Chinese – Page 4 – The Unvegan

8/2/2013 Reviews Gardena

Getting Stinky at Yami Teahouse

If you’re a longtime reader, you may recall a post from a few years ago highlighting the illustrious Chinese street food called Chou Doufu. Literally translating to “stinky tofu,” this dish can be smelled from blocks away and the smell is the antithesis of fragrant. For a long time, I thought this dish was relegated to Asia, until I read about a place in Gardena called Yami Teahouse that claimed to have that stinky bean curd. To my delight, it wasn’t far from my office and I might my way there to perk up my olfactory memory.

Chinese Chou Doufu Gardena Los Angeles Restaurants Stinky Tofu Taiwanese Yami Teahouse

3/4/2013 Reviews Los Angeles

Like a ROC Kitchen

Guys, I’ll admit it. I’m a Chinese food snob. But I like to think you would be if you once lived there too. For that reason I’m glad I live in LA, but sad that I live on the west side, about half a light-year from the real Chinese food in San Gabriel. That all changed, however, when ROC Kitchen opened up in the area I like to call Little Little Tokyo, but is fast becoming Little Asia with an influx of other Asian food like ROC Kitchen.

Chinese Dumplings Little Little Tokyo Los Angeles Restaurants ROC Kitchen West LA Xiaolongbao

1/2/2013 Reviews Arcadia

Dumpling Time at Din Tai Fung

Once upon a time, some great people brought me to a place called Din Tai Fung. Although I was living in Shanghai at the time, I had no idea what to expect on this first visit to Xintiandi and my first introduction to Xiaolongbao (way before it was cool). Luckily, they taught me how to bite in without scalding the insides of my mouth, and I quickly fell in love. More than six years later, I finally made in back to Din Tai Fung, but this time it was in Arcadia, California. Despite the obvious distance between Arcadia and Shanghai, much of Arcadia looks like it was pulled directly out of China. The Din Tai Fung, though, looked little like its counterpart across the Pacific.

Arcadia Chinese Din Tai Fung Dumplings Los Angeles Restaurants Shanghai Taiwanese Xiaolongbao

12/11/2012 Reviews Los Angeles

All-Out Asian at Noodle World

Before attending an event in Westwood, my woman and I decided to see what the college town had to offer in terms of dinner. Sure, I had eaten in Westwood many times before, but typically with specific places in mind. This time, it was about walking around and picking dinner based on our gut, which led us to Noodle World. I had expected something like Noodles & Company, which makes dishes from all sorts of noodles, but Noodle World has a lot more options, while keeping its noodles Asian. No mac and cheese here.

Asian Chinese Japanese Los Angeles Noodle World Ramen Restaurants Thai Westwood

11/12/2012 Reviews Arusha

Chinafrican at The Flame Tree

While no one has yet scoffed at the idea of my eating Indian, Italian and American food in Tanzania, I have received quite a different reaction about eating Chinese. Yet, Chinese I ate. Once again it was night time and The Flame Tree restaurant was close enough to my hotel to be considered a safe distance. The place is run by a Chinese woman and deals in continental (European) food as well as the aforementioned Chinese. But I was truly interested in seeing what Chinese food in Tanzania would be like.

Africa Arusha Chinese Kung Pao Chicken Restaurants Tanzania The Flame Tree Travel

6/28/2012 Reviews Los Angeles

On Top of LA at WP24

For my first outing to LA Live, my lady and I headed to WP24, a restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton created by that famous chef with a name like a prodigious hockey item, Wolfgang Puck. We were out celebrating, but didn’t call ahead to make plans. This meant we couldn’t get a table, because apparently WP24 has no room for walk-ins, but it also meant we weren’t locked into an $80 or $110 fixed price dinner. Instead, we were offered the lounge, which served sushi and appetizers.

Chinese Chinese Hamburger Downtown LA Duck Dumplings Japanese LA Live Los Angeles Peking Duck Pork Restaurants Sushi Wolfgang Puck WP24

5/17/2012 Reviews Culver City

Rolling Away with 101 Noodle Express

It’s not too often that food court food gains critical acclaim. Yet, in the case of 101 Noodle Express (my favorite college course), the only reason I went was by recommendation from Jonathan Gold. Like KyoChon, 101 Noodle Express can be found at the Fox Hills Mall, but also in other places where you would expect it more – like the San Gabriel Valley. Almost as surprising as finding such a place in a food court is the fact that Gold doesn’t even recommend the noodles.

101 Noodle Express Chinese Culver City Food Courts Fox Hills Los Angeles Shandong

2/2/2012 Reviews Culver City

Electing to Eat at Lukshon

A while back, Sang Yoon opened up a place called Lukshon in Culver City. For some, this was a time to rejoice, as this was the man behind the Father’s Office burger. But for me, it was a time to…well…consider trying out Lukshon. You see, if you know me, you know my disdain for the Father’s Office burger. So it took until dineLA’s Restaurant Week to get me out to Lukshon. I went with a sizable crowd, collectively known as the Suppah Club, and we had ourselves a seat at a massive table on Lukshon’s patio in Culver City.

Asian Chinese Culver City DineLA Father's Office Indian Los Angeles Lukshon Malaysian Restaurant Week Restaurants Sang Yoon Sausages

1/25/2011 Reviews Los Angeles

The Wrong Dragon at Twin Dragon

On a stretch of Pico right in the middle of Jew Central, there happens to be a crazy amount of Chinese restaurants. I know my people love Chinese food on Christmas, but the fact that these places are able to stay in business beyond that holiday must surely mean they have good food. To test out this theory, we headed to Twin Dragon one morning to see what they could offer. Twin Dragon claims to have Shanghainese food, so I was especially interested in seeing how it could hold up to the Chinese food I know the best.

Chinese Kung Pao Los Angeles Pico-Robertson Restaurants Twin Dragon

11/22/2010 Reviews Beijing

A Final Dinner at Tianjin Go Believe

On our last night in China (tears), we had a tough time finding a restaurant open by the time we finished climbing the Great Wall and shopping at the Silk Market. Although McDonald’s was open 24 hours, we really didn’t want our final meal to be a burger. Finally we found a place just across the street from Quanjude off of Wangfujing Street to get some baozi (steamed bread dumplings). It was called Tianjin Go Believe Steamed Stuffed Bun. Now that was a mouthful, and we hoped their dumplings would be as well.

Asia Beijing China Chinese Dumplings Meat Tianjin Go Believe Baozi Mansion Jingdian Travel Wangfujing

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