ambiance and pricing.  However, the quality of food is much better and cooked to order.

I haven't had good Pad Thai since I lived in NYC. For less than $10 I got a large bowl. I like my noodles saucy so this was the perfect dish. They don't skimp out on the chicken or tofu either.
A little on the sweet side but nothing a little lemon/lime did not fix.

Even though I was full, I couldn't stop eating (shocking I know) so then I fell into a mini food coma. Good thing the Nepresso store has opened less than a block away (just north of Pei Wei). Tip: Go to the back and they will let you sample anything you like. I went for the Holiday limited edition one (Grand Cru Masala Chai). Delicious!

Happy Eating...

Mercado

Place: Mercado
Location: 1416 Fourth Street. Santa Monica, 90401

I'm back and hungrier than ever.....
Ventured out to Santa Monica last night and ate at the Mexican restaurant Mercado.

Being a Tequila drinker, I was pleasantly surprised by their long list of Tequilas. Started off with the La Pina drink...Drink was kinda bland but if you like spicy drinks, you can give it a try. My date had the Michelada (Modelo Especial beer of choice), now that was amazing, best Michelada outside of Mexico.

On to the food. One cant go to a Mexican restaurant and not get the Guacamole. The chips were sturdy, not that ones that break apart mid-scoop. First bite and...wow! Definitely a must.

Next were the Squash Blossoms (off the menu)...these are beer-battered and filled with oaxaca cheese. Oily yes, fattening yes, but worth it...yes, yes, yes.

Tacos de Jicama con Camaron - deep fried sweet shrimp with Mexican slaw. Was a bit surprised that the tacos didn't come in a corn or flour tortilla but rather a thin slice of jicama. Very tasty. Although deep fried, it didn't feel heavy.

The Ceviche Tropical was refreshing. Didn't come in the standard cup/bowl but rather on a crispy tortilla shell. I like my ceviche on the juicy side so I would have preferred it the standard way with the fish sitting in the juices. Other than that, the dish was light, tasty, and refreshing.

 

Although some of the food was heavy, since they were small portions, we didn't leave feeling heavy AND it left us with room for dessert.

 

We got the Tres Leches cake and the Handsome Coffee. Yes not a typo, the Handsome coffee. The coffee was how I like my men...Bold, fragrant, tasty...and well Handsome. The cake was a good too. Not too sweet. The fresh berries and whipped cream were a nice touch.

 

I would defintely come back here. Next time I want to try the Turkey Leg. The table next to me got it and it looked Medieval. This place is a nice twist on Mexican food. Fun place for a date or with a group.

 

Note: Second location close to the Grove
7910 West Third Street
Los Angeles, California 90048

 

 

 

 

 

9021PHO

 
Place: 9021PHO
Location: 490 N. Beverly Drive 90210 Beverly Hills
Entrees: Pho Chay (Vegetable Noodle Soup)
Price: $8.95

Fee-fi-fo-fum.....no no no its pronounced "fuh"

There are many places to get your Pho fix these days. Many with clever names such as Pho King (get it?!?!?)

I tried 9021PHO (it’s not fo!...but anyway) on a raining day. Not a fan of boiled meats so I opted for the Pho Chay (veggie soup). It comes with Tofu, Straw Mushrooms, Bok-Choy, Baby Corn, Carrots, Onions, Cilantro, and Rice Noodles in a Vegetable Broth. Hey...Its Kosher Friendly!

They serve it with a plate of basil, lime, jalapenos and bean sprouts. I added a handful of the bean sprouts, a lot of time, some basil, and one slice of jalapeno for some heat (yes I know I’m a wuss).

The portion is so large that you can easily split it with someone. For $2 they do it for you.

It's tasty and satisfying and perfect on a cold rainy day....I believe it is raining this weekend.

'til we eat again...stay hungry my friends...

Blu Jam Café

Place: Blu Jam Café
Location: 7371 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Entrees: Crunchy French Toast, Migas, Banana Nut Pancakes
Price: $12.95, $11.95, $10.95


Blu Jam is fantastic! Expect a wait. But with the delicious food and great service, it is worth it.

The crunchy french toast is a definite must for the table. Personally, it is too sweet as a meal but I highly recommend as a shared dessert.  It is topped with fresh fruit and this vanilla bean sauce (drool).

I ordered the Migas. It is a spicy combo of scrambles eggs, jalapenos, chipotle, beef chorizo sausage, tortilla chips and mozzarella cheese. It was like huevos rancheros but with beef. It is the perfect meal after a crazy night of fist pumping (do people still do that?...you know what I mean). The great thing is, the meal is tasty, hearty and not greasy.

The pancakes were good. Nice and fluffy but nothing about them really stood out.

Every now and then you get a hostess working there that acts like she runs the guest list for a Vegas club. Once you get past the velvet ropes and get seated you are good to go. I went with a large group of indecisive people plus a baby who made a complete mess (I wanted to crawl under the table). But to my surprise the waitress was super friendly, was happy to go over the menu, and was totally understanding about the mess.

The Honor Bar

Place: The Honor Bar
Location: 122 S Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Entrees: Honor Burger (top left), the Kale Salad w. Peanut Vinaigrette (top right),  Ding's Crispy Chicken Sandwich (middle), and the Veggie Burger (bottom).
Price: $11 Burgers/Sandwich & $7 Salad

Blink and you may miss this hidden gem. I work 3 blocks away and have probably passed by this place over a hundred times and just recently discovered it. From outside it looks like another formal lunch spot I would take a client. In fact, I have taken clients to the South Beverly Grill which is attached to the place but didn't realize it's a separate menu. The Honor Bar is part of the Hillstone restaurant group. It has its own entrance but one can access it from the South Beverly Grill.

During the day you can go get your grub on with some pretty amazing sandwiches. My top two choices are the Ding's Crispy Chicken Sandwich and the Honor Burger.

The chicken sandwich is amazing!! Thick juicy tender fried chicken on a bun topped with swiss cheese. Did I mention it was amazing?!?!? The honor burger is also great; I think the kicker may be that it is topped with coleslaw. You don't need to add anything to it.

For the kosher/vegetarian people out there, they have a veggie burger. I heard so many wonderful things about it...yet sadly I was disappointed. I will admit, I have not eaten many veggie burgers but this one just seemed off, it wasn't even trying to taste like a burger. The mixture of the patty sounded good (brown rice, mushrooms, and almonds) but sadly it was bland. Even the avocado they topped it with couldn't save this sandwich. Luckily I heard their sushi is great. 
 
To help balance out this "cheat day" meal, I opt for the kale salad instead of the fries (which I've had and unfortunately they are very good). If you like peanut dressing then you should try it.

I've gone on Tuesday and Wednesday nights after work and they have live Jazz music. It's a small places and gets packed quickly with young professionals. Note: they don't take reservations, tables are on a first come first serve basis.

Bibigo

Place: Bibigo
Location: 225 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, California 90212
Entrees: Hot Stone Bibimbap
Price: $10.00

Why does everything taste better with an egg on it? The bibimbap comes with your choice of rice, assorted veggies and topped with your choice of protein. For $1 more you can get a fired egg, trust me on this one, get it.

You have 4 types of rice to choose from, 6 choices of protein, and 4 types of sauce. I selected the black rice, the beef, and all (yes all) the sauces.

You get the dish in a hot stone bowl. Throw in all 4 sauces, mix, and spread out the mixture. Let it sit for a few minutes (don't worry it wont get cold). The bottom of the rice will become crispy. If you are middle eastern, it is similar to "Tahdig" and if you have ever eaten in a Sushi restaurant it is similar to crispy rice.

The great thing about this dish is that it stays hot. I was dining solo and got caught up reading an article in a magazine. 15 minutes later, my food was still hot.

Now if only this place offered Korean fried chicken....I would become a regular.

Til we eat again...

Toast Bakery Cafe

Place: Toast Bakery Cafe
Location: 8221 West 3rd Street Los Angeles, California 90048
Entrees: Tony's Salad (left) and Iceberg Salad (right)
Price: $11.95 and $12.95, 1⁄ 2 portion $9.95

Tony´s Salad comes with mixed greens and is topped with bleu cheese crumbles, candied pecans, grilled chicken breast and avocado served with the house vinaigrette

Iceberg Salad comes with chopped iceberg lettuce and is topped with jicama, corn, garbanzo beans, mozzarella, tomatoes, avocado, grilled chicken breast and is all chopped with fresh basil and tossed in a light vinaigrette.

Warning: The vinaigrette is like crack, anything you top with this dressing will taste delicious.

If you like blue cheese, avocados and pecans, you have to try the Tony's salad. Its a hearty and satisfying salad. This last time I had the salad, the pecans tasted different. They usually tastes like candied pecans made with sugar but this time they tasted like they were toasted with maple syrup. I was pretty bummed because the candied pecans are what give this salad that edge.

If you want to go a lighter route then go for the Iceberg. Its nicely chopped so its easy to eat.  The combination of crunchy jicama and the creaminess of the garbanzo beans make it a slam dunk. You you still get the avocado (yum) and chicken (protein) in this salad so you will be both full and satisfied.

This place is always packed on the weekends. Luckily there are nearby shops to help the time pass when waiting for a table.

Also, they have two large tables in the back with couches instead of chairs. I wouldn't recommend actually eating your meal on those tables because you are hunched over a coffee table. It is nice spot however if you want to get dessert and sip your coffee. Reminds me of "central perk".

Happy Eating