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Blogs
September 14, 2011
Mitsuwa's Hokkaido Food Fair Starts Tomorrow
Edwin Goei I went to lunch at Costa Mesa's Mitsuwa yesterday and saw booths already being set up for the market's annual Hokkaido Fair, a veritable celebration of Japanese food (particularly those from Hokkaido).
Blogs
September 9, 2011
No. 25: Happy Hour Pho at Pho Thanh Lich
Welcome to the Weekly's list of our 100 Favorite Dishes for 2011. Tune in every day until we get to número uno! Now, on to the latest entry.Dave, Edwin, Shuji and I are still pretty pho'ed out from our epic Final Pho tournament earlier this year; otherwise, the winning Pho Thanh Lich would've pr ... More >>
Blogs
September 8, 2011
A Brief History of Tamales in Santa Ana
You know that book about the history of Mexican food in the United States that I mention in every other post? I released a brief, brief preview of it in the Food section of today's Los Angeles Times, specifically on the tamale wagons that ruled the streets of Southern California in the late 1890s ... More >>
Blogs
September 6, 2011
Five Things You're Doing Wrong with Japanese Food
I'm just as guilty of butchering foreign word pronunciation as any American, but there are times when the media perpetuates mistakes that will make you look like a schmuck. This week--five things for you to avoid sounding like one in a Japanese restaurant.
Food
August 25, 2011
A Silver Spoon in Your Mouth
[Hole In the Wall] The Pakistani store Irvine Halal Meat sells a great lunch buffet—and a Paki-Mexi burrito from heaven
Food
August 18, 2011
Lupita's Is a PeeWee Pupusa Place
[Hole In the Wall] The Costa Mesa dive specializes in Salvadoran and Guatemalan cuisine
Blogs
July 14, 2011
A Secret History of Thai Food in Southern California
By now, any true Southern Californian eats Thai food as part of their regular diet, whether at Thai Nakorn, Bangkok Taste, Siam Taste of Asia, or any of the dozens of Thai restaurants in OC and the hundreds in Southern California. But ever wonder how we became the beneficiary of so much great foo ... More >>
Blogs
June 30, 2011
Battle Pad Thai: Thai Spice VS. Thai & Chinese Express
Edwin GoeiThai Spice's Pad ThaiAh, pad Thai: the gateway drug to a full-on Thai cuisine addiction. This stir-fry of humble means has not only become the national dish of Thailand, but also an emblematic representation of its culture throughout the globe. Even if you don't know much about Thailand ... More >>
Blogs
June 23, 2011
#81: Quesadilla Chilanga at Alebrije's Grill
ProfessorSalt.comSince nobody could guess the exact name of last week's Guess Where dish, I'll tell you now. It's a quesadilla chilanga from the pink Alebrije's lonchera parked on Cubbon and Main Street in Santa Ana. Some of you guessed almost right, but a quesadilla is not a taco, no ... More >>
Blogs
June 13, 2011
Five Commonly Mispronounced Mexican Food Terms that Americans Shouldn't Mispronounce
There was a time in our nation's history where Mexican restaurants--whether fast-food taco empires or El Torito Cal-Mex ambassadors--published pronunciation guides to aide customers in properly ordering their meals. Some of those places still exist, but you'd have to be an absolute pendejo in thi ... More >>
Food
June 2, 2011
Banh Mi So Is a Big Buffet in Little Saigon
[Hole In the Wall] This Vietnamese buffet in Westminster changes its dozens of offerings by the hour
Blogs
May 24, 2011
Japanese Gourmet Fair at Mitsuwa in Costa Mesa This Thursday To Sunday
Edwin GoeiMitsuwa during their Autumn Japanese Food FestivalI was browsing Mitsuwa for exotic Kit Kats when I noticed booths being set up inside the store/food court for something big this week. Then I realized it's about the time of year for Mitsuwa's Umaimono Gourmet Fair.The food event starts ... More >>
Blogs
May 23, 2011
QSR Magazine: ~~Middle Eastern~~ ~~Arabic~~ Eastern Mediterranean Food Now "In"
QSR Magazine is the bible of the fast-food and fast-casual industry, one that's usually good in its reporting. But an article in this month's issue shows how advanced we are culinarily in Orange County, how the rest of the United States, even in this globalized age, is still rather clueless when ... More >>
Calendar
May 19, 2011
OC Greek Fest
St. John Greek Orthodox Church
Food
May 19, 2011
Taqueria Don Victor Makes You Taste the Baa
[Hole In the Wall] At this Huntington Beach treasure, Hidalgo-style cookery shines
Blogs
May 12, 2011
World's Most Expensive Bowl of Pho Goes for $5,000
Edwin Goei/OC WeeklyAnQi's basic $9 pho. Pretty good, but will $4,991 in gourmet ingredients (and some cash for charity) make it better? We would hope. The pho experience is anything but fancy, and that's just fine for all of us at SAFII. Tarnished napkin holders, murky ice water, tattered booths ... More >>
Blogs
May 11, 2011
Ranchan Ramen & Slapfish: Lots of Luxe Loncheras Launch Lately
Two new food trucks, Ranchan Ramen and SlapFish, have launched in Orange County recently.SlapFish serves sustainable seafood (they are in cahoots with the Aquarium of the Pacific) and Ranchan serves pizza Korean tacos ramen, sliders, okonomiyaki (!) and yakitori. Both showed up at Anaheim's Noble ... More >>
Blogs
May 5, 2011
Six Presidential Encounters with Mexican Food, Ranked from Best to Worst
The only president that matters today...So today is Cinco de Mayo blah blah blah blah. But instead of offering you places to drinko, your humble scribe likes learnin' people stuff, you know, the more arcane the better. So what more-random topic than a quick overview of American presidents and the ... More >>
Blogs
May 4, 2011
The Banh Mi Burger at Pee Wee's Famous Hot Dogs
I've been talking to a lot of people lately about the Vietnamese influence on Orange County's food. Everything from the fusion French-Vietnamese bistros that only seem to exist in Little Saigon to luxe loncheras like Dos Chinos who fuse Vietnamese and Mexican flavors together.Usually, the discuss ... More >>
Blogs
April 25, 2011
Banh Mi Cho Cu Goes "Mua 2 Tang 1"
The sign above--taken under poor lighting conditions as we headed up Magnolia last night--announces news of great import for lovers of the Vietnamese sandwich: Banh Mi Cho Cu is now offering the same "buy 2, get 1 free" special for which its chief rival, Banh Mi Che Cali, is known.
Blogs
April 15, 2011
Eat Here, Not There: High-End Bánh Mì
ProfessorSalt.comVegetarian banh miLittle Saigon has the best bánh mì shops in the nation, despite the absurd New York Times story we ridiculed here on this blog a couple months ago. Sure, the San Gabriel Valley has a few great shops, as do San Jose and a number of other Vietnamese enclaves acr ... More >>
Food
April 14, 2011
Pho Thanh Lich: The Undisputed Best Pho in OC
[Hole In the Wall] Bow before your pho king-god and try the winner of our recent Final Pho tournament
Blogs
April 7, 2011
On the Line: Owner Daniel Woo and Chef Greg Ong of Sushilicious, Part Three
Kevin LaraChef Greg OngTo conclude our time with Daniel Woo and Greg Ong of Sushilicious, today the two gents share a recipe. If you missed the interviews, click here to read owner Daniel Woo's answers from yesterday, and click here for Chef Greg Ong's from the day before.
Food
April 7, 2011
Soho Is Where the Taco Is
[Hole In the Wall] Reyna Market in Santa Ana is home to the Zambranos, the best taqueros in Orange County right now
Blogs
April 7, 2011
Ask a Comida Critic: Best Chile Relleno in OC?
Someone actually asked this months ago, but it got lost in the pile along with my W-2 (eep!). Anyhoo, the query:What's the best chile relleno in Orange County?I must admit: I never order the dish. A chile relleno is never about subtlety; it's supposed be greasy, gooey, eggy, a glop to be mixed al ... More >>
Blogs
April 6, 2011
On the Line: Owner Daniel Woo and Chef Greg Ong of Sushilicious, Part Two
Kevin LaraChef Greg OngYesterday we heard from Chef Greg Ong of Sushilicious. Today, for Part Two, it's Daniel Woo's turn at the mic as he talks about iPods, marketing, and how the name Sushilicious came into being.Tomorrow, the guys share a recipe!Proudest moment as a restaurant owner:The ... More >>
Blogs
April 4, 2011
Jang Mo Gip Kimchi Big . . . in New York City?!
We here at SaFII have long loved Jang Mo Gip, the Garden Grove Korean restaurant most famous for its soups, whether haejangguk or seolleongtang. But at the Natural Products Expo last month in Anaheim, I saw a stall advertising Mother In Law's Kimchi. I had heard about the product before but figured ... More >>
Blogs
March 31, 2011
Final Pho, Semi-Final: Pho Thanh Lich vs. Pho Quang Trung
Photo by the Elmo MonsterPho Than Lich's beautiful bowlHere we are: the semifinals; the Final Pho. Sixteen of Orange County's finest pho shops have been whittled down to four. The winner of today's matchup will face the winner of the Pho Thanh Lich vs. Pho Quang Trung match on Friday in the ... More >>
Food
March 31, 2011
Koba Tofu Grill Offers Lovable Lava
This new Irvine entry in the Korean chain offers many soft-tofu soups that burn and roil, but, boy, are they delish!
Blogs
March 29, 2011
Five (Largely Inaccurate) Oxford English Dictionary Entries for Mexican Foods
Last week, I reported on how the Oxford English Dictionary had just included "banh mi" into its august publication, a wonderful, surprising development. Also in the mix was "taquito," and that entry just pissed me off. Oh, I was happy that rolled, fried tacos finally received their due--but ... More >>
Blogs
March 29, 2011
Final Pho, Semi-Final Round: Pho Nguyen Hue vs. Brodard Chateau
Pho Nguyen Hue's chicken phoHere we are: the semifinals; the Final Pho. Sixteen of Orange County's finest pho shops have been whittled down to four. The winner of today's matchup will face the winner of the Pho Thanh Lich vs. Pho Quang Trung match on Friday in the championship to declare the f ... More >>
Blogs
March 25, 2011
Final Pho, Round 2: Pho 86 vs. Pho Quang Trung
Pho Quang Trung's "grab bag o' beef" phoWelcome to OC Weekly's Final Pho. Sixteen pho shops chosen from the more than 100 in the county; four critics who know what the pho makes a good bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. The chosen 16 will face off in each of our brackets, two by two. Today, th ... More >>
Blogs
March 24, 2011
Final Pho Round 2: Pho Thanh Lich vs. Quan Hop
ProfessorSalt.comQuon Hop's rare filet mignon "onside" with its cup of cooking brothWelcome to OC Weekly's Final Pho. Sixteen pho shops chosen from the more than 100 in the county; four critics who know what the pho makes a good bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. The chosen 16 will face off in ea ... More >>
Blogs
March 24, 2011
Battle Bad-Ass Chilaquiles: Amorelia Mexican Cafe vs. Taquería Zamora!
Taquería Zamora's epic chilaquilesMy favorite breakfast after pozole is chilaquiles, that beautiful creation of beans, rice, eggs, crema, and tortilla strips of varying degrees of hardness--but it's one I rarely have outside my mother's kitchen. Far too many Mexican restaurants don't understand ... More >>
Food
March 24, 2011
Saigon Bakery: OC's Banh Mi Champeen?
[Hole In the Wall] This Westminster eatery specializes in the Vietnamese sandwich and other baked goodies.
Blogs
March 23, 2011
Final Pho Round 2: Benley vs. Brodard Chateau
Edwin GoeiBrodard Chateau's PhoWelcome to OC Weekly's Final Pho. Sixteen pho shops chosen from the more than 100 in the county; four critics who know what the pho makes a good bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. The chosen 16 will face off in each of our brackets, two by two. The next match-up in ... More >>
Blogs
March 22, 2011
Final Pho Round 2: Pho Dakao vs. Pho Nguyen Hue
Just like the marquee says!Here we go, folks: Round 2 of our epic Final Pho tournament, where Dave, Edwin, Shuji, and Gustavo each picked four pho restaurants in a 16-team fight to determine who is the pho king of Little Saigon--and therefore, the United States. Now comes the brutal matches, a ... More >>
Blogs
March 21, 2011
Final Pho, Round 1: Pho 79 vs. Pho 86
Pho 79's pho tai nam ve gan gau--rare and well-done beef, flank, brisket and tendonsWelcome to OC Weekly's Final Pho. Sixteen pho shops chosen from the more than 100 in the county; four critics who know what the pho makes a good bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. The chosen 16 will face off in ... More >>
Blogs
March 20, 2011
Final Pho Round 1: Pho Thang Long vs. Quan Hop
ProfessorSalt.comQuan Hop's Pho Hop Tai OnsideWelcome to OC Weekly's Final Pho. Sixteen pho shops chosen from the more than 100 in the county; four critics who know what the pho makes a good bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. The chosen 16 will face off in each of our brackets, two by two. The ne ... More >>
Blogs
March 19, 2011
Final Pho Round 1: Brodard Chateau vs. S Vietnamese Fine Dining
Edwin GoeiBrodard Chateau's PhoWelcome to OC Weekly's Final Pho. Sixteen pho shops chosen from the more than 100 in the county; four critics who know what the pho makes a good bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. The chosen 16 will face off in each of our brackets, two by two. The next match-up has ... More >>
Blogs
March 18, 2011
Final Pho Round 1: Pho Hien Vuong vs. Pho Nguyen Hue
Pho Hien Vuong: OC's OG pho?Welcome to OC Weekly's Final Pho. Sixteen pho shops chosen from the more than 100 in the county; four critics who know what the pho makes a good bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. The chosen 16 will face off in each of our brackets, two by two. Now, Gustavo's final ... More >>
Blogs
March 17, 2011
Final Pho, Round 1: Pho Kimmy vs. Pho Quang Trung
Dave LiebermanPho Kimmy's pho dac bietWelcome to OC Weekly's Final Pho. Sixteen pho shops chosen from the more than 100 in the county; four critics who know what the pho makes a good bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. The chosen 16 will face off in each of our brackets, two by two. Today's match ... More >>
Blogs
March 17, 2011
Nuclear Meltdown Might Cause Sushi Shortage
ynetnews.comWith as many sushi restaurants as we have in Orange County, the possibility of a sushi shortage after the tsunami disaster hadn't crossed my mind until this story in Israel's Ynet Business News. It's true that nearly all the hamachi sold is farm-raised and most likely routed through J ... More >>
Food
March 17, 2011
Punjabi Tandoor Is Nom Nom Nirvana
[Hole In the Wall] This Anaheim restaurant does wonderful interpretations of Northern India cuisine
Blogs
March 16, 2011
Final Pho Round 1: Pho Thanh Lich vs. Pho Vinh Ky II
ProfessorSalt.comPho Thanh Lich's Pho Dac BietFour pho shops face off in each of our brackets, two by two. For today's bout, two of Little Saigon's old-school heavyweights square off and trade body blows until only one leaves the ring alive. In the red green corner--Pho Thanch Lich, last year' ... More >>
Blogs
March 15, 2011
Final Pho Round 1: AnQi vs. Benley
Second match in our 16-restaurant tournament to determine once and for all who sells the best pho in Orange County. Tune in tomorrow for Shuji 's showdown!In an earlier review of the place, I summarized Benley as a Vietnamese restaurant for the non-Vietnamese. I even went so far as to warn anyon ... More >>
Food
March 10, 2011
Habuya Represents the Perfect Prefecture
This Tustin dive dazzles as the first Okinawan restaurant in Orange County
Blogs
March 8, 2011
Announcing OC Weekly's First-Ever Final Pho!
Dave LiebermanIf you are a sports fan, you are looking forward to the coming NCAA Division I basketball tournament, famously known as March Madness and the Final Four. If you are a fan of Vietnamese food, you love pho, the legendary beef (sometimes chicken, sometimes turkey, sometimes fish, somet ... More >>
Blogs
March 4, 2011
A Mexican Dinner in 1890s Orange County with Madame Helena Modjeska
Wikimedia CommonsThe caption says it all...In doing general research for my book on the history of Mexican food in the United States, I've unearthed numerous accounts of non-Mexicans enjoying Mexican food for the first time, or quickly learning how to love the stuff. One of the earlier accounts I ... More >>
Food
March 3, 2011
Taqueria Rigoberto's Is the Loncheros' Lonchera
Eat like a taco-truck employee at this Santa Ana chef favorite
More >>

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