Bite by Bite

Restaurant Review : Kachi Deli Cafe & Grill (Californian,Sandwiches,Salads) $$ *7.5 out of 10*

Kachi is ideal for those living/working in DTLA looking to get a quick and easy lunch that’s fairly healthy and served by a friendly energetic staff.  

The new location at the base of the City of Hope building is fun, bright and open which makes it a nice place to break from your day and gather what sanity you have left before jumping back into work to lose it again.  Free WIFI here is always a plus; just in case you can’t completely get away from it all.

Their sandwiches, wraps and salads are all good.  The ingredients are fresh and well-seasoned and their prices are reasonable.  I have yet to try their pastas but I have a feeling that it’ll be at least decent.  

I am a big fan of their fresh squeezed juices.  You get 20ounces for only $3.95 or a 12ounces for $3.25! My favorites are ABC(apple, beets, carrot, ginger) and Just Beet It (orange, beet, carrot, celery, ginger).  But truly, they are all good.  Or perhaps you’re a smoothie person and may want to indulge in one of their yummy, healthy, fruity concoctions sweetened with agave?

Kachi has just recently incorporated a new gelato bar.  I did some tastings and I will be back for a full portion sometime in the near future. 

Kachi Deli Cafe & Grill
1055 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Neighborhood: DTLA-CityWest
(213) 482-4553
www.kachidelicafe.com

Restaurant Review : Spoon House (Japanese Pasta, Bakery) $$ *8 out of 10*

The first time I went to Spoon House (years ago), there was a thirty minute wait to be seated - a good sign. As I stood waiting in the entrance, I overheard two separate couples conversing about how far they frequently travelled just to eat here - one from Orange County and the other from the Valley - definitely, another good sign. I curiously grabbed a menu and began looking over the options. Only the third option down, I stop in my tracks…Japanese-style Cod Roe with Uni, Ika, and Seaweed… 

…yes, please!

Since that day, I can’t really say I’ve ever had a disappointing experience at Spoon House. I’ve rarely strayed away from the Cod Roe & Uni spaghetti, but I’ve always been more than satisfied when I have. The pasta is prepared a tiny bit al dente, the ingredients are fresh, and the portions are generous. If you want a larger portion, they’ll gladly provide (for a 50% fee). As others have mentioned, definitely enjoy the bread and the one dollar salad with your meal. But, do note, they’ll drown the salad with their Japanese dressing; so, if you prefer it lighter, just ask for it on the side. 

As for their set up…

Aside from the bright blue door and awning, you probably wouldn’t even notice this place walking by. Even when you go in, it’s rather unassuming. There are only five or six tables, and the rest is counter space. The kitchen is open and exposed to the diners at the inside counter, where you can watch the automated process of their spaghetti boiling machine churn out plate after plate. Along the walls throughout the restaurant, you’ll find generic European pics that look like stock photos that came with the frames. For a casual lunch, I really wouldn’t expect anything more.

Spoon House Bakery & Restaurant
1601 W Redondo Beach Blvd
Gardena, CA 90247
(310) 538-0376

Restaurant Review : Mike & Anne’s Restaurant (American) $$ *7 out of 10*

I love having my brunch/lunch at Mike & Anne’s out on their outdoor patio, enjoying my lazy Sunday while sipping on some nice hot coffee.  This is my South Pasadena spot.  It’s cozy and casual with a clean updated décor.  The food is better than average and the service is usually decent.  

They have good, old-time favorites like the tuna melt as well as some new breakfast concoctions such as their Red Flannel which is a hash of red & sweet potatoes, beets, onions and bacon as well as their lemon ricotta pancakes.

Their portions are a bit small but that’s fine by me.

You have to find street parking but I never had any troubles.  Besides, a little walk can be a good thing.

Mike & Anne’s Restaurant
1040 Mission St
South Pasadena, CA 91030
(626) 799-7199
http://www.mikeandannes.com/

Restaurant Review : Shekarchi Restaurant (Persian) $$ *8 out of 10*

Shekarchi is a great LUNCH spot in DTLA that serves Halal meat.  Although I am not religious in that way, I like the extra care that is put into slaughtering and handling the meat.  Their operating hours are as follows : Monday-Friday from 11AM-3:30PM …yeah, that’s it!

Their $9 lunch special with your choice of kebab ($1 extra for fish), rice and a grilled tomato really does the trick.  I’m normally a dark meat kind of girl but their chicken breast is juicy and flavorful so that’s what I get here.  Complimentary cucumber yogurt is served before your meal along with some pita bread.  The yogurt is wonderfully creamy and delicious.  The pita is thin and fresh.  They pair perfectly as a great starter. 
Note: You have the option to get half rice and half salad.  If this is what you want, make sure you remember to tell the server because they will not ask you when they take your order.  

The service leaves a bit to be desired.  Frankly, the attitude and swagger on the servers are a bit intimidating and not quite welcoming.

Parking is available in the lot across the street.  It is $3 with a Shekarchi validation.

Shekarchi Restaurant
914 S Hill St
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Neighborhood: Downtown LA
(213) 892-8535
http://www.shekarchirestaurant.com/

Restaurant Update 6.13.2011 : Toe Bang (Korean,bar) Ktown LA *7 out of 10*

I went by Toe Bang the other day to meet with my old-time friend over lunch.  Toe Bang is not really a kind of place that I would think about going to during daylight hours, it’s more of a drinking place…or so I thought.

To my pleasant surprise, they have a little lunch special literally translated to “School-Bag Packed Lunch.”  This consists of your choice of Bulgogi(BBQ Beef), BBQ Pork, Spicy Pan-Fried Squid, Spicy Pan-Fried Octopus, or Kimchee+Pork Stir-Fry and a choice of either Kimchee Jigae (stew) or DoenJang (beanpaste) Jigae.  This comes with either white rice or “Jak Gop Bap (mixed barley rice)” topped by a fried egg and served in an old traditional tin.  And of course, there are side dishes to accompany your meal.   All this for $9.99!  AND, if you’d like some iced coffee, it’s on the house!

Of course the food is not exactly at its finest.  It’s saucy, oily, and sweet with disproportionate meat to sauce portions.  In our experience, the doen jang was a lot better than the kimchee jigae so if you have to choose between the two, that’s the one to go for.  

All in all, the patio was a pretty decent place to have a nice chill lunch.  Besides, the nostalgic value + the price makes this lunch an affirmative in my book.

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Restaurant Review : Toe Bang (Korean,bar) Ktown LA *7 out of 10*

In my opinion this is one of the better drinking houses in Ktown. Located inside the action-packed Chapman Plaza, Toe Bang has an unpretentious quaint feel to it that makes it great for sharing a relaxing weeknight drink with friends.

The food is pretty good.  I like their stews.  I always end up getting the “Boo Dae Jji Gae” which is translated to “military-base stew.”  This dish came about in the 50’s in war-torn Korea.  Opportunistic entrepreneurs used to collect leftovers from American military bases and combine all the ingredients with some go-chu jang and make it into a stew.  My dad tells me that it was amazingly delicious back in the day.  He tells me that it was not totally uncommon to find a cigarette butt in your food but you would just pick that out and keep on eating; can’t be too picky when food was scarce.  Now, it’s made consistently with spam, wieners, and ramen noodles.  Guilty but yummy. 

Last time I was there we had ordered a fish-egg stew along with some soju.  The stew pretty tasty but it has sooooo much garlic in it that I felt like I was breathing it for days.  The Boo Dae Jji Gae definitely yummier. 

Toe Bang’s seating is mostly situated in a covered patio with wooden booths.  This gives them the liberty to allow smoking “in” the restaurant.  Although I’m not a smoker, and I usually hate joints that allow/sneak smoking I don’t mind it so much here.  It ventilates pretty well and after a few drinks I don’t even notice.  

Toe Bang
Chapman Plaza
3465 W 6th St
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 387-4905

Happy Hour info: 
Sunday through Thursday. All other days until 8PM.
50% off all Alcohol Beverages

Restaurant Review : T.O.T (Japanese) in Little Tokyo, LA

T.O.T is where I come to if I’m in Little Tokyo at 2:45PM and I’ve missed all the lunch hours in the more traditional restaurants.  This is what happened the last two times I was here. 

So this last time, we were really in the mood for some sushi so we ordered some.   We had the combo sashimi plate and the scallop sashimi with ponzu.   The fish was fresh but the cuts were uneven and awkward and this actually bothers me quite a bit.  The scallops too were fresh but they were cut too thin and DROWNING in ponzu.   We also had the spicy tuna roll (eh), the agedashi tofu (pretty good) and the salmon bowl with brown rice(boring) and udon(decent) combination.

This cemented my thoughts about this place.  Do not get sushi/sashimi here!  Stick with the rice bowls (with an option of brown rice), the noodle combos, and the lunch plates.   These are decent, and this is what you come to T.O.T. for.  

It’s not the best value here but it’s a comfortable and easy lunch place.  The ingredients are fresh and you have some healthy, light choices.