Chengdu Taste is just too popular for it’s own good.

If you’re tired of the traditional SGV Chinese fare and looking to take a walk on the wild (entrails) side, than Chengdu is for you.

But you’re gonna wait HOURS for it. No joke.

As this was our third restaurant of the afternoon, the 5 of us only ordered 3 dishes, some of their most popular Szechuan items.

The best dish of the day was the Toothpick Lamb. Small chunks of spicy cumin lamb skewered on toothpicks for easy snacking. This would be a great appetizer for a dinner party. If you had 17 hours to prepare it.

It was super tasty and perfectly spiced. But you have to like lamb. Obvi.

We ordered the Spicy Mung Bean Noodle dish, which was slimy as hell but had a nice spicy kick. If you don’t mind the texture, this fairly inexpensive dish is good for sharing with your adventurous friends.

We ended our meal and our day with a crazy looking dish.

Fish Soup would be the simple way of describing it (the menu calls it Boiled Fish in Green Sauce) but it’s a ginormous vat of fish in a somewhat oily broth absolutely blanketed with peppercorns and sliced chilies. It’s quite the sight!

The fish (just push aside the fins and fish heads if you’re not interested) is quite tasty and perfectly cooked and the broth has a wonderful flavor. Don’t let it’s appearance frighten you.

FYI, only one of us liked the Plum Juice. It tasted like BBQ sauce.

All in all, I would say this place is fun if you’re in the mood for inventive and spicy and if you don’t mind waiting as long as we did (1.5 hours and we got there after 2 pm on a Saturday). Seriously, the line for this place is out of control. Take note.

828 W Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91803
(626) 588-2284

As a meat pie lover, I knew I had to check out Beijing Pie House before leaving LA.

My review: Meh….

BPH reminded me a bit of Dean Sin World, another Chinese bakery and pastry shop nearby. Many of the dishes tasted stale and the entire place needed a good hose down.

Don’t get me wrong, the Lamb and Green Onion pie was pretty good, actually. But it was like a big dumpling in super thick casing. It kind of sat there, like a lead anvil in my stomach. Traditional dumplings in wonton wrappers are much more satisfying and less intense of a dining experience.

I would have liked a BBQ pork options instead of the steamed, bland meats or some better variety of pies so I really can’t recommend this place over any of the great dumpling spots out there.

Best to just move on and avoid any bathroom issues later on.

I’m assuming Chesty Morgan will leave a comment below stating her dislike for this place. Check below to see if she takes the bait!

846 E Garvey Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91755
(626) 288-3818

Because food crawls are one of my very favorite things to do, I decided to enlist my friends for one last trip to the San Gabriel Valley for visits to 3 Chinese restaurants. Because I’m a big ‘ole pig and want others to help deflect the said pigginess.

Mama Lu’s was the first on our list. Specializing in dumplings, of course. Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) more specifically.

These were quite delicious. I think we all agreed that Wang Xing Ji was slightly better, these were pretty awesome too. Flavors and wonton skins were all spot on. Watch out, they WILL burn your mouth straight off your face. Wait a few seconds before devouring.

The Beef Roll was probably the favorite dish. Loved the mysterious sweetness which offsets the beef and cilantro wrapped in a delicious fried pancake. What’s not to love?

The Fried Pork Buns were great but not as good as the dumplings or beef rolls.

The Beef Chow Fun was a little too simple in flavor, I would have liked more seasoning or a spicy element. It was just a huge plate of soy sauce noodles. Which I still ate a ton of.

Mama Lu’s is a more upscale, very clean spot for some very tasty Chinese food….our next stop would be a slight downgrade….

501 W Garvey Ave
Ste 101-103
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(626) 282-2256

Toi was another one of the first restaurants I was a regular at when I first moved to LA. Before I started this whole Bun Boy thang and stopped visiting the same restaurant twice.

It’s basically traditional Thai in a rock ‘n roll setting. Its grungy décor, including tons of posters of rock and punk bands, seems like something one would see in Seattle or Portland.

It was my last week in LA before my big move to NYC so I wanted to experience Toi one last time. As well as see my good friend and fellow apartment building resident, J3, who was one of my first LA friends when I moved here 14 years ago. When our building was more like Melrose Place and I had hair.

I love that Toi is still here after all these years. Like an old, sort of smelly friend. Who may or may not be occasionally homeless. But who also happens to make you incredible Thai food and the best black rice you’ll ever have (they call it brown, but it’s clearly not). Not sure where this homeless friend gets their ingredients, but best not to think about that.

They have a top notch Red Curry, definitely a must order. That’s the best way to experience that heavenly black rice.

Their noodles are also amazing. I found the Pad Thai and the Thai Spaghetti to be very similar in flavor, either one will not disappoint. Perhaps the Thai Spaghetti is a bit more unique.

Service is very friendly and very casual, your server will look like he/she is in a band. He/She probably is.

They have a great happy hour from 4-7 pm where tasty Asian beers and sake are only $3 bucks.

Toi is a must see LA staple, no matter where you live. Even if you live in Seattle or Portland, you should still consider a road trip. And maybe a good dose of sunshine wouldn’t kill you either, you craft-beer loving vampire.

7505 1/2 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 874-8062
toirockinthaifood.com

I’m not sure if Astro Burger was my very first meal in LA, but it was one of the first.

Being a mere blocks from my West Hollywood apartment, Astro Burger felt my presence on many occasions. Often times, without my recollection.

I always order the same thing. Cheeseburger and Onion Rings. They have the best O-Rings in LA. Hands down.

It’s supposed to be a 50’s throwback diner but the mini jukeboxes next to each table are untouched. It’s always deathly silent inside. Almost depressing.

But I rarely eat there. I take my sh*t TO-GO! I don’t need to hear the horrific sounds of my own chewing.

Astro’s burgers are a thin patty with shredded lettuce and thousand island. Old school. Just how I like it.

They also have incredible chocolate milkshakes.

Even when I’m moved far away from Weho, Astro Burger will always have a little place in my overweight heart.

7475 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 874-8041

Before I moved to LA, I know about the existence of Spago.

That was a time when LA’s restaurant scene was kind of pathetic. We had our historic dives like El Coyote or Miceli’s and we had our exclusive hot spots for the celebs or the rich.

Fine dining was not yet for the masses.

Over the past 7 or 8 years, things have dramatically changed. LA’s restaurant scene exploded. We had a ton of new chefs open a ton of great restaurants. And best of all. You didn’t need to be sport an ascot or a trust fund to take part.

Spago may still think of itself as a snooty establishment but I know better. I’ve been to pretty much every nice restaurant and I know better. I belong here just as much as I belong at a burger joint.

And I don’t care one bit that you seat me at the sh*ttiest table because I’m not famous. I love the sound of crashing dishes coming from the kitchen.

Ok, diatribe over.

Spago is Wolfgang’s most famous restaurant and often times he’s there, saying hi to everyone. Tonight was NOT one of those nights, sadly.

I’ve been personally served by Chef Ludo and Chef Curtis Stone but Mr. Puck thought he was too good to bring me my delicious Salmon or the incredible Stuffed Squash Blossoms. Sorry I’m not Brad Pitt, sir but I’m spending just as much money.

Service started out really efficient but then things kind of slowed down as the evening progressed. Getting our check ended up being a daunting task.

The total cost of our meal was $100 a person and we only drank tap water. So bring your shekels and your flasks.

Overall, dining at Spago is a fabulous, must-do experience if you’re ready for it. Hopefully I’ve done my part to help you. The rest is up to you.

176 N Canon Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 385-0880
http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants/fine-dining/3635

Nick’s is an old coffee shop on Pico near La Cienega that’s been in LA since the dawn of time (1948. We’re talking LA time, so that’s pretty old).

My dining companion and I had two very different experiences with our food.

Hers was terrible and mine was delicious.

If you don’t count my flattened, dried-out side of Polish Sausage that looked as if it had been scraped off the road outside.

But my Sloppy Joes were pretty awesome all around. And the potato salad is top notch. None of this vinegary, grocery store sh*t.

But R.D.’s Club Sandwich was so bad it made her bleed.

Literally.

Let me elaborate. The bread was toasted within an inch of her life. Bruschetta style. The parts of the bread she was actually able to place in her mouth ended up doing her bodily harm.

The French fries were awful. They appeared to have been deep fried at 6 a.m. Then deep fried again a few hours later when a customer ordered them but that customer probably changed their mind, the fries went back to the community pile and then fried for a third time when R.D. placed her lunch order.

The servers are so friendly that you feel bad for complaining (so we didn’t) but really take your time and scour the Yelp reviews and photos before you place your innocent mouth in harm’s way.

No meal is worth a tetanus shot.

8536 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(310) 652-3567

Empenada’s Place is a cute little (CASH ONLY) Argentinian pastry shop located on a dumpy section of Venice and Sawtelle.

I love any kind of meat pie, no matter the nationality. EP does not disappoint.

My favorite was the Cheese and Onion but I also liked the Criolla, which is the traditional beef and raisin one.

The pies ore on the bigger side, so two should be plenty. The hot sauce they give you is watery and not very flavorful. Take note.

For dessert, they offer a few lightly sweet pastries that are delicious. You’ll probably be full from lunch, but try at least one.

3811 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 391-0888
empanadasplace.com

Lukshon has one of those menus I drool and pine and torment over and then half of the things kind of fall flat. Basically, Lukshon is a place where you need to know what to order.

There’s a very sleek, sexy, modern vibe to the interior. Like being in a futuristic Chinese airport lounge.

The menu prices are surprisingly low, considering your upscale surroundings. I guess we are in Culver City, however. $100 a person is what I was expecting to walk out of here with. Instead it was only $42 pp and that includes tip.

But let’s not chat about money, shall we? We’re better than that. Or, at least, I am.

HIGHLIGHTS:

HAWAIIAN BUTTERFISH – We couldn’t tell at first if this fish was cooked or not because it had a slightly fishy undertaste (usually signifying that it’s cooked) but it was a very nice, light start to the meal. The fish is, indeed, quite buttery.

OKRA AND POTATO – This simple yet effective dish really wowed us. The okra tasted slightly pickled (which did it justice) and the roasted potatoes held tons of flavor.

CHINESE EGGPLANT: I do not like eggplant. But I loved this dish and the combo of crispy and roasted eggplant. Flavors were Indian in nature, in case you don’t like that kind of thing. In which case, I don’t like you.

SPICY CHICKEN POPS: Probably the highlight of the meal. YUM! I don’t know their technique of placing this delicious ball of chicken at the end of some miscellaneous bone, but they’re fun, tasty and you will probably order another round.

BHUTANESE RED RICE: This race is on the crispier side and packed with a soy sauce flavor. Didn’t really taste the lamb bacon much but overall, it was quite enjoyed by all.

HOT AND SOUR GIMLET: A must order cocktail. This tastes like Thai food. Spicy, citrus, basil, all in a cocktail. Really fun and goes down quick.

LOWLIGHTS:

BRUSSELS SPROUTS SALAD: As this dish came to the table, we were overwhelmed by the smell of the sea. In essence, lots of dead fish. I would have liked a sweet component to this dish but instead it was just bitter Brussels sprout leaves and bitter fish sauce.

SPICY CHINESE RAMEN: Being an unofficial ramen expert, this was simply odd tasting and not enjoyable. The noodles were nice but the broth was bitter and weird.

DANDAN NOODLES: These were not bad. They were just the least good dan dan noodles I’ve ever had. Bad grammar aside, the sauce was missing something but the noodles were cooked perfectly.

SINGAPORE SLING: As Roy pointed out, “It tastes like a flat Mai Tai”. I would have liked a bit more cherry flavor or something to offset the pineapple. It wasn’t very tasty.

On a scale from 1-10, all four of us voted that the meal was a 7 (I might even say 6.5). Service was attentive and friendly, I loved the plush booths and open floor plan but just order wisely. That’s all I’m saying.

That and all the other crap I already just said, too.

UPDATE:

Several of our party has gotten the sh*ts following our meal. Take note. Take strong note.

3239 Helms Ave
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 202-6808
lukshon.com

Dominick’s is an old school Italian restaurant that’s been in LA since the late 40’s. It was the watering hole for Frank Sinatra and the rat pack (right across the street from Cedars Sinai hospital) that hardly anyone I know has been to.

It’s kind of a forgotten little gem and it appears only the hospital has been keeping in business.

There is a nice outside courtyard, so try to sit out there if it’s a nice day.

The Squash Blossoms and Rice Balls were both truly tasty starters. The Kale Salad was a bit boring.

It’s a red sauce joint, so order the Spaghetti and Meatballs or Chicken Parmesan.

Although, everyone seemed to truly love the Short Rib special, so take note haters of red sauce.

The service is prompt and friendly and the prices are actually very reasonable for the area and the portions. The chicken parmesan is literally TWO portions.

Sunday Suppers are perfect for the budget-conscious folks. $15 for 3 courses. And several $15 bottles of wine to choose from. They aren’t horrible, either.

8715 Beverly Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 652-2335
dominicksrestaurant.com