BRB-Closed

BRB
1381 S Diamond Bar Blvd
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
909-396-9968

BRB is a Korean restaurant that has sushi and bento boxes on their menu!  I'm not big on Korean tofu, but I decided to try their sushi.  They had a good selection of rolls, and nigri sushi, all at an good, inexpensive price.

There are tables spread throughout the restaurant with a sushi bar/counter on the right hand side of the restaurant.  It was fairly busy for a Monday at 2:30pm.

Spicy tuna roll $5.95 and shrimp tempura roll $6.95.

The spicy tuna roll was fine.  Pretty fresh, a good value, much better than the super market sushi. 

The shrimp tempura roll could have been good, if they didn't put a ton of sauce all over it! 

Sun Oh Roll- $9.95.  Tuna outside, and crabmeat and avocado inside.  This had a bit too much sauce, it wasn't soaked with sauce like the shrimp tempura roll. Good fresh tuna, avocado, and crabmeat.

Service is good.

If you want inexpensive sushi, BRB, fits the bit.  They are a Korean restaurant with Korean dishes on the menu.  But, they do a good job with their sushi!

Veggietize Me

Veggietize Me
North Hollywood Vegan Street Fair

Veggietize Me is a vegan food truck that is always at the North Hollywood Vegan Street Fair.  The faire is located just west of the Chandler and  Lankershim.  There are about 30 food trucks at the faire.

V-Mac $14.95- two impossible burgers, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, tomato, on a sesame seed bun.

I've had three vegan Big Macs- Doomies, Plant Power, and Organix.  This is moved right to the top of the list of best vegan burgers I've had.  This was outstanding.  I liked the added touch of a fresh tomato.  Everything tasted just like you were eating at the restaurant started by Dick and Mac McDonald, then stolen by Ray Krap, I mean Kroc of Shit!

Service is good.  Veggietize Me runs promotions on their instagram account.  So, give them a follow.

I would go back to Veggietize Me anytime!

RiceBox-Closed

RiceBox
541 S Spring St Ste 131
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-988-7395

RiceBox came to my attention while I was walking around while waiting for a friend at Bar Ama.  Then I read this LA Eater story about restaurants using the Impossible Burger meat in other ways.  RiceBox uses the impossible burger as a filling for their dumplings.  It's not on their menu, but you can order it.  $8.50 for six dumplings.

RiceBox is located in an old theater and you can go from Broadway to Spring St, by walking through this food court-like space.  There are tons of other restaurants, including a gelato place that LA Magazine ranks as the best in LA.

RiceBox is a small restaurant with some counter seating along the window and the left side of the restaurant.  Most of the space is the kitchen and the cashier.  There are some tables outside. 

The dumplings are pan fried, with glass noodles, mushrooms, and the impossible burger meat.  It's good, but not outstanding.  There isn't that much impossible meat, and the dough is a bit tough.

Service is good.

I wouldn't go back to RiceBox for the impossible meat dumplings. 

BAR Ama

BAR Ama
118 W 4th St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-687-8002

Bar Ama came onto my radar after reading LA Eater's 38 Essential Tacos in Los Angeles! I had puffy tacos at Arturo's Puffy Tacos, and when I heard that Bar Ama serves them, I made a trip to downtown LA.  I'm glad I did, because right behind Bar Ama, is a location of Vito's Pizza- a damn good pizza place!

Located just down around the corner from Orleans & York,  Bar Ama is one of the many bars that have opened up in downtown LA. As you walk into you're basically in the bar area.  To the left is their fairly big dining area.

The puffy tacos are on their secret menu.  You have to ask about them.  The puffy tacos are $7.  But, $4 at the bar on Sunday nights.  There are six different fillings the day I went; ground beef, pulled pork, shrimp, potato, and two others I forget.  I got the shrimp and potato.

Shrimp puffy taco-  The puffy taco was so oily.  The shrimp, cabbage, and crema were fine, but it was too heavy because of the oil.  The tacos were warm, so I'm guessing they were fried before and all the oil just soaked in. 

Potato- same oily puffy taco.  A very small amount of potato, no real flavor.

Service was good.

The lists LA Eater comes up with do contain some good restaurants.  But, they also contain some bad restaurants.  Bar Ama, at least for the puffy tacos, falls into the second category!  Not going back.
If you want puffy tacos, just go to Arturo's Puffy Tacos.

Chopsticks House-San Dimas

Chopsticks House
66 W Arrow Hwy
San Dimas, CA 91773
909-394-1122

Chopsticks House is located in south end of the Target shopping center, close to the Trader Joe's.  I've been to this shopping center many times, but never knew that Chopsticks House was there!  It's a corner shaped restaurant with tables as you enter, and then down the left side of the space.  There is a huge counter area, but there are no seats.

I just learned that this is part of a three location mini chain.  I reviewed their location in Chino back in 2011.Their third location is in Ontario!

Shrimp fried rice, $9.25.  This was a small portion.  It came in a small white to go carton, not one of those to go boxes.  The shrimp were small sized, about 6-8 of them in the fried rice.  There were small amounts of carrots, peas, and eggs.  It was good, but not worth the price.

Service is good.  The fried rice came out quickly.

While the food is good, the portions are too small and not worth the prices.

Wong's Wok

Wong's Wok
2554 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
323-922-6012

Wong's Wok has an interesting history.  Currently located in a renovated shopping center that is now anchored by a Whole Foods 365- which is where by Chloe is located, they used to be a few doors south, where a bank-that ripped off the public- currently stands, when the shopping center used to be anchored by a Ralph's, which back in the day used to be Hughes Market. 

When the shopping center was being renovated, Wong's Wok closed.  The shopping center reopened with the Whole Foods, around 2016.  But, it took until March, 2019 for Wong's Wok to reopen.  I meant to go to Wong's Wok, even stopped in and got a menu, but never made it before they closed.  There was another Chinese restaurant in Silver Lake, Song Hay Inn, that I meant to try but never made it before they closed.  That space is now a Starbucks coffee.

Just like the old Wong's Wok, the new one is a steam table filled with food.  There are two options for seafood-salt and pepper shrimp and salt and pepper fish.  They have the usual orange chicken, beef and broccoli.  They have other items like shrimp and vegetables and shrimp chow mein al carte.

One item bowl, $7.12 with tax.  Salt and pepper fish and fried rice.  I wanted to get the salt and pepper shrimp, but they were out of it and the shrimp you had to peel.  The lady said I could order shrimp and vegetables, but that was an al carte item.

I didn't expect the fish-it's either catfish or talipia, to be fried.  But, it was and very salty!  I had to drink tons of water after getting this.  The huge pieces of jalapeno were a nice touch, but otherwise this is a below average dish because it was so salty.  The fried rice was good with peas and carrots.

Service is good.

Very disappointed in Wong's Wok.  I may go back for the al carte shrimp and vegetables.  But, I'm not in a rush to go back!

Szechuwan Garden-Glendora

Szechuwan Garden
1932 E Rte 66
Glendora, CA 91740
626-335-9055

I've passed by the shopping center where Szechuwan Garden is located plenty of times.  It's located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Lone Hil and Route 66.  I've eaten at many restaurants on the southwest corner of that intersection like- The Pier Grill, Thai Diamond BBQ, Zuzu Chicken, and the now closed, China King Buffet.  So, I when learned there was a Chinese restaurant that served vegan items I went right over.  Apparently this space has been many restaurants before, including a Chinese restaurant before Szechuwan Garden took over.  I don't think they have any affiliation with the Szechuwan Garden in Montclair!  Update- May 23, 2019.  The Glendora and Montclair locations ARE owned by the some person/company! 

Szechuwan Garden has been open for almost a year.  It's a medium sized restaurant with a counter area as you walk in and tables spread out throughout the space.

Vegan beef and broccoli- $12.29.  This was great!  The beef was cut into thick pieces, that were tender and flavorful.  The broccoli was well cooked.  The sauce used was very good, with good balanced flavors.  This really tastes like beef.  If you ordered this, you would not be able to tell the difference!

Shrimp lo-mein-$9.25- This was good, with about eight medium sized shrimp, cabbage, green onions, and well cooked noodles. As with the vegan beef and broccoli, a good sized portion!

Service was good.

I would go back to  Szechuwan Garden anytime! Very good food, and good prices!

Wexler’s Deli

Wexler’s Deli
317 S Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-620-0633

Wexler's Deli is a stand at the Grand Central Market.  I've been to other stands at the Grand Central Market like; Kismet Falafel,  Prawn, and Horse Thieves BBQ- which has a very large and loyal following!

There was a huge line when I go there, but the line was for the ice cream stand across the way.  When that line was redirected to another aisle, there were only 2-3 people ahead of me.  There are about ten seats along the v-shaped counter.  There are other seating throughout Grand Central Market.

Ruskie-$11 egg salad, pickle, and a kaiser roll.  The egg salad was great.  Well seasoned, with some green onions, and mustard and mayo.  But, the kaiser roll left a lot to be desired.  Not good at all.  A bit undercooked, and the onions on top didn't work well with the egg salad.  Cole slaw, you got a choice along with potato salad, was very good.  Not much mayo, which I really like, and just a light refreshing cole slaw!

Service was good.  We got our sandwiches quickly.

I would go back to Wexler's but I may ask for a different bun.  Maybe, even on a bagel!

Hotties Nashville Hot Chicken-Closed

Hotties Nashville Hot Chicken
13865 City Center Dr
Ste 3080
Chino Hills, CA 91709

Hotties Nashville Hot Chicken is located in the same shopping center as Bruxie and Pacific Fish Grill- I bet that the back of each of those three restaurant share a same wall!

Anyways, I was actually walking to Pacific Fish Grill one day, and saw some people eating fried chicken at one of the tables.  I asked where they got the chicken and they told me about Hotties.  It's a small place, with a few high top tables, and two small counter spaces at the window, on each side of the door.

Yes, in 2017 I ate fried chicken about 8 times that year.  But, since then I have been a pescatarian!  So, lucky they have fries and a truffle mac and cheese that I can eat.

Truffle mac and cheese-$4.49!  This was great!  A huge portion of mac and cheese made with cheddar, mushrooms and truffle oil and topped with bread crumbs.  The mac was very well cooked.  The cheese sauce was flavorful, and mixed well with the mac.  There were plenty of mushrooms and the breadcrumbs added a crunchy bite.

Service is pretty good.  The people are really nice.  But, it does take forever to get the mac and cheese!

I would go to Hotties again.  Everybody who eat chicken, loves their fried chicken.  They only have dark meat.  If you want white meat, you have to get their tenders or a tender sandwich.  Many said maybe not as good as Howlin' Ray's but you don't have the two hour wait.  Or the hour drive!

Hunan Restaurant

Hunan Restaurant
17383 Hesperian Blvd
San Lorenzo, CA 94580
510-317-9618

I was up in the San Francisco bay area and wanted some Chinese food.  I found Hunan Restaurant and stopped in.  It's a small restaurant with about 10 tables.  I got a to-go order.

Shrimp chow mein- $9.95.  This was outstanding.  Very well cooked, and seasoned.  A generous amount of medium sized shrimp with green onions and onions.

 Shrimp fried rice- $9.95.  The rice seemed like three day old rice.  Most restaurants will use day old rice, but this rice should have been thrown out.  There were eggs, peas, and carrots in this, along with lots of soy sauce.

I would get the chow mein again.  Not sure about the fried rice!  But, overall a good restaurant.  There were about four other tables and the food they ordered looked great!

Plaza Fish Market

Plaza Fish Market
3282 W Slauson Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90043
323-295-9368

With the tragic shooting death of rapper Nipsey Hussle, I went down to his clothing store to pay tribute.  I planned to go Off Da Hook Fish House, which replaced, the now closed, The Fish House, but I found out that Off Da Hook is closed too.  I don't eat meat anymore, so I couldn't go to Woody's BBQ.  But, luckily I found Plaza Fish Market.  It's on the Ralph's shopping center on the southeast corner of Crenshaw and Slauson-where the new Metrorail Crenshaw line Slauson station will open up in 2020.

Plaza Fish Market is another "You buy. We fry." place.  They have a big selection of fish-everything from sole, to red snapper to catfish.  It's a to-go location, as there is no seating inside.

Lunch special shrimp combo- 4 medium shrimp, 2 pieces of dover sole fish, hush puppies, and fries-$8.50.  This was a ton of food.  The shrimp was very good.  Well fresh in a cornmeal batter.  One of the pieces of the sole was too mushy and soggy.  The other was good-with a good crunch and flavor.  There were a ton of fries.

Service was good.

I would go back to Plaza Fish Market, but wouldn't order dover sole.  I should have gotten the red snapper!