Tu_triky wrote:

Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. The only tempura place that I could recommend out of personal experience in L.A. is Komatsu near the corner of Carson & Western just shy of the Torrance Mitsuwa. Honestly, I'm not sure if it's still open anymore. In any event, it's good to hear from you, Sengo. ^_^

Thanks for the tempura recommendation!! Waaayyy before your time, there used to be a restaurant called Tokyo Kaikan in Little Tokyo that had a tempura bar. It was like a sushi bar but the chef cooked the tempura right in front of you and served the shrimp, fish and vegetables piping hot. That was SO good!!

Sengo wrote:

Thanks for the tempura recommendation!! Waaayyy before your time, there used to be a restaurant called Tokyo Kaikan in Little Tokyo that had a tempura bar. It was like a sushi bar but the chef cooked the tempura right in front of you and served the shrimp, fish and vegetables piping hot. That was SO good!!

Ah, I remember Tokyo Kaikan... Wow, that was ages ago.

I've been to Komatsu, but only for lunch... I had the kurobuta tonkatsu... It was awesome.

Sengo wrote:

Thanks for the tempura recommendation!! Waaayyy before your time, there used to be a restaurant called Tokyo Kaikan in Little Tokyo that had a tempura bar. It was like a sushi bar but the chef cooked the tempura right in front of you and served the shrimp, fish and vegetables piping hot. That was SO good!!

Goodness, that's they way the do it in Japan. Cooked fresh to order, piping hot. Sounds like it was a fab place.

bmwracer wrote:

Ah, I remember Tokyo Kaikan... Wow, that was ages ago. I've been to Komatsu, but only for lunch... I had the kurobuta tonkatsu... It was awesome.

I bet! I was impressed with the quality of food there.

bmwracer wrote:

Bourdain on the Jon Stewart show:

I thought the interview could have been better. I seemed like Bourdain wasn't that excited to be there. Although Jon Stewart seems to be a big fan of No Reservations.

Jav_sol wrote:

I thought the interview could have been better. I seemed like Bourdain wasn't that excited to be there. Although Jon Stewart seems to be a big fan of No Reservations.

Maybe Bourdain was afraid Jon Stewart was going to clown him.

Pizzeria Mozza, Newport Beach lunch. Met up with one of my fellow foodie friends.

Mussels al forno

Caprese Salad

Eggplant Parmesan

Pizza alla benno: Speck, pineapple, jalapeño, mozzarella & tomato

Butterscotch Budino

^ Wow, someone's been on a major food fest.

New at Burger King:

Yikes.

bmwracer wrote:

Ah, I remember Tokyo Kaikan... Wow, that was ages ago. I've been to Komatsu, but only for lunch... I had the kurobuta tonkatsu... It was awesome.

I've got to try that kurobuta tonkatsu!! My hubby loves tonkatsu. So great of you guys to post about these places! Not much happening in my neck of the woods....

Sengo wrote:

I've got to try that kurobuta tonkatsu!! My hubby loves tonkatsu.

You owe it to your hubby to go then.

Quote:

So great of you guys to post about these places! Not much happening in my neck of the woods....

Triky is the real epicure here: I'm just trying to keep up.

BLT Lay's potato chips.

bmwracer wrote:

Yikes.

X2
_________________

Trade or Distro
It's all good!

Check out my drama trade list: http://www.freewebs.com/evendrama/

I guess I broke with convention and threw out a couple of food pics in the Japan thread but I'll revert to normal by posting the tasty morsel pics here again.

I had the opportunity to have yakitori in Yoyogi-Uehara at "Fuku" which is walking distance from Shibuya Crossing here in Tokyo. Best yakitori in my life. Hands down. It was incredibly delicious. Aside from the skill of the chef at the grill, it is patently obvious that the quality of ingredients is above and beyond what is available back in the States. This is true of the chicken (the main event obviously) and the vegetables as well. I would totally recommend this place to any like minded individuals who are planning to travel to Tokyo at any time.

Let the food porn begin!

Tomatoes wrapped in bacon

Mushrooms stuffed with ground chicken

Negima (Chicken thigh and Japanese negi onions) seasoned with salt

Tsukune (Chicken meatballs)

Grilled Mushrooms and garlic

Tebasaki (chicken wings) grilled with salt

Bacon wrapped Japanese peppers stuffed with cheese (incredible!!!!)

Kawa (chicken skin)

Nasu (eggplant) with shaved onions

Sunagimo (gizzard)

Nankotsu (cartilage)

Beef with shishito peppers

Seseri (neck meat) with minced onions

Bonbonchi (chicken tail)

Umeshu (plum wine/brandy)

Aftermath (empty skewers!)

One of the best meals in my life. Bar none.

http://www.bento.com/rev/2420.html

WOW.

What a feast.

bmwracer wrote:

WOW. What a feast.

Yeah it was a great meal and it wasn't horribly expensive either by Tokyo standards.

Fun stuff.

This one's for 'racer.

I hit up this joint called "Harajuku Gyoza Lou" near the Mejijingu-mae station in Omotesando.

Super cheap gyoza that is delicious and their rayu is amazing too. 6 gyoza for 290 Yen. That is dirt cheap for Tokyo.


I had the yaki gyoza with ninniku (fried gyoza with garlic)

^ Dayem.

You can be J-D's answer to Anthony Bourdain.

bmwracer wrote:

^ Dayem. You can be J-D's answer to Anthony Bourdain.

You can call me Bootleg Bourdain...because I'll be the fake, broke version of Anthony Bourdain!