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.

Santa Barbara Happy Hour: The Hungry Cat

From the first sip of my Happy Hour cocktail, the first thought that came to mind: A good drink doesn't have to be a stiff one.
Our server recommended the Greyhound proper, a standard for the Hungry Cat's comers and goers. My greyhound was perfectly proportioned - complete with Plymouth Vodka, fresh grapefruit juice, garnished with a sliver of candied grapefruit.
This place screams quality. Fresh ingredients. Sophistication. Our $1.50 Fanny Bay oysters tasted as if they came straight from the ocean. The horseradish, freshly grated. Something tells me they make their cocktail sauce on the spot as well.
The cured arctic char was a good choice. The cured char, toasted pistachios, and honey yogurt added contemporary touch to plain ol' grilled Naan and yogurt.
The feel of the Hungry Cat strikes a modern pose. From their menu, to their style of service, to the dark stained furniture. The type of place where the artsy folk like to congregate. And in my case, the perfect place to catch up with great company.


Happy hour runs from 3-6p.m. daily. Half off all cocktails, drafts, and cocktail of the day. $1.50 oyster of the day.

Little Star Pizza's big surprise

This being my first time eating a deep-dish pizza., I knew what to expect, but I didn't expect to devour three-quarters of a whole pie.
This would not have been possible without Little Star Pizza.
Dishing out what some Yelpers claim to be "the best deep dish on the West Coast," Little Star's been doing it for the past seven years. With three locations, it's no wonder the joint has locals and tourists alike coming back. The intimate, dim-lit dining room, freckled with red-glass candles gives this place a versatile ambiance sure to match any occasion.
"It's a good night out for a date, a good place to bring your family, or even if you just wanted to come by for a beer at the bar," said manager Michael Foley, who's been with the company since day one. "We host just about everybody."
At the table, my friend and I couldn't decide between the deep-dish original (Bell peppers,ground sausage,mushrooms,onions) or the Little Star (ricotta, feta, spinach, garlic). Our server recommended the Little Star with sausage for "the best of both worlds." Good call.
The corn-meal crust had just the right amount of crunch to go besides tons of melted cheese, juicy pork sausage, and stewed tomatoes. (Note: there is gluten in the corn meal crust). Though most praised for their deep dish, Little Star also puts out thin crust.
Though they don't source their ingredients locally, they do pride themselves on their simple menu which ensures that the elements of your pizza are always fresh.
The restaurant hosts good, reasonably priced local beers by the bottle and on tap. Simple selection of Italian reds and whites to accompany your pie.
And with a juke box loaded with anything from A Tribe Called Quest to The Policethis place already has me "wrapped around it's finger."

Fil-Am Cuisine

For the past three months, I've taken many a trek to one of Daly City's Filipino food hot spots.
On just about any day you'll find this place so busy, lines wrap around the building of the little family restaurant that sits atop the hill. For the past 13 years, Fil-Am Cuisine has served the Daly City's construction workers, business people and the local Filipino community looking for a taste of home.
The order-as-you see spread of adobo, kare-kare, fried shanghai lumpia (similar to egg rolls) and other daily specials make this place difficult not to fall in love with.
This charming little eatery captures the essence of Filipino food: family. Young school children roam the tiny plate lunch shop, playing, while their parents feed the passerby. Men man the grill, gloves and all, constantly flipping lightly charred skewers of pork and chicken ($1.99 apiece). Woman work the register and answer phone calls for take-out orders. Everyone has their role. Boy, do they play it well.
And if you don't fall in love with the food (which I doubt), you'll definitely fall in love with the light skinned Filipina taking your order.
What's best about Fil-Am Cuisine is that it's busy. The food here is always hot. You can smell the smoke from BBQ pork and chicken skewers from a block away. They dish hundreds of these things out e-v-e-r-y-d-a-y. Fil-Am Cuisine offers the choice of one or two selections served over rice for $2.99 and $5.29, respectively.
They also offer an excellent sisig, (a mixture of chopped fried pork, onions, calamansi and sliced red chili) that's still served with the tangy crunch that it's supposed to.
This place never lets me down. It's no wonder it's been around for so long .
This is the perfect place to grab a bite, grab a seat and chat it up with the Daly City regulars.