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The atmosphere is casual. You could stop in by yourself after work, or come in after surfing with a large crowd. As beach culture seems to encourage – anything goes.

I can’t remember the names of any of these beers. Apparently I’m not a very good food blogger. But I can say they were delicious, especially the red ale show in the lower photo. Here you can also see a nice patio. Unfortunately it was one of the coldest winter days of the year on this particular day, which isn’t saying much for San Diego. But just slightly too cool to sit outside.

But poor Toby was stuck out there (im)patienty waiting as usual. Thanks Tobes. It looks like he wants that beer.

Beer Buddies ($3.25)

Simply a basket of the most amazing breadsticks imaginable. Baked fresh, they take a few minutes to come out, but they’re worth the wait. They’re perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. A perfect name for a perfect dish – they’re the perfect complement to any beer.

Small BBQ Chicken Pizza ($8.50)

By this point we were so full off of beer and beer buddies I wasn’t sure we’d be able to handle this little pizza here. Carb overload. But we undid our belts and after the first bite I knew it wouldn’t be a problem. Just like the beer buddies, the pizza was perfectly cooked and a perfect savory complement to our beers. I’m looking forward to going back to try the rest of their pizzas. They also have a create-your-own option that I wouldn’t mind trying. On a side note, I just had Volteros Pizza in Kearny Mesa for the first time this week, and it was just crap. Drive out to the beach and enjoy some high quality pizza at Pizza Port.

Details

Solana Beach Location
135 N Hwy 101
Solana Beach, CA 92075
858-481-7332
http://pizzaport.com
Sun-Thurs: 11a-10p; Fri-Sat 11a-12a

Other Locations:
Carlsbad
Ocean Beach
San Clemente
Bressi Ranch

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This weekend I had the pleasure to finally make it to Taegukgi, which for you non-Koreans out there, means The Korean National Flag. Having just spent 4 years in Korea, gorging my ever growing roturnd stomach on the finest Korean BBQ at the minimum of once a week, I can honestly say I’m a Korean BBQ expert. With that said, Taegukgi was mostly fantastic. On the whole they’ve got most things right, and if you stick with the right items, you’ll be fine. And as this is all you can eat, if you happen to order something that doesn’t fit your palette, just revert back to the tried and true.

I came here on a busy Saturday night and was promptly ushered into a bustling and spacious dining hall by a friendly bright-eyed hostess. For being such a large and busy restaurant, Taegukgi does not skimp on the staff. I’d actually go so far as to the say the service was perfect. Our server was almost always just within reach, our waters were kept filled, our plates were brought quickly, our grill pans were changed regularly, and most importantly our soju cup was replaced immediately after being dropped. A kind young Korean girl in her pajamas who said she was the owner even made her way to our table and asked how our meal was. How sweet.

The all you can eat dinner menu is divided into Original ($21.99) and Premium ($25.99) with the premium having several more… premium items. We opted for the Original as I could eat Beef Brisket all night and not want for more. And the beef brisket did not disappoint. I ordered at least 5 plates of it. We also branched out and tried several more options like the Rib Fingers, Tongue, and Squid. Of those, I’d highly recommend the tongue, but personally did not enjoy the Rib fingers or squid. Your taste may vary, but I found them lacking. But Beef Brisket is typically a fairly expensive meat in Korea and is likely one of their highest costed meats at Taegukgi.

Also, their salad is amazing. It reminds me of the Japanese style salad I used to order extra portions of at Benihana when I was young.

Just a few warnings, there is a two hour time limit and they say you’ll be charged for leftover meat, however they kindly did not charge us.

Details

7655 Clairemont Mesa BLVD #501
San Diego, CA 92111
858-277-1554
http://www.tggsd.com/
MENU
Sun-Thur 11a-12a
Fri-Sat 11a-1:30a

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Sandwiched between a Planned Parenthood and 711 in an unassuming corner of Pacific Beach, Ota’s location is the last place you’d expect to find a top quality restaurant. But like a well-read person, Ota’s inside far outshines its modest exterior. With modern and classy design, Ota’s restaurant is every bit as clean and beautiful as its sushi. Once I stepped in I was greeted by a crew of smiling Japanese hostesses. To the left is a large dining area with approximately 25 tables or so, and to the right is a classic Japanese sushi bar, with Chef Ota in his usual spot in the corner. It’s refreshing that the head chef, who now enjoys so much success and is even busy consulting other restaurants, still spends several days a week making sushi and greeting guests. It’s fun watching him. He’s small and lightning quick, but delicate and meticulous. He’s pushing mid 60s now I believe so he’s not the sprite young man I knew him as when he opened the place 23 years ago, but he’s sharp.

I can’t speak for many items on the menu. I’ve had a few bites of the beef terriyaki, and once had a chirashi bowl, and oftentimes order the seabass, but that’s as far as I stray from pure nigiri sushi. That’s not to say that everything isn’t fantastic here, it is. It’s just that the star of Ota is the absolute freshness of the sushi. I’ve heard stories of Ota’s prowess at the sushi market in his younger days, with him always outbidding every other competitor for the top fish. I expect he has others do that these days, but it’s probably the same system. Ota just gets the best fish and rotates it fast enough that it’s always the freshest in San Diego. I have never had bad fish here. And even fish which I typically don’t like at other restaurants like Uni, they tend to taste good here.

My personal favorites are tuna belly and salmon belly. Tuna belly is separated into Chu Toro and O Toro ($12 and $15 per two piece, respectively). I recommend the Chu Toro, as the O Toro at Ota is so fatty it’s like eating fish flavored oil. I’ve heard some people have spiritual moments with O Toro, but I don’t get it. I stick with Chu Toro and avoid non-belly Tuna altogether, which tastes like plastic to me. The salmon belly is distinguished from regular salmon by the long tail at Ota, and the white stripes of fat running through it. Also here is Hamachi (Yellowtail belly), Uni (Sea Urchin), Tamago (egg), Giant Clam, and Eel.

As for wasabi, we always request copious amounts of “real wasabi”. Real wasabi, as far as I can tell, is straight from the wasabi root, and has a more earthy flavor that won’t punch you in the face so much as synthetic can. Give it a try and let me know how it is.

Miso Seabass

As for drinks, today we started with a glass of Sapporo, then moved on to Nigori, a sweet unfiltered Sake that didn’t match the fish at all. And then moved on to Kurosawa, my personal favorite Sake. I recommend that if you eat at Ota, then skip the Nigori, it’ll ruin your palette and go straight to Kurosawa or something better. I ordered the Nirogi because I’ve had great experiences with it in the past, but never partnered with fish on Ota’s scale. But Kurosawa hits the sweet spot of price and quality.

To finish we ended with some hot green tea and green tea ice cream. It was a perfect way to end a perfect meal.

Sushi Ota isn’t cheap, especially if you stick with sushi, but it’ll be the freshest sushi you’ve ever eaten. Though the price is high, it’s more than worth it. I’ve paid more for sushi and gotten less many times. You’ll always get your monies worth at Ota.

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The tacos… Ohh… be still my beating heart. BE STILL. I just ate them 3 hours ago and I want to go back. I feel like Michael Corleone getting hit by the thunderbolt. Except my young beautiful object of desire is greasy adobada tacos. There are a few other selections but word on the street is that the adobada rules so I ordered 3 and left the others to be tried another day. They taste just like they look, dripping dirty sweaty and sloppy, just how I like it. $2 for each taco. I’ll definitely be back, soon, maybe later tonight.

Just a heads up also… you order each different taco at separate areas of the counter. There may be a long line for the adobada, but if you want beef tongue or any other item just walk up to the corresponding section of counter. Also, you can ask for pineapple and veggies, both free. :) ANDDDD finally, my last tip: the horchata is amazing. Get it.

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I love Goldfish. It’s warm and welcoming here. But by far the best part of Goldfish is the view. It’s location on La Jolla’s historic Goldfish Point has kept me coming back here for at least a decade. Goldfish won’t wow you with their coffee or food, but the view and friendly staff will intoxicate you. And if you’re foolish enough to come here to study, best of luck. That’s not to say the food and drinks aren’t good, they are, but they’re nothing to write about. They’re merely complements to a perfect afternoon with a book or a walk on the beach with a special friend.

Details

http://goldfishpointcafe.com/
1255 Coast Blvd
La Jolla, CA 92037
858.459.7407
Open 6a-8p.

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Rakiraki is a very welcome addition to the scene. Its pursuit of modern design extends to every part of its business. The food holds down the fundamentals with some amazing ramen while still pushing the bar with its unique ramen burger (where ramen serves as the bread section). It’s interior has a beautiful industrial design with an open kitchen and zinc countertops. And it’s website is… damn sexy, with minimalistic design and large beautiful photos. Even their social media team is rocking it. It’s refreshing to see a business care for every corner of their brand strategy.

But on to the important part, how’s the food? Well… it’s phenomenal. But first, here’s my buddy Daniel explaining to me the importance of pure alkalized water. Thanks Dan. Also Dan is Japanese, so this restaurant is Japanese approved.

Spicy Premium Hot Ramen $9.40

As this was my first visit I had to stick with the basics. They have a wide selection of ramen varieties including original, premium, tonkotsu, miso, shoyutonjotsu, rikimaru, and with choices for spiciness level. Check out their menu for the full list. Apparently their hot sauce is pricey because they charge an additional $1.25 for it.

Rakiraki uses a chicken based soup as opposed to a typical pork base. This gives a cleaner composure while somehow maintaining a complex and oil-rich texture. Every ramen is also given the choice of aburi chasiu (pork) or chicken. I myself went with the aburi chasiu, and Dan opted for the chicken. This ramen is perfection. I dare say it might rival my long-standing favorite place in LA: Daikokuya. I haven’t had Daikokuya in almost 4 years though so it’s hard to judge at the moment. Every component feels perfectly crafted together. The noodles are al-dente; the egg is soft and bouncy with an almost runny yolk; the broth is piping hot; and the ingredients are smoothly blended with no single overpowering notes. The pork and chicken are moist and generously portioned, and the broth is rich and creamy.

Premium Chicken Ramen $8.75

I just may have to come back sometime for that ramen burger. It looks kind of disgusting, but also kind of wonderful. Here’s a pic from their website:

Details

Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen
4646 Convoy St. #102
San Diego, CA 92111
858-573-2400
http://www.rakirakiramen.com/
sun-thurs 11a-3p 5p-11p
fri-sat 11a-3p 5p-12a

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Coreanos started in a food truck on the streets of Austin, Texas in 2010. After winning numerous awards for their street fare they literally went in the exact opposite direction and opened a flagship store in one of the highest priced areas in Seoul, on Apgujeong’s famous-10-years-ago Rodeo Street. Though Rodeo doesn’t claim quite the foot traffic and prestige it did 10 years ago, it’s still a hot spot with some of the best fashion retailers and restaurants in Seoul. Coreanos somehow fits in well. We went on a lazy Wednesday afternoon, and while the streets were sparsely populated, there was a nice buzz down in Coreanos Kitchen.

I knew we were in for something great when the nachos landed. The nachos were typically delicious, as nachos are, but the salsa was incredible. Flavorful, fresh, and best of all, SPICY. While red salsa is typically more spicy, here the green takes the heat. When I asked for more they generously gave me one  bottle of each, which I lavishly flooded over each item.

Now let’s get into the food. For the full menu check out their FOOD MENU and DRINK MENU.

Grilled Shrimp, Carne Asada, and Citrus Chicken 3,300w each

I think the pictures speak for themselves here. Wrapped in fresh corn tortillas, each taco was hand crafted with fresh and vibrant ingredients. I personally only had the citrus chicken and it was great. The chicken was nicely marinated and cooked just right. The tomatoes, herbs, and salsa were spot on. And best of all, jalapeños were served on the side. Perfect.

OG Burrito 9,000w

Okay, the OG burrito was the one item I didn’t care for. Actually I didn’t care for it at all and it almost ruined my palette. Sweetened galbi and caramelized kimchi just didn’t fit with the rest of the items in our meal. It was overly sweetened and the flavors didn’t mesh together in my opinion. There were no technical faults here, and perhaps other people like this, but it didn’t seem right to me. Fusion fail.

Three Wise Fries 12,000w

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Menu description is all that’s needed: Voted Best Fries in America. Chicken, Beef, and Pork + three different hot sauces served on fries, with pico de gallo and grilled onion.

Just… be wary of heart attack. This thing is big, and probably not good for the heart, or liver, or stomach, or intestines. Basically anything but the tongue.

Meat Quesadilla 9,500w

Quesadillas are generally small and overpriced, and no exception here. But at least it was good. Fresh ingredients, nice sauce, nice crisp on the tortilla. Overall deliciousness.

Coreanos Coronarita 13,000w

I’m not sure what’s with this obsession at Korean Mexican restaurants to throw a beer in their margaritas. But two cute Korean-American girls were drinking them next to us so we thought we’d join the party. As usual, where the hell is the tequila? We asked if they had included some, and they insisted so. But I just tasted watery corona. But this is par for the course here in Korea, so can’t complain too much. Nonetheless, they look fun and make the girls happy.

And make the Sam and Dustins happy.

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Coreanos Kitchen – 코레아노스키친
강남구 신사동 657-11 B1
657-11 B1 Shinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu
02-547-4427
coreanoskitchen.com
Open 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, till 11 p.m. Fridays; 12:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays; closed Mondays

The post Coreanos Kitchen 코레아노스키친 – The Best Mexican Food in Seoul appeared first on Dining Addiction.

But Mexican food in Korea just can’t hit the spot for me. But with that said, there are a handful of decent options, and Gusto Taco is one of them. Gusto Taco started as a tiny location in a remote part of Hongdae and recently moved to this brand new location right next to exit 1 of Sanso Station (상수역).

The new interior is quite sexy. The design is nice and modern with brick and most importantly it’s airy and open. One wall is removed, windows line the other wall, and part of the roof is removed. Even the kitchen is exposed.

The food is quite good. Standard style stuff you’ll find in Korea. Nothing really to scream praises about but nothing to complain about either. The meat was tender, it was spiced well, and all the ingredients seemed fresh enough. But my main complaint with it is the size. I went with three friends, and after we finished our meals we were all hungry. So we went back and ordered more, and then we ordered more. And my three friends were all petite Korean girls. In all we spent about 20,000w each… quite unacceptable in my opinion for Mexican “street food”.

Another complaint… their only hot sauce for offer was one bottle of spiced vinegar that gets passed from table to table. They really need to offer some real salsa.

Chipotle Pork Tacos 5,700w

Chipotle Pork Burrito 9,500w

Fish Tacos 7,500

Thanks for waiting Toby. Toby always has company when he’s waiting for me outside restaurants.

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gustotaco.com

Hongdae 홍대점 Location
서울시 마포구 서교동 342-16
342Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul Korea
02-3142-8226

Sangsu 상수점 Location
서울시 마포구 상수동 146-6
146-6 Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea
02-338-8226

The post Gusto Taco – Another Mexican Place appeared first on Dining Addiction.

Edit: I originally though the Hongdae location was set to close. Thankfully I was mistaken, because it is such a beautiful location!

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http://fellncole.com/

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