CHAYA Izakaya - Venice

A concept that has been in the making is now available for you to experience. I hold Izakaya very dear to my heart as I've worked in one for 3.5 years inspiring me to travel to Japan now twice. Izakaya is a very unique experience that is rooted deep in the Japanese culture. Feel free to ask the staff on how to truly experience the Izakaya dining ways. I like to see it as a Japanese tapas bar. You order drinks and a few dishes to accompany the conversations. Repeat this and you're good.

Here are some captures of the night.

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Let's talk sake. There are plenty to choose from here. Pick from your Junmais and Daiginjo, they have it all. 

I enjoy sake, but I'm always an old fashion type of gal. I love this cocktail, but I've never had it with Japanese whiskey. They were making this with Toki by Suntory. I am pretty shocked how well balanced this came out to be. There was a nice balance of sweet and smokiness from the Toki which I've never picked up when drinking it neat or on the rocks. This will be my new whiskey of choice for old fashioned.

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Oysters are life. These are 1/2 shells with a granita on top. Extremely refreshing and a wonderful play on the palate. 

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Snapper on "daikon rice". 

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Tsukune.

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Beef tongue with kimchi.

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Wagyu Chazuke - This is luxury at its finest. A dab of brocollini puree, crispy rice and luscious mentaiko butter topped off with a fresh pour of their savory dashi tea. Ochazuke is normally comforting. This is pure guilt on how good it is.

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Tequila ramen. Yes there really is tequila in this ramen. Don't worry, you don't taste tequila, but tequila naturally has citrus notes which comes through in the broth. When I was in Japan I had a lot of fresh yuzu ramen. The citrus from the tequila reminded me of that. I hated myself after thinking about how clever this was.

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Amazing Chef Wako doing his thing.

Chef Yukou Kajino putting in last touches before the hungry crowd devours.

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CHAYA MODERN IZAKAYA 110 Navy Street Venice, CA 90291 310.396.1179

Kotohira Restaurant

I'm not in this area often, but was attending an audiophile event in the area. What I love about traveling a few 10-30 miles outside of my neighborhood is that it really pushed me to find a new restaurant to try. Being at the event, walking up and down stairs, visiting rooms by rooms filled with amazing HiFi can really stir up an appetite. It can also make me very hangry. 

What sucks about being a nowaday foodie is no matter what, you are in charge of picking a place. Even if that baton has passed... it always comes back.

Kotohira was discovered by the love Yelp app. I'm not a fan of the reviews people leave, but I use it just to know what there is around me. I've been to this plaza before where Kotohira is located. I've eaten at Furaibo a few times mainly for their tebasaki karaage. 

I wanted something warm, hearty, and comforting. Kotohira was a perfect choice. It had the traditional Japanese lunch combos available with sizeable bowls that will make you take a nap. Here are a few things I was able to snap.

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Side udon that comes with a combo. Slurp away.

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Pan fried gyoza. Dip this in a mixture of vinegar and hot chili oil.

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Chicken Karaage. Another one of my favorite dishes as mentioned before somewhere in this blog. I love extra lemons. I'm salivating just thinking about it.

Bento combination with tuna sashimi, chicken karaage, grilled saba, tempura, and Japanese root vegetable. When I went to Japan a few years ago, I ate a lot of combinations like this. It's really comforting and brings back a nostalgic memory.

unagi over hot rice. 

Subtle scoop of Neapolitan ice cream.

Edit 1747 W Redondo Beach Blvd Gardena, CA 90247

Hikari - Torrance CA

Just laying it out there that this was the best tasting Yakiniku I've ever had. I guess this place used to be something else. If you ever go on Yelp which I do to solely look for restaurants in the area I'm currently in, you will see photos of other items from the previous restaurant.

2383 Lomita Blvd Ste 102 Lomita, CA 90717

The most amazing first bite was their prime short rib... but before I get there, let's just start with an apple slaw salad.

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This is Yukke. Raw beef seasoned lighting topped with an egg yolk and slivers of shiso.

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Thick Cut Beef Tongue

Thick cut fatty beef tongue. This was cooked to medium. Perfect with a squeeze of lemon.

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Prime Short Rib

For $16.8, this plate of decadence is yours. Season on one side with just a sprinkle of their rosemary course salt, sear for 45 seconds on one side, flip, sear for another 15 seconds. Dip the meat after in their tare sauce for maximum umami sensation. I can eat this whole plate by myself.

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Flank Steak

Never thought flank can be so flavorful and tender. This had the right amount of fat where you can still appreciate the beefiness of the cut. This was served with a spicy tare sauce (not spicy).

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Thick cut pork belly

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Unless you have a large group, I would skip this. But, still very delicious and was served with lettuce, garlic slices, and chili peppers.

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Came back twice within the same week and it was everything I hoped it to be. Ate a lot more of other meat dishes, but after a few beers, whose counting anymore?

2383 Lomita Blvd Ste 102 Lomita, CA 90717

Kappo Honda - Fountain Valley

John and I came here for dinner after dropping off an old friend from Japan. Shortly did I find out this was the same chain as Hondaya. I feel like Hondaya represents the feeling I get at a Japanese Izakaya when I was in Tokyo a few years ago. Nothing fancy, just down right beer/sake drinking with some good appetizers.

Beef tataki. The cuts were thicker than what I'm used to, and it could've been more rare. Someone sitting next to us thought tataki was some sesame/mushroom sauce and Oh boy was the waitress looking at him like "Get out".

Maguro Natto - Every chance I get to order this I always do. Fermented soy beans with tuna sashimi. Feel free to order a quail egg. I like to dash a bit of soy sauce and mix this up until it gets extremely-ultra-slimy.

Takoyaki. Always a fun appetizer to order. Goes great with beer. It's basically a octopus pancake ball with bonito flakes on top. Drizzled with tonkatsu sauce and served with a side of Japanese mayonnaise. 

Pork Kakuni. Pork belly stew in a soy based sauce. Normally served with spinach and a side of spicy mustard. When I worked at a restaurant, I would order this dish and pour the whole thing over rice, then douse with shichimi pepper.

And then, yakitori. Quick easy dinner with no stress.

18450 Brookhurst St Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Manpuku - Torrance - Happy 30th Brother (part 2)

This is my brother. He is happy in this photo. And I know he appreciates me as his sister even though this photo shows otherwise. There's nothing he loves more than Korean BBQ and Hot Pot. But for his 30th, though these are his favorite things, I thought it would be nice to take him out to experience Japanese Yakiniku. Like Korean BBQ, Yakiniku in Japanese means "Grilled Meat" (Yaki-niku). I feel Japanese Yakiniku is less sweet when it comes to the marinades. I also like dining in a Japanese Yakiniku restaurant over Korean BBQ because I find the meat quality not just better, but the idea of not indulging over an All-you-can-eat just makes the experience less stressful and much more enjoyable.

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We ordered a pitcher of Sapporo to share. Easily ordered another one because this went down so easily. Not just because it's Sapporo, but because their pitchers and glasses were extremely cold which made the beer that much more crisp, and that much more refreshing. Don't forget to always kanpai before taking a sip.

On their menu, you can order items a la carte or you can choose between 1 of their 3 Manpuku choices. It ranges from $35 to $75. We had to get the $75. Not only because of my brother's birthday, but also because they had the best choices we would want to try.

The $75 offering came with: Cabbage Slaw, Edamame, Assorted Vegetables (for grilling), Manpuku Kalbi Shio, Shrimp, Kobe Fillet, Rice Wrap Sukiyaki, Kobe Short Rib, Kore Rib Eye, Kobe Finger Meats, Garlic Rice, Yukke Jan Soup, and Ice cream (13 items). 

Cabbage slaw - Thinly sliced with garlic soy dressing. Delicious and refreshing. This was definitely a palate opener. 

Yukke - Not on the course menu

We ordered this on the side. I've had yukke a few years ago, but haven't had it in a while. When my friend came to visit from Japan, the family she was staying with took her to get Yukke since they banned this dish in Japan. Apparently, a lot of people got sick. That was also the case for raw chicken liver (delicious by the way). The yukke here at Manpuku was AMAZING. Made with Kuroge Wagyu. I was the lucky one to eat this with the shiso. I would recommend asking them for a few more just so everyone can eat this with it. A must order. must.

Jo Tan Shio - Not on the course menu

This is another popular item that we had to try. Their sliced original salted premium prime beef tongue topped with Tokyo onions. The trick to keep the onions on is to cook the bottom side first. Once the bottom is grilled up with some nice char, flip it around and count to 8 seconds which they say will be the best taste. I do what I'm told.

Manpuku Kalbi Shio - Sliced orginial salted prime beef short rib with Tokyo onion. Tender and flavorful.

Assorted Veggies

Black Tiger Shrimp - Delicious.

Kobe Fillet Mignon - Cubed Kobe with ponzu sauce and fried garlic chips.

Kobe beef meets grill.

Platter of Kobe marinated short ribs, Kobe marinated Rib Eye, Kobe marinated Finger Meats.

We enjoyed this much more than the fillet. I'm normally not a fillet eater because of how lean it is. I love the fat trails you would find in short ribs and rib eye. These cuts were delicious. Just make sure your heat is on high when grilling these.

Rice Wrap Sukiyaki

You have a choice at the beginning of your meal to have this near the beginning or towards the end. They recommend the end because the rice wrap is extremely rich with the added egg yolk. In my opinion, I would prefer to have this a little sooner. It is rich, but after a whole meal of meat, having a really rich bite makes it harder to eat than if it were much earlier on. This, though, was Heaven. Seared so slightly after rendering the beef fat on the grill. The meat is then rolled with a small ball of rice, then drizzled with a creamy egg yolk. 

Garlic Rice - Garlic Fried rice with pickles in a stone pot.

Yukke Jan Soup - Spicy soup with shredded beef, vegetables and tofu.

Green tea Ice cream - A generous scoop. Strong matcha flavor. Served with a hot cup of Houjicha (roasted sencha).

We were full, but not overly stuffed. We stopped by the Mitsuwa Marketplace after to pick up snacks for a movie. This, 2 pitchers, snacks, movie. A great 30th if you ask me!

1870 W Carson St Torrance, CA 90501

Learn more about Manpuku here.