Koi Palace offers loud, lively dining

Whenever my brother comes to visit, we dim sum.
It's becoming a brotherly tradition.
On his most recent visit, we hit Daly City's Koi Palace. The open, high ceilings of the 400-seat dim sum watering hole have been host to Bay Area families since 1997. Yum Cha, or teatime, along with dim sum, is traditionally a weekend family event.
So it was no surprise to find hoards of families looking for their dumpling fix, jockeying for position to get a table. A big crowd is good indication that a place is good.
Once seated, ladies from every corner, dim sum and red stamp in hand, made their way towards us. Everything from turnip cake, translucent shrimp dumplings (gao), to tripe soup was pitched to us.
And that's the fun in dim sum. You never know what's coming around. It's a surprise at every wagon. And if you pass up something, it may never return. Which leads me to my next point: Grab the baked and steamed buns while you can. Maybe even grab extra. These things go quick.

There came a point in the meal when my craving for those sweet, glazed, red cha sui buns tempted to the hunt for the lady who was truckin''em around. You don't wanna be that guy.
The meat of the roast pork literally slid off the bone while the skin retained that delicate potato-chip crunch. Six or seven bones, however, will cost you $18.
When it's time for dessert dim sum, I recommend the egg tart. The flaky puff pastry filled with bean paste is sure to please.
The 45 minute wait was well worth it.
Visit www.koipalace.com. for more information.

Broke Man's Bahn Mi

I've been on a bahn mi craze lately.
I love these things. They're convenient. They're inexpensive. They taste good.
Wherever I go, I see a different version of the bahn mi. Traditionally, the bahn mi is simply cold cut ham and cartilage smeared with liver pate. I've seen anything from grilled lemongrass pork bahn to catfish bahn mi at Spice Table in Los Angeles. The sandwich can be virtually anything in a baguette under cilantro, pickled carrots, cucumber, daikon and jalapeno.
I figured I'd give it a try with last night's leftover chicken.

Ingredients
-cilantro
-sliced jalapeno
-grated daikon
-grated carrots
-6" baguette
-mayonnaise
-filling of your choice

Directions:

1.Pickle jalapeno, daikon and carrots in vinegar.

2.Cook/heat up whatever meat/filling of your choice.

3.Heat baguette in toaster oven.

4.Assemble sandwich in this order: mayo,filling,carrots,daikon, two sprigs of
cilantro. If you have, sprinkle a little fish sauce over the sandwich for that asian touch.

5.Enjoy

San Francisco: The ex-pho-rience of Golden Flower

Some people think a bowl of pho is just a bowl of pho.
They couldn't be any more wrong.
Call me a al-pho-holic. My last trip to Golden Flower Vietnamese Restaurant in Chinatown changed the way I see the simple noodle soup -and noodle houses- in general. My friend and I ordered two bowls of the #14:thin-sliced flank and tendon.
This flank was served perfectly medium rare. Most importantly, the broth of this pho was rich and served hot. Other watering holes for the stuff, especially bigger and busier noodle houses, make the all too common mistake of serving the broth luke warm. Other broths are just too bland. This broth has character. Whatever they're doing at Golden Flower to gin it up, it's working.

The take-your-time-and-eat atmosphere is a nice change of pace from other hurry-up-and-eat-your-noodles!-noodle houses you can find. And they are out there.
Our waiter was nice enough to wait until we were done with our imperial rolls before he brought us our hangover-soothing bowl of steaming hot broth.
I'm definitely coming back.

Saigon Vietnamese In-and-Out

As a local restaurant waiter, I have the privilege of serving many of our town’s locals. The owner of Saigon Vietnamese In-and-Out comes in to my restaurant often, so I figured I’d return the favor when I was itchin’ for some Asian.
Red-eyed and still hung over from the night prior, I ordered the Iced coffee to wake me from my mid-day daze. When our waiter, Ling, brought me a rocks glass with it’s own personal coffee strainer, I sat confused. The Vietnamese iced coffee was unlike anything I’ve ever had.
“How does this thing work?” I said, pointing.
“Patience,” she replied.
The bitter grind, strained into the sweet condensed milk was an eye-opening concoction of two extremes. With one of those every morning, I’d have no trouble waking up.
When our food was served, Ling went even further with the dining adages – she taught us everything from how to wrap our egg rolls to how we toss our noodles. The vermicelli, that is...
Then it hit me. We were talking to the all-knowing, all-powerful guru of Viet fare. This meal was meant to be. I was the student, and she, my master (pardon me for the raunchiness, I can’t help it).
Everyone enjoyed the shrimp hot pot, except me, because I don’t care for sweet and sour soup. Nor do I care for sweet and sour candies, or MARGARITAS (except when it’s Margy Monday and they’re only a buck).
My lemongrass beef ($7), served over a mountain of jasmine rice, was simple, yet satisfying.
My friend Lindsey’s chicken, coated in a sea of peanut curry served over rice noodles was rich and full of flavor.
Our meal overall was good, considering it was something different. Just about every dish served to us came along with a side of fresh lettuce, mint and cilantro, which is popular in Vietnamese cuisine. That’s a good thing for me, considering that I’m a meat and potatoes kinda guy.
Saigon’s lunch specials could get you out of the place for under $10. For a healthy alternative to Asian dining, Vietnamese food is what you ought to do, and Saigon Café is where you ought to go. And if you’re not familiar with how to eat your egg roll, or in my case, how patience is key to iced coffee, it’s all right. Ling will be there to guide you.

The Blue Owl at Zen Yai

This place serves the best tri-tip sandwich I've ever had. And who knew it'd come from a thai restaurant? The oyster aioli, smothered on the perfectly toasted brioche roll adds a slightly fishy element to the sandwich - but it works. And it works well. A few leaves of fresh basil and match stick carrots also compliment the sandwich.
At Blue Owl, the tri-tip fried rice topped with an egg is also a good call.
Although the portions are small for the price, the two things I've had (fried rice $10, tri tip sandwich $8) are worth every penny. You also have to take into consideration that this is one of SB's few late night options. Otherwise, you're stuck with Mad Dogs or Jack in the Crack.
Hours: 11:30 - 2:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Delivery Available?!?

Norton's Pastrami and Deli

Pastrami sandwiches might just be the death of me. If so, I'd rather die eating at Norton's. This greasy, heart attack served on a toasted roll is Norton's pastrami and cheese sandwich. Smothered in onions, smeared with a chipotle mayo and coated in Jack cheese, Norton's pastrami is sure to wipe out even the gnarliest of hangovers. Located at 16 West Figueroa, Norton's is serving up the BEST DAMN PASTRAMI IN TOWN. Hands down. No other deli in Santa Barbara stands a chance. Maybe it's because Nortons fries it's pastrami on the griddle. Maybe it's because no other sandwich shop in town does. Whatever the reason, this is the spot that hits the spot.

Although a sandwich, some fries and a drink might cost you an arm, a leg, and your gut ($13) it's well worth the trip. So roll in, and perhaps bring someone to roll you out.

Carlitos Cafe Y Cantina

If you're willing to shell out a little more dinero for your better-than-average mexican fair, give Carlitos the green light.
Two tacos'll cost you $17, and a cocktail $10-12. But it's all pretty good.
The portions here are huge. Their rock shrimp tacos were bomb. Lightly breaded and served with papaya salsa, the fillings overflowed each tortilla.
Their chili passion martini - a blend of passion fruit pulp, vodka and chili flakes - was the perfect blend of tang and spice.
Two cocktails and an two entrees cost my friend and I $75. A costly price for a light buzz. But I digress..
Carlito's hosts prbably some of the bigger and better patio seating on town. If you're looking to make lunch/dinner reservations for two, request the table outside nearest to State Street. It's the best seat in the house.