Category Archives: Food

Poor Food

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You can take that title two different ways.  As in either poor quality food or just food of the poor. Sometimes it can mean both things. Which did you assume?

This was my lunch today. (Well, only half of it was, the rest went into the trash bin.) I was down on N. Broadway, thought I’d have some hot and sour soup from the new Chinese food place, as everyone knows that’s my favorite soup ever. Or now they do. Yes, even over menudo or sopa de zanahoria. Hmm, for only $2 more I can get the “combo”, seems like a good deal.

And that’s how it starts.

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Korean BBQ Truck competition

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Since I wasn’t able to attend any of the many Memorial day bbq’s, “mi osito” and I decided to go to Korean Kitchen Hibachi BBQ in Little Tokyo last Sunday to get our fix. On our way out we saw the truck pictured above from afar and were like “oh there’s the Kogi truck” but as we got closer we noticed it was a Calbi BBQ truck.  Their signage is similar, the major difference was there was no crazy line for it.  I was wondering who’s the originator Kogi or Calbi? Has anyone tried Calbi BBQ?

La Crisis: Huevos Rancheros: El Ranchero

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You will have to excuse me for posting this here, as I usually put my HR reviews over on my personal site. (And you’ll also have to excuse the multiple colons and the terrible title!) But I thought this special offer was too good to keep to myself, especially in these times of La Crisis.  And I’m not talking about the 50 cent tacos either, I’m here for the Mexican breakfast dish known as Huevos Rancheros!

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Memories of a Lost Boulevard; JonSons Markets

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JonSons Market
4820 Whittier Boulevard between Fetterly & Fraser Avenues, East Los Angeles
Brooklyn & Matthews Avenue, East Los Angeles
Whittier Blvd. & Lorena, East Los Angeles
Whittier Blvd. & 20th Street, Montebello

Every payday my dad would give my mom her expense allowance for the week.
I recall that it was about $25 for all the groceries and necessities our household might need. My mom would grumble about what a cheapskate my dad was and she’d have to always supplement that allowance with her meager earnings from her seamstress job at Jod’is Sportswear sweatshop factory on Whittier Bl. & Vancouver Ave…. Continue reading →

Best Iced Coffee in the Los Angeles Area

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The proper term for this iced coffee is ca phe sua. I know everyone has their favorite spot for Vietnamese ca phe sua. What makes Mr. Baguette’s iced coffee so amazing is it is made with espresso and not just regular brewed coffee. Brewed coffee often gets watered down in the process of getting iced and loses a lot of body and flavor, not Mr. Baguette’s version. This iced coffee is thick, intense and not too sweet. I can only manage a few sips, otherwise I’m bouncing off the wall and my mouth never shuts up. You have been warned!
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Almost Over

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It’s almost Easter (it’s some religious holiday where I think some vato rises from the dead?) and there are two fun things you are likely not to do after this Sunday. So this is a heads up; indulge while you can!

First up: the smushing of the hollow chocolate bunnies. Oh, don’t act like you don’t, everyone does it. Maybe it’s revenge for having the reality of the world come crashing down at a young age, realizing that it’s all about illusions and hollowness. Or maybe I’m just a jerk. But how can one not resist exposing a lie? Click ahead for the truth!

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El Tepeyac to Test New Vegan Menu

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I’d heard from a few people that Manuel was considering changing up the menu at El Tepeyac, adding some healthier options and smaller portions, due in no small part to some health issues with some employees and the growing trend of vegetarianism on the Eastside. But apparently, a daughter of one of the cooks recently turned vegan and had an influence on Manuel, cuz he’s actually gone to an all vegan menu! At least for the time being, as he’s waiting to see what the reaction will be from long time fans of the place. “I think they might not be too happy, but it’s good for them” Manuel said. I sure hope it catches on, we can use some healthier Mexican-American food over here.  I made sure to get there to try out some of the new items. Click ahead to see the tasty new menu!

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THEY’VE F@#*ED IT UP!

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The landmark street sign for long time Eastside favorite “CHRONI’S FAMOUS SANDWICH SHOP” recently fell victim to a “hostile makeover.”

The former original version had featured a flickering neon outline that animated the doggie’s wagging tail and tongue. The new flat paint job reduces the sign to a shadow of it’s former self. By simply filling in the original outlines with bright primary colors instead of attempting to restore the original design, the management continues to further alienate us purists by continuing a string of Chroni’s atrocities such as putting lettuce in the hamburgers.

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As an avid preservationist and historian, I lament yet another loss of our city’s original flavor. My only consolation at this point is that I had managed to document images of the original version.

The original Chroni’s sign now becomes yet another bit of L.A. history that we’ll have to find in some future coffee table book. (Sigh) At least we’ll have the pictures, and the memories…………….

My Kogi Experience

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Sometime last year my homegirl Karen told us about the Kogi truck and she had asked if we were hip to the game. We weren’t.  When I asked Karen how she liked the tacos she said it was “BOMB” (that’s exactly what she texted me)

One day back in Feb. I was on my daily blog stroll and read that the Kogi truck was going to be right around the corner, in front of the Golden Gopher at 9pm. My man and I decided to see what all the hype was about. The truck didn’t arrived until about 9:30-ish.  The line was already to the corner.  The line did not move for a long ass time. We were starving and I’m not in the best of moods when I’m that hungry. 

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