pho 87

regular bowl of pho.

type of food: vietnamese

price: $0-10

atmosphere: numbered after its year of opening (1987) and nestled within busy (and dirty) chinatown is pho 87. the place itself has a B rating for cleanliness, but it's chinatown...what do you expect? in other words: it's clean and presentable enough to eat in. the place is big enough to big approximately 50 people. they have a parking structure as well, so parking isn't an issue. the place is in a busy location considering it's nestled within chinatown. however, on the flip-side, there's a lot to see and walk by in chinatown. so, if you're looking to kill some time or a walk to digest your food, it's in walking distance of some nice chinese stores. ALSO: CASH ONLY. so, bring CASH.

rating: 9 out of 10. my friends from the beacon took me to this place for supposedly "the best" pho. the food came out in huge bowls with bountiful amount of meat and noodle. i'm not the biggest pho lover (i'll eat it, but i don't crave for it necessarily), but i've got to say: the pho was damn good. it tasted almost...healthy, if that's even possible with pho. mix in your cilantro, bean sprouts, sriracha hot sauce, hoisin sauce into the mixture of broth, noodles and meat-- you've got goodness in a bowl. definitely one of the best pho place i've been to. thumbs up! 

1019 N Broadway

Los Angeles, CA 90012

great china

starting far left going clockwise: shrimp fried rice, mongolian beef, ma po tofu, & kung pao chicken

type of food: chinese

price: $0-15 (higher if you get combination dishes)

atmosphere: jam-packed with Berkeley college students and local families is Great China. The place is a bit tight with seating and room, but enough to fit a modest amount of people at one time. the place is split into two levels by a few steps. like every other Berkeley eatery this place is a bit tight in fitting and diverse within its customers. the furniture and decor is all like any other normal chinese restaurant. the difference, however, is the strong aroma of mouth-watering (and cheap!) chinese food you smell right from the first step you take into this place. parking can be an issue (as with all restaurants in the Berkeley/SF area), but Great China does offer parking at the gas station across the street (ask for a ticket at the gas station clerk inside...free!)

rating: 10 out of 10. all the various types of dishes on the menu are pretty normal chinese restaurant dishes. what makes Great China different from other chinese restaurants is the fact that it's in such an area catering to college students-- college students who are low on cash and very hungry all the time. the food is served in big amounts, so that you can share family style with your friends and be able to converse as well. the food is hot and delicious when place on the table, ready to be eaten. totally a place to check out with friends if on a budget and have a college student's stomach and appetite.

2115 Kittredge St

Berkeley, CA 94704

yuki yama sushi

started with the cucumber salad

montrose roll

sunset roll

hungry roll

the vegas roll

type of food: japanese, sushi rolls

price: $0-30 (depending if you're going to go for the 'all you can eat')

atmosphere: looks small and almost rock-n-roll-ish from the outside due to its small lot and black and red exterior paint. however, you're pleasantly surprised to find that the inside is pretty spacious with lots of tables/bar seating and a clean interior. the place has a couple of big plasma TVs for you sports fans (watched my DODGERS while eating!) and an attentive staff. The place is a nice, quiet and casual place to have lunch or dinner at if in the area. parking might be an issue during dinner time seeing as there's only about 5 actual parking spots in their lot. so, might want to check out the street parking, which isn't bad at all.

rating: 8.5 out of 10. my sister and i stopped by this place for some late lunch, and we decided to try to go for the 'all you can eat' option they had (11:30am-3pm: $21.95 & after 3pm: $25.95). they had some interesting combinations of sashimi and vegetables to make up new and different rolls. although the rolls might not have been mouth-watering good, they were nicely executed and served promptly. the staff were friendly and catering as well. at the end of our meal, we were both stuffed and content with the food we have eaten. 

2236 Foothill Blvd

La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011

father nature's lavash wraps

the father nature wrap

my friend, dayae, and her wrap.

type of food: vegetarian, greek, mediterranean

price: $0-10

atmosphere: settled in between Forever 21 and 21 Choices (haha) is the little, yet, cozy Father Nature's Lavash Wraps. there's probably only 8 or so tables that seat 4 each in the entire place, but no worries: people eat and leave quickly. the place has an upper eating area with 4 or so tables-- almost feels like you're in a treehouse. The place is small and tidy. The people who stop by the place range from shoppers to local pasadena-ians. parking isn't too big of an issue if you can't find street parking close by; you can park in the public parking (first 1 1/2 hours free!) structure down the street.  

rating: 10 out of 10. had a nice and light lunch with a friend before embarking on our shopping spree. the place was perfect for casual conversations and a healthy alternative for a filling lunch. the proportion was just right-- so, you can leave full, but not TOO full. the ingredients in the wrap (pickled turnips, boneless/skinless/marinated chicken, romaine lettuce, homemade garlic sauce, onion, parsley, & tomato) were all fresh and vibrant in color and taste. all in all, a nice place to stop by for a quick and healthy bite when in oldpas shopping or just hanging out with friends.

17 N De Lacey Ave.

Pasadena, CA 91103

curry house

brown rice with a side of salad

"very spicy" beef curry

type of food: curry

price: $0-15

atmosphere: situated in a plaza in Little Tokyo is curry house: spacious and welcoming. It's located in a plaza that is home to other various asian restaurants. Couple of streets in any direction from the plaza are other small and hip eateries (including spitz!!) and clothing stores (including AA). Service is fairly quick and amicable. The place is big enough to fit in larger parties. Parking is not much of a problem seeing as there is an underground parking structure-- you do need to get it validated and it is timed. 

rating: 8.5 out of 10. The food was bountiful and fulfilling for a nice sunday lunch with friends from The Beacon. The rice was nice and fluffy (they have various types of rice available ranging from white rice to pilaf --get brown rice! healthier!). The curry itself was not as spicy as I was expecting (considering I asked for it to be as spicy as possible...perhaps they didn't think a little asian girl was capable of digesting such spicy food?), but there was a good amount of meat served with it and was served in a nice consistency of flavors. overall, not the BEST place to get curry (seeing as how there are more authentic Indian restaurants that serve curry), but was a nice play at an American version of curry. 

123 S Onizuka St. Ste 204

Los Angeles, CA 90012

la note

omelette de pommes de terre: potato and caramelized onions omelette, served open face, with Provencales tomatoes

type of food: provencal traditional breakfast, lunch & dinner.

price: $0-20 (dinners can go up to ~$20)

atmosphere: really cute and charming place to have a cozy meal with a friend or two. my friends and i sat outside at the back of the restaurant (the inside is as equally rustic and cozy feeling/looking). it was a nice and sunny day to eat outside and enjoy the slight breeze. the outside furniture was welcoming and comfortable. the whole outside scene reminded me of something that you would see in a country home&garden magazine: people lounging on wooden furniture, sipping on some coffee while eating their breakfast. the waiters/waitresses were chill and friendly, offering suggestions and welcoming smiles. parking is a bit of an issue, with not enough street parking and not a separate parking structure for the place. i would suggest walking to the restaurant if youre near the area.

rating: 10 out of 10. the food was homey and warm. it definitely looked and tasted rustic. my friends and i ended up clearing our plates clean by the end of our lunch. the ingredients and flavors just combined so well to create a brunch that somewhat tasted like a traditional, everyday american styled omelette, but there was that lingering feeling and flavor that took the dishes all to a whole other level. definitely a place to try out if youre in the area: for the food and the cute interior.

2377 Shattuck Ave.

Berkeley, CA 94704

banana bay

thai beef noodle soup

my friend, yong, and his dish (i forgot the name...:( )

type of food: thai

price: $0-10

atmosphere: right as you walk in, you see the ever-so-recognizable colorful asian flower candies on the long, see-through, plastic sticks. then, you're met with a vast amount of space filled up with tables, chairs and booths and in the center of it all is a stage with what looks like a karaoke machine on the floor. the place has more than enough seating available and has huge, plasma screen televisions up on the walls for all you sports fanatics. parking is no problem due to the vast amount of parking spots available in the plaza--free of charge. :) during some nights, you can see someone performing and singing in the middle of the stage. only downside may be the slow service when the place is busy. other than that the place is, overall, an enjoyable and comfortable place to have a nice lunch or dinner (more preferable during nighttime) with a friend or with family. 

rating: 9 out of 10. the food was what all thai food should taste like and be like: spicy, filling, and unhealthy. you don't go to a thai restaurant, because you're on a diet and looking for clean and healthy food; you go to a thai restaurant to have a nice and filling dinner. the food was served in good proportions and was spiced and made to perfection. probably can't possibly measure up to authentic thai food, but it comes pretty close. the food is good; the price is good; the service is good. what more can you want?

18230 Colima Rd

Rowland Heights, CA 91748

yuri japanese cafe (CLOSED)

walls covered with the menu written in chalk

a whole section dedicated to comments from previous customers and recommendations for new flavors for teas.

rina tea: strawberry vanilla green tea

type of food: japanese: sushi rolls, teriyaki bowls, & teas.

price: $0-10

atmosphere: came upon this place with a friend while walking around after eating at blu jam cafe. the place looks like a typical clean and cute frozen yogurt place. however, once you go in, it's a quaint japanese cafe! where the frozen yogurt toppings would be displayed are various different types of tea leaves. the walls are covered with chalkboard paint and the menu is written all over them. parking can be a bit tough, but there are street parking and meter parking available-- just need to round the place couple of times. the worker there is really friendly and really knowledgeable of the various types of teas and its flavorings.

rating: 10 out of 10. the sushi rolls they have are simple (spicy tune, california rolls...etc) and their teriyaki bowls have a healthy kick to them. all items on the menu taste clean and light. the teas are terrific. you can choose various flavors and decide whether to mix or sweeten-- the worker will guide you with the flavoring. they're having a YURI TRUCK (kind of like the GOGI TRUCK) and you can follow them on twitter (http://twitter.com/YuriTruck)

7217 Melrose Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90046

blu jam cafe

roma via paris

spring scramble

type of food: american styled breakfast/brunch/lunch

price: $0-15

atmosphere: situated on the trendy street of Melrose Ave with boutiques and other cute/hip eateries surrounding this place, blue jam cafe doesn't fail to deliver everything a trendy LA crunch spot should: good food, amicable waiters/waitresses, and an overall laid-back vibe that exudes throughout the place. the place is casual with a good amount of seating available. might have to wait about 5-15 minutes for a table if you come during the always busy lunch times (12-1PM). parking is either meter parking around the area or (if you're lucky) 1 hour street parking-- careful when reading the parking info signs; since the parking is mostly available in the residential area behind all the cafes and boutiques, you either need a permit to park on certain streets or can only park on certain days. 

rating: 8.5 out of 10. food was delicious and a healthy amount. although it is, yet again, another LA brunch spot, the food differs in that there is a bit more of a variety with the ingredients used in their dishes. a lot of the ingredients are fresh vegetables and fruits. there's also a whole section devoted to a healthier (people who's watching their calorie count/weight) alternative to the rest of the menu. all in all, great place to have a light lunch with a friend. don't forget to walk around the area and try shopping at one of the many cute and independent boutiques around the area! 

7371 Melrose Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90046

jack n' jill's

cornbread

my friend, clara, and her chinese crispy salad

savannah strawberry oatmeal cakes 

the sunset omelette

type of food: american styled breakfast/brunch/lunch.

price: $0-15

atmosphere: one word: CUTE. the place is usually jam-packed with eaters and have a wait of anywhere from 5-10 minutes. the interior is filled with little booths on the sides and table setting in the middle of the restaurant. huge mirrors grace the walls and great artwork and antique furniture pieces are displayed on the walls, too. parking is a bit of an issue, seeing as how the place is on the trendy Beverly Dr. you can usually find some metered parking a block or two away from the restaurant (careful of the many one-ways while driving!).

rating: 8.5 out of 10. the food was delicious and filling. only reason i didn't give it a perfect 10 is because i can't seem to distinguish this restaurant and its dishes from the rest of LA's many brunch/lunch restaurants. the food is, no doubt, great and tasty. just missing that extra UMPH. nice place to have a casual lunchdate. 

342 N Beverly Dr

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

miss coffee

waffles, freshly cut fruit, strawberry/vanilla ice cream scoops & maple syrup on the side.

green tea shaved ice.

type of food: coffee, tea, desserts (cakes, shaved ice, ice cream..etc.), & smoothies.

price: $0-15

atmosphere: go during the day and you'll be presented with a nice, quiet cafe to have conversations with a friend over smoothies; go during the night and you'll be presented with a cafe full of FOBs (Fresh Off the Boat) and K-Town (Korea Town) kids who like to crowd cafes at night and talk loudly in korean. however, the K-POP music is always bumpin' and the interior is cute with light and fresh colors covering the furniture and walls.

rating: 7.5 out of 10. food wasn't the best nor was it the worst--it was alright. i've had better shaved ice elsewhere. on the other hand, the presentation was cutecutecute. putting the shaved ice in an oversized measuring cup and displaying the fruits and waffles in lines were cute (beats putting shaved ice in a big doggy bowl like Ice Kiss). 

4188 W 3rd St

Los Angeles, CA 90020

the cabbage patch

pan roasted wild caught salmon bowl

type of food: organic.

price: $0-15

atmosphere: on Beverly Dr of Beverly Hills...don't need much more explanation than that. it's in a hip part of town, with a clean and bright interior. order at counter, take your number and worker finds your number, and places your order in front of you all in the matter of 10 minutes. 

rating: 9 out of 10. don't let the whole organic/cabbage patch thing scare you off (nor the picture). the food was fantastic and filling. the service is friendly and quick. my salmon was cooked just right with tons of flavor-- no dry fish, yay! the dish itself reminded me of a korean dish: bi-bim-bap, where you mix together rice, vegetables, and sauce. overall, nice place to stop by for some healthy, flavorful, and fast lunch.

214 S Beverly Dr

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

toi on sunset

few of the many posters displayed on the walls of TOI.

went during a weird hour (2:30ish); hence, the empty seats.

pad kra prao w/shrimp, brown rice, & pad thai.

type of food: thai-american.

price: $0-16

atmosphere: rock n roll feel with all the hipsters' and rockers' pictures/posters up on the walls. vintage furniture displayed all around. black and red paint everywhere. there's even a low table, where people can situate by sitting on lower furniture. parking is peter parking on the streets. right across the street from the well-known griddles (was actually trying to check griddles out, but had WAY too long of a wait and saw this place and remembered it on my list of restaurants to try). 

rating: 8 out of 10. food was good, not the best thai food ive had. the shrimp dish was excellent. loved it. the brown rice is awesome, as well. pad thai was eh. could have used a bit more flavoring. overall, a fairly good thai restaurant to check out. check it out for the awesome performances they have there of local bands once in a while. 

7505 1/2 Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA

grub

it was a rainy day; i wish we had the weather to sit outside to eat.

instead of bread, they give you a healthy alternative for a complimentary starter: pretzels, carrot sticks, and sliced cucumber with some ranch sauce dipping.

white truffle burger w/greens as a side

look at that gruyere cheese and grounded meat.

after school special: grilled cheddar and swiss cheese sandwich on sourdough w/a side of creamy tomato soup.

type of food: american styled brunch/breakfast/supper.

price: $0-15

atmosphere: house turned restaurant. sits on a corner lot of a street filled with family homes. really cute and really "homey." has an old charm feel surrounding it with the squeaky and worn hard wood floors and flower pots lining the steps into the front door. doesn't have too many tables (maybe 8ish?). parking is alright with street parking. it's in a residential area, so parking is 1-2 hour free. owned by the once top chef contestant Betty Fraser!

rating: 8.5 out of 10. food was great. service was amicable. setting was story-book-like. only downside is the minimum amount of seating and parking was a bit scarce, due to the residential area. however, totally worth a drop by. 

911 Seward Street

Hollywood, CA 90038

forever fondue

milke chocolate/white chocolate with assorted fruits, cheesecake, rice crispies, and poundcake.

type of food: desserts & fondue.

price:$10-60 (depending on the combinations/serving size you get)

atmosphere: modern, sleek, high class feel. might want to dress up a little bit. in the heart of downtown la jolla (where all the trendy little boutiques and restaurants are). parking is horrible--street parking...few blocks away IF you're lucky.

rating: 7 out of 10. the fondue was delicious, but overpriced for the amount and the things they gave to dip. you can get the same thing (if not better) at the melting pot during happy hours (half off!!!). might want to go if you want to set the mood for a nice dessert with a significant other or a celebration, but definitely not for just some yummy fondue.

909 Prospect St

Ste 190

(between Drury Ln & Fay Ave)

La Jolla, CA 92037

rigoberto's (previously known as roberto's)

pollo asada fries

type of food: mexican.

price: $0-10

atmosphere: like any other mexican place, always bustling...but a bit more at night. open 24/7. not the cleanest place, but sanitary enough for the FDA. also characterized with the fake wooden tables and orange, swiveling chairs. the place serves its purpose: a place to eat mexican food.

rating: 8 out of 10. this USED to be my favorite place to get some good pollo asada fries. dont get me wrong. the pollo asada fries are still the best. BUT the sauce is different. the hot sauce that you dash all over the fries...its different from what it used to be. the burritos are alright (sergio's burritos are better), but not great. 

6990 La Jolla Blvd

(between North Ln & Westbourne St)

La Jolla, CA 92037

midori sushi

various sushi rolls.

type of food: sushi.

price: $0-30

atmosphere: the place is pretty compact in size, but has a nice style to it: one whole wall covered in a wooden art piece that also serves as stands for small candles, dividers made out of beads, dimmed lighting..etc. you might have to wait anywhere from 10-15 minutes if you come during dinner time, but the food is worth it.

rating: 9 out of 10. went with a few friends for a birthday celebration. went specifically for the ALL YOU CAN EAT option they have. all you can eat is only $27. must finish everything (including the rice of rolls). if not, they'll charge you. you have a hour time rate. so, eat an order quickly! service was a tad bit slow, probably because they had so many sushi eaters that night. food was awesome though. sushi rolls were pretty legit with flavor and freshness. very filling. definitely worth every penny of that $27 i spent.

Studio City location:

11622 Ventura Blvd

Studio City, CA 91604

king taco

carnita, pollo and carne asada tacos

nachos, carnitas&carne asada tacos

type of food: mexican.

price: $0-10 (depends on how many tacos you get/burritos you get)

atmosphere: sister restaurant to the El Taurino chain, king taco is characterized by its many fake wood tables and swiveling orange chairs. the place isn't the classiest (for sure), but its like any other mexican eatery: the service is quick and its always bustling with people. parking isn't usually a problem in that every king taco has its own parking structure big enough to meet all customers' cars.

rating: 10 out of 10. food is cheap and food. the sauce is (i think) better than El Taurino's. and as opposed to El Taurino's 1 hour wait for food, king taco hardly ever has a wait that is over the 5 minute mark. 

king taco locations

the kitchen

clean, urban use of material for interior.

my sister are her sangria

grilled turkey burger w/side of seasoned fries

grilled veggie stack burger w/a side of garlic mash

types of food: american.

price: $0-20

atmosphere: from the stripped walls exposing concrete to the graffiti mural on the exterior of the place, everything about this place screams: funky. the place is in the very trendy and unique silverlake city. everyone from punk, pierced out dudes to preppy little catholic school girls come to this place. the place is young and casual.

rating: 9 out of 10. food and service was excellent. the fries and mash were nice. the quality of the freshness of the meat and veggies were apparent in the taste of the food. nice proportions of food and spices. overall, great place to have a casual and fun lunch/dinner at.

4348 Fountain Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90029

square one dining

part of the interior of the restaurant (notice the egg cartons used to decorate the ceilings!)

their cute menu with my creepy friend behind (hehe)

french toast with bananas and citrus syrup & a pancake with fresh pears, some whipped cream and pistachios to top everything off.

the cured salmon sandwich

type of food: american styled brunch/breakfast/lunch

price: $0-15

atmosphere: this bright yellow spot is easy to spot after passing by the bright, big and blue scientology church. although, this place has an outside eating area in the back, i was unfortunate to not have tried my food out there. :( im sure its lovely. (will have to go back again in the future to eat outside!) parking is street parking, but not too big of an issue seeing as there's plenty around the place. the vibe is really relaxed and the waitresses and waiters give off the hippie, earthly vibe. 

rating: 9 out of 10. the food was excellent. they had interesting combinations of flavors and they worked! definitely a spot to check out for some brunch/breakfast/lunch if you're in the area.

4854 Fountain Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90029