Sticky Rice - Los Angeles

317 S Broadway
Ste C-4-5
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Hours: 11am to 6pm

It was my first time at Grand Central Market and I was craving Thai food so I went over to Sticky Rice after seeing people crowd around it.

BBQ Chicken (5/5): you get a generous portion of tender, flavorful chicken served with sticky rice and a side of tasty papaya salad for only $10, the taste was very authentic!

Beef Panang Curry (4/5): this was also good, but not as good as their chicken dishes. I wasn't a big fan of the mushy beef texture, but the curry itself was yummy.

Overall Sticky Rice is a 4/5. Most of their dishes are around $10 which is a good deal considering you get to sit down, are served water, and receive flavorful Thai food. They also have a Sticky Rice 2 on the opposite side which serves noodle dishes.

Water Grill - Costa Mesa

3300 Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Hours: 11am to 11pm

Normally I would avoid restaurants like Water Grill that seem overpriced, but my mom wanted to try it out so we decided to go on a Monday around 6:30PM.

Bread & Butter (4/5): i really liked the cheesy bread they give you at the beginning, different than other places that just give you plain breads.

Clam Chowder (4/5): this was pretty tasty, it's more of a thin soup than your regular clam chowder but I enjoyed it. If you're sharing they'll even split it into two bowls for you which is nice.

Ceviche (3/5): I was a little bummed out that they ran out of the pink sea bream ceviche in the smaller 1 pound portion considering it was a Monday night. So we went with the other kind of fish which was fresh, but a little too overpowered with lemon. The presentation is great though.

Lobster Roll (3/5): We opted for the warm style lobster roll, which was good but nothing special. The fries were yummy.

Overall Water Grill is a 4/5. We paid around $100 for two people, which personally is too pricey for me. The ambiance is really nice, the food was good, and customer service was excellent. I really liked that the waitress noticed I was wearing black denim and offered me a black napkin to place on my lap instead of getting white lint all over my pants. If you have the money to spend you should go here. Valet is $6 after 4PM, and is the only option unless you want to park across the street at South Coast and walk over.

Fishing With Dynamite - Manhattan Beach

1148 Manhattan Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Hours: 11:30am to 10pm

Fishing with Dynamite is one of the most popular restaurants in Manhattan Beach. Known for their seafood, my mom wanted to go check it out. Reservations are recommended due to the limited amount of seating inside.

Operation Koh Samui (4/5): a tasty and refreshing yuzu drink.

SS Minow (3.5/5): most of the seafood was very fresh, but some of the oysters were a little fishy.

The Queen Mary (4/5): again everything was really fresh and tasty but not worth the $85 price tag.

Uni (4/5): very fresh and melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

Hamachi (4/5): this was delicious, but wish it came with more pieces.

Pork Belly (1/5): extremely salty, we could barely eat it so we sent it back.

Octopus (2/5): a measly three pieces of octopus in a bed of tomato sauce and beans...not good. Not sure what everyone on Yelp was raving about.

Clam Chowder (4/5): good, but it used to be served in a bigger bowl and portion according to my mom.

Salmon (1/5): super tiny portion of salmon on a bed of weird sour tasting potatoes that were inedible. Do not get this!

Fries (3/5): average.

Pretzel Chocolate Bread Pudding (4/5): love this dessert, had a little too much caramel on the bottom but really good otherwise.

Keylime Pie (3/5): yummy but wish there was actually a crust to bite into instead of graham cracker pieces.

Overall I would give this place a 3/5. The seafood was pretty good for the most part, but the non-seafood items were just okay or not that great. It is also on the expensive side for dinner, and the noise level inside the restaurant was way too loud both times I dined there. If you're in Manhattan Beach, can afford to splurge a little, and don't mind loud music then you should check it out!

North Italia - Irvine

2957 Michelson Dr
Irvine, CA 92612
Hours: 11am to 10pm

North Italia is one of the best Italian restaurants in the Irvine area. Known for their handmade pastas and unique flavors, you won't be disappointed if you dine here.

Zucca Chips (4/5): a delicious, tasty snack! Tastes just like potato chips but they're made out of zucchini.

Squid Ink Mafaldine (4/5): loved the freshness of the handmade pasta and spicy flavor, however I tasted no squid ink whatsoever and it was pretty salty. $22 is a bit high for the portion.

Funghi Pizza (4/5): a great pizza for mushroom lovers.

Margherita Pizza (5/5): sounds plain, but the cheese on this pizza is really good.

French Toast (3.5/5): tasty and served with berries on top.

Bolognese (2.5/5): very average, definitely not worth the $19.

Salted Caramel Pudding (4/5): delicious but recommend sharing with a friend as it can get a little overwhelming.

Tiramisu (3.5/5): there are crunchy chocolate balls on top which i thought was pretty unique.

Bombolinis (3/5): good doughnut dessert.

Overall I give North Italia a 4/5. The texture of handmade pastas just doesn't compare to other Italian restaurants where they just use pasta out of a box, and they have solid pizzas. The ambiance is also nice, but a little on the loud side especially during dinner time. I would recommend making a reservation as this place gets pretty busy especially on the weekends.

Las Brisas - Laguna Beach

361 Cliff Dr
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Hours: 8am to 11pm

Las Brisas is one of my favorite places in Laguna to watch the sunset while eating dinner. If you can grab a seat by the window, you're in for a great view.

Red Sangria (3/5): not bad, if you prefer something sweeter go with the white sangria.

Guacamole (4/5): it's pretty hard to mess up guacamole, wish they gave out complimentary chips and salsa though since everything is pricey.

Ceviche (3.5/5): solid ceviche.

Mussels (3/5): these were good, but nothing special.

Frutas del Mar (3.5/5): ordered this with pasta instead of rice and it was pretty tasty, but not worth $40 in my opinion.

New York Steak & Shrimp (3/5): average steak and shrimp, their mashed potatoes are bland.

Ribeye w/ Chimichurri (5/5): this was their special of the night and it was delicious, more than enough for two people.

Overall Las Brisas gets a 3.5/5, the food there is average for the most part, but you come here for the view which is spectacular. Service is a little on the slow side, and parking is either metered street parking or valet for $10.

Osteria Venice West - Venice

5 Dudley Ave
Venice, CA 90291
Hours: 5 to 10pm

If you're ever in Venice, this is the spot to go for dinner. Located right along the beach, Osteria Venice West is a hidden gem among all of the casual bars and shops along the boardwalk. The owners are Japanese, so you can see the Japanese influence mixed into their authentic Italian menu.

Octopus Salad (5/5): octopus was cooked perfectly and the dressing was refreshing. 

Steamed Mussels (5/5): huge bowl of mussels topped with some bread that you can dip in the yummy sauce. Definitely get your money's worth with this dish. 

Foie Gras (5/5): loved this appetizer, highly recommend.

Tuna Tartare (3/5): simple and fresh, wish it had more flavor though. 

Wagyu Ribeye (5/5): they had this as their special for the day and wow it was good! It was very tender and topped with a fantastic chimichurri sauce. It also came with shishito peppers and smushed potatoes which were the perfect accompaniments to the wagyu. More than enough for 4 people to share. 

Wagyu NY Strip (4/5): a little bit on the salty side, but a great piece of steak overall.

The Fisherman (5/5): the pasta was O-shaped which I never had before and cooked perfectly al dente, one of my favorite pastas here. 

Lobster Ravioli (4/5): this has cod roe in it, so for those who don't like fishy tasting food I would probably avoid it, but I liked the unique flavor.

Pizza (4/5): their pizza has matcha dough and is very airy and light. 

Chocolate Mousse (4/5): a chocolate lover's dream! It had pieces of crunchy chocolate which made it so much better. 

Cannoli (3/5): this would be a dessert for people who don't really like sweet stuff, wish it was a little more flavorful. 

Gelato (4/5): 3 scoops of hazelnut, chocolate, and strawberry gelato in an ice bowl, tasty. 

Sfogliatella (3/5): puff pastry filled with creamy custard, if you like orange flavor this would be a good choice. 

Osteria Venice West is a 5/5 for me because of their great food and excellent customer service. It's rare for me to like almost everything on the menu at a restaurant. The ambiance is bright and airy, definitely a little bit on the fancier side for Venice Beach. Parking is either public parking for $9, or valet for $20.

Ohshima - Orange

1956 N Tustin St

Orange, CA 92865

Hours: 5 to 9:30pm

Ohshima is hands down my favorite spot for omakase in Orange County. They only take reservations between 5-5:30pm daily, and after calling about 50 times I was finally able to connect and make a reservation. This is probably the most frustrating part about dining here, but it's definitely worth the effort. 

Omakase (5/5): they usually offer an 8 or 10 course omakase for around $35-40, which is a great deal for the quality of sushi you get. Each piece is cut nice and thick, and the quality of the fish is just amazing.

Some of the types of fish included: 

-Bluefin Tuna

-Sea Bream

-Scallop

-Amberjack

-Sea Bass

-Cherry Salmon

-Beltfish

-Black Cod

Uni Pasta (3/5): nice and buttery, but not the best uni pasta I've had.

Pork Hot Dish (2/5): not that great, don't get this.

Tempura (3/5): just your average tempura.

This spot gets a 5/5 from me, because the quality of fish you get for the price is just incredible. I've been to multiple sushi spots in Orange County, and none compare to Ohshima. I highly recommend making a reservation for the bar because you get your sushi one piece at a time rather than all at once, which I feel heightens the experience. Great place to celebrate your birthday as they bring out a complimentary warm chocolate cake with ice cream for you!

Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air - Los Angeles

701 Stone Canyon Rd
Los Angeles, CA 90077
Hours: 7am to 10:30pm

Took my mom to Sunday brunch for her birthday at Hotel Bel-Air. The hotel and restaurant were both beautiful, definitely a bougie place to go. For brunch they have a $75 course that comes with a glass of champagne, appetizer, entree, and dessert.

Appetizers:
Smoked Salmon (4/5): comes with salmon roe on top, solid choice for an appetizer.

Corn Soup (3/5): just your average creamed corn soup.

Fruit Platter (3/5): great presentation but some of the fruits were sour.

Crab Cakes (4/5): tasty and filled with crab, but you only get two tiny bite-sized pieces.

Entrees:
Steak Frites (4/5): nicely cooked to medium rare but the fries were subpar.

Mushroom Omelette (2/5): i would skip on this, was very basic and the potatoes were over-salted.

Eggs Benedict (3/5): nothing special about them.

Dessert (3/5): we ordered all three of the selections available and found them to be pretty average.

Overall Wolfgang Puck gets a 3/5. If you like high-end restaurants and have the money to splurge for brunch you should check it out. I though the price of  $75 + tax and tip per person didn't justify the quality of food and service received. Parking is also $12 after validation.

Restaurant 917 - Carson

19800 S Main St
Carson, CA 90745
Hours: 11am to 2:30pm, 5 to 8pm

If you're a Porsche fan this is the restaurant of your dreams. I've always been a fan of luxury cars, and Porsche is no exception. There are two ways to get into the Porsche Experience Center, purchase a racing course, or make a reservation at Restaurant 917. As much as I would love to get on the track, I don't have a thousand dollars laying around to splurge on that so I opted for the latter!

Pretzel Bread w/ Butter: (5/5): absolutely loved the Porsche-shaped butter that comes with it, such a fun idea and the pretzel bread was great.

Pork Tomahawk (2/5): beautiful presentation, but poor execution. The pork was pretty dry and didn't have much flavor, I would skip on this dish.

Burger (4/5): the burger was very tasty, liked the sauce on it. Fries were just okay.

Matcha Creme Brulee (4/5): had a perfect amount of matcha flavor and was delicious.

Overall I give Restaurant 917 a 4/5. The presentation of everything was so pretty, and the food was good for the most part. Ask for a table by the window and you get a great view of the drivers racing around the track which was my favorite part! There's also a small car museum on the first floor which you can view after your meal.

Shuck Oyster Bar - Costa Mesa

3313 Hyland Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Hours: 11am to 9pm

Also located in the SOCO plaza is Shuck Oyster Bar, one of the best spots for fresh oysters in Orange County.

Oysters (5/5): They always have a wide variety of fresh oysters! On the pricey side at about $3-4 each, but so good. If you come for happy hour I believe it's a half dozen for $15. The Royal Miyagi is my favorite so far, but I've never had a bad oyster here so you can't go wrong with any of them. Just ask your server what you prefer and they'll recommend the perfect oyster for you.

Grilled Cheese (4/5): everyone raves about their grilled cheese so I had to try it, it was so good I got another order!

Clam Chowder (3/5): this was good but we all agreed it was sweeter than we would have liked.

Uni Pasta (3/5): I was really excited for this because it had squid ink noodles which are my favorite, but it just tasted like regular cream pasta so I would pass on this.

Fish and Chips (4/5): solid dish, very easy to eat since the fish comes in small bite-sized pieces. Fries were tasty as well.

Overall I give Shuck Oyster Bar a 4/5. For a group of five utilizing the oyster happy hour deal, the total was $120 which isn't too bad. They don't charge a corkage fee so feel free to bring your own bottles of wine! Customer service was good for the most part. If you're craving fresh oysters and have money to spend this is the spot for you.

Pueblo - Costa Mesa

3321 Hyland Ave, Ste D
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Hours: 11am to 10:30pm

After hearing raving reviews of Pueblo, it was at the top of my foodie list to go check it out. Made reservations for a Friday night and was promptly seated. It's a very small, intimate restaurant that's perfect for a date night or celebrating a special occasion.

Costilla (5/5): Crispy pork ribs cooked to perfection, these were so tasty and unlike any ribs I've had before. The green beans were delicious too. Highly recommend ordering this. $12

Montadito de Costilla (4/5): Short rib two ways on crunchy toast. This was good too, but nothing special. Just imagine regular short rib on top of a cracker. $14

Seafood Paella (4/5): Perfect to share between 2 people. It tasted even better the next day! I believe it was around $25-30.

Mar y Montana (2/5): This was the only dish we didn't really enjoy. The scallops were perfect, but the pork belly was way too salty almost the the point of inedible. $16

Shrimp (5/5): So delicious, a must try! I'm not usually a big fan of shrimp but this was A+.

Octopus (3/5): Average, I would probably skip on ordering, great presentation though.

Bone Marrow (5/5): This was really delicious, loved the chutney on top. $16

Queso Fundido (4/5): Good, but I wish there was more sweetness or honey in it. $9

Overall Pueblo gets a 5/5 for me. I loved the dark, romantic ambiance and the food was just excellent. Customer service was attentive as well and we never felt rushed even though there were many people waiting to dine. I would highly recommend making a reservation as the restaurant probably seats about 30-40 people.

The Longboard Restaurant & Pub - Huntington Beach

14892 Springdale St
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Hours: 11:15am to 11:30pm weekdays

I came for their famous Lobsterfest special that runs from September 22 to November 5 every year. For only $25.95, you get either A) 2 main lobsters, corn, and potatoes or B) 1 main lobster, 1 NY steak, corn, and potatoes. We decided to order one of each to see which deal was better.

Choice A (5/5): the lobsters were cooked perfectly and were so delicious!

Choice B (3.5/5): unfortunately the steak came out a little cold so I wasn't able to enjoy it much, but the lobster was still great.

Overall I would give Longboards a 4/5 for their Lobsterfest special, and I would recommend sticking to Choice A because the lobsters were just so tasty and such a great deal. You can get NY steak anywhere else. I would highly recommend making reservations as this place gets packed during Lobsterfest. Customer service was friendly and we received excellent service.